Well, we've finally reached the end of The Blevins Family Excellent Adventure. We arrived Sunday evening and have been unpacking and settling in, and I'm now ready to leave my final message.
All told, we travelled 10,531 miles in 50 days. We saw 31 states and provinces, and lived a dream that my parents have always had: to spend an entire summer touring the United States .
Here's a list of some family favorites along the trip (or some not so favorites!)
Favorite Beach Experience: Definitely Hilton Head in South Carolina, where we got to not only see our family but also learned the fine art of body surfing from Uncle Mark, a skill that we used at every other beach we visited, even in Cape Code where the water was only 50 degrees (Wyatt was actually the only one who went in there).
Worst Food Experience: We all had some food that we didn't care for, but by far the one who experienced the absolute worst food experience was Dad, who got food poisoning from a Chinese buffet in Beaufort, SC, and was vomiting on his chartered fishing trip the next day.
Coolest Motel Person: Chuck at the Twilite Motel in Maine. He offered us great advice, and even warned us about the crowds at Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and boy was he right. He gave us a nice, big, clean room, and even advice about where we should be sure to go. He was a real help, and a great guy.
Worst Hotel: Some $40-a-night dump off of the Jersey Turnpike. I don't want to elaborate. Too many bad memories. What I will say is that we never went without some kind of shoes, even in the shower.
Worst Drivers: The Quebecois up in Canada. They drive like they're in the Indy 500, and there are no traffic cops, compounded with the fact that the roads are in very bad disrepair. They were even worse drivers than in Chicago. Actually, Chicago driver's weren't particularly bad, they were just speedy and mean. Defensive driving on a whole other level.
Most Memorable Historic Site: The award really goes to Mr. Vanderbilt, because the Biltmore Estate takes the prize as our most memorable (and favorite) historic site. The whole experience was fascinating and fun, and it was certainly well worth doing. I'm not sure how educational it was, but it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Best Value: The Coney Island hot dog restaurant in New Castle, PA. It was a little local hole-in-the-wall place, with $o.99 chili cheese dogs and a double cheeseburger for $1.80. The entire meal for four, with hot dogs, burgers, fries, drinks included, cost about $15.50. It was definitely the best value of the trip.
This vacation was everything that we could have hoped it would be. We had few and minor hick-ups, and it was altogether a trip that we'll remember for the rest of our lives. We all give thanks to God for keeping us safe and smoothing the way. I've thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog, and to the faithful few who've stuck out to the end, thank you for giving me someone to write for. Until next time, it's been truly wonderful, and I wish you all a fair and fond farewell.
Jane
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
Day fourty-seven: The Final Stretch
Today we left the Silseth crew in Milwaukee and headed home, the final 1,500 miles. We ate at a Brazilian restaurant tonight, but other than that, we did nothing but drive. And that's what the next few days will be like.
Dear reader, this will be the last post on the leg home. Once we arrive and have settled in, there will be a final post with the miles, favorites, and that sort of thing. It will be big, and really finalizing. And, don't expect to see more pictures unless I mention it.
To those of you who've faithfully (or otherwise) followed this, thank you. Hearing about people reading has made this very fun for me, and I've kept it up as diligently as I could to please you people. I'll leave you with parting words in a few days!
Jane
Dear reader, this will be the last post on the leg home. Once we arrive and have settled in, there will be a final post with the miles, favorites, and that sort of thing. It will be big, and really finalizing. And, don't expect to see more pictures unless I mention it.
To those of you who've faithfully (or otherwise) followed this, thank you. Hearing about people reading has made this very fun for me, and I've kept it up as diligently as I could to please you people. I'll leave you with parting words in a few days!
Jane
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Day fourty-six: Serbian Food
It was a full day in the Milwaukee area, and a good day.
We started out with a tour of Wilderness Log Homes, a company that builds or offers material for log homes (Dad owns some share in the company, as does John Silseth, with whom we are staying). We saw the plant, the offices, samples of the material and product available, and got to learn about the processes involved with a pre-fabricated log home.
