Day 23 - Pittsburgh, P.A. - Saturday 28th August All of us slept through to our usual waking up time. For all of us it was the latest we had stayed in bed for years. Sammy didn't get up until 10:30 am and even then we had to wake him up. Today we experienced another great day of Pittsburgh hospitality. We lounged around in the morning and then were taken on a trip to a local coal mine. The fact that we wanted to go to a coal mine instead of doing more glamorous activities came as a surprise to some of our hosts. It was however a great trip and a learning experience for all of us. Pittsburgh and many of the surrounding areas prospered because of their coal mining and steel making enterprises. You may remember the trapped coal miners who were saved by drilling into the mine with a cage extractor several years ago. That was in this area. Our mine guide had worked underground for 40 or so years. He was probably 70 years old but was able to give us some great history and information. There is a picture of him in the Pittsburgh section of the photos I am about to publish. Then from about 4:00pm we were guests at a party of about 40 members of the Haberman and Wolfson families and man did we meet some characters. Uncle Bob, who had served in the Marine Corps and been in the 2nd World War, Korean War, Vietnam War and the 6 Day war in Israel and had also played as a line backer (I think this is the right term) in the U.S. equivalent of the F. A. Cup, the Rosebowl. Then there was Al, Nicks grandfather who had 9 children. It seems like we met most of them and their children. Now Al enjoys a beer. And he particularly enjoys an Iron City beer. So we shared a beer together (how hard can life get?). And what a great beer it was too - almost as good as Budweiser (that's just for you Nick!). We also met Nick's youngest uncle (Uncle Matt) who was only a few years older than him and his wife Traci who agreed to take us to church in the morning. All told it was the most fantastic evening. People were vying to talk to us. There was a line up at one stage! We just could not believe the hospitality. Thanks guys.

Day 22 - Pittsburgh, P.A. We woke up this morning in Lindsay's Mum and Dad's house. Everyone had left for work or school and Nick and Lindsay where still asleep on the lounge floor. Jesse, Lindsay's sister who is in high school (secondary school), starts her school day at 7:30am! A very early start but then she finishes at 2:30pm. We had bagels (a first) for breakfast and set off with Nick and Lindsay and Nick's father Dave, for an action packed tour of Pittsburgh. Unless you have been to Pittsburgh, you probably have no idea what this place is like. It is exceedingly hilly and the city is cossed by two rivers which are hugely wide. The Thames is a tiddly thing in comparison. There are many bridges that cross these rivers and some of them have great cliffs up their banks or near their banks. It looks very eastern european. The winding roads and hilly terrain are almost alpine in nature. We went up one of these cliffs in a funicular or cable operated rail car. Rather like the one they have in Hastings, except it was much longer. Then we saw a great fountain display that danced with music. The boys got soaking wet. This cooled them down significantly as this was the hottest day we had encountered this year. The temperature was in the 90 degree range and the humidity was extreme. We visited the railway station that has now been turned into a restaurant. We can report that the architecture of this building was superior to Grand Central Station in New York. Stupendous. We then went to Nick's university, saw his accommodation and visited the campus. To do this we had to travel through the Carnegie Museum (where Nick worked) and we saw some amazing exhibits. The university building itself was quite extraordinary. The building which was built in the great depression (I think this was around 1929/1930) is designed like a cathedral and is know as the cathedral of learning. It looks like a very tall Guildford catherdral (I think it has 40 or so stories) and inside on the ground floor it is just like the inside of a church but without any of the religious icons. We then went to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Great place with elephants, giraffe and gorillas. Can't see them in London zoo. Their aquarium was also very good. Perhaps even better (but not so extensive) as the Chicago one. The exhibits were all well labeled and well lit. Chicago aquarium is almost pitch black inside. Today we also had our best lunch since we arrived in North America. A really great sandwich and soup. In the evening we were entertained at Nick's parent's house and enjoyed a great pizza and salad and very good company. We really feel like we are one of the family. Thank you for making us so welcome.

