Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Halloween week end trip
We’ve done it again. Thursday, October 30th the Jeep headed north, up 23 and across the top of Detroit to Rt 29, to Algonac State Park on the St Clair River. We camped along side Ron and Nancy, Dirk and his wife Lori, and on Saturday, Deke and his son Aiden. State parks do not have wifi and when there are 3 or 4 couples together – nothing very constructive gets done in a timely manor, but a lot of fun and laughs abound! We did have prime viewing seats for watching the lake freighters and ocean going vessels rumbling up and down the river, pushing huge waves in front of their bows. At night, in the cool quiet air, you could feel their rumbling engines, straining to push their heavy loads up river and see the large dark hulks outlined in bright lights moving along like huge ghosts.
Friday was another pretty day and the 3 couples climbed into Dirk’s crew cab Ford truck and went out exploring the river and its towns. We ended up in Port Huron and crossed over to Sarnia Ontario on the Blue Water Bridge and found an old English style, “Up and Down Pub” to enjoy lunch and the guys their brew, served by a waitress with an English accent! From there we did a little shopping, and found a picturesque park where a cross-country competition was being held. The park was right on the St Clair River where it joins Lake Huron and even had a children’s petting “farm” with exotic goats, which had horns curling up and around and another pair down and around their heads. We drove back down the Canadian side of the river to Wapole Island and the ferry back to the USA – just in time for yet another freighter to go by!
Several campers were decorated for Halloween, including ours and there were a half dozen children out “trick or treating” from one blazing campfire to another. Thankfully, Nancy had brought candy!
Saturday was the first of November and although Dirks 40th birthday wasn’t until the 3rd, we celebrated with a yummy cake and a few fun gifts and another roaring campfire. During the afternoon the “boys” shot up some clay pigeons at the shooting range right there in the park while 2 of the “girls” hiked the 2 mile path and took turns playing with 4 yr old Aiden.
Sunday November 2nd we all packed up and headed out separate ways – Deke & Dirk back to their homes and the old folks headed farther north to Frankenmuth for 2 more nights out! We camped at the Jellystone Park campground – within walking distance from Bronner’s. When in Frankenmuth, one MUST shop at Bronner’s and at the River Place Mall – and we did!
Monday, would you believe- - the temps got up to just about 70 degrees!! We shared a fresh pecan roll and coffee at the Bavarian Inn and then walked and shopped all the neat shops on Main Street. The pumpkins and fall decorations were aglow in the warm sun but the workers were already putting up the Christmas decorations. Ron and Nancy enjoyed the indoor swimming pool and hot tub at the campground but one of us in our camper failed to remember to bring her swimsuit so we worked on our blog instead.
Friday was another pretty day and the 3 couples climbed into Dirk’s crew cab Ford truck and went out exploring the river and its towns. We ended up in Port Huron and crossed over to Sarnia Ontario on the Blue Water Bridge and found an old English style, “Up and Down Pub” to enjoy lunch and the guys their brew, served by a waitress with an English accent! From there we did a little shopping, and found a picturesque park where a cross-country competition was being held. The park was right on the St Clair River where it joins Lake Huron and even had a children’s petting “farm” with exotic goats, which had horns curling up and around and another pair down and around their heads. We drove back down the Canadian side of the river to Wapole Island and the ferry back to the USA – just in time for yet another freighter to go by!
Several campers were decorated for Halloween, including ours and there were a half dozen children out “trick or treating” from one blazing campfire to another. Thankfully, Nancy had brought candy!
Saturday was the first of November and although Dirks 40th birthday wasn’t until the 3rd, we celebrated with a yummy cake and a few fun gifts and another roaring campfire. During the afternoon the “boys” shot up some clay pigeons at the shooting range right there in the park while 2 of the “girls” hiked the 2 mile path and took turns playing with 4 yr old Aiden.
Sunday November 2nd we all packed up and headed out separate ways – Deke & Dirk back to their homes and the old folks headed farther north to Frankenmuth for 2 more nights out! We camped at the Jellystone Park campground – within walking distance from Bronner’s. When in Frankenmuth, one MUST shop at Bronner’s and at the River Place Mall – and we did!
