Author: robinssm25

Destination: New Smyrna Beach, FL

Dates: July 22-Aug 1, 2021

Reason: Family Vacation

Day 1 July 22, 2021

Our trip began on a Thursday this time so we could take an extra day.  The sun was still a long way from coming up when we pulled out at 4:45am.  It took Finn longer to fall back asleep than I expected; it wasn’t until we were almost in Kentucky.  The Brent Spence had construction so we took I-471 to I-275 to get back on I-75 south.

There were no snags or delays, and we got off on 25E in Corbin, Kentucky to get over to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  We arrived at the Visitor Center just before it opened, so we took the Pinnacles Overlook road first.  The view from the overlook was outstanding.  Low-lying fog hadn’t burned off yet so we were looking down on clouds in the valley below.  Back at the Visitor Center, Finn really liked a stuffed black bear and got his Junior Ranger badge.  We ate donut holes in the parking lot for breakfast.

Heading back on the road, our next stop was Congaree National Park in South Carolina.  Their Visitor Center closed at 5:00pm, but our GPS had us arriving at 3:30pm- no worries.  Except that we found awful construction traffic on I-40, right near the Tennessee-North Carolina border.  The highway went down to one lane, and since we were in the Smoky Mountains, big trucks were struggling.  The delay added an hour to our drive.

At the North Carolina Welcome Center we ate lunch.  Finn had a peanut butter sandwich and fruit snacks.  I took the wheel back and Julia caught a nap, as did Finn, which meant they missed more traffic at the I-40/I-26 interchange, which added another 40 minutes.  Now the GPS had us at Congaree around 5:10pm.  I focused in, buckled down, and drove as craftily as I could.

Cruising past Columbia, South Carolina, we managed to pull into Congaree at 4:30pm.  Upon exiting the car we were immediately hit with a blast of humidity and delicious pine smell.  We were sweating instantly.  Hastening into the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, we picked up a magnet and a Junior Ranger badge.  Then we hit the boardwalk loop.  It’s a 2.5 mile loop through swampy hardwood forest with cypress trees all around. 

Finn walked on his own a bit and was interested in every single leaf on the trail.  He tired out quickly due to the heat, and I carried him afterward.  The carrier hurt my shoulders.  As we walked along we kept our eyes out for wildlife.  We spied a deer off in the woods that turned and watched us.  After a moment it turned and ran off.  Next, I spotted a snapping turtle sleeping in the mud.  On either side of us were spiders- large ones with banded legs.

As we left the elevated boardwalk and got to the low one, we heard a loud rustle in the bush next to us and Julia yelped.  She had seen a large black snake drop out and slither quickly off.  That was enough for us.  We turned back and marched off.  On the way back we saw two more snakes, although we were elevated from them.

Sweating like we never had before, we left the park and drove about 15 minutes to our AirBnB in Eastover, South Carolina.  It was a cabin on a farm- clean- but with some “interesting” quirks.  Like, the shower turned on using a pair of pliers.  Or, the bedroom door had a hole that a previous renter had put in it.  But, there was a stuffed patchwork cat that Finn found and loved.

For dinner, we looked on Google for something interesting.  We found a place called Fish Hole, but when we got to where it was supposed to be it was gone.  Instead, we were surrounded by run-down buildings and poverty.  We ended up going a further way out and got McDonald’s.  Back at the cabin, Finn wanted to stay up and party, but we finally got him down.

Day 2 July 23, 2021

Wake up time was 5:30am and we got on the road at 7:00.  At a rest area we finished off the donuts.  As we turned on to I-95 south, Julia got very excited.  We were headed to Savannah, and she hadn’t been back there since her year of college at SCAD.  We got off the highway in Hardeeville and crossed the large bridge as we went over the Georgia border.  On the way to Fort Pulaski National Monument we stopped at Julia’s old dorm, then drove around briefly to see her old haunts.

At Fort Pulaski we stopped by the Visitor Center then entered the fort.  Finn got to touch a cannon and run around just a bit.  Julia at a fig off a bush.  We toured the grounds and climbed stairs to get atop the walls.  A large cargo ship went by on the Savannah River.  Then the heat started getting to us so we got a magnet and Finn’s Junior Ranger badge and headed out.

On the way into Savannah we stopped at a Target and bought a small folding stroller so we wouldn’t have to carry Finn all over the city.  When we got back into the city we parked in a garage and went first to the riverfront, stopping for a photo of the Waving Girl statue, then tried to get lunch at the Pirate House restaurant, a local historical institution, but the wait was too long.  We made our way to Broughton Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, and were so hot we just had to find a place to rest and eat.  Luckily for us, a place called the Funky Brunch was right there, and we got sandwiches and cooled off.

Once we were regulated, we walked and popped into the shops on Broughton, visiting places that Julia frequented as an 18 year old student.  She bought some lavender at a French boutique.  We went into a nostalgia-based pop culture store and were surprised to find a shelf full of Cincinnati Bearcat mascot plush.

When we got back to the car we swung out to Bonaventure cemetery to look at the fancy statuary.  Afterward it was time to check in to our AirBnB.  It was a modern, swanky, third-floor apartment in an old building right next to Forsyth Park.  We got showers, all dressed up, and took a very pleasant stroll around the park to take photos.

We got back in the car one last time, drove just a little downtown, and parked near Madison Square.  We walked over to Chippewa Square and got dinner at a British pub themed restaurant called Six Pence.  Julia got shepherd’s pie and I got a pot roast sandwich.  After dinner we returned to the apartment and went to bed.

Day 3 July 24, 2021

Everyone awoke with a great sense of excitement since we would be in Florida later in the day.  We got the car packed up (lugging the heavy baggage down 3 floors) and said goodbye to Savannah around 8:00am.  Julia was a little sad to leave.

We eagerly counted the miles down to the Florida border.  At the Welcome Center we popped in so Finn could get his first taste of the traditional orange juice.  Then, it was only about another ½ hour til we got to Fort Caroline National Memorial in Jacksonville.  At the Visitor Center we picked up a Junior Ranger booklet for Finn and walked the short trail to the fort, stopping along the way to hear a volunteer ranger speak about the lifestyle of the Timucua tribe who inhabited the area long before European settlers.  The fort itself commemorates the short-lived presence of the French in the Florida region.  They were driven out by the Spanish pretty quickly.  Back at the Visitor Center Finn was sworn in as a Junior Ranger.

In the car again, we took I-295 south to catch I-95.  After a quick stop at McDonald’s we shot straight down to 44 and New Smyrna Beach.  Of course, Finn fell asleep and missed as we cruised in.  As for me, it felt like coming home.

We followed 44 to A1A, pointing out familiar landmarks and trying to see what had changed.  Our first stop was at Bethune Park to show Finn the manatees for the first time.  Unfortunately, the water was very low and there was only one swimming a ways out in the lagoon.  We loaded up and drove the grueling minute down to J.B.’s for lunch.  Since a hurricane had blown through, the whole restaurant was redone.  Still, we had tasty oysters and beer.

It was 3:00pm when we finished up and checked into the condo, Chatham by the Sea.  This time around the condo was super nice and clean.  Half an hour after we got there my parents and sisters rolled in.  We all unpacked and exchanged stories of our trips.  Then, Julia and I went to Manny’s Pizza to pick up dinner.  My parents watched Finn.

After dinner Julia and I took Finn for a walk on the beach.  Then we watched the Olympics for a bit and went to bed.

