USA Holiday 2000 by Heather Collins

USA and Canada - Washington D.C., Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,  New York State and Ontario.

(Click here for text only version)

Day 1: Tuesday 15th August

Home to Washington DC

"Cheerful Taxi's" of Odiham picked us up at home at 8.30am and we arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3 just before 10am. The check-in hall was overflowing and we had to queue outside the terminal for over half an hour. Fortunately, the weather was warm and sunny! We were finally checked in and through security at 11.30am. I had promised to send Kathryn a "gross" postcard from the airport and just had time to select one, address it and drop it in the mail box before going through to the departure lounge and then straight on to the plane. The plane took off at 12.15 after a short wait on the runway. The United service was excellent - good food, plenty to drink etc. I watched "The World is Not Enough" on the seat back video screen and admired the view through the window as we flew over the Scottish coast. Visibility was good, just a few fluffy clouds and the sparkling sea below. As the plane approached the northeastern coast of Canada, icebergs were visible floating in the clear blue sea. I half watched and half dozed through another movie, "Where The Heart Is". An afternoon snack was served before arrival at Washington's Dulles Airport at 8.15pm, UK time. A flight time of 8 hours. We were quickly off the plane and through immigration, reclaimed our baggage and boarded the Blue Super Shuttle mini bus for a ride into the city. We finally reached the Best Western, Downtown Capitol Hill Hotel at 10.30pm UK time. It had taken over 2 hours to get into the city after landing! The hotel room was fine and we were glad the air conditioning was switched on as the weather was hot, 88f, and very humid. We phoned Kathryn at home to say we had arrived and to check she was OK. It was the first time we had left her  "home alone" for more than a couple of days and I was quite anxious. She was absolutely fine, of course! After freshening up, we went for a walkabout. The hotel was well placed being within easy walking distance to the Capitol Building and the Mall. First impressions of Washington were very favourable. Everywhere was clean and beautifully kept. The Capitol Building gleamed bright white in the afternoon sun and Central Station was impressive in size, cleanliness and grandeur. We had a bowl of Clam Chowder and Nachos at one of the restaurants at Central Station before making our way back to the hotel just after 8pm local time - 1am UK time.


Day 2: Wednesday 16th August

Washington DC

After a good nights sleep and a light breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we stepped out into a decidedly hot and humid city at 9am. We walked to the Metro at Judiciary Square passing through the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial - a neatly kept, tree lined square with a lion and cubs sculpture in each corner. The Metro station was spotlessly clean, no litter or graffiti. The trains were efficient and easy to use and we were soon at Arlington Cemetery Station .We wandered through rows of plain white tombstones of dead soldiers and more elaborate marble tombs, and arrived eventually at the JFK memorial and Eternal Flame. Part of his inaugural  speech was carved into a wall nearby including "Ask not what my country can do for me but what I can do for my country". Senator Robert Kennedy was buried nearby and there was a simple white cross marking the spot. We watched the changing of the guard at the "Tomb of the Unknowns". A soldier from the Third US Infantry maintains the round the clock vigil. The guard is changed every half an hour in the summer and every hour in the winter months. It was a very dignified and sombre ceremony. It was very hot by 10.30am so we sat on cool marble benches in the Amphitheatre behind the "Tomb of the Unknowns". At 10.40am one of the soldiers gave a short talk about their duties and how they prepared their impeccable uniform and gun, very interesting. We left the cemetery and walked over Arlington Bridge, crossing the Potomac River, towards the Lincoln Memorial. The bridge was quiet, only a few other pedestrians, but dozens of sweating joggers passed by. We inspected the statue of Lincoln seated in a mock Greek Temple with 36 columns to represent the 36 States in Lincolns Union. Then on to the White House via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A very stark place consisting of a V shaped wall inscribed with the names of the dead and missing from the Vietnam War. The White House seemed smaller in real life. Maybe it was just that the surrounding buildings were so massive. We walked all round the perimeter fence and inspected it from all angles. The garden was crawling with security men, probably hiding in the trees, too! The visitor centre closed at noon and it was past that time so we found a café nearby, The Exchange, and ate an excellent lunch of toasted sandwiches and a Caesar Salad Wrap. The afternoon was spent at the National Air and Space Museum. It was packed with full size planes and spacecraft and impressive and informative static displays. Some were interactive and I was pushing the children out of the way to have a go! There were displays from WW1 andWW2 as well as a large area devoted to Space Travel. David and I went round separately and every now and then would meet up and say "Did you see?....." and send each other off to see yet more exciting things. We returned to the hotel about 6pm and collected a voice message from Kathryn, left one for her and then relaxed for a while before showering and going out in search of dinner. We went to Chinatown, which was a short walk away, and had a cheap but mediocre meal. I watched a movie on TV, " Cool Runnings", which I really enjoyed, after returning to the hotel. David fell asleep within a couple of minutes and snored gently throughout the film.


