Christmas Trip - Day 11

Slept until 0915 - packed and got ready to go. Everything going great and left for Kim's at 1100. Stan was following me (very close) and he hit me as we came to a stop sign. He had a little Subaru - and it was totalled on the bumper of my Toyota 4X4... Too bad, since we now had to wait for the police to come (took several hours). Still, we made it to Kim's for Brunch and watched them open wedding presents. Stan was not angry, luckily, since he knew he was at fault. I do have a little damage on the truck, though... Kim and Jamie wanted to follow me towards the south, since their honeymoon was in Williamsburg. Left Holidaysburg at 1530 - took US-220 and I-70/76 to south. Changed to I-270 in Frederick, MD. Had dinner with Kim and Jamie at Bob Evans around 1745. Continued to I-495 and they kept up until just before hitting I-95. When I lost them, I slowed way down to allow them to keep up, but I never saw them again. Oh well - I'm sure they made it... Used I-95, I-295 and I-64 to get home - stopped at Busch Gardens exit to repack some luggage that had shifted during the drive and tighten the straps on the motorcycle. Made it home around 2245 - ran into my friend Jim while I was unpacking the truck. Worried about motorcycle and rear gate - must be some structural damage... Did laundry and called home around 2300. Bed after midnight.

Christmas Trip - Day 10

Woke up at 0815. Called Bob and arranged to see him later today. Had a good breakfast and then drove over to Kim's. Went to get my tuxedo at a Bride & Groom shop. Around 1145, had a break from wedding festivities. Drove towards Johnstown to see Bob. Used US-220 and US-22, driving through mountains and valleys to Ebensburg. Changed to US-219 and got off at Elton exit (Richland Mall and PA-756). Met Bob at 1245 - followed him to his house (PA-756, PA-403) in Johnstown. Met his mom and had a nice lunch. Made plans to meet in Pensacola in a month. He took me around town at 1400 - took US-219 to Johnstown Flood Memorial. Took some back roads to visitor's center. Said good-bye to him and took US-22 & US-220 back to Holidaysburg. Found Kim's house again at 1530. Got dressed in tux, drove over to St. Michael's Church for wedding photos - practiced for ceremony. Service started at 1830 - kind of long, but very fancy and memorable. Nice to see two of my best friends tying the knot... Drove over to Calvin's House for reception and receiving line. Sat at Bride's table during dinner - danced with big band and polka music (fun!). Got to dance with Kim before she and Jamie left. Dinner over at 2330 - went back to Donna and Pat's - talked with them and Stan until 0015.

Christmas Trip - Day 9

Up by 0715 - packed rest of stuff in truck. It is much warmer today - made for an easier trip to Altoona. Got motorcycle on truck - took family pictures. Left home at 0845 and used US-6 to leave Cape. Crossed Sagamore Bridge - used MA-25 and I-195 to get to Providence. On I-95 by 1000 - in Old Lyme at 1100. Hit HUGE traffic jam at NY-CT border - stuck for one and a half hours. Crossed George Washington Bridge at 1335 and then on I-80. Del Water Gap at 1455 and into Pennsylvania. Much less traffic - started to speed and nearly got nabbed near Hazelton... In Bloomsburg at 1615 and got off I-80 at exit 23. Used US-220 to get to Altoona (1800). Found Kim's house and church in Holidaysburg - had already missed rehearsals. In time for the rehearsal dinner at Olympios, though! Over 50 people there - had a great time with Jamie and the other groomsment (Matt & Bill) and ushers (Viju and Stan). At Kim's house later - her dad took us to places where we were going to sleep. Staying with Donna and Pat - Kim's friends. Had nice chat until midnight.

Christmas Trip - Day 8

Woke at 0945 and packed a little for tomorrow's departure. Called Mike about my truck - needs some work on emergency brake. Went with Dad to three junk yards (Dennisport, Harwichport and Harwich) - bought lots of good stuff for the truck for Mike and Bryan to add. Got work done at the Mobil and then went over to see Johanna - gave her my address since she goes to Liberty University (in Virginia). Went home at noon and had lunch. Took Dad to Ocean State Job Lot and then some dealers for his car - home at 1530. Worked on truck with Dad until 1800. Dinner and then went out to the mall again for Kim and Jamie's wedding present. Visited Grammy and Aunt Eva - later worked on motorcycle. Watched TV and packed a little more. Watched "West Side Story" with Katie and Carolyn. Around 2300, drove over to Oliver's to see Bryan - it was Karaoke night. Stayed until 0100 - fun! Packed up rest of my stuff and went to bed at 0130.

