Saturday, May 04, 2013
Just some this and that to wrap up this trip.
Except for the first part of the trip when we left in freezing rain, we had wonderful weather... we followed spring the whole way.. and when we got to St. Simon's Island on the border of Georgia and Florida we were is full bloom.
As as we drove North the trees were just coming out..and this weekend in Toronto the blossoms are now fully. So three weeks in April was a good time to go driving south.
We used out Garmin (GPS) system a great deal , but I always travel with a map on my lap. That way when we had time I could take us off the interstates and a slower and more interesting drive to see the sites. However, if there were to be a next time, I would make sure I have lots of big scale maps for each state.
And the interstates and toll roads were all in good nick. Peter did all the driving, and I the navigating and it worked. It is no wonder so many Americans never leave their country. The interstate system is simply amazing, clean, lots of places to stop and very clear directions, with lots of warning, when off and on and service etc. were coming. And so much to see along the way.
I spent a long time planning the trip.. mapquest was a great tool, and the idea was not to drive more than 4-5 hours a day. This meant lots of time for stops along the way, and an arrival at a new place, and settled in daylight, in fact before rush hour.
The only day we had a longer run, was to Asheville, but we had lots of daylight to look around and a whole morning for exploring before we left.
As with us, we took tours everywhere, but NOT large groups.. and we do not feel we have to hit every museum and catherdral We are much more likely to walk and stop and stare, or sit at a busy cafe to asorb the place . There is no test of facts at the end of the day! So just enjoy whatever strikes your fancy. We learned many years ago when traveling to a new face we will never see everything so relax and enjoy.
If you like a place: go back to revisit ...eg we loved a restaurant the first night in Charleston SC so we went back again . Same with Savannah.. loved the market square and the river walk so we went back a few times. May not suit everyone, but suits us.
We continue to be asked the diffence between Charleston NC and Savannah... Restaurants are better in Charleston (for foodies) and Savannah is probably more of a party town Charleston is older and have been at the preservation longer, but Savannah is doing a great job of catching up in this regard.
The Stuart McLean cds were a really treasure on the longer drives. Hint to self.. more of the same, and maybe some audio books. The radio drifted in and out with static alot, NPR especially seemed to be on a continual fund raising drive everywhere, I can only take so much of Rush Limburgh(!) and the rest of the stations are religious.. which I wouldn't have minded if they played more good old fashioned gospel music! Our car came out the year before you could plug your own ipod in.. Anyhow we will get that side organized before we do another long trip. And thanks to the secret santas for the Stuart McLean.
We did find it best NOT to get into political discussions. The Democrats think all Republicans are devils, and DEFINITELY do not even think of mentioning Obama might have had some good ideas, to the Republicans. Even when staying with family and friends we stayed right out of this one. Talk about polarized.. very worrying actually.
The other thing we noticed and we could not figure it out... there were very few places we stopped where the crowds were mixed. We stopped at a Huddle Hut for lunch on our way south, and we were the only white people in the place(this was just off the interestate) and other times we would be with all whites..eg.. the cute little place we went for lunch in Canton. must be some sort of a code that we do not know.. . The two places we visitied where the crowds mixed and socialized in bars and restaurants were Savannah and Cleveland.. This is in no way anything more than a passing observation on my part. Just something I noticed.
Oh. and in Charleston WVA at the fun sports bar, two of the guys at the bar were phoning home ... in Spanish.. then would talk to you in English. Mexicans are now quite far north!!
It was a great trip.. I keep a blog when I travel on big trips, for myself, really.. but nice to know there are others that check in from time to time.
As Bugs would say.. that's all folks.
Except for the first part of the trip when we left in freezing rain, we had wonderful weather... we followed spring the whole way.. and when we got to St. Simon's Island on the border of Georgia and Florida we were is full bloom.
As as we drove North the trees were just coming out..and this weekend in Toronto the blossoms are now fully. So three weeks in April was a good time to go driving south.
We used out Garmin (GPS) system a great deal , but I always travel with a map on my lap. That way when we had time I could take us off the interstates and a slower and more interesting drive to see the sites. However, if there were to be a next time, I would make sure I have lots of big scale maps for each state.
And the interstates and toll roads were all in good nick. Peter did all the driving, and I the navigating and it worked. It is no wonder so many Americans never leave their country. The interstate system is simply amazing, clean, lots of places to stop and very clear directions, with lots of warning, when off and on and service etc. were coming. And so much to see along the way.
I spent a long time planning the trip.. mapquest was a great tool, and the idea was not to drive more than 4-5 hours a day. This meant lots of time for stops along the way, and an arrival at a new place, and settled in daylight, in fact before rush hour.
The only day we had a longer run, was to Asheville, but we had lots of daylight to look around and a whole morning for exploring before we left.
As with us, we took tours everywhere, but NOT large groups.. and we do not feel we have to hit every museum and catherdral We are much more likely to walk and stop and stare, or sit at a busy cafe to asorb the place . There is no test of facts at the end of the day! So just enjoy whatever strikes your fancy. We learned many years ago when traveling to a new face we will never see everything so relax and enjoy.
If you like a place: go back to revisit ...eg we loved a restaurant the first night in Charleston SC so we went back again . Same with Savannah.. loved the market square and the river walk so we went back a few times. May not suit everyone, but suits us.
We continue to be asked the diffence between Charleston NC and Savannah... Restaurants are better in Charleston (for foodies) and Savannah is probably more of a party town Charleston is older and have been at the preservation longer, but Savannah is doing a great job of catching up in this regard.
The Stuart McLean cds were a really treasure on the longer drives. Hint to self.. more of the same, and maybe some audio books. The radio drifted in and out with static alot, NPR especially seemed to be on a continual fund raising drive everywhere, I can only take so much of Rush Limburgh(!) and the rest of the stations are religious.. which I wouldn't have minded if they played more good old fashioned gospel music! Our car came out the year before you could plug your own ipod in.. Anyhow we will get that side organized before we do another long trip. And thanks to the secret santas for the Stuart McLean.
We did find it best NOT to get into political discussions. The Democrats think all Republicans are devils, and DEFINITELY do not even think of mentioning Obama might have had some good ideas, to the Republicans. Even when staying with family and friends we stayed right out of this one. Talk about polarized.. very worrying actually.
The other thing we noticed and we could not figure it out... there were very few places we stopped where the crowds were mixed. We stopped at a Huddle Hut for lunch on our way south, and we were the only white people in the place(this was just off the interestate) and other times we would be with all whites..eg.. the cute little place we went for lunch in Canton. must be some sort of a code that we do not know.. . The two places we visitied where the crowds mixed and socialized in bars and restaurants were Savannah and Cleveland.. This is in no way anything more than a passing observation on my part. Just something I noticed.
Oh. and in Charleston WVA at the fun sports bar, two of the guys at the bar were phoning home ... in Spanish.. then would talk to you in English. Mexicans are now quite far north!!
It was a great trip.. I keep a blog when I travel on big trips, for myself, really.. but nice to know there are others that check in from time to time.
As Bugs would say.. that's all folks.
# posted by katie @ 8:40 AM 
