We're Home!

Doug and Judi in front of Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.

Actually, we have been home for a week but it has taken this long to find time to sit and write. What an amazing trip! Doug and I have spent lots of time talking about all we saw and did, all that we would like to go back and do again and all that we missed that would make another trip or two.

Where was the best place we stayed? Kingsleigh Inn in Southwest Harbor, Maine and second would be Chestnut Hall in Gettysburg, PA.

Where was the worst place we stayed? Toss up between the B&B where the Inn keeper never came out to meet us and argued with her husband loud enough to be heard in the dining room or the smoking room in KY or the last night by the train tracks.

Funniest moment? Judi - when Doug drove the wrong way in a round-about.

Favorite place we visited? Really hard since we enjoyed so many but here are several favorites: Acadia National Park, Custer State Park, the Louisa May Alcott home, the drive along the Green Mountains in Vermont, Wilmore Kentucky, Mt. Rushmore, Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, plantation drive along James River in Virginia, Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, Gettysburg Battlefield, and much more.

Favorite Meal/Restaurant? Dobbins House, Gettysburg and lobster place in Maine.

Most thought provoking? slavery issues versus obvious wealth of slave owners and written words of founding fathers ("...all men are created equal.)

Contrasts? The varying landscape of the country really struck us. From the coasts of Maine, to the deserts of New Mexico and everything in between - farmlands, forests, rolling hills, etc.

Well, there is much more to be said so we may have to revisit the blog to continue to put down our impressions and thoughts of the trip.

We are glad to have taken the time, money and energy for the trip and look forward to the next opportunity for just such an adventure.

Almost Home

On our way home.

Windshild Wipers

Windshield wipers are a wonderful invention. It sure beats hanging your head out the window to see in the road in the driving rain. We were on the road today for 11 hours and it rained for all but about one of those hours. At times the wipers were on intermittent and at times we needed super speed which of course is not provided with the standard wipers. It made for a long drive but we arrived safely in Oklahoma City around 7:30. There is nothing really exciting to report. We drove, we arrived, and now we sleep.

A Day of Rest

We've been on the road for a long time. It's been a really good time, but long nonetheless. So today we decided we needed time to recoup before beginning some long stretches of driving over the next couple of days.

Sleeping until you wake up rather than being woken by the alarm is the perfect start to the day. Since last night was late, we also slept late this morning. A long shower and a light late breakfast and we headed out to see a few sights. It was already late morning but it felt so good to not be in a rush. We stepped outside into sunshine and wind. The Opryland Hotel is just down the street so we began there. What a fun place! We walked around enjoying the beautiful indoor gardens, waterfalls, and canals. Watched the water show, did a little shopping, ate lunch and finished with a HaagenDas ice cream cone. Doug always needs to test chocolate chip ice cream to see if it is up to par. It was.

Next stop was the Grand Ole Opry. It was closed but at least we can say we saw it.

The seventh president of the United States, General Andrew Jackson, had his home here in Nashville. He named it the Hermitage and it is a beautiful old southern plantation. The home is filled with original furnishings, wallpaper, and art work. The family owned the home until it was sold to the preservation group in the 1890's which is why there is so much of the original furnishings in the home. One of Jackson's slaves, although freed during the Civil War, lived on the property until 1901 and was a tour guide when the home opened to the public. It would have been so fun to have him give you a tour. I'm sure there would have been much to learn from his stories. He is buried in the family cemetery which is on the property.

The tours of old houses, battlefields, monuments and memorials has been very informative. We've had glimpses into the lifestyle of another time and, really, of another culture. It's been thought-provoking. We have much to be thankful for to those who founded and built our country. But we also should learn from the mistakes of those that have gone before us. Understanding where our country has come from, both the good and the bad, should help us make better decisions for the future. We found ourselves sitting in front of the slave quarters at the Hermitage contemplating how slavery was ever justified. Trying to understand how people could own other people and think it was okay. The enormous wealth and lavish lifestyle of plantation owners was dependent on the labor of slaves. What an impact this aspect of our history has on our society today. We have found ourselves bewildered by men like Thomas Jefferson who wrote that 'all men are created equal' yet was a slave owner. I guess we all justify things in our lives. It does cause us to contemplate human behavior, sin and self-justification. No answers, just lots of questions.

Well, after all that thinking and contemplation, it was time to do some necessary grocery shopping in preparation for long travel days. Once the food was put away in the cooler, Doug picked up some dinner and we are now watching the play-off game between the Indians and Red Sox. A good ending to a good day. Well, the good ending part may depend on who wins the game. :)

Backcountry Roads of Kentucky

"Aunt Rachel Lived to 102 yrs Slave to Her Mistress" -- a slave buried next to the woman she served -- a great story

New roads are great but back country new roads are even better. Today we traversed the back roads of the hills of Kentucky. Oh the sights we saw today!

To begin the day, we drove to Springfield, KY. to see the birthplace of A. Lincoln and of course, discovered that Lincoln was not born there but only spent some of his boyhood there. So back to the books to figure out where the actual birthplace was located. That would be Hodgenville, KY. Lincoln's birthplace was about 40 miles of great country roads through the hills from where we were.

The drive was fascinating. The hills are dotted with neat little farms. Houses ranged from the grand brick Colonial with tall white columns to the run-down mobile home with a front yard filled with every possible piece of non-working machinery and junk. Most of the homes were somewhere in the middle, brick or white clapboard with neat yards. One thing all the homes had in common was a front porch with at least two chairs. The richer homes had white wrought iron benches and the poorer ones had plastic chairs. The best ones were the white or wooden rockers that filled most of the porches. Watching the neighbors and passing traffic is obviously one of the Kentuckians pastimes.

