Day 33 - TNPLH

It's true, There's No Place Like Home! 

Drove from Billings to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and it was a pretty drive, but also pretty uneventful.  The scenery in Montana changes dramatically from east to west, with west being a lot more lush.

As I got closer to Coeur d'Alene I thought it might be fun to top off my trip with a round of golf at the Coeur d'Alene resort.  It was 75 degrees out, and the first time without rain in over two days.  Unfortunately the tee times were entirely full today, and again tomorrow.  I ended up hitting balls which is always fun at this course since you hit into the water!  I also took advantage of the situation and got a sports massage which is offered at the driving range - good for golfers, but also good for people who have been driving for a month.  The trademark of this course is the floating green...

Needless to say, I'll be back.

After totally relaxing on the driving range, I realized that I had the energy to make the drive back to Seattle, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

So I'm home after one of the best trips ever!  The end!

Day 32 - Black Clouds in the Black Hills

My quest to see Mt. Rushmore this morning was somewhat thwarted by the weather.  When I got to the monument this morning the clouds were so thick that I wasn't even sure that Mt. Rushmore existed.  While waiting for some clearing there was rain, snow, wind, and temperatures in the mid-thirties.  I had to stand and watch for nearly an hour to see the presidents between cloud banks and fog, but it was worth the wait...

I toured the facilities, watched the movie, and was just generally in awe of my surroundings.

From there I drove north to North Dakota, having never been to that state.  It wasn't much different from northern South Dakota or eastern Montana, but I'm glad I stopped by.  From there I drove west into Montana where there was more of the same...

I'm not sure what this is called in North Dakota and eastern Montana, but I have a feeling that it's either an orchard, or a forest.





I made it as far as Billings, Montana and called it a night.  Hope the weather improves a little bit tomorrow.

Day 31 - Interstate 90 (All Day!)

Left La Crosse, Wisconsin with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky.  From there it was a full day's drive to leave Wisconsin, cross the full width of Minnesota, and also cross virtually the entire state of South Dakota.  For the most part it was a day of farmland, farmland, and for the remainder of the drive it was...farmland.  Not to imply that it was an uninteresting drive, but it was repetitive.

My destination today was Mt. Rushmore, but I decided it would be better to stay in Rapid City and go to the monument tomorrow morning (30 miles away).  I didn't notice that I had moved into the Mountain time zone, so I was probably a little early eating a barbecue dinner at 5:30pm  (thinking I was eating early at 6:30).  Luckily nobody offered me an AARP discount or tried to help me get to my table!

Hopefully I'll visit Mt. Rushmore tomorrow morning, drive north to experience North Dakota, and then turn left.

Day 30 - Cheese Central

Driving through Michigan today reminded me how beautiful it is.  Enjoyed the drive through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and up into Wisconsin.

Driving through Chicago was an eye-opener.  Hadn't been there in a number of years and the skyline continues to change/expand.  The White Sox stadium is certainly different from the Comiskey Park I remember from living in Chicago.

Ended up in La Crosse, Wisconsin and had a great dinner at a riverfront restaurant on the banks of a branch of the Mississippi.  Had a catfish Po Boy in honor of the Mississippi.

Tomorrow, the Dakotas!

Day 29 - Kent City

Left Sandusky and it rained most of the morning.  Got into Michigan and it dried up and the clouds went away.  Stopped at Michigan State University to see what the #2 hotel school looked like.  MSU has a beautiful campus, and it was nice to finally see it.

Still can't believe the number of deer along the side of every road west of New Jersey.  The deer populations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan have been decreased significantly based on what I've seen.

Arrived in Kent City, Michigan (Cindy's hometown) and it was a gorgeous afternoon.  Had a great evening with Cindy's family at the Sarachman estate and it was so fun to get back together and reconnected with Sandra, Bob, Mrs. Waldherr, Meagan, Pam, Kevin, Brianna, and Chad. Ended the evening with a ping pong tournament, and unfortunately age and skill won out - Chad persevered.

Tomorrow, further west!

Day 28 - Holy Toledo!

Actually I didn't quite reach Toledo, but the title was too obvious to ignore.

Started in Harrisburg and it was a pretty quiet Sunday morning there.  I'm not sure why, but I've been captivated by the different bridges I've crossed and seen during the past week or so. This bridge in Harrisburg, crossing the Susquehanna River was no exception...

