About Me
- Maureen
- East Providence, RI, United States
- I am the proud gramma of a beautiful 10-year- old girl named Hailee. Her Pappa and I started this site so she can follow us as we travel throughout different states on our vacations. Now that she is older and we are able to travel the country with her, this will be a site for all of our friends and family to join us on our adventures throughout the USA
Sunday, August 15, 2010
DAY 8 WYOMING AND DAY 9 SOUTH DAKOTA
"America the Beautiful"; I never really appreciated those words until I took this trip. Our country is very beautiful and beyond words. I know you all back home are viewing these pictures; however, they do not do justice for actually seeing the beauty of this country first hand. I wish and pray that each of you someday get a chance to see our country up close and personal like we are on this trip.
Friday, we set out for our journey home. We left at 8:00 am and drove through Utah. We took a detour into Colorado and then back to Wyoming before arriving for the night at 8:30 pm in Cheyanne, WY. Utah and Idaho are full of mountains. Colorado has the Rocky Mountains and Wyoming is very FLAT!
Saturday, we drove for 11 1/2 hours from Wyoming to South Dakota. Mount Rushmore was breathtaking. The monument is much bigger than I expected. We stopped at Mitchell, SD for the night. Tomorrow off to Nebraska and Iowa.
So far we have seen: cows, horses, rabbits, prairie dogs, sheep, sheep dogs, elk, camels (Yes, I said camels) buffalo, bulls, deer, crows, owls, and antelope. All of these have been along the side of the road........none were in zoos!!!
See you all later,
pappa and gramma
Friday, we set out for our journey home. We left at 8:00 am and drove through Utah. We took a detour into Colorado and then back to Wyoming before arriving for the night at 8:30 pm in Cheyanne, WY. Utah and Idaho are full of mountains. Colorado has the Rocky Mountains and Wyoming is very FLAT!
Saturday, we drove for 11 1/2 hours from Wyoming to South Dakota. Mount Rushmore was breathtaking. The monument is much bigger than I expected. We stopped at Mitchell, SD for the night. Tomorrow off to Nebraska and Iowa.
So far we have seen: cows, horses, rabbits, prairie dogs, sheep, sheep dogs, elk, camels (Yes, I said camels) buffalo, bulls, deer, crows, owls, and antelope. All of these have been along the side of the road........none were in zoos!!!
See you all later,
pappa and gramma
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
DAYS 4,5,6,7, IDAHO
Hi Again,
We are in Idaho for the next three days. We slept at the border of Oregon and Idaho for our Monday stop. At 1:30 am we crossed over into Mountain Time Zone and it became 2:30 am. It was sad to lose an hour and know that we were on our way home. I can now say that I have officially been in all 4 time zones: Eastern, Pacific, Mountain and Central.
Tuesday we drove through Idaho stopping at Pocatello, ID for the next three nights. Idaho is also beautiful with rolling hills and lots of dairy cows and corn. We stopped at an amazing gorge. For dinner we went to Texas Roadhouse where Carl had his first steak since October 1st. (date that he went into the hospital).
Wednesday we, of course, went to Walmart. It's not a trip without Walmart! We had a delicious home-cooked meal in our hotel room. Bonnie did a great job cooking dinner. Went swimming and watched Flicker 2 movie.
Thursday we did a little site seeing. Wine stores, gift shops and a scrapbooking store. We enjoyed another home-cooked dinner by Bonnie. Went swimming, did some laundry and watched tv. It is now 11:00 pm and we are packing up before we turn in for bed. We have a 10 hour day of driving tomorrow through Utah, Colorado and stopping in Cheyanne, WY for the night. See you later.
Love, Pappa and Gramma
We are in Idaho for the next three days. We slept at the border of Oregon and Idaho for our Monday stop. At 1:30 am we crossed over into Mountain Time Zone and it became 2:30 am. It was sad to lose an hour and know that we were on our way home. I can now say that I have officially been in all 4 time zones: Eastern, Pacific, Mountain and Central.