Day 3: Thursday 17th August

Washington DC

We both slept well and did not get up too early. Breakfast was at the hotel again and then we caught the Metro to McPherson. The plan was to visit the White House but all the tickets for that day had gone and to get tickets for the following day we would have to go to the visitor centre at 5am the next morning. We decided not to bother! We decided to take a tour of the FBI building instead. There was a very long line waiting to get in when we arrived but after about 20 minutes we were all herded in. The tour was long and not all that interesting apart from the last part when we were taken into the shooting gallery and protected by a glass wall, an agent gave a demonstration of his shooting skills. The whole tour took an hour and a half and I felt quite cold by the end because of the air conditioning and was pleased to get back into the sunshine. On a corner near the FBI building, there was a huge pile of stuffed body bags and a plaque stating that 1200 per day die from smoking tobacco. It was a very stark and emotive memorial. The weather was perfect - the humidity was much lower than yesterday and a nice cool breeze took the edge off the temperature in the low 80's. We had a good lunch in a café and then walked to the Washington Monument. Guess what? You needed a ticket to get in and all the tickets were gone for today and to get one for tomorrow you had to get to the ticket office in the early morning etc. etc. etc. Not having much luck today!!!

The rest of the afternoon we spent touring the museums along the National Mall.

Museum of American History:

There were some good exhibitions here. I particularly liked the display of dresses worn by past and present First Ladies. Some of the dresses I remembered seeing on news items and in newspaper reports. They were all stunning and the information given about each First Lady was very interesting.

The best display for me was the original Star Spangled Banner, which is undergoing extensive preservation work. It is absolutely huge! David liked the road and rail exhibits.

Museum of Natural History:

We didn't stay here long as it wasn't really of much interest to us. We did, however, see the famous Hope Diamond glittering in its glass security case.

National Gallery of Art:

Fatigue was setting in by now! There were some good Impressionist's work - Monet, Renoir and Cezanne in particular and one magnificent Leonardo de Vinci. There were also some excellent models of famous buildings from around the world - I liked the one of the Kremlin.

National Building Museum:

We arrived just at closing time but were allowed to look round the Great Hall and it certainly was "great". A vast open space held up with immense Corinthian columns, which looked like marble but were, in fact, painted, and smaller Doric columns supporting the arcade around the edge. Of all the buildings we had been into today, we liked this one the best.

Back to the hotel to rest for a while. We both felt tired and were suffering from a "culture overload"! We returned to the FBI Centre area where a live R & B band was performing. The area was packed with people but the music was good - for about 5 minutes - when the sound system broke down! We hung around for a bit but nothing was happening so we decided to get the Metro to Union Station and go to a Brew Pub we had seen there. We ordered what we thought would be a fairly light meal but when it arrived it was enormous! We manfully ate as much as we could - about half what was on our plates and then looked around the shops at Union Station for a while to walk our full stomachs down before returning to the hotel.
 

Day 4: Friday 18th August

Washington DC, - Boston, Mass. - Danvers, Mass.

We woke to a grey, rainy morning so we took our time getting up. I re-packed my luggage and after a light breakfast of toast, cereal tea and coffee we checked out of the hotel at 10am. We left our bags at the hotel to be collected later and walked to the Metro at Judiciary Square. The rain had stopped but the skies were cloudy and grey and it was very warm and humid. We took the Metro to Foggy Bottom and walked to Georgetown. The main street was lined with interesting and unusual shops and all the buildings were old. It was very much like an old English town. The sidewalks were paved with red brick and the whole area was very attractive. It had started to rain so we went into a modern Mall for a while and browsed. The Mall itself was beautiful - gold and green decoration with cafes on the lowest level interspersed with fountains. The shops were very exclusive and expensive but it was nice to look! Everywhere was spotlessly clean and very quiet. We skipped lunch, as neither of us was hungry but stopped at Starbucks for coffee. It rained again on the way back to the Metro and we had to stop and put on our waterproofs. We got back to the hotel at 1.45, collected our bags and waited for the Super Shuttle we had booked to take us back to Dulles Airport. The Shuttle was late arriving and then went to several other pick-ups before we were finally heading out of the city. The traffic was very heavy but we made it to Dulles eventually. We joined the check-in line, which was long and slow but eventually got to the head of the queue only to be told that our flight had been cancelled. Apparently, there were "labour problems" and there wasn't a crew for our plane, however, we were fortunate enough to be booked on a flight three hours later! We were offered $10 each in vouchers to spend on an airport meal so we went to TGI Fridays and had a good meal and a few drinks. We then boarded a "mobile lounge" - a bus to you and me - which took us to the departure lounge. The flight was scheduled for 7.30pm but a delay of half an hour was announced. We boarded the plane at 7.30 and things seemed to be picking up - wrong!! We sat in the plane for over 2 hours and it was touch and go as to whether we would take off at all. Apparently, Logan Airport in Boston had only one runway open because of bad weather and a lot of flights were backed up. We got the impression the pilot was determined to go and at 9.30 he announced we would shortly be taking off which we finally did at 9.45. - Five and quarter hours after our original departure time. The flight was uneventful and we landed at Logan at 11pm. much to every ones relief. Now we could really get on our way. Wrong again! We waited at the baggage carousel but our bags were not on the flight along with quite a few other passengers. Chaos ensued with a couple of dozen people filling out claim forms and generally getting pretty upset. After about three quarters of an hour an airport official casually said that another plane was just landing from Dulles and some of the missing bags might be on it. Thankfully, ours were so we got the shuttle to Alamo to collect the hire car. By now it was after midnight and we were getting tired, also it was raining hard! The car hire was soon sorted and we were on the road at last in an Oldsmobile Alero. Unfortunately, it was the wrong road and we found ourselves back at the airport! We finally found the correct road and arrived at Danvers about 1.30am but the motel was really difficult to find in the dark. We could see it the other side of the freeway but couldn't find the right access road. After going round in circles a few times, we stopped at a filling station and were pointed in the right direction. We finally arrived at the Motel 6 at 2am. The room was great and after unloading the car we fell into bed, exhausted!

