What a fantastic trip! We were never bored and the time went fast.
61 days
8900 road miles
1633 nautical miles on the cruise
24 states, some more than once
3 Canadian provinces
26 beds-some for 5-7 days
Checked some major items off our huge bucket list:
New England in the Fall
Ride the cog railway up Mt. Washington in N.H.
Visit Niagara Falls
Cruise from Boston, to Halifax, Quebec, and Montreal on the St. Lawrence Seaway
50th class reunions (mine wasn't in my home town, because we already had reservations in New England. So the only 3 people I've had contact with in 49 years and we had a mini reunion in St. Louis for 5 days!)
Air Force museum in Illinois
Drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and through several southern states
Nimitz and WWII in the Pacific museum in Tx.
Visited Tom's mom (93 this month) for 5 days and several couples who we always keep in contact with, but haven't seen for 26-34 years!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Oct. 26 El Paso to Tucson
We drove seeing lots of mesquite trees and huge stands of junipers. Eventually some varieties of cacti, but the saguaro don't grow in Tx. We gained an hour.
We had planned to spend the night in El Paso, but the speed limit was 80 all morning and we had reached there at 1:20 and would gain another hour, so we decided to drive the other 300 miles and get home. This gave us a day to unpack, etc., etc., before volunteering the second day and so I can start packing 30 Christmas care packages for the troops.
800 hours, 12-1/2 hours, but we feel fine.
We had planned to spend the night in El Paso, but the speed limit was 80 all morning and we had reached there at 1:20 and would gain another hour, so we decided to drive the other 300 miles and get home. This gave us a day to unpack, etc., etc., before volunteering the second day and so I can start packing 30 Christmas care packages for the troops.
800 hours, 12-1/2 hours, but we feel fine.
Oct. 23 Shreveport, La. to Georgetown, Tx.
One of the advantages to living in Arizona are that I don't get many headaches from barometric pressure-I had several each week in Washington. Today I have the 9th one on my trip. Another is that we have little humidity. This morning at 7:30 the temperature is 72 and the humidity is probably the same or more. We were driving in light rain and then it poured for two hours. We drove past a lot of small towns and there was very little Fall color. There was an accident on the Interstate, with traffic backed up who knows how long. We inched toward an exit and got off for lunch. Asked waittress about a back road and took it until we had passed the scene of the accident. By that time there was one in the opposite lanes and traffic was backed up 5 or 6 miles, at least.
We are staying in Georgetown, where the daughter and family of Carl and Carole Washburn live. Carl was Tom's commander in Fairbanks part of the time. We were camping buddies and our kids were all basically the same ages. Carl played guitar and enjoyed doing it with Tom. He told us he has barely touched it since he left us in 1981, but he went out and bought a new one to have while we're here. The kids and grandkids, and other relatives are all musical, so Carl has set up several hours of jamming and individual performances for tomorrow.
They had torrential rains while driving from San Antonio and eventually met us for dinner. The to Jennifer's to meet her family. They left Alaska when she was 3-1/2 and we saw her once 20+ years ago. She's now 38.
The next morning another daughter drove us around Georgetown in the rain. She showed us the Del Webb subdivision there where Carl and Carole lived for a short time. Ours will have 529 houses. This one has over 7000. We had a lot of fun with all the music and visiting that afternoon and evening. It rained 8" in their rain gauge, from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, and it had probably overflowed.
We are staying in Georgetown, where the daughter and family of Carl and Carole Washburn live. Carl was Tom's commander in Fairbanks part of the time. We were camping buddies and our kids were all basically the same ages. Carl played guitar and enjoyed doing it with Tom. He told us he has barely touched it since he left us in 1981, but he went out and bought a new one to have while we're here. The kids and grandkids, and other relatives are all musical, so Carl has set up several hours of jamming and individual performances for tomorrow.
They had torrential rains while driving from San Antonio and eventually met us for dinner. The to Jennifer's to meet her family. They left Alaska when she was 3-1/2 and we saw her once 20+ years ago. She's now 38.