Day 4 July 25, 2021

Julia woke up around 6:00am, but Finn and I slept in until 7:30.  We ate a small breakfast of donuts with the family then we all went down to the beach.  It was very windy and made setting up our tent and umbrellas difficult.  The tide was very high and the breakers were large.  There was a significant rip tide as well.  My dad, Michelle, Vic, and I went out a bit while Julia and my mom played in the sand with Finn.  It was his first time hanging out on the beach.

Since it was so windy, we moved up to the pool after an hour.  Finn had a blast floating around, and was showing great aptitude for swimming.  He was fearless, dunking his head under water and kicking his legs.

After swimming we had sandwiches for lunch in the condo then made a Publix run for groceries.  Short naps followed, then dinner for Julia, Finn, and I at J.B.’s.  Typical oysters, and this time smoked fish dip for a side.

When we got back from dinner we took a quick dip in the pool, then watched tv until bed.

Day 5 July 26, 2021

Today was the second time Julia and I spent our honeymoon down in New Smyrna.  We slept in until 8:30ish.  Once everyone was awake we all piled into my parent’s van and went to Canaveral National Seashore, just 1 mile down the road.  It was Finn and Vic’s first time.  Everyone got out to walk the boardwalk up Turtle Mound, a spot my family has visited for over 30 years.  But it was so hot and humid that it pretty much wiped us all out.

At the Visitor Center my mom opted to stay in the car while Finn picked up his passport stamp and Junior Ranger booklet.  His grandpa bought him a toy sea turtle.  We got back in the car and did a driving tour of the seashore, where we saw a snake in the Eldora road, lots of gopher tortoises, and a man in a thong.  On the way out we hit the Visitor Center one more time to get Finn’s badge.

Back at the condo, my parents and sisters left for lunch while we stayed in.  After lunch we managed to nap then hit the pool.

For dinner, Julia and I celebrated our 7th anniversary at Norwood’s treehouse bar, where she got a tequila drink with squid ink and I had an Old Fashioned with pinot noir in it.  Finn stayed at the condo for dinner with his grandparents.  We intended to get ice cream afterward, but the line was long at the Twisty Freeze, so we came home and went to bed.

Day 6 July 27, 2021

Julia and I woke up at 6:30am to catch the sunrise.  Finn stayed with my parents.  We walked along the beach for a mile, reaching Canaveral before we even realized it.  Back at the condo, my parents went out for breakfast and I made corned beef hash.  Then, Julia and I took Finn to the beach and Vic tagged along to get pictures of shore birds.  The waves were strong once again, so we spent our time on the shore.  Finn absolutely loved the water.

After a quick lunch of sandwiches, we all took a long nap while we had a typical New Smyrna storm, complete with plenty of thunder and lightning.  When we woke up we took Finn along with us to shop on Canal Street.  Unfortunately, we discovered that nearly everything over there closed at 4:00pm, except for a brewery, so we popped in for a beer.  Once we finished there we headed over to Flagler along the north causeway and went into some shops.  Julia got a coffee from Beachy Beans and we met a local celebrity named Jethro.  He was a large English bulldog and was super friendly.

On the way back to the condo we stopped at Scratch ice cream shop in the plaza where Food Lion used to be.  It was good ice cream.  We came back, got changed, and went to J.B.’s for dinner again.  Julia and I ended up eating 2 dozen oysters this time.  Then we came home, hung out with my parents a bit, and went to bed.

Day 7 July 28, 2021

Today was my dad’s birthday.  We celebrated in the evening.  But first, Julia, Finn, and I got up a little early and started off for St Augustine around 8:30am.  After an uneventful trip up I-95, we got off a little south of the city and went over to Fort Matanzas National Monument.  Even at 10:00am the parking lot was jammed.  We circled twice and ended up making a fake spot.

When we got to the ranger and went to pick up a pass for the ferry that takes you across the Matanzas River, the earliest time they had was for 1:30pm.  We picked 2:30 and decided to come back.  So we set our sights on Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and drove 20 minutes.  Julia was fascinated with the Old Town and the look and feel.

It took us a little to find a parking spot at the Castillo.  Then, we waited in a 30 minute line to get into the fort because they implemented COVID capacity limits again.  The NPS did offer free sun-shield umbrellas though, especially because the temperature was 94 degrees with a real-feel of 102.

Once we were inside we did a little exploring, sticking to the shade and interior of the fort.  We were unable to go up on the ramparts since we had Finn in a stroller.  We looked around, got a Junior Ranger badge and souvenirs, then headed back to the car since the heat and humidity were making everyone cranky.

Our original plan called for walking around the town and shopping, but the extreme heat changed our minds.  Instead, we drove north along US1 a ways, just sightseeing.  We flipped around south and stopped for lunch at a place called Red Frog and McToad’s, a weird sports bar on A1A near Fort Matanzas.  They were understaffed and the facility was a little rough, but the food was good.  While we ate a thunderstorm popped up.

Back at Fort Matanzas, it was still storming, and we found out our tour was canceled for inclement weather.  Finn still got his Junior Ranger badge, and I got to see the fort from across the river.  We had an uneventful return to New Smyrna.

On the way to the condo we picked up a key lime pie for my dad from Publix, since Mon Delice bakery inexplicably closed at 3:00pm.  When we got back Vic made a pasta dinner, we all ate pie, and watched rain come down all evening.  My dad opened his gifts and we turned in early, about 9:00pm.

Day 8 July 29, 2021

After snoozing through our alarms, and missing the sunrise, we rolled out of bed, ate breakfast, and made our way to the beach.  The waves were extremely pleasant, perfect for floating.  While Julia watched Finn on the shore, Michelle, Vic, and I finally went out past the breakers.  A small group of dolphins swam by while we were out there.  Meanwhile, Finn was having so much fun playing in the surf, and my parents came down and got in the ocean.  We moved up to the pool a little bit later.

Lunch followed, then a nap.  When we woke up, my mom, Vic, Julia, Finn, and I went to the Bob Ross gallery, where we saw some of his original artworks.  Vic bought a paintbrush.

After dropping Vic and my mom off, Julia, Finn, and I went to Chase’s for dinner so we could sit by the ocean while we ate.  Rain was coming in, but didn’t stop us from enjoying the beach when we got back.  Julia sculpted a sand cat.  When we moved up to the pool, Finn floated on his back.

We finished off the night by playing Clue (I won!) and then went to bed.

Day 9 July 30, 2021

Our last day in Florida.  We went to the beach and pool after breakfast.  Finn had so much fun again, running all over the beach and drawing in the sand.  After swimming we ate lunch at J.B.’s and took a nap.  When we got up the whole family went for ice cream and Vic treated us.  A trip to Publix followed to pick up provisions for our trip home.  On the way back we went by Bethune for the umpteenth time, but once again saw no manatees.  Sadly, we only saw one manatee the whole trip.

We began packing when we got home and I discovered that I lost a pair of Teva sandals somehow.  That’s really all we did, except for a final walk on the beach.  When we picked up Finn to turn back to the condo he cried very hard.  None of us wanted to leave.

Day 10 July 31, 2021

With a lot of sadness and tiredness, we bid goodbye to my parents and sisters at 4:30am.  On our way out of New Smyrna we nodded our farewells to all the familiar sites.  On the highway I used cruise control all the way up to Jacksonville because traffic was so light.

