Cape Cod Trip - Day 16

Didn't start too late this morning, but we got slowed down with a long breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Wytheville, Virginia (0820L). After we were finished, I filled up the tank next door (1025L) and then we continued south on I-81. Got some lunch at Taco Bell in Dandridge, Tennessee (1221L). After that, drove through Knoxville and down to Chattanooga - [used I-59 most of the way to Birmingham - got off and drove over to Fort Payne, Alabama (Nicky's dad grew up there) - saw the old homestead and got gas (1600L) - drove back over to I-59] - back in Meridian by dark...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 15

Got up early so we could enjoy some more time with Pat, Mike, Aileen, Alanna and Rory. Went to a nearby playground before saying goodbye. It was a nice visit. Parked at a nearby Metro station and took the train into Washington. [it was raining ?] We met up with John, Ann, Mary, Leo, Joy and the kids near the Capitol Building. John knows someone who helped us get a special tour - it was really interesting! The behind the scenes opportunity was great - we saw several important folks and sat in the gallery of the Senate chamber. It was also nice to visit with everyone - and the kids had fun with their cousins. After several hours walking around DC, we said goodbye to everyone and got back on the train. Once we were in our car again, we took I-66 to I-81. Gas near Front Royal, Virginia, around 1615L. Stopped for dinner at Burger King in Mount Jackson (1650L). Stopped in Wytheville for the night (Motel 6).

Cape Cod Trip - Day 14

Drove down to Rockville to visit Pat and Mike today. Got there around lunch time and found that Aileen was there too. Pat's grand-kids, Rory and Alanna, had a lot of fun playing with our kids. We were going to go down to a hotel in Virginia, but Pat insisted that we stay. Enjoyed visiting with them - playgrounds and walks near their house. Spent a lot of the evening doing genealogy...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 13

Left the hotel at 1025L and headed south. Decided not to use Interstate (traffic) and (instead) took PA-34 and US-15 to get to Gettysburg. Visited the Post Office in town at 1240L. We saw a sign for "The Land of Little Horses" and decided to head over there (1330L). The place featured cute miniature horses that the kids were allowed to pet and brush. Erin ended up playing (a bit aggressively, I guess) with a baby horse and then got bit by a protective mother (she never has luck with the equines...). Later, we explored the Civil War Battlefield. After a full day of fun, we departed Gettysburg. Picked up some supplies at Trout's Jubilee in Emmitsburg, Maryland, (1455L) and then drove down to Frederick and checked into the Glendale Lodge for the night.

Cape Cod Trip - Day 12

[checked out of the CGES Temporary Quarters at 0810L - picked up a few supplies before leaving the Cape (0930L) - drove over to Rhode Island and got off I-195 to explore the Newport area (mansions, etc.) - even had a chance to visit the home I lived in when I was a little kid (Wickford) - back on I-95 towards NYC - (crossed Hudson in city / George Washington Bridge ?) - (used I-95 to get to I-78 and then drove west) - gas in Clinton, New Jersey (1800L) - stopped for the night (2110L) in Carlisle and stayed at the Glendale Lodge]

Cape Cod Trip - Day 11

Spent most of the day on the Cape... Saw Bryan, Aunt Irene and Grammy... Beth called and asked us to come for a cookout, so we did - had a nice time with her and then went back to our hotel.

Cape Cod Trip - Day 10

After getting a gas fill-up at the Cape Cod Mini Mart (0850), we drove up to Quincy again.  There was a little more traffic this time... When we arrived at Katie's, she had set up a party for the twins! After that, we spent the whole day in Boston with Katie, John, Aria and Carolyn - it was really fun. Took a ride on the Swan boats in Boston Public Garden - another great moment! Photos of "Make Way for Ducklings" again. Topped off the Boston trip was another visit to FAO Schwarz (1700L) - couldn't miss that I guess... Parted ways with everyone as we left the city and drove back to our hotel in Falmouth. Bed late...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 9

