[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
Dec. 2, 2001 Pensacola – Beaumont, Texas
We took off at 7:45 am for Bob + Gen’s in San Antonio after getting Kent to the airport about 7:30 for Jax. (He stayed overnight with us after a meeting he had out at the beach.)
It was a beautiful day and we made good time to Beaumont arriving there about 3 pm. The mileage was 438 + we had a lovely room at the Best Western – all renovated + not many occupants so we got a good rate - $45.
The drive through La. was the only rough area – narrow roads + heavy traffic. We stopped in Baton Rouge at a Wendy’s for lunch.
For dinner we went across the street to the Hoffbrau Steak House where we had shaved rib-eye Philly-Steak sandwiches. Yummy.
We spent the night at Beaumont, La.
We tried TV, but it was a long day + we sacked out at 9:30. Great day!
Dec. 3, ’01 Beaumont – San Antonio
We got away at 7:45 again after a good night’s sleep + a hearty breakfast. Bert made a wrong turn + we went about six miles north instead of going west on I-10. Oh well!
He drove without incident through Houston, then I took the wheel through a fine mist to S.A.
We were happy to see that they have started to improve the rest area although the first one was the pits.
We got into S.A. around 1 o’clock + found a food counter + phone at the H.E.B. large supermarket. We got the number to punch in at the gate + arrived at Bob + Gen's mid afternoon + found both Bob + Gen looking good.
We got Mexican take-out + brought it back for dinner with Bob + Gen. It was from the El Maracumbe.
We watched a little TV, then came back to where we stayed at the guest “quarters.” Very nice + retired early.
The mileage from Pensacola to S.A. was 743 miles.
Weather – drizzly + temp. 60’s.
Dec. 4, 2001 San Antonio
Bert + I had a hearty breakfast at I-Hop, then took Bob and Gen out to Brooke Army Medical Center to get the staples removed from Bob's head. That took most of the morning. We stopped for a few groceries at H.E.M., then filled the tank of gas at 94¢ gal.
We ate a light lunch, then picked up Gen + drove her over to the podiatrist’s to have her nails trimmed. We all spent the afternoon resting + reading. Bert caught up on computer news.
Bert + I drove over to Luby’s for carry-out meals for dinner. Watched a little TV + went to bed early.
Dec. 5, 2001 San Antonio
We took Bob out to BAMC for blood work, then we rested in the afternoon. We got a roast chicken + salad at H.E.M. for dinner. Linda + Michael came over in the evening + we celebrated Bob and Gen's 55th wedding anniversary. Had a nice visit, swapped tales, took pictures + said good-night + God bless. This has been a very rewarding visit for all of us!
Dec. 6, 2001 S.A. – Baton Rouge
We got an early start on the first part of our trip home at 7:15. It was quite foggy most of the way to Houston, but we made good time arriving about 10:30.
We stopped at Wendy’s in Beaumont for lunch, then in La. We stopped at the Welcome Center where we checked for a motel.
Our drive through La. was rough with long delays because of construction.
We checked into a clean, comfortable + reasonably priced Sleep Inn at $42.95 in Baton Rouge, a distance of 474 miles that we drove, so we’ll have about 250 left to drive home tomorrow.
The Cracker Barrel Restaurant was next door, so we walked over for a good meal complete with screaming kids.
We watched Survivor and Millionaire + retired early.
In spite of two busloads of kids who came in for the night, it’s very quiet!
Dec. 7, 2001 Baton Rouge – Pensacola
We awakened to a heavy fog, so after breakfast we decided to wait awhile before heading home.
We finally left around 8:45 although we still had lots of fog to contend with.
At the Welcome Center in La. we were greeted by nice ladies who advised us where to stay and we filled out a form to send in rating their Center. It was very nice.
All the way across Miss. we had some fog + fine mist but it was better + driving conditions improved + we took it easy going across Miss.
By the time we got to the Ala. Welcome Center we were not only happy to see sunshine, but smiles on people's faces, even ours because we were nearly home!