We had lunch at a very fascinating place, the American Club. The American Club is across the street from the Kohler factory (in Kohler, WI), and back during the Industrial Revolution, it was the home of the immigrants who worked at the factory. It's now a very fancy resort with a large golf course, beautiful rooms, nice restaurants, and state-of-the-art plumbing, of course.
After lunch, we headed to another part of the building and toured the Kohler show room. It had displays of all the latest and greatest bath tubs, sinks, toilets, and whatever other plumbing you could think of. It was part function, part art.
We drove back through part of Milwaukee, and unfortunately there was a lot of construction going on and we had to take a different route home, and it took longer than anticipated, so we only had about 20 minutes at the house before be had to leave to make our 6:30 dinner reservation at The Three Brothers, a Serbian restaurant.
The Three Brothers is a James Bearde award winner, and serves authentic Serbian food, which was a new and great experience for us. We had stewed lamb, stuffed zucchini, Moussaka, and anything else you could want. It was fun, unique, and delicious.
This evening, we'll relax, and tomorrow, we'll put as many miles behind us as we can to get home. From the Silseth residence, it's 1509 miles. We'll see you when we see you!
Jane
We started out with a tour of Wilderness Log Homes, a company that builds or offers material for log homes (Dad owns some share in the company, as does John Silseth, with whom we are staying). We saw the plant, the offices, samples of the material and product available, and got to learn about the processes involved with a pre-fabricated log home.
We had lunch at a very fascinating place, the American Club. The American Club is across the street from the Kohler factory (in Kohler, WI), and back during the Industrial Revolution, it was the home of the immigrants who worked at the factory. It's now a very fancy resort with a large golf course, beautiful rooms, nice restaurants, and state-of-the-art plumbing, of course.
After lunch, we headed to another part of the building and toured the Kohler show room. It had displays of all the latest and greatest bath tubs, sinks, toilets, and whatever other plumbing you could think of. It was part function, part art.
We drove back through part of Milwaukee, and unfortunately there was a lot of construction going on and we had to take a different route home, and it took longer than anticipated, so we only had about 20 minutes at the house before be had to leave to make our 6:30 dinner reservation at The Three Brothers, a Serbian restaurant.
The Three Brothers is a James Bearde award winner, and serves authentic Serbian food, which was a new and great experience for us. We had stewed lamb, stuffed zucchini, Moussaka, and anything else you could want. It was fun, unique, and delicious.
This evening, we'll relax, and tomorrow, we'll put as many miles behind us as we can to get home. From the Silseth residence, it's 1509 miles. We'll see you when we see you!
Jane
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Day fourty-five: Brookfield, WI
Yesterday, we visited Kasgro Rail, a company that makes specialty rail cars and has a fleet of their own. Dad is a partner in this company and we went to visit the factory.
Joe Crawford is the President of Kasgro, and he gave us a tour. The factory, two locations spanning over 300,000 sq. ft with 150 employees, has the capability of producing two completed rail cars a day along with many specialty cars, and they make everything at the factory. Dave, the plant superintendent, also helped us on our tour, explaining how everything worked and how the pieces and assemblies fit together. At the end of the tour we were given a ride in a small diesel locomotive that Kasgro owns. Today was one of our “hidden highlights”, something that we didn’t expect to be as neat and interesting as it was. It was a real treat.
Joe took us out to a very nice lunch, and then we left New Castle. We’re resting in (holy) Toledo, OH tonight and tomorrow we’ll head to Milwaukee to see the Silseth’s and what Milwaukee has to offer.
Today, we drove to Brookfield, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee, to see the Silseth's. John Silseth is a good friend and business partner of Dad's, and Milwaukee is one of the places that Dad frequented during his business days. We also get to visit with Pepe, another one of his old business pals.
After a lunch at a White Castle, we arrived and were able to visit and relax. Tomorrow, we'll see the city, and then, onward home!