Monday, would you believe- - the temps got up to just about 70 degrees!! We shared a fresh pecan roll and coffee at the Bavarian Inn and then walked and shopped all the neat shops on Main Street. The pumpkins and fall decorations were aglow in the warm sun but the workers were already putting up the Christmas decorations. Ron and Nancy enjoyed the indoor swimming pool and hot tub at the campground but one of us in our camper failed to remember to bring her swimsuit so we worked on our blog instead.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Pittsburgh Part 2
Sunday, October 12th - We still needed some rest for our tired legs so we climbed in the Jeep and went exploring the countryside. H thought we should go find a restored old village in Hookstown, Pa. We did but it was only 3 little buildings and they were not open yet. We ended up north, across the Ohio River but we were still in Pennsylvania! Could not get that to register in my brain- crossed the Ohio River and were still in Pennsylvania. The Ohio River starts in Pittsburgh at the junction of the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers and flows north and then west BEFORE it becomes the outline of the state of Ohio!
Monday, October 13th was a shopping day! We found Harbor Freight, IKEA, and the biggest Joann Fabric store that I have ever been in! Our legs were worn out again when we finally got back to the trailer but we did manage to walk the campground loops one more time! The resident deer were out on their nightly tour of the campground also! There were 2 doe and 2 half grown fawn that nibbled their way thru the grounds each morning and evening!
Tuesday, October 14th- senior day at the Carnegie Science Center! A giant COSI! We even worked some of the experiments! The Miniature Railroad exhibit was closed for updating but we were taken on a private tour of the extremely detailed model of the Pittsburgh area as it might have been, years ago. The museum also included a tour of the Cold War Submarine, the USS Requin. Just about a mile away from the Science Center was the National Aviary. 600+ birds of 200 different species and obviously, plenty of “hands on” experiences. I had a bird eating mealworms out of my hand and H had a tern grabbing a fish out of his upheld fingers! The worms didn’t smell half as bad as that fish! There was also an educational visit with an African Penguin named Simon! Back at the State Park we finally had the strength to hike to the historic Frankfort Mineral Springs that we had wanted to locate ever since our arrival. On our evening walk thru the campground we met a fulltime couple in a 5th wheel that had solar panels on the top! Solar panels!
Wednesday, October 15th – cloudy this morning but it was 60 degrees when we got up. When we arrived at the state park last Friday, there were no leaves on the ground and this morning the ground is covered with them. We did pick the best week to be here! The rain is to arrive today so we are heading for Ohio. The color will be gone, so - - - so will we. IF we find a spot to park for the night – we will. If not – then we’ll sleep in the waterbed at home tonight. A stop at an Amish Country store for ice cream and then we headed home. We pulled into the driveway - and it started to rain.
Monday, October 13th was a shopping day! We found Harbor Freight, IKEA, and the biggest Joann Fabric store that I have ever been in! Our legs were worn out again when we finally got back to the trailer but we did manage to walk the campground loops one more time! The resident deer were out on their nightly tour of the campground also! There were 2 doe and 2 half grown fawn that nibbled their way thru the grounds each morning and evening!
Tuesday, October 14th- senior day at the Carnegie Science Center! A giant COSI! We even worked some of the experiments! The Miniature Railroad exhibit was closed for updating but we were taken on a private tour of the extremely detailed model of the Pittsburgh area as it might have been, years ago. The museum also included a tour of the Cold War Submarine, the USS Requin. Just about a mile away from the Science Center was the National Aviary. 600+ birds of 200 different species and obviously, plenty of “hands on” experiences. I had a bird eating mealworms out of my hand and H had a tern grabbing a fish out of his upheld fingers! The worms didn’t smell half as bad as that fish! There was also an educational visit with an African Penguin named Simon! Back at the State Park we finally had the strength to hike to the historic Frankfort Mineral Springs that we had wanted to locate ever since our arrival. On our evening walk thru the campground we met a fulltime couple in a 5th wheel that had solar panels on the top! Solar panels!
Wednesday, October 15th – cloudy this morning but it was 60 degrees when we got up. When we arrived at the state park last Friday, there were no leaves on the ground and this morning the ground is covered with them. We did pick the best week to be here! The rain is to arrive today so we are heading for Ohio. The color will be gone, so - - - so will we. IF we find a spot to park for the night – we will. If not – then we’ll sleep in the waterbed at home tonight. A stop at an Amish Country store for ice cream and then we headed home. We pulled into the driveway - and it started to rain.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pittsburgh
OH NO! We’ve done it again! The trailer was loaded and the new equalizer hitch was hooked up so we left home again on Thursday, October 9th. This time we’re headed east to the Pittsburgh area with a stop in Amish Country Ohio at the Holmes County Flea Market and a night camping at Tappan Lake Park. The fall colors are out, the temps are rising into the 70’s and we think this might just be the peak color weekend!