Day 21 - Travel to Pittsburgh This was a full on travel day. Another 8 or so hours on the road. The trip meter on the car is now reading close to 3,000 klms. We are getting near to having done 2,000 miles in the car. You look at the map and those lakes look quite small. Then you start driving and driving. That 2 inches on the map turns out to be 2,000 miles. I think we bit off a little more than we thought. This will be a good lesson for the future when we do the southern part of the U.S. It was quite hard work today. The journey between the two places was very straight, flat and quite monotonous. We met our U.S. friends Nick and Lindsay, at a junction just off the Pennsylvania turnpike at around 7:30pm. We left Mum and Paul to go on by themselves and to return to Oakville. Nick and Lindsay took us back to Lindsay's parents house where we were received by their families. There were at least 10 of them and they had prepared a BBQ and reception party for us. We were quite overwhelmed and delighted to have finally met up with many of those we had got to know vicariously whilst Nick and Lindsay had been with us in the U.K. What a lovely surprise.

Day 20 - Lancing, Illinois (just south of Chicago) After about 3 and half hours on the road today we arrived in Chicago. This is one of my favourite places. The city has the perfect skyline. Better somehow than New York. It is better proportioned and with the back drop of Lake Michigan it is truly wonderous. We went immediately to the museum area and parked under the Soldiers Field Stadium. Home to the Chicago Bears football team. Then we went to the aquarium. Magic. Really wanted to do the river tour of the city but the boys have been on a few recently (and it's always raining when we do the boat tours) that they could not be persuaded. Since we did it on our last visit, we agreed to pass this time. We had dinner on Navy Pier in a restaurant with a live jazz band who were most entertaining. Just so that you know; I have put a page hit counter on the bottom of this weblog. You will see that this page has had over 300 hits. I can also tell how many new and returning visitors there have been. I am hoping to be able to post a graph which you should see above at some time. No, from all this information, I can't tell who you are. That is until I pay the GBP14.99!! How curious am I? If you are at all interested in this useless information, you can follow the statistics for this site here: http://my.statcounter.com/project/standard/stats.php?project_id=368565&guest=1 And just in case you think I'm cheating, the little bit of software that does all the counting, automatically refuses to count any page look ups done by me. So I am not inflating the figures when I go and have a look myself.

Day 19 - Wisconsin Dells What a magic day. We enjoyed not having to get in the car and travel today. This was the first, "second day" in the same place since we left Oakville on day 16. Does that make sense? Actually seems like we left Oakville about 3 weeks ago. Today we were interviewed live in the studios of the local radio station about our trip (WDLS AM900 - also on www.wdlsam.com - you can listen to the station live here and check the weather), Sammy and I created (but with no fault) a car accident (estimate of damages $2,500 for the 2 cars), we went on a great boat ride up the Wisconsin river, went swimming, had a sauna, got soaking wet in the rain and saw a brilliant theatrical magic show (vanishing people, invisible people, levitation - the works) but not necessarily in that order. I am so breathless with excitement that I am completely knackered. Everyone is asleep again (it's 11:15pm local time) and I really can't do anymore. I will continue about some of the above escapades at another time. Tomorrow we are up early (again) to get back on the road. We should be in Chicago by lunchtime. We want to do the river boat tour (another boat tour?) and visit the aquarium which Julie and I did about 10 years ago.

