Month: August 2018

082818

Stayed last night at the fabulously cheap Rushmore Express Motel (No Tel) in Keystone SD. No foodies here…. BUT the town is cool; it is a vacation family trap yet is funky with a good coffee joint. Today Mt Rushmore.

Now to catch up a bit.

082418. After the ferry ride from Muskegon to Milwaukee

we stayed in a Quality Inn that Choice should either spend serious $ to fix up or dump from the chain. Even the car didn’t like it. As soon as we arrived, the dash went crazy and the electric emergency brake and Stop/Go systems failed. Found a dealer and we were there at 7:30 the next day with, of course, all systems working fine. The upshot was need for a part the dealer did not have so the remedy was……Duct Tape over the switch because if we use the brake, it may not go off. Welcome to the Rocky Mountains. We called ahead to a dealer in Sioux Falls SD who also did not have the part. Next dealer: Denver!!! Whoa!! No love for Furrin cars in these parts…

Susan experienced her first ChicFil’. I can’t print what she said. Well, I could but her sons-in-law would lose all respect for her.

Petal to the Metal for LaCrosse Mi. SG is headed for a shopping outlet (The Company Store) she peruses on line and LaCrosse is its home town. We search, get at least two bad addresses and then find out it changed its name. The store was disappointing. SG did find the most comfortable chair and ottoman I’ve ever sat in. Fjord. Price not printable and not bought.

LaCrosse in the rain. Lunch for me at Taco Bell (Second only to the Duchess). We snoop around a little. Find BRENNAN MARINE – river tugboat company.

The rain stops and we have dinner at Lovechild. Cool place; great food, so good we ordered a second entree of the orechette and saved it for road lunch the next day. We walked to a folk concert in nearby Riverside Park and found ourselves on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

Then we went in to a bar with a neon sign out front that told the truth:

082518

I-90 toward Souix Falls. We were going there because Margaret Hooton (SG’s son-in-law John’s Mom) hails from there. Southeast Minnesota is first hilly and beautiful, then gently rolling and beautiful. The start of the Plains and the part of the drive everyone complains about. Raining on and off but a very pleasant drive at 80+. Motorhome?? NO WAY. Ever…

Thank God for Sirius and Audible. Radio is mostly “Say Hallelujah Say AMEN!” We listen to Beartown and cruise. Day 2 of Beartown and no end in sight. Beartown should be required reading by every freshman in high school.

So over the past two days I’ve followed John D’s advice and book early. I discover that I can’t get info the first time I type Souix Falls SD. It never pops up. Frustrating…until I find out that the Indians and everyone else spell it wrong. Of course, I have it right…phonetically. The entire world is misinformed on how to spell Souix Falls and I finally realize the error of their ways when I see the name on the side of a building: S!OUX FALLS. They put the “i” in the wrong place and my travel plans suffered as a result. Hmmmmm.

This is one nice town. The drag – Phillips Street – is lined with nice shops – no chain stores, lots of bars (the only place with more bars per foot was LaCrosse) and sculptures that alone are worth the trip.

Footnote from Leland Michigan:

Susan was walking out of a sandwich shop just behind a woman with a sweatshirt with a phrase we MEN have heard far too often. Thought I’d share…  Look at those eyes…

Back to Sioux Falls. Dinner by chance at Parkers. Another excellent find. Trouble finding any other choice so we ate there again after SG tried to kill me with a 25 mile bike ride, half into the wind.

Margaret’s home is beautiful. The woodwork is outstanding. It was built by a man who owned a lumber mill. Each bedroom is different. My favorite was the Birdseye Maple wth matching furniture. It is one of a kind and will sell the house.

Sioux Falls – the actual falls – are cool, but not spectacular. The town is friendly, clean and unlike many of the states we went through, they recycle. I think it was just the city. No other town seemed to do so.

082818. The BADASS BADLANDS. On the theory that we should smell the coffee along the way to Rushmore, we departed Sioux Falls early and stopped at a homesteader’s ranch just short of the Badlands. Wow.

My photos didn’t do it justice, so I took a photo of a photo. Mud walls and floors…desolate…..desolate. The family had a 1920 Model T that they often had to pull with a mule because of the terrain.

So we stroll to the Outhouse and Sg pulls open the door and screams…

A few photos from the Badlands do not do it justice. Magnificent. Breathtaking.. If you get out here, don’t pass it by.

