[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
The rest of '93 we visited in Ohio + R.I. Went to Wellsville H.S. Alumni 50th Reunion, stopped at Mary + Gene's, then up to Put-in-Bay to see Helen Sinram.
7/3/93 Pensacola to Sweetwater, Tenn.
We left at 8 a.m. Took I-10 to Cantonment, Rt. 29 to Flomaton, then I-65 to Chatanooga. Of interest today, Bert had trouble with his zipper + lost his GM card. All went well after lunch. We followed I-75 to Sweetwater where we spent the night at the Quality Inn. Had a delicious buffet at the inn + retired early. Total mileage 446 miles – travel time 8 hrs. – not a bad trip + traffic moderate considering it’s a holiday weekend. Temp. in high 90’s + humidity high so we welcomed the air conditioned room. Very comfortable. At Birmingham we took 459, then Rt. 59 to Chatanooga – from there we took Rt. 24 to 75 to Chatanooga.
7/4/93 Sweetwater to S’fld
The mileage is 818 from Pensacola. We took I-75 all the way to Dayton where we picked up 675, then Rt. 70 into S’fld + Mary Jane’s when we arrived here about 4 pm. Had a nice supper, then went to Cliff Park for a concert. We left at intermission + came back to watch the Country Club fireworks in our backyard.
7/5/93 Mary Jane B’s
Got up early + went to Brown Reservoir to walk on the dam. Had breakfast, then went to the mall + to Yellow Springs to window shop. Had delicious lunch at the Country Connection in New Carlisle. We stopped at Meijers large super mkt after a long drive through the country. Had dinner at the country club. Wanda + Ray G joined us. Afterwards M.J. drove us around the north + west areas to see new housing. Retired early. Full day!
7/6/93 Springfield/Hilliard
Left Mary Jane’s about 11 am + arrived at Edith + Ron’s at noon traveling Rt. 70 + 270 exiting to Mill Run Villas on Exit 13. Had a nice lunch + visit. The Ms – Bill + Ruth – came over for cocktails, then we went to dinner at Wilhelm’s a 55 restaurant in Dublin. Nice!! Came back + visited some more until about 10:30. We retired to the “loft” after a very pleasant day!
7/7/93 Hilliard/Rocky River
Left Edith + Ron’s a few minutes after 10:00 + arrived in R.R. about 12:30. Had lunch at Friendly’s + drove around town after talking with Gloria H about U’s house. Dinner with Marie + Ray McN’s was at Fratella’s in Avon Lake. Delicious pastas. Charlie Rose on PBS was interesting + after a full day of fun, we retired at midnight.
7/8/93 Rocky River
Had a nice walk in the park at 7 am. The McNs took us on a tour of Cleve. to see all the changes. Lunch on a barge – Hornblower on Lake Erie. Checked Edith + Ron’s house then had dinner with Erie Rd. gang at Salmon Dave’s after cocktails at Ls.
7/9/93 Rocky River/Wellsville
Fri. Arrived shortly afternoon at Mary + Gene’s. Weather - hot + humid. Had a nice supper with them. Went into Well. + had a delightful party at Vivian S B’s house on Wells Ave. About 50 alumni + spouses on hand. Visited with Mike + Phyllis.
Sat. Left after lunch, toured River Museum – saw both g’pas there plus lots of other pictures. Toured the high school, then met at the old River View Hotel to hear about the renovations sponsored by the W. Alum. The eve. was spent at the Masonic Temple where we had turkey dinner + later dancing. It was decorated beautifully – tigers, orange + black balloons + streamers. We received our 50 yr. diplomas. Fun! (Visited Dolores + Chauncey in afternoon.)
7/11/93 Wellsville
Sun. Left for church which was held at the Epis. Church on 11th + Main. Committee gave a lovely service. Afterwards we had a picnic at the marina – chicken by Richard C – baked beans, pot. salad, rolls + beverages – quite a feast. We let all our balloons fly over the river. Beautiful sight! We spent the evening reminiscing with Mary + Gene.
7/12/93 Wellsville/Put-in-Bay
Left Mary + Gene’s at 9:00 + had trouble with the van stalling on us. Stopped in R.R. + got NAPA thermos-aid + premium gas. Had a bite to eat at Friendly’s. Arrived at the dock at Catawba + I’m writing this here at 2:15 awaiting loading on the ferry.
Helen was surprised at our arrival + we were surprised to see the Cs – 17 yr. old Kirkland, 15 yr old Ben + 9 yr old Anna. It was great seeing Naomi + Kirk. Cooked burgers on the grill. Talked until 10:30 + retired to the loft. Fun day! Spectacular sunset.
7/13 -7/14 Put-in-Bay
Tues. Had an early morning walk to town before breakfast. Enjoyed being with the kids. Ben + Anna were both vying for Carrie L’s attention. Naomi + I had to round them up – they nearly missed the boat. We had a problem with the van + got it fixed – a vacuum leak. Helen took us to dinner at the Skyway.
Wed. Helen + I visited Peg I’s school in a.m. Had lunch at the Crew’s Nest. Heard the sad news there that Joe D was electrocuted retreaving a pair of glasses in the water off the dock. (He was a former student of mine.) Dinner at Pat Daily’s was good.