Day 18 - Menominee to Wisconsin Dells Another day of driving and then we arrive at the Wisconsin Dells. This is an area around the Wisconsin river. It has the most amazing river formations and stone outcrops which were created in a 5 day period 14,000 years ago. I not sure how they know this but this is the story that they give you. I will post some pictures in due course. I first came here 28 years ago when I was 18 or 19 and doing the U.S. on a 3 month Greyhound bus pass. I remembered that it was worth visiting so that is why we came again. When we arrived the place was practically deserted. It has over 100 motels so we were able to find a good one which was also very cheap. A huge room, TV etc, indoor (heated) and outdoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi, launderette (cost $1) for $50 per night. Almost for free. The reason the place was deserted is that the season is over. Most of the schools around here (not in Canada) went back this week. Also the weather for the last 10 days has been so bad (rain and cool temperatures) that the tourist trade has died. We arrived and the boys immediately went swimming. Seems like you can go to all sorts of amazing places but what the boys really want is a bit of water, a bit of food, a couple of balls and they are happy, happy, happy. Mind you we have been making them do a journal everyday and they are also doing a Kumon English paper and Maths paper everyday. Sometimes they do it willingly other times it's really hard work. Because this is a holiday resort there are literally 100s of things to do here. So we are all trying to get everyone else to agree to what we want. As with all things here in the U.S. For us there is so much choice that it drives you to a standstill. I'm sure we will end up doing something.

Day 17 - Espanola (Northern Ontario) to Menominee (Wisconsin, U.S.A) Another great adventure. We went to an Anglican church in Thessalon (very like Thessalonika which is very biblical) in Northern Ontario, Canada. There was only a congregation of 9. None of them under 70. The six of us nearly doubled their size. The preacher (vicar/pastor) was excellent. She had been in the Canadian forces and you could tell she was up for the job. She spotted us straight away and welcomed us in. Her uncle lives in Chichester and she had studied in England. In her sermon she told us how her house had been broken into whilst she had been on holiday. After what we wrote the other day about leaving your car unlocked, we were very surprised at this revelation. But she wove the story into a sermon about Rebecca that was absolutely stunning. She then invited the boys up to help her with all the candles. After the service she really didn't want us to go and invited us to lunch with the congregation. However, time was of the essence and we had to get back on the road. Mum and Paul need to be home in Oakville by Friday or Saturday next week. We crossed the bridge into the U.S. where Lake Huron meets Lake Superior and then drove down the coast of Lake Michigan. We went through the Hiawatha National Forest (they were having a Pow Wow - really!). We also saw chipmunks today, which are mice like creatures with stripes down their backs - very cute. In the past 2 days we have traveled 1,200 kilometers. Such fun when you fill up with petrol and it only costs GBP17.50. My old blue van cost me GBP60.00 a pop but gas in the U.S. is around 30p per litre. Also we are staying in these fabulous motels. We get a double double bedded room (4 beds) for the whole family for $55 per night. This is around GBP28.00. This included continental breakfast, internet connection, 72 (only) channels of TV, clean towels, air conditioning. What more could you want? We are all getting sore bottoms from too much sitting in the car but we are having great games of eye-spy (I spy something beginning with T - come on Dad not another tree!) and singing songs on the way - very John boy Walton.

Day 16 - Oakville to Espanola (Northern Ontario) Today we set off on the first real driving part of our trip. Almost a whole day in the car traveling from Toronto to Tobermorary on the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. From here we went on the equivalent of a small cross channel ferry across the Lake to Manatoulin Island. Around the lake there are lots of very picturesque lighthouses which we took pictures of for my father as he used to be a lighthouse keeper, there are also lots of small islands which gives a very Swallows and Amazons feel to the place. The scenery is very reminiscent of the lake district. The weather has been just perfect sun but not to hot so lots of great scenic views across the lakes. The boys have seen beaver dams today at several locations as well as a few unfortunately dead raccoons at the side of the road. They also got to smell skunk for the first time to which Julian remarked "the smell isn't too bad, I could have one as a pet!" (I don't think so). We have been through "apple country" and are staying in a "paper town" tonight. There is a huge paper processing factory a the edge of the town that has its own hydro electric powerplant next door that Sammy referred to as "a small Hoover dam". .e have also experienced in a very small town a public toilet where there were fresh cut wildflowers and lovely soap in the ladies!!!! (and the Gents). Something England could certainly emulate. Toady was a great adventure.

