My Almost Final TorresTravels2 Entry

We did it! Safe and sound. 1,111 miles later, we're sleeping in our bed tonight. Crazy? Yes. But we were west of Phoenix at 6:30 and it just didn't feel right stopping at that time. Now granted, we did gain 2 hours during the day. But we weren't fatiqued and we were beginning to smell home. So we went for it - with a reassessment in Yuma. The winds were really strong crossing the desert and mountains. And that slowed us up a bit - safety first. But we still managed to drive into our garage at 11:45 Pacific time.

So now it's 12:20, and we're both showered and ready for bed. Please don't call too early.

I'll get in one more blog with some of our observations and highlights of the trip. Hope you all enjoyed following our travels.

Homeward Bound

It's Thursday evening and we're lodging in Amarillo, TX. Left Darah and the girls this morning. Had a great time with them, even though it was short. All three were buy with school, but we did get to visit the St. Louis Science Center. We had limited time which allowed us to only see the dinasaur display and the IMAX presentation of the Great Lakes. So, does anyone know why saving the sturgeon is so important?

This morning the girls were of to school and Darah had a morning bible study so we decided to leave early. So 772 miles later, we're in Amarillo. Sure would be nice to make it home tomorrow (Friday) but I think that would be pushing things a bit. So I'm sure we'll be there Saturday some time.

The ride was quite uneventful. We did drive into a beautiful sunset in Amarillo. It seemed to hang in the sky forever. We pulled of Interstate 40 just as the sky was darkening. This is the same route we drove in December but it was soooo foggy we didn't see any of the countryside during that time.

On the road again tomorrow morning ... early for sure.

Visiting O'Fallon

Our visit in Indianapolis was short, but sweet. Trasan and Sierra have grown since we saw them only 12 short weeks ago. Before we left we got to walk Trasan to school and meet his teacher. He was so proud to introduce us. Then asked why everyone was staring at his Lito and Nana. Ahhh, to be in kindergarten again.

We said our farewells, and began the four hour drive to O'Fallon. There was a front traveling through Ilinois and Indiana so we drove through rain almost all the way. Trees are just beginning to turn colors in this area. Once we got to O'Fallon the sun was shining and today the weather is just beautiful again.

We went out to eat with Darah and the girls. Then went to Ali & Sydney's school
bookfair. The girls bought some great reading books (Ali's into Goosebumps) and we read a couple before bedtime. Sydney proudly showed us her locker and classroom - all grown up. Too cute.

Today (Wednesday) Ai, Syd and Darah are in school. Later this afternoon we're planning to visit the St Louis Science museum. And then tomorrow get back on the road.

California! Here We Come!!

We're on our way back to California. Really, we're on our way back. But let me fill you in on our last few days.

Our train trip back from Vermont was uneventful. Actually, the trip back was easier than the way out last week. Mostly because of the timing. Going east we left Chicago at 11:30 pm. That makes for a long day to begin with, but then to travel for 16 hours...exhausting. Our return trip began at 7 pm out of Albany, NY. So we weren't so exhausted to begin with, slept a pretty good part of the trip, and then we were off the train by 10 am sunday morning. It was a great experience, but if you want to get from location A to location B, flying is the only way to go!

From Chicago, we drove to Sandy's home in Indianapolis. It's great to be here, relax and see the kids. The weather is beautiful. Today it was 84 and we got out for a little bike ride. It was a good day.

Tomorrow, after we walk Trasan to school, we'll head out to see Darah and the girls in the St. Louis area. Then continue west. We should be home by Sunday, or Monday at the latest.

Fall Time in Vermont

It's Saturday morning and we're packing to return to the train and head back to Chicago. Our Vermont stay was wonderful. The colors aren't quite peak yet. But non the less, it is beautiful. The land is very hilly with breathless views around every turn in the road.

On Thursday we visited a "pick your own" apple orchard. I never realized there were sooooo many varieties of apples. But before that we toured a bit of the Dartmouth campus and had lunch at Molly's in downtown Norwich. The city is everything you could imagine a New England city to be. The day was a bit rainy, but it was still a great day.

That evening we returned home to homemade lental soup and crusty local bread and good family conversation.

