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Sunday September 4, 2016

   We spent Friday night in Grand Forks, ND and had dinner at a Culver's Restaurant. There seems to be Culver's all over the upper Midwest and they're a nice place to stop and eat if you're on the run.... fast food with table service, immaculately clean and a huge menu.

   We left on Saturday morning headed east on Rt 2 and crossed a small bridge over The Red River of the North into Minnesota. Lunch in Duluth was our next stop. With the Labor Day traffic Rt 2 moved really slow through the small towns and we decided to give up on our idea of crossing the Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Bridge. 

   We had lunch at another Culver's in Duluth then turned south on Rt 53 in Minnesota towards Eau Claire Wisconsin. From there we hopped Rt 94 to Madison.

   We had a little trouble finding a room in Madison, I never gave a thought that it could be the season opening home game for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. We got lucky with a Clarion Hotel close to the main highway after an unplanned tour of the downtown Capitol area.

   After breakfast we drove southeast around busy Chicago and into turnpike land. We crossed Indiana & Ohio and stopped for some dinner and gas in Youngstown. It was about 6 pm, too early to quit for the day so we continued on into Pennsylvania; roads moved well on Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. We decided not to stop and were home by midnight.

   After a warm Toby greeting I was ready for sleep, with one last day of the holiday weekend to wake up and enjoy at home.

   I'll have one more post to wrap up for this trip. Jim & I were both very happy with our driving adventure and spending time with our Scot relatives made the Canadian Rockies so much more fun.

   

Back in the USA

Friday September 2, 2016

   The Holiday Inn Express in Regina was a good place for a nights rest. It's right where our trip out and back crossed over and it was our second stay there. 

   We took off due east on the TCH, a different way back than the route north we took from Fargo on the trip out. I wanted to avoid the traffic in Chicago so we drove east to Winnepeg then south on Rt 75 to the border. From there it's I-29 to Grand Forks, North Dakota for the night.

   On Saturday's leg home we'll go east on Rt 2 to Duluth on the western tip of Lake Superior and across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From there it's across the Mackinac Bridge and on towards Detroit.

   I almost lost a handy companion notebook I've been using for a couple of years. I've been tracking mileage and expenses for this trip but I also have notes and drawings of house projects and other stuff in there as well. I put it on my car roof when I was gassing up in Banff and drove away on our way to Athabasca Glacier with it still up there.

   Inside the book at the time was a pre-paid ticket for the glacier tour; it flew away as well as the notebook. After about a half mile I realized what happened I did a U-turn retracing my streets until we spotted the ticket and then the notebook in the street. They both had tire marks from being run over but I had them back. I'll retire the notebook when I get home and let it rest on the shelf above my desk.

Driving east through the Prairies

Thursday September 1, 2016

   Mary Ellen and the Scots were on their flights home and it was time for Jim and I to head east after an overnight near the airport. Mary landed at home just as we left.

   We got on Rt 1, the Trans Canada Highway and will take it close to 1,000 miles before we turn south passed Winnepeg in Manitoba.

   We were back in the rolling hills and open ground after leaving the mountains and there wasn't much to take pictures of. One magpie did pose for us at a gas station, where he was looking for a handout.

   We passed through the famous towns of Medicine Hat and Swift Current. In Moose Jaw we stopped at a Tim Hortons for a donut and coffee, I figured that was about as Canadian as we could ever get.

   At 5:00 we stopped for the night in Regina, we'd have liked to go father but it was two extra hours to the next town plus a time change where we'd lose an hour.

   I finally found a car wash in Regina. There was so much dirt on my car I was afraid if have to go through an agricultural inspection at the border. 

   One more day in Canada before we drop south back into the US.

Leaving Banff

Wednesday August 31, 2016

   We had a final family lunch after checking out. We all leave together in a convoy to Calgary where the Scots take off about an hour before Mary's red eye flight home.

   Jim and I will find a room for the night near the airport and shove off in the morning for the trip home. We'll take the Trans Canada Highway east and we'll probably turn south not far passed Winnepeg, Manitoba.

   The trip home should take about 4 days which will have us home on Labor Day weekend. We've logged about 3,800 miles so far as we start heading back east.

