Wednesday September 16

Did a lot of driving. Drove through the rain for much of the afternoon. Did not like the turnpike from Scranton to Allentown! Very narrow and wet. Drove around Boston and New York cities. We found a Comfort Inn near the amusement park complex. The bar and restaurant were full of celebrating business people so we found a place called Pistachios for dinner. Sort of an upscale grill and bar. Nice.

Tuesday September 15

Tuesday was a busy travel day for us. We left Ellsworth after breakfast and headed down the Maine coastline on US-1. Each little town along the coast is at the head of a bay. Before and after each small town is a road that leads down the peninsula to the point. Some of the points have lighthouses. We visited two lighthouses and several ports.

We stopped in Searsport and found the Penobscot Mariner's Museum. The museum is a collection of historic buildings in the center of town. There are several houses with displays inside and then outside are the barns and boathouses filled with a variety of small to medium boats. We spent most of the morning wandering through and then drove across the street to the harbor and had a picnic lunch at a city park overlooking the bay. It was hard to get up and leave. We just wanted to sit and enjoy. Perhaps it was the hard picnic table bench that helped us along. Fortunately we didn't get out the folding chairs as we might not have gotten out of town before dinner.

We stopped in Camden and wandered around the port, watched a schooner dock and let it's passengers off, shopped, and ice creamed! Carol found some dresses for the granddaughters and a new top. We drove out to the Marshall Point lighthouse. Eventually we jumped on I-95 for the short drive into Portland and our Comfort Inn. After settling in we drove to downtown Portland and had dinner at Street and Co. Very fishy but Carol liked it. I had a good grilled tuna steak. Very ritzy with excellent wait staff (Fodor's pick!).

Monday September 14

Woke up this morning and had breakfast here at the Comfort Inn. Took off for Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Had a 30 minute traffic jam at the bridge to the island, and then everything was great from there.

We stopped at the park visitor's center and bought our car pass for the day. We went a little ways into town to the grocery store and bought sandwiches and chips for lunch. Then it was back to the "Loop Road". We rode up to the top of Cadillac Mountain and looked at the 360 degree views. The morning started off cool but clear. Some clouds rolled in as we were driving down off the mountain, but they later dissapated and we had a beautiful afternoon. We stopped at Sand Beach and Thunder Hole.

We had lunch at Bear Brook Picnic Area. We continued around the loop road looking at all of the sights to Jordan House Pond. Carol had a popover with butter and strawberry jam and warm tea. I had a popover filled with homemade ice cream and iced tea. We finished the loop road and parked in town on the waterfront. We shopped up Main St. and Cottage Ln and then went to dinner at the Quarterdeck restaurant overlooking the harbor. Carol ordered a whole, steamed lobster. I think that she had fun!

Back to the Comfort Inn for sleep.

Sunday September 13

Got up early and headed out across Vermont and New Hampshire. Very hilly with lots of small villages and towns. Stopped at Moosebrook State Park in New Hampshire and picniced in the park. The park is just west of Gorham and the road to Mt. Washington is just east of town.

We drove out SR-16 to the park and then up the 8 miles to the top. The last 4 miles were in blowing, impenetrable fog. It was so foggy we got soaking wet walking into the observatory/museum. Scary ride up and down. Once in a life time thing. Don't need to go back. That's Larry pointing at the fog :-)

We are in Ellsworth, ME tonight. Gateway to Acadia and Bar Harbor!

Saturday September 12

Walked back over to the falls and visited the gift shop. Drove over to Goat Island, which is in the middle of the falls and shopped some more. Wandered along the waterway, crossed the Erie Canal, and got on I-90 in Buffalo.

Stopped at a Sbarro's on the turnpike and had a piece of pizza and then continued on to Vermont. Had some more Italian at Pope's Italian and Pizza and then on into Killington, VT. The New York driving was very similar to Michigan. Lots of farms and grain fields. Vermont is very woodsy with small towns. There were a bunch of bikers at the Comfort Inn and we had breakfast with a bunch of them. Some sort of parade in the area.

Friday September 11

Drove through Michigan to Port Huron, MI and then through Canada to Niagara Falls, NY. Walked along the falls and had dinner at the Red Coach Inn. Went back to the falls and saw the lights on the mist. We camped out at the Quality Inn just up the hill from the falls. Never had to move the truck once we got here. Very nice! There was a blues festival with food vendors and bands playing in the park. Fun evening.

Thursday September 10

We hopped in the Titan with Jim and went to Pinkney recreation area for a hike around Pickerel Lake. We spent the afternoon touring around Michigan State Univ. Met Mom and Kathy at Clara's Train Station Restaurant in downtown Lansing for dinner. Spent the evening hanging valences and curtains at Mom's.

Wednesday September 9

Had lunch at Grand Lakes and then went into Lansing. We visited the state capitol, the Michigan Museum of Surveying and the R. E. Olds museum of transportation. Stopped at Applebees for dinner and at Lowes for curtain rods on the way home.

Tuesday September 8

Jumped up and headed out to Turkeyville, MI. Visited the country store, had a big turkey dinner and saw Oklahoma, the musical. Stopped in Battle Creek but there are no longer any cereal tours there. Stopped at the Delhi Cafe for dinner.

Monday September 7

Drove through the rest of Ohio and then Michigan. We stopped in Dundee, Michigan to visit the new Cabela's store there. Finished up the day at Mom's house in Holt, Michigan. Visited for a bit and then went to my brother Jim's for dinner in Webberville. Feasted on ribs, and veggies and stuff!

Sunday September 6

Travelled through Georgia, Tenn, Kentucky, and a lot of Ohio. Stayed in Piqua, OH. Long day.

Lake Park, Georgia

We are ensconced in the Quality Inn off I-75 in Lake Park, GA. Lake Park is just 5 miles into Georgia. Had a good dinner at the Mexican Restraurant across the street.

We met a lot of great people at Anne Taylor's memorial service this afternoon. A lot of folks missing her tonight. The service was hosted by the Joy quilting society. They make some really nice quilts there in north Florida.

The netbook is booking tonight! Go Gators.

It's time to go...

Larry and Carol are going to be on the road for two weeks.

We are planning on stopping in north Florida for Anne Taylor's memorial service on Saturday.

Saturday evening we have a reservation in Lake Park, GA. and then Sunday it's off to Michigan with a stop in Piqua, OH and maybe a "quick" stop in Dundee, MI at the Cabela's :-)