We're On The Road Again...

Perhaps not on the road, but into the sky where we will land in London, England for a three-year stay. Yes, I said three YEARS. We are moving in July after celebrating our last 4th of July in Olde Catonsville for a while. Come visit as you please.

The Great Road Trip Part V - Niagra Falls

OK, everyone I've met who has visited Niagra Falls always said, "You need to view it from the Canadian side." Well, everyone was right. The whole Canadian experience was so worth the neverending ride from Munising, MI through to Sault Sainte Marie, MI where we spent the night. Then we crossed to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada and had a trek across Ontario, Canada (which all looks exactly the same and there aren't any big towns at all). We finally arrived in Niagra Falls around 10 PM. It was actually a good time to arrive, believe it or not, because the Falls are lit up at night in rainbow colors and were quite a sight. There were people everywhere! We would have missed this if we'd arrived earlier. So, we finally found our hotel which was very well-disguised, but well-situated at the same time (the Quality Inn Clifton Hill - stay there). Owen took a quick dip in the pool and we all went to bed.

Our hotel was just beyond this pavillion.

The next morning we went down to the Falls and were in awe. Just beautiful.

The Falls are literally right behind the boys. If you leaned too far over the fence, you'd fall right in!

This is the area that is illuminated at night, the view across to the American side.

We ate lunch, packed our stuff for check out and then explored the Great Canadian Midway. The Canadian Niagra Falls is like a theme park, sort of like downtown Disneyworld, but nice. It's hard to describe. I guess "a very clean family-style Las Vegas without casinos" sums it up. We went into a wax museum, a funhouse and played the tourists spending the rest of our Canadian money.

Then we waited forever to cross the border into Buffalo, NY and got stuck in traffic all through Buffalo. I think it took two hours just to get out of that city. After Buffalo, we drove as long as we could stand it through gorgeous countryside and farms and stayed somewhere near the Finger Lakes in NY. After a really good dinner at Jack's Place in a small town whose name escapes me and an acceptable night's rest in Cunisteo, NY, we drove home to MD via PA and were at our abode by 3 PM, happy to be out of the car!

That's it for our August adventure. Stay tuned for more news...

The Great Road Trip Part IV - Painted Rocks National Lakeshore

We travelled to Munising, MI to view the Painted Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior. It was raining on the afternoon we arrived and we were afraid that we wouldn't get to see the sights. When we awoke the following morning, it was so foggy - actual pea soup - so we watched some TV since the kids hadn't seen any in awhile and then decided to go view the Munising Falls which was a short, fun hike. Then we decided to take our chances for the second boat tour. It was a very wise decision because the mist was beginning to fade, but made the scenery even more beautiful. This place was awesome and so worth the stop. You can't actually view the rocks from the land, but there are excellent hiking trails and primitive camping the entire length and we saw quite a few adventurous souls. Anyway, the rocks are multicolored because natural springs leach through them and each different mineral leaves its mark. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

The Great Road Trip Part III - We're Feeling Superior

Lake Superior - that is. We set out to Houhgton, MI so we could meet up with our hosts, Dylan and Dawn Carlson and Dylan's mom, Eunice, who gave us excellent information and hospitality. Dylan & Dawn own a cabin on the Keewenaw Peninsula which is a stone's throw from Lake Superior and were graciously allowing us to stay there for the smaller part of a week. It was the most relaxing spot and the best part was no television reception or phone service and the views of the night sky can in no way be described - just amazing!

Owen is taking in the gorgeous view.

The Delaware Mine - an old copper mine we were able to explore.

Great Sand Beach past Eagle Harbor where we ate the hugest and densest muffins ever from a monk-run bakery called The Jam Pot - most delicious and interesting!

Finn at Ft. Wilkins State Park with the Copper Harbor Lighthouse in the background.

Campfires on the rocky shoreline in front of the cabin

Fort Wilkins right near lake Fanny Hooe

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse

This was one of our best vacation spots ever and an enjoyable slice of America. The restaurants were good and we enjoyed the Copper Harbor Craft Festival where Finn learned how to make a copper ring and got totally hooked on metals. The kids got to swim in Lake Superior and the wildlife and views were incredible. We even found a couple of small agates for which the area is known.

Next stop: Munising, MI and Painted Rocks National Seashore...

The Great Road Trip Part II - Circus World Museum

We departed Chicago and headed to Baraboo, WI. "What could possible be of interest there?", you say. Well, none other than Circus World, of course! We had a great time looking at the old Ringling Brothers memorabilia and caught a couple of shows - mostly kids practicing their circus moves. The kids got to play on a mini trapeze and ride an elephant.

The Great Road Trip Part I - Illinois

Yes, it HAS been about three months, but we are a busy group once the school year starts. Everyone has settled into our routine nicely. Evan is enjoying 7th grade and the decrease in homework from last year. Finn has a long-term substitute since his 4th grade teacher broke her wrist over the summer and has had three surgeries on it. Owen is a big time 2nd grader and is writing up a storm but can't spell to save his life! I am still doing the school volunteer thing and running the household while Craig enjoys a new position at work. He's also coaching both Finn and Owen's soccer teams.

Anyhooo... here is the first installment of our vacation. We did a super long leg the first day and drove all the way to Danville, IL, home of Dick Van Dyke. Spent the night at a hotel next to a gigantic cornfield and headed to Kickapoo State Park early the next morning, and yes, the park was chosen for its name which lent itself to a wealth of boy humor. It turned out to be a great park. We tubed down a very low Vermillion River and still had a fabulous time. We saw miniature frogs, muscatine clams as big as Craig's hand and a lot of geese. Then we made a beeline for New Salem where Abraham Lincoln lived during his late teens/early twenties. It was a reconstructed settlement much like Williamsburg, VA. Very cool to see, but it was so hot we were dragging toward the end.

The next day we were in Joliet, IL, Craig's hometown. I will say it had changed remarkably for the better since the last time we were there in the early '90s. We drove around and saw all the important landmarks including:

the statue of Louis Joliet in front of the downtown library

the Des Plaines River and a huge barge

as well as the quarry where Craig used to swim, Joliet Catholic High (now senior assisted living apartments), the Brandon Locks, elementary and middle schools, the McCarter homestead and his grandparents' house in nearby Rockdale.

Our next stop was Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town where we enjoyed two full days. We went up into the Sears Tower, went to the Field Museum, Millenium Park, and Grant Park. We saw old friends of ours at dinner: Dave Maher and his sons, Danny and Mac, Dave Kempes, and Chris James. It was fantastic weather until a torrential rainstorm soaked us on the way to Dave Maher's apartment building. We were going that way to swim in his pool and see the fireworks over lake Michigan. At the Field Museum we saw and learned so much. Finn and Craig particularly enjoyed the gem and mineral collection. Evan liked the dioramas in the mammal area and Owen and I enjoyed the gift shop the most. It was a great stay and we could have done so much more there, so I guess we will just have to return one day.

Owen reflecting off of "The Bean" which is a sculpture in Millenium Park resembling none other than a ginormous silver kidney bean. These pictures were taken pre-downpour.

The view of the El and the Sears Tower from our hotel room

Main lobby of the Field Museum featuring "Sue" the dinosaur

That's it for now. Next stop - Baraboo, WI to visit The Circus Museum!!!