We saw much tougher terrain in Phipps-Death Hollow along Route 12 past Escalante State Park in Utah a few years ago but nowhere near as pretty.

Yes, the Luxurious Rushmore Express. Far from it, but clean and friendly. No eggs or sausage at the free breakfast. Good oatmeal and buns. The night we arrived we ate at Grizzly Creek Burgers and had a bison burger so good we ordered another. We were entertained by hummingbirds sucking nectar from several plants. Could not get a pic of the fast little buggers.

Second Time Zone change.

Mount Rushmore.

You’ve all seem the pictures, know the presidents up there.. I was ready to take a quick look and move on. Not so. Mount Rushmore is about why it was built, how and what it means. I was all choked up when we left and am as I type this.

What are we doing to this great country that these men founded, saved, promoted and built?

Well, anyway, locals pointed us to Iron Mountain and Needles Highway. These two form a loop that will take 21/2 hours if you stop infrequently. Stop more and do not pass this up. Iron Mountain roads were built by the WPA in the 30’s. Each one-car tunnel faces Mt Rushmore and the forest is trimmed for the view. The Needles Highway is what the name implies.

Then there is the Needle.

On the way there, Bambi got it. Look who came to dinner:

We counted over 20 Buzzards

Could not leave Keystone without recording this place:

082918 Next day Keystone to Casper Wyo. Casper and most of Wyoming in that area is part of the oil industry. Lots of fracking. No one in the state cares because of the JOBS. Had great trouble finding a good place to eat dinner. I use Trip Advisor a lot and it is usually reliable but I had my doubts. So I went to the desk and asked the cute clerk “If you wanted to go to a restaurant around here where your beau would ask you to marry him, where would you go?” She gave me the same answer as Trip Advisor. So I made a MAJOR mistake and told SG that story. “What kind of Fool am I…?” (Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady, I think. Matt will straighten me out if he reads this crap).

Stopped at Crazy Horse monument site and again felt so sad for what we did to the Indians. This monument and the connected university is the work of one family, privately financed. No Fed $. Rushmore was all fed $.

One lesson learned: when feasible, take the state roads rather than the Interstates. You’ll see a lot more stuff and a lot less people and billboards. South Dakotans love billboards close to exits along the highways. They do help keep you awake and help you avoid stuff.

083018. Running Southwest out of Casper Wy. No interstates between us and Jackson. 20 miles past Muddy gap, we see snow on Glacier Mountain elevation 13,000+. We are in the Plains at 6,562. Words and photos cannot describe this area. Huge, endless, nothing but sagebrush for many many miles. Very few cars. Fewer people. Indian reservations. We just passed two bikers – on bicycles – SG wanted to join them. I welcomed her to do so.

We stop and turn around to get this sign. The SVEEENCERS will understand. Ge Wiz.

This ride has to be one of the 10 best. More majestic and varied than the Badlands. Colorful and awe inspiring. SG was asleep when we went from a plateau into a valley that caused me to draw my breath so forcefully that she awoke.

So, put a notch in your belt with this one on your way to Yellowstone. Make sure you fill the tank before leaving Casper. High test $4.09per at 3 Forks Fuel in Muddy Gap.

We stop frequently and meet Max the yellow lab. We meet Max again at the Togwotee Pass – the first overlook of the Grand Tetons – with Clay and Susan towing their boat. They live in the Black Hills (Deadwood) and vacation in the Tetons at least 5 times a year. No fools, these folks.

Jackson Hole: home of Spencer and Tyler Glod. Our timing is exquisite; Tyler and his roommate are out of town so he offered us his place for 4 days. We turned it down and paid $300+ a night instead. Naaaa…. Thanks Ty and John!!

Jackson is an old cowboy town overrun by over 1M people in season and this is the season. The roads are all just two lane highways in and out of town and it is the only way to Yellowstone from the south. Plan your visit on the edges of the season and bring warm clothes and Money. You will not have the latter when you leave. If you want to see more genuine cowboy towns, take Route 26/287 to Casper from Jackson (the reverse of our ride in) and see Dubois and Lander.

More Jackson later. Planning river rafting and fly fishing. We’ll see with the crowds.

082318

Riding the Lake Express Ferry from Muskegon Mi to Milwaukie Wi. First Time Zone change!!

