Our most rural day so far. Into a new time zone--Central--so it was light here until after 9 pm. Intermittent rain and clouds, as we traveled the lonely roads up to Wisconsin North Country. It was a surreal feeling--towering pines on either side of the hilly road, stretching off into the fog.
We arrived at Little Bohemia Lodge, the scene of a famous shootout in 1934 with the FBI closing in on John Dellinger, who escaped out the window and through the back woods. The lodge is nestled on a lake; town is called Manitawash Waters, nice pine trees, set off down a long driveway. (Which gangster scouted out this location?--not exactly ideal for a gang on the run) There was a little "museum" upstairs, with 3 rooms preserved from the Hollywood shooting of the movie Public Enemy with Johnny Depp and the other 2 rooms with artifacts and newspaper clippings.
Breakfast was excellent. "Our first decent meal" says Scott.
Afternoon was a long drive along Rt8--not too touristy, just meandered through farm, woods and small towns. We had to search for a cheese place, unlike Southern Wisconsin where the signs scream cheese. Eric did find a bottle of white wine with a cheesehead top-clearly a collector's item.
Eric and I did most of the driving, but Scott finally took the wheel for the final push into Minneapolis. Arrived around 6pm, in time for a meal at the Mall of America (Yes, everything you've always hated about America--fast food, fat people, tons of stores and rides). Gary arrived on time and we presented him with his team shirt.
Quote of the day:
Eric: "I must be getting old because I dont remember being this tired when I drove cross country 4 years ago."
Off to North Dakota...Eric still obsessing about missing the largest cross in America in Michigan, so today we are looking for the largest bison statue in America....
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Day 2: Cleveland, Ohio to Escanabe, Michigan (Upper Peninsula)
Up at 6 am for the Hampton Inn breakfast (yay, they had a waffle maker!)
Ginny was the driver for most of the day. Go, Mom. We stopped at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the morning and then had a picnic lunch on Lake Huron –Saginaw Bay. Swam there and later in Lake Michigan under the Mackinac Bridge. Pastis for dinner (a local meat pie that harkens back to the Cornish miners in the 1800’s). A bit on the dry side, but we added McDonald’s ketchup—wonder if the miners added anything? Good day- loving the Upper Peninsula--they act like it's a different country (or at least a different state)
Quote of the day:
Eric:: “I’ll have a chocolate cone.”
Kid working at the stand and looking at the bins of ice cream: “which one do you think is the chocolate?”
The day before in Cleveland:
Eric:” I’ll have a chocolate cone.”
Kid: “we only have regular.”
Eric: “ok- one regular.” (aka vanilla)
Mileage: 608 miles
Hotel: House of Luddington—very cool suite, decorated like your Grandma’s house in the 70’s; 2 double beds, 2 couches (one looking suspiciously like Jimi Hendrix’s)
We’ll post pictures tomorrow when we have a better connection!
Ginny was the driver for most of the day. Go, Mom. We stopped at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the morning and then had a picnic lunch on Lake Huron –Saginaw Bay. Swam there and later in Lake Michigan under the Mackinac Bridge. Pastis for dinner (a local meat pie that harkens back to the Cornish miners in the 1800’s). A bit on the dry side, but we added McDonald’s ketchup—wonder if the miners added anything? Good day- loving the Upper Peninsula--they act like it's a different country (or at least a different state)
Quote of the day:
Eric:: “I’ll have a chocolate cone.”
Kid working at the stand and looking at the bins of ice cream: “which one do you think is the chocolate?”
The day before in Cleveland:
Eric:” I’ll have a chocolate cone.”
Kid: “we only have regular.”
Eric: “ok- one regular.” (aka vanilla)
Mileage: 608 miles
Hotel: House of Luddington—very cool suite, decorated like your Grandma’s house in the 70’s; 2 double beds, 2 couches (one looking suspiciously like Jimi Hendrix’s)
We’ll post pictures tomorrow when we have a better connection!
Day 1: Wyckoff to Cleveland, Ohio 507 miles
Day 1 – Wyckoff to Cleveland Ohio
We’re off! We left Wyckoff at 6::21 and arrived at James A. Garfield ‘s House in Mentor, Ohio at 2:20. Eric was the sole driver because Scott and I kept falling asleep. Lunch was at Arby’s at 10:30. “Feels like an Arby’s day.”