Observations on Washington DC:

Best - Arlington Cemetery, Space Museum, The National Mall area, superb efficient Metro system. 

Worst - Washington Monument (couldn't get in), the airport is a long way from the city centre.

The hotel was good but in a roughish area.


Day 5: Saturday 19th August

Salem, Mass. - Whale Watching

Woke, after a good sleep, to a misty morning. We opened wedding Anniversary cards and received a phone call from Andrew and two voice mails. We felt a bit slow and tied after the drama of yesterday so got up and dressed leisurely. Drove to Salem and parked near Pickering Wharf. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful warm morning. We had a late breakfast at Brothers Restaurant and then walked the streets of Salem. There were stalls offering the usual tourist stuff lining the main street and most of the shops were selling "Witch" merchandise. The whole town was happy and relaxed with people wandering around enjoying themselves. I bought a couple of postcards and whiled away the rest of the morning until it was time to board the Salem Whale Watch boat. We had bought our tickets back in May and had them mailed to us so we were able to board without queuing and got a good place to sit on the top deck. The views back to Salem Harbour were lovely as the boat made its way out to the open Atlantic. As the boat picked up speed, Jet skiers chased behind bouncing through the wake. They were obviously having fun and provided entertainment for the passengers. A man from the Whale Conservation and Research Centre in nearby Gloucester gave a talk on what whales we might see and where we were heading. After sailing for nearly two hours and travelling a distance of 25 miles out to sea, we saw our first whale blowing its spout and cruising through the water. About a quarter of an hour later the boat crew spotted s humpback whale and manoeuvred the boat closer to get a better look. The whale was all around and under the boat diving and then re-appearing, blowing its spout and slapping its tail on the surface. All humpback whales have individual white markings under their tail fin, like a fingerprint; so can easily be identified by an expert. The whale we were watching was called "Cajun". We watched "Cajun" for about half an hour, rushing from one side of the boat to the other as he surfaced and then dived under the boat again and again. It was an unbelievable sight to see such a large animal up close in its natural environment. All too soon, it was time for the Captain to turn the boat around and head back to Salem Harbour. The whole trip had taken four and a half hours. We collected the car and returned to Danvers and the motel. The road was busy with traffic but it didn't take too long and we were soon back. We freshened up and then went to the restaurant next door to the motel and had an excellent dinner. Took a short drive to Wal Mart for a browse and a little retail therapy for me before returning to the motel to relax.


Day 6: Sunday 20th August

Salem, Mass. - Springfield, Mass.

The morning was sunny and not a cloud in the sky. We checked out of the motel at 9.30am and headed north to Gloucester on the coast at Cape Ann. The traffic was heavy and it took a while to get there. I had read somewhere of a Pancake Breakfast and Craft Fair to be held at Gloucester today so we thought we would check it out. It took us some time to find the location, as Gloucester was quite a large town. By the time we arrived it was 11am and the area was packed with cars and people. Parking was difficult but eventually we found a small private area near the activities and paid $5 for the privilege! We were too late for pancakes, so browsed the many and varied stalls. I bought a couple of trinkets but most of the stuff was expensive or too large to take home, it was nice to look, though. We left Gloucester after an hour or so and headed west to Springfield, a distance of 100 miles. The traffic was heavy all the way and there were a couple of slow spots but we arrived mid afternoon and checked into the Motel 6. The weather was still sunny but there was a stiff breeze blowing which nearly had me changing from shorts to jeans! It was too cool for a swim so we went to some local shops, which were in Connecticut, before finding somewhere to eat. We had forgotten to have breakfast and lunch and were really hungry by 4pm. We ordered our food and watched Keno games live on TV run by the Massachusetts State Lottery. David bought 3 games for $1 each after picking 2 numbers, 13 and 46. They both came up on the second game and he got $5 back! It certainly made waiting for the food to arrive a lot more interesting! Before returning to the motel, we stopped at a supermarket to buy drinks and snacks for tomorrow. I did a load of laundry and then collected a couple of voice mails and left replies. The rest of the evening we watched TV, read and generally lazed around until bedtime.