Our route took a variation at Savannah so we could visit Ninety Six National Historic Site in South Carolina.  We took I-16 west, then came north on state roads up eastern Georgia, through Augusta, and into western South Carolina.  At Ninety Six NHS we stepped out into 90 degree temperatures and oppressive humidity.  The Visitor Center was closed, but a ranger was on duty to give out info and the all-important Junior Ranger badge.  We pushed Finn in a stroller along the 1 mile loop just far enough to reach the old town of Ninety Six, where new Americans defeated British loyalists at their star-shaped fort in the first Revolutionary War battle south of New England.  By that point we were so hot and cranky that we headed back and left.

Lunch was at a Sonic in Clinton, SC.  We were supposed to stop by Carl Sandburg National Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina, but read that the house was closed still due to COVID, so we instead swung by the southern Visitor Center of the Blue Ridge Parkway, after having sat in traffic on I-26 west.  There, we toured the small museum, picked up souvenirs, and got Finn hin ninth Junior Ranger badge of the trip.

The AirBnB we stayed at was only 15 minutes in Asheville.  It was a small, hippy-style apartment above a residential bakery just outside the city.  The property had ducks, a cat, and a dog named Juniper.  The apartment, while advertised as having AC, was stuffy and humid, but was clean and fit our needs.

We decided on trying a restaurant in downtown Asheville.  After poking around a few options, we landed on a place called Mayfel’s, which was New Orleans-oriented.  I got a shrimp po’boy, Finn had Belgian waffles, and Julia got a caesar salad with shrimp.  The food was tasty.  After dinner we headed home and had a warm, fitful sleep.

Day 11 August 1, 2021

On the road at 6:30am, we wanted to make minimal stops and try to get home around noon.  We made great time through the Smokies, enjoying their beauty along I-40.  All was fine until we hit dense fog and driving rain just across the Kentucky border on I-75.  It only slowed us down a bit though.

Immediately south of Lexington, Finn woke up from a nap with a lot of hunger and a foul mood.  We made a quick stop at a KFC, then Julia took us the rest of the way.  Around Florence we were stuck in bad traffic all the way to I-471, but then had no trouble.  We got home at 2:00pm and unpacked, then had out traditional Skyline delivered to us so we wouldn’t have to be in the car anymore.

Destination: New River Gorge National Park

Dates: June 23-25, 2021

Reason: Short getaway

Day 1 June 23, 2021

In desperate need of a short vacation, we decided to take a couple days to hike trails at New River Gorge National Park.  Kat and Dylan Weidlich wanted to watch Luna and Ernie while we were away so we dropped the dogs off a little after 8:00am.  Unfortunately, Julia got a message from work and realized that she had to send something in urgently.  We went back to our house, she got it taken care of, and we hit the road at 9:30am.

Traffic was clear and easy the whole way through Chillicothe, Point Pleasant, and onward.  Finn slept nearly until we stopped for lunch at an Arby’s in Nitro, West Virginia.  After lunch Julia started getting nauseous from the winding mountain roads and Finn started getting crabby around the 4 hour mark of our drive.

We got to the New River Gorge around 3:30pm and stopped at the Sandstone Visitor Center first to get info and a Junior Ranger workbook.  After stretching our legs we headed off to Sandstone Falls, a mere 1.7 miles from the Visitor Center, but a 30 minute drive since the nearest bridge to it is 10 miles down the gorge.  We stopped at an overlook along the way.

At the falls, we popped Finn into a new carrier we bought and set out on the boardwalk.  There were many great views of the waterfall, which spans across the whole width of the New River.  The boardwalk itself takes visitors across an island in the river.  It even had a spot where we could get off the path and dip our feet in the water, which included another spectacular spot to see the falls.

Off the boardwalk, we took the Island Loop Trail, a ½ mile hike that took us all around the island through the forest and along the banks of the river.  During the hike, we discovered that the new carrier was causing us a lot of discomfort, so Finn got to walk a little bit and then was carried on my hip most of the way.

Our next destination was the Bluestone National Scenic River, which we decided to access from Pipestem State Park.  It took about 25 minutes to drive there and we passed a dam across the New and some beautiful scenery at Bluestone Lake.  At Pipestem we gathered our courage and rode the tramway down to the river.  It consisted of enclosed cable cars and took us about 1,600 feet down.  Julia and I were nervous, naturally, and Finn clung to his mommy.  But it was well worth it.  The scenic views were grand.

At the bottom, on the banks of the beautiful Bluestone River, they have a lodge, restaurant, and gift shop.  We had dinner, which provided a ticket to get back up the tram too.  Julia and I both got a burger topped with brisket, which we shared with Finn.  They were tasty.  But during dinner Finn got bored with his crayons and did what toddlers do, so we got take out boxes, paid the bill, and got back up on the tram.  With the sun starting to set, the views of the mountains from the top of the gorge were stupendous.

Leaving Pipestem, we saw a large pileated woodpecker as we followed the Greenbrier River to get to our AirBnB in Alderson.  Along the way we stopped briefly at the John Henry Historical Park near the Bend railroad tunnel.  I was hoping to see the statue of John Henry, but a closed gate forced me to settle for a photo of the sign.  We pulled into Alderson around 8:00pm and had no trouble getting to our rental.  Since Finn was still unable to navigate stairs confidently, we confined ourselves to the bottom floor even though we had the whole house.

After quick showers we hit the hay.

Day 2 June 24, 2021

Our goal was to head out around 8:00am, but it ended up closer to 9 when we shoved off.  An hour’s drive up a scenic local highway took us to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, where Finn received his Junior Ranger badge.  From the Visitor Center, a short boardwalk took us to a wonderful overlook of the New River Gorge Bridge.  A couple of dogs on the pathway thrilled Finn.

The first hike we did was called the Endless Wall Trail.  It was a 2 mile round trip jaunt through the forest that culminated at a rocky overlook called Diamond Point.  I carried Finn on the way out and he slept the whole time, missing beautiful trees and winding paths past rhododendrons.  The overlook was astonishing.  To the left were sheer granite rock faces dropping into the gorge, and below us was the rushing New River, about 1,000 feet down.  Julia and I took turns venturing out onto the point and snapping photos.  Then she carried Finn back.

We went just a little further down the road to reach the next trail.  It was the Headhouse Trail that leads to the abandoned Nuttallburg mining settlement.  We started off on the path, and were immediately greeted with a small kitten who was cute but looked a little rough.  Julia felt bad for the tiny guy, and Finn thought it was really neat.  The trail itself ended up being much steeper than we bargained for.  Julia was also getting nervous about the drop-off on the side, so we called it quits a portion of the way down and turned back.  Carrying Finn was also doing a number on my shoulders.  While we didn’t get to the settlement, we did pass by rocky crags and small caves, as well as more scenic beauty from the gorge.  Julia also found some natural coal lying on the path.

After the hike, we were hungry, so headed to Fayetteville at the northern end of the park to look for lunch.  The sandwich place we wanted was no longer there, so we went to a Pies and Pints pizza joint.  Julia got a Thai pizza, I got a chipotle chicken one, and Finn got pepperoni.  I also tried a local IPA that was good.

From lunch we went slightly south to our next trail: the Long Point Trail.  This one was about 2 and a half miles, but provided the best view of the bridge over the gorge.  The path was peaceful and wound through the forest, until the last 2/10 of a mile, when it descended steeply and narrowly through rhododendron tunnels.  Julia carried Finn, who had fallen asleep again.  We reached the overlook and it took our breath away.  The arduous parts of the hike were well worth it.  When we started to head back, we switched carrying Finn, but he woke up and became very cranky.  Eventually he settled down and we made it back without any trouble.

For the last stop of our day, we decided to check out Grandview.  We debated about whether to stop since we were tired and Finn was fed up with being constrained all day, but we’re glad we did it.  The overlook is right by the parking lot and provides a stunning view.  It captures a horseshoe bend in the river with an amazing panorama.