As we drove through the farmland we began to noticed all the black barns. Farm after farm had big black barns. Our travels have taken us through hundreds of miles of farmlands and most of the barns we have observed are either white, grey or red but never black. We saw hundreds of these black barns just today. The barns fascinated us and as we began a closer observation we realized the barns were filled with drying tobacco. Although we never did see tobacco fields, we saw plenty of tobacco hanging in the barns. Question; are the barns black to produce extra heat to help dry out the tobacco? Does anyone know the answer? Regardless, the black barns and black rail fences against the green fields and Autumn colored forests made for a beautiful scene.

A non-black barn with hanging tobacco . . . so how many cigarettes will this barn's contents produce?

Continuing on the back roads of Kentucky we drove to Tompkinsville. Doug's grandfather and his family are from this town in Kentucky. We've heard lots of stories over the years about Tompkinsville so it was interesting to actually see the town. It is the county seat for Monroe county, named for President Monroe and his vice-president Tompkins.

At the Old Mulkey Meeting House -- Doug gets 10 seconds to push the shutter, run around to the front door, across the room, and look casual just before the photographic moment

Detail, log-built Old Mulkey Meeting House -- this bump-out portion of the building is where the speaker stood to address the congregation

Not far from Tompkinsville was a place on the map called the Old Mulkey Meeting House State Park. This sounded interesting so off we went. This was the first log meeting house in Kentucky built in 1807. Hannah Boone Pennington was a member of this church. She was the sister of Daniel Boone. Both she and her father, Squire Boone, are buried in the church cemetery as are several soldiers from the Revolutionary War. It is a beautiful log church set amidst the forest, quiet and peaceful.

Old Ford along Kentucky highway -- old cars, old appliances, old stuff . . . right along the road for our entertainment

From there our last stop for the day was to be Nashville, Tennessee. There was not a major road anywhere near the road we were on but the map showed that it would connect with the major road to Nashville that we needed. Maps are not always accurate. We headed south. The back country road kept getting smaller and smaller till we were on a one lane road traveling through the hills of Kentucky. The housing continued to get poorer and poorer, more junk in the front yards. The road dead ended. We turned left. That didn't feel right so we turned around and drove into the sun. After all, our overall destination lay to the west and south. We just kept taking turns to the south or west until we found the road to Nashville. This unintentional tour was totally fun as we were able to really see the back country of the Kentucky hills.

SERENDIPITY

American Heritage Dictionary -
ser·en·dip·i·ty (sěr'ən-dĭp'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key n. pl. ser·en·dip·i·ties
The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.
The fact or occurrence of such discoveries.
An instance of making such a discovery.

Setting out today for a long drive designed to get us from one place to another and not much more we didn't realize we were in for a day of serendipity. Last night we stayed in Lexington, Virginia and today our goal was Lexington, Kentucky. To achieve this goal we drove over the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Appalachians and the Allegheny. Our first serendipity was the fall color. The hills were alive with the sound of fall colors. Absolutely spectacular. The rain last night and a little today, helped with the beauty of all we saw. Clouds, wet roads, cold, all elements that give that feeling of fall. Our necessary trip turned into one of astounding beauty.

Around 1:00 we stopped for lunch and an oil change for the car. Having put over 6,000 miles on the poor thing to date, it was time to take care of the car. Then, back on the road with Lexington Kentucky as the next stop. I was born in Lexington while my father was in school at Asbury Seminary near there.

My connection to Kentucky is very tenuous. Almost an accident. My father was in school and so I was born there and then my parents returned to California when I was 2 months old. I don't have any memories of Kentucky nor do we have any other relation to the state. However, I found myself strangely affected today being in Kentucky. I do have a relationship to this place. This is my birthplace. Doug and I found the hospital where I was born, the house my parents lived in and the school where dad studied. Feeling connected to this place was a serendipity. Something I definitely did not expect to find.

This is the chapel at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky.

Judi standing in front of the Good Samaritan Hospital where she was born just a few years ago.

Before we left Lexington to head for Wilmore, home of Asbury Seminary, we stopped at the home of Mary Todd Lincoln. Her home is on the same road as the hospital. That was a fun discovery. Also, the home of Henry Clay is the opposite direction on the same road. We did not have time to drive there. We also stopped by the Shaker Village but were too late to tour it. Our travel philosophy is that it is always good to leave some things to do the next time you visit. On this trip, there are many things that fit into that category as we keep discovering new things to do and see.

Plantations and Presidents

What would it have been like to live on a southern plantation? I'm not sure but I do know that the locations of the James River Plantations would have made life there beautiful. We visited three different plantations today; Westover, Berkeley and Shirley. These are wonderful examples of Georgian architecture with formal gardens and lawns rolling right to the rivers edge. We toured the inside of the Berkeley and walked around the grounds of the other two. All three are still working farms and families live in two of them on the upper floors with tour groups going through the lower floors. Not sure that is a lifestyle I would enjoy but the houses were amazing. The Berkeley was the home of President William Henry Harrison who was grandfather of President Benjamin Harrison. The first ten presidents of the United States all visited and dined at this plantation.

Westover Plantation on the James River

We drove on to Western Virginia to Monticello the home of President Thomas Jefferson. We were especially interested in Jefferson after listening to Undaunted Courage about Lewis and Clark. Jefferson sent them on the journey to discover a northern passage to the Pacific. Many of the artifacts brought back by Lewis and Clark were given to Jefferson and there are some still in his home and replicas of those that have been lost over the years. It was so interesting. The grounds and home are incredible.

Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello

Sugar maple at Monticello

I'm having a little trouble trying to give justice to what we did and saw today since it's very late and I'm tired. Maybe later I'll come back and edit this entry. But if not, know that we had a very interesting day.

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

Although many in our family are the get-up-early-and-leave-early-type of people, Doug and I are not necessarily that way. Wednesday morning we wanted to have some time with Jack and Joan so we did not get away from their house until about 9:30. That still left us enough time to drive to Williamsburg and spend the afternoon there.

We arrived in time for a great and authentic old world lunch at the King's Arm Tavern. Then we began to walk the old Colonial town of Williamsburg. We wandered the streets enjoying the houses and buildings and envisioning ourselves as 18th century citizens of the town. Of course, we also carried our cameras to record the event. Not very 18th century of us.

Eventually, we left to find a motel for the night, walked back to Williamsburg and continued our visit of the old town. At one point, Doug went off to take pictures and I spent a little time shopping in the market area. Once we were reunited, we ate dinner outside, it was a warm evening, at The Trellis Restaurant. This is a very famous restaurant due to it's chef, the author of Death by Chocolate. Yes, we did have a chocolate dessert and it was incredible. Then we walked back to our motel. It seems that we may have walked about 6 miles yesterday. Today we are feeling the effects but it was worth the effort.

The toy store in Williamsburg, VA.

The Christmas Shop in Williamsburg, VA.

George's Home, Mount Vernon

Judi & Joan at Mount Vernon.

George's Home, Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Slave Quarters, Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Doug and I had a great time in Virginia visiting Jack and Joan. (Sister time is always welcome.) Jack and Joan are moving to Steamboat Springs Colorado on Monday to pastor a church there. This past Tuesday, the women's Bible study at their church gave a farewell luncheon for Joan. It was a blessing to hear the testimonies of the women for all God has done in their lives through the ministry of Joan and Jack. It was obvious that they are truly loved by the people in the church and will be missed as they head off.

Joan took Doug and I too Clifton between events on Tuesday morning. Doug had never seen the little church there where Josh and Kel were married. It was fun to revisit Clifton. In the afternoon after the luncheon, the three of us went to Mt. Vernon. Walking through the rooms and around the grounds of Washington's home is fascinatingl. I enjoy trying to imagine what it would have been like to live in that era, to be a visitor at the Washinton's home. It is a beautiful home in an amazing setting along the Potomac River. Joan figured it was the last time, for at least a long while, for her to visit Mt. Vernon.

That evening we also enjoyed a 'last time for a long time' event. Jack took us to his favorite Chinese restaurant in DC. It was the best Chinese food I've ever eaten. After dinner we had the nighttime tour of DC. The monuments and buildings are awesome when seen lit up. We had a great evening. It was also nice for Doug and I to have the opportunity to relax at Jack and Joan's for a few days before heading off for the last two weeks of travel. Between football, grfeat conversation, home cooked meals and a couch to sit on, we had time to refresh before leaving for the last of our trip.

The Mall, Washington DC

Here we are with our good friend and President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is bigger than life as is his dog.

Another President, Abraham Lincoln, was among our visits this day.

We spent the day walking the Mall in Washington DC and seeing as many of the monuments and memorials as possible. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and perfect for a LONG walk. The Washington Monument was the first stop after exiting the Metro station. Then on to the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and a stop for lunch. Then on around the Tidal Basin to the FDR Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. After going the rest of the way around the Tidal Basin we headed back up along the Mall until we reached the National Air and Space Museum. By the time we finished there we had been 8 hours doing the tourist thing in Washington DC. It took us another hour and a half to walk back to the train, ride back to Springfield, walk to our car and drive back to Jack and Joan's. Tired legs and backs notwithstanding, it was a great day.

Battlefields and Sisters

What do battlefields and sisters have to do with one another? You might be thinking of those childhood battles, but I'm just thinking of the flow of our trip.

Friday was spent absorbed at the Gettysburg battlefield and in the town of Gettysburg. We started at the National Park visitors center and museum. Across the street is a large cemetery and the place where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address. Then we began the driving tour of Gettysburg. It was a fascinating day. The weather was sunny and windy, really windy, blow-you-over windy which gave us clear skies and no rain. It was a great day for exploring Gettysburg.

The Inn keepers loaned us a taped auto tour. This was our tour guide and it worked beautifully. We spent about four hours going from one site to another and learning about the battle of Gettysburg. It was an awesome experience. To stand on the rise of a hill and look across the field to the woods and imagine 12,000 soldiers marching towards you ready to fight to the death in hand to hand combat, was disquieting. There were over 50,000 casualties; dead, wounded, missing and captured. That is a high cost of human life in one battle.

It felt more than a little callous to be driving around in our comfortable car munching on chips as we heard details of the battle, saw the monuments and battle fields, and thought of all those who fought there. For most of us, war is a far distant event. It is not something most of us will ever face. Yet, because of all those who have willingly left home and family and fought for our way of life, we have the privilege of enjoy freedom. I was reminded of how many men and women have sacrificed for the cause of American freedom. Since the Revolutionary War to the war today in Iraq, we have much to be grateful for. Personally, to Judi's dad, Doug's dad and our nephew-in-law Jason, Thank you!!