Since the last note, we have seen a lot and done little.

081918
Detroit: We started the day coming through a tunnel from Windsor. Customs a breeze. The officer was thrilled that we were traveling the US and chatted us up while a line of 20 cars behind us waited.

We drove the city a little – very clean. We saw Tiger Stadium

We located a park (Marsius) (sp) that was famous for just hanging out. We parked and walked into a street music festival.

We went into the PARC restaurant and

Bloodies were great and made ourselves. We walked the festival and went back to lunch at PARC. Great food. Thanks to Kyle (the bartender) and Scott (manager). Scott recommended we go to Torch Lake near Traverse City, a place selected by SG. Later about that.

I had bought a tour from a Tours & Travel app. If you ever see this guy while in Detroit,

RUN! He was billed as a non-professional that had a great love for Detroit. The only thing he loved was walking our as…. off to get in his 3 hours. What we saw was cool but I finally had to rent bikes to see a few things.

 

Old Railroad station now owned by Ford – spending $722M to convert to a driverless car research center. By the time Ford renovates this wreck, we will all be self levitating and cars will be obsolete.

Back to PARC to quench thirst after wearing out 3 pairs of hiking boots…

Stayed at a Red Roof Inn in Dearborn. Not the best choice but SG liked it because it was CHEAP. Had a lousy sushi dinner and the next day discovered we were very close to excellent food.

We toured the Ford Museum of American Innovation. By itself it was worth the trip!!!

Cars!!

For Lou

082018

Headed to Traverse City with a plan to stay 3 nights. LUCKED in to a restaurant called Poppycocks on Front St. Wonderful food. Traverse City is in northwestern Michigan but well before the Upper Peninsula.

this is a pasta cooker, powered by steam that circulates in each kettle and heats the pasta water or sauce etc.  Fast, perfect

082118. The next day it rained and we went shopping….yeah…shopping in a cool little village nicknamed Fishtown. Remote, quaint, peaceful little town with a very unusual name – Leland. No foolin’.

So while there, this lady walked by us with a sweat shirt slogan I hae heard wayyyyy toooo often

082218: we are in desperate need of exercise so we rented bikes and rode @15-20 miles on flat land around Traverse City. It is at the foot of West Traverse Bay and the heart of Cherry Country. Loved it. Ate again at Poppycock. Went to the top of the tallest building in town at night and saw the lake and region. Nice…too bad the summer lasts a nanosecond.

082318. On the way to the ferry in Muskegon we stopped in a little town called Manistee. Really cute – a local museum that puts Frankie’s junk store in Fairfield to shame. The town was build on timber mills and shipments by water and railroad. It has retained and refurbished its Main Street and there is a lot in the region. Between this town and Traverse City, it is a good pick for a summer vacation and antiquing.

Ferry is a hydroplane carrying 40+ cars at 32 knots!!

081418

Skytop Insect of the Day

0815 and 16 2018

So Long Billy..

Can’t pass up a run in the Gut with the Mombo Ski Club.

Back on the Road… 081718

Today’s Theme: HooooooooLeeeeeeeeeSh…t

I started this sojourn on the sage advice of John D of St Ann Drum Corps fame. He claimed to have transversed the US with two basic rules:

1. Find a place to stay by 1:30.

2. Find a place to eat by 4:30.

On the first leg, I was skeptical and violated the rules at will with no consequences.

Yesterday, I got my comeuppance. We rolled all day in horrible FRIDAY traffic. (No, we didn’t leave on time). We were rerouted from the Cross County, up the Sprain and Taconic to the new Tappan Zee (Beautiful bridge) and down I 287 to 80 West. That sucked until we got well west of the Delaware Water Gap. I enjoyed the view there while Susan drove.

We flew out 80 without a care in the world, heading toward Oil City Pa where oil was first drilled for in the US. The scenery is beautiful – rolling hills and the Allegheny mountains. We ran in to what looked like a fog bank sitting in a valley; it was RAIN and a lot of it. Otherwise a very pleasant fast drive on good highways.

We got off 80 in Clarion and found ALL hotels booked on all websites.

My respect for John D’s Rules increased. We lucked out when Susan volunteered to make all the beds at the Holiday Inn Express. I got a room and she worked. Not bad…

Not really. Susan bolted the next morning rather that fulfill her promise. Not unexpected.