Exhausted and ready for bed, we headed back to Alderson, showered the hiking stink off, and went to bed.

Day 3 June 25, 2021

The final day of our trip began with an easy pack-up and check out.  We left shortly after 8:30am and followed the same scenic drive, US 60, north of the gorge to Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park.  The battlefield was the site of a Union victory in 1861 that ultimately led to the removal of Confederate troops from western Virginia, which allowed that part of the country to become its own state.  At the park we stopped by an overlook to see rapids shooting along the Gauley River, part of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.

Back on the road, we wound our way through poverty-stricken back-country towns on the hunt for I-64, which we took west.  The plan was to stop at the capitol building in Charleston, but Finn was a little cranky, so we skipped.

Our next destination was Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, WV, a little north of Huntington on the banks of the Ohio River.  It’s a funky eatery that specializes in “trashy” charm and deep-fried dogs.  We ate in an old school bus converted to a diner.  Julia had a Hawaiian dog with pineapple, while I went more traditional with a chili dog, albeit with some cajun spices.  Finn had a weiner with ketchup.

From there we followed US 52 along the Ohio River, eventually popping up to 32 and getting to 123 in Mt. Orab.  We passed the turnoff for West Union in Adams County, which was nostalgic for me.

We reached home right at 5:00pm and stopped by the house to unload some stuff before we picked up the dogs from Kat and Dylan’s.  On the way back we grabbed Skyline for our traditional “welcome home” meal.

Destination: Mammoth Cave National Park

Dates: December 19-20, 2020

Reason: Winter trip

Day 1 Dec 19th, 2020

I booked a tour of Mammoth Cave for the three of us for Sunday, December 20th, at 10:00am.  Since the cave is 4 hours away, we left on Saturday and stayed overnight nearby.  We picked 10:30am as our start time, but didn’t actually leave until 11:00am.  The Brent Spence bridge was still closed for repair, so we took I-471 to I-275 to connect back with I-71.

There was no trouble at all through Louisville as we switched to I-65 south.  Finn was a wonderful rider!  He slept well and even when he was awake he kept himself amused.

After Louisville we headed about 40 minutes south to Hodgenville, where we stopped at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park.  The visitor center was our first stop, and Finn got his Junior Ranger badge and we picked up some souvenirs.  Leaving the center, we climbed the steps to the neo-classical building that houses a replica of the one-room log cabin that Lincoln was born in at the site.  Along the way Finn found two leaves that fascinated him.  We entered the building to view the cabin, but discovered that, due to COVID protocols, the majority of the exhibit was closed.  Still, Finn had fun with his leaves.  We checked out the natural spring that drew the Lincoln family to settle this spot and let Finn stretch his legs a bit.

Back in the car, we hit a McDonald’s and went to swing by Mammoth Cave, just another 40 minutes or so further south.  On arrival we saw lots of deer and drove right by Dinosaur World.  Our first stop, of course, was the Visitor Center, where Finn got his Junior Ranger badge- his 9th!  Then we attempted to find a short trail, which took an embarrassing amount of time to find.  Since it was getting dark already, and starting to rain, we visited the Old Guide’s Cemetery and then made a plan to do a hike the next day after our cave tour.

Our AirBnB was in Smiths Grove, just a 20 minute drive from the park.  We found the small farmhouse without too much trouble, despite the darkness.  We unpacked, then went and picked up Taco Bell for dinner.  As we ate and turned in for the night we watched the Grinch.  Finn took a while to fall asleep.  The cabin itself was very quaint, one room, with a gas heater.  The heater freaked Julia out.  Perhaps the coolest thing about the place though was that it was situated on a working farm, with cows and horses.  We could hear a lot of mooing from the barn next to our cabin, which scared Finn a little bit.

Today marked the first time Finn visited Kentucky, despite it being the next closest state to us.  It only took us 16 months.

Day 2 Dec 20th, 2020

Our tour of the cave was at 10:00am, which meant that check-in was required at 9:30am.  We left the cabin at 8:30am to stop and grab breakfast at a gas station.  While I was checking out of the cabin, Julia took Finn around the farm to see the cows up close.  He liked them, except when they mooed.

We arrived at the Visitor Center plenty early and picked up some souvenirs.  Then, at 10:00am, we met up with our Mammoth Passage tour group, led by rangers Teagan and Chris.  Finn rode on Julia’s chest and seemed fascinated as we entered the main portion of the cave.  However, as our group paused so ranger Teagan could wow us with the size of the rotunda and give us some history of the cave, Finn decided it was time to throw a little fit.  Julia had to step away for a few moments.

The highlight of the tour was at the rotunda when the rangers turned off all the lights to show us absolute darkness.  The rest of the tour was short, showing off the large passageways that gave the cave its name.  Finn was relatively restless so we let him walk around a bit in the cave.

Back on the surface we climbed a hill and went on the Mammoth Dome Sinkhole trail.  It wound down a hillside and led to a pretty cool sinkhole.  Finn slept on the way down, but got really cold, so we woke him up and flipped him around.  He got to carry a leaf, so he was satisfied.  Julia managed to find a small dead snake that grossed her out.

After the hike we loaded up and headed home.  Just before getting on I-65 north, right by Dinosaur World, a bald eagle soared from a field next to our car.  It was quite a sight!

There was no real trouble getting back.  We hit a little traffic on the Watterson Loop around Louisville, stopped at a Burger King in Verona, then got jammed up near Florence since I-75/71 north was closed at the bridge.  Due to this, we took I-275 east all the way from Kentucky to Loveland and got home before 6:00pm.

Destination: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Dates: November 14-15, 2020

Reason: Weekend escape

Day 1 Nov 14th, 2020

Since Cuyahoga Valley National Park is so close, we figured it was time to take Finn.  My parents had also never been so we invited them along.  After some brief planning, we agreed to meet up at the Visitor Center around 11:00am.  Finn fell asleep on the way up and rode like a champ.  We stopped for gas in Grove City and hit a rest area near Mansfield.

In a scenario that was foreign to us, we arrived at the Visitor Center before my parents.  While we waited for them we toured the Center and picked up Finn’s Junior Ranger materials.  My parents joined us and we headed over to Brandywine Falls.

The falls were fuller than the last time we were there.  Also, the lower observation deck was open again.  We viewed the falls from above and below, then decided it was time for lunch.

After some “creative detouring” we ate at a Culver’s in Macedonia.  We wanted to see the Tinker’s Gorge overlook and managed to locate it without too much trouble.  Finn thought the view was neat.  The valley was interesting without leaves, but we’d love to see it again in the summer and fall.

We headed back to the Visitor Center to collect Finn’s Junior Ranger badge.  Julia and I wanted to do the Ledges trail, but had to leave Finn behind because of the difficulty.  My parents took him to the Beaver Marsh to look for wildlife.

At the Ledges trail, Julia and I saw a wedding party getting their photos done.  What a wonderful place for it!  The trail wound through the woods and then through deep bedrock chasms.  We went above, alongside, and through the rocks, squeezing through narrow passages and scrambling over boulders.  We even saw some rock carvings that date to the 1900’s.  It was easily the most impressive part of our day.

After our hike we reunited with my parents at the Visitor Center.  They told us all about the fun Finn had at the marsh.  He spotted a blue heron.  We said our goodbyes and parted ways with my folks.  Finn slept the whole way as we drove south to Dublin to stay with Julia’s sister Diana.