The town of Gettysburg is very quaint if a bit touristy. We ate a late light lunch at a pub in the center of town, then went into the antique store next door. By that time, we were bushed and went back to the B&B for a quick nap which turned into a long nap. That meant we almost missed having the opportunity to get back to the battlefield before dark for a photo shoot. The day ended with dinner at the Dobbins house. The house was built by a minister in 1776 for his family of wife and 10 children. After the death of his first wife, he remarried a women with 9 children, so there were 19 children living in this house at one time. He also ran a school in his home. It was a large home and now is an excellent restaurant. Dinner was outstanding.

Saturday morning we left for Jack and Joan's but took a detour through the Pennsylvania Dutch area. It is interesting to have to slow down for a horse and buggy. The farms are beautiful and amazingly neat. We saw numerous of the Amish out and about in plain dress, long beards, horse and buggy. What a fascinating segment of our society.

By the late afternoon we arrived at Jack and Joan's. What a relief after over three weeks of travel to be here. Joan and I have already spent hours talking and catching up on each other's lives. Jack and Doug have watched at least 7 football games. Five of these they were watching last night simultaneously. Today we went to church, heard Jack preach, saw the new buildings and then came home for lunch. While Jack and Joan were out this afternoon, we took a long walk and relaxed. It's been good to be here. Currently, Jack is watching the game (some game,) Doug and Joan are talking about business techniques and I'm on the computer. Jason is supposed to make it by this evening so we can visit with him. It's nice to be with family.

Raining Day Driving

This picture has nothing whatsoever to do with anything we did today. It's just a photo that Doug thought you would enjoy seeing. Rainy days are for reading books in front of the fireplace or baking cookies and watching sappy movies. Rainy days are not for driving on unfamiliar roads, especially when it's my turn to drive. We left Norfolk about 9:30 under cloudy skies but no rain. Doug was navigating as we worked on finding our way on country roads from Connecticut to New York and then on to Pennsylvania. Somewhere along the way it began to rain. Just a bit a first but eventually it was a downpour. The roads were good and traffic was light. That was the good part. After lunch, Doug took over the driving. The bad part of the day was that on the Pennsylvania turnpike there was an accident. The type of accident that brings the entire freeway to a halt. We spent two hours crawling along, being detoured through a teeny tiny town (causing people to stand on the sidewalks to watch the traffic,) often coming to a complete stop, and eventually being rerouted back onto the turnpike. We never did see what had caused the problem.

Anyway, we did make it to New Oxford outside of Gettysburg and our B&B, Chestnut Hall, is really something. It's an old Victorian that has been beautifully restored and decorated. Our room is really sumptuous and this is one of the least expensive places we've stayed. The Inn keepers are delightful, warm and welcoming. I already wish we had more that two nights here. We walked to a pizza place for dinner and are now sitting in the living room of the B&B and watching a playoff game. The rain has stopped.

New Road

On awaking each day, I know that the term 'new road' will be part of my day. If you know Doug at all, you know that he loves new road, someplace he's never been before with sights he's never seen. He can hardly pass a road without wondering what is down the lane. We've been on new road most every day for the last three weeks. Now, this might seem like it would get old after awhile (unless you also crave the adventure of new roads.) Each night, at the end of a long day of exploring, we're sure that the thrill of new roads has met it's death. However, each morning, refreshed and ready to head out, the thrill of the hunt has returned. I'm amazed that I can do this day after day. It's probably because every day we've seen or done something really wonderful. Whether it's seeing a church established in 1719 and still holding services, a tree the color of neon orange, wild turkeys feasting on a golden field or just experiencing new places together, we are enjoying each and every day.

This morning dawned cold, cloudy and rainy. At breakfast we talked with a couple from Texas. He grew up in Indonesia where his parents were missionaries. It is always fun to connect with other Christians as we travel. Once refreshed with breakfast and good conversation, we were ready for those 'new roads.' The Litchfield Hills of northwest Connecticut are for the rich. It's an area of rolling hills covered with forest and farmlands. The houses are large white Colonials with immense yards covered with neatly mowed lawns, old stone walls, and red barns. There are lakes surrounded with summer homes and private docks. Quaint villages with the requisite town greens encompassed with old white churches and town halls and the occasional covered bridge just for charm. There were even some rowing crews practicing on one of the lakes. It all seems so New England. We stopped for lunch at the Wandering Moose Cafe just across the river through the covered bridge. Doug took a short hike while I picked up leaves to press and tried to identify them. More new road and then a stop in Litchfield to window shop (too expensive to actually buy anything here) and then a final stop at the bakery for hot tea and cookies.

Back at the Inn, we're relaxing in the library where there is good Internet access. Doug has fallen asleep in one of the big leather chairs. We'll stay in this evening, snack on apples and cheese and get to bed early enough to do this all over again tomorrow.

BEYOND CATEGORY

Fans of the Tour de France are familiar with the term 'beyond category.' It refers to climbs that are so steep and difficult they are beyond category. If there was a scale to categorize foliage drives in New England yesterday's drive was 'beyond category.' Not difficult or steep, but incredibly beautiful. We ran out of words to describe what we were seeing so we coined our own phrase, 'Beyond Words.' Maybe not too original but it's all we could come up with.

Sunday night it began to rain and was still raining when we woke up on Monday morning. We wondered if we should chance the drive along the Green Mountains or just go to town and shop. We decided to shop first but as we neared Woodstock the line of cars going into town was so long we turned around and headed for the hills. Literally!! Are we glad that was our choice. This was the day I had pictured when we first began planning this trip.

