Archive through August 18, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Road Trips (ARCHIVES): Archive through August 18, 2003

Egbok

Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 09:52 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Zachsmom, it was placed where sun and shade hit it as the course of the day went by. It reminded me of a tiny orchid. Hey! Drive up to Solvang and go see it for yourself..LOL!

Edit: Oh Zachsmom...I just re-read your post and I'm sorry you have an eye problem! Hope it gets better soon...and don't drive to Solvang...yet!

Myjohnhenry

Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 10:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I emailed a copy of the pic to my Dad...don't know if he is around this weekend or not, but he rarely lets me down on identifying floral, fauna, wildlife after spending many years in range management, natural resources and forestry. I can't find my flower/plant ID book off hand or I would be studying it closely.

Whoami

Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 10:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, Mom says that sweet peas mostly come on vines, but some come on bushes too.

If nobody has a definite answer by tomorrow when she wakes up (late afternoon), I'll have her look at it again when her vision is a bit more clear!

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 10:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I thought I might get a hit by searching on "snapdragon-like" flowers, but no go. Whoami, don't think it is a sweet pea, but might be in that family. I am guessing it is in snapdragon, sweetpea, or pansy family.

Egbok, nice pic of you and the smileys. Funny how tvchers come to resemble each other after a while, isn't it? Sort of like people getting to look like their dogs ...

Weinermr

Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 10:35 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yeah but who's the guy with the hairy arms?
""

Tess

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 12:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Not a sweetpea or lady slipper. The flower was definitely on a bush which got partial sun and part shade depending on the time of day. It's not a snapdragon but the flowers do have a sort of snapdragonish shape. The white part forms a little cup and the purple extends from that.

Juju, we'd have to have pink bunny ears to start resemling our dawg.

Weiner, the guy with the hairy arms is an absolute sweetheart.

Tess

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 12:13 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Bob, your photos are fantastic! Hope you had a safe and fun Saturday!! Hi to Mrs. Sponge and the Spongelets.

Tess

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 12:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
<sigh> Well, I've been searching the web for awhile. I think the only answers might be to get a book on identifying a gazillion flowers and/or flowering bushes and hope we get lucky.

I don't remember if I took a picture also or if Egbob too the only one. If I have a photo I may just take it to the library or too a large gardening/landscaping place in town and see if anyone there can identify it. This is driving me even more nuts than I already was!!

Tntitanfan

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 04:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have tried forwarding a copy of the picture of a friend of mine who is very flora-savvy. She may be able to identify it for us -

I have a stupendous guidebook to Savannah and Charleston, but I need input on the rest of the GA, SC, and NC coastal area. Anybody been there - done that?

Egbok

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 08:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju, you're completely right...after just a few hours, Weinermr, Tess and Buttercup couldn't stop smiling and yeah...they did start resembling one another too...funny how I didn't notice that fact until now!

And as for Weinermr and his hairy arms, well...for those of you coming to the SoCal Fall Gathering....you'll get to experience what Tess, Buttercup and I experienced...especially when he started playing that little Mickey Mouse guitar shown in his profile.....hubba-hubba!

And Tnt, I've been to Savannah about 10 years ago and absolutely delightful immediately comes to my mind! Let me search my memory banks and other assorted memorabilia and I'll get back to you about my experience there. Ohhh...Tybee Island just popped into my head...you'll definitely have to visit Tybee Island with the beautiful lighthouse!

Bob2112

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 09:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well darn! I just lost my post and had to reproduce it.

Here's the readers digest version of the last 2 days. You'll have to take my word that the first version was much longer and much beter.
I couldn't get my dial-up to work Saturday night, so here's what we've been up to the last 2 days.

Saturday

We left Niagara Falls and drove about 400 miles to the Lake Champlain area. We took our time getting going in the morning and went for a swim. The drive through the Adirondacks was very scenic and we were able to take a side trip to try some geocaching. Geocaches are containers that are hidden all around the world and identified by their latitude and longitude. You use a GPS to get within 10-30 feet and then you have to do a little searching. Kaili posted a link about this a few months ago (Geocaching Link) and we decided to try some sites on this trip.

