Wedding Trip - Day 4

[last day of wedding party... - farewell brunch at "The Wings" - got a ride from St. Albans to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois - flew back to Jacksonville]

Wedding Trip - Day 3

[breakfast at The Wings - relaxed around the Hunt Club - more skeet shooting (watched ?) - picnic luncheon at The Wings - got ready for wedding ceremony (wore choker whites) - drove over to Malmaison for The Big Event (outside - hot) - looked like rain... - reception was at "The Studio" (nearby) - back to Hunt Club - up late again...]

Wedding Trip - Day 2

[several events were planned at Malmaison (golf, skeet shooting, etc.), but I went with Snapper to visit the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (AKA the Gateway Arch) in downtown St. Louis - we arrived around noon and immediately found out we were too late to get up in the Arch (you need a reservation) - explored the museum and walked around the city - headed back to St. Albans to be sure we were there for the wedding rehearsal at Malmaison - following that, we had cocktails and the rehearsal dinner at "The Wings" (in the Hunt Club) - up very late...]

Wedding Trip - Day 1

[flew from Jacksonville (2 or 3 ship) to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois - nine of us will be swordsmen for our squadron-mate, Dave's, wedding - soon after we landed, Dave picked us up and drove us to Missouri - he took us to the Hunt Club at St. Albans, Missouri (about seven miles west of Wildwood, between I-44 and the Missouri River) - the place is AWESOME: a relaxing place on a high bluff overlooking the River - very shady and cooler (with a breeze) - we enjoyed ourselves there well into the evening...]

Cape Cod Trip - Day 12

Ate breakfast at IHOP. Left Lexington Park around 0930L. Used MD-5, MD-234 and US-301 to get to the Potomac River and, eventually, back on I-95. Stopped for gas in Ruther Glen, Virginia (1100L). Making good time, so we didn't stop too often. Fueled up in Rowland (on border), North Carolina (1530L). [Stopped for dinner in South Carolina ?] [Made it home around 2300L.] Fun trip!

Cape Cod Trip - Day 11

Slept in. Breakfast at Dunkin Donuts before leaving Quincy at (1130L). Katie gave us directions from her house back to I-95 and we used it to get out of Massachusetts. Continued on the Interstate through Providence and coastal Connecticut and made it to the George Washington Bridge before 1500L. Made our way to I-78 and drove into Pennsylvania. [Gas and Subway dinner ?] in Fogelsville (1721L). Got on I-81 for a short time and then used I-83 to get back to I-95. Started looking for a hotel near Camp Springs, Maryland, but there weren't any rooms available. After talking it over with Nicky, we decided to head down to Lexington Park, where we hoped there might be a room at the Lodge. Used MD-5 and MD-235 to get there. We were fortunate - they had vacancy! [After getting established in our room, we watched a movie at a nearby theatre. (?)]

Cape Cod Trip - Day 10

Drove down to the Cape today. Had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and stopped at the Pembroke Christmas Tree Shops for a bit. Gas in Plymouth - drove Nicky into the old town for a short glimpse... Visited Grammy, Aunt Irene, Dad & Beth and Bryan. Spent most of the day with them. Didn't leave to go back to Quincy until nearly 2100. Uneventful trip back to Katie's - stayed up late again...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 9

Woke up late, but drove into Boston with Katie and John. [Lunch at Coogan's Bluff on Milk Street ?] Went shopping and took a ride to the top of the John Hancock Tower. Nicky liked the view and got some ideas for looking around later. Walked in the Boston Public Gardens and shopped at Globe Corner Books. Stayed until after dinner at Copley Plaza. Back to Katie's - stayed up past midnight...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 8