The clouds hung on the top of the mountains sending fingers of fog streaming down over the tree tops. The rain had stopped and left the roads and tree trunks dark with the wet. The day was cold and damp. Fall had arrived in full force in the Green Mountains. Yellow, gold, oranges and red covered the hillsides. Every view, every turn in the road, was breathtaking. We were beyond words to describe the beauty of the forests and roadways.

We stopped in a little village for lunch at the general store. Eating outside on the front porch we eventually got a little cold but inside was full and it made the hot cider taste all the better. Then back in the car and more driving. Covered bridges, white-steepled churches, village greens, quaint shops, waterfalls and more colorful trees than we have ever seen. Amazing. All we imagined for our trip to New England and more.

Today we drove to Connecticut and were surprised to see that fall has arrived here as well. Although the color isn't as concentrated as it was in Vermont, it is still beautiful. We'll explore the Litchfield Hills area tomorrow.

Maine to New Hampshire to Vermont

Although you have not heard from us for a few days, all is well. We’ve just been in places where the internet connection was so poor as to make writing to the blog too difficult. So I will try to catch you up on the travels of Doug and Judi.

Heading west from Maine on last Thursday morning we drove across the state to New Hampshire. We’ve come to believe that every drive in New England is a scenic drive. It was a beautiful drive filled with colorful forests and quaint towns. Jackson NH, where we stayed, is a ski resort town. Nothing like Mammoth or Vail, just a one mile loop with a couple of restaurants, stores and lodgings set in the White Mountains. The Inn is very nice and comfortable.

Friday morning we decided to drive along the White Mountain scenic drive and look for waterfalls as there are numerous ones in the area. We found a 3-mile hike, leading to the Arethusa Falls, described as moderate to difficult. That means that it’s moderate for Doug and difficult for Judi. There was a lot of uphill over boulders and up log steps which meant a lot of slippery downhill over boulders and log steps on the way back. The end result of the hike was a sparkling clear waterfall tumbling down a rock cliff and it was worth the trip. The forest was spectacular, colorful and peaceful. The trail was covered in fallen leaves. It really was a great way to spend the majority of the day. Not taking any food along, we were very hungry once we returned to the car and ended up at a roadside eatery for a late lunch of hot dogs. Expecting to wake up on Saturday unable to move, it was nice to feel no negative effects from our hike.Here we are resting on one of the log steps on our way back down the mountain.

Saturday morning we walked around Jackson and then drove off in search of covered bridges. The day was a little more relaxed. Once back at the Inn in the middle of the afternoon it was time for Judi to have down time and for Doug to go on the hunt for the perfect picture. It began to rain which made Judi's down time under the comforter on the bed perfect and Doug’s time out taking photographs more interesting. It rained all night but Sunday dawned clear.

Classic New Hampshire church with fall color.

On to Vermont Sunday morning, driving along the Kancamagus highway, definitely one of the most scenic we’ve seen. The foliage was truly beautiful with trees ranging from the typical green through yellow, orange, red and scarlet. Even though we’re not seeing ‘peak’ foliage, we are seeing what is called ‘high’ foliage color. It is spectacular. The only negative part of the drive was the number of people enjoying it with us. Some of the turnouts were so crowded we could not find parking and had to keep driving. Still it was well worth the time spent enjoying the drive.

Yesterday was also Doug’s birthday. Yes, he is now 57 years old and none the worse for wear. We celebrated with dinner out at a nice restuarant in Woodstock Vermont.

Today in Vermont was spectacular but I'll tell you about that later. The internet connection here is iffy and I'm going to close for tonight. Tomorrow we're heading for Connecticut and hopefully the B&B there will have a decent internet connection so I can add more to the blog and post more of Doug's pictures.

Fog, Lobster and Blueberry Pie

We woke this morning to fog, lots of fog. The kind of fog that completely blankets the world making it soft and quiet. Doug hiked through fog shrouded forests in the early morning taking pictures and enjoying the quiet and peace of Acadia. I was already having breakfast when Doug returned for his and then we drove to Northeast Harbor. Standing by the wharf we watched boats appear out of the fog bringing in their catch of lobster. The fog stayed all day and before the day ended, we also had some rain. It feels like fall.

Doug was up at 5:00 a.m. to hike one of the trails in Acadia National Park. Of course, it was also, or maybe mostly, a photo hike. The camera and tripod go everywhere Doug goes so that a good picture never goes untaken. This afternoon we went to take a hike but never made it to one of the trails. Instead we ended up on a carriage road and walked for a couple of miles through the forests. Except for a couple of cyclists, we saw no one and heard no one. It was peaceful, the air was cool and the leaves were falling around us like rain.

After returning to the B&B, Doug took a nap and I walked around the town of Southwest Harbor to do some shopping. Although I didn't buy anything it was fun to see the town on foot. There was just one thing more that we had to do before leaving Maine. Lobster! As yet, Doug had not had his lobster. Dinner tonight was lobster for Doug and scallops and shrimp for Judi. The place was local, small and down-home. The food was wonderful! To finish a really good Maine seafood dinner we needed to experience Maine's other local food, the blueberry. Blueberry pie 'a la mode was the quintessential ending. Why come all the way to Maine and not sample their local specialities. Tomorrow, New Hampshire.

Mt. Desert Island, Maine

This evening we watched the sun set over Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Although I hate using the word again, it was BEAUTIFUL!!

Today was great. We are staying at a B&B so the day began with an amazing and huge breakfast. I love having someone fix me an elegant and wonderful breakfast. It is one of my favorite meals of the day but one which I never spend time on myself. So, it was a treat to have a special breakfast to begin the day. Then we were off to explore Acadia National Park.

