Canada USA Road Trip
St Albert to St John's to Palm Springs
August 25 to Nov 6, 2019
Aug 25 - Aug 31
Bright and early in the morning, we said good bye to our home and headed east in the Z3. We starting our big road trip. The first week is going to be a marathon of driving cross country to Newfoundland. We have to be at the ferry in Sydney, NS, on Friday afternoon.
We didn't stop for anything except meals and gasoline, putting in 10 hour days of driving. Our route was to Regina, then over the border at Estevan and along highway 2. We crossed the border again at Saulte Ste. Marie and continued on, following the trans Canada highway.
We did make one tourist stop. At 7:30 in the morning, we stopped to admire the giant nickel at Sudbury.
We arrived in Cape Breton with time to spare, so took a walk down
main street in Baddeck, NS, stopping for a bowl of chowder at the local
bakery before heading on to the ferry.
Kerry had had the forethought to book a deluxe cabin for the 15 hour ferry ride. Because of that, we arrived in Argentia refreshed. We finished the last two hours and arrived at our airbnb at 11:11 am. Our long drive was over. To celebrate, we headed out to Cape Spear to enjoy the sunshine and heat at our favourite spot, the eastern-most point of North America.
When we returned to the house, Pat's sister, Joanne and her husband,
Brian, had returned from their boat-ride so we were to begin our
adventure together.
We gathered with the boys at Quadi Vidi Brewing Co to celebrate Alex's last day as a bachelor. Tomorrow was the wedding.
Sunday, Sept 1
The wedding started at 1 pm at the Sheraton Hotel. What a lovely ceremony. The bridal couple had then arranged for a trolley ride ride around St John's before the reception at the Rocket Bakery. Great food, wonderful visits with family and friends and the best band ever, we headed home about midnight.
Monday, Sept 2
After a family breakfast, we headed west on the trans-Canada highway to Goobies, with a stop in Dildo at the Dildo Brewing Co to taste their beer and see the squid coming close to shore. We also made a stop at Vern's Classic Car Collection in Swift Current. What a place. Sixty redone cars ranging from 1908 to the late 70s muscle cars. All in pristine shape. What a collection.
Tuesday, Sept 3
The weather has started to deteriorate. The wind has come up, so our visit to Signal Hill is tough. The wind blew so hard we almost got blown off the hill! It was cold so we headed to the downtown for chowder and some shopping. We also walked to the Terry Fox Mile 0 statue where he dipped his toe in the water before his run for cancer that ended at Thunder Bay because of his health.
Wednesday, Sept 4
Cloudy and cool, so we drove across the peninsula to Portugal Cove to catch the ferry across to Belle Island. There, we toured the now-closed iron-ore mine. What an amazing place. The mine heads down underground at a steady slant down under the ocean. Thousands of men, boys and horses toiled in the dark with candles, later acetylene lights and then battery packs to dig the iron ore and drag it to the surface. The mine was open from the early 1900s to the 60s. The island hosted 14,000 inhabitants at the mine's height. During WWII, one of the iron-ore ships was torpedoed by a German Uboat and sunk. We then drove around the island and found the lighthouse. What a beautiful island. We finished the trip with a visit to Dick's for the best fish and chips in the world before taking the ferry back.
We decided to go to Cape Spear again because Jo and Brian had not been
there, so off we go. It was sunny at Portugal Cove, but became foggy
and cold as we went down the hill to the Cape. It was the end of the
day so the buildings were closed, so we could only imagine what the bay
looked like.
Sept 5/6/7
We were concerned about Hurricane Dorian, so we decided to head for Port aux Basques in one day and take the Friday ferry across. The trip was uneventful and the ferry ride was smooth. We stayed in Sydney the night.
The next morning, Dorian was moving faster that earlier thought, so we decided to stay put. We visited the second house built in Sydney, the Cossit House. Built in 1785, it was the home of the first Anglican minister and his family. The wind was blowing and the storm was starting to roll in, but got the grand tour by a very well informed historian. He told us stories about the building of the house, the storing of food, the making of candles, the writing of letters and then the re-writing of letters in the letter ledger. He also explained about samplers and the birthing of babies. We sampled a local drink to hold off scurvy - a tea of spruce needles and molasses. Interesting. That is all I will say.
The rain started about 5 pm and the wind blew hard. We watched Bianca Andrescu defeat Serena Williams at the US Open Ladies Final match before the power went out about 11. We slept like babies and woke up early to no rain, but wind.
Sunday, Sept 8
The power was out all over Nova Scotia, so we had a cold breakfast and then headed out. It was difficult to find fuel in some parts - gas stations and businesses were closed. We found fuel in Truro where the power was on. Then we headed to the Confederation Bridge and Prince Edward Island. We stopped to visit dear friends in Summerside and then headed to Charlottetown to our next airbnb.
Dorian made herself felt in Summerside. The eye of the storm went over the city and so there were many, many big trees that were uprooted or broken. Shingles were missing from several houses. We didn't see any damaged houses, but we did see a couple of vehicles with branches on them. The residents were busy cleaning up. Power was working, but sporadically.
At lunch in Summerside, we had the best bread pudding and caramel sauce ever. It was so good we took one to go for dessert that night with Jo and Brian.
Monday, Sept 9
The power is still out on most of the island, but Charlottetown is electrified. We headed to Cavendish to see Green Gables. The first stop was Lucy Maud Montgomery's plot in the cemetery. Then on the Green Gables, just around the corner. It was closed. So we drove down the coast and spent time on the beaches admiring the red water. It was really churned up. We bought potatoes and wild blueberries form a roadside stand and then headed home. After groceries, we drove down to Water Street to visit the "Anne" souvenir shops and Cows ice cream shop. A stop at the Gahan Brewery for a drink, then home after a great day.
Tuesday, Sept 10
Everything is almost back to normal in the business and tourist life of PEI today. So we finally were able to tour Green Gables and explore the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery in the new Green Gables visitor centre. Then it was back to the house for an early supper of mussels, clams and fried fish. A perfect end to our time on the Emerald Isle.
Wednesday, Sept 11
The rain is pouring down. A good day for traveling to Halifax. Once there, we braved the rush-hour traffic and headed to the wharf area to eat lobster rolls at Dave's and tour the shops. We ended up at the Garrison Brew Pub - the oldest in Halifax.
Thursday, Sept 12
Our first stop was The Citadel. It was started in 1749, it is a fort that was meant to protect the land while other fortifications guarded the harbour. Built in a star shape, t was never breached. We saw a rifle demonstration and listened to a bagpipe concert before the noon gun was fired.
Second stop was back on the pier for seafood chowder and then a visit to the National Immigration museum on Pier 21. This was the first steps on Canadian soil for many immigrants from the early 20s to the 70s when airports took over.
Friday, Sept 13
We drove outside the city today to Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, and Peggy's cove.
