[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
10/13/00 Pensacola - Athens
We left earlier than planned on the first leg of our trip to Milwaukee at 8 am. It was a cool morning but warmed up nicely mid-afternoon when we arrived in Athens – a total of 348 miles.
We started our journey to Milwaukee following the usual Rt. 65 through Montgomery + Birmingham, with some construction + delays as a result but still made good time to Athens.
Our room wasn’t ready so we drove around town, checked a few stores + rested (I) in our room. Bert checked our E-mail + happy to have a note from YK in Japan who’s coming to see us in the States in 2 wks. We are delighted he is going to spend a weekend with us the end of the month before going on to Orlando for a meeting!
After a good meal at Applebee’s which is just across from our *** Best Western, we watched a little TV and retired early.
10/14/2000 Athens, Ala. – Lebanon, Ind.
What a beautiful day! Got away at 8:30 after breakfast at the Best Western. The usual construction problems in Nashville delayed us about a half hour but I took advantage of it by practicing lip-syncing my song for our performance as the Andrews Sisters at the reunion while Bert gritted his teeth and tried to figure out an alternative route for our return trip.
We were impressed with the beautiful vivid fall foliage today especially in Ky. Where we saw a definite change in colors – vivid reds, orange + yellows.
It was great seeing Louisville looking so clean + prosperous as we crossed the beautiful Ohio R. Also good hearing WLW [Cincinnati radio station] coming through loud + clear.
Indianapolis + the surrounding farm land looked great. A lot of growth since we’d seen the capital + the homes, townhouses, condos + apartments all looked well planned + well-built.
Our motel (Holiday Inn Convention Center) in Lebanon was clean + comfortable but the pool, sauna + whirlpool were disappointing – too cold + crowded.
Good meal at Bob Evans – turkey for me + meatloaf for Bert.
10/15/2000 Lebanon, Ind. – Milwaukee, Wis.
The mileage was 782 when we checked out today.
We had a good night’s sleep + an interesting breakfast that wasn’t supposed to have been included in our discounted rate of $59. Anyhow, it was a complete breakfast + beautifully served in the dining room. So we were off to a good start + left at 8:30 for Milwaukee.
It was a pleasant drive all the way – not too much construction + we stayed on Rt. 65 until the big by-pass around Chicago. The rain that was predicted did not happen until a few minutes before we checked in at the Air Port Best Western + that was just a few drops.
Bert + I checked into our very comfortable room + after unpacking we checked out the hotel pool + sauna – very nice!
Met the ladies in our room + practiced our number "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," with the gals from the 8th Combat Cargo Group [Squadron] Reunion, then met the rest of the group at the Hospitality Room before going to dinner in the dining room. Dinner was very nice. A beautiful spread arranged by the Bs – Joyce + Mel.
We concluded this beautiful day playing our famous game – 12 of us ladies, while the guys retold war stories.
10/16/2000 Milwaukee
What an interesting tour of this great lake city! Things I’ll remember and learned about Milwaukee, this 19th largest city in the U.S. from our tour are: the large number of Ethnic groups who live here. They have 9 festivals for the various nationalities + there are alot of Indian + Polish names. We toured the Bayview part of the port, the Polish flats, Basilica, St. Josephet, St. Stanislaus, which was brought brick by brick from the Post Office in Chicago. In addition we saw the 4 face clock, Marquette U., the viaducts, the Miller dome.
Then we went to the Brewery which covers a whole city block. We climbed the hill + sampled the various brews.
When we entered the Juneau Park area, we saw the beautiful mansions, the Wisconsin Lake Schooner the new addition to the Art Museum on the lake.
I hope I’ll never forget these beautiful sights!
A nice swim in the heated pool, a rehearsal for a skit, + games in the hospitality house completed a perfect day.
10/17/2000 Milwaukee
Our tour today was a trip to the Mitchell Park Conservatory where we saw the various unusual plants in three domes [conservatories] and then to the Reiman Publication Center and Greendale.
The three domes housed the show dome filled with a variety of unusual mums, the arid dome which plants native to Sonoran Northern Mexico, South America, Madagascar, African, + Canary Island. The Tropical Dome looked more familiar as we see many of these plants in Fl.
The domes are 80’ x 120’, climate controlled, and conoidal rather than geodesic.
The Reiman Publishing Co. was started in the 1930’s + they publish a no. of magazines + books.
We toured all the shops in Glendale, bought some candy, a book + a card, then headed back to the motel.
Had lunch, swam, + practiced our skit.
Our dinner + entertainment were great. Even had time with the girls to play our game. Performed our skit and it was a great success.
10/18/2000 Milwaukee - Elizabethtown, Ky.
Mileage 1029 from Pensacola
After breakfast, we loaded the car and were on our way at 8:30.
I wasn’t a great help with the driving today as I didn’t sleep well – too much excitement with the “Boogie Woogie Bugling” last night.
Our usual routes were much the same as far as traffic is concerned – heavy in the Chicago, Indianapolis + Louisville areas.
We stopped in Lebanon, Ind. + made a reservation for the Best Western in Elizabethtown, Ky. We arrived here after 8 hrs on the road + checked in to a very clean, comfortable room just off the highway at Exit 91 on Rt. 65.
We hadn’t ever tried Steak ‘n’ Shake, so decided to stop there after driving through town where there were many new restaurants. It was hearty + nothing fancy.
We’re on Eastern time here so it’s a good excuse to retire early!
Mileage today 435 miles.
Great!
10/19/2000: Elizabethtown, Ky. - Pensacola
After a good night’s sleep and breakfast at one of the best ** motels we’ve ever had, we were on the road at 6:30 Central Time. Everything went well driving home taking turns at the wheel.
Bert drove the first leg of the trip to Nashville, but I drove through Nashville taking the Briley Parkway with Bert navigating + we did fine – just got lost once + didn’t lose much time! Quite an accomplishment.
We traded off the driving throughout the day. So it wasn’t a tough trip.
We lost a little time in Birmingham, taking a wrong exit to a Wendy’s, but that wasn’t bad. We took the next one + had we been a half hour earlier, we would have followed an AARP bus load of people which would’ve been a long wait.
Bert drove from Birmingham to Montgomery + I drove home, + the mileage for the entire trip was 1,033, just 4 miles longer than our trip to Milwaukee.
Everything at home was fine + we’re so grateful for the wonderful trip + our many blessings!