This is truly one of the most beautiful and spectacular places to see. Every turn in the road brought more exclamations of 'Isn't this beautiful!' The weather was perfect, just about 60 degrees, a bit overcast which is perfect for picture taking, with incredible scenery. The trees here are beginning to turn colors more than anywhere we've been to date. Rocky coastline, blue ocean dotted with small islands, colorful trees, quaint houses, and plenty of time to enjoy it all. We spent about 6 hours in the park taking the loop road and most of the turnouts to enjoy the scenery. There was time to walk along the shore or along the cliff trails, take pictures and occasionally just stand and enjoy the magnificent views. God's creation is amazing.

After leaving the park, we headed to Bar Harbor for a late lunch and actually sat outside to eat. Then Doug needed to do a taste test to see if New England has good chocolate chip ice cream. Although it might take a few more tests to be sure, the early verdict is that the ice cream is good. After walking around town, which is a bit too touristy, we headed back to Southwest Harbor.

Southwest Harbor is on the quieter side of the island and it is where our B&B is located. We're glad to be staying out of the main tourist area. It's a beautiful harbor and much less crowded. There were two ocean liners docked at Bar Harbor and all the passengers were in town or in the park. So leaving Bar Harbor and heading to the other end of the island and the light house to wach the sun set was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Travel Observations

• It is a long way from La Habra, California to Mt. Desert Island, Maine.


• The word 'beautiful' can be overused, as can the phrase 'Look at that!'


• We grow a lot of corn in America.


• White is the only color of house paint sold in New England, or at least mostly white.


• Sight seeing all day on foot makes for sore feet and tired limbs but great memories.


• The Eastern side of the United States is filled with forest, sometimes blocking the view.


• New England clam chowder tastes even better when eaten in a fishing village on the East coast.


• Chocolate chip ice cream is also very good on the East coast.


• There are not any Dodger or Angel fans here that we've discovered.


• Just because a trip is planned to New England in the fall doesn't mean the leaves will turn color on schedule.


• It is possible to spend 24/7 with your spouse and still be in love.


• Bringing along your own pillow is a good idea.


• Bringing along too many clothes makes your suitcase heavy.


• Gas prices are about the same all the way across the country.


• There is road work being done on every highway in America.


• This is a beautiful country and well worth the time and effort required to see it the slow way, by driving.

Cape Cod

We did the complete peninsula today -- This is a photograph of a light house that is one of a series of three retired lighthouses. Ok, very few photographs were taken today -- this will have to do . . .

Boston -- History City USA

Well, here we are in the big city -- high-speed freeways, high-rise buildings, highly-congested traffic, and high volumes of people. I mentioned to Judi today that throughout the West and Midwest we saw large herds of buffalo and cattle roaming aimlessly over the plains. Today, we were the herds and we were roaming aimlessly. Well, maybe not aimlessly -- we actually followed the famous "Freedom Trail" that wound throughout Boston. But nonetheless, I find the city an unworthy competitor to the wide open plains and forests of the West . . .

The Freedom Trail is a well-marked walking path through the sometimes narrow streets of Boston that covers 2-1/2 miles one way. Key sights included the Old Statehouse Museum (Boston's oldest surviving public building -- see photo above), the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere House, Old North Church ("one if by land, two if by sea"), USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), and Bunker Hill ("Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!") -- 1400 casualties on June 17, 1775.

The visual history lessons have been great -- we're staying in Concord, just down the road from the North Bridge where the American revolution began. We stood there yesterday evening as the sun was setting . . . visualizing the Minute Men -- farmers and merchants -- opening fire on the red uniformed British troops. And then today we stood at the crest of Bunker Hill where one of the bloodiest battles of the revolution took place.

Today we walked more than 5 miles -- much like our walking tour of Paris last year. But we find that, unlike an organized tour, we see things and touch things and experience things that we might not see, touch, or experience any other way than slowly and methodically walking.

Tomorrow is Sunday and we will attempt to conquer Cape Cod in a day.

Where it all began!

Today we are in Concord, Massachusetts home to the first confrontation between the British and the Minutemen of the Revolutionary War. It is also home to several authors of the 1800's: Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. There lives were all intertwined. Fascinating. The tour of the Alcott home was a highlight of the day. Alcott was Judi's favorite author when she was a young girl. There was also time to take a hike at Walden Pond to the home site of Thoreau (Doug has read Walden) and to visit Minuteman National Park and see the bridge where it all began. Next to that is the home of Rev. William Emerson, father of Ralph Waldo, built in 1770. The family watched that first battle.

This is the home of the Alcott family. Louisa May Alcott's bedchamber was on the second floor and her desk stood between the two front windows to the left of the front door on the upper floor. That is where she wrote Little Women in just three months time. She was the best selling author of her time and Little Women has been in continuous publication ever since it was first published.

Tomorrow morning we are heading into Boston. That means that this will be a short entry so I can get some sleep. More to come so keep checking.

1838 Sturbridge

Today we ventured into the world of time travel and explored 1838 Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts. It was interesting, informative and fun. We saw the old Friends Meeting House and the parsonage. I pictured living there with my parents and sisters. Not sure that I would have liked sleeping in the attic or the amount of work it took to do just about everything. We watched demonstrations of spinning wool, shooting a musket, making tinware, saw examples of clothing and house goods. Although Sturbridge Village was beautiful and interesting, I'm grateful to be living in the 21st century.
This is the Publick House where we are currently staying, built in 1771. Yesterday's blog entry tells a bit more about the Publick House. There is a link there to the website for the Inn so you can read more about it.
Yes, there is color in Massachusetts, it's just a little harder to find than it should be this time of the year. Isn't this tree beautiful? There is more than just this one but you can tell by the background that this one, at least, is standing alone. Over the next two weeks, we will be on the hunt for the elusive Fall colors of New England. It should be fun!

