Day 6 - Mall of AMerica

Well, here I am with my cousin Patty. I haven't seen Patty for 49 years, and it turned out that she wasn't the tall buxom blonde she told me she was last night. Or else, maybe I grew a little bit in height and she colored her hair...?

It was so nice to see her again after all these years, and I actually knew her when she walked into the motel lobby to meet us. Patty joined us when we went to the Mall of America, and what a place that is. The place is huge, with 540 stores (but no Dunkin Donuts), is 5 stories high, and has an amusement park in the center.

We were only there for about 4-1/2 hours, and saw only about 10% of it, if that much. Mainly, we enjoyed spending time with Patty. Sheila and I plan to return to the mall on Tuesday for the day. Should get a little exercise walking around the place then. K

Hi all,
Ladies start your engines this is the place to come. Three floors of Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, Macys, and hundreds of other stores. Kens cousin and I went into Bloomingdales shopped but didn't buy. Then to Nordstroms, again shopped but didn't buy. So much to see and so little trunk room. They even have a Marshalls in the mall. We did go to the Pandora jewelry store and I got a charm of the hundred lakes of Minn, as well as a cat, a green and gold Murano piece, and an aurora borealis Swarofski piece. All fit very nicely on my bracelet and my wrist.
Tonight plan to go to the pool for a swim and get some kinks out. Then there's an Outback next door to the motel that Ken wants to try. We'll probably be in bed early again tonight. Tomorrow plan to go back to the mall, there's a shuttle from the hotel to and from so very convenient. Plan on spending another night here tomorrow then will leave for Des Moines, then Omaha and then Kearney for the reunion. This is the only place we've really stopped to see things at and what a place! My head's turning in all directions once we got here. Take care all. Love Sheila and Ken

Day 5 - Sheila arrives in Mecca.

The Travelers with Aunt Dottie and a Danica Patrick "wannabe"













Well, today we stopped in Rockford, IL, to see my Aunt Dottie. We haven't seen her in a very long time, but she is still going very strong and looks great! She wanted us to stay for a couple of days, God bless her, but we just didn't have the time if we want to make the Hand family reunion in Nebraska over Labor Day weekend. We told her we would be at her place about 10:00 AM and actually pulled in about 15 minutes early. I rang the door bell, and no answer, so figured she was still at church. Well, we sat in the driveway for about 35 minutes when I saw this smiling face looking out the window. She had been home all the time, but hadn't heard the bell. She felt so bad, but was so happy to see us. Had brunch with Aunt Dottie and then off to Minneapolis. A lot of driving today.

Every day has been an experience packing the Vette with the luggage. So far, we haven't disposed of anything except the AAA tour book for Ontario. We have two ice coolers that I manage to fit between the two large luggage bags and the bucket seats, and of course, most of the ice is melted at the end of the day. This is now the 5th day in a row that I have managed to spill all of the melted ice in the back of the Vette when I remove the luggage. When will I learn???

Today was a new experience for Sheila on the trip - She drove the Vette for quite a ways, and she had barely driven it before. She did a great job and will be able to help drive more often. The Vette is very different to drive than our other cars, and it took a little to get used to the cruise control and sensitive steering. We drive at the posted speed limits most of the time, and it gets a little hairy with some of the trucks coming right up on our back bumper.

Called my cousin Patty when we arrived in Minneapolis and we will see her on Monday. Aunt Dottie said Patty hasn't changed a bit and I would know her right away. (Now, you have to realize that the last time I saw Patty was in 1960 and she must have been all of 10 years old.) Patty is going to meet us at our motel in the morning and will be going to the Mall of America with us. Patty said I would recognize her because she would be the tall beautiful, stacked (well, not exactly her words, but close...), blonde. Standby for an update... K

Well we are finally here in Minn., St. Paul is a beautiful city, lots of green and reminds me of driving into Boston. As we plan on staying at this motel for a couple of days, was able to unpack a few clothes and place in drawers, ah, the finer things in life. Can 't wait to meet Ken's cousin and hit the mall, Ken's coming too and we all know how much he loves to shop. Will update on the mall tomorrow. S.

Day 4 - Chelsea, MI, to Chicago and Beyond

Hi All,
We left Chelsea Michigan, home of Jiffy Mix, love the cornbread, for new adventures. Sure wish Dunkin Donuts had a franchise in the midwest, had Starbucks, strong enough to make your heart skip a beat, this morning.
Drove to Chicago with heavy traffic, so decided to pull over at a Red Roof Inn for the night outside of the city.
Went out for a bite and had the best Italian food, Ken had the lasagna, and I had the cheese ravioli.
I asked if they had any steamed vegetables and the waitress looked at me as though I had asked if her mother was a virgin. So few vegies but great carbs. Have picked up some fruit and carrots to munch on in the car while we drive. Ken has found an old favorite, corn nuts, salty and crunchy, but not for someone who just had a root canal. Ken has done a fabulous job of packing and unpacking the car as well as keeping us supplied with cold drinks. Living out of suitcase is a whole new venture. I'll be glad when we get to Minnesota and can stay in one place for two or three days. S

Vette still running great, but gas mileage slipped a little due to delays caused by construction and an accident in Chicago that backed up traffic for miles in both directions. Just like New England, our lane slowdown was caused by all the rubberneckers looking at the accident in the lanes going in the opposite direction. Where the speed limit thru Detroit was 70 mph, Chicago slowed to 20 mph due to construction. Was really happy to pull over for the night! Didn't have internet access at the motel, so couldn't post the blog last night. K