Nicky told me this morning that some kind of animal "tried to get into our tent" (!). Nothing was damaged... Left the campground at 1000L. Drove over to Lake Placid and saw remains of the Olympic venues. Then got on 9N and took it to I-87. Drove towards Rouses Point and crossed the north end of Lake Champlain on US-11. Next, we used US-2 to drive along the Lake. Stopped for lunch at Willsboro Point. Got gas in Alberg, VT (1430L). [Passed 100,000 miles on the Sentra - "In your face, Regency!"] Used US-2 all the way to I-89. Learning from the Alabama covered bridge debacle, I picked up a map that showed ALL of the covered bridges in Vermont. We actually were able to stop at nearly every one!! Made it into New Hampshire around 1700L - and saw a sign for the Joseph Smith (founder of the Church of LDS) Monument. Our friends from San Diego are Mormons and we were intrigued to see what the place was like. We stopped in to see the visitors center and watched animatronic characters acting out the life of Smith. It was actually kind of interesting to see the place where he started everything. Back on the road around 1845L, still using I-89. We saw a bear run across the road just before sunset! Switched to I-93 in Concord and continued into Massachusetts. Made it to Katie's before midnight...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 7

Got a late start - but made it out of the hotel by 1100L. Immediately drove back over to Old Niagara-on-the-Lake (saw it on the tour yesterday) for some shopping. On the way, we bought some more ice wine (tastes great!) at Rief Estate Winery. We spent several hours in the quaint little village of Old Niagara - and bought a LOT of souvenirs. We ate at a restaurant called Upper Canada Cookery. Finished shopping at 1430L and then got on the road again. Crossed the border - quick this time - and got on I-90. Drove east, headed for Massachusetts. It then occurred to me that we had a unique opportunity to explore Upstate New York. After talking it over with Nicky, we decided to take the little Sentra up to the Adirondacks... Made it to Syracuse by 1600L, then took I-81 to Watertown. Used NY-3A and NY-3 to get into Adirondack Park. As it got dark, we found a campground on a pretty lake (Adirondack Forest Preserve Camping: Cranberry Lake) and pitched our tent within a few feet of the water. Nicky informed me that the weather here is much nicer weather than Port Huron. I like it because it is a quiet place. We toasted marshmellows and chatted by firelight, enjoying the evening.

Cape Cod Trip - Day 6

Had breakfast in the campsite (coffee and donuts). Left relatively early - Nicky couldn't leave the cold campsite fast enough! Crossed the border on I-69 (toll bridge) - we searched again... Used Canada 402 and Ontario 2. Soon after passing London, Ontario, we started to see signs for Gray Line Niagara Falls tours. Stopped at a place east of Brantford and asked about what the tours included. After hearing that the package included a (discounted) hotel near the Falls, a guide on the bus tour (Grey Line Tour), a trip under the Falls and a ride to the top of the Minolta Tower, we decided to sign up for it. Got on QEW and drove all the way to Niagara Falls. Our first stop was the Diplomat Inn (our hotel) - we were able to check in early (1400L!). Got some snacks and other supplies at Walmart before getting on tour bus. We had a great time touring the area! Highlights included: visiting the Ice Wine Country, the town of Old Niagara, watching a beautiful clock made of flowers and walking in a tunnel that brought us out behind the Falls. After the bus dropped us off, we ate dinner at an Italian Restaurant caled "Capri". When it got dark, we went to the top of the Minolta Tower and enjoyed a spectacular view of Niagara Falls at night (lit up!). We enjoyed the scenery and weather (and, frankly, the whole day) - tremendously. Went to bed late...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 5

Took it (relatively) easy today. Spent the morning showing Nicky around the campus. Took her to the Grotto, my old classrooms and to my dorm. We stopped by the bookstore, of course (1330L). As we were leaving town, I drove Nicky over to my old place in South Bend (near the Ethanol Plant). We used US-31 to get to Niles, Michigan, and then took various state roads until we were on US-131. In Kalamazoo, got on I-94. Switched to I-69 and drove north towards Lansing. Had dinner along the Interstate (Taco Bell) and then drove all the way to Port Huron. Got gas before "off-roading" for a bit (Nicky did NOT like this) to locate Lakeport State Park (right on Lake Huron!). Got a campsite (2130L) and then started working on setting up the tent. Turned out to be easy, but is it COLD. We didn't bring clothes for these temperatures, either. Nicky's happy day in South Bend is now a distant memory...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 4