L.S.U. banners were flying on lots of cars + I had my picture taken at the rest area with an SUV load parked next to us. They were enroute to Atlanta for the LSU-Tenn. game.
We arrived home around 1:30 - 725 miles from S.A.
Friday, December 7, 2001
Sunday, November 25, 2001
Thanksgiving Cruise (2001)
[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
Nov. 21, 2001 Pensacola – Jax
We had a safe, uneventful 7 hour trip, making stops for food and gas at Sam’s in Jax at 98.9¢ gal.
I made a chicken casserole which we ate, then packed for the trip tomorrow.
Nov. 22, 2001 Port Canaveral
Thanksgiving Day
We had a self-serve type breakfast, then loaded the van at 9:00 for the trip to Port Canaveral.
What usually takes two hours to arrive here was a three hr trip due to an accident on I-95 + we had to converge to one lane.
We had a quick McDonald’s lunch, and after a thorough check we checked into the lobby + were assigned our rooms on the 2nd deck of the Disney Wonder along with 2,000 other passengers.
Our accommodations are very nice + the kids are next door. We signed up for a glass-bottomed boat ride for tomorrow. Kent + Brynne will be going snorkeling.
Dinner this evening was a lovely traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Triton Restaurant. Tami, Bert + I checked out the gift store after we all enjoyed “Survivor” show on TV.
Nov. 23, 2001 Port Canaveral – Bahamas (Nassau)
We had a hearty breakfast at the Beach Blanket Buffet. Tami, Bert + I joined the tour to the Glass Bottom Boat + said adieu to Brynne + Kent who left for snorkeling.
We checked the shops after our tour which lasted several hours.
It was very crowded, but we were able to see some of the beautiful homes along the way including the late Mary Kay’s, Elvis’s, and the impressive Atlantis Hotel which Kent’s company had a part in its building.
Kent + Brynne joined the three of us at Scoops for a light lunch. They took off for more touring while dad + I opted for the pool + hot tub for a refreshing + relaxing exercise at the adults’ only pool on the 9th deck.
Dinner tonight was a special treat at the Animators Pilate. The Black + White motif became very colorful with all the Disney characters coming out in vivid colors.
The evening show “Hercules” was very entertaining for children as well as adults.
Nov. 24, 2001 Castaway Cay
After breakfast we disembarked and dad + I took a 1-1/2 mile walk out to the Senior Beach, enjoying the flora + fauna along the way. The kids went snorkeling at their beach. Dad + I took the tram back to the boat stopping at the P.O. to mail a card to Bob + Gen.
Dad + I ate at Parrots Cave + after lunch watched the first half of the Ohio State-Mich. Game, then went to the pool for a swim + relaxed in the whirlpool. Nice!
Dinner was also at Parrot Cay + it was fun being entertained by the servers doing a calypso routine.
We went to the Walt Disney Theatre for a delightful 1-1/2 hour show called Disney Dreams.
Took a few minutes to do some shopping – a visor for me, a T-shirt + tapes for Brynne and then back to the room for final disembark packing for the trip home, first to Jax, then on to visit Peg T tomorrow, and back to Pensacola Tues.
This is our (my) fifth tour [cruise] + I must say, the best accommodations of any including: Yokohama - Hong Kong, Rhine River, Alaska + Greece, Turkey + Israel.
Nov. 21, 2001 Pensacola – Jax
We had a safe, uneventful 7 hour trip, making stops for food and gas at Sam’s in Jax at 98.9¢ gal.
I made a chicken casserole which we ate, then packed for the trip tomorrow.
Nov. 22, 2001 Port Canaveral
Thanksgiving Day
We had a self-serve type breakfast, then loaded the van at 9:00 for the trip to Port Canaveral.
What usually takes two hours to arrive here was a three hr trip due to an accident on I-95 + we had to converge to one lane.
We had a quick McDonald’s lunch, and after a thorough check we checked into the lobby + were assigned our rooms on the 2nd deck of the Disney Wonder along with 2,000 other passengers.