Lunenburg was founded in 1751, and maintains its historical architecture in the waterfront area. Several of its wharf warehouses are painted bright red, which was a unique identifier from the water. Many of the old Victorian houses have a special door that is unique to Lunenburg. The door is flanked by half bay windows on either side that continue up to the window above, framing a small tower. This allowed in lots of light and gave a bit of room at the entrance.
The Bluenose II was in dock, but Friday was its maintenance day, so we were unable to take a ride.
We then drove the few miles around the headland to Mahone Bay, famous for its three churches along the bay, and Amos Pewter, my favourite pewter store in the world. The sun was shining, so we ate our picnic lunch by the water before exploring the town on foot. At Amos Pewter, we were treated to a demonstration of how they make their molds for the annual Christmas ornament, and then how they pour them and buff them up for sale. Another lady was sanding and finishing vases that had been made on a lathe from flat disks of pewter, in the same way a clay pot is thrown. She was sanding with steel wool.
Finally, we drove over to Peggy's Cove, with a slight detour to the SwissAir memorial. Te memorial is very simple, but is truly a hushed, special place.
Peggy's Cove is one of the most beautiful spots in Canada. The lighthouse is built on the rocks, so you can explore the headland easily; but look out for those rogue waves. They can take you in an instant! The fishing village has long since turned into a tourist place, but the brightly coloured homes make one feel happy and cheerful. Apparently, during the hurricane, the waves were up almost over the top of the lighthouse. That would have been amazing to see.
Saturday, Sept 14
Joanne and Brian flew home today, in time for the Rider game. Kerry and I packed up and drove to Edgett's Landing, along the coast of Cape Hopewell. We stayed in a small cabin in the woods and enjoyed the quiet during the evening and night. By day, the road in front is busy because it is the access to Hopewell Rocks.
Sunday, Sept 15
We are off to Hopewell Rocks. We have been to them before, so we're not as concerned about low tide times. We did get there in time to see them at low tide, but didn't have time to wander among them. Instead, we continued on to Riverview, a small town down the coast towards Alma to see the horse pull competition. What an amazing event. All the while I could see the pioneer men pulling stumps with their team of giant horses, as the different teams competed. They were pulling 9000 lbs when we left, we needed to get back to the cabin before dark.
Monday, Sept 16
Today we stopped at Hopewell Rocks to see them at high tide. The water goes up to the carved out area on the rocks. We were told that at a really high tide, the water can cover Lover's Arch at the top! We then drove over to Alma to have a snack of cinnamon buns and cookies form the bakery. What a difference. The last time we were in Alma was in the summer. It was a bustling, noisy town full of people and cars. Today, it was cool and deserted.
Tuesday, Sept 17
We are on the move again today to St Stephen, near the Canada/USA border. We are staying in a small cabin on the shore of the bay. To our right, across the arm is Maine. To our left is New Brunswick. We can sit on the screened in veranda and watch the tide go in and out and enjoy the change in scenery as the rocks come and go from the shore and the bay.
Wednesday, Sept 18
The warm sunshine and the need to send home a couple of boxes, took us
to St Stephen. What luck - the Ganong Chocolate museum was situated
beside the post office. And, they gave out samples!! It is amazing how
innovative the company was. We indulged in the hand-dipped chocolates
as a treat.
Thursday, Sept 19
Today, we headed to St Andrews to enjoy the historic resort town. The sun was shining, the tour busses were steadily driving in to town and the whale-watching ships were heading out regularly - full of passengers. Unable to book a spot today, we will go tomorrow before we head south.
Friday, Sept 20
We were due at the St Andrews' harbour early in the morning. We headed out in the tall ship with 12 others to watch for whales. We were lucky and found 7 separate minke whales feeding around the small islands. We also saw a dolphin and a couple of bald eagles.
When done, we were on the road to Bar Harbor Maine.
We were able to arrive early enough to go downtown in Bar Harbor and walk the shore walk with the ocean on the left and small mansions or "cottages" and large hotels on the right. We stopped for the Bar Harbor version of the lobster roll and crab roll, with a bread pudding to finish. Summerside bread pudding and Halifax Dave's Lobster shack do not need to worry. They are far better.
Saturday, Sept 21
One of the main reasons Bar Harbor is so popular is Acadia National Park. We drove the loop and stopped to enjoy the Thunder Hole - it really sounds like thunder as the water rushes into the cave below. The shore is rugged and beautiful. We then started our seven hour drive to Smuggler's Notch in northern Vermont.
Sunday, Sept 22
We started The day with a drive to Stowe, the village south of Smuggs. There, we did a boat ride on the Waterbury Resevoir to enjoy the colours of the leaves on the hillsides of the valley. We are a bit early for the deep colour in all of the trees, but the colour is also two weeks earlier than usual, so we are happy. The reds are magnificent. There is pink, red, fluorescent red and deep red. Some trees are half red and half green. Some are red, orange and yellow.
The valley is also a craft beer Mecca, so Kerry was happy to celebrate the leaves with a stop at the Von Trapp Brewery.
The drive down to Stowe is so interesting. The hills tower above while the road snakes down into the valley. Big, big boulders had to be accommodated, so the road becomes really narrow or wide, depending on the distance between these boulders. Combine that with heavy forest and lots of hiking trails, which means lots of parked cars, and the need to concentrate on the road, rather than nature. Oh well, we will travel this road a couple of times, so we will be able to see most of it.
Monday, Sept 23
The clouds are low and the threat of rain is high, so we decided to visit the covered bridges in the area. There are eight of them left in the area, all built in the 1880s.They use the arch truss system to support the roof. Men built covered bridges so that they would last. Because of the weather, uncovered wooden bridges would last about twenty years. Covered wooden bridges would last 100 years. They are romantic looking and ring of another century.
Tuesday, Sept 24
Another travel day. We are off to Newport, Rhode Island on the coast.
The drive was interesting. We passed through Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and then Rhode Island. We drove through Boston on the interstate, so had the traffic, but none of the sights. Our apartment is right on the harbour, with a beautiful view of the harbour and all of the boats coming and going. This includes many, many sailboats and at least two cruise ships per day.
After groceries, we headed up to the roof terrace to watch the sunset. We shared it with a lady who is a local. She was wonderful, with lots of advice on what to see and do.
Wednesday, Sept 25
We started the tour with a drive on the Ocean drive. It starts with Fort Adam and the Eisenhower Summer White House.
The Eisenhower House has an amazing view of the other side of the harbour entrance.
We then continued on to Brenton Point State Park. This park is perfect for watching the waves crash in and out, fly a kite, and reflect on the accomplishments of Portuguese navigators and sailors.
Continuing on the drive, we passed several mansions, or summer cottages as they are called here. We also passed two private beaches before driving by the mansions on Bellevue Avenue to finish the drive.
We roamed the shops around the harbour for the afternoon.
