Home2 again, Home2 again

Well here we are, and yes we did arrive on schedule. After leaving Locust Grove, GA we drove 476 miles in 7 hours and pulled into our driveway at 4 p.m. We drove 3788.5 miles with a total driving time of 64 1/2 hours. Since we were only in WA 3 1/2 months I told Doug it almost feels as if we never left. Doug stacked everything from the car in the middle of the front room so he could take these pictures. Everything is now unpacked, put away and we are starting to settle into home2.

Had dinner at Todd and Shannon's last night, and it was a very tasty low-fat spaghetti with salad. Told him the competition was back on and we would have them to dinner next Saturday. Now I have to come up with a delicious low-fat meal........any ideas????

Another Long Day

Have to back up a bit here and go back to last night.......Doug and I had a nice dinner at a place called O'Charleys which is a knock off of Applebee's and Chili's and went back to our motel room and found that the lights we had left on were off. Tried all light switches and nothing worked, looked at the other customer rooms and they all had lights, so Doug went to the office and it took awhile but we finally got lights. The next morning we went to Starbucks for coffee, bagels, and a newspaper. We read the paper and found that a man had murdered his step-father two night before by stabbing him 40 times and big surprise they found the killer at the motel we were staying at. We decided that tonight we would spend a little more money and stay at a motel with a little higher clientele.

Today was a 8 1/2 hour 550 mile drive. Weather has warmed quite a bit, Doug put on long pants in Minot and took them off today, 10/22, he does not plan on putting them back on for a very long time. Still has a little color on his legs so not to bad.

Stopped in Berea, KY today to see the Boone Tavern Hotel which is on the Berea College campus. Berea College is for students who can not afford to go to college, they pay no tuition but have to work on the campus to pay their way. The college is over 100 years old and the buildings are beautiful, big brick structures. This is the second college that has no tuition we have visited, the first was in The Ozarks outside of Branson. What an opportunity for family's who can not afford to send their children for an education and to break the cycle of poverty

If all goes according to plan we will be in Sarasota tomorrow evening.

October colors

Long day today, 600 miles in 9 hours. Spending the night in Miamisburg, OH just south of Dayton. First 100 miles where in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it was dark and rainy. We've been very disappointed in the fall colors on the trip, understand that it got so cold early that most leaves just froze and then dropped. We had a short detour on HWY 2 for bridge repair and lo and behold it was beautiful. The pictures don't show the true colors as it was overcast and raining, bright yellows and oranges, mellow greens, and muted reds. Made HWY 2 worth the frustration.

We are now back on "schedule".

Family Pictures from Canada

Cousin Ray

Aunts Joyce and Doreen (sisters who married Verity brothers)

Ray's wife, Joan, and cousin Joyce's husband Terry

Doug's Mom

Uncle Ken and Aunt Ruth with Doug

Day 4, Tuesday

419 miles today, not making much in mileage but we did get to Norway today!! Norway, MI that is. Lots of little towns that slow us down to 25 miles an hour, and two lane road that doesn't want you to go over 55, think NOT. Of course have to keep it down some as each of these little towns does have it very own cop sitting in his patrol car with the radar gun trained on traffic. We're almost 100 miles behind schedule but keep remembering we are retired and really not on any schedule.

Spending the night in Manistique, MI, a cute little resort town right on Lake Michigan.

3rd Day on Road

Had a great visit in Carnduff, Sask., Canada, arrived on Wednesday as the roads were so bad we had to spend an extra night on the road. We got to visit with all Doug's Aunts, Uncle and cousins. Had a nice surprise as a cousin he hasn't seen since he was in high school was home on his way to winter in Arizona. Doug's Mom put on a great dinner and they were able to have a good visit. Some of his cousins will be visiting us in Florida this winter and we are really looking forward to it.

Only 492 miles today starting at 8:30 a.m. and driving until 6:15 p.m.
No snow, thank heavans, clear skies all the way.

Had to stop in Minot, N.D., put two new tires on the car. One was all the way down to the core in four spots and the other not much better.

Not much excitment today, spending the night in Grand Rapids, MN the birthplace of Judy Garland.

Leaving Canada

Re-marriage of Bryan and Michelle

for Maya's 8th b'day

Minot, N.D. 10/15/09 woke to 2" of snow

Starbucks in Helena, N.D. 10/14/2009 it was snowing!!

Maya, flowergirl and maid of honor for her 8th b'day at

Dad and Mom's re-marriage

Peanut, Uncle Jack (90 years young) and me last visit before leaving for Florida

Day 2 and Not In Canada yet

What a day we have had. Got up and on the road in good time this a.m. and then things slowed way down. It was snowing when we left Helena and the road was covered with compacted snow. Highway 12 can best be described as a narrow two lane country road that twists and turns so you can never go the posted speed limit. Doug and I decided it was best not to push things and would spend the night in Williston, N.D., but not one room was to be had! The oil business is booming, and the workers have reserved all the rooms. We had to drive on into Minot and arrived at 9:55 p.m. just in time to watch the restaurants turn off their lights and lock the doors. 650 miles in 11 hours, time for bed. Tomorrow can only be better.

Here we go again

What a tiring day, 500 miles and 9 hours,but it really started last Friday. Took off Friday afternoon after signing rental papers with Windermere and went to Wenatchee to see the siblings. We all got together at John's for a BBQ and had a really good visit. Got up early Saturday and drove to Shelton for a fast visit with Jackie, Fred and Uncle Jack. That afternoon a we drove to Renton and stayed with Bryan and family. Next day was really fun, they had Maya's 8Th birthday party early so we could attend. Bryan and Michelle had a re-marriage so Maya could be a flower girl and how beautiful she is. They rewrote their wedding vows and the guests were in stitches as they were so funny. Later Doug will download some pictures that I will add to the Blog.
Arriving home Sunday afternoon we finished our packing and cleaning, and didn't get to bed until after midnight. Up early this a.m. washed the bedding and finally out of town around 9:30. Drove Highway 12 most of the day through Walla Walla, Clarkston, Lewiston on to Helena, MT. For most of the day it was two lane, twisting, turning road that was under construction. We thought we would see some changing beautiful colors but NO.... maybe too cold.

Having a glass of wine and then off to bed.