Day 3 - Back to the USA

Hi all,

I started today with a facial. Our hotel in Ontario had a spa that was calling me so I had a facial this morning that put me in a Zen state. I won't say what state it put Ken in, but a quote went something like" We can't be on the road till ten am because you're having a facial?"
We just pulled off the road for the day in Chelsea Michigan, it was raining cats and dogs. We had wanted to continue to Battle Creek, however, they are having a balloon festival there and rooms were hard to come by. I'm getting smarter, think if we choose smaller towns, and call ahead and negotiate so we get a better rate.
Plan tomorrow is to stop somewhere around Chicago.
Cat doing better at our daughter and son in laws. Or cat actually always did well but their cats were getting to a point where professional help was needed. Today I think they are all getting used to each other.
I've done no shopping at all, saving everything for the mother lode, or Mall of America. Ken think's I've turned over a new leaf.
Went thru customs today in Michigan, they thought we were from Ontario. It went something like an Inspector Clusseau piece. He asked how long we were going to spend in the USA I said we live here, he said no you're from Ontario and what do you want to do in the USA. Finally things got straightened out and we went on our way, but only after being asked if we had any fruit from Canada. Well UMMMMM at breakfast we went to a buffet that had fruit so I picked up a couple of pieces of fruit to munch on for the drive. We were asked if we had any apples, still had a golden delicious picked up in Salem,NH, well he looked at that apple like it was contraband, wondered why there was no sticker on it. I said I took it off when I washed the fruit, and so Inspector finally passed us thru. S

As you can see in the photo, the Vette ran like a charm today. (Note the speedometer indication.) At that speed, it still managed to get 33.4 mpg or, if you like the Canadian version, 7.1 liters per 100 Km. Interesting to buy gas in Canada. Have no idea what the price per gallon was, but paid about $0.95 per liter, Canadian. Also received a "Loony" in Canadian change ($2.00 in Canadian currency - We'll never be able to spend that.) K

Love,

Sheila and Ken

Day 2 - Niagara Falls, Ontario

Today we hit the road after a relatively quiet night. Did have a "little" problem with the air conditioner unit almost falling off the wall at 2:30 in the morning and waking me up, however. Never did get back to sleep after that!

The drive to Niagara Falls was an easy drive, but we did hit construction and one accident that slowed us down. At one point, before the accident, we were getting 32.4 mpg in the Vette.

AAA had booked our travel through Niagara Falls, Ontario, and we managed to get a room at the Marriott on the 8th floor directly across from the falls. What a view! We had been to Niagars Falls on our honeymoon over 40 years ago, but were on the US side. On December 1st, 1968, would you believe the observation area was closed due to ice. It has all changed and the observation towers have been added since our first visit. I have to say, the view of the falls from the Canadian side is spectacular! We rode the Maid of the Mist and got soaked just like everyone else. It was really a thrill and the power of the water is hard to imagine.

Had no problem getting a room, but when we went through Canadian Customs, we had a young power-hungry official that didn't know how to smile. He asked which motel we were staying at, and when we told him the Marriott, he wanted to know which one. We didn't know there were two of them. We gave him the address and when we checked into that address, you know we were at the wrong hotel.

Anyway, had a wonderful time at the falls and would love to return again some day. The adventure continues.

Day 1 of The Great Adventure

Honest Honey, I did pack light!

August 26th:

Today the start of our great adventure.
The car is packed to the gunwheels, and I packed light, honest. We started out with an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts when I remembered I forgot my cell phone at home. We returned home barely speaking, but civil, and I retrieved the phone for the journey. Hit some construction, but are now in a high priced room in Syracuse NY. Guess what, this is the week of the NY state fair in Syracuse, and we were lucky to get a room!
Stopped several times to stretch our legs on the ride, but did hit some rain. Crossed the Erie Canal. Ken and I are again laughing and talking.
Spoke with our daughter about the status of our cat, Sam. He's adjusting well, but they got little sleep as he's an active one year old cat. Their cats spent the night under their bed. Cat saga to be continued.
Now plan to walk across the street from motel to restaurant for dinner. Tomorrow plan on going to Niagara Falls. Will keep you posted.
Love,
Sheila and Ken

This is the start of our new beginning (also to be known as "Ken and Sheila's Great Adventure"), two retirees hitting the road. This is also our first blog, so please bear with us during our travel seeing the USA in a Chevrolet (Corvette, that is).

We have been looking forward to this trip for many years, and the time has finally arrived. Can a 41-year marriage survive a two month trip in a Corvette? Of course, but will we be talking at the end of the trip? Stay tuned and we'll see.

This photo has nothing to do with our trip, by the way. This was taken back in January in Yarmouth, MA, in January, 2009. Yes, it was cold, and no, we weren't driving the Corvette that weekend.

"Ken and Sheila's Great Adventure" is scheduled to begin on August 26th, and between now and the 26th, we are going to be busy. Ken just retired (again) on August 14th, and we still have a lot of planning to do to get ready for this trip. The biggest thing we have to do is figure out what we will be packing for the trip that we will be able to get into the limited space in our Corvette.

Our current plans are to visit quite a few places on our trip west, finally reaching as far west as the Grand Canyon. We have planned to try to only travel about 300 miles per day. We also don't plan to drive every day, but rather take our time and if we find a place we like, to spend some extra time there.