Just off the harbour area is the first Anglican Church in Newport. Trinity Episcopalian Church was built in 1725/26, 27 years after the congregation formed in 1698. Designed in a similar way to Christopher Wren's church in London and the Old North Church in Boston, it still has the pulpit in the centre of the church, in front of the altar. There are no rows of pews. Instead, there are three columns of family boxes. Each is furnished uniquely by families in the congregation. There is lots of velvet, brocade, with the odd Chippendale-like chair or couch instead of benches. Each pew is closed off, so others can't see what is going on below the pony walls. The church survived battles during the War of Independence by functioning as a British hospital. Famous families who attended this church are the Astors, the Vanderbilts, etc. (You get the idea).
Thursday, Sept 26
We visited the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the United Sates - Touro Synagogue. Built in 1763. It was designed on a colonial style. Twelve columns support the women's balconies and represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Each column is carved from a single tree. Balance and symmetry are the main parts of the design that encourage peace and serenity. George Washington visited the Synagogue in 1790. The Warden then sent him a letter supporting him as the President and asking for tolerance in return. George replied with a letter that is read every year in the Synagogue. His reply is as relevant today for all people as it was then.
here is an excerpt:
"...for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support..." (George Washngton Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, www.tourosynagogue,org).
We walked the Newport Cliff Walk in the afternoon. This 3.5 mile walk
is along the cost and goes by several of the largest mansions in Newport
- The Breakers (Cornelius Vanderbilt II ,1895), Marble House (Mr. &
Mrs. William Vanderbilt, 1892), Rosecliff (Theresa Fair Oelrichs,
1902), Ochre Court (Ogden Goelet, now Salve Regina University).
Friday, Sept 27
This is a travel day to north western Massachusetts - the Berkshires.
Saturday, Sept 28
I had one definite goal on this trip - to visit the Bennington Museum and see the Jane A. Stickle quilt first hand. Today was the day.
Let me give you some information. Jane Stickle was an invalid lady who had time on her hands because her husband was away, fighting in the Civil War. She designed and sewed 169 separate, unique 5" blocks. Some of them were based on traditional blocks, but most (70% of them) are unique designs by Jane. Each is a two colour block - white and another. The blocks are arranged in "around the world" style based on the colours with a green centre block. Some of the pieces are 1/4 inch big. It has a triangle border. Again each triangle is unique. Jane entered her quilt in the 1863 Bennington Agricultural Fair and won a prize for the best pieced quilt. As you can see, I love this quilt and will one day show everyone my version. (It will be red and white!)
The museum was a pleasant surprise after we examined THE quilt. It
houses an extensive collection of Grandma Moses pictures, plus examples
of Bennington pottery, locally crafted furniture, and examples of
everyday life over the years.
The next stop was the Red Barn for their famous cider mini donuts. Delish!
Sunday, Sept 29
Mount Greylock is down the road from our resort. It is the tallest peak in Massachusetts and commands a view of four states (Vermont, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The drive up is so beautiful - a tunnel of trees, now turning different colours. At the top is the Massachusetts War Memorial, a 90 foot tower.
For the afternoon, we visited a Quaker Meeting House, built in 1982, and then rode the Berkshire Scenic Railway. A great way to spend a Sunday.
Unfortunately, we had to miss the Susan B. Anthony birthplace, abolitionist and suffragette.
Monday, Sept 30
We spent the morning at the Norman Rockwell Museum. He moved to the area to get treatment for his wife. Norman lived here until his death. We saw every Saturday Evening Post cover Rockwell painted (330?), plus many of his other paintings. We each picked our favourite -Kerry loves "The Runaway", and for me there too many others to pick just one.
We went over to Main Street in Stockbridge to see the actual buildings
he painted in the Christmas picture. It would be very interesting to
see the recreation of the picture on the first Sunday in December. The
town closes the block and brings in the cars, etc. Talk about art
imitating life and life imitating art!
We finished the day with a tour of Arrowhead, a house owned by Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick. His friend, Henry David Thoreau, used to visit often, so there are lots of connections to American literature. The interesting thing about Melville, is that his book was not popular while he was alive.
Tuesday, Oct 1
It is raining, so we are on the move again to the Poconos.
Wednesday Oct 2
The rain caught up to us, so we are laying low.
Thursday, Oct 3
Still raining, but really hard. Leaves are falling like crazy.
Friday, Oct 4
Today is a driving day. We are on our way to Atlantic City.
The sun is shining as we arrive, so we checked in and headed to the Boardwalk to have a philly cheesesteak sandwich and see the sights. It is a cold wind, so the walk will be short.
Saturday, Oct 5
Today is Philly Day! We took the train to Philadelphia and when we walked out of the metro station, we were 350 m from the historic centre of the city. So easy!
Our first stop was the Independence National Historic Park Visitor's Centre to see if anyone had changed their mind regarding visiting Independence Hall. You see, they have lots of tours in a day, but you must get the free tickets in advance. The tickets were all sold out for today - but, voila! The Parks personnel found us two tickets for the 1:00 pm tour.
Independence Hall. It started out as the State of Pennsylvania's House
of Government and Judiciary. Its history goes as follows -
After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, the colonials were starting to become disgruntled. Fighting started in different states, so representatives from the thirteen colonies met together at the first Continental Congress in 1775. It was at this time that a letter was sent to the King listing their grievances. The King ignored this, so a second Congress was held in Philadelphia at the State House in 1775. It was during this meeting that the Declaration Of Independence was written and issued on July 4, 1776.
The Second Congress continued to meet during the war and after. The Constitution was finally written and signed on September 17, 1787. It was ratified by the colonies on March 4, 1789.
So, while we walked in Independence Hall, we walked over the same floor boards as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Maddison, Benjamin Franklin, and others.
Our next stop was the Liberty Bell. Forged in 1752, it rang in the belfry of the Pennsylvania State Hall for all announcements. It was too brittle, and developed cracks. It was repaired twice, but the cracks kept returning. The bell probably rang on July 8, 1776, but became a symbol after a story was written about an old man and his hope for independence. In the story, the bell rang to announce the declaration, and people began to associate the two things. The Bell was toured around the country for many years, and the crack continued to get bigger. People would gather the pieces from the crack and make souvenirs of them. Starting in 1837, Abolitionists saw the slogan on the bell, "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof", as a great motto for their work towards the end of slavery. After the Civil War, people wanted symbols of unity. The American Flag and the Liberty Bell became those symbols. Today, the Bell is tapped thirteen times on July 4, and it is tapped once on Martin Luther King's birthday.
Monday, Oct 7
Today is a driving day to Washington, DC. We are staying in Alexandria, VA.
Wednesday, Oct 9
We headed to the Mall in the Capitol area of DC today. It is a 2 mile long park with museums and memorials along the length of it. At the one end is the Capitol Building, and at the other end is the Lincoln memorial with the reflecting pool in front of it. In the middle is the Washington Monument, flanked on the one side with the White House, and on the other with the Jefferson Memorial.
Friday, Oct 11
The day was sunny and hot (85F), so it was Dollywood day.
The theme park. Has a section that was dedicated to Dolly Parton, with her first tour bus, a museum, and theatre where her career was highlighted in her songs. It was excellent.
