Well, it didn't exactly take us this long to get back home. However, we had internet and TV issues when we returned and while the TV issue was resolved yesterday, it took until this morning to get the internet on both computers up and running. It seems that the storm which hit Reno a couple of weeks ago really did a job on some of our electrical components. Thanks to Charter replacing the DVR yesterday and us replacing the router today, we are now back in the wired (some might say weird) world.
Our trip across Nevada was uneventful. Lots of sunshine and blue skies to welcome us home and we arrived in Reno about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. We'll have to plan another trip to finish up the audio book's last two discs, but that can wait!
Everything was fine (except for the aforementioned "electronic stuff") and it was good to be back home again. The final result of our trip was 8008 miles this time, which beat our last trip by well over 1500 miles. Snowflake got a wash job and a full tank of gas and she's all emptied out. I think the car raised about two inches with everything out of the trunk and back seat. All is well and I think we're going to stick around for a while.
Had a great time visiting everyone (some for the second time in two months, but who's counting). We enjoyed our trip very much, especially since there were no problems along the way. Now all we have to do is wait for the American Express and Master Charge bills to come in so that we can relive our trip!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
West Wendover, NV
Hey, did you know that they have casinos in Nevada? Left Nebraska yesterday with all intentions of staying in Salt Lake City. However, we wanted to get on the west side of SLC so that we wouldn't have to fight the morning rush hour. All the hotels we checked out near the airport were booked solid, so we opted to travel on for another 100 miles and stay in W. Wendover at one of the Peppermill properties. On the next to longest day of the year, we traveled the longest time.
Good day yesterday. Snowflake hit zero oil life just east of Cheyenne, so we thought it might be a good idea to get her oiled and lubed. Luckily, we found a GM dealer who had an express rack and we were in and out in less than an hour. She even got washed! While we were waiting, we looked at the Buicks and Cadillacs - boy, does Snowflake really look good to us.
Immediately outside of Cheyenne, we hit the first major back-up of our trip. There was a roll-over accident on I-80 and they had the interstate closed down. Took longer to go those ten miles than it did for the work on the car. Just glad it wasn't us. Another day of sunshine and beautiful weather, although a little humid (who says we can't find something to complain about. Wyoming is so beautiful with vast expanses and wide open spaces, then into Utah and through the ski area around Park City. When you come down the mountain, the Great Salt Lake and SLC just spread out in front of you. Awesome.
Right now, we are as far to the east of Reno as we can get and still be in the state - about 400 miles to go today, but then we'll be home (what a strange word!)
Good day yesterday. Snowflake hit zero oil life just east of Cheyenne, so we thought it might be a good idea to get her oiled and lubed. Luckily, we found a GM dealer who had an express rack and we were in and out in less than an hour. She even got washed! While we were waiting, we looked at the Buicks and Cadillacs - boy, does Snowflake really look good to us.
Immediately outside of Cheyenne, we hit the first major back-up of our trip. There was a roll-over accident on I-80 and they had the interstate closed down. Took longer to go those ten miles than it did for the work on the car. Just glad it wasn't us. Another day of sunshine and beautiful weather, although a little humid (who says we can't find something to complain about. Wyoming is so beautiful with vast expanses and wide open spaces, then into Utah and through the ski area around Park City. When you come down the mountain, the Great Salt Lake and SLC just spread out in front of you. Awesome.
Right now, we are as far to the east of Reno as we can get and still be in the state - about 400 miles to go today, but then we'll be home (what a strange word!)
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Ogallala, NE
Get on I-80, eat, get back on I-80, etc. - you know the drill. From Illinois this morning through Iowa and now we're in the western portion of Nebraska. Beautiful day - second day in a row that we've had sunshine and blue skies. We could get used to this!
Tomorrow, I think we're just heading over to Cheyenne to relax and maybe play golf. That is, if the tornadoes in the area stay away from our path.
We'll see where we go from there.
Tomorrow, I think we're just heading over to Cheyenne to relax and maybe play golf. That is, if the tornadoes in the area stay away from our path.
