Amy and I recently took a two week road trip in the eastern United States and into Canada to visit family, friends and to renew friendships. With all the talk of high gas prices and Americans not wanting to travel, we decided this was the perfect time to travel (HA!). As is my nerdy habit I always review the trip once we get back to see how we spent the money and if we stayed within our budget. I used to call this "performing the autopsy" but Amy did not care for this. She says it sounds like we had a bad trip and did not enjoy ourselves. On the contrary, we had a blast! We had a lot of conversation about retirement and the new stages of life we are going into. With her already being retired she is already seeing what it is partially like. So, until I come up with a better term I'll call it "The Vacation In Review".
We left our home on Monday, September 3, 2012 and traveled through Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ontario, Canada. We had lots on meals out (obviously) and lots to time together. We had a lot of time to talk and laugh together. Bottom line: together. We traveled 3,902.40 miles through eight states and one Canadian Province in 13 days.
Our first destination was to Mt. Joliet, Tennessee, where we met Ron and Becky Goodman. Ron performed our wedding ceremony in 1976. Over the years we have kept in contact through friends and the occassional visit in the fall at Camp Bandina in the Texas Hill Country. This year Ron could not make it to Texas and as we were planning a trip to the east in September we asked to meet them at their house. They agreed, and we had a great evening of conversation and catching up. We were also able to see their daughter, Shantelle, who we used to babysit when we were in college. Ron and Becky were examples to us of a Christian marriage. I bought my first car (1974 orange Chevrolet Vega) from Ron. They are some of those people who you may not see often but they are more often in our thoughts.
Next, on the way to Ohio, we stopped at The Hermitage, the late President Andrew Jackson's home. It was beautiful and well kept. We spent far too short a time there and plan to go back again some time.
In Ohio we stopped at Steve and Dianne Connell's house for about three days. Steve and I have been friends since we first met in 6th grade at Spring Woods Junior High School in Houston. We met Dianne in 1976 when Steve brought her to Texas to meet his family and us. Mostly we just enjoyed each other's company. It was our first trip their house and will not be the last. We fell in love with their house. It was warm and welcoming and easy to feel comfortable in. While there we visited my birth-mother's grave and the graves of other relatives at Spring Grove Cemetery. We enjoyed a Reds/Astros ballgame and, surprisingly, the Astros won! Also, thanks to the Astros striking out 11 times in the game we also were able to enjoy a free personal pizza and a scoop of ice cream. We were also able to visit old friends, the Holbrooks, and their daughter, Sylvia. Betty Holbrook was a childhood friend of my birth-mother, Margaret Kersting. They were close until Margaret's death in 1959 from cancer. The reunion was fun. We met at the assisted living facility where they live. We had planned to have dinner together and, much to Betty's chagrin, breakfast was served for dinner. She was not happy but we were fine with that. Afterwards, on a whim, we stopped by the house of my godmother, Mickey Sellens. We were not sure what to expect as we had not had contact with her since 1977. Needless to say, she was more than a little surprised. In fact, Amy and I were concerned she may pass out once I told her who I was. She was gracious and welcoming. The visit was way too short so we will need to see her again sometime.
Our trip continued to to Cleveland and Painesville, Ohio. My dad was born in Painesville and his family lived and stayed in the Cleveland/Painesville/Ashtabula area of the state. They had moved here from Pennsylvania. We stopped by my great aunt's houses and the train station in Painesville where my brother, Bruce, and I used to spend hours while on vacation. We took pictures and were able to visit with my Aunt Jenny's neice who currently lives in Aunt Lenora and Sadie's house. She has done a wonderful job of sprucing up the place and making it more lovely than it was when family lived there. My great aunts would approve, I think. She is going to send us a house history that she did on the two houses. It will be interesting to read once it is received.
While there we visited several area cemeteries paying respects to loved ones and doing a little genealogy work. We also reunited with my cousin David and his wife, Lynn. We had a great dinner and enjoyed the short time together. We will plan to come back and visit again ... and to stay in touch better than we have in the past.