We wandered most of the park, and did the train ride, after a scrumptious dinner of barbecue. The end of the evening was a walk through the Pumpkins and lights display in the dark. A giant spider made of pumpkins, trees with lights hanging down so it looks like a scene from "Frozen", pumpkins carved with vats, cats, rats, fish, a giant tree made from pumpkins and lights, and so on. It was amazing!
Saturday, Oct 12
We headed to Gatlinburg and the Great Smokey National Park to o a hike. The traffic was gridlocked, so it took a long time to drive the 20 miles. The hike was up a mountain to a waterfall through the woods. Spectacular.
Sunday, Oct 13
Today is a driving day to Nashville.
Monday, Oct 14
Happy Thanksgiving! We spent the afternoon in Tootie's Bar listening to music and drinking beer. People were friendly, the beer was cold and the music was really good. They played "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", "Jolene", "Sweet Caroline" and other great oldies. We wandered the rest of the Broadway area, listening to music in other bars before heading home.
Tuesday, Oct 15
We are on the Old Town Trolley today. This is a multi-stop route that gave us a great tour of Nashville, before we toured the Country Music Hall of Fame. That museum is very well done.
We stopped at Kid Rock's bar for. Drink and lunch and some music, before making a quick stop at Ole Red, Blake Shelton's bar, and then it was back to Tootsie's. You just can't beat the atmosphere of that famous honky tonk!
We attend the Grand Ole Opry in the evening. Henry Cho was the only
headliner when Sandi bought the tickets. Tonight, we listened to seven
groups all together - Ricky Scaggs, King Calaway, playing "Take it Easy"
better than the Eagles. The last performer was the Charlie Daniels
band. He finished his set with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Words
cannot describe how good it was. The chills were still running down
our spines an hour later.
Wednesday, October 16
This is a driving day to Branson, Missouri.
Friday, Oct 18
Branson is a family entertainment area located in a valley. We toured the Missouri trout hatchery and saw thousands of fish growing in the ponds. They will be moved into lakes and streams as they reach twelve inches.
Saturday, Oct 19
This is a driving day to the Grand Lake, Oklahoma, a few miles from Tulsa. The lake is a Reservoir, and we stayed in the Wyndham on Monkey Island.
Monday, Oct 21
This is a driving day to Amarillo, Texas.
Tuesday, Oct 22
This is a driving day to Taos, New Mexico. We hugged many mountain sides as we ravelled up. At one point, we were at 9,500 ft above sea level. The town of Taos is at 7,900 ft above sea level.
We arrived to a lovely surprise. The lobby of the Wyndham property is very grand and is decorated in south western style. We walked the stores around our apartment today.
Wednesday, Oct 23
The forecast is for 5 cm of snow in Taos tomorrow, so we are seeing the sights and then heading south to avoid snow and high mountain passes.
Our first stop was the Taos Pueblo. Declared a National Monument and a Living World Heritage Site, it has been lived in for over a thousand years. We did a tour with a guide that started at the Saint Geronimo Catholic Church. Built in the 1800s, it is adobe with a small courtyard in the front, and an arch at its gate.
We then toured the original St,
Geronimo church, a predecessor, that was destroyed by American cavalry while 125 native peoples took refuge inside. Today, it a sacred place
and a cemetery. We then saw a traditional bread oven. Each house
has their own. Again, it is made of adobe. Finally, we stopped at the
stream which runs through the Pueblo. It is the community's only source
of water. About ten families live inside the Pueblo today, and follow
the living style of their grandparents. They have no electricity,
indoor plumbing, or running water.
Our next stop was the Rio Grande River Gorge Bridge. Built in the early
60s, it was awarded the National Dept. of Transportation award for the
nicest long span bridge in 1966. It has three arches, and is made of
steel. The Gorge is very deep and narrow at the bridge crossing.
Because of drought, the river was quite shallow.
Our final stop was the San Francisco de Assisi Catholic Church. It is an Adobe church that is at least two hundred years old. It is the most photographed and painted church in the area. Artists like Georgia O'Keefe and Ansell Adams have featured this church in much of their work. Each spring, the congregation gets together on a weekend and replasters the church so it always looks beautiful.
Taos has been home to many famous people. Among them are Georgia
O'Keefe and Ansell Adams, as mentioned, as well as D.H.Lawrence, the
author, and Kit Carson, the frontiersman.
We then left Taos and drove to Albuqurque, through Santa Fe.
Thursday, Oct 24
We are slowly heading to Page, AZ, so today we are driving to Farmington, NM. On the way, we stopped at the Petroglyphs National Monument on the north side of Albuquerque. Here, there are thousands of petroglyphs carved into the rocks, and they are easily seen on short, easy walks.
Friday, Oct 25
This is a driving day to Page, AZ.
Once there and checked into our hotel, we headed to Horseshoe Bend. This is a sharp bend in the Colorado River, and we get to view it from the cliffs above, so we can see the bend clearly. The cliffs are steep, just like the Grand Canyon down the road. However, you will see people who like to sit in the out hanging rocks. Scary for us. There is no help if there is a misstep.
Saturday, Oct 26
Today, we are doing the Upper Antelope Canyon walk. The canyon is on Navajo land, so you must be on a tour. That is great because the guides are camera experts and perfect picture-taking experts. We slowly walked the quarter mile walk through the the canyon that starts out with a width of about 20 feet, but closes down to 3 feet across in many places. Up is another story. The walls tower above you, almost blocking out the light. The walls have many colours, and the lines from the layers give the pictures a look of movement in a swirl. The fluid lines of the walls have been created over the centuries by the flash floods that go through the canyon periodically. The name comes from the game the natives found hiding from the sun in the canyon. This was the best two hours we have spent in a long time. It is worth the crowds and the cost.
Sunday, Oct 27
This is a driving day to Flagstaff, AZ. We stopped at the Glen Canyon Dam. This dam stops water on the Colorado River and stores it in Lake Powell, creating a popular recreation area. The dam is quite interesting. So is the view from the bridge to the dam on one side and the canyon on the other. This is the canyon that spreads out a few miles away into the Grand Canyon.
Monday, Oct 28
The day is cool and clear. Some places got snow, but we are dry. We drove up to the Grand Canyon and spent the day travelling from the South Rim to the East Rim, and then back to Flagstaff.
Some Canyon stats are: it is an average of 10 miles wide, and is a mile
deep. It is also 277 miles long. There is about a 20 degree
difference in temperature from top to bottom. The bottom is warmer. The
east end is the Glen Canyon Dam, and on the west is the Hoover Dam and
Lake Mead., forming the water supply for a lot of Arizona, Nevada and
California. Their power is also produced at the dams.
Tuesday, Oct 29
The wind is blowing strongly and the temperature is going down here in the mountains. Garnet and Jacqueline have come up to spend a few days with us. We have decided to leave early for Pheonix.
Wednesday, Oct 30
We decided to fill the day by going through the Pioneer Museum, just north of Phoenix.
