Traffic Jams and Traveling to the Upper Peninsula

We left Connecticut and headed west. The trip was going to be a fast one as we needed to cover some miles(We have reservations in June in Wyoming and want to spend a couple of weeks with our daughter in St Paul). Now normally we only travel about 200 miles a day but we wanted to go to St Paul by route of the Upper Peninsula so we took off from Connecticut and drove three days straight to the UP, (Might not seem like a lot to some but we are pulling a 37 foot house).
The drive itself, or should I say the scenery was spectacular. Following Rudys,(Lahlias husand and my brother Mikes brother in law), advice we quickly crossed Connecticut and New York and entered Pennsylvania. Now we couldn't see much because of the trees but crossing the Appalachians, in Pennsylvania, was about as beautiful as any vista we have seen. Between the mountains and the well kept farms, Pennsylvania is definitely a picture postcard State.
Ohio flew by, but we did enjoy a night at a campground in Homerville, (named for Homer Simpson?), and heading north we went through Toledo. Renitas folks were from Toledo and so the churches and the city's buildings were of special interest to her. Interstate 75 was closed in Detroit so we turned to 475 and then headed north until we rejoined 75 to Mackinac City.
It was a long and tiring drive but it went pretty easy. We did have a few traffic jams that I wanted to mention, just because traffic jams are so unusual to us.
The first jam was in Connecticut and actually took place as we drove back to our campground, the night before we left. We sat motionless for an hour before slowly passing a horrible crash on Connecticut 2. The second jam was actually delightful as we drove through Amish country in Pennsylvania. Yep, a horse buggy jam on hilly roads. Finally the last jam wasn't really much as construction on the Mackinaw Straits Bridge narrowed the roadway to two lanes. While it slowed us down to 20 mph it allowed me to do some sightseeing as we crossed the long span.
Safely arriving at Straits State Park we set up for a couple days of rest and sightseeing. Retirement is a tough stage in ones life. Clear skies.

ps Actually I am no longer retired as I sold a blog entry and some photos to roadtripjournal.com and am now a professional writer!

Nautilus and the US Sub Museum

As we pulled into the parking lot, of the US Sub Museum, Renita noticed a submarine being helped up river by a barge. What a fitting sight as we were going to the US Sub Museum in Groton, Connecticut.
We passed four small subs, including a Japanese two man sub, like the ones used in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Nautilus stood firmly moored at its dock. Two large rings represented the diameters of the first subs and a modern active trident.
Upon entering we signed the guest registry and then headed to the Nautilus, where we were handed a hand held radio that played a guided tour as you passed through different areas of the ship.
Upon descending we both were immediately struck with the amount of room inside. It was huge compared to the cramped spaces inside the World War Two fleet sub we had been in in Alabama.
I bumped my head as we passed through bulkheads and Renita tried not to laugh, but I had to a little, what a klutz. Steel doesn't give much! I was hoping to see the reactor room but that area was closed and it was ok as just to be inside of a ship that traveled to the North Pole was enough.
Later we read the accounts of the voyage and of the perils under the ice. Other kiosks told tales of sub lost and of the sailors rescued. What special hero's, the silent servicemen. (as are all who serve). Clear skies.

Ensign Christine Louise Mandor-Brackin

As each First Class Cadets name was called, they climbed the stairs, where they were first handed their diploma, and then handed another parchment which signified their commission. As the speaker read their name he also read the name of their first posting. Some were being stationed in Hawaii, some California. Alaska, Boston, Seattle and other places, including flight school in Pensacola were also common.
Our niece Louise was being sent to Australia? Now I know your thinking what gives with that? It turns out she had just found out that she had received a Fulbright Scholarship, from the Australian Government and was going there to work on her Masters. A well deserved honor!
We tried not to clap or yell in applause, as others did. The speaker had asked that all applause be held in honor of the graduates, but other parents had broke out in whistles and congratulations. It was so hard as we both wanted to yell out a Wyoming cowboy yee haw.
After the ceremonies we watched as Roger pinned on her ensign boards,(Roger is a retired Coast Guard Captain who has been a lifelong best friend of my brother and who had been instrumental in Louise's choice of the Academy). Mike and Mona beamed as their lifework had reached a highpoint. Mike asked me if I had heard that she was the only cadet whose name had been mentioned by both the Coast Guard Academy Commandant and the Head of Homeland Security.
Later we went through the Coast Guard Museum and then walked across the campus, before boarding our bus which took us back to where we had parked the car. What a day and what a blessing. Clear skies.