Food Rule: More respect. We chose Local rather than Applebees and ate at the Clarion Brewing Company. The beer was very good; my crab cakes sucked; Susan’s fried haddock was good. So I poached from her as much as I could until she drove a fork into the back of my hand and threatened worse.

The bartender said skip Oil City and recommended a hike in the Cook Forest and kayaking in the Clarion River. I told him to put the crab cakes in the kayak (they’d plug any leaks – worked for me).

081818

We had a good breakfast in a local greasy spoon – The County Seat in Downtown Clarion.
Worth the stop. I bought a pink hat and SG hasn’t noticed it yet. I’m going to wear it until she does…. Did by Mile 130 in Ohio. She claimed that she had noticed it earlier but she was driving and could not comment.

The town also has a classic county courthouse, now a Chamber of Commerce and the old jail behind it.  Photos on the Other camera and I lost the cord to transfer!!! Arguhhh!!!

=And we are moving on to Detroit. Staying in Windsor ON – Already booked by 9:30 AM….

You’ve got to love the state slogan. “PURE Michigan”…This first appears at the state line, right before a sign: “Flint 102 Mi”. Free water anyone?…

Windsor via the Ambassador Bridge.

Some people you just can’t get away from…. See the street sign.

Cool town. Lots of Millenials and bars all centered on Ouellette Street. Even a Gentlemen’s Club. But I don’t know what that is and SG would not let me inquire. She said there were no gentlemen there. What??

And look what it got us

Restaurant “Fourteen.”

Yankee $$ doing well up here. Room and dinner cheap.

082018

Off to tour Detroit…  Then…

 

081118…

So we antiqued around Canandaigua.  Susan bought a scarf but lost the negotiation.  Shopkeeper would not budge, especially when she passed it up but came back just before closing.

Lunch at Eddie O’Brien’s sucked. The food was good but the good looking waitress with the huge..eyes..never came back.  And I didn’t jump in the lake.

Dinner was a special treat.  Hard to find real good food and we lucked out. Susan chose THAI BY NIGHT.  The small board out front said:

“We_Will __We_ Will ..WOK You”  guitar riff…   Just beer and wine but the best Thai dinner I’ve had in a long time.

081218

Heading to Skytop Pa.

We took back roads from Canandaigua to Watkins Glen.  Stopped to Shop.  Then back roads through the boonies through Colesville, then Stratton and then Spencer to Owego.  Stunning courthouse on the Susquehanna River.

An Owl with Cataracts

Skytop is a resort with its own zip code – 18357.  The Cotter Family vacationed here for years, bought a cottage after the still unexplained demise of the MadMaMare.  We drove in and the huge sign said SKYTOP LODGE 90TH ANNIVERSARY.  I  gave it some thought and here I was 50 years after the Cotters first introduced me to Skytop.

For those that know, we stayed in a cottage.  First walk was to the Observatory on a perfect evening.  And there was some skinny kid with hair straight off his head driving a mini bike through the flower beds…DeJa Vu, all over again.

The place looks great.  Gardens really colorful.  Place is also changed.  Dinner is by payment and not meal plan.  The food in the dining room and the deli (?) is superb!!  Every activity costs, but it still by far and away the most relaxing, unpretentious and peaceful place I’ve ever been.

081318

Buck Hill is doing well.  The mansion is down and its location is used for a lookout and weenie roasting.   And Other Affairs, with the permission of the Community Board.

We walked the lake in the rain.  Quiet day…

Tomorrow: Home for Billy

Who is this kid?

Wednesday…

SeeeYa

Later Wednesday

They were returning from visiting a neighbor who lives in an abandoned quarry.  Liz and Susan took me over there after raving like maniacs.  Lots of metal sculptures set in a multi-level blasted out quarry.  The most fascinating part of it was my first-hand look at fossils:

Well, still having trouble loading photos – see later

Figured it Out!!!

The place was loaded with them.

Thursday 801018

Somehow, I decided to go fishing with Rick  Eadie and Mike’s neighbor Warren.  Warren is a very interesting guy – USAF veteran, retired Postmaster, retired teacher, semi-retired substitute teacher and a fishing nut with no sense of humor.  *(He didn’t laugh at my jokes – warped, right?)