Tuesday we drove through Idaho stopping at Pocatello, ID for the next three nights. Idaho is also beautiful with rolling hills and lots of dairy cows and corn. We stopped at an amazing gorge. For dinner we went to Texas Roadhouse where Carl had his first steak since October 1st. (date that he went into the hospital).
Wednesday we, of course, went to Walmart. It's not a trip without Walmart! We had a delicious home-cooked meal in our hotel room. Bonnie did a great job cooking dinner. Went swimming and watched Flicker 2 movie.
Thursday we did a little site seeing. Wine stores, gift shops and a scrapbooking store. We enjoyed another home-cooked dinner by Bonnie. Went swimming, did some laundry and watched tv. It is now 11:00 pm and we are packing up before we turn in for bed. We have a 10 hour day of driving tomorrow through Utah, Colorado and stopping in Cheyanne, WY for the night. See you later.
Love, Pappa and Gramma
Monday, August 9, 2010
DAY 3 WASHINGTON
Hey,
Today we started our day by going to mass. While waiting for mass to start, I gave myself a mini tea bag facial in the parking lot. Greta, where are you when I need you? After mass, the priest scolded everyone who wears shorts and t-shirts to mass. Carl felt it necessary to go up to the priest after mass and apologize.
We traveled through Oregon and stopped at a few wineries along the way. We arrived in Washington after driving today for a total of 9 hours. We were so happy to see Adam, Bonnie and Hailee. I can't believe that 3 days have gone by already! We start our journey home tomorrow starting with Idaho.
Gramma and Pappa
PS: yes, Paula and Camille we are having a great time.
Today we started our day by going to mass. While waiting for mass to start, I gave myself a mini tea bag facial in the parking lot. Greta, where are you when I need you? After mass, the priest scolded everyone who wears shorts and t-shirts to mass. Carl felt it necessary to go up to the priest after mass and apologize.
We traveled through Oregon and stopped at a few wineries along the way. We arrived in Washington after driving today for a total of 9 hours. We were so happy to see Adam, Bonnie and Hailee. I can't believe that 3 days have gone by already! We start our journey home tomorrow starting with Idaho.
Gramma and Pappa
PS: yes, Paula and Camille we are having a great time.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
DAY 2 OREGON
HI
TODAY IS WHAT I WOULD CALL A "BITTER-SWEET" DAY! A DAY FILLED WITH BOTH WONDERFUL "SWEET" MEMORIES AND "BITTER", TEETH CLENCHING STRESSES. A DAY THAT I WOULD NOT TRADE FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD; BUT, ALSO A DAY WHERE I PRACTICALLY S**T (SORRY KIDS, P**PED) MY PANTS SEVERAL TIMES OVER!!!!
WE STARTED OUR DAY WITH BREAKFAST AT DENNY'S THEN HEADED OVER TO GHIRARDELLI SQUARE BEFORE LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO AT 10:30 AM TO GO TO OREGON. WE RODE OVER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE (IT IS AMAZING AND MUCH BIGGER THAN ON TV) AND GOT ONTO SCENIC ROUTE 101. WE RODE ALONG SIDE THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND MILES AND MILES OF WINE VINEYARDS. UNLIKE WISCONSIN WHERE ALL WE SAW WAS CORN, HERE WE SAW GRAPES. CARL WAS IN AWE TAKING IT ALL IN AS I DROVE MOST OF THE WAY. WE TOOK A BYPASS ONTO THE AVENUE OF THE GIANTS. THIS WAS 31 MILES OF GIANT REDWOOD TREES AND ATTRACTIONS.
THIS IS WHERE I ALMOST S**T MY PANTS THE FIRST TIME! I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE A BRAND NEW FORD ESCAPE RENTAL WITH 2000 MILES THROUGH A 5000-YEAR-OLD REDWOOD TREE TRUNK. HALF WAY THROUGH, I FREAKED AND HAD NO WAY OUT CUZ OF SUCH A TIGHT SQUEEZE. I FINALLY COMPOSED MYSELF AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY OUT SHAKING!!!!! THE REST OF THE AVENUE WAS UNEVENTFUL EXCEPT FOR THE HUNDREDS OF SHARP HAIR-PIN CURVES AND FOG.