The first building was about the history of the telephone. Guided by a retired telephone company worker, he showed us the different inventions that led to telecommunications as it is today. We spent some time at the switchboard as Jacquie explained how she connected calls in the late seventies at an Edmonton switchboard. It was really interesting.
We then toured a house, smithy, barn and miner's cabin that we're all used when the area was developed. I love seeing the mix of old ways and new that meld together to create life.
One of the unexpected treats of this park was a reenactment of Revolutionary war times. People had come from all over to live the life of their character during that time. They had the clothing, the tents and survival equipment of the time, the background of their character, and a working knowledge of the times, causes and effects. We really enjoyed discussing the issues of the time, like why the Maritime provinces did not join the Declaration of Independence, economics of the time, and so on. What an interesting hobby for these people.
Thursday, Oct 31
It feels so weird to be Halloween, and also be 30C. Who knew some people actually wear costumes that fit without coats and trick or treat outside!
Saturday, Nov 2
It is another travel day. We are headed to Palm Desert, CA: this is our last destination. Where did the time go?
Being with our friend, Lynne, and catching up on her news will keep us busy until we fly home on November 6. In the meantime, we will enjoy the hot weather. (It is blizzard in at home. Sigh).
August 25 to Nov 6, 2019
Aug 25 - Aug 31
Bright and early in the morning, we said good bye to our home and headed east in the Z3. We starting our big road trip. The first week is going to be a marathon of driving cross country to Newfoundland. We have to be at the ferry in Sydney, NS, on Friday afternoon.
We didn't stop for anything except meals and gasoline, putting in 10 hour days of driving. Our route was to Regina, then over the border at Estevan and along highway 2. We crossed the border again at Saulte Ste. Marie and continued on, following the trans Canada highway.
We did make one tourist stop. At 7:30 in the morning, we stopped to admire the giant nickel at Sudbury.
 |
| The Sudbury Nickle |
Kerry had had the forethought to book a deluxe cabin for the 15 hour ferry ride. Because of that, we arrived in Argentia refreshed. We finished the last two hours and arrived at our airbnb at 11:11 am. Our long drive was over. To celebrate, we headed out to Cape Spear to enjoy the sunshine and heat at our favourite spot, the eastern-most point of North America.
 |
| Cape Spear Lighthouse |
We gathered with the boys at Quadi Vidi Brewing Co to celebrate Alex's last day as a bachelor. Tomorrow was the wedding.
 |
| Quidi Vidi Harbour, very picturesque. |
The wedding started at 1 pm at the Sheraton Hotel. What a lovely ceremony. The bridal couple had then arranged for a trolley ride ride around St John's before the reception at the Rocket Bakery. Great food, wonderful visits with family and friends and the best band ever, we headed home about midnight.
Monday, Sept 2
After a family breakfast, we headed west on the trans-Canada highway to Goobies, with a stop in Dildo at the Dildo Brewing Co to taste their beer and see the squid coming close to shore. We also made a stop at Vern's Classic Car Collection in Swift Current. What a place. Sixty redone cars ranging from 1908 to the late 70s muscle cars. All in pristine shape. What a collection.
 |
| What a collection! Then on to the bride's family home for Newfie poutine, wings and cake. |
The weather has started to deteriorate. The wind has come up, so our visit to Signal Hill is tough. The wind blew so hard we almost got blown off the hill! It was cold so we headed to the downtown for chowder and some shopping. We also walked to the Terry Fox Mile 0 statue where he dipped his toe in the water before his run for cancer that ended at Thunder Bay because of his health.
Wednesday, Sept 4
Cloudy and cool, so we drove across the peninsula to Portugal Cove to catch the ferry across to Belle Island. There, we toured the now-closed iron-ore mine. What an amazing place. The mine heads down underground at a steady slant down under the ocean. Thousands of men, boys and horses toiled in the dark with candles, later acetylene lights and then battery packs to dig the iron ore and drag it to the surface. The mine was open from the early 1900s to the 60s. The island hosted 14,000 inhabitants at the mine's height. During WWII, one of the iron-ore ships was torpedoed by a German Uboat and sunk. We then drove around the island and found the lighthouse. What a beautiful island. We finished the trip with a visit to Dick's for the best fish and chips in the world before taking the ferry back.
 |
| This central corridor of the mine went on for miles under the Atlantic Ocean! |
Sept 5/6/7
We were concerned about Hurricane Dorian, so we decided to head for Port aux Basques in one day and take the Friday ferry across. The trip was uneventful and the ferry ride was smooth. We stayed in Sydney the night.
The next morning, Dorian was moving faster that earlier thought, so we decided to stay put. We visited the second house built in Sydney, the Cossit House. Built in 1785, it was the home of the first Anglican minister and his family. The wind was blowing and the storm was starting to roll in, but got the grand tour by a very well informed historian. He told us stories about the building of the house, the storing of food, the making of candles, the writing of letters and then the re-writing of letters in the letter ledger. He also explained about samplers and the birthing of babies. We sampled a local drink to hold off scurvy - a tea of spruce needles and molasses. Interesting. That is all I will say.
The rain started about 5 pm and the wind blew hard. We watched Bianca Andrescu defeat Serena Williams at the US Open Ladies Final match before the power went out about 11. We slept like babies and woke up early to no rain, but wind.
Sunday, Sept 8
The power was out all over Nova Scotia, so we had a cold breakfast and then headed out. It was difficult to find fuel in some parts - gas stations and businesses were closed. We found fuel in Truro where the power was on. Then we headed to the Confederation Bridge and Prince Edward Island. We stopped to visit dear friends in Summerside and then headed to Charlottetown to our next airbnb.
Dorian made herself felt in Summerside. The eye of the storm went over the city and so there were many, many big trees that were uprooted or broken. Shingles were missing from several houses. We didn't see any damaged houses, but we did see a couple of vehicles with branches on them. The residents were busy cleaning up. Power was working, but sporadically.
At lunch in Summerside, we had the best bread pudding and caramel sauce ever. It was so good we took one to go for dessert that night with Jo and Brian.
Monday, Sept 9
The power is still out on most of the island, but Charlottetown is electrified. We headed to Cavendish to see Green Gables. The first stop was Lucy Maud Montgomery's plot in the cemetery. Then on the Green Gables, just around the corner. It was closed. So we drove down the coast and spent time on the beaches admiring the red water. It was really churned up. We bought potatoes and wild blueberries form a roadside stand and then headed home. After groceries, we drove down to Water Street to visit the "Anne" souvenir shops and Cows ice cream shop. A stop at the Gahan Brewery for a drink, then home after a great day.
 |
| The storm churned the water up so much the waves were red! |
Everything is almost back to normal in the business and tourist life of PEI today. So we finally were able to tour Green Gables and explore the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery in the new Green Gables visitor centre. Then it was back to the house for an early supper of mussels, clams and fried fish. A perfect end to our time on the Emerald Isle.
 |
| Patti in front of 'Green Gables". |
The rain is pouring down. A good day for traveling to Halifax. Once there, we braved the rush-hour traffic and headed to the wharf area to eat lobster rolls at Dave's and tour the shops. We ended up at the Garrison Brew Pub - the oldest in Halifax.
