July 16 = Day 20

Synopsis:  147.6 miles driven; 2.5 hours on the road; Charlottesville, VA to Forest, VA; Visited Monticello and Appomattox Court House

Cold breakfast...not nearly as good as we have been enjoying but still a filling start to the day. We slept in this morning (meaning we didn't start the morning wake-up routine until 7: 00am and didn't leave the hotel until after 8:00 am). We set out for Monticello - Thomas Jefferson's home. We had tickets for the 9:30 am tour and they ask you to be there at least 30 minutes early.

We got there by 8:45 which gave us time to pick-up our tickets, stop by the gift shop to get ideas for later, and then catch our shuttle to the house (from the Visitor Center). The house itself and the things Jefferson did to design and decorate it were fascinating. The kids seemed really impressed with the wine "dumb waiter" system - it's cool. After our house tour, about 35-40 minutes, we did our own walking tour of the other buildings. Along the way, the kids got to try their hand at writing with a quill pen and ink (thank goodness for the safety shirts provided).

After visiting the house and grounds, we walked back the visitor center by the trail that goes through the woods. It's a short walk, through some hills and trees we don't have in Florida (downhill the entire way) and you get to stop at Jefferson's grave (and not just see it from the shuttle bus). Back at the Visitor's Center, we did our souvenir shopping and then completed our day at Monticello by watching the film they had on Jefferson.

From Monticello, we hit the road for Appomattox Court House. We had a scenic drive through southern Virginia with clear roads and no traffic in front of us. Once at Appomattox, we had barely gotten there and picked up our Junior Ranger booklets (for Jedi and Jariah) when they started a re-enactor's story of a Yankee soldier from the time of the surrender. It was pretty good and very informative. After he was done, we toured the park on our own and completed the Junior Ranger program (I think our 16th for this trip). Buying some souvenirs was our last stop before hitting the road to Lynchburg.

We got to town earlier than expected so we took a "Tim and Lisa Kroll" reality tour and drove by all the places we lived in the area previously. We arrived at Nana and Papa's around 4:30 pm and Nana greeted us. I think the kids just about wore her out with the five of them talking at once about their trip when Papa got home from PA. Lisa and I took the opportunity (with child care available) to go out to a favorite restaurant to celebrate our 22nd anniversary (I love you, Lisa). We're now resting and the kids are enjoying the time with Nana and Papa (I hope Nana and Papa are enjoying it).

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Nana and Papa's house for $0 and that includes visits to the dungeon and adventure walks for free.

July 15 = Day 19

Synopsis:  416.1 miles driven; 7 hours on the road; Ellwood City, PA to Charlottesville, VA; Visited Antietam Battlefield and Green Valley Book Fair

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony made us breakfast again (french toast, fried ham) and got us some donuts. We got on the road around 7:40 am and began the 4 hour drive from western PA to Maryland. After an uneventful morning, we got to the Antietam Battlefield near Sharpsburg, MD around 11:30 am. Jedi and Jariah signed up to be Junior Rangers and we were off to see the battlefield and to complete our five activities.

We started by looking through the museum and then watching the 25 minute film they show about the battle and about Lincoln's visit to the battlefield. We learned several things about Lincoln we had never heard before. Following the film, we walked out to the first tour stop (Dunker Church) and looked around at the middle site of the battle. We then jumped in the van and drove around the battlefield on the auto tour. The tour starts where the battle started (near the Cornfield) and ends near the place the battle ended (near Burnside bridge). It was very impressive and a great battlefield to visit.

From there, we headed to I-81 and got some lunch along the way. In 2 hours we were at the Green Valley Book Fair (in Mt. Crawford, VA). If you don't know about it, look it up online. If you do, then no explanation is needed for a family of book lovers. We shopped there for about 90 minutes before taking the hour drive into Charlottesville. Tomorrow we see Monticello and Appomattox before getting to Lynchburg and our family and friends there.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at a Super 8 for $0 from accrued points from last year's trip West.

