Archive through November 12, 2002
TV ClubHouse: Archives: Road Trips (ARCHIVE):
Archive through November 12, 2002
Kstme | Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 07:56 pm     Message from Schoolmarm! She's alive and having a blast in Vegas! She is out seeing the Strip tonight and learning how to play slots. She knows Vegas wasn't built because people WIN! LOL We're getting together tomorrow evening! She's coming over to see if she can survive the pups! Wargod...she's staying at your favorite place. I had to laugh when she said she keeps getting lost in it! LOL That's the ONLY hotel in town I get so blasted turned around, I end up out the back door! |
Wargod | Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 09:36 pm     Woo hoo!!! Give her a hug for me, Kstme! Hope ya'll have fun tomorrow. Hehe, that's the only hotel I can find my way easily around! How much longer will Marm be there? I know she told me, but my mind is gone. Hope she's catching the free stuff....thats fun, and if she hasn't been there yet, point her to Freemont St. She should enjoy that! Oh, and she'll LOVE the fountains at Bellagio! |
Kstme | Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 09:38 pm     War...she leaves Saturday night after the conference. I will definitely give her a hug for you! |
Lancecrossfire | Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 09:39 pm     TnT--thanks much for sharing another three days! It sounds like quite a time in the big city!! It's been awhile since I've been to SF for work travel, but you did indeed bring back some memories. Glad Marm is doing well. I hope you two have a great time Kstme. Let us know how things go. |
Schoolmarm | Friday, November 08, 2002 - 08:28 pm     Hi everyone! I'm over at KSTME's house drinking champagne and eating yummy hors d'ovres. I learned how to play the slots last night....I'm up $10 on the nickels. One of my students won $65 on a quarter. Saw the fountains at Bellagio last night and ate at Quarks. It was fun to see Klingons serving food. There is an awesome sculpture at the Riveria that should be a TVCH "butt shot" photo...only they are show girls and, well, we aren't! I'm really getting to like Vegas and want to come back sometime when I'm not "distracted" by a convention. The conference is really great, my friends from England, Finland and Austria are here, and I've been collecting enough hugs for the next several months. And Yes, War, KSTME gave me your hug, and NO, Spy, we are NOT drinking Margaritas tonight. |
Tntitanfan | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 05:58 am     It's great to hear from you, Marm! Vegas is an awesome place to visit - and you're getting to know KSTME as well - what a bonus! 9/30/02 Monday - San Francisco Today was our trip out to Alcatraz, and a very interesting one it was. The ferry trip takes about fifteen minutes, and good photo ops of the Golden Gate Bridge abound. There was an introductory movie, and then we each had a wand with a recorded tour on it for the building itself. Back at the Visitors' Center there were a number of exhbits about various aspects of life on Alcatraz. What I found fascinating was the idea that a population of about 300 guards and their families lived on the island. Imagine what those kids could contribute to "Show and Tell" time at their schools! I also don't think that I knew that Alcatraz was held by a coalition of Native Americans for 19 months! There was an extensive exhibit about that with several short movies. Upon our return to SF Barbara went off to shop, and I made my way to Victorian Park to catch the "uptown" cable car. A cable car ride there very closely resembles one on a mild roller coaster. On the return trip I got off at Lombard - the crookedest street in the world and the home of our motel - thinking that I was going to walk DOWN the numerous switchbacks of the street. WRONG!! I took my time and eventually made it up, but I was very thankful the rest of the way to the motel was downhill. We had dinner at Scoma's on Fisherman's Whart. Though not easy to find, it came highly recommended by friends. It was a bit on the pricey side, but delicious! And how often am I going to eat at Fisherman's Wharf? Valet parking made us feel pampered indeed. 10/1/02 Tuesday - to Fort Bragg We were over the Golden Gate Bridge and on our way out of town just as thousands were headed in. We headed inland to wine country north of Santa Rosa. We stopped at two wineries and then followed River Road along the Russian River until it (the river, not the road) emptied into the ocean. We drove north along postcard coastal scenery. I wouldn't have been at all surprised if someone had smacked a stamp on my forehead and mailed me home! I've never been around so many whoop-de-doo curves in my life, and I've been through LOTS of mountains! The weather was considerably cooler by the time we stopped for the night. 10/2/02 Wednesday - to Crescent City Not too long after we resumed travel, we encountered an unusual traffic delay as all slowed down to watch a cowboy rope a steer that had escaped from a feed lot. The Avenue of the Giants led us through a tremendous stand of redwoods, and we drove through miles of smaller ones along 101 which is called the "Redwood Highway." We rejoined the ocean from time to time to find gorgeous views around every curve - of which there continued to be plenty! When we stopped, we were almost at the very top of CA! |