Thursday, Sept 12
Our first stop was The Citadel. It was started in 1749, it is a fort that was meant to protect the land while other fortifications guarded the harbour. Built in a star shape, t was never breached. We saw a rifle demonstration and listened to a bagpipe concert before the noon gun was fired.
Second stop was back on the pier for seafood chowder and then a visit to the National Immigration museum on Pier 21. This was the first steps on Canadian soil for many immigrants from the early 20s to the 70s when airports took over.
Friday, Sept 13
We drove outside the city today to Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, and Peggy's cove.
Lunenburg was founded in 1751, and maintains its historical architecture in the waterfront area. Several of its wharf warehouses are painted bright red, which was a unique identifier from the water. Many of the old Victorian houses have a special door that is unique to Lunenburg. The door is flanked by half bay windows on either side that continue up to the window above, framing a small tower. This allowed in lots of light and gave a bit of room at the entrance.
 |
| Dock Area |
 |
| This how they get light into a house in Lunenburg. |
We then drove the few miles around the headland to Mahone Bay, famous for its three churches along the bay, and Amos Pewter, my favourite pewter store in the world. The sun was shining, so we ate our picnic lunch by the water before exploring the town on foot. At Amos Pewter, we were treated to a demonstration of how they make their molds for the annual Christmas ornament, and then how they pour them and buff them up for sale. Another lady was sanding and finishing vases that had been made on a lathe from flat disks of pewter, in the same way a clay pot is thrown. She was sanding with steel wool.
Finally, we drove over to Peggy's Cove, with a slight detour to the SwissAir memorial. Te memorial is very simple, but is truly a hushed, special place.
Peggy's Cove is one of the most beautiful spots in Canada. The lighthouse is built on the rocks, so you can explore the headland easily; but look out for those rogue waves. They can take you in an instant! The fishing village has long since turned into a tourist place, but the brightly coloured homes make one feel happy and cheerful. Apparently, during the hurricane, the waves were up almost over the top of the lighthouse. That would have been amazing to see.
 |
| Peggy's Cove Lighthouse |
 |
| Peggy's Cove is a very picturesque place. |
Joanne and Brian flew home today, in time for the Rider game. Kerry and I packed up and drove to Edgett's Landing, along the coast of Cape Hopewell. We stayed in a small cabin in the woods and enjoyed the quiet during the evening and night. By day, the road in front is busy because it is the access to Hopewell Rocks.
Sunday, Sept 15
We are off to Hopewell Rocks. We have been to them before, so we're not as concerned about low tide times. We did get there in time to see them at low tide, but didn't have time to wander among them. Instead, we continued on to Riverview, a small town down the coast towards Alma to see the horse pull competition. What an amazing event. All the while I could see the pioneer men pulling stumps with their team of giant horses, as the different teams competed. They were pulling 9000 lbs when we left, we needed to get back to the cabin before dark.
 |
| High tide |
 |
| Low tide |
Today we stopped at Hopewell Rocks to see them at high tide. The water goes up to the carved out area on the rocks. We were told that at a really high tide, the water can cover Lover's Arch at the top! We then drove over to Alma to have a snack of cinnamon buns and cookies form the bakery. What a difference. The last time we were in Alma was in the summer. It was a bustling, noisy town full of people and cars. Today, it was cool and deserted.
Tuesday, Sept 17
We are on the move again today to St Stephen, near the Canada/USA border. We are staying in a small cabin on the shore of the bay. To our right, across the arm is Maine. To our left is New Brunswick. We can sit on the screened in veranda and watch the tide go in and out and enjoy the change in scenery as the rocks come and go from the shore and the bay.
Wednesday, Sept 18
Thursday, Sept 19
Today, we headed to St Andrews to enjoy the historic resort town. The sun was shining, the tour busses were steadily driving in to town and the whale-watching ships were heading out regularly - full of passengers. Unable to book a spot today, we will go tomorrow before we head south.
 |
| St. Andrew's pier |
 |
| Boats on a platform beside the pier. |
We were due at the St Andrews' harbour early in the morning. We headed out in the tall ship with 12 others to watch for whales. We were lucky and found 7 separate minke whales feeding around the small islands. We also saw a dolphin and a couple of bald eagles.
 |
| One of the minke whales we were lucky enough to see. |
We were able to arrive early enough to go downtown in Bar Harbor and walk the shore walk with the ocean on the left and small mansions or "cottages" and large hotels on the right. We stopped for the Bar Harbor version of the lobster roll and crab roll, with a bread pudding to finish. Summerside bread pudding and Halifax Dave's Lobster shack do not need to worry. They are far better.
Saturday, Sept 21
One of the main reasons Bar Harbor is so popular is Acadia National Park. We drove the loop and stopped to enjoy the Thunder Hole - it really sounds like thunder as the water rushes into the cave below. The shore is rugged and beautiful. We then started our seven hour drive to Smuggler's Notch in northern Vermont.
Sunday, Sept 22
We started The day with a drive to Stowe, the village south of Smuggs. There, we did a boat ride on the Waterbury Resevoir to enjoy the colours of the leaves on the hillsides of the valley. We are a bit early for the deep colour in all of the trees, but the colour is also two weeks earlier than usual, so we are happy. The reds are magnificent. There is pink, red, fluorescent red and deep red. Some trees are half red and half green. Some are red, orange and yellow.
 |
| The colours were just starting to appear. |
The drive down to Stowe is so interesting. The hills tower above while the road snakes down into the valley. Big, big boulders had to be accommodated, so the road becomes really narrow or wide, depending on the distance between these boulders. Combine that with heavy forest and lots of hiking trails, which means lots of parked cars, and the need to concentrate on the road, rather than nature. Oh well, we will travel this road a couple of times, so we will be able to see most of it.
Monday, Sept 23
The clouds are low and the threat of rain is high, so we decided to visit the covered bridges in the area. There are eight of them left in the area, all built in the 1880s.They use the arch truss system to support the roof. Men built covered bridges so that they would last. Because of the weather, uncovered wooden bridges would last about twenty years. Covered wooden bridges would last 100 years. They are romantic looking and ring of another century.
 |
| One of the many covered bridges in this area. |
Another travel day. We are off to Newport, Rhode Island on the coast.
The drive was interesting. We passed through Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and then Rhode Island. We drove through Boston on the interstate, so had the traffic, but none of the sights. Our apartment is right on the harbour, with a beautiful view of the harbour and all of the boats coming and going. This includes many, many sailboats and at least two cruise ships per day.
After groceries, we headed up to the roof terrace to watch the sunset. We shared it with a lady who is a local. She was wonderful, with lots of advice on what to see and do.
 |
| What a GREAT location to watch the sunset! |
We started the tour with a drive on the Ocean drive. It starts with Fort Adam and the Eisenhower Summer White House.
The Eisenhower House has an amazing view of the other side of the harbour entrance.
