Traveler Bill of Country Victoria

Day 13: I have been advised to not mess with Texas

April 11, 2016

Mississippi – Louisiana – Texas

Today was a day of crazy weather and a long drive that ended up feeling much shorter than it was.

We were on the road out of Jackson before 10 and was looking forward to our second picnic of the Great American Road Trip™.

Unfortunately a hard driving rain scotched that idea by mid morning. Had we prepped by stocking up before leaving we could have eaten at the District 5 Rest Stop on Interstate 20 in Louisiana. It was immaculately maintained and had covered picnic tables.

The Chief checking out the flora of the Rest Stop

Instead we forged on to Minden Louisiana where we stopped at “Johnny’s Pizza”. A regional chain I have seen over the last couple days. We opted for the lunch buffet which was better than we expected.

Hungry Travelers

The back seat crew opted to nap from Minden to the Louisiana-Texas border. As such they missed out on the Vegas-y skyline on Shreveport. We initially planned to spend the night in Shreveport but Traveler Nell suggested we drive until Tyler, Texas so we could dine at a well regarded local BBQ restaurant.

Which is what brought us to Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-BQ restaurant in Tyler, Texas.

Getting Ready for some genuine Texas Hill Country Bar-BQ.
It was better than it looked.

The it was back to the hotel for the night. And hour or so after we had been in a park letting The Chief play off his dinner we were watching a torrential downpour out or hotel window.

Traveler Nell lives to post radar images.

The crazy thing is that Shreveport and Jackson were hit way worse. Roads in Shreveport were under water after 3.5 inches of rain. Luckily Traveler Nell has a knack for scheduling.

Road Trip Tally

April 11

Distance Today: 343.4 mi/552.6 km
Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
Total Distance: 2,560.8 mi/4,121.2 km
Driving Time: 6:01 today/49:18 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 11.296 gal/42.760 L
Gas price: $1.759/gal-$0.464/L
Mileage for leg: 30.50 mpg/12.97 km/L
Mileage for trip: 32.27 mpg/13.69 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $19.87
Amount budgeted: $48.79
$28.92 UNDER budget for leg
$110.49 UNDER budget for trip

Food Budget $50/day

4/11 expenditures: $36
Today UNDER Budget: $14
Food expenditures to date: $634
Grand total UNDER budget: $16

Day 12: Hotter Than A Pepper Sprout

April 10, 2016

Tennessee – Mississippi

We have stayed in a lot of Marriott properties over the past couple years. And while it is unfair to compare a Fairfield Inn to Grosvenor House in London it was hard for me to separate my experience at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center the night before. So I’ll give the Memphis Fairfield Inn the benefit of the doubt and just be glad it is in our rear view mirror.

Glad to be heading out of town

But before we hit the road we did stop by Sun Records and Graceland. The wall in front of Elvis’ mansion is covered with graffiti. While I don’t know why people feel compelled to deface the wall like that, I’m sure it gives Lisa Marie a great deal of comfort.

Thankyewvurrymush

Then it was on the open road. Pretty much a straight drive south to Jackson. We did have a pit stop in Granada Mississippi for lunch. Traveler Nell ran into a store and we got fixins for a picnic and we grabbed a table in the Hugh White State Park.

Greetings From Picturesque Granada!

Everyone we’ve met in the South has been absolutely lovely and friendly. While we are everyone who drove past waved. This local even stopped by the table.

While it was just a garter snake I still jumped 10 feet

One thing about road trips is that it is hard to keep a regular routines. And with our one and a half year old routines are important. So when we couldn’t make it to Mass in Memphis we were determined to attend here in Jackson.

Now, Traveler Nell is a fan of traditional Roman Catholic liturgy. So when the only Mass in our timeframe was a “teen” Mass down the street she was skeptical. Then, when we arrived to see it was a Confirmation Mass in a 1970’s era church I was sure that there would be head shakes and eye rolls. But the ceremony was lovely and it made us even more convinced that parishes are built on the priest, not the church building.

Congratulations to all the Confirmed

With daylight waning we knew we had to get something to eat. As much of Jackson’s local eateries closed on Sunday we resigned ourselves to chain restaurant dining. Our regular spot, Cracker Barrel, was next door to the Outback Steakhouse. The idea of eating at an Aussie themed establishment was too delightful to pass up.