Who is James Garfield, you may ask? He was the 20th president of the US, inaugurated in March 1881, shot in Washington DC that July and died in September in Elberon, New Jersey (near Long Branch, which was a populat presidential retreat at that time.) So he only served for 200 days. I loved the ranger tour of the house and gave Ranger Alan an A for effort and enthusiasm. Scott rated him A-/B+ and Eric, always the tough evaluator, gave him a B for going on a little too long and not wearing his hat.
We were about 20 miles from Cleveland. We had a quick dinner at Guy’S Pizza, forgetting that the rest of the country doesn’t know how to make pizza (or bagels). A relatively well dressed homeless person assured us that this was the best pizza place in Cleveland.
On to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Gary would have absolutely loved this, but would have had to opt for the 2 day pass. I don’t know if we would have been able to get him out of the first floor exhibit, which traced the history of R &R.
Our favorites:
Ginny: the handwritten lyrics of Beatle songs, Bruce’s pictures of Asbury Park, history of Memphis music scene (note to Gary—I’m doing my homework for October!)
Eric: Michael Jackson glove and costumes, Springsteen’s handwritten lyrics and concert posters for Red Bank, Asbury, Middletown…”I know those places”, pictures from the Matrix Club in SF, Jimi Hendrix’s couch
Scott: Jim Morrison’s cub scout uniform, fat turista in golf shirt and khaki shorts who was waxing on about the best Stones concert he ever saw; the amazing similarity between a pink Stevie Nicks outfit and a pink one from Steven Tyler displayed next to each other; the fact that the featured exhibit was Bruce Springsteen. Gee, pictures of Asbury Park!
We were dead tired by the time we reached our hotel, so although we had wi-fi, we waited to post until today.
Quote of the day:
Eric: “Look,there’s the Cleveland skyline.”
Mom: “Where?” (Come on, it was a little hazy)
Mileage: 507 miles
We’re off! We left Wyckoff at 6::21 and arrived at James A. Garfield ‘s House in Mentor, Ohio at 2:20. Eric was the sole driver because Scott and I kept falling asleep. Lunch was at Arby’s at 10:30. “Feels like an Arby’s day.”
Who is James Garfield, you may ask? He was the 20th president of the US, inaugurated in March 1881, shot in Washington DC that July and died in September in Elberon, New Jersey (near Long Branch, which was a populat presidential retreat at that time.) So he only served for 200 days. I loved the ranger tour of the house and gave Ranger Alan an A for effort and enthusiasm. Scott rated him A-/B+ and Eric, always the tough evaluator, gave him a B for going on a little too long and not wearing his hat.
We were about 20 miles from Cleveland. We had a quick dinner at Guy’S Pizza, forgetting that the rest of the country doesn’t know how to make pizza (or bagels). A relatively well dressed homeless person assured us that this was the best pizza place in Cleveland.
On to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Gary would have absolutely loved this, but would have had to opt for the 2 day pass. I don’t know if we would have been able to get him out of the first floor exhibit, which traced the history of R &R.
Our favorites:
Ginny: the handwritten lyrics of Beatle songs, Bruce’s pictures of Asbury Park, history of Memphis music scene (note to Gary—I’m doing my homework for October!)
Eric: Michael Jackson glove and costumes, Springsteen’s handwritten lyrics and concert posters for Red Bank, Asbury, Middletown…”I know those places”, pictures from the Matrix Club in SF, Jimi Hendrix’s couch
Scott: Jim Morrison’s cub scout uniform, fat turista in golf shirt and khaki shorts who was waxing on about the best Stones concert he ever saw; the amazing similarity between a pink Stevie Nicks outfit and a pink one from Steven Tyler displayed next to each other; the fact that the featured exhibit was Bruce Springsteen. Gee, pictures of Asbury Park!
We were dead tired by the time we reached our hotel, so although we had wi-fi, we waited to post until today.
Quote of the day:
Eric: “Look,there’s the Cleveland skyline.”
Mom: “Where?” (Come on, it was a little hazy)
Mileage: 507 miles
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Leaving the Atlantic coast
Eric was home for Beth's wedding in June and we visited our beloved Jersey shore, including historic, beleaguered Asbury Park. A.P. has been on the brink of renaissance for years and it actually looks promising today. Lots of upscale restaurants on the boardwalk and a mixture of locals and gentrifiers on the beach. Of course, the chain link fence and barbed wire surrounding the largest unfinished condo development gives one pause on the eventual success, but we're hopeful.