We then continued on to Brenton Point State Park. This park is perfect for watching the waves crash in and out, fly a kite, and reflect on the accomplishments of Portuguese navigators and sailors.
Continuing on the drive, we passed several mansions, or summer cottages as they are called here. We also passed two private beaches before driving by the mansions on Bellevue Avenue to finish the drive.
We roamed the shops around the harbour for the afternoon.
Just off the harbour area is the first Anglican Church in Newport. Trinity Episcopalian Church was built in 1725/26, 27 years after the congregation formed in 1698. Designed in a similar way to Christopher Wren's church in London and the Old North Church in Boston, it still has the pulpit in the centre of the church, in front of the altar. There are no rows of pews. Instead, there are three columns of family boxes. Each is furnished uniquely by families in the congregation. There is lots of velvet, brocade, with the odd Chippendale-like chair or couch instead of benches. Each pew is closed off, so others can't see what is going on below the pony walls. The church survived battles during the War of Independence by functioning as a British hospital. Famous families who attended this church are the Astors, the Vanderbilts, etc. (You get the idea).
Thursday, Sept 26
We visited the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the United Sates - Touro Synagogue. Built in 1763. It was designed on a colonial style. Twelve columns support the women's balconies and represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Each column is carved from a single tree. Balance and symmetry are the main parts of the design that encourage peace and serenity. George Washington visited the Synagogue in 1790. The Warden then sent him a letter supporting him as the President and asking for tolerance in return. George replied with a letter that is read every year in the Synagogue. His reply is as relevant today for all people as it was then.
 |
| Touro Synagogue |
here is an excerpt:
"...for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support..." (George Washngton Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, www.tourosynagogue,org).
Friday, Sept 27
This is a travel day to north western Massachusetts - the Berkshires.
Saturday, Sept 28
I had one definite goal on this trip - to visit the Bennington Museum and see the Jane A. Stickle quilt first hand. Today was the day.
Let me give you some information. Jane Stickle was an invalid lady who had time on her hands because her husband was away, fighting in the Civil War. She designed and sewed 169 separate, unique 5" blocks. Some of them were based on traditional blocks, but most (70% of them) are unique designs by Jane. Each is a two colour block - white and another. The blocks are arranged in "around the world" style based on the colours with a green centre block. Some of the pieces are 1/4 inch big. It has a triangle border. Again each triangle is unique. Jane entered her quilt in the 1863 Bennington Agricultural Fair and won a prize for the best pieced quilt. As you can see, I love this quilt and will one day show everyone my version. (It will be red and white!)
 |
| Dear Jane quilt |
 |
| Pumpkins |
Sunday, Sept 29
Mount Greylock is down the road from our resort. It is the tallest peak in Massachusetts and commands a view of four states (Vermont, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The drive up is so beautiful - a tunnel of trees, now turning different colours. At the top is the Massachusetts War Memorial, a 90 foot tower.
For the afternoon, we visited a Quaker Meeting House, built in 1982, and then rode the Berkshire Scenic Railway. A great way to spend a Sunday.
Unfortunately, we had to miss the Susan B. Anthony birthplace, abolitionist and suffragette.
Monday, Sept 30
We spent the morning at the Norman Rockwell Museum. He moved to the area to get treatment for his wife. Norman lived here until his death. We saw every Saturday Evening Post cover Rockwell painted (330?), plus many of his other paintings. We each picked our favourite -Kerry loves "The Runaway", and for me there too many others to pick just one.
 |
| 'The Runaway' |
We finished the day with a tour of Arrowhead, a house owned by Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick. His friend, Henry David Thoreau, used to visit often, so there are lots of connections to American literature. The interesting thing about Melville, is that his book was not popular while he was alive.
Tuesday, Oct 1
It is raining, so we are on the move again to the Poconos.
Wednesday Oct 2
The rain caught up to us, so we are laying low.
Thursday, Oct 3
Still raining, but really hard. Leaves are falling like crazy.
Friday, Oct 4
Today is a driving day. We are on our way to Atlantic City.
The sun is shining as we arrive, so we checked in and headed to the Boardwalk to have a philly cheesesteak sandwich and see the sights. It is a cold wind, so the walk will be short.
Saturday, Oct 5
Today is Philly Day! We took the train to Philadelphia and when we walked out of the metro station, we were 350 m from the historic centre of the city. So easy!
Our first stop was the Independence National Historic Park Visitor's Centre to see if anyone had changed their mind regarding visiting Independence Hall. You see, they have lots of tours in a day, but you must get the free tickets in advance. The tickets were all sold out for today - but, voila! The Parks personnel found us two tickets for the 1:00 pm tour.
 |
| Independence Hall from the outside. |
 |
| Independence Hall from the inside. |
After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, the colonials were starting to become disgruntled. Fighting started in different states, so representatives from the thirteen colonies met together at the first Continental Congress in 1775. It was at this time that a letter was sent to the King listing their grievances. The King ignored this, so a second Congress was held in Philadelphia at the State House in 1775. It was during this meeting that the Declaration Of Independence was written and issued on July 4, 1776.
The Second Congress continued to meet during the war and after. The Constitution was finally written and signed on September 17, 1787. It was ratified by the colonies on March 4, 1789.
So, while we walked in Independence Hall, we walked over the same floor boards as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Maddison, Benjamin Franklin, and others.
Our next stop was the Liberty Bell. Forged in 1752, it rang in the belfry of the Pennsylvania State Hall for all announcements. It was too brittle, and developed cracks. It was repaired twice, but the cracks kept returning. The bell probably rang on July 8, 1776, but became a symbol after a story was written about an old man and his hope for independence. In the story, the bell rang to announce the declaration, and people began to associate the two things. The Bell was toured around the country for many years, and the crack continued to get bigger. People would gather the pieces from the crack and make souvenirs of them. Starting in 1837, Abolitionists saw the slogan on the bell, "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof", as a great motto for their work towards the end of slavery. After the Civil War, people wanted symbols of unity. The American Flag and the Liberty Bell became those symbols. Today, the Bell is tapped thirteen times on July 4, and it is tapped once on Martin Luther King's birthday.
 |
| Liberty Bell |
Today is a driving day to Washington, DC. We are staying in Alexandria, VA.
Wednesday, Oct 9
We headed to the Mall in the Capitol area of DC today. It is a 2 mile long park with museums and memorials along the length of it. At the one end is the Capitol Building, and at the other end is the Lincoln memorial with the reflecting pool in front of it. In the middle is the Washington Monument, flanked on the one side with the White House, and on the other with the Jefferson Memorial.
 |
| Capital Building |
 |
| Washington Monument |
 |
| White House |
Thursday, Oct 10
Today is a driving day. We are heading south and west into the Great
Smokey Mountains, and staying in Sevierville, TN. We are excited,
because our friends, Peter and Sandi, are joining us for the next nine
days.Friday, Oct 11
The day was sunny and hot (85F), so it was Dollywood day.