7/15/93 Put-in-Bay/Danville, Pa.
Left on the 7 a.m. ferry from P.I.B. Had a great visit with Helen. Arrived in Danville around 2:30 after a good trip across I-80. Checked the various motels + decided on Days Inn, the former Sheraton. Had a relaxing swim + whirl pool before dinner at B.J’s Ribs. A wonderful meal of ribs, barbecued chicken + shrimp. Had a tour of the city. Of interest was the Geisinger Medical Center.
7/16/93 Danville/Rumford, R.I.
Left about 7:15 + arrived at Kent + Tamiko’s at 2:30 – a very easy drive considering the congested N.E. traffic. Traveled I-80 + 287 across the Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson R. Went to see Erich’s team play in an All-Star game. Mt. Pleasant/S. Providence. His team squeaked through with an 8-7 victory + will now vie for state champs. We stopped to get fish + chips. Ate about 8:30, talked until 11:00 + retired after a wonderful day to Brynne’s room. She’s darling!
7/17/93 Rumford
Sat. After lunch we went to the Slater Mill in Pawtucket to see the art exhibit of Don Bosquet. Afterwards we drove through Providence to see the new bridges + progress that’s taking place. Kent cooked burgers on the grill.
Sun. Left at 11 am for Goosewing Beach in Little Compton. Weather was beautiful. Lunch at Abraham Manchester was delicious. Erich went over to Mary Jane’s + Kyle stayed here to baby sit Brynne tomorrow when Tami + Kent go to work. Fun day!
Mon. Took Brynne + Kyle to Rehobath, Mass. playground in afternoon. I cooked ham New Eng. dinner. Had a family discussion before retiring.
7/20/93 Rumford/Towson, Md.
Left about 7:15 + arrived at Mary Jane + Walt L’s at 3:15. The routes traveled are 95 to 287 which is the Garden State Pkwy to the N. Jersey Turnpike. We exited at 6 instead of 1 so had to backtrack to the Pa. Turnpike + drive thru Phily to Baltimore. That was Rt. 95 and known as the Kennedy Mem. Hwy. Walt + Mary Jane live in a beautiful area of Towson – very spacious + comfortable townhouse. She served an Imperial Crabmeat dish with Greek salad, fruit + frozen yogurt. It was delightful. We spent many hours in good conversation + reminiscing before retiring. A delightful day in spite of the hectic drive getting here – a distance of 400 mi. for a nice visit with Mary Jane + Walt L.
7/21/93 Towson
Our day began by driving to Ft. McHenry. We saw a film describing the Battle of Baltimore + the writing of the “Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key. (It became our national anthem in 1931.) Ft. McHenry spans the period from the Amer. Rev. through World War II. It derives its name from McHenry who was sec. of war under Geo. Wash. + John Adams.
We had lunch at Sanders at Loch Raven near the dam, then drove to Hampton to see the mansion + grounds that were originally own by the Ridgely family + are now National historic site. I got my passport book stamped here + at Ft. McHenry.
Dottie + Bill DeG, other AF retired friends came over for dinner. More fun!
7/22/93 Towson/Bristol, Tenn.
It was a beautiful 400 mi. drive today with mild temp. Routes traveled were: 695 to 95 around Baltimore, then 495 to 66 around D.C. South on 66 to 81 which we followed past Front Royal, Strasburg, lunch at Woodstock on to Staunton. We stopped enroute to these places at Manassas (Bull Run) National Battlefield Park + got the passport book stamped and saw a Civil War film. We passed Lexington, home of VMI + Wash. + Lee U. where Robt. E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Geo. Wash., + Geo. Marshall attended college. We also passed Roanoke before arriving in Bristol where we had dinner at Bristol Choice + stayed overnight at the Ho-Jo Motel. Nice day.
7/23/93 Bristol, Tenn to Atlanta
Left about 7:30 + arrived at Chickamauga/Chattanooga Nat’l Military Park around noon. We traveled Rt. 81, then 40 to Knoxville. The 16 min. film at the park was excellent. We continued driving to Kennesaw Mtn. Nat’l Battlefield Park – Rt. 75. Then we got on 285 + exited at 28 for Fairfield Inn where we spent the night. It was a welcome sight after heavy traffic. We took a swim, then cleaned up for dinner. Ate at Ruby Tuesday’s, then walked thru the mall. Bert bought a hat at Eddie Bauer’s. The interesting plant that has taken over the entire landscape in Ga. is the kudzu.
7/24/93 Atlanta/Pensacola
After an hour + a half drive to Calloway Gardens on Rt. 85 South, we spent about 4 hrs. touring the beautiful gardens: the horticultural center, the chapel, the log cabin, butterfly house + Mr. Cason’s veg. garden. It was a hot day + although we’d have enjoyed staying for the circus act + water show, felt we’d better get home. The drive through Montgomery on Rt. 65 + 113 + 29 into Flomaton + into Pensacola on I-10 were very calm -piece of cake. Stopped to get veg. + fruit in Ala. + arrived home around 5 p.m. having added 3775 mi. to the van + visited 13 National Parks. Great trip!