We arrived at Diana’s around 7:30pm and ordered dinner.  The delivery driver made a mistake with our food and had to run back.  Finally we ate after he returned.  I was so tired that I fell asleep while Julia and Diana played with Finn after dinner.

Day 2 Nov 15th, 2020

Julia had bought tickets and made reservations for the Columbus Zoo for 10:30am, so we got on the road after a breakfast of biscuits and bacon.  I hadn’t been to the zoo since I was a kid, and Julia had never been.  Finn had never been to a zoo at all.

The forecast called for scattered showers and falling temperatures throughout the day, which ended up being perfect.  The zoo was empty, but all the animals were out and about.

We saw the new sea lion exhibit first.  Finn loved watching them swim over and around him in the walk-through tunnel.  Next, Diana and I petted stingrays, while Julia passed.  Finn wanted to touch, but was too young.

Afterward, we made our way around to everything.  Highlights included: Stumpy the manatee, a 7 month old gorilla, a bull elephant with his full manhood on display, a roaring Siberian tiger, Mexican gray wolves that looked so much like domestic dogs, a one year old polar bear nursing from his mother, and two sleeping grizzlies that gave us a great idea of their massive size.

The final animal we saw was Finn’s favorite.  It was a very playful beaver that kept swimming up to the glass and darting away.  Finn had so much fun watching it!

That ended our zoo excursion.  We returned to Diana’s and packed up the car.  After saying goodbye we got gas and had an uneventful ride home.  Finn watched videos.  We got home at 7:15pm.

Destination: Indiana Dunes NP

Dates: Sept 3-4, 2020

Reason: COVID getaway

Day 1 September 3, 2020

Our original vacation plans had to be scrapped due to the COVID pandemic.  Fortunately, Julia and I were able to find a couple of days to get away, and she was very keen on seeing Indiana Dunes.  I hadn’t been there in over 30 years and was too small then to remember them anyway.  So it was decided and our lodging was booked.

We packed the car and left the house at 8:30am.  Rain fell until we were just west of the Indiana border.  It was Finn’s first visit to Indiana.  I-74 had intermittent construction all the way to Indianapolis, then I-465 and I-65 continued the trend.  Finn was a wonderful traveler, thanks to an ingenious iPad rig Julia made.  He snoozed a bit and watched his favorite video: dancing fruit.

Numerous windmills covered the fields up near Valparaiso, where we stopped to have our picnic lunch at a Pilot truck stop.  After that quick stop we found the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center at 1:40pm.  We got Finn’s passport stamp and picked up his Junior Ranger workbook.  Then we headed for our first hike.

Mt. Baldy was our destination.  My parents have a tale about when they brought us here: they carried my sister and I up the backside of the dune, only to discover a much easier, actual trail on the other side.  Julia and I took the prescribed trail, not eager to make the same mistake.  The summit was closed due to erosion, but the path to the beach was open.  All was good until we crested and had to trek down the steep backside to the beach.  However, the view of Lake Michigan was spectacular.

Once we reached the beach we were shocked at how windy it was.  Both of us had our hats blown off and we had to chase them down the sand and into the water.  The water was a pleasant temperature, but the sand was coarse and rocky, so we kept Finn on my back.  Overall our experience on the beach was nice, marred only by the massive cooling tower from a power plant to the east and by the arduous climb back up Mt. Baldy.  Our calves and thighs were screaming when we reached the top again.

Before checking into our AirBnB, we made 2 more stops.  The first was to look for the Century of Progress homes from the 1933 World’s Fair in Beverly Shores.  The houses are privately owned, but sit on National Park land.  I plugged in the address for a nearby parking lot, Dunbar Beach.  Unfortunately, in typical fashion, I parked us at the Lake View lot.  Julia astutely noted that she thought we were in the wrong place, but I didn’t listen.  After going the wrong way for a bit, we went the way Julia suggested and promptly found the houses right away.

They looked neat, but since they are privately owned you can’t tour them.  We had to make due with driving by.  After oohing and ahhing from the car we drove another minute to reach the Dune Ridge trail.  The hike was refreshing, moderate, and wound through lots of different environments.  We saw dunes, forests, marshes, fern gullies, and sweeping viewpoints.  Julia carried Finn the whole time; he was fascinated with everything he saw.  Between this trail and Mt. Baldy, we had walked on so much loose sand that our calves and thighs were aching.

By this point we were all hungry and Finn was cranky, so we went to find our lodging.  We had booked our night for a stay in a travel trailer situated on someone’s property.  It was only a block away from the park so we got there in no time.  We settled in; the trailer had two beds, but we only used one.  The bathroom was cramped.  Our objective in selecting the trailer was to get a taste for what life would be like in one.  We certainly got that.

Since we were hungry we wanted to try something local.  Our host suggested a barbecue place called Wagner’s, just a few minutes drive.  When we arrived we found out that only 21+ could enter, so we ordered our food and waited in the car for it.  While we waited, Finn got his first taste of soda (Pepsi) and he instantly fell in love.  When we got back to the trailer we ate our pork sandwiches, and Finn began his reign of terror.  He refused to settle down for bed, and when he finally did, he still woke several times over the course of the night.

Day 2 September 4th, 2020

Finn had us up starting at 4:30am.  Our plan was to get his Junior Ranger badge at the Visitor Center at 9am when they opened, so we had some time to kill.  Once it was light out, we packed up the Jeep and let our host know that we were leaving.  After a wrong turn or two (which turned a 3 minute drive into a 12 minute one), we found the parking lot for the Bailly Homestead trails.  

The Bailly Homestead is a collection of buildings constructed by fur trader Joseph Bailly for his family and business in the 1830’s.  We hiked a short trail to reach the clearing of the stead, meeting some unleashed dogs and their owners on the way.  Finn loved the dogs.  He was also very sleepy on this walk.  After touring the grounds we headed back to the car and over to the Visitor Center.

Julia “helped” Finn fill out his Junior Ranger booklet the night before, so when we got to the ranger station he was ready.  Ranger Brittney swore him in and he got his official badge from his first National Park!  That item checked off, we headed for our next and final Indiana Dunes trail.

Continuing with the theme of this trip, our GPS dumped us into the wrong spot for the Dunes Succession Trail.  We ended up waiting about 10 minutes for a train to pass, only to find ourselves in a residential neighborhood.  I used a physical map to navigate and got us over to the parking lot for the trail.

This turned out to be our favorite hike.  The weather was absolutely perfect, the trail was challenging yet leisurely, and took us through all kinds of environments; up a sandy dune, into a forest, over a marsh, and finally onto a Lake Michigan beach.  The sky was so clear we had a delightful view of the Chicago skyline across the water.

After the hike we left the Dunes and headed west to Pullman National Monument.  Finn slept the 40 minutes it took to get there and missed both beautiful Gary, Indiana and his first time entering Illinois.  True to form, I took a wrong turn and it took us 15 extra minutes to get to Pullman.

Once there we toured the Visitor Center and talked to the ranger staff.  Finn got another Junior Ranger badge, then we drove around the site and checked out the architecture of the Hotel Florence, administrative building, and the residences where the Pullman employees lived.  We didn’t stay very long, and I really regret not getting any pictures of the site or our family there.

We stopped at a McDonald’s before getting on the highway to head home.  Once on, we hit traffic heading out of Chicago.  Finn cried himself to sleep and we got loose of cars once we hit I-65 south.  Julia took a nap as well.  We stopped for gas in Lebanon, just north of Indianapolis, and switched driving.  Finn woke up and screamed all the way from the Indiana-Ohio border until we hit I-71.  After the customary stop at Skyline, we rolled into our garage at 8:30pm.