He has more lures and tackle than Bass Pro Shop, all neatly stored in huge cases, beautiful rods, and a tricked out pontoon boat that has 3 hulls, is very stable and will do 42 MPH! (Sun Catcher 22′ Fish and Sun Model)

My expectations the night before were low and they were met.  Rick got a lake trout (8-10 lb Says Rick; more like ounces) and that was it.  However, now I can say that I fished Lake Ontario.  Better: 5:45 AM on the lake:

Susan is loving hanging with the Sis’s.  They are recovering furniture, squabbling like wet hens and loving every moment.

Friday 081018

We wear out our welcome and leave the Mike and Liz to contemplate the silence in our absence.  We head to Canandaigua Lake.  Say it 3 times fast and you got it!  Nice place.  Reminiscent of Sleepless In Seattle, there are boat houses and Lyttle streets, a nice public beach and an abandoned steel framework of a  7 story hotel.

Dumb photographer cut off the street name after some effort to properly frame the photo.  Oh Well…

We had a great dinner in a bar called the Red Dog Tavern in Geneva. Ostrich burgers!!  Then to a performance of Roomfull of Jazz at Finger Lakes Live.

Saturday 081118

Slept late; can’t keep this old dog out that late…

Thinking about Billy…and how very fortunate I am…

Antiquing and will jump in the Lake…

 

We started West on Friday 8/3 by going north to SG’s brother’s home in Killington.  The Plan of departure went well.  We planned for 10:00 and get out at 11.  We left at 1:00 and quickly returned for some forgotten item already forgotten and actually hit the road at 2:00.

We got there without getting rear-ended.  Rick and Helen are great hosts!  This was the first time I saw Killington without snow and crowds.  Really nice, GREEN, and peaceful.

Saturday: Susan and Helen shopped while Rick and I went to Home Depot and then to a large Farmer’s Market in Rutland (new town to me).  Nice; lots of old buildings in great shape.

Then a swim in the local swimming hole.               Nice dinner.

Sunday:  Learned of Billy Cotter’s demise.

We headed west again by going north to Burlington (new to Susan).  We rode up Rt 100.  If you never have, Do.

Destination: Lake Placid.  The 1:30 Rule (find a place to stay) seriously violated.

Left Burlington by ferry to Port Kent NY.  Nice 1 hour ride. Cheap — $37/car and two seniors.  Was even cheaper because Susan hid in the trunk with the dirty laundry.  No more ferry rides….

South on 9N to Au Sable Forks.  Saw a very spooky building and on a rainy day I’m going to see if I can find out its history. Pics may be attached; maybe not.  New to this blog stuff.

We visited Whiteface Mountain on the way.  Saw the Olympic Ski Jump structures…looks like straight out of Star Wars.  Entered Lake Placid Village on Mirror Lake.  Stayed in the Mirror Lake Inn – Outrageous food, view, room…top drawer all the way.

Monday: played in Mirror Lake.  Mirror Lake is worth the stay. Great place for a gang to get a bunch of rooms and hang.  No motor boats, jet skis, etc; beautiful warm water, paddle boards, kayaks,etc. and a little village to shop and eat in.

Hit the road at 2:00 for Chaumont NY.  SG’s sister Liz and her friend Mike.  Her sister Peg and Hus Rick were there already.  (See a pattern here?)  All two lane highways.  Stopped in Saranac Lake to shop for ski gloves – (no size XLs) – and ogle old boats and new ski-boats.  Great leisurely ride through spectacular scenery in the Adirondacks.

Arrived at Mike’s place – a 4 bedroom cottage and spectacular home.  May be a pix attached.

Learned how to insert photos. Scary place and Whiteface.  Here’s Mike’s:

TUESDAY!!!  What a wonderful day to get older.  We went to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton NY – right on the St. Lawrence Seaway.  Cool place to see old boats.  Worth it if you’re up this way.  Came back to Mike’s and the ladies packed a picnic dinner for the boat.  So we celebrated the start of my 72nd year (yes, I don’t believe it either) with a sunset cruise on Guffin (bring your Muffin) Bay.  I can’t thank this crowd for a wonderful Bday.  My gift was false eyelashes (???).  Various colorful comments made.  I did NOT put them on.  I did Sk…y D.p.

Wednesday:  A walk along the lake, a dip (suit this time) and all the peace and quiet I can handle…Oh S…! They’re back….

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