Leaving Harrisburg I made the rolling trek across Pennsylvania into West Virginia.  Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia have a different character than mid- and eastern Pennsylvania.  West Virgina was a new state for me, and I'm now hovering at 48 or 49.

I had forgotten, until this trip, how many of the major roads in the east are dotted with billboards displaying everything imaginable.  They can be interesting, annoying, and in some cases in stark contrast with the pristine areas behind them.

From West Virginia it was on to Ohio, and it's as flat as I remember.  Tonight the stopping point is Sandusky, Ohio.  Tomorrow, Michigan.

Day 27 - On the Road Again

Took Cindy to Westchester Airport and found myself on the road once again. Went through the Bronx and then crossed over the George Washington Bridge, wishing I could have pulled over to get a picture. Tbe bridge is magnificent and the view was really something.

The scenery through New Jersey and Pennsylvania was lush, but unfortunately the on-and-off rain took away from the drive. Today's drive ended in Camp Hill, PA where I had the good fortune to spend the evening with old family friends John Glace, and Thom and Mary Glace. It was a great way to start the westward portion of my trip.

Tonight, Harrisburg, tomorrow Ohio (I think!).

Day 26 - On the Water (Long Island Sound)

Did some shopping in the morning and visited SoNo Bakery in Norwalk.  We were fortunate enough to talk with the owner, John Barricelli, and he signed his cookbook for me.  There will be some serious baking with his recipes when I get home (and with some from Susan).

The afternoon was spent on the water,

and then eating at a waterfront restaurant...

The weather was perfect, and it was good to be back on Long Island Sound.  It was also a good way for Cindy to get a different perspective on Connecticut.

Tomorrow we all head out in different directions: Cindy flies back to Seattle, Steven and Susan drive to Washington DC to meet Jack Stanford Wallerstein (new grandson), and I begin the return leg of my cross-country trip.

Day 25 - New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

We spent a fun morning in NYC walking around and window shopping and seeing the sights.  Walked down to Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building, Herald Square, and all around lower Mid-Town.  Walking up Broadway in the daylight was a treat.

Left NYC and headed to the Fabricants in New Jersey, and Sara pulled Sam out so we had an opportunity to see him (with Charlie and Sara).

Then it was back to Connecticut where we unwound and relaxed with Susan and Steven.

Day 24 - From Cornell, Ithaca to Cornell Club, NYC

We left Ithaca in beautiful weather, clear skies and 70 degrees.  The campus was as impressive as ever.

Of course, no tour of Cornell would be complete without a picture of my sophomore residence, the apartment above the most popular bar of its era...

We drove to New York City by way of Pennsylvania which turned out to be the quicker route, and certainly scenic.  We then spent the afternoon, and evening touring NYC, starting out at Ground Zero.  We were fortunate enough to have our friends the Pesaresis set us up with a room at the Cornell Club in NYC and the location is a perfect home base for touring the city.

Next we hit St. Patrick's Cathedral


Rockefeller Center...

Grand Central Station...

Times Square...

We ended the evening (we thought) with dinner at a sidewalk cafe.  

But after walking around for another hour, we found a theater just off Broadway on 44th that was showing Baby It's You, the story of the Shirelles.  We couldn't resist, and it was great!  What a way to top off the day/evening.

Day 23 - Mini Ivy League Tour

We had a great visit with Lorelei and Rolf (and Erik), and after they headed to work, we were back on the road again.

We toured around Lebanon and Hanover and spent some time on the Darmouth campus.  We then spent some quality time at King Arthur Flour in Vermont.  They had so many gadgets and ingredients, it was hard to choose the right things to purchase.  Anyway, there will be some good home baked goods resulting from that stop.

Our next leg took us through Vermont and then upstate New York, wandering through the Lake George and Saratoga Springs areas.  Again, it's before the season so there weren't too many places to stop and visit, but the drive was gorgeous.

The day ended in Ithaca at Cornell, and we're staying at the Statler Inn which adjoins the Hotel School, and it is the facility where I worked 38 years ago.  It's great to be back! 

We had the good fortune to have dinner with old friends from the Hotel School, Mary and Joe Pesaresi, both of whom work at Cornell.  It was great to spend time and catch up.

Tomorrow, the Big Apple!

Day 22 - Outlet Shopping and Three States

We drove around Boston and visited the Charles and all over Cambridge.  The traffic was horrific, but the buildings, parks, and monuments were spectacular.

Then it was off to Freeport, Maine to see the home of LL Bean...

and to do a little outlet shopping.  Freeport is definitely the home of outlet shopping and bargains.  I scored big at Cole Haan and it was good to see the sights along the way.