Destination: The Gottschalk’s (Pittsburgh, PA)

Dates: Feb 15-17, 2020

Reason: Baby playdate

Day 1 February 15th, 2020

A new traveler joined the party!  Our son, Thorfinn (Finn) was born August 28, 2019.  This was his first big road trip.

We decided it was time for Finn to meet Julia’s friend Renee and her son, Levi, in person.  So we packed up and left early for Pittsburgh.  Being nearly 6 months old, Finn did really well in the car.  A little east of Zanesville he woke up and cried for about an hour.  To soothe him we made a quick stop at a grocery store and changed his diaper.

Back on the road, we made our way to Pittsburgh with no trouble at all.  Finn made his first visit to West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  We made sure to hit a rest stop in WV to grab some pictures.

We got to the Gottschalk’s in the mid-afternoon.  Renee’s parents were visiting from Erie, so the welcome was very warm.  Finn met Levi and they laid on the floor together.  Renee’s parents left and she made a nice meal of pork chops.  We played Mario Party until it was time to go to bed.  Finn was having none of the travel bassinet and ended up in bed with us.

Day 2 February 16th, 2020

Renee made a breakfast of sausage and eggs.  We hung around the house in the morning, then went to a Frisch’s-like restaurant called Eat-n-Park for lunch on the way to the Carnegie Museum.  I had been there before, by myself, but it was a first for Julia and Finn.  She and I took turns wearing him on our chests.

The museum was fascinating.  We wandered past dinosaurs and modern animals, through the history of humans, and into the gem gallery.  They had a special exhibit of National Geographic photography; very impressive.

For dinner we ordered Thai food and ate at Renee’s.  Afterwards we watched tv and went to bed.

Day 3 February 17th, 2020

We had leftovers for breakfast and then spent the morning doing a photoshoot of the boys.  After our goodbyes, we hit the road around noon.  On the way back we made a stop at Julia’s sister’s (Diana) house in Columbus, had dinner with her, and made it home around 9:00pm.  Finn cried A LOT on the way back.  He was very sad from Columbus until we finally pulled into our driveway.

Destination: Gatlinburg, TN

Dates: June 7-9, 2019

Reason: “Babymoon”

Day 1 June 7th, 2019

Since Julia was 6 months pregnant, and I needed to save up all my vacation days for when the baby came, we decided to take a short trip while she was still mobile.  We narrowed the trip down to either Shenandoah or Gatlinburg, and the Smokys won out.

Last night we dropped the dogs off to stay with Kat and Dylan and their two pugs, Piper and Roscoe.  Based on the pictures they sent us, it looked like they were having a blast!  As for us, we got on the road about 6:15am in the morning.  I drove most of the way, and Julia had a nice nap near Lexington.  There wasn’t anything particularly notable on the drive down.  We arrived in Pigeon Forge right around noon.

Driving down the main drag, we were struck by the tackiness and chintz of the town.  It’s astonishing.  Cruising through, we took the bypass to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The forecast called for thunderstorms all day, but fortunately we experienced only occasional rain with overcast skies most of the afternoon.

Our first stop was the Sugarlands Visitor Center where we picked up a couple souvenirs and our map.  Then we set off on the Cades Cove loop road.  The drive was particularly scenic and stunning.  Julia kept commenting how beautiful it was, motoring next to a creek, surrounded by forests and low mountains.

Of course, our main objective today was to see a bear.  Kat and Dylan had been in the park a week prior and saw one, but I never had seen one in the park, and Julia had never seen one in the wild at all.  Shortly after starting on the loop, we were met with standstill traffic.  As we crawled along, our hopes grew.  At last, we pulled off and were rewarded with spotting three cubs high in a tree, snoozing on a branch.  Jackpot!

We continued on and eventually came to another jam, and two more cubs up a tree.  This time, however, we got a glimpse of mama bear in the field adjacent.  We couldn’t stop, though, so we settled for photos from the car.  After the bears, we stopped at the Primitive Baptist church, then the Methodist church.  Next stop was the Cable Mill Visitor Center in Cades Cove.  We popped inside and then toured the mill and outbuildings, including the original log cabin on the side.  The mill still grinds corn and wheat, using the same wheel since the 1880’s.

I forgot to mention the young coyote we saw just as we got on the loop road.  He was sauntering on the side of the road, casual as can be.

Once we finished at the mill we headed back out on the loop road and left the park the way we came in.  We had a short stop at the Sinks, but the heavy rain finally caught up to us and we hurried out.

A quick trip through downtown Gatlinburg got us to our AirBnB, a clean, small cabin near Roaring Fork.  It was storming when we arrived, about 5:00pm, so we took a nap.

About 8:00pm, we headed to the town for dinner.  We ate seafood at a place called Crawdaddy’s, then went through Ripley’s Museum.  Julia went as a kid and had fond memories; she was excited to do it again.  She wasn’t disappointed!

Post-Ripley’s we returned to our cabin and got some sleep.

Day 2 June 8th, 2019

We started off the day with a trip to Cataloochee, back in the National Park.  It took about an hour to get to the entrance, then we wound our way in on a steep, windy, gravel road with sharp drop-offs and no guardrails.  Julia was the perfect passenger and handled it calmly.  I very much enjoyed the drive up and down the mountain.

In Cataloochee, we kept our eyes on the meadows for elk, but had no luck.  On the return trip we stopped at an old schoolhouse, built in 1903.  We saw some turkeys in a field, and left the way we came in.  This time, Julia captured the crazy trek on camera.

Heading to the southern entrance of the park, we passed Santa’s Land and the tourist district of Cherokee, North Carolina.  Someday we’ll have to come back.

Our first stop back in the park was at Mingus Mill, where the rainy weather caught up to us.  An old-time miller spoke with us and we had a pleasant visit.  The next stop was Clingman’s Dome.  The rain was really coming down now, and with Julia being pregnant our climb was slow but steady.  The temperature was noticeably cooler, but we were also in the clouds and visibility off the mountain was negligible.  We reached the top and were whipped by the wind and pelted with ice and snow.  With no view to enjoy, we retreated quickly back down to the car.

Coming down out of the mountains on Newfound Gap road, we could see where the wildfires of a few years prior scarred the forest.  The trip was quick, and we were back in Gatlinburg about 4:00pm.  The first order of business was to change into dry clothes, followed by a short nap.

After waking up we showered and went to the main strip.  We had burgers at Tom & Earl’s Back Alley Grill, then walked them off while we popped into shops.  We bought my dad some socks for Father’s Day and Julia got some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and souvenirs from the Old Smoky distillery.  Since the shops all closed up at 10:00pm, and the rain began again, we called it a night.  Just before bed Julia re-injured her back a little.

Day 3 June 9th, 2019

Julia’s back was much better in the morning.  We packed up our stuff and checked out of the cabin.  First stop was Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin for breakfast, right next to where we stayed.  I had French toast and Julia had blueberry banana pancakes.  The restaurant was situated adjacent to the “world famous” Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, so we made the trip across the parking lot to it.

The museum contains over 20,000 examples of shakers, all started and collected by the curator’s mom.  At $3 a head, it was well worth it.  Julia’s favorites were all pig themed; mine were the international ones.

After leaving the museum we decided on one more dip into the park, so we drove the Roaring Fork Motor Trail.  It gave impressive views of the dense, old-growth forest, and occasional scenic overlooks too.  We stopped at one cabin, which I explored on my own, since Julia’s feet were swollen and hurting.  Exiting the Motor Trail, we hit a restroom then turned toward home.