Our accommodations are very nice + the kids are next door. We signed up for a glass-bottomed boat ride for tomorrow. Kent + Brynne will be going snorkeling.
Dinner this evening was a lovely traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Triton Restaurant. Tami, Bert + I checked out the gift store after we all enjoyed “Survivor” show on TV.
Nov. 23, 2001 Port Canaveral – Bahamas (Nassau)
We had a hearty breakfast at the Beach Blanket Buffet. Tami, Bert + I joined the tour to the Glass Bottom Boat + said adieu to Brynne + Kent who left for snorkeling.
We checked the shops after our tour which lasted several hours.
It was very crowded, but we were able to see some of the beautiful homes along the way including the late Mary Kay’s, Elvis’s, and the impressive Atlantis Hotel which Kent’s company had a part in its building.
Kent + Brynne joined the three of us at Scoops for a light lunch. They took off for more touring while dad + I opted for the pool + hot tub for a refreshing + relaxing exercise at the adults’ only pool on the 9th deck.
Dinner tonight was a special treat at the Animators Pilate. The Black + White motif became very colorful with all the Disney characters coming out in vivid colors.
The evening show “Hercules” was very entertaining for children as well as adults.
Nov. 24, 2001 Castaway Cay
After breakfast we disembarked and dad + I took a 1-1/2 mile walk out to the Senior Beach, enjoying the flora + fauna along the way. The kids went snorkeling at their beach. Dad + I took the tram back to the boat stopping at the P.O. to mail a card to Bob + Gen.
Dad + I ate at Parrots Cave + after lunch watched the first half of the Ohio State-Mich. Game, then went to the pool for a swim + relaxed in the whirlpool. Nice!
Dinner was also at Parrot Cay + it was fun being entertained by the servers doing a calypso routine.
We went to the Walt Disney Theatre for a delightful 1-1/2 hour show called Disney Dreams.
Took a few minutes to do some shopping – a visor for me, a T-shirt + tapes for Brynne and then back to the room for final disembark packing for the trip home, first to Jax, then on to visit Peg T tomorrow, and back to Pensacola Tues.
This is our (my) fifth tour [cruise] + I must say, the best accommodations of any including: Yokohama - Hong Kong, Rhine River, Alaska + Greece, Turkey + Israel.
Friday, October 19, 2001
8th Combat Cargo Squadron Reunion in Indianapolis (2001)
[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
10/13-19/2001: This is another 8th Combat Cargo Group [Squadron] Reunion. We took these trips every fall + this was an especially nice one because there was so much to see in this area + includes visiting with friends in Muncie, IN.
10/13/2001 Pensacola – Bowling Green, Ky.
We’re enroute to our WWII reunion in Indianapolis. Left home at 7:35 with a cloud cover + a promise of showers.
Our usual Rt. 65 through Montgomery + Birmingham was without incidence. The traffic was moderate with most motorists seemingly going to the Bama game.
Bert’s on the computer + I’m keeping tuned to the Seattle – Cleve. play off. Cleve won by a huge score 17-2.
We drove around in the rain looking for a place to eat + settled for Bob Evans.
We watched some more baseball + retired early. We drove 500 mi. in 8-1/2 hr. Good day!
10/14/2001 Bowling Green, Ky. – Indianapolis
After a good breakfast at the motel we left in the rain at 8:30 driving leisurely along Rt. 65 through Ky. + Ind. admiring the beautiful fall foliage and well kept farms.
I drove through Louisville and although there was a lot of construction, it wasn’t difficult because it’s Sun. and there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
We stopped at Wendy’s outside of Indianapolis. It was the cleanest + newest one we’ve been in for a long time.
After checking in at the Hampton Inn downtown, we unpacked + Bert went shopping for undershirts at Parisian.
We went down to the Pennsylvania room on the second floor for some good old comradery. There were 38 from the squadron plus W’s kids + grandkids who were celebrating their son’s 55th b.d.
Our dinner held at the Magic Moments Restaurant was within walking distance + we had a magician for our entertainment after a delightful meal in the Penthouse – 9th floor with a beautiful view of the city.