Glacier joy riding

Tuesday August 30, 2016

   This morning Mary, Jim and I drove back north on the Icefields Parkway to see the Athabasca Glacier. It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive to the visitors center. 

   I had a bit of a scare when I stopped for gas. I put my logbook and prepaid ticket on the roof of the car when I was filling up and I drove away with them still up there.

   I realized after a few minutes what happened and doubled back to find the book and ticket laying in the street with tire tracks on them from being run over. It was a lucky morning for sure.

   At the visitors center we had nice lunch then boarded a bus for the glacier. We transferred to a large Snow Cat that drove up right onto the ice for a walk about.

   We made it back to the hotel just in time for the family farewell dinner. A terrific day for us.

Around town in Banff

Monday August 29, 2016

   We checked in the night before at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, today I was ready for a driving break. After a late breakfast Mary went on a tour of the hotel with her cousins and I took a walk around the grounds.

   I saw a beautiful golf course nearby (Bow Falls) and the 15th tee box was just down the hill behind the hotel. The par 5 hole turned to the left and not far off the fairway was the Bow River falls.

   I went back to my car and drove to the golf shop checking if there were open tee times, but it was getting late. 

   There were groups of horses and riders on trails around the course and the mountains all around were another terrific distraction.

   In the evening we headed downtown with all the Scots for dinner. Mine was fish and chips at the St James Gate Irish Pub.

   

High Tea and the Icefields Parkway

Sunday August 28, 2016

   The cars assembled early for the trip from Jasper. It was only 277 miles south to Banff but the road is slower and totally in the mountains, with high peaks to see outside both side windows.

   We stopped for High Tea at the Fairmont Hotel in Lake Louise. It was a wonderful meal in a dining room overlooking the blue lake and mountain peaks at the back of the hotel. Many thanks to Glynis and Peter McBride for hosting all 11 of us; it was an experience to remember.

   Along the parkway we passed the Athabaska River falls and the Columbia Glacier. The road peaked at just under 7,000 feet and the thermometer dropped into the high 30's. 

   We checked into our hotel at Banff and met soon after for a 2 mile walk to town. Mary and I were both tired, so after a bite and pint at an Irish pub we were ready to turn in. Our legs gave out after the hike into town and we hopped a taxi back. I think we were both asleep before we even made it to our hotel room.

On to Jasper to meet the Scots

Saturday August 27, 2016

   Heading west in the morning from Edmonton we continued with Rt 16, Yellowhead Highway. It was about a 6 hr drive and as the road turned southwest and we started climbing. Jasper is in the heart of a national park and is a major skiing area in winter.

   The Scot cousins were booked at the Sawridge Hotel in town and there was about 4 hours of free time until they arrived. While waiting we hopped a shuttle bus to a sightseeing gondola lift to the top of a mountain overlooking town, the panorama was worth the ride up.

   While on top a big storm hit and the gondola closed because of high winds. The thought of being blown sideways as we decended 7,000 feet of mountain made me a little nervous. Luckily the storm passed after around 90 minutes and a big rainbow appeared. We decended and took a taxi back to the hotel before the relatives arrived

   The Scots were driving in a 3 SUV convoy from Vancouver and parts east in British Columbia. We all met up that evening and told stories over fish and chips. The following day we became a 4 SUV wagon train driving down Rt 93, the Icefields Parkway, first to Lake Louise and then on to Banff.

Meeting Mary Ellen

Friday August 26, 2016

   Regina was a nice place to spend the night, plenty of restaurants and a couple of Holiday Inns. 

   For dinner I had soup and a great burger. Jim ordered Fish Tacos with Ahi Tuna. When our order arrived Jim was surprised to see the tuna was raw and couldn't eat it. When the waiter checked on us she decided to not charge for his meal. It was my opportunity to buy dinner for us.

   The hard driving was behind us, we've covered 1,864 miles. From Regina we took Rt 11 to Saskatoon and from there it was Rt 16 to Edmonton, Alberta, our northern most point on the trip. It was dual lane highway all the way, much easier than the smaller roads between Fargo and Regina.