The next morning another daughter drove us around Georgetown in the rain. She showed us the Del Webb subdivision there where Carl and Carole lived for a short time. Ours will have 529 houses. This one has over 7000. We had a lot of fun with all the music and visiting that afternoon and evening. It rained 8" in their rain gauge, from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, and it had probably overflowed.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Oct. 22 Birmingham to Shreveport, LA. Vicksburg National Military Park
7:30 a.m. 59 degrees. 11:00 79 degrees 3:00 85 degrees this is more like it!
Again today we drove hundreds of miles with trees on both sides of the highway.
Vicksburg, MS.
Cannons, Union and Confederate trenches, monuments to all the various cavalry, battery, and infantry divisions. The Union units were all from the Midwest: Ill, Ia, Wisc, Mich, Ohio, Mo., Ind.
Its Army laid siege here for 47 days. 17,000 Confederate soldiers are laid to rest in this cemetery- a terrible price to pay for this piece of real estate. We didn't see anything about the Union casualties.
There were several of these Iowa monuments, honoring various units
This is the USS Cairo, a Union ship that hit two mines in the nearby Yazoo river and sunk in 12 minutes. It remained in the river for 102 years.
Drove across the Mississippi River into Louisiana. A few miles later a sign said there was a rest area and hurricane shelter ahead. In Shreveport, the timber industry of the 1800's has been taken over by the gaming industry. Downtown there are several skyscrapers and some casinos are next to the highway coming into town.
Ate dinner at Becca's Steaks and Seafoods: catfish, hush puppies, rice, and fries for Tom. Chicken and sausage gumbo and a shrimp salad for me. Yum.
Again today we drove hundreds of miles with trees on both sides of the highway.
Vicksburg, MS.
Cannons, Union and Confederate trenches, monuments to all the various cavalry, battery, and infantry divisions. The Union units were all from the Midwest: Ill, Ia, Wisc, Mich, Ohio, Mo., Ind.
Its Army laid siege here for 47 days. 17,000 Confederate soldiers are laid to rest in this cemetery- a terrible price to pay for this piece of real estate. We didn't see anything about the Union casualties.
Ate dinner at Becca's Steaks and Seafoods: catfish, hush puppies, rice, and fries for Tom. Chicken and sausage gumbo and a shrimp salad for me. Yum.
Oct. 21 We've traveled 6,673 miles! Today we go through sections of Tn., Ga., and Ala.
I wasn't feeling well and Tom heard traffic during the night so we didn't get up till 7:30. 37 degrees.
We climbed quickly after leaving Asheville. Driving by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. All the mountains are covered with trees with leaves that are changing colors, but they aren't bright or vibrant. Lots of pine trees mixed in.
The highway is congested with trucks. Some areas say they aren't allowed in the left lane, but they go anyway, and drive over the speed limit most of the time.
Into TN.-past Knoxville. Huge concrete cross at a Baptist church. Earlier today we saw probably the exact same one at another Baptist church. So much traffic. No color on leaves yet.
Near Chattanooga we went into a corner of GA. Very hilly and mountainous. TN, GA, and Ala. have all looked alike-trees lining both sides of the highway and nothing to see except when you go past a town, usually. Disappointing.
Passed Ft. Payne, where the music group, Alabama, is from. Sign says there is a fan club and museum there. We saw their new CD yesterday and only 3 of the 5 guys were on the cover. In Alabama it is 74 degrees-the warmest we've seen for about 3 weeks.
We've arrived in Bessemer, near Birmingham, for the night. There is an air museum and also a movie Tom wants to see, but he said he was ready to relax at the hotel and go to dinner.
We climbed quickly after leaving Asheville. Driving by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. All the mountains are covered with trees with leaves that are changing colors, but they aren't bright or vibrant. Lots of pine trees mixed in.
The highway is congested with trucks. Some areas say they aren't allowed in the left lane, but they go anyway, and drive over the speed limit most of the time.