I was a big winner at the card game - $1.25. Yeah!
10/15/01 Indianapolis
We boarded the bus for a tour of the city at 9 am + it was an excellent 3 hr. tour.
The highlights are as follows: 1) State Capitol which houses all three branches of government. It took 10 yrs to build + it’s limestone + marble structure + interior are spectacular. Our guide in the afternoon was from Tipp City + we exchanged small world stories including Wellsville.
2) Universities – Ind. U. – Purdue U. + the I. U. Medical Center along the White River.
3) Ind. World War Memorial
*4) Cong. Medal of Honor Memorial along White R.
5) James Whitcomb Riley Home
6) Benjamin Harrison Home
7) Lockerbie Market Place – Cobblestone St., antique gas lights, similar to Greenwich Village in N.Y.C. Boutiques, art galleries, sidewalk cafes, antique shops + ethnic restaurants.
8) Canal Walk – USS Indianapolis National Memorial
*This Memorial has 27 curved glass walls representing 15 conflicts from the Civil War.
Bert + I walked at least 2 miles in the afternoon (skipped lunch) + for dinner.
We had a chicken salad at the Malibu Restaurant for dinner, then cards with the ladies. Fun day.
10/16/01 Indianapolis
This was a full day of activities: the Eiteljorg Museum, lunch at Dodd’s Farm Restaurant, dinner at the Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre + farewells on the bus ride back to the people leaving early in the am.
Eiteljorg – a museum of Amer. Indians + Western Art. Harrison Eiteljorg lived to be 94 + died 3 yrs ago. It refects his interest in the Taos, N.M. area. He donated 1,000 pieces of art from Africa + S. Pacific – also land in Indy for schools, a church + hospital.
Dodd’s Rest. The bus driver stopped enroute to the restaurant to let us tour the beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral – Gothic tower rises 212 ft. above the sidewalk + contains 54 bells from a 19# to 11,200# seven ft diam. Total wt of bells – 56,372#. A room inside houses all the Grand Masters’ pictures. The main entrance represents King Solomon’s Temple. Marble, Masonic emblems in walls – ballroom, auditorium, stage, + everything in 33 ft. representing Christ’s 33 yrs. Bronze chandelier center of auditorium weighs 2400#. It was completed in 1929.
Beef and Boards – The restaurant is in the round so that all 400 people have a view of the stage. We had a very nice buffet dinner + our seats were on the third level. We saw How to Succeed in Business + it was done very well – good voices!
Full day!
10/17/01 Indianapolis – Muncie
We had a nice leisurely breakfast with Bunny + Scotty W and Peg + Van Van H before checking out at 11 am. We arrived in Muncie about 1 pm + checked in with Carm + Walt M. They took us for a tour of Ball State U. after buying apples at the Minnetrista Apple Orchard. We saw + took pictures of “Dave Letterman’s Stadium,” the Ball Brothers columns, bell tower, alumni building, the flying Cardinals and toured the campus + town of Muncie.
Carm made a lovely meal for us. Pork chops on the grill, mashed potatoes, baked beans, rolls, salad, coffee and cream pie. Delicious.
We watched the Braves take the second game from Ariz. in the World Series play off. The score was 8-1, and that made up for yesterday’s loss of 2-0. Glavine pitched today + Maddux pitched yesterday.
We retired early – about 10:30.
Temp today in the 40’s, very windy.
10/18/01 Muncie – Cullman, Ala.
With frost on the van for the first time ever, we decided it was time to head South.
We left the M's at 8:15 and drove south on Rt. 69 to rt. 65 + 465 Bi-pass around Indianapolis.
We had lunch at Wendy’s and filled the tank in Bowling Green at $1.01 at Race-trak, then continued south with little traffic + good driving conditions. Bert drove through the big cities – Louisville + Nashville + I did a lot of the rest.