   Driving through the prairies of Saskatchewan was interesting. It was flat with farm and grazing fields from horizon to horizon but we had to wonder where all the people were. If the world ever gets over populated let them come to Saskatchewan!

   We passed around Edmonton and it's easy to see its an oil town. We were only about 300 miles south of Fort McMurray where the Canadians dig their tar sands for oil. 

   We checked into a Holiday Inn near the airport and met Mary Ellen. The hotel was full with kids trying out for hockey and lacrosse teams. They got lots of practice in the hallways at night.

Rolling through Prairie Country

   We left Fargo this morning and headed west on I-94 into central Dakota. We got off the interstate and drove north west to Minot. The speed limit was 65 on the two lane road and it moved along well except for an occasional small town.

   We stopped in downtown Minot looking for a place for lunch and there weren't many choices. I remember Minot from my last trip through in 2014, it seemed nicer back then. Today there was street work and dust everywhere, probably related to the oil boom not far down Rt 2 to the west.

After lunch we took Rt 52 north west and crossed over the Canadian border into Saskatchewan at the town of Portal.

In North Dakota farm fields stretched from horizon to horizon with few homes or even people to be seen. Just north of the border there were some old looking coal strip mines close to the road and some newer oil drilling rigs. Also lots of dusty construction.

After the town of Estevan the farm fields came back into view, only bigger. There were towns with huge grain silos, truck unloading equipment and rail cars filled with local grain; shipping out to god knows where.

We made it to Regina for the night and realized we had passed into Mountain Time during the afternoon; were now 2 hours ahead of home.

Tomorrow we continue north west through Saskatoon on the Yellowhead Route to Edmonton (Rt 16). We pick up Mary Ellen there and head into the mountains to Jasper, Alberta.

Breakfast in Chicago, dinner in North Dakota

   We left our hotel north of Chicago about 8:30 in the rain, but it wasn't wet for long. The sun was out by the time we got to the Wisconsin state line. Interstate 90 turned into I-94 which went north west through Madison and Minneapolis.

   The scenery was great, especially the forests in western Wisconsin. On the road in Minnesota we passed by the town of Freeport. It has a tall water tower with a smilie face on it. The town was the real life model for Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon. 

   Along the way Jim and I kept shaking our heads about how nice everyone was when we got a chance to talk with them. "Midwestern Nice" is a real thing, even at a Burger King in rural Wisconsin.

   Around 6:30 we crossed over the Red River and passed from Minnesota into North Dakota. We're spending the night in Fargo, the home of North Dakota State and their football team. Their star quarterback from last year is the Eagles rookie phenom Carson Wentz.

   Today was just short of 600 miles, tomorrow's drive is about 500 miles through Minot, ND and into Canada. We hope to make it to Regina, Saskatchewan. That'll leave just 500 miles for Friday's leg into Edmonton, Alberta. 

   The two amigos are doing great!

Alberta bound

Mary's cousin Effie and her family from Scotland are on holiday in Canada. They start in Vancouver and drive east for a few days in the Canadian Rockies before flying home from Calgary.

Mary's cousin Jim who lives nearby in West Chester asked me if I'd consider driving out with him to meet them. The dates worked out well so we decided to do it. 

We plan to leave August 23 and meet them in Jasper National Park on Saturday the 27th. Mary will fly out to meet us on the way in Edmonton. We'll see Jasper, the Ice Fields Parkway, the Columbia Glacier and Lake Louise on the way to the ski resort Banff.

Mary, Becky and the Nolan family all came to dinner the night before for a great send off.

Turnpike scenery

Jim and I got an early start and headed west on the Pa Turnpike. It was busy with trucks but all moved well. The road became the Ohio and Indiana Turnpikes and turned into Rt 90 at the Chicago Skyway and right through the city.

Our goal was to make it passed Chicago and save the morning of day 2 from being stuck in rush hour traffic. We succeeded and got a room at a Holiday Inn near Rockford, north west of the city.

Tomorrow should be a straight shot through Wisconsin and Minnesota. We hope to make it to Fargo, ND at the end of our second day.

We drove about 750 miles today and Wednesday's goal is 600+ on easier roads. Jim will drive tomorrow and hopefully he'll have more luck avoiding cops than I did today. One of Ohio's finest nabbed me for 9 miles over the limit while passing a truck.