Into TN.-past Knoxville. Huge concrete cross at a Baptist church. Earlier today we saw probably the exact same one at another Baptist church. So much traffic. No color on leaves yet.
Near Chattanooga we went into a corner of GA. Very hilly and mountainous. TN, GA, and Ala. have all looked alike-trees lining both sides of the highway and nothing to see except when you go past a town, usually. Disappointing.
Passed Ft. Payne, where the music group, Alabama, is from. Sign says there is a fan club and museum there. We saw their new CD yesterday and only 3 of the 5 guys were on the cover. In Alabama it is 74 degrees-the warmest we've seen for about 3 weeks.
We've arrived in Bessemer, near Birmingham, for the night. There is an air museum and also a movie Tom wants to see, but he said he was ready to relax at the hotel and go to dinner.
Oct. 20 Driving through VA., TN., N.C., On the Blue Ridge Parkway, and visiting Appomattox
37 degrees early morning in Richmond. Pine trees line the road, then all kinds of trees, but very little color on the leaves yet. It was in the 80's here last week.
We drove 94 miles of the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a two lane road with speeds of 35-45 mph. which runs through 29 counties in Va. and N.C. So these miles took us 3 hours. Some varieties of trees have colored leaves, but many don't. Yet many leaves have fallen. There were several bluebird houses along the road.
Various elevations we noted were 1495, 2889, 3013. We could see for miles, with layers of mountains, but it was often hazy in the distance. Some overlooks were blocked by large trees. Some look way off at towns and mountains. We drove mostly through forest land, but occasionally saw bare land, a farm, church, a good sized cemetery on a hill above a farm, several large ponds, old barns, etc.
This is the house where General Lee surrendered to general Grant
Later in the day we drove a stretch of highway called the Purple heart Trail. Now, in N.C., we're on the Blue Star Highway, "honoring our armed forces". 10-1/2 hour day. Dinner at Cracker Barrel here in Asheville, N.C.
We drove 94 miles of the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a two lane road with speeds of 35-45 mph. which runs through 29 counties in Va. and N.C. So these miles took us 3 hours. Some varieties of trees have colored leaves, but many don't. Yet many leaves have fallen. There were several bluebird houses along the road.
Various elevations we noted were 1495, 2889, 3013. We could see for miles, with layers of mountains, but it was often hazy in the distance. Some overlooks were blocked by large trees. Some look way off at towns and mountains. We drove mostly through forest land, but occasionally saw bare land, a farm, church, a good sized cemetery on a hill above a farm, several large ponds, old barns, etc.
We saw a lot of split rail fences, including this one at Appomattox
This is the house where General Lee surrendered to general Grant
Later in the day we drove a stretch of highway called the Purple heart Trail. Now, in N.C., we're on the Blue Star Highway, "honoring our armed forces". 10-1/2 hour day. Dinner at Cracker Barrel here in Asheville, N.C.
afternoon of Oct 17 and Oct 18. Visit with Jack and Sue Keene near Richmond, VA.
Drove from Montreal to Albany, N.Y. Little to see, but pretty trees along the highway.
31 degrees when we left Albany at 7:30 a.m.. Traffic was terrible for a Sunday, or was it because of it, or is it always this way? Slow way down and even stop on the turnpike time and time again, for n apparent reason.
Drove through NY, NJ, Del., Md, and Va.
NY and NJ have large "service centers" along the highways that have a gas station separate and a building with nice restrooms, 3-4 fast food restaurants, and a convenience store. Some were named after Revolutionary era famous women.
Saw beautiful trees all day and 4 deer together. Another Six Flags park-have seen several on our trip. Old 3 story houses in NJ and nearby large loft complexes with units for sale. 2 high cranes with flags flying from them.
Drove across a tiny area of Del. into Md. Crossed a huge bridge with toll booth at the end. We asked the attendant what the names of the 2 towns on either end of the bridge were and he answered "I don't know". Hmm. Well, maybe he comes in from some other direction. We spent $22 in tolls today, mostly for interstate highways. Not that we like it, but it seems unfair that people out here pay to drive on interstates when people in most states don't. I know there are 2 highways around Denver now with tolls.
