Saturday, August 6, 2011

Nothing exciting to say today. We are winding down and hopefully will be home tomorrow, late afternoon.

Had a great visit with Dick and Dale at the IHOP off of Interstate 64 in Charlottesville. It was so good to see friends and hopefully they will be coming out to see us again very soon.

Can't wait to get home. Miss the kitties and family and friends.

I think I'm going to continue to blog a little now and then when we get home. I finding it is very theraputic :))) Writing things out sometimes helps get you through the rough spots.

We had a terrific 2 week vacation but it is time to get home and get back into the swing of things. Bingo Thursday night and we can't miss that :)

Busy week ahead and loads of laundry to do.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Sad day!!! The kids were off to camp with not so happy faces....they did not want Nana and Papa to leave. Took their mom quite a bit of persuasion to get them in the car so we could leave NJ. Then is was 'when will we see you again?' I know how that feels it was just as difficult for us to say good bye to them.

We headed down the Garden State Parkway to the very end tip of NJ and caught the 10:15 ferry to Lewes, DE. Good thing cause we were supposed to get the 11. So we got an extra hour there to drive down the penninsula.

The ferry crossing was smooth. Lots of dolphins. I tried to take a picture but they are just too quick. There was a huge school of them near the NJ side and then we saw a smaller school just before the breakwater on the Delaware side of the bay.

They load over a 100 cars in less than 10 minutes and unload even quicker. The crossing took about 85 minutes. It was a real SCENIC route for us. We both loved it and now can't wait for the cruise!!!

Heading on US 13 down the Delmarva Pennisula. I have a confession to make here. A light bulb went off last night as we were looking at the map. DELMARVA....it a combo of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia!!!! I lived across the Delaware Bay from them all my life and never realized that's what the Delmarva pennisula was.....pretty stupid don't you think?

Anyway back to heading down US 13. We made it to the Chesapeake Bay and crossed the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Over 17 miles of nothing but water. Two tunnels to allow the BIG ships to cross out into the ocean which by the way was just over the left shoulder as you drive this scenic route. We loved it. Stopped got out at the last manmade island for the tunnel and walked around, took lots of pictures. Watched the fisherman, saw some pretty huge cargo ships waiting to go out to sea and watched one lonely barge being towed by a tug.

We then sat in traffic in Norfolk for about an hour. Just a note here, after sitting the the traffic, remember that one lonely barge? Well he beat us into Norfolk harbor. We passed him again as we went into the tunnel in Norfolk as he chugged his way into port. :)

Needless to say we are exhausted more from the hour in traffic than the 5 hour drive from NJ.

We plan to have lunch with Dale and Dick in Charlottesville, VA tomorrow and hopefully make to Charleston, WV for the night. Then home in Eldred sometime on Sunday.

Thanks to everyone who followed our travels and listened to my ramblings. It was a great trip and we made so many happy memories.

New Jersey

We have been in New Jersey since Monday and have not stopped once since we got here. The kids are keeping us very busy and don't let either of us out of their sight for too long.

Tuesday we took the parents to Atlantic City. Denny came away with extra cash but he was the only one. Stopped for lunch at a Stewart's had some really good root beer and then came home. Nothing too exciting. Didn't even walk out onto the boardwalk to take a picture of the ocean. I must not miss it as much as I tell everyone I do.

We had a family get together on Tuesday night. Celebrated Lloyd's and Dave's birthday. Lou make his world famous ribs, fresh crabs from the bay and lots of homemade wine were enjoyed by all. My sister and brother in law's "wine room" has become "party" central for any and all get togethers at the beach.

Wednesday was spent all day in the water park. Denny and I were able to enjoy a porkroll sandwich and the kids had hot dogs and juice. We just enjoyed the day. Watching them ride the slides and doing the "lazy river" and pool area. The day was supposed to be raining so alot of North Jersey stayed home, which allowed us to have more room and lots of fun. I'm posted pictures of the kids on FB will try to post a few here.

Last night I used the "wine room" for my own party and invited a few friends over for boardwalk pizza and beer. So much fun, so much to catch up on and lots of fellowship. It was a great evening. The rain that was supposed to come all day finally arrived around 6 last night. Put a little damper on the "pergala" time but other than that nothing got in the way of any fun or visiting that we needed to do.

We are all heading to Laurita Winery this afternoon for a leisurly afternoon on their back porch. Toni says their wine is awful but the "atmosphere" is great. May even stop at the famous Emery's for a pie on the way home for supper tonight.

It has been so good to spend time with Liz and the kids. I think there well be some tears shed tomorrow as we get ready to leave. We head out tomorrow morning and head to Cape May New Jersey. We are crossing the Delaware Bay in a ferry and then heading down through Maryland and Delaware to cross the Chesapeake Bay by way of the Bay - Bridge Tunnel. That will take us into Norfolk, VA and Interstate 64....so begins the trip home. Hopefully we will arrive in Eldred on Sunday afternoon.

That's all for now. Will post more pictures of the kids and our trip through VA, WV, KY and IN.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

The day started out, cold, dreary and wet. We had jackets, long pants and an umbrella it wasn't even 70 by 10 am this morning. BUT--we had reservations to take a bus tour of the park and several sites in Bar Harbor.

The driver was a hoot and thought he was a comedian. But his insight, humor and knowledge of the area really gave us a sense of what the area was like and how they make their living. He was a 6th generation BAAA HAAAbOOR resident and taught us all how to take like we are "down easter's" There is a LAATA WAATA in and around BAAAA Haaaabor, Maine. :)

The area is beautiful. Rocky coast, pine trees, wild blueberries and wild cranberries. Lots of boats and lots of buoys marking lobster pots.

I have decided I want to go live on Swan Island off the coast. Only reached by ferry but looks so beautiful and so secluded. Hmmmmm don't think Denny can bring the farm ground so I guess that idea is out of the question.

It was good to smell the salt air and see the tides go in and out. Got to eat really great seafood and watch the sea birds try to find their dinner.

Bar Harbor it's self is very touristy and like most resort towns closes down for the winter. I think our guide said they go from about 25 restaurants in the summer to 3 in the winter and one of those was closing this year.

Bar Harbor, Acadia is what they call a Fjord. Learned this today on our bus trip. One requirement is it has to have a lake in the middle. Which it does....has to have high mountains which is does and has to be surronded by water. It was formed by a glacier way back when and boy did God do a great job of creating the rocky coast and inlets of Maine. Beautiful country and lovely views.

After the bus tour we did a little tour of our own and got to see the Southwest Harbor , Seawall and several other stops in the park. I can see why Acadia is the 3rd most visited park in the United States. We walked up and down Main Stree in Bar Harbor and stopped and had some ice cream....Lobster flavored anyone? For real I saw it in the case. Don't know if I would want to try it but it was there.

We are heading off to Groton, CT tomorrow night. Need you ask why? Mohigan Sun is there....and it will break up the drive to NJ.