Pre Graduation Festivities

Each company of white and blue dressed first class cadets marched past us proudly holding their sword's. The companies then marched into the parade field and stood stiffly at attention as the review took place. Each reported "All present and accounted for!", before being saluted by the Commandant.
We were at the Coast Guard Academy, watching our niece march past in Alpha Company. It was just one of the pre-graduation activities that we were here for. We had already gone on the Evening Ferry Cruise, the Senior Picnic, and now were watching
the parade of the Cadets.
Arriving in East Lyme we set up at Aces High Rv Park, one of the nicest places,(and most expensive), we have been. The first day we went to a barbecue at my brothers house, and surprisingly he can cook, as the barbecue was great! We met Roger and Fran, who had traveled from South Dakota for the graduation,(Mike's best friend and his wife).
The next evening we rode with Mike and Mona to the Groton Ferry. Here the graduating class was being treated to a cruise dinner. The cruise was to go into Long Island Sound and then up the Thames River, passing both the Coast Guard Academy and the Electric Sub Works. Fog prevented us from seeing most of the sights but the time with family and friends made it a night to remember.
The next day a picnic was planned. Hard rain of course! The picnic was moved indoors, into the pys ed building, and the food found the place so we were able to pig out again,(Hm...., if I don't watch it I am going to be ready for market, an old Iowa saying) We met a bunch of Louise's friends and class mates. I asked her what was her best memory of the academy, and she wisely answered, "Graduating". It was a foolish question to ask a senior.
Louise and her sister Yasmeen, posed for their picture, two brilliant and beautiful women, with futures so bright,(Yasmeen graduated from George Washington University in Washington DC and works there). Mike and Mona were all smiles as I complimented them on their outstanding job as parents.
It is a blessing to be here! Clear skies.

The Northeast Forest, Confused in Connecticut

"I think I remember that cemetery", I said. A little while later we passed a sign for a hill that Renita thought she remembered. We were driving back and forth, on narrow Connecticut roads, trying to find our house and campground. It wasn't that we were lost, but as Davey Crockett once said, "Confused".
The drive across New York was pretty easy, but pricey. We took the New York Thruway and spent over 60 bucks in tolls. Along the way we stopped and had dinner with an old teacher buddy, Robert Woolrey. He and his wife Mia and their kids have a beautiful house in Syracuse, New York,(We both had to laugh as they have their hands full with their two little ones!).
We can't really say what the area looks like, as its covered in trees. The map said we passed through Albany, but we couldn't see it, too many trees! We crossed the Hudson River and continued into Massachusetts, Hmmm, more trees as other unseen large cities passed by.
Turning south on US 84 a welcome to Connecticut sign greeted us. Trees were already trying to grow and hide it from view. Carefully following the directions to the campground we drove down narrow curvy, hilly roads, before pulling into a heavily forested campground,(I was starting to get the urge to buy a double bladed ax).
That afternoon the sky turned cloudy and what little light we had on the forest floor, was further blocked. The nights light came on!
The next day, we woke to clear skies and decided to head to Rhode Island. We hoped to see a little of the state and visit an REI, where I hoped to purchase a bike. Getting directions from the campground manager we forgot to turn on the gps, (Who could get lost, we have driven over 34000 miles since we begin our journey).
The drive was heavily forested. We entered Rhode Island and easily found the REI Store. Excited we parked and entered and went to the bike section. Waiting for a salesman to finish with another customer, we waited and waited and waited, until the other customer left and the salesman disappeared into the back room, never to return. Anyway I lifted the bikes off the rack and rode them around the store's bike section. Playing with all the adjustments, I loosened and tightened things, still no salesman. Finally leaving the store without a bike, we went and ate at a fast food place, before returning home.
Now I wanted to see a different route so Renita drove and I played navigator. It was not a good sign as I missed a couple of turns, even though Renits calmly said, "Didn't we take that road?"
"Don't worry", I replied as I directed her down one tree lined road after another. "The campground is just ahead on this road". We continued to drive and no campground. "I think I remember that cemetery", I said, as I reached over and picked up the gps, turning it on and hoping she wouldn't notice.
Now its really funny cause we had the approximate location on our gps, I just hadn't made a waypoint, so we were circling and circling it, but not finding it. Tree lined road after tree lined road all looked the same and we retraced our path, at least three times, before making the right turn into the road to the campground.
Molly, our dog greeted us with warm kisses and wagged her tail. We think she frets about us getting lost when we leave her at home to guard the house. Clear skies.