July 14 = Day 18

Synopsis:  183.9 miles driven; 3.5 hours on the road; Ellwood City, NY; Visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Kroll's family farm, PNC Park, Heinz Field, Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe, Butler Cemetery and Locus Grove Cemetery

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony cooked us breakfast this morning (eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, etc.) before we hit the road around 7:40 am. We started with a stop at the old Kroll homestead - the house my grandfather Kroll built and in which my dad grew up. The people living there allowed us (I had contacted them before the trip) to take a walk around the property and tell some stories of the past.

We then went into Pittsburgh and got there early enough to go down to the Riverwalk and walk up to PNC Park and to visit the beautiful home of the woeful Pirates. By 9:45 am, we were back at Heinz Field to take the official tour of the place. We visited the regular stands, the better seats and even sat in a luxury box. We visited the Press room, the field and the locker room. We got to walk around and see the Steelers Hall of Fame as well as the six Lombardi trophies.

After some souvenir shopping, we left Pittsburgh and headed for the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe. Now, there are many locations but we have to go to the Chippewa location (actually in Beaver Falls) because that is where my Grandfather Piper always took us in the couple of years before he died. We feasted on chili dogs and loaded french fries. After lunch, we took at quick run down Blackhawk Road (about 8 miles) to go into Ohio - yeah, another state!

We spent our afternoon going to a couple of cemeteries - the cemetery in Butler where my grandpa Kroll and my cousin Bryan are buried and the cemetery in Ellwood where my grandmother and grandfather Piper are buried. We finished our day with a short stop by the church where my grandpa Kroll pastored for 33 years and then dinner at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's house with Aunt Kathy and her three girls (my cousins).

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's for $0 including home cooked Italian meals!

July 13 = Day 17

Synopsis:  292.4 miles driven; 6 hours on the road; Niagara Falls, ON to Ellwood City, NY; Visited Niagara Falls, Lisa's childhood home, Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony

While others slept in a little this morning, I got up early to go get in line for tickets for the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. The first boat is at 9:00 am. Now, here are some things they don't tell you. They start selling tickets at 8:30 am. The line that is there at 8:30 am is usually through by 8:35 am. The tour buses start to show up and drop people off around 8:40 am. The tickets are for no set time...so once you have a ticket, the time it takes to get through the line after the ticket booth is when you will get on a boat. Lisa and the kids got to the stand at 8:50 am (after getting ready and loading the van while I was in line).

We got on the first boat of the morning for the 9:00 am cruise (BTW - cruises last about 30 minutes). The cruise gets very close to the Falls (both American and Canadian) and you definitely get wet (whether upper or lower deck). The kids loved it and loved getting wet - really wet. We were on the starboard side of the boat which is the side opposite of the American Falls but close up to the Canadian Falls. That's how I would choose it if you could.

After the Falls, we got a little breakfast and some souvenir shopping done before returning to the US (across the Rainbow bridge) and heading for Lisa's hometown - Sandusky, NY. We stopped at John & Mary's in Arcade NY - try the A-bomb sandwich and the Chicken Club wrap (they are great). We then got to Sandusky and saw the elementary, middle and high school Lisa went to there. We also got to see the home she grew up in and the church her dad pastored all the years she lived there.

We then headed to Ellwood City, PA and Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's house. We caught them up on some of our travels and then had supper with them (delicious). After dinner we ran out to J & T's Drive In for some ice cream (yum).

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tony's for $0 including home cooked Italian meals!