Christmas Trip - Day 7

Carolyn woke me up at 0800 - she was ready to open presents! Went upstairs and found Dad, Beth, Katie, Grammy and Aunt Eva waiting. Opened all the presents. Had breakfast and cleaned up kitchen. Watched "Bambi" with Carolyn and read some more while waiting to leave for Gerard's. Took a nap from 1200 to 1300. Left Dennis at 1330 - US-6 to Sagamore Bridge and Gerard's house. Helped make dinner (mashed potatoes) and had a great Christmas dinner. Talked for several hours - very nice conversation. Watched "Bull Durham" with everyone and then had desert and opened Christmas Cards. Watched family slide show. After some more talking with Gerard, took Katie and Carolyn home - via some Christmas lights in town. Listening to radio, heard President Bush announce the end of the Soviet Union! At home, watched the movie, "Total Recall." Read until midnight.

Christmas Trip - Day 6

Awake by 0830 - left hotel around 0900. Found Christmas list - had to wait for store to open to finish buying presents for the family... Left South Weymouth at 1045 and stopped in South Yarmouth to finish the rest of the Christmas shopping. Home at 1230 - had lunch. Went over to mall with Katie - she needed more presents too ("I wish this stupid shopping was over!!!"). Home around 1500 - wrapped all presents and cleaned up the living room. Had our usual dinner - tuna fish sandwiches on the floor in the living room. Ate with Dad, Beth, Katie, Carolyn - we each opened one present. Called Jamie to verify the wedding information. Went to EDCC with Katie and Carolyn for candlelight service. Saw lots more friends: Julie, Kerry, etc. Drove Damien home and his mom asked me to stay for their Christmas Eve party - that's a tradition, too. Had some really good food and played ping-pong. Saw lots of the old family friends (from when I was a kid). Had a good talk with Damien's dad. They gave me a leftover cake when I left and I went home - waking Dad by accident when I got there. Read for a little while and went to sleep at 0200.

Christmas Trip - Day 5

Woke at 0730 and drove back to Watertown (MA-3, I-93, I-95, MA-16). Christa told me she wanted to see some of the good history around here, so I decided to take her to Concord. We left her place at 0900 and headed over to I-95 (passed Bentley College on the way - I did Boy's State there in the 80s...). Used MA-2A and found Battle Road near Concord. Drove into town and found Old North Bridge. Went to visitor's center and looked around a bit - it was kind of rainy and cold, but we had fun anyway. Stopped by Lexington Village Green on the way back towards Boston. Used MA-2A to take Christa over to Salem - she wanted to see the Witch Museum. Found US-1 and took I-93 to the North Shore. Parked in town and walked around. Ended up eating lunch at the Viva Restaurant (Italian) - and it really started to pour outside by then. Walked around looking for Witch Museum for awhile - ended up lost and asked for directions. Eventually found the place - watched the show. Christa thought the museum was a real hoot - she laughed a good bit (it really hasn't changed since I went there in the 1970s...). Decided to go back to Boston - took MA-1A and then MA-16 - lots of traffic north of Boston. Tried to take her to the Museum of Science, but got trapped on Storough Drive. Eventually gave up and went back to Watertown. Watched TV and then went over to Fresh Pond Mall with Christa to see "Addams Family" at the theatre. Ended up watching TV with her and talking until 0200. Back to South Weymouth at 0230 and bed...