Our only true stop on the way back was at the very familiar Berea Arts and Crafts center.  Julia took over driving and brought us all the way back home.  We picked up the dogs from Kat and Dylan’s, picked up our customary Skyline, and ended our trip.

Destination: St Louis, Missouri

Dates: April 27-28, 2019

Reason: Celebrate Josh’s birthday

Day 1 April 27, 2019

Julia and I left the house at 4:00am.  The first stop was to pick up Josh, who had already drunk 2 cups of coffee.  Next we got our friend Sabrina and hit the open road.  Josh was extremely excited, as St Louis is where he was born and grew up, and we were going to celebrate his birthday.  Sabrina had never been before.

The trip there was uneventful.  We cruised to Indianapolis, the straight down to St Louis.  We saw the Arch on our approach and got to our hotel around 10:30am.  It was directly adjacent to the baseball stadium, a nice Hilton.  They let us check in early and we met up with Dylan and Kat, who had arrived the night before.  They took an extra day since Kat’s pregnancy was giving her a bit of trouble.

Once everyone was situated, we got lunch at an Imo’s pizza connected to the hotel.  They specialize in St Louis-style pies, which are on a cracker-like crust and topped with a ‘special’ blend of processed cheeses.  Josh was overjoyed, especially because Imo’s was supposedly among the best, but everyone else was less than enthused.

Next, we walked over to Busch Stadium to watch the Reds versus the Cardinals.  We had exquisite seats facing the Arch, and those of us who weren’t pregnant got to drinking.  Sadly, the Reds lost 6 to 3.  We did put a message up on the scoreboard for Josh’s birthday though.  After the game we went back to the hotel to rest and change clothes.  We met for dinner at 5:00pm in the lobby.

Josh picked out a restaurant called Salt & Smoke, in the Delmar Loop district (like our own OTR).  We took an Uber.  The place was known for St Louis staples like barbecue and toasted raviolis.  We ate, drank, then went across the street to Blueberry Hill, a bar and music venue that Chuck Berry used to frequent.  We played darts (I had a miraculous shot to close out a 301) and had pitchers of beer.  The place itself was kitschy and eclectic, with the walls covered in photos of the owner posing with celebrities.

We took a terrible Uber back to the hotel.  Julia and Kat retired, and the rest of us went to the rooftop bar.  We watched a little bit of a Blues hockey game and called it a night.

Day 2 April 28, 2019

We met in the lobby at 9:00am to check out and grab some Starbucks.  We had all agreed to go to the zoo, which is free yet well-kept.  We got there, entered, and immediately encountered sea lions.  They were playful, and a unique underwater tunnel allowed for great views.  We saw orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas, polar bears, penguins, giraffes, and elephants.  Their exhibits were viewer-friendly and got us close to the animals.

At noon we bid adieu to Kat and Dylan and got on the road.  After a lunch stop at McDonald’s, we returned to Cincinnati around 6:00pm, dropped Sabrina and Josh off, and went home.

Destination: Washington D.C.

Dates: March 2-5, 2019

Reason: Celebrate pregnancies

Day 1 March 2, 2019

Julia and I left the house around 5:15am and headed east.  I took the first leg since she had just recently completed two weeks of travel for work.  She snoozed and I cruised.  The GPS took us a different route than usual so we didn’t have the normal markers that we see when we visit the Muellers.

Somewhere in Maryland we switched driving and I took a nap.  I woke up to us in standstill traffic, which we discovered was caused by a semi truck that careened off the road.  It only delayed us about 30 minutes.  We switched again and I took us into DC while she napped.

We arrived in Arlington with no other trouble.  We spotted the visible landmarks on the National Mall and exited the highway next to the Pentagon.  By 2:00pm we were in the Mueller’s apartment.

The purpose of our trip was to celebrate Erin and Julia’s pregnancies.  Erin was due in July and Julia was due in September, so we figured this would be our last opportunity to party it up without little ones along.  For this purpose I brought a bottle of bourbon for Mueller and I, with which he created wonderful Old Fashioneds using a homemade orange syrup.

After catching up and shooting the breeze we walked to a nearby tapas shop for happy hour.  The food was very good and filling.  We headed back and watched a little tv.  Shortly after, the ladies went to bed but Mueller and I stayed up to watch FC Cincinnati’s first professional Major League game, a 4-1 loss to Seattle.  We talked philosophy and our impending fatherhood and went to bed around 1:30am.

Day 2 March 3, 2019

Having had a little bit too much to drink the night before, I needed to rest up and take it easy.  The four of us watched tv and napped well into the afternoon.  We played a board game and then Mueller made a wonderful paella with noodles instead of rice.  After dinner we took our places on the couch and talked.  I looked at the weather forecast and made the call that we would not be able to go to Shenandoah National Park on Monday due to park road closures.  Julia and I decided we could go to Gettysburg instead and stay over in Pittsburgh.  She texted her best friend Renee to see if we could stay with her, and we were immediately accepted.  As it turned out, Renee had just that day discovered that she was pregnant as well!

Julia was over the moon and our plans were decided.  We went to bed around 10:30am.

Day 3 March 4, 2019

We woke up at quarter to 8 and got ready to leave.  We said our sad goodbyes to the Muellers and drove the 3 or so miles to Arlington National Cemetery.  Julia had never been.  Our trip was short but impactful.  The Robert E Lee house was closed for renovation so we missed that.  However, we did get to see the Changing of the Guard and wreath ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  After that we visited JFK and Taft’s gravesites.  In her pregnant condition, Julia was weary so we left after that.  The next time we visit we’ll definitely see more.

Speaking of that, I am tremendously excited by the thought that someday soon Julia and I will be able to travel and experience the world with our child!  When we return to DC we’ll be bringing our little one, and I can’t wait to see their wonder and awe at the monuments!

Gettysburg was pounded with 8 inches of snow, so we decided just to go to Pittsburgh.  We stopped to pick up our traditional crab-seasoned potato chips and zipped across Pennsylvania.  We arrived in Pittsburgh a little too early for Renee, at 3:30pm, so we stopped at Primanti Bros for a sandwich.

When we got to Renee’s we caught up for a while.  Her husband Steve was out of town for work, so she was super happy that we could keep her company.  We went near downtown to have pho for dinner, then talked a bit more at her house before heading to bed.

Day 4 March 5, 2019

Renee made us eggs in the morning and we left at 9:45am.  The highways are inexplicably stupid in Pittsburgh, so we got a little turned around.  At least we were able to shake our fists at the Steelers stadium.

Not really much to report on the trip back.  We encountered some trees covered in ice from condensed fog, which is truly marvelous.  We got home around 3:00pm and picked up Skyline.  My parents met us at the house with the dogs and chatted a while.

While we were very bummed to miss Shenandoah and Gettysburg, we had a relaxing time.  The next time we go to DC we should be toting along a kiddo!  Can’t wait!

Destination: Adirondacks, New York

Dates: Sept 28- Oct 1, 2018

Reason: Celebrate Kyle’s completion of the 46 peaks

Day 1 September 28, 2018

Our friend Josh arrived at our house to carpool with us at 5:00am.  We had dropped the dogs off at my parents the night before, so we were ready to roll.  There were no issues on the road until we hit a bit of rush hour in Columbus.  Smooth sailing up to Cleveland, then we cut across to Erie, PA.  We were all surprised to see Lake Erie suddenly.  The whole drive we played car games, keeping each other company.