Day 7: Monday 21st August

Springfield, Mass. - Utica, NY.

Woke up to another beautiful morning. The breeze of yesterday had gone and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Breakfast was at the Fifties Diner across the street and consisted of cereal, toast, eggs, juice, coffee and tea - excellent! Loaded up the car, checked out of the motel and got back on the I90, Massachusetts Pike, known as the Mass Pike. This toll road took us all the way to the Massachusetts - New York Stateline. The toll fee was 55c - not bad! After a couple of miles, another Toll Plaza appeared across the road. The same road, the I90, had become the New York Thruway. We picked up another toll ticket and carried on. The traffic was much less than yesterday and the scenery attractive, undulating hills covered with mixed trees. We kept going for about 150 miles until we reached Utica at about 1.30pm and checked into the Motel 6. The room wasn't ready so we took a drive north into the Adirondack Mountains. We drove through remote settlements and small towns until the road ran out at Hinckley Reservoir Beach and Picnic Area, about 17 miles from Utica. We decided to stay for a couple of hours and paid the $5 entrance fee. It was a beautiful area with picnic benches and barbecues doted along the shoreline and in the surrounding forest. The whole area was immaculately kept, no litter or rubbish, and very peaceful. There were only two other cars in the car park and they belonged to the lifeguards! We sat at a table on the beach and ate lunch of fruit, popcorn and pretzels washed down with coca cola and water. I sat in the sun and read for a while and David took photos and wandered about. We returned to Utica late afternoon, unloaded the car into yet another great room, phoned Kathryn and then went shopping. We went to a Mall south of Utica and I bought four pairs of shoes, three for me and one for Kathryn. I also got some new leggings for the gym as my old ones are worn thin and a few other items. I sent an email to Kathryn from the Mall about her new shoes! We returned to the motel, unloaded the shopping, freshened up and walked to a nearby restaurant, "Babes", for dinner. We had an excellent meal with excellent service.


Day 8: Tuesday 22nd August

Utica NY - Buffalo NY

We were woken at about 7am by the motel fire alarm. It stopped after a few seconds - obviously a false alarm - but we were both wide-awake by then. I opened cards and gifts from the folks back home, (it was my Birthday) and phoned my Mum to check she was OK. We packed up, checked out and were on our way to Buffalo. The road was clear and we had a fast drive with just one short comfort break and covered the 190 miles in three and a half hours. We checked into yet another Motel 6 and headed off straight away for Niagara Falls, about 15 miles north. The road took us across some impressive bridges spanning the wide Niagara River and we could see the plume of spray from the Falls long before we could see them. We parked at the State Park for a fee of $5 and walked to the American Falls. Nothing we had ever seen before was approaching the sight of so much water falling down from such a height. The noise was deafening, like rumbling thunder. We were surprised at how few people were around and decided to ride the "Maid of the Mist" boat trip. We descended down to ground level in an elevator with a magnificent view of the Falls and paid the modest fee and got in line for the next boat. There were four "Maids of the Mist", two from the American side and two from Canada. The queue was much shorter on the American side so we didn't wait more than a few minutes. Everyone was issued with a blue polythene bag with a hood to wear and we boarded the boat and stood on the top deck. It was very exciting to get so close to the base of the Falls. The noise and wind were incredible as the boat was tossed around in the turbulent water and we were all soaked by the spray. The becoming blue plastic outfits were certainly essential! We got chatting to a man who asked us where we were from and it turned out he had visited with friends who lived in Greywell, a small village about three miles from Odiham. Small world! After the boat trip, we were hungry so went to a diner and had a late lunch early dinner - we had forgotten to have breakfast again! Next, we walked across Rainbow Bridge into Canada and the views from the bridge were magnificent. Fortunately, we had our passports with us, so we were allowed into Canada! The Canadian Falls are even more impressive than the American side and we admired them from all angles taking many photographs. We took an elevator ride to the top of the Skylon, ascending in elevators on the outside of the structure with views of the Falls. The views from the top were fantastic as the whole panorama of the two Falls, river, lakes and islands were clearly visible into the distance. After returning to ground level, we walked right up to the Canadian Falls and could see the boat trips ploughing backwards and forwards below us in the river. As we started to make our way back, a full rainbow appeared in front of the Falls, with both ends dipping into the river - beautiful! We eventually returned to the car about 7pm and headed back to the motel. After collecting our voice mails and making a couple of calls we went shopping at local Malls. Back to the motel - exhausted - what a fantastic day!