We'll see where we go from there.
Peru/LaSalle, IL
There's a country and western song about a "town so small you can look both ways and see it all". Well, these two towns can't even have a separate name to identify them! Actually, I think we're in Peru (at least that's what it says on water tower behind us), but everything else is identified by the both names appellation.
Yesterday we took a leisurely drive across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Didn't make much mileage because we were determined to avoid the tollways and also the traffic around Chicago. Took I-80 through the western Pennsylvania mountains and into Ohio, then we switched over to US 30 and then to US 24, finally connecting back to I-80 just west of Joiliet, IL. Kind of nice going through the small towns with their unique architecture, seeing the farms, and local industry. Also get to see the rivers and rolling countryside (but not through Indiana and Illinois - flat, flat, flat). Nice, but slow! From now on, I think we're going to stick to I-80 and make it home. Hey, only about 1800 miles to go!
Yesterday we took a leisurely drive across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Didn't make much mileage because we were determined to avoid the tollways and also the traffic around Chicago. Took I-80 through the western Pennsylvania mountains and into Ohio, then we switched over to US 30 and then to US 24, finally connecting back to I-80 just west of Joiliet, IL. Kind of nice going through the small towns with their unique architecture, seeing the farms, and local industry. Also get to see the rivers and rolling countryside (but not through Indiana and Illinois - flat, flat, flat). Nice, but slow! From now on, I think we're going to stick to I-80 and make it home. Hey, only about 1800 miles to go!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Mill Hall, PA
We're on the way home! Had a great time in Morrisville. Danny was attending several graduation parties, but we got to say good-by to him. Went to Katie's soccer game in Burlington on Sunday, watched the first game and then started our trek back. Tim and Kathy had spent the night in Burlington, but they came over to say good-by before they left for Rochester. Char and the boys also came over. Our only regret is that we didn't get any pictures of all the family before we left (maybe we'll have to Photoshop a family picture). Of course, it started to rain about half-way through the game, but this time people were a little more prepared and had brought umbrellas.
I think Vi is getting used to driving with the windshield wipers going back and forth - hope the wiper motor holds out for our trip back. Started south along the Vermont border with mountain views and Lake Champlain off to our right. Very picturesque area and looks exactly like you'd expect Vermont to look like - meadows, dairy farms, quaint towns, historic landmarks, etc. Crossed into New York at Whitehall which is the birthplace of the US Navy. You figure out how the birthplace of the USN is in a small town in upstate New York! It's an interesting story.
Hit traffic in New York at both Glens Falls and also at some construction along I-87. What's a trip on Sunday afternoon without a few traffic tie-ups? Originally, we had thought about going down to Atlantic City, but we've been gone long enough and decided to just head home. Eventually ended up on I-80 in Pennsylvania. Easy directions from here. Once again, it's get on I-80, eat, get back on I-80, sleep, get back on I-80, repeat for three days and presto, you're back in Reno. Simple, eh!
I think Vi is getting used to driving with the windshield wipers going back and forth - hope the wiper motor holds out for our trip back. Started south along the Vermont border with mountain views and Lake Champlain off to our right. Very picturesque area and looks exactly like you'd expect Vermont to look like - meadows, dairy farms, quaint towns, historic landmarks, etc. Crossed into New York at Whitehall which is the birthplace of the US Navy. You figure out how the birthplace of the USN is in a small town in upstate New York! It's an interesting story.
Hit traffic in New York at both Glens Falls and also at some construction along I-87. What's a trip on Sunday afternoon without a few traffic tie-ups? Originally, we had thought about going down to Atlantic City, but we've been gone long enough and decided to just head home. Eventually ended up on I-80 in Pennsylvania. Easy directions from here. Once again, it's get on I-80, eat, get back on I-80, sleep, get back on I-80, repeat for three days and presto, you're back in Reno. Simple, eh!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Danny's Graduation
Let's see if I can remember the events which occurred over the past few days. Danny's graduation was on Thursday evening and the question during the day was whether it would be held inside or outside because of the weather. Outside was the preferred venue because it allowed more spectators and more flexibility. Finally, at 3:00 p.m., they made to decision to go with the outside lawn at Peoples Academy. We arrived around just before 6 p.m. so that we could get some seats. The ceremony started right on time at 7:00 p.m. - Katie was one of two marshals at the graduation, so she got to participate in her brother's graduation.