After stopping for gas near Erie, we wound our way up into western New York.  This was Julia’s first time going through this part of the country.  Toll roads began in New York and plagued us as we hit Buffalo and turned east toward Rochester.  From there we went nearly all the way to Albany, then turned north.  Julia was anticipating a phone call from a prospective employer, but our service cut in and out as we entered the mountains.  Due to this, I ended up driving about 10 ½ hours out of 12.  We finally got service when we were right near Keene (our final destination), so we stopped so Julia could make a call.  Josh and I found a trail and followed it to a lake.  Very pretty.

Next we headed past Keene to meet Meagan, Danny, and Lauren at Lake Placid Brewery.  They had dropped Kyle and his friend Drew off in the morning so they could begin their mountain climbing.  On the way to the brewery we passed the Olympic center and saw the ski jump facility.  So tall!

At the brewery we ate dinner, had beer, and Josh, Dan, and I played darts.  Dan won.  We followed Meagan to the cabin after, climbed the very large hill to arrive, and got there about 8:30pm.

Kyle’s mom, grandma, and sisters were already at the cabin.  We chit-chatted a bit and went out on the driveway to check out the stars.  They were amazing.  Due to the lack of light Julia grabbed some pics of the Milky Way.

Josh built a campfire and we sat around for a while.  In the distance we heard a pack of coyotes and Julia got scared.  Around 11:00pm we went to bed.

Day 2 September 29, 2018

Waking up at 8:00am, we pretty much headed out the door immediately.  The crew was just Meagan, Josh, Dan, Lauren, Julia, and I.  Our plan was to get on a trail at 9:30am, hike 4.5 miles to a dam, and meet Kyle and Drew.  On the road, our first stop was the Noon Mark Diner in Keene for breakfast.  It’s a cute little establishment, very conventional.

We had a lot of trouble finding a parking spot.  As it ended up we parked near the trailhead.  The hike started by going past a country club.  Mountains ringed the golf course and it was picturesque.  On the trail, we walked through the woods on a wide track.  The way to the dam was all uphill, so we moved slowly and ran short of breath.  A small stream tumbled aside the trail, so we were never short on scenery.

As we made our way, Kyle called us on the walkie-talkie.  Unfortunately, he and Drew picked up some food poisoning, so they were delayed and couldn’t finish their hike until around 8:00pm.  We decided to continue anyway and reached the dam.  It was really neat.  A bridge carried us across and we went ahead to Rainbow Falls.  The path to the falls took us over slippery rocks, but we made it without too much trouble.  The falls themselves came over a cliff face and dropped vertically for probably 50 or 60 feet.  We got lots of pictures and climbed around.

Heading back the way we came, Meagan told us about another trail nearby called Indian Head Cliff.  We veered off to take it and met hikers coming down that warned us about mud.  They were right.  The path was arduous.  We had a 600 foot elevation climb along rocks, mud tracks, fallen trees, and mossy trails.  The destination was worth it though.  We had an unbelievable view from the peak, overlooking the Ausable Lakes, as well as the dam we visited earlier.  We stayed at the top for a while.

The way back down was quicker but still tough.  By the time we reached the bottom again our feet ached, our shoes were muddy, but we were having a good time.  The walk back to the car, about 4 miles, was full of pain.  The downhill climb was easier, but we had to be more cautious, and moved more slowly.  By the time we got the car it was much warmer than it had been at the top of the cliff too.

At the car we were greeted with a parking ticket.  Apparently we missed a no-parking sign and had to pay the price.  Thanks, New York.  We went back to the cabin and had some lunch.  The kids put a movie on, the adults had beer, and we waited while listening for Kyle and Drew on the radio.  In the meantime, Meagan, Julia, and I drove to a nearby town for dinner groceries.  The store was tiny and attached to a gas station.  I ate salt and vinegar chips on the way back.

Returning home, we started cooking dinner while Meagan and Kyle’s mom went to pick up Kyle and Drew.  They came back shortly after with the intrepid hikers.  It turned out Drew was the one who got the food poisoning, which is why they were ultimately delayed.  We all ate dinner while Kyle and Drew told us about their adventure.  Josh made another campfire afterward and we sat around for a bit before bed.  Julia went to sleep extra early and Josh burned his finger on a log in the fire.

Day 3 September 30, 2018

Kyle and Drew hit their trail at 4:30am to begin the ascent for his final 2 peaks.  We all slept in until about 9:30am and Kyle’s mom made a wonderful breakfast of french toast, bacon, and goetta.  At 10:30am we caravanned out to meet the guys at the summit of Whiteface Mountain.  The peak is driveable, so luckily we didn’t have too much climbing.

On the way up the mountain Kyle’s mom’s car overheated, so we left it.  This meant Kyle’s nephew Gordon rode with us.  No trouble.  We got to the top (after fudging the little guy’s age to avoid an exorbitant toll) and poked around inside the castle built near the summit.  Normally you can take an elevator all the way to the peak, but the power was out, so we had to hike.  Due to this, Kyle’s grandma, mom, and sister elected to wait at the bottom.

The climb to the summit was more difficult than expected.  The path was steep, rocky, slippery, and frigid.  Temperature at the top was around 30 degrees.  Defeating the climb, we met Kyle and Drew at the top.  We all congratulated him and snapped pictures.  The views were magnificent.  We saw all the Olympic venues around Lake Placid, distant Lake Champlain and Vermont, and even peaks in Quebec.  Supposedly on a clear day you can see the Montreal skyline.

Afterward, Kyle told us he still had to go back down the mountain for it to be official.  Both Kyle’s niece and nephew rode back to the cabin with us.  Josh led us in playing fun games.  Back at the cabin we continued to play games while checking football scores intermittently on our bad wi-fi.  After a while Meagan and Kyle’s mom went to retrieve him and when they returned we finally had our champagne toast since he was now officially a 46er!

That evening we all went to dinner in Lake Placid.  We ate at a restaurant called the Pickled Pig, located next to the ice skating and speed skating venues.  Julia, Josh, Kyle’s niece, and I went over to a small gift shop first.  It was a neat little place, vaguely Hobbit-themed, called There and Back Again.  Julia got a sticker for the Jeep.  At dinner, Josh got a burger called the Carnivore, which was way too large.

Afterward the younger crew all went to a brewery called Big Slide.  We had one celebratory beer and then went back to the cabin.  Josh passed out because he was so full.  The rest of us had beer, talked, and then packed up.  Everyone was super tired and sleep came easy.

Day 4 October 1, 2018

Josh, Julia, and I departed the cabin at 5:00am promptly.  Driving through the Adirondacks in the pitch dark was quite a challenge, especially with the fog and drizzle we encountered.  Josh and Julia caught some sleep.  Around 8:30am, after morning light was well established, we stopped for a potty break and Julia took over driving.  We switched off and on through the rest of New York and Pennsylvania.  Unfortunately the rain stayed on us all the way to the Pennsylvania-Ohio border where we stopped for lunch at a McDonald’s.  Josh accidentally ordered way too many chicken tenders.  Earlier, while I was driving, I saw a lot of deer and a coyote standing in a farm field.

Julia took over driving again outside of Akron and got us all the way home.  We hit a little rush hour traffic in Columbus, then almost an hour standstill delay south of Grove City due to a truck fire.  Finally we got free and cruised back to Morrow.  Our drive back was much quieter, probably because we were all so tired.

Josh retrieved his car from our house and departed.  Just a bit later my parents brought the dogs over and we reunited and told them stories of our trip.  We started laundry and went to bed.