Vacation, Part VI –WWVA, Wedding, & Home

Somewhere near the end of our planning for this trip, we discovered that the drive from East Brunswick, NJ to Winona Lake, IN was going to be just too long for our 144 year-old bones. So, we set about finding a good half-way spot to stop. We looked at Pittsburgh, PA and Wheeling, WV –and chose the latter just because it was easier to get to, and neither one of us had ever been there (who has?!!?). We made a good choice. After a lunch stop in Hershey, PA (are the streets really paved with chocolate?) we drove on to Wheeling. The Hampton Inn there was fine as usual and –as luck would have it- one of the country’s finest sports bars is located just across the street. Now, I’ve been in a lot of sports bars (although Jossy has not) in my travels across this country, and in my estimation TJ’s is the best ever. A few things of note: the “ticket window” at the entrance, the door marked with huge block letters “GATE A,” a turnstile as you enter –just before the big popcorn machine, and being greeted and served by pretty, shapely referees in shorts & zebra shirts, and widescreens everywhere. Cute, but none if that would be important if it were not for the good food, drink, and service.

Next day, the drive to Winona Lake was easy and non-eventful (no toll roads!!!). We arrived at the B&B (great planning, Shelly!) early enough to be able to relax and walk to the lake before the wedding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Everyone was in a great mood and now it was johnclark’s turn to meet the kinfolks. ‘sure met a lot of nice people in the game of Who’s Who.

As I mentioned there so many times, it was pretty gutsy for Leah (the bride) to choose an outdoor wedding in the middle of September in a part of the country where the weather can be very unpredictable (and even nasty sometimes). Were Tom and Leah just lucky or blessed that the weather was absolutely perfect? ‘wall-to-wall sunshine and moderate temps shrouded this happy occasion. It was a very upbeat and cheery wedding. Praise must go to the outstanding performances of the Flower Girl (Sami Kono) and Ring Rearer (Easton Grable). After the most comprehensive (and fun) photo session I have ever seen, everyone proceeded to the reception at the Lake Tippecanoe Country Club. ‘nice reception and congratulations to Tom and Leah and all involved!

The trip to Midway airport on Sunday (9/20/9) should have been a piece of cake, and it would have been were it not for the highway construction which prevented us from exiting to our destination street. PD (Garmin) was still able to get us to the hotel in spite of the nearly 10-mile detour. Our nerves were soothed by a very friendly desk clerk at the Holiday Inn and we relaxed with a good dinner and glass of wine.

Southwest Air delivered us to SMF on time late Monday morning. Rick (Jossy’s neighbor) picked us up and deposited us at 7533 Loco where we have already plotted out our next adventure. Stay tuned…

;-)

Vacation, Part V -New York, New York

Our plans called for leaving the rental car with Lori & Jana and training to Inwood (upper Manhattan) and back. That was a good call as all went well and smoothly. It also afforded a lot of walking –a good thing. One of the highlights was a long walk to and through Fort Tryon Park. Views of the Hudson River and beautiful park were spectacular. Sami had a great outing with Mom (Heather), Maga (Jossy), and me, “Johnclark.”

The pièce de ré⋅sis⋅tance on this leg of our vacation trip was seeing “Jersey Boys” on Broadway. Especially great was the personal aspect of this musical, i.e., seeing and hearing Ben Kono on stage –and behind the stage after the show.

Vacation, Part IV -East Brunswick

We arrived at the Pruski-Clark home just about the time the family arrived home from work & school. Ellie and Audrey were a little shy at first but warmed up very quickly.
We had fun playing with the girls –Jossy on the floor with the Lego blocks; grandpa bouncing them on his knee to the old Animal Fair song.

Lori & Jana turned over their 5-star suite to us for our stay –a very generous and gracious gesture. We enjoyed our stay with this warm, loving family.

On Saturday (9/12/9) we went along to watch Ellie at her gymnastics class (priceless) and then enjoy a breakfast get-together at Panera's with all.

We have a couple of great video clips from our breakfast. Unfortunately I am unable to upload them.

Vacation, Part III -Rome, NY

‘be it ever so humble, there’s no plate like chrome.

It’s always fun to visit Rome, New York –the place of my birth and of my earliest recollections. And of course the home of Sister Lois. Lois opened her home to us and we had a great time visiting -and seeing Linda and Rick at a good, old-fashioned Italian restaurant (The Savoy).