At Cullman, Ala. we stopped at a nicely furnished Comfort Inn using the $45 dollar coupon in the book we picked up at the Visitor Center. It’s a good thing we stopped here as I was so tired, I thought we were in Cullman, but it’s Athens, Ala. Very few people here + the room is large with 2 queen size beds, a microwave oven + small fridge.
We’re going to the Cracker Barrel for dinner. Drove 450 mi today + will go 350 tomorrow.
10/19/01
Athens, Ala. – Pensacola
What a beautiful day. Got off after a healthy breakfast at 8:15. We shed our jackets after a couple hours driving. In Bowling Green, Ky. we filled the tank because gas was just $1.01.
We skipped lunch, just had a delicious apple at a rest area.
I drove a lot today + got us through Birmingham without a hitch. Bert drove through Montgomery + at the rest area south of it, I drove the rest of the way.
We were coming into the home stretch + my co-pilot told me to go West + I always (?) follow directions, so we had to backtrack, take Exit 2, then follow I-10 to Exit 5 where we got off to go to pick up the mail at the post office.
We got home about 2:30, did laundry, put away the clothes, checked E-mail, had a quick TV dinners + watched the Braves-Ariz. game. We blew it – poor pitching + fielding. Score 5-1 Ariz. Boo-hoo!! (sad face) !!
10/13-19/2001: This is another 8th Combat Cargo Group [Squadron] Reunion. We took these trips every fall + this was an especially nice one because there was so much to see in this area + includes visiting with friends in Muncie, IN.
10/13/2001 Pensacola – Bowling Green, Ky.
We’re enroute to our WWII reunion in Indianapolis. Left home at 7:35 with a cloud cover + a promise of showers.
Our usual Rt. 65 through Montgomery + Birmingham was without incidence. The traffic was moderate with most motorists seemingly going to the Bama game.
Bert’s on the computer + I’m keeping tuned to the Seattle – Cleve. play off. Cleve won by a huge score 17-2.
We drove around in the rain looking for a place to eat + settled for Bob Evans.
We watched some more baseball + retired early. We drove 500 mi. in 8-1/2 hr. Good day!
10/14/2001 Bowling Green, Ky. – Indianapolis
After a good breakfast at the motel we left in the rain at 8:30 driving leisurely along Rt. 65 through Ky. + Ind. admiring the beautiful fall foliage and well kept farms.
I drove through Louisville and although there was a lot of construction, it wasn’t difficult because it’s Sun. and there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
We stopped at Wendy’s outside of Indianapolis. It was the cleanest + newest one we’ve been in for a long time.
After checking in at the Hampton Inn downtown, we unpacked + Bert went shopping for undershirts at Parisian.
We went down to the Pennsylvania room on the second floor for some good old comradery. There were 38 from the squadron plus W’s kids + grandkids who were celebrating their son’s 55th b.d.
Our dinner held at the Magic Moments Restaurant was within walking distance + we had a magician for our entertainment after a delightful meal in the Penthouse – 9th floor with a beautiful view of the city.
I was a big winner at the card game - $1.25. Yeah!
10/15/01 Indianapolis
We boarded the bus for a tour of the city at 9 am + it was an excellent 3 hr. tour.
The highlights are as follows: 1) State Capitol which houses all three branches of government. It took 10 yrs to build + it’s limestone + marble structure + interior are spectacular. Our guide in the afternoon was from Tipp City + we exchanged small world stories including Wellsville.
2) Universities – Ind. U. – Purdue U. + the I. U. Medical Center along the White River.
3) Ind. World War Memorial
*4) Cong. Medal of Honor Memorial along White R.
5) James Whitcomb Riley Home
6) Benjamin Harrison Home
7) Lockerbie Market Place – Cobblestone St., antique gas lights, similar to Greenwich Village in N.Y.C. Boutiques, art galleries, sidewalk cafes, antique shops + ethnic restaurants.
8) Canal Walk – USS Indianapolis National Memorial
*This Memorial has 27 curved glass walls representing 15 conflicts from the Civil War.
Bert + I walked at least 2 miles in the afternoon (skipped lunch) + for dinner.
