Dayton and Wellsville (2010)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

We drove to Dayton for a WWII reunion with friends + that was fun.  On our return trip to Pensacola, we detoured to Wellsville for my high school reunion.

6/27/10 Pensacola – Goodlettsville, Tenn

We got packed early + headed north at 7:45 – 9 Mile Rd – Rt. 29 – Rt 65 through Montgomery – Birmingham – following 65 all the way to Goodlettsville which is just north of Nashville.

We have a very nice room at the *** Comfort Inn for $80.00 plus tax.  There wasn’t much traffic, so the best time to travel through Nashville is on a Sun.

We drove 450 miles today in 8 hrs.  Had a good meal at the Olive Garden.  No sign of a poor economy.

6/28/10 Goodlettsville – Dayton

$80 motel + $17 in taxes!

We started out at 7:45, filled the tank, $2.65 - $47.00, and headed north on Rt. 65 all the way to Louisville cutoff where we took Rt. 71 thru Cincy, then Rt 75 to Dayton.  What beautiful green scenery + rolling hills!  We stopped for a Skyline Chili hot dog + cheese in Sharonville.  Yummy!

When we got to our Hope Hotel at WPAFB, Pug + Doris W, Peg + "Van" VanH were already here + we joined them for dinner.  Lovely place!  It was a 6 hr. drive + the mileage now reads 797.

June 29, 2010 Dayton – WPAFB

This was an interesting day spent at the US AForce Museum.  In addition to seeing all the many airplanes from the Wright Bros., we took in all the fast super jets plus the IMAX Theatre show of the Hubble Space Craft.  We drove the Van Hs, Pug + Doris W + spent most of the day there.  Had an early dinner here at the hotel with the above + Hs from Nashville, Ind.  Our 8th Combat Cargo Grp. [Squadron] is now made up of few guys and gals.  We’ve had fun over the years + are grateful for the comaradary.

June 30, 2010 Dayton – Wellsville – 807 mi

Marathon Gas - $2.69

Delicious Wendy lunch at Dalton on Rt. 30.  From Dayton – Columbus Rt. 75, then Rt. 71 to Mansfield.  Then Rt. 30 took us through many small towns: the only one that gave us any trouble was Wooster.  We had a little trouble finding Days Inn but our room is the best one we’ve had so far.  Ponti’s Restaurant was excellent for dinner!

The mileage to Lisbon is 1032.

We had to check out Oakhill Ave in Fairborn + it looked very good for 50+ year old houses.  We followed Rt. 70 to Columbus, then 71 to Mansfield, then followed Rt. 30 through Canton-Minerva + into Lisbon where we found detours due to construction to Days Inn – see 6/29.

July 1st – We spent most of the day in Wellsville.  Checking in at the Alumni Center where they were setting up for the ’43 ’44 ’45 dinner.  Had lunch at Riverside Presby. Church + toured the beautiful structure including the “new” elevator.  Talked with a lot of classmates.  Next stop – the picturesque River Museum.  After spending some time viewing the beautiful Ohio R., we returned to Days Inn to get ready for the dinner.  Jackie + Vic McI sat with us.  Millie + Pat C came in late so we didn’t have time to talk.

July 2nd – Mileage today is 1210.  Today we visited the Jefferson County Historical Museum + Library where the gentleman was very helpful looking up Hs.  We also stopped at the Jefferson County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society in Wintersville but it was closed.

Before we set out for Steubenville, we checked death records at the Lisbon Courthouse. The only H we could find was Great G’pa Dr. Thomas T + he died from pneumonia.  He owned a drug store at 13th + Main in Wellsville.

These are the winding routes: 30, 164, 43 – Steubenville

7, 152, 213 to Wellsville

7, 45 to Lisbon

Our search for tomb stones of Dr. G.D. H in 2 Knoxville cemeteries was in vain.

We stopped in Wellsville for the Alumni parade.  Then we drove to Bob Evans in Calcutta for a late dinner.  Full day!

July 3rd – Wellsville

Today was fun!  We started out at 10 am for the Scholarship Luncheon at the Alumni Center. The food was plentiful + a number of students were honored + about 100 people attended.  I’m glad to be a donor to this worthwhile fund.  We visited with Millie + Pat C + the McIs – Vic + Jackie.  Toured the new Wellsville Library, had our car washed at the Dairy Queen – money raiser – girls’ volleyball team, then headed back to Lisbon + Days Inn.

We rested a little while back at the Days Inn before heading back to Wellsville’s gym where about 800 alumni met for a fun evening.  The Scro Bros entertained us with their renowned harmonica playing.  We bid farewell to cousin Bill H, Millie + Pat + the McIs.

July 4th 2010 – Mileage from Lisbon 1279

Our routes today included Rt. 30 from Lisbon – Canton going through beautiful towns of Hanoverton + Minerva before traveling down thru W. Va. on Rt. 77 to Rt. 81 into Bristol, Tenn. + staying overnight at an upscale Hampton Inn.  I love the state of Va. – scenery prettier than W. Va.  We drove 429 miles today + we lucked out on the weather.

July 5th – Our trip today began at 8:30 + our mileage when we arrived in Prattville was 882 + we made it safely in 8-1/2 hours.  This was our route: Bristol, Tenn. – Knoxville, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Ala. + Prattville where we’re spending the night.  We stopped just north of here + bought peaches.  The only accident we saw on our entire trip were two south of Birmingham.  It appeared there were no fatalities – just speeders.

July 6 – Prattville, Ala. – Home to Pensacola

882 mileage this far

Last night we treated ourselves to one of my favorite restaurants – the Longhorn Steak House.  I totaled all our receipts for the trip + that includes gas, food, lodging + incidentals + the total tab was about $1500 + that averages $150.00 a day.

It’s been a great trip which included a lot of beautiful country, seeing good friends from high school + WWII days + sharing many memories.  By placing our finger on our right nostril + breathing hard (inhaling) on the left nostril we seem to jog the memory part of the brain!!

We’re home now and our apartment seems so spacious.

It has been a great trip – cool 70-80 degree weather + we didn’t use the windshield wipers all 2100 miles until we entered Escambia County + Pensacola.

Glad to be home.