823 Calvert Street has been beautifully upkept and the grounds improved. We are happy that the old homestead has been turned over to someone with TLC.

Our daytime tour included the cemetery where my mother, father, brother, and little niece rest. ‘saw a bit of the (closed) Erie Canal Village. We went around Lake Delta, seeing Lois’ former home, the dam, lake, and fish hatchery. Also included in the tour were my former schools. The engraved “Boys” and “Girls” separate entrances to my elementary school kinda blew Jossy’s mind.

After dinner with Lois, Linda, and Rick, Jossy and I toured one of the finest VFW lodges in the country. This mansion, formerly owned by a wealthy industrialist, is now owned by VFW Post 2246.

On Thursday (9/10/9) we left Rome and drove the Thruway, Garden State Parkway, and New Jersey Turnpike to Lori & Jana’s home in East Brunswick –arriving after paying all those tolls with just enough change to buy a bottle of Barefoot Chardonnay…

Tomorrow: East Brunswick.

Vacation, Part II -Adirondacks

"Its not just a place, its a way of life."

They're not cabins or cottages on the lakefronts in the Adirondack Park -they are "camps." I am used to this term, having grown up in and around the Adirondacks, but Jossy was not. So, we researched the subject while at the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake. The best answer was given by the opening statement, above. And that way of life must be experienced first hand to really appreciate it. In this posting I have included just 4 photos of many taken to illustrate our experience.

After driving from Niagara Falls on Saturday morning (9/5/9) we joined the gang for the 44th Annual Darksiders Clambake around 1 PM. (Explanation: Piseco Lake runs roughly North & South -about 4-1/2 miles long. The camps along the West shore find themselves in the shadow of the trees from the summer sun from shortly after noon until sunset. Meanwhile, the camps on the East shore -about 0.8 miles away, are brightly illuminated. So the folks on the West shore (including my family) are known as the "Darksiders." Forty-four years ago -Labor Day 1965- a few Darksider families started an annual clambake -a huge picnic celebrating the end of summer and time to pull in the docks.)

The weather was beautiful, the clambake went well as usual, and we had time to take a cruise around the lake on Doris' and George's "party boat."

On Monday we drove about 80 miles to Tupper Lake and visit sister Norma, Jane, Don & kids. Norma's house is beautiful inside and out. Inside, the knotty pine simply and wonderfully overloads the senses of sight and smell. The lake, just across the roadway is beautiful by day and especially inspiring at sunset. We visited two museums on this leg of our trip: The Wild Center in Tupper Lake and the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake.

Tomorrow: Rome, New York.

Vacation, Part I

How does a 144-year old retired couple take a vacation?
Well, ya grab a plane, bus, car, boat, & a good pair of running shoes, and...

Our 3-week trip included a round-trip SWA plane ride to Chicago and then a rental car excursion to Ontario, New York State, New Jersey, Manhattan, Wheeling, WV and Winona Lake, IN.

To keep you readers from dozing off, falling out of your chairs, and bumping your heads, I thought I'd break this down into 6 (VI) parts.

This (Part I) will be about Niagara Falls.

After flying into Chicago on Wednesday (9/02/09) and renting our Hertz Toyota, we drove to Portage (that's pronounced por' tidge) Indiana -about 40 miles plus the 10 miles lost voyage getting out of Midway Airport. A cute, friendly neighborhood tavern across from the Hampton Inn provided us with a little snack & a glass of wine for a nightcap.

On Thursday we drove across Michigan and Ontario, Canada to get to Niagara Falls. We arrived in plenty of time to view both the American and Canadian falls before our dinner at the Spicy Olive restaurant. For future travelers to The Falls: Don't be discouraged by the honky-tonk atmosphere in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario -the river and falls area have been preserved in all its beauty and serenity. There are plenty of nice hotels within 1/2 mile of the falls -we chose Hampton Inn (very nice).

We spent all day Friday just leisurely viewing the falls from the Maid of the Mist tour boat, the Skylon Tower, and walking along the river. We were able to get some incredible photos and video snippets under the clear, blue sky.

The professional, wide-angle photo here pretty much sums up the beauty of the area. [click on photo to enlarge] I hope everyone who visits Niagara Falls has the same beautiful weather that we had for two days.

Stay tuned for our drive to and visiting the good folks of the Adirondacks.