Day 9: Wednesday 23rd August

Buffalo

It was raining when we woke so we turned over and had a few more z's and took it easy. We eventually got up and drove up the road a short way to Denny's for breakfast at 10.30am. It was packed, so other people must have had a late start too! Hey, it's a vacation! After breakfast, we drove to the Mall and shopped for a couple of hours. The rain had stopped by 1pm and it was very warm but still cloudy. We decided to go to a Theme Park we had seen yesterday on the way to Niagara Falls. It was on Grand Island between Buffalo and Niagara Falls and was called Fantasy Island. It was quiet, very few visitors around so we were on and off the rides with no waiting. The best ride was an old fashioned wooden roller coaster called the Silver Comet. It was really fast and quite scary. I went on it twice but David rode at least ten times. He was getting off and running round and getting straight back on again! As well as the rides, there were three short shows, one rock and roll, one Western music hall and a cowboy shoot out. We saw all three and they were all excellent. As we were leaving the park, we collected our voice mails from a pay phone. There were four, one from Andrew, one from David's parents and two from Kathryn. Kathryn had seen some Jordache jeans on their website and wanted me to get her some so we stopped at Wal Mart on the way back and picked up a pair. We also got a Chinese Take Away from a supermarket and took it back to the motel to eat. We had three dishes for less than $10 and there was far too much for us to eat. Good value, eh? After eating, we took a walk up the road to Office Max and then had a drink at a Hooters Bar next to the motel. All the waitresses were gorgeous, dressed in skimpy outfits and with magnificent cleavages! David was in heaven - the beer was good apparently!! Back to the motel to watch the final episode of "Survivor" on TV, the American version of "Castaway" but far better.


Day 10: Thursday 24th August

Buffalo - Toronto, Canada

We left Buffalo at 9am and drove north into Canada via Niagara. We took a last look at the Falls and headed east towards Toronto. The road was extremely busy and after the first few miles of pleasant countryside, we drove through endless miles of industrial sites and suburbs all the way to Toronto. Toronto itself seemed to be one large unattractive sprawl choked with huge trucks and traffic jams. We finally reached our hotel, the Best Western about seven miles east of downtown Toronto. After checking in we drove to a local bank to get some Canadian money. I asked a teller what the exchange rate against the pound was and it took her about ten minutes to find out. I think it was the most difficult question she had ever been asked! Anyway, armed with the information we got some cash from the ATM. We decided to have a quick lunch before going into the city centre. Unfortunately, we chose an Irish Bar where the service was extremely slow, which was surprising as it was nearly empty. The food was excellent though, and the waitress gave us some useful information about the public transport. We used a combination of bus and train to the centre of Toronto for a flat rate fare of C$2 - less than £1. An excellent service subsidised by the State. As soon as we arrived in the centre, we went to the CN Tower as David was hopping with excitement to go to the top. We bought the tickets and waited in line for about half an hour. First, we had to see a strange little film lasting a couple of minutes about sky and visions, it was quite surreal! Eventually, we got in one of the elevators and rode to the viewing deck. It was a pretty good view of the city and Lake Ontario. Small planes and helicopters could be seen flying below us and landing at the airport on the edge of the city by the lakeshore. One part of the floor was glass and the uninterrupted view to the ground was amazing if a little scary! There were a lot of people crammed onto the viewing deck and it was a little uncomfortable. After returning to the ground, we stopped at Timothy's Coffee House for a drink before walking to the waterfront. A very attractive area with bars and restaurants lining the dock. Small boats and ferries to the offshore islands sparkled in the late afternoon sun on the blue waters of Lake Ontario. The view back to the city was impressive too, with many modern skyscrapers jumbled together, the sun reflecting on the windows. We had a drink at a waterside bar, and then walked back to the city centre to find somewhere to eat. Guess what! Hooters had a location in Toronto! The waitresses were just as gorgeous as in Buffalo and David got really tired eyes. He took a couple of photos and I took one of him with our waitress. The meal was pretty good too! We made the return journey easily and were back at the hotel at 9.30pm. 


Day 11: Friday 25th August

Toronto - Belleville, Ontario

We both slept exceptionally well and woke refreshed at 7.30am. We lay in bed listening to the radio until just past 8am when I got up and went for my first swim of the vacation. The pool was inside and heated and I was the only person swimming - magic! I swam for twenty minutes and then showered and dressed before breakfast at the hotel. We had considered a second night in Toronto but decided to move on so packed up, checked out and hit the road again. The suburbs of Toronto seemed to go on forever but eventually we started to drive through green countryside with undulating hills. It was not exactly stunning scenery but better than the sprawl of Toronto which lasted for about fifty miles. The road followed the edge of Lake Ontario but the lake was hidden from view, which was a shame. The traffic was reasonably light and we drove steadily until we reached Belleville at midday and checked into the Best Western. We unloaded the car and then walked to the Mall across the road to buy some snacks and drinks for lunch. I took the food back to the motel and left David at the shops. I went and sat in the sun behind the indoor pool on an area of grass and had a picnic. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day and it was nice to sit and relax. David returned from the Mall and told me he had been talking to a guy who used to live in Frimley, about three miles from where David lived with his parents before we were married. David had the rest of the picnic food and then we took a drive to the centre of Belleville. At least, we think it was the centre. It was all a bit seedy and run down. Lots of cut-price shops and second hand book stores. After a while, we returned to the motel and phoned Kathryn. She seems to be coping well without us! We walked back to the Mall, as David wanted to buy some cans of beer. No luck at the Mall, beer wasn't sold in the supermarket so we drove back to the centre of Belleville where I remembered seeing a Beer Store earlier in the day. David went in but soon came out again as credit cards were not accepted and I had all the dollars. Back in he went with the cash and ordered some cans of beer, which then arrived on a conveyor belt. It was all a bit East European! Back to the Mall again for an excellent meal at Mario's East Side Restaurant. We both ate way too much as usual and staggered back to the motel groaning and promising never to eat again!