No Rules, Just Right!™

Road Trip Tally

April 10

Distance Today: 239.7 mi/385.3 km
Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
Total Distance: 2,217.2 mi/3,568.2 km
Driving Time: 5:11 today/43:17 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 7.266 gal/27.505 L
Gas price: $1.789/gal-$0.47/L
Mileage for leg: 33.26 mpg/14.14 km/L
Mileage for trip: 32.57 mpg/13.85 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $13.00
Amount budgeted: $9.89
$3.11 OVER budget for leg
$81.57 UNDER budget for trip

Food Budget $50/day

4/10 expenditures: $41
Today UNDER Budget: $9
Food expenditures to date: $598
Grand total UNDER budget: $2

Day 11: Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

April 10, 2016

Tennessee

This morning we reluctantly Bid farewell to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center-A Marriott Property. The people were so nice and the amenities amazing.

Saying goodbye to valet parking and bellhop service

Before we left however we had to eat breakfast. We typically stay at lesser Marriott properties where breakfast is complimentary. No such luck at the Opry. Bringing The Chief to a restaurant was impractical so we decided on room service. After surcharges and taxes the price was $71!!! Worth every penny as is convenience was equaled by quality.

A $71 breakfast

Our first stop of the day was Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. I have a dear friend who – owing to a curmudgeonly nature – is affectionately referred to by some as “Old Hickory” or our seventh presidents nickname. Unfortunately Tennesseans like to get married at plantations on Spring Saturdays. And bus loads of people.

Call me “Dollar Bill”

After this it was three hours plus in a relatively straight line to Memphis. I’ll say this about our hotel. The shower is good.
But dinner was at Central BBQ. Traveler Nell found this spot and it was terrific.

Heading in for some Memphis ‘Cue.

Road Trip Tally

April 8

Distance Today: 220.8 mi/355.3 km
Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
Total Distance: 1,744.1 mi/2,806.9 km
Driving Time: 4:48 today/38:06 total

April 9

Distance Today: 233.3 mi/375.5 km
Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
Total Distance: 1,977.5 mi/3,182.5 km
Driving Time: 4:05 today/42:11 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 11.033 gal/41.764 L
Gas price: $1.749(!)/gal-$0.461/L (Lowest price yet!)
Mileage for leg: 32.48 mpg/13.81km/L
Mileage for trip: 32.49 mpg/13.81 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $19.30
Amount budgeted: $23.85
$4.55 UNDER budget for leg
$84.68 UNDER budget for trip

Food Budget $50/day

4/8 expenditures: $129 (includes the $71 breakfast)
Today OVER Budget: $79
Food expenditures to date: $557
Grand total OVER budget: $7

Day 10: Music City Miracle

April 8, 2016

Indiana – Kentucky – Tennessee

Today was a day of stark differences. We awoke this morning in the plain, but comfortable Archabbey at Saint Meinrad in Indiana. It was us and a school group of two dozen third graders.

We took our time and hit the road for Santa Claus Indiana which reminded me a lot of Lake George New York. It was a drive through visit, we didn’t even stop at the 1970’s feel Catholic Church for the parish of Saint Nicholas. (Seriously!)

Then, as mentioned yesterday, we cut a swath through Kentucky in an effort to get to Nashville as soon as possible to take advantage of staying at the Opryland Resort. Right before we crossed into Tennessee we saw this.

Crows Caw! from Traveler Bill on Vimeo.

So after putting the pedal to the metal we needed to eat lunch. Traveler Nell suggested we eat at the Loveless Cafe. This was apparently featured in an episode of Dawson Creek and has ever since been the site of countless girls lining up to take their photos in front of the signage.

There was a 45 minute wait for a table but only 15 for takeout. Luckily there were pic-a-nic tables for us to use and The Chief brought his magic chair to sit in.

35 minutes later we were walking into the resort with our valet and bell hop tickets like we were on top of the world.

BONUS TOMFOOLERY

Click on this link to hear Traveler Nell and me (with a brief cameo by The Chief in there if you listen close) sing karaoke with what we will generously call mixed results.

Road Trip Tally

Travel Stats Unavailable Due To Driver Error. They will be doubled tomorrow.

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 10.256 gal/38.823 L
Gas price: $1.999/gal-$0.528/L
Mileage for leg: 35.30 mpg/15.01 km/L
Mileage for trip: 32.62 mpg/13.87 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $20.50
Amount budgeted: $19.09
$1.41 OVER budget for leg
$80.13 UNDER budget through 10 days

Food Budget $50/day

4/8 expenditures: $115
Today OVER Budget: $65
Food expenditures to date: $428
Grand total UNDER budget: $72

Day 09: Ausgezeichnet!

April 7, 2016

Eastern Time Zone Indiana – Central Time Zone Indiana

Today we bid farewell to Notre Dame with a quick drive on campus before we were rebuffed by a security guard. But not before Traveler Nell captured this great photo.

We then headed towards Indianapolis where we planned on stopping for lunch at the excellent (“Ausgezeichnet” in German) Heidelberg Haus cafe. Of course The Chief (Or El Jefe) charmed the owners and all the ladies who worked in the shop.