Jane
Joe Crawford is the President of Kasgro, and he gave us a tour. The factory, two locations spanning over 300,000 sq. ft with 150 employees, has the capability of producing two completed rail cars a day along with many specialty cars, and they make everything at the factory. Dave, the plant superintendent, also helped us on our tour, explaining how everything worked and how the pieces and assemblies fit together. At the end of the tour we were given a ride in a small diesel locomotive that Kasgro owns. Today was one of our “hidden highlights”, something that we didn’t expect to be as neat and interesting as it was. It was a real treat.
Joe took us out to a very nice lunch, and then we left New Castle. We’re resting in (holy) Toledo, OH tonight and tomorrow we’ll head to Milwaukee to see the Silseth’s and what Milwaukee has to offer.
Today, we drove to Brookfield, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee, to see the Silseth's. John Silseth is a good friend and business partner of Dad's, and Milwaukee is one of the places that Dad frequented during his business days. We also get to visit with Pepe, another one of his old business pals.
After a lunch at a White Castle, we arrived and were able to visit and relax. Tomorrow, we'll see the city, and then, onward home!
Jane
Monday, July 30, 2007
Day fourty-three: New Castle, PA
Yesterday, we drove. From Quebec city to upstate New York. Today, upstate New York to New Castle, PA. Ta dah!
Actually, though yesterday was uneventful, today we made a stop at a major site: Niagara Falls. We pulled into the city of Niagara Falls, which was a little scary, but the Falls themselves were stunning.
After viewing to our hearts content, we continued on down the road. Hungry for a little lunch, we headed back to Buffalo, NY, to have none other than Buffalo wings at Frank and Theresa's Anchor Bar, the birth-place of the tasty all-American snack. We ordered fifty and took home something like four.
After arriving in New Castle and unpacking our things, we headed down-town to search out somewhere to eat. We found Cony Island, a restaurant established in 1923. We had, of course, hot dogs, plus some fries, a burger, and cherry soda. The whole thing was under $20. Not bad, not bad.
Tomorrow, Dad's buisness partner Joe Crawford will take us on a tour of the Kasgro Rail plant, where we'll see railroad cars being constructed. Then, onward to Milwakee.
Jane
Actually, though yesterday was uneventful, today we made a stop at a major site: Niagara Falls. We pulled into the city of Niagara Falls, which was a little scary, but the Falls themselves were stunning.
After viewing to our hearts content, we continued on down the road. Hungry for a little lunch, we headed back to Buffalo, NY, to have none other than Buffalo wings at Frank and Theresa's Anchor Bar, the birth-place of the tasty all-American snack. We ordered fifty and took home something like four.
After arriving in New Castle and unpacking our things, we headed down-town to search out somewhere to eat. We found Cony Island, a restaurant established in 1923. We had, of course, hot dogs, plus some fries, a burger, and cherry soda. The whole thing was under $20. Not bad, not bad.
Tomorrow, Dad's buisness partner Joe Crawford will take us on a tour of the Kasgro Rail plant, where we'll see railroad cars being constructed. Then, onward to Milwakee.
Jane
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Day fourty-one: Quebec, QC
What a day today was! I'm all launguaged out.
Today in Quebec City began at a patisserie, a little bakery. We had croissants, coffee, quiche, and some other things that I'm not sure of. It was great, and the French was not only easier to understand than I thought it would be, but it was easy to communicate and the Quebecois were very appreciative and forgiving of my French.
We roamed around the beautiful and historic down-town, popping into stores and seeing the Quebecois way of life. Lunch in a bistro, more perusing, more French, cha cha cha, and then, we got to witness "un spectacle dans la rue", a street show. There was juggling, unicycling, and humor that I only half understood.
We saw the historic Battery Park and then had one of our loveliest meals yet, at "Le Lapin Satue", or, in English, "The Jumping Rabbit". Even the rain couldn't spoil our day.