Day 12: Saturday 26th August

Belleville, Ontario - Watertown, NY

After a good nights sleep, we woke about 7.30am. The weather was partly cloudy but warm and we decided to move on and head back into America. I had a swim in the indoor pool before breakfast at the motel and by the time we had packed up and checked out it was 10am. The road east was quiet and the drive pleasant and we arrived in Kingston just after 11am. We parked by the harbour and walked to the Tourist Office to get maps etc. We were given a pass to get free parking as we were from out of town so we moved the car to an indoor parking lot and set off on foot to see the sights of Kingston. It was an attractive small town with a market taking place in the centre. I bought some Maple Syrup in the market from a guy who had photos of the producer and production techniques. It was interesting and I learnt that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. We browsed the small shops lining the main streets and bought a few souvenirs before lunching in a café. After retrieving the car, we were on our way again and soon arrived at the 1000 Islands area in the St. Lawrence River estuary. We crossed a toll bridge and came across the 1000 Islands Observation Tower. We paid for a ride to the top, 400 feet high, and had a fantastic view of the area. There were so many islands it was easy to see where the area got its name. Some of the islands had houses and boat jetties and the river was alive with boats of all sizes and speeds. It looked a fun area to live and vacation. Back to the car and across another bridge and we were back in the USA. Immediately, the countryside had a well-kept look. The verges of the road were mown and the road in good condition. The road took us to Watertown and we checked into the Best Western. After relaxing for a while, we went to check out a local White Water Rafting company. David has for many years said he would like to try rafting, but I don't know whether he will go tomorrow - it would cost $70 and he didn't seem too keen to pay that! Took a drive around the town and saw all the amenities. All the usual stuff, Wal Mart, K Mart, a Mall, loads of fast food outlets etc. etc. We ate a reasonable meal at a restaurant in the Mall, "Barkeaters." When we left the Mall it was pouring with rain and we got quite wet running to the car. Back to the motel to find the car park was completely full - there was a Wedding Reception taking place at the motel. We eventually found a parking space and got wet again running to the motel entrance!


Day 13: Sunday 27th August

Watertown, NY - Lake Placid, NY

It was grey and overcast when we woke about 8am. David decided against the rafting trip so we decided to move on. We got up leisurely and checked out of the motel at 10am. First, we went to the Mall, as David wanted to email a couple of people. The only places open were the fast food outlets. All the shops were shuttered and closed and wouldn't be open until 11am. It was quite eerie; there were so few people about. After the emails were done, we went across the road to K Mart, which was open, where David bought some much-needed jeans and I bought a few items. We headed east out of Watertown on Route 3 towards the Adirondack Mountains. The road was very quiet and the scenery got better and better the further we went. Lakes and mountains covered with trees, some of which were beginning to show their Autumn colour. The small communities mostly consisted of cabins by the lakes. We stopped by the side of Lake Cranberry and ate a snack lunch of Blueberry Pies and pretzels - very healthy! We arrived at Lake Placid at 3pm and drove through the town looking at all the motels. There was a good choice but we settled on the Art Devlin Olympic Motor Inn. We had a delightful upstairs room with a balcony, two queen size beds and a view over the outdoor swimming pool and the mountains beyond. The Olympic ski jump runs could also be seen sticking up. We settled into the room and then went for a walk into the town. Lots of attractive shops and restaurants lined the main street. We walked past the Olympic speed skating track and then went into the ice skating complex where Robin Cousins won a gold medal for Great Britain in 1980. Back to the motel so I could have a swim before dinner. The water was quite cold but it was an invigorating swim, so much better in an outdoor pool. A quick shower and change of clothes and we were ready to find somewhere to eat. All the restaurants were very busy and it took us some time to decide where to eat. Eventually, we chose one and although the service was extremely slow the meal was OK. It was a nice setting, anyway, in a conservatory overlooking the Ice Rink complex.