The theme park. Has a section that was dedicated to Dolly Parton, with her first tour bus, a museum, and theatre where her career was highlighted in her songs. It was excellent.
We wandered most of the park, and did the train ride, after a scrumptious dinner of barbecue. The end of the evening was a walk through the Pumpkins and lights display in the dark. A giant spider made of pumpkins, trees with lights hanging down so it looks like a scene from "Frozen", pumpkins carved with vats, cats, rats, fish, a giant tree made from pumpkins and lights, and so on. It was amazing!
Saturday, Oct 12
We headed to Gatlinburg and the Great Smokey National Park to o a hike. The traffic was gridlocked, so it took a long time to drive the 20 miles. The hike was up a mountain to a waterfall through the woods. Spectacular.
 |
| Smokey Mountains |
Today is a driving day to Nashville.
Monday, Oct 14
Happy Thanksgiving! We spent the afternoon in Tootie's Bar listening to music and drinking beer. People were friendly, the beer was cold and the music was really good. They played "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", "Jolene", "Sweet Caroline" and other great oldies. We wandered the rest of the Broadway area, listening to music in other bars before heading home.
Tuesday, Oct 15
We are on the Old Town Trolley today. This is a multi-stop route that gave us a great tour of Nashville, before we toured the Country Music Hall of Fame. That museum is very well done.
We stopped at Kid Rock's bar for. Drink and lunch and some music, before making a quick stop at Ole Red, Blake Shelton's bar, and then it was back to Tootsie's. You just can't beat the atmosphere of that famous honky tonk!
 |
| Tootsie's, we had such a GREAT time here! |
Wednesday, October 16
This is a driving day to Branson, Missouri.
Friday, Oct 18
Branson is a family entertainment area located in a valley. We toured the Missouri trout hatchery and saw thousands of fish growing in the ponds. They will be moved into lakes and streams as they reach twelve inches.
 |
| Rainbow trout in the hatchery. |
This is a driving day to the Grand Lake, Oklahoma, a few miles from Tulsa. The lake is a Reservoir, and we stayed in the Wyndham on Monkey Island.
Monday, Oct 21
This is a driving day to Amarillo, Texas.
Tuesday, Oct 22
This is a driving day to Taos, New Mexico. We hugged many mountain sides as we ravelled up. At one point, we were at 9,500 ft above sea level. The town of Taos is at 7,900 ft above sea level.
We arrived to a lovely surprise. The lobby of the Wyndham property is very grand and is decorated in south western style. We walked the stores around our apartment today.
Wednesday, Oct 23
The forecast is for 5 cm of snow in Taos tomorrow, so we are seeing the sights and then heading south to avoid snow and high mountain passes.
Our first stop was the Taos Pueblo. Declared a National Monument and a Living World Heritage Site, it has been lived in for over a thousand years. We did a tour with a guide that started at the Saint Geronimo Catholic Church. Built in the 1800s, it is adobe with a small courtyard in the front, and an arch at its gate.
 |
| Saint Geronimo Catholic Church |
 |
| Homes inside the Pueblo. |
Our final stop was the San Francisco de Assisi Catholic Church. It is an Adobe church that is at least two hundred years old. It is the most photographed and painted church in the area. Artists like Georgia O'Keefe and Ansell Adams have featured this church in much of their work. Each spring, the congregation gets together on a weekend and replasters the church so it always looks beautiful.
 |
| San Francisco de Assisi Catholic Church |
We then left Taos and drove to Albuqurque, through Santa Fe.
Thursday, Oct 24
We are slowly heading to Page, AZ, so today we are driving to Farmington, NM. On the way, we stopped at the Petroglyphs National Monument on the north side of Albuquerque. Here, there are thousands of petroglyphs carved into the rocks, and they are easily seen on short, easy walks.
 |
| On example of a petroglyph in Petroglyphs National Monument |
Friday, Oct 25
This is a driving day to Page, AZ.
Once there and checked into our hotel, we headed to Horseshoe Bend. This is a sharp bend in the Colorado River, and we get to view it from the cliffs above, so we can see the bend clearly. The cliffs are steep, just like the Grand Canyon down the road. However, you will see people who like to sit in the out hanging rocks. Scary for us. There is no help if there is a misstep.
 |
| Horseshoe Bend, just outside Page. |
Today, we are doing the Upper Antelope Canyon walk. The canyon is on Navajo land, so you must be on a tour. That is great because the guides are camera experts and perfect picture-taking experts. We slowly walked the quarter mile walk through the the canyon that starts out with a width of about 20 feet, but closes down to 3 feet across in many places. Up is another story. The walls tower above you, almost blocking out the light. The walls have many colours, and the lines from the layers give the pictures a look of movement in a swirl. The fluid lines of the walls have been created over the centuries by the flash floods that go through the canyon periodically. The name comes from the game the natives found hiding from the sun in the canyon. This was the best two hours we have spent in a long time. It is worth the crowds and the cost.
 |
| Amazing |
 |
| Beautiful |
 |
| Picturesque |
This is a driving day to Flagstaff, AZ. We stopped at the Glen Canyon Dam. This dam stops water on the Colorado River and stores it in Lake Powell, creating a popular recreation area. The dam is quite interesting. So is the view from the bridge to the dam on one side and the canyon on the other. This is the canyon that spreads out a few miles away into the Grand Canyon.
 |
| Glen Canyon Dam |
The day is cool and clear. Some places got snow, but we are dry. We drove up to the Grand Canyon and spent the day travelling from the South Rim to the East Rim, and then back to Flagstaff.
 |
| Grand Canyon |
Tuesday, Oct 29
The wind is blowing strongly and the temperature is going down here in the mountains. Garnet and Jacqueline have come up to spend a few days with us. We have decided to leave early for Pheonix.
Wednesday, Oct 30
We decided to fill the day by going through the Pioneer Museum, just north of Phoenix.
The first building was about the history of the telephone. Guided by a retired telephone company worker, he showed us the different inventions that led to telecommunications as it is today. We spent some time at the switchboard as Jacquie explained how she connected calls in the late seventies at an Edmonton switchboard. It was really interesting.
We then toured a house, smithy, barn and miner's cabin that we're all used when the area was developed. I love seeing the mix of old ways and new that meld together to create life.
One of the unexpected treats of this park was a reenactment of Revolutionary war times. People had come from all over to live the life of their character during that time. They had the clothing, the tents and survival equipment of the time, the background of their character, and a working knowledge of the times, causes and effects. We really enjoyed discussing the issues of the time, like why the Maritime provinces did not join the Declaration of Independence, economics of the time, and so on. What an interesting hobby for these people.
Thursday, Oct 31
It feels so weird to be Halloween, and also be 30C. Who knew some people actually wear costumes that fit without coats and trick or treat outside!
Saturday, Nov 2
It is another travel day. We are headed to Palm Desert, CA: this is our last destination. Where did the time go?
Being with our friend, Lynne, and catching up on her news will keep us busy until we fly home on November 6. In the meantime, we will enjoy the hot weather. (It is blizzard in at home. Sigh).