It was still a good day.

Final Nights in Ireland

   On Tuesday we made the 3 hour drive back to Donegal, stopping at the church with Yeates' grave for a mid trip lunch. We continued north for a one night's stay back at the Downings Bay Hotel. On Wednesday after one last walk on the beach we left for Letterkenny to turn in our car.

   Renting our car at Letterkenny was much cheaper than at Dublin airport, less than half from previous trips here. We took a very convenient round trip bus from the airport and the nice folks at Enterprise Car Rental picked us up at the bus station in Letterkenny.

   Since we were traveling as a threesome  we rented a larger compact car and our little Nissan served us very well. It had a good sized back seat and a trunk big enough for our bags. The 1.2 liter engine was surprisingly peppy on the road.

   We spent our last night at a comfortable hotel near the airport and were close enough so we didn't have to leave too early to catch our 11:35 flight home. Security lines at the airport were really long, and we were surprised by a second security check with an hourlong que at the end. Luckily the planes wait for their passengers and we were less than an hour late getting in the air.

   We had a great two weeks and loved having Mary O. with us; she was a totally fun traveling companion. We miss our families and friends back home and will be so happy to see everyone again.

   Thanks for following along again, my travel blog has accumulated lots of posts since I began writing. Its been fun for me to keep in touch.

   

Mayo Monday

   Monday was our last full day in Mayo and the three of us took a drive to the north Mayo coast to visit the Céide Fields, where the land ends on cliffs 300 feet over the Atlantic.

   This area became well known in the 1930's when local residents discovered ancient stone walls buried deep in the peat bogs overlooking the ocean. Further digging found extensive wall construction that dated back between 5,000 and 6,000 years. I guess people appreciated great scenery even back then.

   Today we make the drive back to Donegal for the night. Tomorrow we turn the car back in at Letterkenny and hop the bus back to Dublin.Two more nights of visiting cousins here in Ireland before heading home on Thursday.  

   Weather looks ok for our last few days, cloudy and mid 60 degree temps.

County Mayo

   We're staying in the town of Kiltimagh, close to the center of County Mayo in western Ireland. We're at another very nice B&B owned by the Byrne family that's right across the street from Mary O'Neill's cousin.

   On Saturday we drove to Turlough to visit the Museum in Irish Country Life. We walked through a restored manor house and garden now run by the National Park Service. On the grounds is a new four story museum showing what country life was like in west Ireland from the 1850's till 1950. 

   Later in the afternoon we stopped to see another of Mary O's cousins who lived at the top of a hill near Kiltimagh with great views of the west Mayo mountains. Mary's cousin Tom drove us up even higher up a very narrow road to see the home where Mary O's mother was born.

   Tim 's wife Eileen made us all a wonderful dinner while we chatted and laughed through the evening with their four daughters all in from Dublin for the weekend.

   On Sunday we'll visit the old church in Kiltimagh then head toward Westport for sightseeing in the beautiful sunny weather.

Staying at Bradley's B&B

   We're spending our first 8 days in Ireland at a wonderful B&B on the northwest coast in the town of Downings. Bradley's is run by two sisters Mary and Bridget who took over the family business after being born and raised in New York. Its Irish name 'Cuan na Long' translates to Ships Haven in English and it's just across the street from the beach on Sheeps Haven Bay.

   The B&B is open from Easter till fall and  Mary & Bridget do everything from keeping the rooms fresh and clean to making and serving a great breakfast complete with home made scone and muffins. They are always working, even doing gardening and driving the riding mower on the lawn. 

   Mary and I have felt very well taken care of during our stay and highly recommend it for friends and family. The price is also very reasonable.

   County Donegal's football team has made it all the was to the Irish Championship finals with the big game against Kerry this Sunday in Dublin in front of 90,000 people. There are signs and banners hung everywhere in the team green and yellow colors. Everyone is excited and it's so nice to see the support for their team.

   On Wednesday we had fun visits with Barney Carr and family, Mary Ellen and David Muldowney, and Daniel Harkins with his daughter Catherine.