On Friday we drove along VT highway 4 to the city of Woodstock (not NY). We saw a number of covered bridges along the way and walked through the quaint little town. Good memories.

So on to Saturday morning. We're on our way to the local farmers market. Then we'll be loading up for the return ride to Albany to reboard the train.

Talk to you from Indy.

Lake Shore Limited

It's Tuesday afternoon. Tony, Mom and I just arrived at Gail & Johns house in Milwaukee. It's our first stop on the way to Vermont. From here, Tony and I will drive to Highland Park, just north of Chicago, and leave our car with John's mother. Then we'll Metra into Chicago where we'll meet up with Gail and Mom who are taking the MegaBus from Milwaukee to Union Station in Chicago. They're doing this because our car is packed for the trip home and when we return to Chicago we'll be heading to Indiana without returning to Wisconsin. Plus the MegaBus will drop Gail and Mom right at the Amtrak station, so minimal walking will be necessary.

The train leaves at 10:00 pm and it's a 16 hour ride. Yes, flying would be faster, but this is an adventure...and a test to see how efficient America's public transportation is...will let you know.

Talk to you from Vermont.

A Day in the Kettle Moraine

Spent last night with Gail and John. Thanks for your hospitality Sis. This morning we headed out to Hartford to have breakfast with Sue and Randy. Then spent the day touring the Kettle Moraine area. For those of you who don't know, this area of Wisconsin is hilly in comparison to other areas. The Moraine areais the result of the Green Bay Glacier gouging and moving earth, then depositing debris in the area during the ice age. Finally, that college geography paid off. Oh, and the kettles, or holes, are caused by melted glacial ice (and that's a thanks to Wikipedia). Anyway, the area is beautiful, and should be even more beautiful in the next few weeks when the fall colors are in full swing.

We also stopped at Holy Hill, a catholic shrine dedicated to the virgin Mary. It's the highest point in Southeast Wisconsin. Unfortunately there was a large renovation project underway that prevented us from climbing the towers. But we did get to see the church and walk around the grounds. I grew up in this area and have never been to this spot before. When we first saw the spires of the church in the distance,
it reminded me of the castles in Europe...and to think it was in my own back door.

We also drove past a number of the small glacial lakes in the area. I could see renting one of these some summer, praying for good weather and having a great family time. Dreams.

An Evening on Lake Nagawicki

Thursday, September 25th... we're back in the Milwaukee area. Wanted to spend a little more time with my sisters and their husbands. Gail's friend, Cathy, was gracious enough to invite us to her home and spend an evening boating around Lake Nagawicki. It was a wonderful evening. Who would have thought we would be boating around a lake in Wisconsin on a late September evening. The weather has been just beautiful. The trees are starting to turn colors and the air has that crisp autumn feel to it. We had a great time...and the wine was great too! Thanks Cathy.

The Shed

Our big task in Sheboygan was to replace the outdoor storage shed for Mom. Mom purchased a 10x10 metal shed the weekend before and it was delivered to the store on Thursday. But, before the new one could be put up, the old one had to be taken down. Mom & I emptied out all the "necessary" items being stored in the shed and then Tony demolished it with the help of Mom's neighbor, Skippy. Skippy is an old friend of the family and he's someone you wanna keep as a friend and not make an enemy. Great guy, but...

Well, these project aren't just demolish and rebuild. There was alot of cleanup necessary around the foundation. The concrete slab was in good shape but after 35 years, the ground and tree debris covered a corner of the cement slab at least 3 inches deep. Lots of shoveling and chopping later Tony & I got everything cleared and even dug a trench around the cement for drainage. That kinda work made me appreciate my previous desk jobs!

By Saturday the area was ready for the new shed and it took Tony
& myself from 10am to 6pm to get it assembled. We took a couple of days off to visit Gail and John in Milwaukee and then on Tuesday, we were back in Sheboygan where
Tony finished up the shed detail. Sue also drove to Sheboygan, and we spend Tuesday in the house doing some deep cleaning for Mom. Hey, aren't we suppose to be on vacation?



The finished product!