We really enjoyed the graduation ceremony. Danny received three more awards to add to the ones he had received earlier at Last Chapel on Tuesday evening. He said he was getting embarrassed going up on the stage, but it was a great recognition of the hard work and efforts he has made while in school. Popular, good-looking, and smart too (did I mention that I was going to brag about his accomplishments?).
Good speaker - he was one of the favorite teachers at the school and he recounted many of the events the graduates had done over the years. Some good analogies for the students and good advice for them. Two of the senior boys performed a duet and the violinist was outstanding. I have to admit that when they were warming up, I fully expected a squeaky performance; however, nothing could have been further from the truth. Concert hall quality and faultless execution!
Afterwards, there were the usual picture taking opportunities and congratulations for all the boys and girls. Later they boarded the bus and headed north to a water park and events center for an all night party. Tom and I picked up Danny when they returned at 5:00 a.m. Originally, there were great plans for the graduates to go out to breakfast after they returned. Danny came home and said he was going to take a power nap. Well, he went to bed at 5:30 a.m. and the power nap wasn't over until about 11:30 a.m. Tom and I had played nine holes of golf earlier on Thursday, so we weren't really great balls of fire either.
Friday evening Tom and Carolyn had a graduation party for their friends and family. Good time was had by all and it was fun seeing a lot of their friends again. Tim and Kathy came over for the party, so we had all our Stames family together for the first time in a long time. The weather even cooperated, although there was a brief period when we had thunder and lightning plus a little rain, but it didn't put a damper on the celebration.
Today we went over to Hartwick and met up with Char and the boys to take a look at a cabin Trevor had in the Vermont woods. It's just what a young man needs, it'll give him plenty of opportunity to work over the years when he comes home from the military. After lunch, we went to a local brewpub with Tim and Kathy which was celebrating its' grand opening. Then we went with Char to Katie's soccer game over in Burlington. She had played earlier in the day and won that game and she also won the game which we watched. Means we'll have to go back again tomorrow because they have advanced in the competition. It's kind of a club soccer tournament and they have a high caliber of girls playing.
We really enjoyed the graduation ceremony. Danny received three more awards to add to the ones he had received earlier at Last Chapel on Tuesday evening. He said he was getting embarrassed going up on the stage, but it was a great recognition of the hard work and efforts he has made while in school. Popular, good-looking, and smart too (did I mention that I was going to brag about his accomplishments?).
Good speaker - he was one of the favorite teachers at the school and he recounted many of the events the graduates had done over the years. Some good analogies for the students and good advice for them. Two of the senior boys performed a duet and the violinist was outstanding. I have to admit that when they were warming up, I fully expected a squeaky performance; however, nothing could have been further from the truth. Concert hall quality and faultless execution!
Afterwards, there were the usual picture taking opportunities and congratulations for all the boys and girls. Later they boarded the bus and headed north to a water park and events center for an all night party. Tom and I picked up Danny when they returned at 5:00 a.m. Originally, there were great plans for the graduates to go out to breakfast after they returned. Danny came home and said he was going to take a power nap. Well, he went to bed at 5:30 a.m. and the power nap wasn't over until about 11:30 a.m. Tom and I had played nine holes of golf earlier on Thursday, so we weren't really great balls of fire either.
Friday evening Tom and Carolyn had a graduation party for their friends and family. Good time was had by all and it was fun seeing a lot of their friends again. Tim and Kathy came over for the party, so we had all our Stames family together for the first time in a long time. The weather even cooperated, although there was a brief period when we had thunder and lightning plus a little rain, but it didn't put a damper on the celebration.