We are travelling from Toronto to Manatoulin Island, Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay, Chicago and then to Pittsburgh (south east of Cleveland). 

Day 15 - Oakville

We spent the whole day today painting the inside of the house downstairs. Julie and I managed 2 coats of paint on the kitchen, dining room and family room. Non stop. But no change there. We were doing that for the last 3 or 4 weeks before we left. At least Julie was.

Tomorrow we are setting off for the Great Lakes tour. Setting off north in the car from Oakville and heading up to Tobermoray. This is the peninsula between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Then taking the ferry across to Manatoulin which is the largest inland island in the world and then driving up to Sault Ste. Marie. Then we go across the border into the US and head south through Wisconsin, ending up in Chicago.

We are then going to go and visit Nick and Lindsay in Pittsburgh. They were students who stayed with us at 74 King Edwards Gardens for about 3 months this year. We are really looking forward to this as they were great house guests for us and it will be so interesting to meet them in their homes. One of the benefits of having so many people live with us over the years. It's time to go see them.

We may be "off the air" for a few days if we are unable to connect on our travels. We will take my Mum's laptop with us but since Julian loaded up Age of Empires - Titans Expansion (about 3 GB of stuff) this computer has struggled to stay afloat. We will be in touch.

Day 14 - Oakville

Was very dull when we woke up this morning. The flooring men arrived to lay new lino in the kitchen and bathrooms. Just when we thought the building work was finished. There is lots to do on this house. It's 25 years old and by North American standards, is now very much last years model. The houses are built here to very poor standards and just about everything needs replacing. All the windows are shot so we are having many of those replaced. We will be setting up the house for renting after we leave in November, so it needs to be in tip top condition.

I set off with the boys at 11:00 am to find the local swmming pool. After finding one that had closed for it's annual maintenance, I found one some way away just as it was closing it's morning session. Got back home 1 and half hours after I had left and we were all dry.

We went off to the pool after lunch and had a great swim in a fantastic pool which was part of a local community centre. Unbelievable ammenities in these centres. Just about everything you could imagine and more. All brand spanking new. No rubbish, no graffiti and clean, clean, clean.

Julie is showing some signs of relaxing. She managed a smile and a laugh today. We might all be getting back to a normal pace of life at last. I think we are catching up with our sleep.

I spoke to several people in the office at home today. It seems when I do this that I am still there and I cannot believe the distance that is between us. They all seem cheery enough and business carries on. I can't remember the last time that I had no responsibilities in this area and it's quite difficult not to be asking people to do things or to be checking up on something. I miss it. Not from the point of view of telling people what to do but mainly because it all gave me a purpose. Who are we without out purpose?

Day 13 - Oakville

 

We took the kids to see a school today.  It's a private Waldorf Steiner school.  Very different from anything else they have experienced at school so far.  Julian's godfather is a teacher at a Waldorf school in England, so we know quite a bit about the system. 

 

Sammy was very interested as he would be doing some woodwork.  Julian could not see any computers anywhere and was sure they were going to put him in the wrong year group.  They start school a year later here so he would be in the year group (by name) that he has just done.  More schools to see over the next week or so.

 

We will probably leave on Friday for a trip around the great lakes, taking in Chicago as well.  We have been there before and it is a glorious city.

 

Trying to sort out a good way to post all (or at least the best ones) photos on a web site.  Also trying to put together a mailing list to send a round robin type letter to about 75 people.  Anyone who knows of a good bit of software for doing this, please let me know.  Many of the ISPs do not allow multiple mailings and restrict you to a much smaller number of addressees.  I need a mailing list e-mail programme or at least a way of doing it easily with Outlook Express.  Please let me know.  Either post a comment or e-mail me at the usual "londonboards at hotmail dot com". 

 

I know I have lost a day somewhere but it was probably so routine that there was nothing to report!

Preparing the boat for the "off" 

Setting off from the house for the Hamilton Harbour trip

The Captain