The Pod

Week two in Wisconsin involved a few more moving chores. On Monday, the 15th, Tony & I drove back to Hartford to meet with Sue and Randy and the moving Pod. The pod arrived around 2pm and with the help of Kathy, a friend of Sue & Randy, and Jennifer the pod was unpacked into the garage by 4. The driver then returned to pick it up and it was out of the Charle's life!

Steph and a friend joined us later and we assembly lined the boxes into the appropriate rooms, or basement. By the way, Tony & I have basement envy. It's doubles the size of house...just amazing. By 7 that evening we were finished with the major box placement and it was time for Pizza and Beer at the Mineshaft, a local restaurant in Hartford. We spent the night with Sue and Randy and then parted ways Tuesday morning to give them some time alone with the task of unpacking.

Travel Update - The Move

Well, it's been a few weeks since my last blog. Sorry for the delay, but between moving, building, cleaning and no internet access, updates have been difficult. So, bare with me and I'll try to catch you up on our activities.

So, we got into Wisconsin Rapids on the 9th of September. That was our first work stop. The task: Help Sue and Randy move out of their home of 25+ years. They actually had things pretty well organized, but there are always those little and last minute things that are hardest to pack. After a couple of days of pushing everything toward the back door, we decreed no more cooking or living as usual. So we ate out (or carried in) for the next two days and packed everything into boxes. Mission complete!

Wednesday night we had a great Mexican dinner with the Ives, Sue & Randy's friends since college. It was great seeing them again. I'm sure Sue and Randy will miss their closeness.

On Thursday, September 11th, Randy and Tony loaded a 12 foot trailer and the back of the van and Tahoe, drove to Hartford (2.5 hrs), unpacked, and drove back to Wisconsin Rapids...all before 9 pm. Then on Friday morning we packed everything else either into the moving pod or one of the four cars we had to drive down and headed for Hartford. Bye Bye Rapids.



Bye Bye Dewey Street!

Rushin' to Rapids

Day five of our trip took us from Mount Rushmore to Wisconsin Rapids. Initially we were planning to spend another night on the road. But the closer we got to Rapids we just decided to go for it. So on day 5 we drove 748 miles!

But, before we hit the road we did a bit more tourista in the Black Hills. We got up pretty early and by 8 am we were at Mt. Rushmore. On the way from the hotel we passed Horsethief Lake and were spellbound by the view. The water was so still we could see the reflection of the sky on the water. We pulled off the road and snapped a couple of pictures. I don't know if you can see the detail, but it's hard to tell where the real land ends and the reflection begins. A real "wow" moment.

We didn't know what to expect with Mt. Rushmore, but we were very impressed. The sky was beautiful blue, and it was a crisp morning...and we were almost the youngest people at the park! Just kidding, but I'll bet the average age of the visitors that morning was 65+. The visitors center and viewing plaza are very visitor friendly and there's a "President's Trail" that winds around the base of the mountain revealing a new view around every corner.

On our way out of Dodge we stopped at Keystone, and took a quick gold mine tour at Thunder Mountain. The hole was mined for 40 years and only produced 10 ounces of gold. One more "get rich quick" scheme that didn't work. Fun tour tho.

Our final destination, Wisconsin Rapids was reached by 11:30 pm. A long day. Had a quick beer to settle the road dust. Then hit the sack. Now it's time to get those Charles' out of the Crapids.

Black Hills

We made it to Mt. Rushmore...well, almost. Here's how our day went. We left Rawlins, WY at 9:30 this morning. Had a great nights sleep, but we're were glad to leave that town. It's a great place to visit if you're feeling like you're on the low end of the intelligence totem pole. Believe me, we're not! They're all in Rawlins!

So before we hit the road, we put our Mount Rushmore destination into the GPS which came up with 3 option. One was all freeway but was almost 100 miles longer, but estimated 1 hour less on the road. Ok, so freeway driving in Wyoming at 75 mph can make a difference so we opted for the freeway route. The route took us north on Interstate 25, then across Interstate 90 to Rapid City, SD where we would cut down to the Mt. Rushmore area.