The Chief getting his laps in after lunch

Then it was on to Saint Meinrad Archabbey where we are spending a quiet evening.

Tomorrow we had planned to stop for lunch in Louisville before heading to Nashville. We are forgoing that now in favor of a light driving day and getting as much value as we can out of our night at Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Road Trip Tally

Distance Today: 322.6 mi/519.2 km
Percentage Driven by Traveler Nell: 0.0%
Total Distance: 1,523.3 mi/2,451.5 km
Driving Time: 6:01 today/33:18 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 10.706 gal/40.526 L
Gas price: $2.099/gal-$0.55/L
Mileage for leg: 32.69 mpg/13.90 km/L
Mileage for trip: 31.82 mpg/13.53 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $22.47
Amount budgeted: $71.80
$49.33 UNDER budget for leg
$81.85 UNDER budget through 6 days

Food Budget $50/day

4/7 expenditures: $34
Today UNDER Budget: $16
Food expenditures to date: $312
Grand total UNDER budget: $137

Day 08: A Welcome Quiet Day

April 6, 2016

Indiana

Today was an off day on the Great American Road Trip™. Traveler Nell had some work to do in the morning and our plans to take a walk on the Notre Dame campus was scotched by inclement weather.

But today was not a write off because we were lucky enough to get together for dinner with some friends from Brooklyn. The “C’s” moved to Italy back in 2014, right after their lovely daughter was baptized at Queen of All Saints. We’ve had some near misses with them so it was very good that we got together. Although, Traveler Nell said when we got back to the hotel we should have gotten a photo.

…

I nearly said we should pack up and go back.

Today’s Bonus:

El Jefe learns to climb.

Climb Every Mountain from Traveler Bill on Vimeo.

Road Trip Tally

Distance Today: 10.1 mi/16.3 km
Percentage driven by Traveler Nell: 0%
Total Distance: 1,200.7 mi/1,932.3 km
Driving Time: 30 today/27:17 total

Gas Stats

No gas purchases today

Food Budget $50/day

4/6 expenditures: $21
Today UNDER Budget: $29
Food expenditures to date: $279.
Grand total UNDER budget: $121

Day 07: Homecomings -or- The Prince of Henry County

April 5, 2016

Ohio – Indiana (and tantalizingly close to Michigan!)

This is a repost. The original was lost due to a technical glitch.

Today before bidding farewell to my birth place we stopped at the house in which my family resided when I was born. I only lived there half a year so my memories of that place are non existent. Nevertheless here we are, walking a half block to take photos in the cold.

It was a LOT nicer when my family lived here.

Then it was up the street to St. James Catholic Church in Lakewood Ohio where I was baptized nearly 46 years ago. In 2010 the parish was closed by the bishop, but two years later reopened thanks to the dedication of the parishioners. The inside is a little worse for wear but the beauty and grandeur is still evident.

We then continued west to Liberty Center, Ohio. This small town is where my family lived from 1970 to 1976. We stopped by the Liberty Cafe for lunch.

The people there were some of the nicest we’ve met. They loved hearing about our plans and absolutely adored El Jefe. One woman confirmed my sisters directions and even offered to drive there with us to take family photos when we arrived at the farm.

the old barn — The Barn at Patrick Henry Farm

The farm is a LOT smaller than I remember it as a six year old. There is a new highway cutting through the back of the cornfield and the farmhouse in which we resided is long gone.

Then it was back to driving. Our itinerary called for our next stop to be a drive through Detroit where we lived for two years after Liberty Center. But several days of driving an average of 5.25 hours we decided to hold the Motor City for a future trip.

So it was on to South Bend, Indiana to meet up with some friends we haven’t seen in a long time. They moved to Italy in 2014 but will be here in South Bend for a couple months. We are very excited to spend time with them.

El Jefe overseeing construction on the stadium

Bonus Photo:

Even on a road trip I can’t escape laundry duties.

Road Trip Tally

Distance Today: 289.4 mi/465.7 km
NEW STAT! Percentage driven by Traveler Nell: 0%
Total Distance: 1,190.5 mi/1,915.9 km
Driving Time: 5:30 today/26:47 total

Gas Stats

No gas purchases today

Food Budget $50/day

4/5 expenditures: $40.00
Today UNDER Budget: $10
Food expenditures to date: $258.07
Grand total UNDER budget: $91.93

Day 06: I’m Out of My New York State of Mind

April 4, 2016

New York – Seneca Nation – New York – Pennsylvania – Ohio

Today we spent our last moments in New York for a while. Thanks to the unseasonable weather I can’t be too maudlin.

day 06 02 — Buffalo, NY gave a traditional farewell

Today our destination was the place of my birth, Cleveland, Ohio. Almost 46 years ago I was born in Fairview General Hospital. However, today I stopped by Rainbow Babies and Children at Case Western University.