Overall, the Quebecois were gracious and friendly, and very kind. However, I will say this : my Grandma Lois, who lived in France, said that after being there a while and speaking the French, you felt a bit like, "OK, that's a fun game, but I'm ready to stop playing and speak English now; I don't want to play this French game any more"; but, of course, you have no choice but to play, because that's all they speak. I mush confess feeling ready to stop playing. Fortunately, unlike France in the 50's, everyone speaks English now, so when I, or even they, didn't want to "play", everything worked out well.
Quebec is one of the places that we would be very willing to come back and visit for a bit longer. Had we not been as advanced in our trip as we are, we may have stayed for a few more days, but we're ready to move on. We'll head south tomorrow, and go along down the road, marking the begining of our drive home.
Jane
Today in Quebec City began at a patisserie, a little bakery. We had croissants, coffee, quiche, and some other things that I'm not sure of. It was great, and the French was not only easier to understand than I thought it would be, but it was easy to communicate and the Quebecois were very appreciative and forgiving of my French.
We roamed around the beautiful and historic down-town, popping into stores and seeing the Quebecois way of life. Lunch in a bistro, more perusing, more French, cha cha cha, and then, we got to witness "un spectacle dans la rue", a street show. There was juggling, unicycling, and humor that I only half understood.
We saw the historic Battery Park and then had one of our loveliest meals yet, at "Le Lapin Satue", or, in English, "The Jumping Rabbit". Even the rain couldn't spoil our day.
Overall, the Quebecois were gracious and friendly, and very kind. However, I will say this : my Grandma Lois, who lived in France, said that after being there a while and speaking the French, you felt a bit like, "OK, that's a fun game, but I'm ready to stop playing and speak English now; I don't want to play this French game any more"; but, of course, you have no choice but to play, because that's all they speak. I mush confess feeling ready to stop playing. Fortunately, unlike France in the 50's, everyone speaks English now, so when I, or even they, didn't want to "play", everything worked out well.
Quebec is one of the places that we would be very willing to come back and visit for a bit longer. Had we not been as advanced in our trip as we are, we may have stayed for a few more days, but we're ready to move on. We'll head south tomorrow, and go along down the road, marking the begining of our drive home.
Jane
Friday, July 27, 2007
Day fourty: Quebec!!
Aujourd'hui, nous sommes alles a Quebec, et je suis super hereuse d'etre ici! C'est un reve realise! Just kidding.
Today, we went to Quebec, and I'm very happy to be here. It's a dream come true!
We left our cozy little motel in Ellesworth and headed up north and...west. We've made the turn towards home, not an end to touring, but a turn towards Montana. We drove for hours through many small rural towns, and finally arrived at the boarder. There, we were sternly questioned multiple times, and even had to pull over while our camper was searched, but we were of course allowed in.
Actually, it was more driving after that. But all the signs were in French, and I could read them! It maybe wasn't as good for everyone else, but I was, and still am, in heaven.
The real test came when we had get a hotel room. I talked to the concierges in French, and they were very courteous, and it was very positive. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant, more French, and are now in our hotel trying to find not-French TV to watch. Tomorrow, we'll see old Quebec and whatever else there is, and I'm so excited I could pop. A Demain!
Jane
Today, we went to Quebec, and I'm very happy to be here. It's a dream come true!
We left our cozy little motel in Ellesworth and headed up north and...west. We've made the turn towards home, not an end to touring, but a turn towards Montana. We drove for hours through many small rural towns, and finally arrived at the boarder. There, we were sternly questioned multiple times, and even had to pull over while our camper was searched, but we were of course allowed in.
Actually, it was more driving after that. But all the signs were in French, and I could read them! It maybe wasn't as good for everyone else, but I was, and still am, in heaven.
The real test came when we had get a hotel room. I talked to the concierges in French, and they were very courteous, and it was very positive. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant, more French, and are now in our hotel trying to find not-French TV to watch. Tomorrow, we'll see old Quebec and whatever else there is, and I'm so excited I could pop. A Demain!
Jane
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