Sooooo, we're tooling along Interstate 90 and we see a sign for Rapid City, SD which is still 150 miles away. Then we see a commercial sign for Mt. Rushmore. This route would take us on to Route 16, which is a 2 lane country road running next to a railroad, but it's 40 shorter. So we went for it ... the road was straight and as flat as a pancake. So maybe not all the fools are in Rawlins.

Well, we made it to the Black Hills and again we were amazed at the beauty of this area. We're still at 5000+ feet and the hills are not as majestic as the Rockies. But they're beautiful. Because we came in on the west side of the Black Hills we stopped at the Crazy Horse Monument first. That's the new mountain sculpture honoring Native Americans. The weather wasn't too cooperative, rain and fog, so the mountain was a bit hazy. The sculpture is supported by donations, and is still a work in progress with no completion date. The four heads of Mt Rushmore fit into just the head portion of Crazy Horse. It is huge!

Traveling is tiring. I don't know how truckers do this for a living. After a pizza dinner we checked into our hotel to call it a day. Hoping to hit it early tomorrow morning to see the presidents, then on to Wisconsin.

Later.

Bryce Canyon to Rawlins, WY

Day 3 and we're ready to power-visit Bryce Canyon. The ride from our hotel to the Canyon is only an hour and we're in the Park shortly after 9 am which is to our advantage. The traffic is light and the weather is cool. Bryce Canyon is entered at the north end and viewed from the top with all the viewpoints are on the east side of the park. So we drove to the farthest southern point we wanted to see, the Natural Bridge. Then worked our way back to the entrance stopping at 5 other viewpoints. We didn't do any hiking down the trails. Maybe some day. But the view from the top is breathtaking! The rock formation, or Hoodoos, are just amazing!

We only spent a couple of hours at the park and then headed out to Wyoming. Just before you get into Bryce the road cuts across The Red Canyon of Dixie National Forest. More beautiful red rock formation. There are a couple of short tunnels cut through the rocks and the color is incredibly vivid. A real bonus we weren't expecting. The rocks are similar in color to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, just more spirally.

Well, the rest of the drive through Utah and into Wyoming was pretty uneventful. We were originally going to stay in Rock Springs, WY which is about 100 miles over the Utah/Wyoming border. But we decided to do another 100 miles and make it to Rawlins. Mmmm, and if you ever get the urge to visit Rawlins, don't.

From here we'll head north to Casper, then head east to the Black Hills. We're planning to see Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and anything else that peaks our interest.

Vegas in our rear view mirror

Day two begins with an "early for Vegas" departure, 8 am. I think this is the first time we left Vegas without ever touching a slot machine. "Nothing ventured. Nothing gained." ...or lost!

Driving the high desert can be a bit tedious. Lots of sand, rock and brown vegetation. We stopped at the Nevada/Arizona (Yes, the 15 cuts through the northwest corner of AZ) in Mesquite. It was our last chance to hit the slots. No luck here either. We opted to stop at Walmart to purchase deodorant and sunscreen. I walked in to the neatest Walmart store I've ever seen. Every can, bottle and box was perfectly aligned on the shelf AND there were no lines at the checkout. "Totto, I don't think we're in Southern California any more.

We got into Zion National Park around 10:30 and parked the car at the Visitor's center. The park service provides a shuttle service through the park. And it's the only way to see the park. We hung out the windows and took a ton of pictures which just don't do this slice of heaven justice. The park was originally settled by Mormons who farmed along the banks of the Virgin river. Most of the sites were named by these settlers and have a biblical reference: The Three Patriarchs, The Alter and the Pulpit, and of course the term Zion, which means a heavenly meeting place. The land was declared a national monument in 1909 and originally named Mukuntuweep. A decade later it became a national park an renamed Zion.

Because we planned on spending only three hours in the park, and the fact that it was 90 degrees, we only took a few short hikes: one to the Virgin River, and another up to the weeping rock which continually sprays water from the rock.

We continued our travels east on Utah Hwy 9 which crossed through a 1 mile tunnel blasted into the cliffside in 1930 beforeRV's existed. If one of these big boys wants to use the tunnel, traffic is stopped and the RV is escorted through the
center of the tunnel. Our little Prius had no trouble making the climb and driving through the tunnel. The driver however....Tony started up the mountainside. But the switchbacks are pretty intense and right on the edge of the mountain. So at the first possible chance of a pullover we "pulled over" and switched drivers. We exited the park and continued down the road a couple more miles to the crossroads town of Mount Carmel Junction where we checked into the Thunderbird Hotel and stepped back in time. The place is clean, but a bit dated.