Tess and Juju have been quiet so far this trip, so it was time to get them involved. The 3 of us picked "Kiss The Pig" as our first cache to search for and went out to find this landmark on the road

KissThePig

While I hiked into the woods, Dawg took off to see if she could pick up the scent. Tess flew over the woods and searched by air. After a false start, we found the container on our second try.

CacheContainer

We signed the log book, but did not trade for any of the items in the container since we forgot to bring something to trade. I tried to get Tess to trade her halo for a winning lottery ticket that someone placed in the cache, but she wasn't going for it!

"Mason Lake Site" was the second geocache site, but we were not successful at locating the container. After quite a bit of looking, we decided to give up. There were several campers nearby and we didn't want to draw attention. I swear I started to hear some banjo music and then a scene from Deliverance flashed through my mind. We took off out of there for fear that the cache site would soon be renamed, "Squeal Like A Pig!"

The day finished with another swim at our new hotel.

Sunday

Not much driving today, but we did spend most of the day exploring the islands in Lake Champlain. There were many beautiful views at every turn and we spent quite a bit of time just walking and looking around.

Lake Champlain

We took time out to see Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions perform. The show was great and everyone enjoyed getting to meet the horses after the show.

LipizzanStallions

Monday starts with a trip to Ben and Jerry's for a tour and ice cream for breakfast and ends with a ride to the top of Mt. Washington on the cog railway.

Assuming the dial-up let's me through, I'll check-in Monday evening. :)

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 11:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Great info and pics, Spongie. I am having a wonderful time, by the way.

Tess

Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 11:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
So am I but I didn't realize this was a "working" vacation for us angels and dawgs! I like how I'm just sort of floating above the jar there. :)

Lake Champlain is so beautiful.

Whoami

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 01:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Great report Bob! You especially got my attention with the Lipizzans.

The story of "The Miracle Of the White Stallions" is a favorite movie of mine, as is the book "Airs Above The Ground." In short, the Lipizzans are my favorite horse. It's always been a dream of mine to go to Austria and see the "originals" at the Spanish Riding School From what I understand, they are very picky about "letting" the breed out of the country, and the ones that are here pale in comparison to the Royal Lipizzan Stallions at the Spanish Riding School. Of course, that could just be a myth I heard many years ago now.

I figure, if I ever get married, my honeymoon has to be in Vienna!

I saw Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Estes Park here many years ago. At the time, they had a rare brown Lipizzan. We also were able to go to the barn after the show. I swear I felt like I was touching God when I pet the muzzle of one of those magnifcent beasts.

Whoami

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 01:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hmmm...I've done a bit of Googling on Herrmann and the Lipizzans. Seems like the Herrmann family played a part in rescuing the breed (along with General Patton) during the WWII. So it could be my error on "them" (whoever that was suuposed to be) letting the better horses from the breed out of the country.

I'd still love to go to Austria though, and see them at the Spanish Riding School!

Squaredsc

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 05:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
yay ponies!

Twinkie

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 05:16 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tnt, Savannah is my favorite city in the world! Its just so beautiful and the people are so nice and the food and lodgings are the best. There is a great bed and breakfast there, The Gastonian, that is central to everything and its one of those big old mansions that's been converted to a B&B. All of the rooms are magnificent with antigue furniture and fireplaces and roman tubs. There are only 15 rooms (I think) so reservations are needed. But from there you can walk to everything, but the city tours are the best. If I could live anywhere I wanted it would be Savannah.

Bob, sounds like the vacation is going great!

Tntitanfan

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 05:53 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OOOOOOH, Twinkie! I can hardly wait to get to Savannah now - I noticed that the AAA Tourbook listed several tour companies, so we will certainly do at least one of those. That is such a great way to get an overview of the city and see where you want to re-visit and spend more time!

Egbok - Tybee Island is surely on our itinerary as we love lighthouses!

Any more east coast advice from you well-traveled folks? I hope to meet Knightpatti in Myrtle Beach!!

About the flower in Solvang, here is the response from the friend of a friend in east TN (Maryville):

Do you have this growing in your yard? If it is, it could be Clitoria. If not, it is in the legume family, and that is all I know.