A memory of the NJ turnpike: One winter in the 1970's we drove from Washington, D.C. to Iowa and Minnesota for Christmas. We left Minneapolis and saw several accidents before we got out of town. The kids were 4,2,1. When we got near the turnpike, traffic was re-routed because it was closed because so many semis had jackknifed and they needed to be cleared. We had heavy coats, snacks and plenty of blankets, so Tom took off to find milk for Jacque's bottle. McDonald's had run out of food, but still had milk. He said he wanted to stay on the access ramp to the highway overnight instead of staying in a shelter, so that's what we did. He started the heater several times. The next year we took the train and it snowed all most all the way there and back!
Drove through a long tunnel under the Baltimore harbor.
Silver alert message flashing on elevated highway signs. I googled it and it said 36 states now have the system where they announce a missing senior citizen. This message described the car and license plate.
This is tobacco country-cigarettes are $3.50-4.25 instead of 7.50 as in so many states.
Passed the Quantico Marine base and the National Marine Museum. It's being added onto so they have more recent Marine history displayed.
Arrived at Jack and Sue's. Tom and Jack served together in the Security Police at three bases during their careers. We hadn't seen him for 19 years and had never met Sue. Two evenings and a day of nice visit, old storied, old pictures. I caught a cold and wasn't up to par, but we had a good time and promises to get together in far fewer years.
31 degrees when we left Albany at 7:30 a.m.. Traffic was terrible for a Sunday, or was it because of it, or is it always this way? Slow way down and even stop on the turnpike time and time again, for n apparent reason.
Drove through NY, NJ, Del., Md, and Va.
NY and NJ have large "service centers" along the highways that have a gas station separate and a building with nice restrooms, 3-4 fast food restaurants, and a convenience store. Some were named after Revolutionary era famous women.
Saw beautiful trees all day and 4 deer together. Another Six Flags park-have seen several on our trip. Old 3 story houses in NJ and nearby large loft complexes with units for sale. 2 high cranes with flags flying from them.
Drove across a tiny area of Del. into Md. Crossed a huge bridge with toll booth at the end. We asked the attendant what the names of the 2 towns on either end of the bridge were and he answered "I don't know". Hmm. Well, maybe he comes in from some other direction. We spent $22 in tolls today, mostly for interstate highways. Not that we like it, but it seems unfair that people out here pay to drive on interstates when people in most states don't. I know there are 2 highways around Denver now with tolls.
A memory of the NJ turnpike: One winter in the 1970's we drove from Washington, D.C. to Iowa and Minnesota for Christmas. We left Minneapolis and saw several accidents before we got out of town. The kids were 4,2,1. When we got near the turnpike, traffic was re-routed because it was closed because so many semis had jackknifed and they needed to be cleared. We had heavy coats, snacks and plenty of blankets, so Tom took off to find milk for Jacque's bottle. McDonald's had run out of food, but still had milk. He said he wanted to stay on the access ramp to the highway overnight instead of staying in a shelter, so that's what we did. He started the heater several times. The next year we took the train and it snowed all most all the way there and back!
Drove through a long tunnel under the Baltimore harbor.
Silver alert message flashing on elevated highway signs. I googled it and it said 36 states now have the system where they announce a missing senior citizen. This message described the car and license plate.
This is tobacco country-cigarettes are $3.50-4.25 instead of 7.50 as in so many states.
Passed the Quantico Marine base and the National Marine Museum. It's being added onto so they have more recent Marine history displayed.
Arrived at Jack and Sue's. Tom and Jack served together in the Security Police at three bases during their careers. We hadn't seen him for 19 years and had never met Sue. Two evenings and a day of nice visit, old storied, old pictures. I caught a cold and wasn't up to par, but we had a good time and promises to get together in far fewer years.
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