WE STOPPED FOR DINNER AT MARIE COLLENDER'S RESTAURANT AND BAKERY. WE HAD COMFORT FOOD: CHICKEN POT PIE, YANKEE POT ROAST AND SLICES OF MIXED BERRY AND PEACH PIE TO GO. WE CONTINUED OUR JOURNEY TO OREGON.
AT 6:30 PM AND AFTER EIGHT HOURS OF DRIVING (WE WERE STILL IN CA). WE DROVE THROUGH SEVERAL MORE MILES OF DANGEROUS, FOGGY, HAIR-PIN CURVES (THIS IS WHERE I ALMOST S**T MY PANTS AGAIN!!!!!) CROSSING INTO OREGON.
AT ABOUT 8:30 PM WE STOPPED FOR GAS AND CARL TOOK OVER THE DRIVING. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 10 HOURS. I KNOW GOD WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME BECAUSE I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE WHAT CAME NEXT! WE CLIMBED UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ON A NARROW 2-LANE ROAD SO HIGH THAT OUR EARS POPPED WORSE THEN WHEN WE WERE ON THE AIRPLANE. WE THEN HAD TO MAKE THE DECENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH A SOLID ROCK WALL TO OUR LEFT AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A "MILLION-FOOT" DROP STRAIGHT DOWN TO OUR RIGHT WITH NO GUARDRAILS!!!
I WAS HOLDING THE DOOR HANDLE WITH MY RIGHT HAND AND THE MIDDLE CONSOLE WITH MY LEFT HAND SO HARD THAT MY KNUCKLES HURT. I ACTUALLY THINK I LEFT FINGERNAIL MARKS IN THE RENTAL. HERE IS WHERE I REALIZED THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY UNDERWEAR!!!!!! LOL. I STARTED SAYING THE ROSARY AND MAKING ALL KINDS OF PROMISES.
WELL, GOD DELIVERED US SAFE AND SOUND TO OUR HOTEL AT 10:30 PM (12 HOURS OF DRIVING TODAY) WHERE WE CHECKED IN AND ATE OUR PIES.
I'M GLAD WE GOT THROUGH THIS DAY SAFELY AND I THANKED GOD FOR SUCH A MOST WONDERFUL AND MEMORABLE ADVENTURE. GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE AND I WILL POST THE PICTURES TOMORROW.
GRAMMA AND PAPPA
TODAY IS WHAT I WOULD CALL A "BITTER-SWEET" DAY! A DAY FILLED WITH BOTH WONDERFUL "SWEET" MEMORIES AND "BITTER", TEETH CLENCHING STRESSES. A DAY THAT I WOULD NOT TRADE FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD; BUT, ALSO A DAY WHERE I PRACTICALLY S**T (SORRY KIDS, P**PED) MY PANTS SEVERAL TIMES OVER!!!!
WE STARTED OUR DAY WITH BREAKFAST AT DENNY'S THEN HEADED OVER TO GHIRARDELLI SQUARE BEFORE LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO AT 10:30 AM TO GO TO OREGON. WE RODE OVER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE (IT IS AMAZING AND MUCH BIGGER THAN ON TV) AND GOT ONTO SCENIC ROUTE 101. WE RODE ALONG SIDE THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND MILES AND MILES OF WINE VINEYARDS. UNLIKE WISCONSIN WHERE ALL WE SAW WAS CORN, HERE WE SAW GRAPES. CARL WAS IN AWE TAKING IT ALL IN AS I DROVE MOST OF THE WAY. WE TOOK A BYPASS ONTO THE AVENUE OF THE GIANTS. THIS WAS 31 MILES OF GIANT REDWOOD TREES AND ATTRACTIONS.
THIS IS WHERE I ALMOST S**T MY PANTS THE FIRST TIME! I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE A BRAND NEW FORD ESCAPE RENTAL WITH 2000 MILES THROUGH A 5000-YEAR-OLD REDWOOD TREE TRUNK. HALF WAY THROUGH, I FREAKED AND HAD NO WAY OUT CUZ OF SUCH A TIGHT SQUEEZE. I FINALLY COMPOSED MYSELF AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY OUT SHAKING!!!!! THE REST OF THE AVENUE WAS UNEVENTFUL EXCEPT FOR THE HUNDREDS OF SHARP HAIR-PIN CURVES AND FOG.
