Chicago - 2nd Largest City in America

Saturday, August 9, 2008
After going through yet another toll highway, we are close to Chicago. We called Owen's cousin but our battery died before we could make concrete plans. He did however tell us the best way to enter the city. We decided to brave the streets and give it a try. We entered the downtown core around 2:15. We drove around and took in the great buildings and architecture. We got a little lost because we were in the wrong lane and couldn't get over to exit where we were supposed to and finding parking was a challenge. We finally found a spot after driving around for an hour. We took the bus to our destination. Navy Pier.


We decided that with the little time that we had and with all the kids that we should just pick one spot to see. From the bus we people watched, it was clean and there were lots of greenery planted.
It is a bustling city. We got off and walked to the Navy Pier, we rode the ferris wheel and the carousel and the kids rode on a lighthouse ride. We had a quick bite to eat and the kids took in a puppet show.


We decided to walk back along the waterfront. It took us about an hour. The wind was picking up and there were some dark clouds looming but it was still warm. We got back to the RV around 8:00 and managed a call to Owen's cousin to quickly get directions. We arrived around 9:30 and visited. The kids became fast friends, Olivia and Ruby slept in their house. Max and Isabel reveled at getting their own beds in the RV. We went to bed just before 12:00. It's nice to visit with family and catch up.

Niagara Falls - Fort Erie

Friday, August 8, 2008
The rain was still following us, we decided to do Niagara Falls first and then Fort Erie. We drove by first and then found parking. There was too much tourist stuff being marketed everywhere. We enjoyed the falls and then left. We had to find a dumping site because we discovered that our grey water was backing up into the shower/tub. It was stinky! Luckily there wasn't much in there.
Fort Erie was a hub of activity. They were getting ready to reenact "the Siege". We did a self guided tour, watched a mortar round being fired. I learned how they baked cookies, Max and Owen dressed up.


We stayed for quite awhile and then left for Kirtland. Owen mentioned going to a buffet, the kids were jumping in their chairs with excitement. We hadn't eaten much all day, just snacking on things so we were prepared for a feast. Olivia especially ate her money's worth and more.
When we got to the Kirtland temple, Max and Isabel discovered things glowing in the bushes. Fireflies! They were successful in catching one and we let it go before we left. We had no luck in taking pictures of any.
We are heading for Chicago, Owen has a cousin there he hasn't see for awhile.

Palmyra

Thursday, August 7, 2008
We arrived in Palmyra around 2:30. There are a lot of toll highways or we seem to be taking a lot. We had lunch and then took a tour...we walked through the Sacred Grove and enjoyed being in a quiet place for awhile.


We could hear crickets and even the brook gurgling. It was very peaceful.We went to some other sites...printing press...Hill Cumorah, the kids rolled up and down the hill as Owen and I caught our breath.


Then we headed for Niagara Falls. We want to get there tonight so that we can start the day without having to drive. We had lots of lightning and thunder.

The Chocolate City of Canada

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
We started driving right away, we decided to go through St. John's and then through St. Stephens. We drove by the reversing falls in St. John's but because of the weather we didn't stop. By the time we got to St. Stephens the weather was looking better and it is also home of Ganong Chocolate. We of course had to go to the chocolate museum where you could eat as many chocolate samples as you wanted. The museum wasn't very big but it was very interesting. We let the kids have free reign so we aren't sure how many chocolates they ate but they were pretty high strung when we left. Owen thinks he had 13 chocolates...Jack says he only had 1 but no one believes him.


We headed for the border and had to give up our oranges. We decided to skip going into Boston because we didn't know where to go and we learned that driving with a 28 foot vehicle isn't very easy when you don't know where you are going. We drove crazy...almost ran out of gas...we missed rest area after rest area until we finally pulled over at 2:00 in the morning just outside of Albany, New York. Look on a map, from Moncton, New Brunswick to Albany, New York!!!

Halifax, Nova Scotia-The Atlantic Ocean

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The weather finally is looking like it's going to clear up. We headed for the Citadel and were just in time to get a tour with Private Lee. The kids had scavenger hunt lists and at the end of the tour turned them in for a free cookie. We watched them fire the canon at 12:00. We learned that this Citadel was never attacked. There was a really good film called " A Harbour worth defending". After the Citadel, we drove around and made our way to Pier 21, this is where anyone coming or going into the country would have come through. It only took 5-12 days to cross the Atlantic.


We walked around the waterfront and downtown, it took us awhile to find the legislative buildings. They were tucked away between buildings. It was the only other time we had to go through security. This was the first legislative building in Canada. Max is thinking about a career in politics.


We walked around a lot and ended up at the waterfront market area for dinner. We promised Olivia that we would get lobster. We ended up getting calamari, chowder, tips & chips (not fish & chips)and lobster. Olivia decided that she likes calamari better. Max liked the lobster but thought it was pretty chewy.


After we got ice cream at a Cow's Ice Cream Parlor. There were a ton of spin-offs to the cow theme...Hannah Mootana...Moo Moo Lemon...Steer bucks...Lightning MooQueen etc..Max found a sign it said "When life gives you a pile, spread it over your tomato patch", he thought that was pretty funny.
We headed back to Moncton, the weather on the East Coast hasn't been great. We hope that it gets better inland. Here's the kids crashed out.

PEI-Charlottetown

Monday, August 4, 2008
It poured all night!!! Big drops that hit the RV and were loud enough that I woke up. I was even more grateful to be in the RV and felt for those who were in tents. I woke up to finish up some laundry. Max and Owen fixed a fantastic breakfast, then we headed out to check things out..first we checked out the beach but it was windy and foggy. Owen wasn't going swimming.


Then we headed to Green Gables Village,Isabel and I checked it out. I got a book that claimed to be the story of the "true" Anne, it will be interesting to read. Isabel saw some neat sayings on T-shirts..."Chocolate makes my clothes shrink...I would stop eating chocolate but I'm no quitter...I never met a chocolate that I didn't like".


After that we headed to Charlottetown. We found a local restaurant and had fish & chips, clams and chowder. The waitress was really great and took a lobster out for Jack and made it wave to her. Jack just wanted to look at lobster after that.
We went to Founder's Hall and did a tour. We all learned something about Confederation. There was lots of stuff happening.

It was getting late so we quickly went to the legislature and looked around. It was very much in the same style as the building in Fredericton. Simple. Sandstone.

It started to rain and the forecast for the next few days was for more rain. We decided to head for Nova Scotia via the ferry. We made in time to catch the last ferry. Owen has a bit of a reprieve from driving. BC Ferries are mini cruise ships. That's all I'm going to say. We drove to Dartmouth and parked at Mic Mac Mall. It's still raining...

Moncton - PEI

Sunday, August 3, 2008
Well even though we parked in the church parking lot we were still late for church. It was a small ward and I definitely appreciate how well organized we are back in Victoria. We headed out after a quick lunch for PEI, it was still raining on and off and the clouds were pretty dark. We headed over the Confederation bridge. It is 14 km long and there isn't much to it as far as construction. There's not a whole lot between the side of the road and the ocean far below. Owen was a little nervous because it was windy but we made it over.


The first thing that we noticed is that the dirt is red. We of course made plans to fill a bag to bring home. We headed through the island to Cavendish where the Anne of Green Gables village is and we got the last RV spot at the PEI National Park. The kids played at the playground and beach. It was wet enough that we were able to have a fire. So the kids made smores.


The scenery is beautiful, we only wished the sun was shining even just a little. Maybe tomorrow it will clear.