We had a chicken salad at the Malibu Restaurant for dinner, then cards with the ladies. Fun day.
10/16/01 Indianapolis
This was a full day of activities: the Eiteljorg Museum, lunch at Dodd’s Farm Restaurant, dinner at the Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre + farewells on the bus ride back to the people leaving early in the am.
Eiteljorg – a museum of Amer. Indians + Western Art. Harrison Eiteljorg lived to be 94 + died 3 yrs ago. It refects his interest in the Taos, N.M. area. He donated 1,000 pieces of art from Africa + S. Pacific – also land in Indy for schools, a church + hospital.
Dodd’s Rest. The bus driver stopped enroute to the restaurant to let us tour the beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral – Gothic tower rises 212 ft. above the sidewalk + contains 54 bells from a 19# to 11,200# seven ft diam. Total wt of bells – 56,372#. A room inside houses all the Grand Masters’ pictures. The main entrance represents King Solomon’s Temple. Marble, Masonic emblems in walls – ballroom, auditorium, stage, + everything in 33 ft. representing Christ’s 33 yrs. Bronze chandelier center of auditorium weighs 2400#. It was completed in 1929.
Beef and Boards – The restaurant is in the round so that all 400 people have a view of the stage. We had a very nice buffet dinner + our seats were on the third level. We saw How to Succeed in Business + it was done very well – good voices!
Full day!
10/17/01 Indianapolis – Muncie
We had a nice leisurely breakfast with Bunny + Scotty W and Peg + Van Van H before checking out at 11 am. We arrived in Muncie about 1 pm + checked in with Carm + Walt M. They took us for a tour of Ball State U. after buying apples at the Minnetrista Apple Orchard. We saw + took pictures of “Dave Letterman’s Stadium,” the Ball Brothers columns, bell tower, alumni building, the flying Cardinals and toured the campus + town of Muncie.
Carm made a lovely meal for us. Pork chops on the grill, mashed potatoes, baked beans, rolls, salad, coffee and cream pie. Delicious.
We watched the Braves take the second game from Ariz. in the World Series play off. The score was 8-1, and that made up for yesterday’s loss of 2-0. Glavine pitched today + Maddux pitched yesterday.
We retired early – about 10:30.
Temp today in the 40’s, very windy.
10/18/01 Muncie – Cullman, Ala.
With frost on the van for the first time ever, we decided it was time to head South.
We left the M's at 8:15 and drove south on Rt. 69 to rt. 65 + 465 Bi-pass around Indianapolis.
We had lunch at Wendy’s and filled the tank in Bowling Green at $1.01 at Race-trak, then continued south with little traffic + good driving conditions. Bert drove through the big cities – Louisville + Nashville + I did a lot of the rest.
At Cullman, Ala. we stopped at a nicely furnished Comfort Inn using the $45 dollar coupon in the book we picked up at the Visitor Center. It’s a good thing we stopped here as I was so tired, I thought we were in Cullman, but it’s Athens, Ala. Very few people here + the room is large with 2 queen size beds, a microwave oven + small fridge.
We’re going to the Cracker Barrel for dinner. Drove 450 mi today + will go 350 tomorrow.
10/19/01
Athens, Ala. – Pensacola
What a beautiful day. Got off after a healthy breakfast at 8:15. We shed our jackets after a couple hours driving. In Bowling Green, Ky. we filled the tank because gas was just $1.01.
We skipped lunch, just had a delicious apple at a rest area.
I drove a lot today + got us through Birmingham without a hitch. Bert drove through Montgomery + at the rest area south of it, I drove the rest of the way.
We were coming into the home stretch + my co-pilot told me to go West + I always (?) follow directions, so we had to backtrack, take Exit 2, then follow I-10 to Exit 5 where we got off to go to pick up the mail at the post office.
We got home about 2:30, did laundry, put away the clothes, checked E-mail, had a quick TV dinners + watched the Braves-Ariz. game. We blew it – poor pitching + fielding. Score 5-1 Ariz. Boo-hoo!! (sad face) !!
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