Day 14: Monday 28th August

Lake Placid

The morning was clear and sunny. I woke about 7am and could see the mountains clear of mist and cloud. We were up reasonably early eager to make the most of our time here. Breakfast was coffee/tea and cake at the motel. We were running short of clean clothes, so after checking in Yellow Pages, we gathered up our dirty stuff and went to a Laundromat. While the washing was happening, I went to the supermarket next door and stocked up on drinks and a few essentials before returning to put the washed items in the drier. Chores over with, we drove to Lake Placid and found a boatyard that would hire us a canoe by the hour. We took the food and laundry back to the motel, put the drinks in the fridge and returned to the boatyard. The canoe we hired was a 14' long Canadian and we paddled about happily for an hour. It was very quiet and peaceful on the lake, only a few other small motorboats and a lone jet ski, which created some interesting wake for us to paddle through. The water was clear and clean and the sun shone brilliantly on the distant mountaintops. We could see some grand houses built on the banks of the lake - a magnificent place to live! All to soon our hour was up so we returned the canoe to the boat yard and made our way back to the motel. We ate lunch sitting on our private balcony enjoying the view. After lunch, David wandered into town to visit an Internet Café and check his emails. I sat by the pool, reading, swimming and sun bathing. When David returned, I reluctantly left the pool and got dressed. We then drove to the Mt. Whiteface Ski Area. We took a ride in the "Cloudsplitter" Gondola to the top of the mountain. It took twenty minutes to reach the summit and was an amazing ride. It was a newly opened facility and ended up at a viewing deck overlooking Lake Placid. The visibility was fantastic - about 60 miles - the weather was perfect, sun and very little cloud. The ski runs and chair lifts went even higher than the gondola. How brave, or foolish, the ski-ers must be to launch themselves down those precipitous slopes! Mountain bike trails were also available and they looked even steeper and more dangerous than the ski runs! The Gondola trip down was even more spectacular. I noticed that on the towers holding the cable up, there were sports bags strapped on the top and presume they held safety equipment in case of a failure and the passengers had to be rescued. We returned to the motel and a lovely cold drink on the balcony before wandering into the town. We browsed the shops for an hour before having an excellent meal at the Lake Placid Brew Pub. We sat on the deck outside overlooking the lake and mountains enjoying a few pints of most excellent beer!


Day 15: Tuesday 29th August

Lake Placid

We woke to another beautiful day although it was quite misty over the mountains. After breakfast at the motel, we decided to take a walk around Mirror Lake, a distance of approximately three miles. The pathway was paved and flat so it was an easy stroll. The lake looked beautiful in the early morning sun and the buildings on the far side were reflected perfectly in the clear, still water. We walked back through the town after completing the circuit and David stopped at the library in Main Street to see if he could use the Computer Lab. It didn't open until 11am and it was 10.20am, so we browsed the shops once more. I bought a Lake Placid tee shirt as a souvenir. David went back to the library and I browsed some more until we met up again at 11.30am. We returned to the motel, collected the car and drove to Olympic Ski Jump complex a few miles away. First, we took a chair lift to the base of the towers and then an elevator to the top of the tallest ski jump. We stood on the edge, where the jumpers launch from, and looked down the ramp. It seemed a terrifyingly long way. How anyone can throw themselves off the edge and hurtle down the steep incline, I do not know!! The view from the tower was superb but the mountains were still covered in haze and it was getting quite cloudy. We were so glad we went to Whiteface Mountain yesterday when the visibility was so good. Back down the elevator and chair lifts to watch aerial ski jumpers practising. It was very interesting to see them ski down a slope and then up and over into a very deep swimming pool. Some of them were quite young children but they were able to perform complicated turns and somersaults. A couple of guys were on a bigger, higher slope and they were excellent - performing much more complicated manoeuvres. It was nearly 2pm and we were getting hungry so we drove to a supermarket and got a selection each from the extensive salad bar and took them back to the motel to eat on the balcony. After lunch, David went inside to check the photos on the digital camera and promptly fell asleep! I left him to rest and read a book for a while. Eventually, David woke and we walked into the town and had a look round the Olympic Museum in the Ice Rink complex. The museum was quite small so it didn't take long. The complex held four ice rinks, which were all different. The original was built in 1932 for the Olympic games of that year, another for the 1980 Games, a small public skating rink and another small one, as well. We phoned Kathryn from a public phone and then wandered back to the motel, collected the car and drove north about twenty miles to Au Sable Forks. It was a pleasant drive but there was nothing much happening at Au Sable Forks and we didn't see an eatery that took our fancy so we turned around a headed back. We stopped at Wilmington and had a reasonable, rather than memorable, meal at Mel' Fifties Diner. The best part was feeding the jukebox with quarters and listening to Elvis! Just as we were leaving, the local fire crew drove by and stopped about a block away. An old, wooden cabin was smoking so we walked up to take a closer look. The firemen seemed to be having trouble with getting the water turned on and the smoke soon turned to flames. The cabin was burning nicely as were some of the surrounding trees and undergrowth. Eventually, the water began to flow but it kept turning off so the cabin burnt to the ground. Maybe that was the intention of the fire crew, they didn't seem too bothered. Every now and then, they squirted a jet of water at the blaze but most of the time they just stood and watched it. They had to switch the hose off and move it back across the road every time a vehicle wanted access. It was good, after dinner entertainment! Back at the motel, I decided to repack my suitcase - not easy, I had a lot more than when we started!