Stopped in at the corner store and purchaced a 6-pack of Polygamy beer. Remember, this is Mormon country. And after a few beers, dinner at the hotel restaurant (no other options) and a quick dip in the pool, bed was calling our names.

Time to recharge and do it all again in Bryce Canyon

We're Off!

Well, we finally hit the road.   Thursday morning finally rolled around and by the time we checked and double checked all the doors, light timers and water valves, it was 7:35 a.m. by the time we left the house.  Just in time for SD traffic.  Hey, we're retired and on vacation.  What's the rush?

So on we went to Vegas with the obligatory stop at the Barstow Train Station.  For those of you who don't know, as you're driving from San Diego to Vegas on interstate 15,   the halfway point is Barstow.  Just off the interstate, on Main Street, there's a McDonald's located in a couple of old train cars.  It used to be a fun place to stop.  But now it is such a tourist trap and it's even difficult finding the railroad cars once your inside.  Oh well, it's still a good potty stop.

Back on the road to Hoover Dam and the new bridge being built to to eliminate the need to drive over the actual dam.  WOW!  What an amazing feat of engineering.  I remember going to the dam 8 years ago and being amazed at how big it is.  Well, it's shadowed by the new suspension bridge.  If you're ever in the area, go see it.  It is amazing.  I cannot believe there are people brave (or crazy) enough to actually crawl around and work on that thing.  The pictures don't do it justice.

After Hoover, we returned to Vegas.  We stopped at the strip and walked through MGM to see the Lions, stopped in NYNY to have a few beer and Nachos.  The restaurant area looks like the old streets of New York City... except there's a roller coaster zooming through it.  Then on to The Venetian.  So from Hoover Damn to New York City to Venice in less than 2 hours.  

Time to bed down.  And in Vegas there are many options.  We chose to stay down on Fremont Street, at the Golden Nugget.  Fremont is the old downtown area of Las Vegas, and a few years ago they turned the main drag into a covered pedestrian street.  We checked into the hotel at 7:30 pm and wanted to experience The Tank or the pool built around a shark tank.  Oh, did you know there's a water slide right through the shark tank?  What a gas, sliding down a twisting tube, then seeing the sharks surround you and then splashing into the pool.  I don't wanna grow up!

On to Zion!

Departure Date Determined

We've decided on a departure date. It's Thursday, September 4, 2008. First stop, Vegas. Looks like we'll be staying at the Golden Nugget downtown. It's been recently remodeled and we haven't been in that area for decades.

Talk to you then.

Hoaning the Itinerary

Our travel dates are centered around the Charles patriarchs moving from Wisconsin Rapids to the Milwaukee area. Sue and Randy are scheduled to be out of their home of 28 years by September 15th. So we plan to be there by the 11th to help pack up. Then it will be down to Milwaukee and Sheboygan until the 30th of September when we plan to head to Vermont for a few days with the Dixons.

Ahhh, but before our arrival in Wisconsin, we plan to stop in Vegas, Zion and Bryce, and Mount Rushmore. I think I could bypass Vegas, but I've never been able to walk the strip without excruciating pain. Tony and I haven't seen Fremont Street since it's been covered either. So we'll see that too. And before all that, the new bridge at Hoover Dam.

So it looks like Travel Day 1 will consist of:

1) Leave SD (early)
2) Drive directly to Hoover Dam
3) Drive to and walk the Vegas strip
4) See Fremont St


Will probably spend the night in Vegas. If it's a week day lodging is a steal.

We're doing it again!

Well, we going to do it again!  Drive cross country, that is.  We've been planning to visit Wisconsin in September and after a bit of discussion Tony & I decided to make a road trip out of it...at least the first phase.  

Phase II will be a quick trip to Vermont to visit the Dixons and catch the colors.  Right now we don't have any definite plans.  We're bouncing around all possibilities.

Will keep you posted as the planning progresses.