November Fifth

Today we left Clearview and drove out of Pennsylvania into New Jersey where we stopped in at a Cracker Barrel for lunch and to do a bit of shopping. We also found a Bank of America where we could replenish our cash supply. We came through a bit of New Jersey and New York, across the Tapanzee Bridge, and then into Connecticut along the Merritt Parkway. We came to the Marriott Courtyard in Shelton so we could get ourselves organized and get some Christmas presents wrapped. We will be up bright and early in the morning to go and watch hockey games. Andrew and William are both on teams that are in a silverstick tournament tomorrow. It will be fun to watch them both play, two games each, in the same arena. Tomorrow we are going to visit Charles and Kathy for the weekend and then we will be heading home. This is the end of our blog. We will be happy to supply photos of the weekend by email if requested!

November Fourth

Today we began our trip back into our real world as the temperatures plummeted and the scenery looked drab and lifeless. The day began well with waffles etc. at the hotel and we were ready to get on again. We started the day in Indiana, then crossed into Ohio and we are now ensconced in our hotel in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Coming through Ohio I didn't have a chance to stop where there was wifi when I could have looked up my old roommate from McMaster summer school. I have now found her address and it appears she and her husband are still in the same house when I last lost contact with her. It would have been fun to have renewed acquaintances again after so many years. I guess that is what Christmas cards are for. Going to the shows in Branson really got us into the Christmas spirit; not the gift buying and giving one but the real spirit we had as children.

We have seen so many interesting things but often I am not quick enough with the camera. One bridge today was totally decorated by American flags. It looked as if it had been done properly, not just people adding flags here and there, with them all spaced evenly and facing different ways. Tomorrow night we should be near enough that we can get to Fairfield, or to wherever the kids are, on Friday morning. I see my sons have a problem with the academic part of their children's lives on Fridays!

November Third

Last night we went to see the Duttons, another first performance of their Christmas show. It was very good but not quite as impressive as the Hughes family show probably because of the many more in the Hughes family. This morning we left the hotel in Branson and drove out by way of the red route to see what changes had been made there since our last visit. We picked up some coffee and drove up to Lebanon, Missouri where we stopped at an outlet shop that was selling some super Christmas things and lots of knives but not much else. The scenery in Missouri is very much like driving around Ontario but I think it is much warmer down here. There are lots of fields full of corn that is still being harvested.

Today was very comfortable without jackets or sweaters.

We crossed over the border from Illinois into Indiana and lost the last of the three hours we gained on our way West. We stopped at a Days Inn that has wifi but it seems to be cutting in and out which is why this is my second time writing this blog which I am abbreviating it this time. The Connecticut hockey players, William and Andrew, are in a silverstick tournament on Friday so we hope to be there in time to catch a couple of hockey games. There are some interesting things to see along the way as you will see from the pictures taken near Effingham, Illinois.

At the moment we are at an IHOP having a snack before we retire tonight. We have been getting fairly late starts most days but tomorrow we would like to get going a bit earlier.

November One and Two

When we left the hotel in McAlester this morning it was 14 C at 8:30 AM. Yesterday and today we noticed there is lots of roadkill as opposed to almost none in California. Yesterday one of the victims was a brown bear and today lots of small deer.

The first thing we did in Branson was go to the Titanic Museum. It is extremely well done and they have so much reality such as ice like an iceberg and water the same temperature as the night of the sinking. They also have cool temperatures where it would have been cold such as on the deck, etc. We could have stayed longer but were there at least two hours. Actually time is a little confusing again today. The girl in the hotel had her clock saying seven when ours was six and she thought it was correct but it turned out ours was the right time which meant we had time to make it to a show.

We went to the Andy Williams theatre tonight to see his Christmas show. He was amazing for his age and his voice is still great. He ended with 'his' favourite' Xmas song 'Moon River'. What was surprising was that phones and cameras were flashing all over and it seemed to be acceptable but I was reluctant to do it properly and as a result our picture is not very good and only Tony and I would know who it is! A couple of the acts he had in the show were phenomenal. I hope to see them again somewhere else. It was the first night of his Christmas show tonight so we were lucky to get tickets at the last minute.

After the show we went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner and are now back at the same motel where we stayed last time we were here. It is old but clean and very conveniently located.

Next morning- we ordered tickets for two shows, one this afternoon and another tonight. We stopped in at Walmart and after years of trying we finally got a travel rod for the car to hang clothes. We stopped in at a laundromat with wifi so we can arrive in Connecticut wearing some clean clothes. Next time I go anywhere I am going to take two pairs of jeans and my jean skirt and not one other thing.

