On The Road Again - Day 3

218 miles / 351 km Lexington KY to Nashville TN gained one hour

Day 2 - 385 Miles - 620 Km  5 hours 51 mins Cranberry Township PA to Lexington KY

Day 1 - 298 Miles - 480 Km 4 hours 37 mins Toronto to Cranberry Township PA

Slept in and had our free breakfast. On the road by 10 AM. Dull and grey again as we drive through Lexington. Lots of horse farms, gorgeous estates.

Not quite sure what to make of this place.

The sun tried to come out as we approached Nashville but without much success.

We didn't stay downtown hotel rates were $200 and up because there is ICE and the Rockettes playing at the Opryland. We checked into the Best Western and then drove over to Music Valley, its webpage was enticing, not so the actual venue.
The traffic was horrendous. We did enjoy our visit to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. I will do a separate post on it later in the week.

On The Road Again - Day 2

385 Miles - 620 Km  5 hours 51 mins

Day 1 - 298 Miles - 480 Km 4 hours 37 mins

Dull, rainy day. We had breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9 AM. Uneventful, lunch at Subway. Rain through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and into Kentucky. And more rain as we head west.
Certainly didn't need this guy's services.

 Arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lexington KY around 3:30. I got a rate of $80 as it is under renovation. However, it did not state on the website that the restaurant was not open. Not a happy camper but managed to get free hot breakfast tomorrow for my inconvenience. He did suggest a couple of places that deliver.

Look UP Look DOWN

Look Up, Look Down challenge hosted by Travel With Intent.



I'm posting over at The Budget Travelers' Sandbox 

November 2013 - Disneyland Orlando Florida

Visiting China at Epcot feels like China!!

On The Road Again - Day 1

On the road again! Time to leave ol' Man Winter behind and to the mercies of Mother Nature!
This photo taken a week ago when Toronto had a light dusting of snow is enough to make one want to get outta town!

The first leg of this journey is a drive to Las Vegas. Our ETA is December 13 so we're not in a real rush.

298 Miles - 480 Km
4 hours 37 mins

Today, December 4, we left our place at 8AM, made a stop at Tim Horton's and then a stop to visit with friends. Back on the road by 10:15 we were crossing the Peace Bridge at around 11:30. 

Dry, sunny day.

Not busy, one car in front of us for the Nexus line, the "fast pre-approved line". The border guy spent so long with that car, which had US plates BTW that we joked (with each other) that the regular line was faster. He walked around it, asked for the keys to the trunk before he let the car through.

Our turn, where were we going, did we buy anything at duty free, yes, then how much, how much American cash did we have, how much Canadian. WHEW we made it.

Onto the Interstate.

Into Pennsylvania - roads are quiet.

Our destination is Cranberry Township in PA where we stopped last year on our way to Florida.

A missed turn and turnpike fees of $2.05 X 2 except the first guy didn't want the five pennies.

Settled in Hilton Garden Suites by 3:30. Dinner in hotel and early to bed.

Dinner - an experience....

We go down to the restaurant. Server is rushing around, says be with you in a sec. No worries. Brings us menus. I select the special, salmon. She comes back "out of salmon and BTW someone had ordered it and didn't really like it". I said,smiling, " I don't think you should be telling the guest that". She says "well, I want you to enjoy your meal". So as I decide, she says "don't you eat meat?". Yes I do, not the point. 

I have a Caesar's salad with shrimp. John had the pasta, where you select your pasta, sauce, protein and vegetable. 

Once again, her lack of training was evident as she tries to foist our bill on us. Fortunately she was charming. Overheard her chatting to an English diner about this and that and said what is a pound? And is Oxford in England.

Weekend Reflections - Disney

Posting at Weekend Reflections.

November 2013 - Orlando Florida

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

November 2012 - Sedona AZ

RANCHO CUCAMONGA

2008

Continuing with our travels along Route 66 featuring iconic motel signs and other landmarks.

November and December 2012 saw us taking our first winter sojourn away from cold and snowy Toronto. We drove across from Toronto to (eventually) Los Angeles and back in the spring of 2013. We made many stops along the towns of Route 66 on interstate 40.

Winter 2013 and spring 2014 saw us do the same trip but we took interstate 10, further south from Route 66.

A trip to Chicago gave us another Route 66 photo op.

In earlier years we had taken many vacations in California which also led to some Route 66 icons.

I am enjoying doing these posts as I research the hotels and motels along the way and learn many new things.
Wikipedia is usually my source.

The Glancy - Clinton OK
Blue Swallow Motel - Tucumcari NM
Wigwam Motel - Rialto CA
Holbrook AZ

Cotton Boll - Canute OK
Route 66 Museum - Clinton OK
El Rancho Hotel - Gallup NM
Will Rogers Hotel - Claremore OK
Bono's Fruit Stand - Fontana CA
Kingman AZ
Erick OK
Santa Rosa NM - cars
Santa Rosa NM

Shamrock TX

Vega TX
Elk City OK
McLean TX

McLean TX
Gallup NM
Gallup NM
Tucumcari NM
Tucumcari NM
Glen Rio NM
Glen Rio NM - cars
Cadillac Ranch TX
Barstow CA

November 2008 - Rancho Cucamonga CA

The Magic Lamp Inn on Foothill Blvd in Rancho Cucamonga opened in 1955. This restaurant has an eye-catching architecture, and a fantastic neon sign that epitomizes the era of Route 66.


In the 1940's and early 50's, it was Lucy and John's Cafe, owned by the Nosenzo family, featuring Italian cuisine. After the Nosenzo's sold the restaurant to Frank and Edith Penn and the Clearman family in 1955 guests no longer found themselves eating spaghetti. Instead, they ate steak and chicken inside the newly remodeled restaurant. Travelers were welcomed with a large "Magic Lamp" at the entryway.

The Magic Lamp Inn name was selected from a lottery drawing by the staff.

Madonna of the Trail is a series of 12 identical monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United States. The monuments were commissioned by the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). They were installed in each of the 12 states along the National Old Trails Road, which extended from Cumberland, Maryland, to Upland, California.

Created by sculptor August Leimbach and funded by contributions, the Madonna of the Trail monuments were intended to provide a symbol of the courage and faith of the women whose strength and love aided so greatly in conquering the wilderness and establishing permanent homes. Dedicated in 1928 and 1929, the twelve statues became sources of local pride. Through the continuing efforts of local and national groups, all are currently in good condition and on display.