From there we went to Niagra Falls in Ontario, Canada. It was very commercial and built up but it was lovely. Lots of green spaces and blooming flowers. Our first impression of the falls was that it was not very loud. We were expecting this IMAX, booming noice ... but no. It was just water going over the edges of the falls. We went to several attractions: The Fury of the Falls, Journey Beneath the Falls, the White Water Walk and the Maid of the Mist. The Maid of the Mist was the best. Written words cannot descibe it. It must be experienced to be enjoyed. We ate at several local places but we had one favorite place. We had great wood-fired pizza at Antica. The only location for this restaurant is at Niagra on the Canadian side ... have to go back!
This worst part of the trip was ... the trip. Amy stumbled over an uneven part in the sidewalk, fell and cut her head. We ended up in a Canadian hospital. The ambulance crew, who were very nice and helpful, did not offer and we did not think about going to the American side to an American hospital. Oh, well ... lesson learned for next time! Hope there's not a next time. She was fine outside of a cut that needed three stitches and a bruised ego.
Finally, we went to West Virgina to see Jackie Dakan. We first met her when she and her family moved to Pleasanton several years ago. Things have changed for her and we were glad to see her happy, healthy and in a new relationship. She will be married again in October 20. She and her fiance will be in our thoughts and prayers as they begin their lives together. If they are ever our way they will have a place to stay.
We then retuned home. We did not really want to come back but it was good to be home. You know how it is while on vacation.
Anyway, here are a few facts and additional memories from the trip. There are many more but for now these are at the top of the list.
We played the license Plate Game:
43 states
5 Canadian Provinces
4 Mexican states
6 hotel rooms
Gasoline:
131.941 gallons of gas
$494.80
Most paid per gallon - $3.99
Least paid per gallon - $3.59
Average paid per gallon - $3.76
Mileage:
Miles traveled - 3,902.40
Average miles per gallon - 29.58
Sweetest Somethings - Richard's Maple Products, Chardon, Ohio
Best Win/Win - Astros beat the Reds and we still get pizza and ice cream
Least Chatty Person - Canadian customs officer entering Canada
Most Chatty Person - Canadain customs officer leaving Canada
Least Favorite Experience - Amy tripping and ending up in the hospital
Experience With Socialized Medicine - Let's not go there
Most Awesome Experience - Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls, Canada
Most Unusual Town Name - Bucksnort, Tennessee
Laziest Town Name - Quiet Dell, West Virginia
Best Waitress - Lexington, Kentucky
Most Helpful Waitress - Lexington, Kentucky
Most Unusual After Dinner Offer - "Coffee, tea, a traveler (to go cup), shot of bourbon?"
Best Local Food - Kentucky Brown Grill, Lexington, Kentucky
Old Friends/New Friends - Jackie Dakan/John Shepherd
Most Impulsive Stop - The Hermitage, Nashville, Tennessee
Longest and Most Nerve Wracking Drive - 22 miles, Highway 19, Pine Grove, West Virginia
Most welcome sight - Texas flag flying at the Connell's house, Cincinnati, Ohio
Best Reunion Dinner - David and Lynn LaMore, Cleveland, Ohio
Nicest Hotel - Double Tree Hilton, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Best Toll Road (if there can be such) - New York Thruway, $3.15 for 80 miles
Sweetest Visit - Mickie Sellens-Gibbs, Mason, Ohio
First Time Outside Of The Country Together - Canada
Best Appearance of Speed - 110 KPH/ 70 MPH, Canada
Texas Town Names Seen In Other States (in no particular order) - Sonora, Houston, Cleveland, Columbus, Midway, Jacksonville, Paris, Moscow, Palestine, Georgetown, Mason, Medina, Commerce, Lancaster, Rowlett, LaGrange, Deer Park, Montgomery, London, Midland, Dublin
Most Unexpected Surprise - Coming home to find 5 inches in the rain gauge followed by an additional 2 1/4 inches that night and the next day
Priceless - two uninterrupted weeks with my bride of almost 36 1/2 years
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