Left our hotel early and drove over to Woods Hole. Down at the ferry pier at 0800 - thought there would be more people... No problem getting aboard for a ride to Martha's Vinyard. Nicky has always wanted to go there - and she was really excited. We bought tickets for a tour of the island and took a school bus around to all the sights: Gay Head Light, Oak Bluffs and the Black Dog Restaurant (bought souvenirs at 1400L). The tour guide wanted to show us where all the famous people lived (boooorrrring!)... Nicky did have a good time and bought several souvenirs (e.g., Calico Sue's in Vinyard Haven at 1335L). Later, though, she said "It wasn't as good as I thought it would be..." After we got back to Cape Cod, we drove over to see Grammy. She was happy to see us. Drove through Brewster on the way back to Falmouth, including the Brewster Store and Mill. Later in the afternoon, we stopped at the Marshside Restaurant for seafood - Nicky's favorite (finished at 1930L). Back to the hotel later - we have to wake up early to go to Boston tomorrow...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 8

Got up early again. Got gas (0910) before driving up to Katie's in Quincy. The drive wasn't too bad from our hotel (Cape Cod Inn). Drove into the city to visit the Boston Children's Museum - always a big hit with the kids. They really enjoyed spending time with Aria. We were there almost all day and they they were exhausted (yaaahhh!) when we finally left (1600). Next, drove to Katie's so we could have dinner with her family and Carolyn. I made a run to the Houghs Neck Package store at 1745 (we had run out of drinks).  The highlight of the evening (for almost everyone) was when Katie and Carolyn produced a box kite kit and asked me to assemble and fly it. Meanwhile, the twins played with Aria and Nicky filled my unsuccessful attempts to run the kite around in a ball field. After several hours of effort, the pretty sunset along the beach near their house finally allowed me to "call the game" on account of "it never worked!!!" Headed back to the Cape VERY late...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 7

Left early [ended up leaving Brenna's stuffed dog, Toffee, at the hotel - they mailed it to us, though]. Drove around in Kingston for a little while, just to see a few things - including St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the old family parish. Got gas in town (1045L) and then crossed the Hudson River and used NY-9W to get to I-84. However, we didn't get on that road (as we usually do). Instead, we continued on 9W into Connecticut and then connected with I-95. Took I-195, I-495, MA-25 and US-6 to get to Cape Cod. Dad isn't in town this time, so we decided to stay over in Falmouth. We got a nice place to stay not far from the shopping and waterfront. Ended up eating dinner at a place called Pesci's. On the way back to our hotel, picked up supplies at Stop & Shop.

Cape Cod Trip - Day 6

Woke up after a nice sleep. Fueled up in Binghamton (0915L). We got breakfast nearby, at McDonald's (0920L). We decided to take our time driving through the Catskills. Continued on NY-17 until reaching NY-30. Drove into Ulster County from the West side. Had a number for a distant relative, Jack - called him and he wanted to get together. I had never met him, but I have wanted to meet someone who lives in the area of Kingston to learn more about our Coogan roots there. As we were driving along NY-28, we came into the little town of Mount Tremper. They have a place called the Lodge at Catskill Corners Lodge - and it looked nice. We got a room (1230L) and discovered there was a restaurant next door called "The Spotted Dog." Nicky said she would be OK with the kids there (they finished lunch at 1540L and then went to the Kaatskill Kaleidoscope, next door, until 1730L), so I went over to Hurley to meet up with my relative. Driving along NY-28, saw some pretty hills and lakes. Met Frank and his wife (Arlene). We did some genealogy and then Frank took me on a tour of the Hurley quarries. We also went into Kingston and he showed me where the family used to live. Ended up at St. Mary's Cemetery, where I showed them the Coogan plot (they had never seen it before!). As it was getting dark, drove back to Mt. Tremper. Kids and Nicky were in good spirits...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 5