Time to go out for lunch!

We went to the Hughes Brothers/Family show. It was sensational and may have surpassed Andy Williams'. Today was the first performance for the Christmas show and they have all their children in it, down to the four week old baby who was in it and little people who could barely walk. One brother has ten or eleven kids and one none but the other three all have some. I think the brother I talked to said there were forty of them. When they go on tour the have a bus that sleeps twelve, a 15 seater van and an RV and when they stop somewhere they either set up tents or rent hotel rooms for the overflow. Such a super talented family.

Tonight we are off to another show.

Day Thirteen

My computer is not keeping up with the time changes but I think the time is almost 7 AM and we are just going in for breakfast and then leaving for Dallas. Time hasn't meant much on this holiday so I suppose the time change back from DST won't matter to us. This morning was the earliest we have started out a day.

The weather was gorgeous again today and quite warm, 24 C. The scenery approaching Dallas looks similar to Ontario but the city itself is very bright and clean. Arriving on a Saturday was a great opportunity to be downtown without much traffic and parking was so simple. Our first stop was to look at the bronze cattle in the park downtown. We also saw lots of real ones, mostly with long horns, today. We even saw several dozen people riding horses down a path parallel to, and close by the throughway north of the city.

Neiman Marcus was terrific. It reminded me very much of Creeds when it was on Bloor or even Morgans or Holts. I couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas bauble for the tree. There were some super children's things. If my lucky quarter had been successful in Vegas Molly and I could have had matching cashmere pants and sweaters and Molly could have have even had a hat to match hers. I could have mortgaged the house and done most of my Christmas shopping and everyone would have loved their gifts! Tony was talking to his friend John Lebel's son who told him they call it 'Needless Markup' and I would tend to agree but things are displayed so nicely that you don't even want to see the price tags.

The city is nicely laid out with lots of one way streets and the architecture is spectacular. After our trip to Neiman Marcus we crossed the street and had a delicious Italian meal. We are missing Halloween but will make up for it by bringing out all the Christmas decorations this year. I have to add a photo of the bumble bee that I received from Meredith today. I hope Molly likes all the ghosts and goblins tonight.

Day Twelve

When Tony opened the door this morning he sounded surprised as he practically bumped into a Mexican man at our door trying to sell silver jewellery in little plastic bags. I didn't see it but Tony thought it was very poor quality.

Today was a driving day. We left Gallup and went through Albuquerque and on to Amarillo where we turned south toward Dallas. We saw the wonderful red sandstone cliffs, buttes and the high staked plains along with deep gulches and pretty dry country. There was a noticeable difference in the scenery and the prosperity between New Mexico and the panhandle of Texas.

It was a bit disconcerting to read the signs at the rest stop in northern Texas! Tonight we are at a motel in Childress. We just came back from a wonderful buffet at a nearby restaurant where Tony discovered how delicious catfish can be. Tomorrow we are hoping to briefly explore Dallas. We are having a great time but do miss our grandchildren and their parents. We will catch up with the CT ones on the way home.

Day Eleven

Yesterday we wandered around all kinds of casinos, etc. and travelled up and down the Strip on the Deuce, a double decker bus with hop on and off privileges for $7 for 24 hours. We went to watch the Volcano last night at the Mirage. Last time we were there it wasn't operating because it was being repaired so it was great to finally see it. Of course the water at the Bellagio is sensational no matter how often you see it. We stopped at a couple of slot machines on the way back to our room. Our room was super; on the casino level with a balcony overlooking the pool. It also had a palm tree which was interesting to touch. This morning when we were checking out they were just about to tape a couple of episodes of "Lets Make a Deal" with Wayne Brady. The first episode was with the audience dressed in Halloween costumes.

We headed out of Las Vegas and went by the Hoover Dam and noticed much progress since we last saw it. The scenery along the way was interesting and could have been a western movie set much of the way until we came across snow at the sides of the road and on the mountains. We are in Gallup, New Mexico tonight. We just came back from dinner at the restaurant next door and the waitress said she had about three inches of snow on her car this morning that fell sometime between two AM and seven AM. Tomorrow we will be heading east and already we have lost an hour with the time change today with another couple before we get home.

As we were driving along yesterday we could see dust swirling to the north of us. It looked like the dust left behind when a truck drives fast up a dirt road. As it moved closer to the highway we realized it was just a little mini tornado type wind. It gathered up all the tumbleweed in its path and by the time it reached the highway it was just ahead of us and we all had to slow down while it crossed. Crossing the pavement slowed it down and by the time I could stop watching long enough to take a photo it was almost over. It was quite amazing.