Slightly less than 46 years ago I was introduced to Dr. Jerome Liebman, a pioneer in the field of pediatric cardiology. He saved my life. Based on the number of blessings I now count, I owe him immeasurably.

Now, ever since Traveler Nell moved to the US she has wanted to visit Ohio. More specifically she has wanted to get Cincinnati Chili at a Skyline Chili. As luck would have it, a franchise was located on our way to the hospital. Needless to say we stopped and Nell ordered a Chili-3 Way.

Having attempted what was purportedly the Skyline recipe with what we shall call “Mixed Results”, I opted for a single Cheese Coney hot dog and a cheese potato.

Of course El Jefe was there to Chelsea the staff and Nell and I received vouchers for free food. If only we were going to be in town one more day.

Our last tourist stop was the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Lots of great exhibits here but every corner had a different multimedia display and it ended up a bit of a cacophony.

Then it was off to the hotel to unpack then to the excellent Istanbul Grill in Avon for a light dinner of Mediterranean cuisine.

Road Trip Tally

Distance Today: 239.8 mi/385.9 km
Total Distance: 901.0 mi/1,450.0 km
Driving Time: 5:33 today/21:17 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 7.434 gal/28.14 L
Gas price: $1.95.9/gal-$0.51.7/L
Mileage for leg: 32.26 mpg/13.72 km/L
Mileage for trip: 31.38 mpg/13.34 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $14.56
Amount budgeted: $32.03
$17.46 UNDER budget for leg
$32.21 UNDER budget through 6 days

Food Budget $50/day

4/4 expenditures: $76.07
Today OVER Budget: $26.07
Food expenditures to date: $218.07
Grand total UNDER budget: $81.93

Day 05: J•E•L•L•No

April 4, 2016

Last full day in New York

On Day 04 El Jefe and I got a haircut before the family shindig. I wanted to post photos but it was awfully late when I was posting the days entry. So here you are.

Before…

And after…

Two sharp looking fellas.

Today’s trip was going to be a long drive capped with a visit to my brother Santino’s family in Western NY. On the way Traveler Nell thought it would be nice to stop at the Jell-O Gallery near our destination which has recently opened a few hours on Sundays.

Then we woke to near white out conditions. It wasn’t that bad the whole day, but there were bands of winter weather every couple dozen miles the whole way.

Once we had arrived out west, Sonny made a sumptuous feast of homemade raviolis, smoked brisket, ciabatta, and scallops. Jefe was his usual bold eating self and wolfed down more scallops than I ate in my first 15 years. He capped his meal with the lovely capped from his Auntie. It was great seeing him with his two older cousins.

Road Trip Tally

Distance Today: 295.6 mi/475.7 km
Total Distance: 661.2 mi/1,064.1 km
Driving Time: 4:45 today/15:44 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 10.245 gal/38.781 L
Mileage for leg: 28.19 mpg/11.98 km/L
Mileage for trip: 31.07 mpg/13.49 km/L
Cost of fill-up: $21.61
Amount budgeted: $27.45
$5.84 UNDER budget for leg
$14.75 UNDER budget through 5 days

Day 04: Haircuts and Goodbyes

April 2, 2016

New York

Today was a bittersweet day with family and friends. We started the day get El Jefe and myself a haircut. Our little buddy acquitted himself admirably in the barbers chair. Don at Patsy’s Barber Shop did a wonderful job on both of us.

Then we dropped by casa de Cheese Crackers to visit his wife, daughter, and him. They are both El Jefe and Joey’s God-parents and they have a lovely baby girl. It was nice to see them play and very sad when we had to leave.

We went to Mass at Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush where we were married five and a half years ago. Jefe sat with his Nanny and behaved like a champ.

Finally we had a farewell get together at my parents. El Jefe went cuckoo for my nephew Bert’s pit bull Maple. Miss Maple is a rescue and proof positive that it is not the breed of dog but the breed of dog owner that is dangerous.

We’re dropping in on my parents before our next leg but today was a wonderful send off by my sisters, brother in law, and local nieces and nephew.

No photos today but here is the…

Road Trip Tally

Distance Today: 28.5 mi/45.9 km
Total Distance: 365.6 mi/588.4 km
Driving Time: 1:01 today/10:59 total

Gas Stats

Gas purchased: 11.033 gal/41.764 L
Mileage: 32.94 mpg/14.00 km/L
Cost of full-up: $22.94
Amount budgeted: $31.85
$8.91 UNDER budget through 4 days

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