We Made It!!

That's right, after a week of driving and exploring new and wondrous sites, we've finally arrived at our main destination, New England. This afternoon we arrived in Sturbridge, Massachusetts!! First stop in the couple of weeks we will be in New England. Although fall hasn't really come yet, the trees are just beginning to turn colors and the weather is hot, we're still looking forward to all we'll have the opportunity to see and do. We expect that before we leave New England we'll have the chance to see some great color, both because we'll be in lots of different places and because the weather is supposed to be getting cooler.

This morning we visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It was very interesting. Do you know when baseball began and who is credited with creating the game? Well, it began sometime in the early 1800's and Abner Doubleday is credited with creating the game. It was supposed to have been first played in Cooperstown and that is why the Baseball Hall of Fame is in this little out of the way town. Also, Cooperstown is named for James Fennimore Cooper. More trivia to add to your brain for the next game of Trivial Pursuit. The picture of Babe Ruth is of a life-size carving of him. It is made entirely from one piece of wood and no cloth or leather or any other material is part of the carving. It really is amazing.

Tonight we are staying at the Publick House in Sturbridge. It was built in 1771 and the floors let you know the truth of that statement. They creak and slant but are beautiful old wood. It was built by Colonel Ebenezer Crafts and is where he entertained his revolutionary troops. We ate in the Tavern tonight and the food was excellent. Our room is complete with a four poster canopied bed that is so high that one almost needs a step stool to get into bed. Speaking of bed, I think it's time to get some sleep. More later.

Erie, PA to Cooperstown, NY

It was fun to stay in Erie, PA last night since we were just here in July. It actually felt familiar and we knew where to find a restaurant for dinner and where to find a motel. That was nice after spending all week looking for places to stay and places to eat and trying to figure out how to get around in unfamiliar towns.

Even though it rained last night, it was already warm when we left this morning and the day was hot. Where is that fall weather we were expecting? It's a good thing we brought along a few warm weather pieces of clothing. I haven't had to go below the top layer in my suitcase. It appears that fall will be arriving in New England later this week as the temperatures in Bar Harbor are supposed to drop into the high 50's and low 60's. At least then the long sleeved shirts will come out of hiding.

In the summer of 1969 Judi and her family traveled across the USA and one of the stops was Niagara Falls. Interestingly enough, the American side of the Falls was 'turned' off. They were actually doing repairs on the falling rock to keep the Falls from becoming a cascade. So, today when we went to Niagara Falls, it was new to both of us. Doug had never been and I had never seen the American Falls falling.

Niagara Falls is spectacular. The volume of water is incredible. Mist shrouds the bottom of the falls and drenches even those viewing from the top. Rainbows appear in the mist. The sound becomes part of the subconscious as it is a constant roar. All the senses are involved in being at Niagara Falls. The roar of the water, the wet mist on hair and skin, the views of constantly rushing water, the smell of wet rock and even the taste of mist on the tongue. It was an incredible experience.

There was no real destination once we left the Falls other than getting closer to Massachusetts where we are staying Wednesday night. When we first began to plan and dream of this trip, the Baseball Hall of Fame was on our list of things to do. Somewhere amongst all the planning, the idea of visiting here was lost. But when we examined the map and saw Cooperstown in the exact area we planned on stopping for the night, we were on the phone making reservations. Tomorrow morning we will visit the Hall of Fame before heading on to Sturbridge. After some of the places we have already been and the way things are commercialized, it was a pleasant surprise to drive into Cooperstown and find it a quaint village. We are looking forward to exploring the town and the Hall of Fame tomorrow.

Monday, September 24

Today's drive was much more enjoyable than yesterday's, probably because I was not so tired. We drove through upper Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The forests hugged the road. Trees have begun to change colors; lime green, yellow, gold, orange and red amongst the mostly green trees. Wildflowers were still in bloom in bright purple, yellow and white. Breaks in the forest reveled beautiful farms. Green and gold fields of corn. White houses nestled among the trees and big red barns. Tall grey silos stood sentinel over each farm. With only a few variations, this seems to be the typical mid-west farm.

The original plan for Monday was to visit the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. We ended up taking a highway that by-passed Cleveland proper and just for once, we wanted to get to our hotel before dark. So, we drove through the beautiful country and then went straight to Erie, PA. It felt really good to have time to just rest, get a good dinner and be in bed at a reasonable time.

How to Entertain Yourself on an All Day Drive

Today was a long day of driving and not much else. So, as we drove and tried to stay entertained, I thought I would share with you the kinds of things that kept us busy. Here is a list of things you could also do while driving.

1. Think -- about anything because you have time
2. Converse with traveling companion
3. Switch off between driving and navigating
4. Listen to a book on tape -- Undaunted Courage about Lewis & Clark
5. Watch the changing scenery - from corn fields to forests to corn fields to forests to corn fields...plus a city or two for interest
6. Nap
7. Call Amy to check on the USC score
8. Watch for a place to stop for lunch -- there are lots of Arby's along Hwy 90
9. Have money ready to pay tolls
10. Continually check mileage driven against mileage to go
11. Play license plate game if there are enough cars on highway
12. Try to identify road kill as you speed past.