Next stop, New Hampshire.  Rolf was waiting for us with snacks and cold beverages, and we sat out on the deck and caught up...

Lorelei and Rolf put together a great meal, and we had a great visit with them and Erik.  It was our first visit to their retreat in the woods, and it was tremendous.

Day 21 - From Pilgrims to Paisans

The morning was spent touring Cape Cod and seeing the gorgeous homes and seashore.  It's off-season so it wasn't bustling, but the area was beautiful.

From there we went to Plymouth to see the Rock and the historical sights.

From Plymouth it was on to Boston, and one never tires of seeing the new and the old, the historical and the modern (and sometimes absurd).  We walked for three hours or so, partly on the Freedom Trail, and saw the Commons, North Church, West Church, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and so much more.  The weather was great, and so was the city.

We ended the day at an Italian restaurant in the North End, and it was a perfect way to conclude the day.

Day 20 - Andy and Cindy's Great Adventure Begins

We left Connecticut and the weather couldn't have been better.  Did a little outlet shopping and each of us ended up with something we couldn't live without.  As you can see, I looked at some Crocs, and this is as close as I'll ever get to them...



We meandered up the coast of Connecticut (yes, we meandered) and saw a number of small towns and villages.  Walked around Mystic and found the landmark that everyone knows...

From Mystic it was on to Rhode Island, and specifically, Newport.  We walked the city and toured the area, and it was beautiful!  The harbor, the mansions, and the historical sites - it really was impressive.

The seafood has been tremendous, the landscape equally as impressive.  Tonight we're in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts  -  tomorrow, Cape Cod and Boston.

Day 19 - Let's See Fairfield County

We toured all over Fairfield County - Norwalk, Rowayton, Old Greenwich, Riverside, and Greenwich.  It was a beautiful day and we spent it visiting old Olsen residences and places with historical importance.  We had lunch in Old Greenwich and spent quality time walking around, and relaxing at Tod's Point.  It really was a tremendous day.

The day culminated in a culinary extravaganza with steak and lobster!  The picture says it all.

Day 18 - Cindy' s in Connecticut!

Steven and I played golf on Wednesday and got rained out after 9 - it was pouring. Then it was time to drive to Clinton, CT for some serious outlet shopping. Then it was off to Bill's Seafood for a great seafood lunch with old friends of Steven's.

Today we played 18 and it was ugly, but fun. I then had lunch with Mike Perry and visited with Joan and Eileen. Susan and I went to the Wusthof knife factory outlet and toured South Norwalk, then picked up a feast for Cinco de Mayo.

Cindy arrived tonight

and we will embark on our New England adventure on Saturday. Tomorrow we'll tour Greenwich and Fairfield County.

Day 16 - Relaxing in Connecticut

Played golf at Steven's course (Oak Hills) in the morning,

had lunch on the boat in Long Island Sound, and then took a walk along the beach in Westport.  Couldn't have been a nicer, or more relaxing day!

Susan made shrimp and grits for dinner, and now we'll call it a day (and a great day at that!).

Day 15 -New England

Left Baltimore and wandered through Maryland, Delaware and then got to New Jersey in time to have lunch with Sara, Katie, and Charlie. Sam was in school, and Dave was at work, but we had a fun visit. I even got to see Katie's hip-hop class, which was a riot.  Here we are (Katie, Charlie, and Uncle Andy), with Katie at her best, obviously!

Then off to Connecticut to Susan and Steven's house. Susan was serving at the homeless men's shelter, so Steven and I fended for ourselves, played dominoes, and generally relaxed. Then caught up with Susan when she came home and with her help, tried to plan the New England portion of the trip. Tomorrow morning golf.

Day 14 - Washington DC

What a beautiful drive from Charlotte, North Carolina to Washington DC.  The scenery in North Carolina and Virginia is lush and beautiful.  It took longer to make it through, and Sunday traffic was more than expected, but it was a pleasant drive.

Got to DC in late afternoon and had a great visit with Sarah, Ben, Elle, and Patsy and Bob.  Elle was less than thrilled to meet her great uncle, but by the time I left she gave me a hug and a kiss.  She is beyond cute!

 We had a great pizza dinner and Elle provided the entertainment.  The Wallersteins have a busy day  ahead of them tomorrow!

The day ended just outside of Baltimore, and tomorrow it's off to Connecticut, hopefully by way of the Fabricant residence.