Today we went over to Hartwick and met up with Char and the boys to take a look at a cabin Trevor had in the Vermont woods. It's just what a young man needs, it'll give him plenty of opportunity to work over the years when he comes home from the military. After lunch, we went to a local brewpub with Tim and Kathy which was celebrating its' grand opening. Then we went with Char to Katie's soccer game over in Burlington. She had played earlier in the day and won that game and she also won the game which we watched. Means we'll have to go back again tomorrow because they have advanced in the competition. It's kind of a club soccer tournament and they have a high caliber of girls playing.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Morrisville, VT
We left Stu and Mary Ann's home mid-morning yesterday and traveled up the spine of New Hampshire on I-93. Beautiful mountains and valleys and the Franconia Notch area of NH is very scenic. Although we missed the Lupine Festival, there were plenty of the pretty blue, spikey flowers in bloom along the highway. Of course, we traveled in the rain and through construction, but that seems to be de rigeur for us on this trip. Stay tuned for an accounting of a rare sighting of the sun later in the day (can you contain your excitement at the suspense?). The really nice thing about the day was that it was one of the shortest driving days l- only about two and a half hours.
I meant to write in yesterday's entry that where Stu and Mary Ann live is near Squam Lake. While you may not know it by that name, it is where "On Golden Pond" was filmed. If you saw that movie, you'll know how beautiful the area is. It's one of the few lakes which run east-west rather than north-south. The Golden Pond comes from the way the sun reflects on the water as it rises (the sun, not the water).
Had lunch with Char & the boys and Tom, Katie and Danny in Morrisville.so we all had a chance to catch up and eat (both of which were good). In the evening, we went to Katie's soccer game - she's playing on a community soccer team during the summer and it was fun to watch them play - even if they did lose 4-3. The highlight of the day, however, was that the sun actually came out and shone! Terrible pun - highlight - sun came out (hey what do you expect from a novice writer). Tom and I had gone out in the afternoon and explored along the Lamoille River near the old power plant. Got my exercise for the day. River is really high and running fast (see aforementioned comment about lots of rain on this trip).
Today (Thursday) is the big day for Danny. The forecast is for sunshine and clear weather, so we're all hoping that the ceremony will be held outdoors as planned. After the graduation, the seniors take off and have a drug-free, alcohol-free, all-night party. How would you like to be the chaperone at that party? Of the sixty-six graduates, we heard that about fifty-five of them were attending the party. Pick-up time after the party is set for 5:00 a.m.!
I think today we're going over to Burlington to do some shopping and sight-seeing - may meet Char and the boys over there.
I meant to write in yesterday's entry that where Stu and Mary Ann live is near Squam Lake. While you may not know it by that name, it is where "On Golden Pond" was filmed. If you saw that movie, you'll know how beautiful the area is. It's one of the few lakes which run east-west rather than north-south. The Golden Pond comes from the way the sun reflects on the water as it rises (the sun, not the water).
Had lunch with Char & the boys and Tom, Katie and Danny in Morrisville.so we all had a chance to catch up and eat (both of which were good). In the evening, we went to Katie's soccer game - she's playing on a community soccer team during the summer and it was fun to watch them play - even if they did lose 4-3. The highlight of the day, however, was that the sun actually came out and shone! Terrible pun - highlight - sun came out (hey what do you expect from a novice writer). Tom and I had gone out in the afternoon and explored along the Lamoille River near the old power plant. Got my exercise for the day. River is really high and running fast (see aforementioned comment about lots of rain on this trip).
Today (Thursday) is the big day for Danny. The forecast is for sunshine and clear weather, so we're all hoping that the ceremony will be held outdoors as planned. After the graduation, the seniors take off and have a drug-free, alcohol-free, all-night party. How would you like to be the chaperone at that party? Of the sixty-six graduates, we heard that about fifty-five of them were attending the party. Pick-up time after the party is set for 5:00 a.m.!
I think today we're going over to Burlington to do some shopping and sight-seeing - may meet Char and the boys over there.
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