Didn't leave early - even went down to Lake Erie to walk on the "beach." Threw lots of rocks in the water... Then headed over to a nearby Chuck-E-Cheese for a few hours. Continued on I-90 into New York. Stopped for gas at the Lake County Dairy in Westfield (1455L) and then Nicky picked up stamps at the Post Office (1500L). Also picked up a hat at The Wool Works nearby. After that, we got off the interstate and used NY-17 (it has really changed since I last drove the road - see AUG 1989!) to continue east. We explored the Finger Lakes region, stopping off at some covered bridges and enjoying the pleasant weather. We drove as far as we could until it got dark - and then drove some more! Ended up eating dinner at Friendly's in Binghamton (finished at 2200L). I would have kept driving, but Nicky and the kids were ready to go to sleep - ended up staying in a Motel 6 in Binghamton.

Cape Cod Trip - Day 4

This morning, we got to visit one of the coolest places we have taken the kids: a drive-through wild animal park (American Safari Wildlife), complete with Rhinos, Bison, Giraffes, Llamas (etc.). It was located in Port Clinton, Ohio (near Sandusky), not too far from our hotel. We arrived around noon and bought tickets that allowed us to drive through the park more than once. The first time we didn't take any food - but when we went through again, we fed the animals. Boy, was that crazy! They tore the buckets right out of our hands -and even stuck their heads inside the car! We got some funny video of Nicky fighting off a Buffalo (!) inside the window... We walked around near caged animal displays and picked up some souvenirs before we left (1330L). Later, we drove east to Erie, Pennsylvania and stopped for the night (Residence Inn). Had a chance to swim with the kids in the hotel pool...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 3

Up early again - to take a tour of the ND Campus. Right now they are in between final exams and graduation week, so it was kind of quiet... Visited the Grotto (kids in awe - really!). Also walked around St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Lakes, went in the Basilica and even found our cousin Tim's name on the wall at the Joyce Convocation Center... Bought souvenirs there - items from the 2001 Women's Basketball Championship (they won in April!). Got some lunch (at Burger King and Tomasittos) on Campus (1355L). But the highlight, as always, was when we visited the Book Store. Before leaving South Bend, we picked up some supplies on the outskirts of town (1440L) and then drove East (on I-80/90 ?). Before entering Ohio, we saw signs for Amish Country, so we got off the main road so Nicky could shop (she always has a great time bartering and finding interesting things). We ended up with a bag of cheese she picked up at Deutsch Kase Haus in Middlebury, Indiana (1812L). The goal was to make it to Toledo - we ended up staying in Holland, Ohio, at a Fairfield Inn. Filled up the gas tank (2035L) before getting to bed.

Cape Cod Trip - Day 2

Got up kind of early so we could visit Mammoth Cave. Nicky and I had been there before, but this time we had the kids. Spent several hours there - in the cave and on the walking trails. Had a good lunch at the park (finished 1255L) before heading north again. Since it was a Sunday, there wasn't much traffic (easy trip through Louisville and Indianapolis). Got gas in Columbus, Indiana, at 1505L. Stopped near Bunker Hill (to see the Grisson Air Force Base airplane display ?) and picked up dinner at Subway (1836L). Arrived in South Bend - and the Notre Dame campus - around 2200L. There was room at the Morris Inn again, luckily, and we actually had a view of the Golden Dome! When I told the girls that Saint Mary was on top, they thought it was really special (and asked me about it many, many, many times). It took a while to get them to sleep...

Cape Cod Trip - Day 1

Got started late today (stuck cleaning up the house)... When we finally got on the road, we had to stop for some coffee for Nicky in Tuscaloosa (1200L). Used I-59 to get to I-65 and then drove north. Got some gas in Decatur, Alabama (1415L). After a drive through Tennessee, we made it into Kentucky (later than I'd planned). Ate dinner at China One Buffet King in Bowling Green (finished at 1930L). Stayed in the Courtyard hotel (nearby).