Egbok

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 08:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tnt, about the flower in Solvang. No, it isn't growing in my yard but I sure would like it to be growing in my yard...LOL! It was a very pretty flowering plant/bush and I do vision it growing in my yard someday! I'm going to look up Clitoria and the legume family and see if it's a match...tell your friend thank you for the response!!

Bob, I wish I was on your trip with you. As an Egg, I'd be willing to leave a little "yolk" in the Geocache...LOL! I admire your gifted writing abilities to tell us about your trip and I'm sorry you lost your first post...ack! I'm looking forward to the next installment of the SpongeBob, Mrs. Sponge and
The Spongelets' adventure!!

Resortgirl

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 08:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi roadtrippers!! I've loved reading about all the trips and TVCH meetings this summer!

My husband, son and I are going to Orlando November 1st for 4 days and then driving to Daytona for 3. We found some nice accomodations for a really reasonable price. In Orlando we are staying at a 3 bedroom home with a private pool and in Daytona we are staying in a condominium. We are planning to go to Universal Studios in Orlando rather the Disney. We've been to Disney and our son is 13 now and I think Universal might be alot of fun for him. Has anyone been there, have any advice... know where to get cheap tickets...lol???

Tntitanfan

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 03:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
RG - Check with your local AAA office - the TN ones offer substantial savings on all the Orlando attractions.

Egbok - The East TN Perennial group hasn't responded yet about the flower, so we may yet get it identified!

Karuuna

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 03:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
RG - Kyle and I went there the last week of July, it was great fun! You gotta do the Men In Black ride! You get to ride around and shoot aliens, and it's way kewl! But if you have a bad neck, stay away from the Back to the Future one, or wear your neck brace!

I admit we went kind of an a whim, and didn't look for cheap tickets. In fact, it was so crowded the day we went, we upgraded to Express Plus tickets. For $20 additional per person, we didn't have to wait in any line more than 15 minutes. You can only use it once on each ride, but when we were there, it was well worth it. They do have an Express Pass program, much like DisneyWorld, but they give out a limited number per ride, and many of the popular rides gave out their quota for the day by 2 in the afternoon (and they're open till 11 pm!) Hopefully it won't be so crowded in November, and I know you'll have great fun.

They also have a great website that describes each ride in detail, and offers pre-sale of tickets too. Universal Studios also now has a water park associated with it (Islands of Adventure). If you're going there for more than one day, you might want to consider a 2-day combined ticket. They also have a very cheap five-day pass, which costs less than the price of a 2 day pass.

Here's the website:
http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website/

Bob2112

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 09:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whoami, from what was said in the show, the Lipizzans were saved by General Patton and the 3rd Army, and the Hermann family has been training and increasing the breed since then. They are packing up the show soon and moving it to Martha's Vineyard, but I think that will be for the 2004 season.

Eggie, I think we could have squeezed you in if you could only have gotten yourself to Chicago. Plan the same trip you did in 2003 for September 2004 and you can ride along with us then! :)

I need to get to bed soon, so here's a quick recap of today's events as described yesterday.

Tour of the Ben and Jerry plant, along with some breakfast:

Breakfast

Touristy stop at Clark's Trading post in New Hampsire which included some performing bears that were just too cute: :)

bears

Caught the last cog train up to the top of Mt. Washington, NH. Train ride was fun, but view at top was limited due to fog. Here's the engine that pushed the car up the 37 degree incline:

Train

Here's a little perspective of the angle the train climbs at. The trees, of course, are standing straight up, but from the train they all look to be leaning:

trees

Tuesday is a long day of driving from Maine to Prince Edward Island. Looks like over 500 miles and that doesn't include the wrong turns!
We need to get an early start and will make minimal stops on the way. We want to get to the Confederation Bridge before sunset and possible find someplace to get some sunset pictures that evening.

My dial-up should work from Canada, but in case you don't hear from me for a while, we'll be back in Maine on Saturday!

Tess

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 10:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sounds like a fun day! I still think that ice cream for breakfast is the best!! :)

We did over 500 miles a day twice on the way home so you should be able to do it easily since you all tend to get started before noon (our usual starting time) and it won't be 116 degrees outside.

Good luck with the maps!!

Sia

Monday, August 18, 2003 - 10:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Love the photos, SpongeBob!! Have a wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing your pictures.