WE STOPPED FOR DINNER AT MARIE COLLENDER'S RESTAURANT AND BAKERY. WE HAD COMFORT FOOD: CHICKEN POT PIE, YANKEE POT ROAST AND SLICES OF MIXED BERRY AND PEACH PIE TO GO. WE CONTINUED OUR JOURNEY TO OREGON.
AT 6:30 PM AND AFTER EIGHT HOURS OF DRIVING (WE WERE STILL IN CA). WE DROVE THROUGH SEVERAL MORE MILES OF DANGEROUS, FOGGY, HAIR-PIN CURVES (THIS IS WHERE I ALMOST S**T MY PANTS AGAIN!!!!!) CROSSING INTO OREGON.
AT ABOUT 8:30 PM WE STOPPED FOR GAS AND CARL TOOK OVER THE DRIVING. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 10 HOURS. I KNOW GOD WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME BECAUSE I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE WHAT CAME NEXT! WE CLIMBED UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ON A NARROW 2-LANE ROAD SO HIGH THAT OUR EARS POPPED WORSE THEN WHEN WE WERE ON THE AIRPLANE. WE THEN HAD TO MAKE THE DECENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH A SOLID ROCK WALL TO OUR LEFT AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A "MILLION-FOOT" DROP STRAIGHT DOWN TO OUR RIGHT WITH NO GUARDRAILS!!!
I WAS HOLDING THE DOOR HANDLE WITH MY RIGHT HAND AND THE MIDDLE CONSOLE WITH MY LEFT HAND SO HARD THAT MY KNUCKLES HURT. I ACTUALLY THINK I LEFT FINGERNAIL MARKS IN THE RENTAL. HERE IS WHERE I REALIZED THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY UNDERWEAR!!!!!! LOL. I STARTED SAYING THE ROSARY AND MAKING ALL KINDS OF PROMISES.
WELL, GOD DELIVERED US SAFE AND SOUND TO OUR HOTEL AT 10:30 PM (12 HOURS OF DRIVING TODAY) WHERE WE CHECKED IN AND ATE OUR PIES.
I'M GLAD WE GOT THROUGH THIS DAY SAFELY AND I THANKED GOD FOR SUCH A MOST WONDERFUL AND MEMORABLE ADVENTURE. GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE AND I WILL POST THE PICTURES TOMORROW.
GRAMMA AND PAPPA
Saturday, August 7, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO DAY 1 2010
WELL, AFTER GETTING OFF TO A VERY STRESSFUL AND SCARY START, WE BOARDED VIRGIN AIRLINES AND HAD A WONDERFUL, CALM AND STRESS-FREE FLIGHT. I THOUGHT JET BLUE WAS GOOD; BUT, VIRGIN HAS THEM BEAT HANDS DOWN!! ABOUT 31/2 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, I REALIZED THAT I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY DRAMAMINE AND ZANAX FOR THE FLIGHT. WELL, I GUESS I DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE I WAS FINE FOR ALL 61/2 HOURS.
TONIGHT WE VISITED FISHERMAN'S WHARF, PIER 39, LOMBARD STREET (THE CROOKEDEST STREET IN THE USA) AND TOOK A CABLE CAR RIDE. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND SAN FRANCISCO SO COLD. IT WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES AND WINDY. I THINK WE WERE THE ONLY ONES IN SHORTS. ALMOST EVERYONE HAD LONG PANTS, JACKETS, HATS AND GLOVES!!!!!
TOMORROW WE LEAVE FOR OREGON. IT WILL BE ABOUT AN 8-HOUR DRIVE TO OUR HALF WAY STOP BEFORE WE ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON ON SUNDAY.
GOODNIGHT AND SEE YOU TOMORROW.
GRAMMA AND PAPPA
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