Eric actually wanted to drive from Wyckoff to Asbury Park before heading West so it's a true coast to coast adventure. He was voted down, as an extra 100+ miles at the beginning of the trip seemed unnecessary. We convinced him by saying there might not be time for James Garfield's house in Ohio. (how many people would be swayed by that incentive?)
Please forgive us for faking the start of the trip, but here it is:
Wednesday morning departure set for Sunrise: 6:00AM.
Eric actually wanted to drive from Wyckoff to Asbury Park before heading West so it's a true coast to coast adventure. He was voted down, as an extra 100+ miles at the beginning of the trip seemed unnecessary. We convinced him by saying there might not be time for James Garfield's house in Ohio. (how many people would be swayed by that incentive?)
Please forgive us for faking the start of the trip, but here it is:
Eric in Asbury Park, Convention Hall in the background.
Hats off to an awesome trip!
Wednesday morning departure set for Sunrise: 6:00AM.
Team Profiles
Preferred Roadside Snack: Peanut Butter & Jelly
Preferred Music: Audio Book
Preferred Role: Backseat Sleeper
First Cross Country Trip: 1980, in Toyota Corolla with no AC
Favorite Accessory: Trail Umbrella
Trip Goal: Ride a horse without the horse sensing my absolute fear
Quote(s): “The meal only cost FiDollas and it was a Uuge portion!”
Scott – Assistant to the Traveling Secretary, Mobile IT Support Specialist, Comedy Director, Founder Stray Boots North Dakota
Preferred Roadside Snack: Dunkaroos
Preferred Music: High Tech Pocket Machinery
Preferred Role: Passive Aggressive-ist
First Cross Country Road Trip: Rookie
Favorite Accessory: Aleve, for physical weakness and hangovers
Trip Goal: Drink a local beer in each state
Quote(s): “Hakuna Matata”
“I’ll go where we go and drive when I’m told to but I’m not participating in any of the planning!”
Eric – Trip Historian, Chief of Reminiscence, Director of Obscure Site Visitation, Audio Tape Coordinator
Preferred Roadside Snack: Dairy Queen
Preferred Music: Mix Tapes
Preferred Role: Driver
First Cross Country Trip: 1980 in the womb, 2003 NJ to SF in 4 ½ days
Favorite Accessory: Leatherman
Trip Goal: Score National Park Patches
Quote(s): “Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road” –Walt Whitman
Dad – Executive VP of Optimism, State “Bagger”, National Park Fanatic, Member – Bull-Moose Party
Preferred Roadside Snack: Elk Burger
Preferred Music: Intermittent XM Radio
Preferred Role: Side of the Road Picture Taker
First Cross Country Trip: 1980, in Toyota Corolla with no AC
Favorite Accessory: A change of shoes
Trip Goal: Learn to use an ATM
Quote(s): “Isn’t this great?!”
Monday, August 9, 2010
What's in a name?
Inquiring minds have asked who thought up the blog title. According to Eric, it was inspired by "The Summer of George" Seinfeld episode. Check it out:
Cold feet?
- Prison Escapees believed to be in Yellowstone Park
- Storms spawn tornadoes in North Dakota, Minnesota
I spent the weekend at the shore, pouring over maps and checking our itinerary. Gary's comment: "You can stare at Michigan as long as you want, but it's not going to get any smaller."
Ha! Easy for him to be glib, when he will be flying over the midwest to join us in Minneapolis and will miss the excitement of Day 2--- a 10-12 hour day starting in Ohio and proceeding north, covering the length of Michigan and miles of blueberry fields and lakes. Good thing Gary's the eternal optimist because he'll be with us for North Dakota --another state that just doesn't get any smaller staring at it.
The car is ready! Three different mechanics proclaimed it trip worthy. The Toyota Dealer had the longest list of recommendations, which, if followed, would have meant rebuilding the entire engine. So we gave more weight to Occhi's gas station ("You're good for another 100k miles") and Wyckoff Tire ("no worries"). As several friends pointed out: "You do have AAA." I just hope we dont have to test out its service on the loneliest road in the US (Rt 50- Nevada) or the endless plains of ND.
I re-confirmed our stay at the 1890 House of Luddington in Escanabe, Michigan and the friendly voice on the other end of the line buoyed my spirits. On to packing and final lists, and I find myself dispelling doubts and revving up the excitement meter again.
Eric takes the red eye tonight! Scott wants to know when we get our berets emblazened with our names (a la Griswold Family). Maybe cowboy hats?
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