Friday, October 10th we crossed the Ohio River at Steubenville and whizzed thru West Virginia to Raccoon Creek State Park in Pennsylvania, and parked the trailer before lunchtime. The afternoon was enjoyed by walking and exploring the park’s many winding roads, the scenic reservoir and the wooded camping areas. There were signs all over to not feed the deer and bears but we only saw one deer and no bears.
On Saturday, October 11th, our objective was to find the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Lily the GPS was set for the address given in the tour book and off we went. HOWEVER- - the route we dutifully followed thru endless neighborhoods and up hill and down, led us to a dead end street in a quiet neighborhood! The police officers that we located parked in a small shopping center said we were not the first to have ended up in their area and gave us new directions to find the zoo - - - which took us 18 miles across town to the north. This time the gps address the officers sent us to was another small neighborhood. H’s frustration level was at its peak and we finally dug out the cell phone and called the wayward zoo!! We had left the campground before 9am and it was now noon!
The day was warm and sunny – the parking lot was full and the zoo was crowded! But what a wonderful zoo! Wondrously arranged on the top of one of Pittsburgh many mountains, the walkways led from area to area, up and down and around, from the lions to the African elephants, to the awesome aquarium and underwater walkway. We walked UNDER the polar bear, frolicking in his pool, watched the sea otters antics and had a shark swim over our heads! As we left the zoo and headed, hopefully, downtown we stopped in a neighborhood they call “the strip”. We parked and walked several blocks while enjoying an expensive Greek pastry. The old buildings and sidewalk booths reminded us of both Toronto Ontario and Progresso Mexico!
We found the Duquesne Incline which dates back to 1877 and took some great pictures of downtown Pittsburgh and the 3 rivers that divide it- the Allegheny to the north, the Monongahela to the south and the Ohio to the west. The water in the large fountain at the point of the 3 rivers is flowing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
After a long day on the road and walking thru the zoo and exploring downtown, we finally found our way home, after dark.
Friday, October 10th we crossed the Ohio River at Steubenville and whizzed thru West Virginia to Raccoon Creek State Park in Pennsylvania, and parked the trailer before lunchtime. The afternoon was enjoyed by walking and exploring the park’s many winding roads, the scenic reservoir and the wooded camping areas. There were signs all over to not feed the deer and bears but we only saw one deer and no bears.
On Saturday, October 11th, our objective was to find the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Lily the GPS was set for the address given in the tour book and off we went. HOWEVER- - the route we dutifully followed thru endless neighborhoods and up hill and down, led us to a dead end street in a quiet neighborhood! The police officers that we located parked in a small shopping center said we were not the first to have ended up in their area and gave us new directions to find the zoo - - - which took us 18 miles across town to the north. This time the gps address the officers sent us to was another small neighborhood. H’s frustration level was at its peak and we finally dug out the cell phone and called the wayward zoo!! We had left the campground before 9am and it was now noon!
The day was warm and sunny – the parking lot was full and the zoo was crowded! But what a wonderful zoo! Wondrously arranged on the top of one of Pittsburgh many mountains, the walkways led from area to area, up and down and around, from the lions to the African elephants, to the awesome aquarium and underwater walkway. We walked UNDER the polar bear, frolicking in his pool, watched the sea otters antics and had a shark swim over our heads! As we left the zoo and headed, hopefully, downtown we stopped in a neighborhood they call “the strip”. We parked and walked several blocks while enjoying an expensive Greek pastry. The old buildings and sidewalk booths reminded us of both Toronto Ontario and Progresso Mexico!
We found the Duquesne Incline which dates back to 1877 and took some great pictures of downtown Pittsburgh and the 3 rivers that divide it- the Allegheny to the north, the Monongahela to the south and the Ohio to the west. The water in the large fountain at the point of the 3 rivers is flowing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
After a long day on the road and walking thru the zoo and exploring downtown, we finally found our way home, after dark.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
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