Started the day north of Nashville, so that meant we didn't have to worry about a lot of traffic... Ate breakfast near the hotel. Didn't get on the road until around 1130L. On I-65 all the way into Kentucky. Stopped to visit Mammoth Cave - a nice break from the heat! After that, we pressed north againn on I-65 - trying to avoid the traffic jams in Louisville and Indianapolis. We were pretty successful, too. After getting through Indy, we got on US-31. Stopped for dinner (KFC - an old favorite stopping place) in Kokomo, Indiana (2015L). Got gas soon after that. Made it to South Bend around 2145 and drove over to the Notre Dame campus. Nicky had never been there but has always wanted to see it since she saw "Rudy." Before looking for another hotel, we drove by the Morris Inn to see if they had any rooms. I would never have dreamed they would, but school was out for the year! We got a nice room that had a beautiful view of the Golden Dome. Nicky is VERY happy... (!!)

Cape Cod Trip - Day 3

Woke up early and hit the road by 0930L - destination: North! Used US-80 again (east, this time) and used it through Montgomery, Alabama (gas fillup there ?). Lunch at Taco Bell. After a few road changes in the city (US-80 to I-65 to I-85), drove east until we got to Shorter and then got on US-80 again. Visited the Tuskeegee Institute National Historic Site (1400L), where there was a monument to one of my mother's heroes: George Washington Carver. I know she would have liked seeing that... Also saw some displays about the Tuskeegee Airmen. After that, we drove north to the Horseshoe Bend Battlefield (via AL-81, AL-14, County Road 188, US-280 and AL-49). This was the site of one of Andrew Jackson's victories over the [Creek] Indians and was an interesting place. Next, we used AL-49 to get to Alexander City (via AL-22) and then got on US-280, on our way to Birmingham. Worked very hard to find a covered bridge for Nicky - it was a LOT of work... Thought we were on the right track when we got to County Road 43 - but we weren't. Nicky asked "Where's the bridge?" It turned out to be on Twin Pines Road, instead - but we found it! With the sun going down, realized we needed to get back on the Interstate. Fueled up along AL-25 and had dinner at Sonic. Eventually made it to I-65 and got north of Birmingham (now dark...). [Stopped at Ave Maria Grotto ?] Drove as far as we could before stopping again. Got gas in Franklin, Tennessee (2230L). Started looking for a hotel and found a Motel 6 in Goodlettsville at 2345L. Whew!

Cape Cod Trip - Day 2

Spent the day in Meridian. Explored our old neighborhood, the Navy Base, Nicky's old workplace and saw lots of Nicky's family (MawMaw, Meghan, Brooke, Donna, etc.). We finished the day with a cookout with Scott, Lisa and Brittany. Nicky enjoyed herself all day, I think...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 1

Left this morning (0840L), bound for Nicky's parents' house. Took I-10 out of Jacksonville to US-19 and then drove north. In Camilla for fuel at 1045L and ate lunch at Subway. Continued on US-19 to Albany and then changed to US-82. Got on GA-45 after that and made our way to the little town of Plains, Georgia, home of former President Carter. We even saw his house! Nicky and I explored the place for a short time - and bought some peanuts, of course. Back on the road around 1300L, using US-280 (east) and GA-49 to Americus. Saw a marker that noted Charles Lindburgh's first solo flight there. Continued on GA-49 to Andersonville, site of the (in)famous prison camp. Spent some time there learning about the plight of the Union POWs. After several hours, we got on the road again - using GA-26 this time. We crossed the Chattahoochie River at Columbus (time change) and saw LOTS of strip clubs in Phenix City, Alabama... Got on US-80 next and used it to I-85 (near Tuskeegee). After driving through Montgomery, got back on US-80. Stopped for gas in Demopolis (1800L). This was a different way than we usually drove to Meridian - it takes a lot longer... We made it to Nicky's parents house (Meridian) at 2030L.