There should be more interesting things happening tomorrow as we drive through Cleveland and on to Erie, PA. Hmmm.....

Great Faces, Great Places

The official slogan of South Dakota is "Great Faces, Great Places." Well, we saw both those in the last couple of days. Last night we did not have Internet access so I'll try to catch you up on both Friday and Saturday's adventures without running on too long.

Friday morning, we left Billings around 9:00 a.m. on our way to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Park. This is about an hour drive. However, do you know that if you miss the turnoff along the highways of South Dakota that you will probably have to drive 16 miles out of your way before being able to turn around? My suggestion is to get off the highway if you just think you might need to. Then figure out if you are at the right place. Prevention is half the cure. All that to say that we did arrive at the Battlefield but not before seeing some extra countryside.

Even though we only expected to make this a quick stop it was actually very interesting and we spent several hours there. Add that to the wrong turn and lost time, it was later than planned when we left there for Mt. Rushmore.

Driving through South Dakota is mostly what you would expect. Lots of rolling hills covered with golden grasses and cattle and pronghorn antelope and not much else. It's big country and beautiful. But the surprise to us was the mountains. Okay, we're not talking Rockies here but mountains none the less. The drive to Mt. Rushmore was wonderful. (I really could use a thesaurus because I'm running out of descriptive words quickly.)

Everyone has seen pictures of Mt. Rushmore. I think it's required to be an American. It looks just like the pictures only more. It's big and magnificent and even a little awe-inspiring. The ability of Borglum to imagine this sculpture in the side of a mountain and then be able to accomplish it is amazing. We arrived in the very late afternoon and were there until dark. I'm very glad we took the time to go and recommend it to you as well. Go when you have the opportunity.

From there, we drove in the dark along winding mountain roads to our lodge in Custer State Park. The dining room had closed by the time we arrived but a very nice dining room host managed to get us some dinner and bring it to our room. End of a great day.

This morning we were able to actually see where we were staying and decided it was very nice. The lodge was built in the early 1920's and was the summer white house in 1926 for Coolidge. Custer State Park hosts the largest publicly owned buffalo herd. The Wildlife Loop Road winds through the park and we spent the morning exploring. We did see some buffalo but certainly not the entire herd. The road wound through pine forested hills, green grass covered meadows edged with golden leaved trees and made a great start to the day.

From Custer we drove a couple of hours to Wall, S.D. home of the famous Wall Drug Store. Along with all the other tourists, we stopped for lunch there and then across the highway to drive through the Badlands of South Dakota. This is where you will see the differences in personalities between Doug and Judi. The Badlands consist of eroded mud cliffs in unique formations and colors. It was hot, 94 degrees hot, and there are lots of these mud cliffs. They look a lot like sand castles on the beach and I will admit that it was unique and interesting but a fairly quick drive would have satisfied me. Doug, however, was totally intrigued and stopped at every turnout to gaze again at the mud cliffs. Do you see my prejudice for this afternoon's adventure? Doug wants to come back and believe me when I say he will come alone. Well, actually, I'll go anywhere with him if I just have a good book to read while he's exploring.

Once again the day ended with a long drive to our hotel arriving well after dark and dinner time. Once again we made a wrong turn which resulted in a 19 mile detour. Once again, it was a good day, mud cliffs and all.

Yellowstone traffic jam

Life is different on vacation. The desire to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the quiet and serenity of the country is not always what it seems. We sat for quite a while in this 'traffic jam' and enjoyed every minute of it. The buffalo were fascinating. The scenery was beautiful. It was a great day in Yellowstone.

We began the day in Idaho Falls and drove for about 1 1/2 hours to Yellowstone. One of the surprises along the way was Fall. The birch and aspen have begun to turn colors so the pine forests were dotted with swaths of bright lime green, gold and orange. Absolutely breathtaking.

Today we were out of the car and hiking. It felt so good after all the sitting yesterday. However, this was Yellowstone and that means boiling sulphur springs. When the wind blew our way we were shrouded in dense moist sulphur sweet clouds. It was actually quite interesting and beautiful. We picnicked by a rock strewn creek under pine trees. No sulphur there just clear cold air and the sound of the water running over the rocks. Our last stop was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Yellowstone Falls. They were spectacular.

By this time, the day was mostly gone and we still had a couple of hours to drive to get to Billings in time to rest and relax a bit before dinner. The shortest route was to leave by the northeast exit of the park. What we did not know was that meant climbing out of the park and over the Beartooth mountains. The summit was almost 11,000 feet reached by driving a winding narrow road. We passed clear mountain lakes, moonscape vistas, views to the far blue mountains and sheer drops to tree covered valleys. The drive was beautiful but much longer than we had anticipated. By the time we had descended the other side and driven out of the valley it was dark and we still had over an hour to drive to Billings. Once again, we arrived at our hotel late, tired and ready for a late dinner. Although it was longer than planned, it was a great day.

14 hours in the car

Rollin', rollin', rollin', keep those doggies rollin', RAWHIDE!

That's how today felt. Like a cattle drive and we were the meat. However, we did make it to Idaho Falls and we are now safe in our motel room ready to get some sleep. It was a beautiful drive even if long. High desert, low desert, mountains, rain, sunshine, clouds, we were driving long enough to experience more than one day's worth of weather and scenery. No pictures but there will be so keep checking. Good Night!

Bristlecone Pine Tree

Picture of the day -- September 7, 2007