Day 16: Wednesday 30th August

Lake Placid, NY - Concord, New Hampshire

Woke later than we intended but we were still on the road by 9am. We were both sad to leave Lake Placid, maybe we will return one day. We stopped briefly at Keene at a Taxidermist store and admired the stuffed animals and birds. There were Grizzly and black bears, wolves, a lion, coyotes, deer, buffalo and countless other creatures large and small. It was an extraordinary place and well worth the stop. We drove through the Adirondacks and eventually crossed the bridge at Port Henry over Lake Champion and into Vermont. The drive was very scenic all the way as we passed through the Green Mountains National Forest. We stopped for a drink at a café in Bethel at noon and then joined the interstate going south. Once on the interstate, the miles flew by and we arrived in Concord a little after 2pm. We drove around for a while looking for a motel. We spotted a Days Inn with a nice pool so booked in to a ground floor room. We had too much luggage by now to carry upstairs! I made straight for the pool as it was very hot and had a refreshing swim and then sat in the sun for an hour reading and relaxing. I eventually dragged myself away from the pool, knowing it would be my last swim of the holiday. We drove through the town to a large and excellent Wal Mart where I bought a few last minute items and then had a look around a nearby Mall. We didn't stay long as we were all shopped out and were hungry and needed food. We drove back into downtown Concord and parked in Main Street and walked to Margarita's Mexican Restaurant in Warren Street. We were shown to a small booth downstairs a bit like a cell, and had an excellent meal of fajitas, burritos and chimichangas. After the meal, we returned to the motel and had a quiet night in, packing and preparing for the long flight home tomorrow.


Day 17: Thursday 31st August

Concord, NH - Boston, Mass.

Neither of us slept well and we were a bit sluggish to get going. The weather was hot and humid and we didn't have the air conditioning on during the night so maybe that accounted for our lack of sleep. Breakfast was at the motel, a choice of cereals, toasted muffins and jelly, juice, tea and coffee. One of the best complimentary breakfasts of the vacation! We packed up the car for the last time and headed south on the I93. The traffic was light and the road was through scenic countryside all the way to Boston. Boston was like any other large city for traffic and parking - busy and expensive. We made for the waterfront and parked in a multi-story car park near the Aquarium. It cost $25 for the five hours we were there. I think it is probably the most we have paid to park anywhere in the world! It was extremely hot and humid when we arrived at 11am. First, we walked to the Boston Tea Party ship, the Beaver, but didn't pay the $8 each for a tour. Credit cards weren't accepted and we were fast running out of cash and didn't want to get any more dollars from an AT. We walked downtown to the Quincy Market area and browsed around looking at the tourist stuff and, the more interesting food stalls. There were so many restaurants, cafes and eateries it was difficult to choose which one for lunch. We settled on a sidewalk café in the shade and had toasted sandwiches and fries and cool drinks and watched the Bostonians going about their business. After lunch, we took a walk to Boston Common, a large area of park in the centre of the city. There was a large, shallow wading pool for children to splash around in. It was full of happy, noisy children enjoying the cooling water. In the winter it serves as an ice rink - an excellent amenity! We walked on to the formal garden, which had a large lake in the middle. The gardens were beautiful, much like an English park with flowerbeds full of colour. There were some large, flat boats on the lake with bench seats and a Swan figure at the back. One man, pedalling, powered the boats. There must have been seating for about twenty people - pretty hard work! We had a ride and it was very relaxing, floating round the lake followed by ducks and geese eagerly hoping for scraps of food. It was extremely hot as we made our way back to the car and we were glad to be cooled down by the air conditioning. The drive to Alamo was short and after leaving the lovely car behind, we were driven to the check in lounge at Boston Airport in the courtesy bus. Check - in was quick so we went to a bar and had a few drinks and some popcorn after phoning Kathryn to say the flight was listed as on time and we would be home early in the morning. Shouldn't have said that! We got to the departure lounge at 6pm for a 6.50 departure to be told that there was a mechanical problem with the plane so there would be a delay. Great! We sat in the lounge for two and a half hours and finally boarded at 8.30pm. All the passengers were tired and hungry and tempers were beginning to fray. We sat on the runway for an hour and a half - waiting. Only one runway was operational as an incoming flight had hit a bird and there was debris to be cleared up. At last, we finally took off at 10pm - only three hours late! We were all issued with forms to fill in to claim compensation from United for the delay. We asked for additional forms to claim for our cancelled flight from Washington to Boston plus the delay and late arrival of our bags. Hope we get a good result! The rest of the flight was uneventful and we landed safely at Heathrow just after 9am - two and a half hours late - not too bad in the grand scheme of things! We were quickly through customs etc. and the taxi was waiting for us. Fortunately, the driver had checked Ceefax and seen the delayed arrival time of the flight and had been able to reschedule. The drive home was quick and we arrived at 10.30am. It was lovely to see Kathryn and the cats. The house was fine, Kathryn had coped so well on her own, but I think she was pleased to have us back home! 

It was a fantastic holiday, one I shall never forget. The highlights for me were:

Washington DC
Whale Watching
Niagara Falls
Lake Placid
And, of course, all the shopping!

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