July 12 = Day 16

Synopsis:  293.9 miles driven; 5.5 hours on the road; Cobleskill, NY to Niagara Falls, ON; Visited Niagara Falls

We slept in for our second day in a row and had a leisurely type morning around Grandma and Grandpa Friend's and Aunt Loey and Uncle Terri's house. We ate lunch there before setting out on the road for Niagara Falls. Grandma and Grandpa Friend (based on their many years of experience driving school buses into Niagara Falls) recommended that we cross into Canada through the Peace bridge rather than the Rainbow bridge and then take the scenic Niagara Parkway or Niagara Boulevard. We did and it was a smooth crossing and a wonderful drive. Again, we were looking for a moose along the way but this is as close as we got.

Once in Niagara Falls, we wandered around the Falls area - our hotel is a half mile from the Falls and on the River Road running along the Falls (we can see the American Falls and Rainbow Bridge from our hotel room balcony). We stayed out late to see the illumination of the Falls so it is late and thus my blog will be short for tonight. In one week, we will be home.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Michael's Inn for $0 by using Delta frequent flyer miles that Lisa had earned.

July 11 = Day 15

Synopsis:  23.3 miles driven; 0.5 hours on the road; Cobleskill, NY; Attended First Baptist Church in Cobleskill, NY; Celebrated Grandma Friend's birthday

We started the day by sleeping in - at least compared to our days on the road. We are staying at Grandma and Grandpa Friend's and Aunt Loey and Uncle Terri's house (they share one house). We left their house and went to Cousin Jerry and Alicia's house (BTW - all family relations are from the kids point of view) for breakfast. What a spread!

From there we headed into town (Cobleskill) and went to the First Baptist Church for Sunday services. It was a special morning for our family as we got to be there when the kids' first cousin once removed, Andrew Hughes, was being dedicated by Jerry and Alicia. He was great for the dedication while his sister, Danielle, was a little more enthusiastic!

After church, we returned home and surprised Grandma with a surprise birthday party (you'll have to ask her how old she is). She thought everyone was there to see us and celebrate Andrew's dedication but those things just lined up with our coming together for her birthday. Her two sons couldn't be there but all 5 of her daughters were. (Starting in the upper left and going clockwise: Linda, Lois, Louise, Lucy, Mother and Lisa)

After lunch, the kids enjoyed riding on cousin Jerry's ATV. They think we should get one for our yard...yeah right! A leisure day to regenerate us for returning to the road tomorrow.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Grandma and Grandpa Friend's house  for $0 including time with cousins!

July 10 = Day 14

Synopsis:  120.2 miles driven; 2 hours on the road; Binghamton, NY to Cobleskill, NY; Visited Kirkwood River Park (25th High School Reunion) and Cobleskill (Grandma and Grandpa Friend)

First things first...today is Jedi's birthday and he turns 9 years old - Happy Birthday Jedi! Now all of our kids are odd...no, not like that! They are all odd ages - 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17.

We slept in this morning and took our time getting ready and out on the road from Uncle Scott and Aunt Weezie's house. They fixed us a GREAT breakfast and we watched Kung Fu Panda with them and their kids. We then left for Kirkwood, NY. This is where our class (CBCA Class of 1985) was having their family picnic as part of our reunion but before going to the park, we stopped by some of the houses on Main Street.

We found and got to see the church where Lisa's mom and dad were married, their first house (see picture), and the school that Lisa's dad went to when he was younger. After taking some pictures, we headed to the Kirkwood River Park for our class reunion picnic. Lisa and Kathleen were finishing the setup and most of our classmates arrived shortly after 11:00 am.

What a joy to spend some time with those that we had spent so much time with 25-30 years ago. As an added bonus, Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth (our former principal) and Mrs. (Forrester) Maxwell (our former English and French teacher)  were able to join us for the picnic. All told there 13 of us (plus spouses and children) that were there for the picnic. What a great class (apology to Cindy and Ann not visible in my picture) and what a great time we were able to share together.

After the picnic, we took the 90-100 minute drive north to Cobleskill to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Friend. We got to share some our adventure so far, the pictures we took earlier in the day and just spent some time riding an ATV with cousins. What a good day!

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Grandma and Grandpa Friend's house  for $0 including time with cousins!