Christmas Trip - Day 4

Up before 1000 - had breakfast with Katie and Carolyn. Went to church at EDCC at 1100 - saw lots of old friends. At lunch at home and then packed up my stuff for the trip to Boston. Called Christa and then had a nice talk with Katie and Carolyn. Left Dennis at 1345 - US-6 to Sagamore Bridge and MA-3 to Exit 15 (South Weymouth) - got my hotel there with no problem. Drove north on MA-3 again and used I-93 and I-95 out to Mass Pike (I-90) - got off at exit 17 (Watertown). Got lost around MA-16 but found the address where Christa had told me to meet her. Met all her friends and then left for the mall nearby. We had fun there - it has been about five years since we last saw each other (see summer 1986). Ended up driving into Boston and then crossed Charles River into Charlestown - back across to Arsenal Mall and shopping. Returned to Christa's roommate's house and watched TV and movies until 2330. Got back to my hotel around midnight - bed immediately.

Christmas Trip - Day 3

Slept until 0930. Visited Aunt Eva and watched football with Dad. Later, drove over to have truck fluids checked - have to work on getting oil to run cleaner. Checked out some trucks at the junk-yard in Dennisport. Drove over to Bryan and Chuck's station later in the day - then went home to watch more football on TV. Went for a late afternoon walk with Dad and Ericka around the pond and Golf Course. Called Christa - she is in Boston already - and made plans for a visit. Dad is not happy that I am going up there... Got Christmas decorations out and started to put them up with Carolyn. Had dinner and then went out to rent the movie "Overboard" - watched some TV. Put lights on Christmas tree and decorated with Carolyn. Katie called while we were decorating - she'll be here later tonight. Watched movie and talked until around midnight - then slept.

Christmas Trip - Day 2

Slept until 1100 - still tired. Cleaned up the truck and took motorcycle off truck. Did some maintenance on it - it ran well with the repairs and new chain oil. Visited with Dad and Carolyn for a little bit. Drove down to see Bryan at the service station. Visited Grammy and then went home. Decided to go to the D-Y basketball game with Carolyn. Had pizza at the Papa Gino's with Carolyn and then went over to the High School. The team lost tonight 80-55, but I saw lots of people I knew from school: Sarah, the principal and track coaches - even the paper boy from Dave's house (who made an awesome half-court shot). Went home around 2100 - talked politics with Dad. Over to Oliver's again - saw Bryan. Stayed there until 2300. At home, watched movies with Carolyn and read some of the ND magazine. Bed at 0030.

Christmas Trip - Day 1

Left Norfolk at 1600 - used I-64 to I-295. I brought the motorcycle this time - in the back of the pickup! On I-95 by 1715, then on towards DC. Used I-295 again and then took I-95 to Baltimore (used Fort McHenry tunnel today). On I-95 all the way to Philadelphia and then crossed Delaware River at Trenton (2130). Drove on US-1 and then made a crucial error - got on I-287 instead of Garden State Parkway (extra 60 miles of driving...). Finally on I-80 and drove to George Washington Bridge (2330). Back on I-95 and continued through CT and RI. Switched to I-195 in Providence, MA-25 in Wareham and crossed Sagamore Canal on US-6. Exited at Station Avenue in Yarmouth. Home by 0345. Unpacking when snow started... Whew!

Albemarle Sound, NC (USA)

Left Norfolk at 1230. Drove south on I-64, got off at Battlefield BLVD. Continued on VA-168 and then VA-104 until I hit US-17. Went near Dismal Swamp and crossed the NC border. Followed US-17 until I got to Elizabeth City. Continued along the Albemarle Sound for awhile - passing through Hertford (home of Catfish Hunter) and the town of Edenton. Changed to NC-32 and crossed Albemarle Sound. Switched to US-64 on the other side and drove through the East Dismal Swamp area. Crossed Alligator River into Dare County, started driving on US-264. Crossed Croatan Sound at Manns Harbor. Located Fort Raleigh and explored the Lost Colony park on Roanoke Island. Found a place that did a "Lost Colony" play in the summer - I'll have to check that out someday... Drove down to Manteo and crossed over to Nags Head. North on US-158 along the Outer Banks. Stopped to see Wright Brothers Monument. It got dark, so I had to change my plans to keep looking around and headed back. Took 158 back towards Norfolk. Got on NC-168 at Barco and it became VA-168. Home at 1845.

Virginia Beach, VA (USA)

[date uncertain - went to buy Toyota Pickup Truck]