Kstme | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 09:32 am     Tnt...I love hearing of your trip! It's been a few years since I've taken 101 but you bring it all back so vividly. Thank you! Marm got back to her hotel around midnight. We had so much fun and yakked nonstop for hours! She was so patient with the unruly twosome and they adored her! I can't wait for her return! Zachsmom...I'm looking forward to meeting you soon too! |
Juju2bigdog | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 10:21 am     TnT, we once had a traffic delay just outside Crescent City. Everybody was waiting for a sea lion to cross the road. LOL. |
Tntitanfan | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 02:41 pm     I guess you just gotta expect that wildlife when you travel, huh? |
Tess | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 07:15 pm     Ok Tnt, now you've got me in tears. Every summer while I was growing up we rented a house with our neighbors up at the Russian River. We stayed for a couple of weeks and it was the best 2 weeks of the year. Half the people we knew in our parish in SF went up to the Russian River at some point over the summer. Some of them eventually moved up there to live year-round. Your descriptions of your days in northern California are making me so nostalgic and homesick. |
Juju2bigdog | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 10:42 pm     Tess! Snap out of it. It costs a million bucks to live there. The state taxes you to death and gives you nothing in return. There is no longer a single parking space anywhere in San Francisco. Consequently the people are all snarling and honking their horns at each other nonstop. Throw some cold water on your face! There there. |
Tess | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 11:09 pm     Oh! Thanks, Juju. I'm all better now that you've put it all in perspective. We'll just go for a visit next summer then. How's that. |
Tntitanfan | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 09:21 am     That drive along the Russian River was really a lovely one. There were plenty of commercial cottages, etc., but there were others that looked like they were permenant homes. The scenery and river actually reminded me of the Gallatin River at Yellowstone. That is exactly how we felt about LA, Juju! We loved all of the rest of CA, but maybe it is a nice to place to visit but not live in - That is absolutely how I feel about AK, FL, and HA!!! |
Schoolmarm | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 11:07 am     I'm home! I took a redeye flight that left at 11:15pm and landed in Pittsburgh shortly before 6AM. Changed clothes at the airport and got in the car to drive two hours to my church job. Practiced up so I was presentable and the choir did an AWESOME job. I had three of the college kids come up to help, and several new people showed up so we sang a capella. WHOO HOO! I had an AWESOME time in Vegas...hated the first day, because I was so tired and overwhelmed by all the "character" of Vegas. I LOVE Vegas now and want to go back. Kstme and hubby were great hosts and Ollie and Maggie are energetic and friendly pups! Kstme is very interesting and we jabbered for HOURS! We had a "Rhapsody in Black and White" banquet to close the conference. Very elegant "Old Vegas". Awesome swing band. My colleague and I have discovered that the banquet is MUCH more fun if we bring our own men (for the dancing, anyway). Don't get the wrong idea....it was one of my students and a recent grad. Both were/are my students and they both student taught with her. The music started and they said...tonight you are just <Marm's first name> not Professor "Marm". They literally yelled "Let's dance" and off the four of us went. AWESOME big band/swing. I haven't danced like that for years. But then it was time to leave my friends and colleagues from all over the world...collected hugs and kisses and off we went to the airport. I'll write more after I've taken a nap. I'm falling asleep now! I left Vegas up $38 or $39 on the nickle slots. WHOOWHOO. |
Kstme | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 11:16 am     Marm...GOOD FOR YOU! Glad to hear you made it home safely. We were thinking about you around 11 last night. |
Wargod | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 12:09 pm     Who said no one leaves Vegas a winner? LOL...glad you had such a great time, Marm, and I told ya Kstme and clan were great! Juju has the right idea Tess. California is a great place to visit, and while I love it here..it is might expensive and crowded! Luckily in the desert it isn't too bad yet, but its only a matter of time! |
Buttercup | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 12:45 pm     Kstme and Marm, I am glad you had a great time
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Zachsmom | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 04:33 pm     I am looking forward to meeting you too Kstme!!! I am wondering if anyone else is going to Comdex? I'll be there from Nov 17 - 20th!! (actually leaving early on the 20th) This will be my first TVCH meeting and I am really excited!! |
Tess | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 04:39 pm     Tnt, the house we rented was a permanent family home. The family who lived there went on vacation for 2 weeks while we stayed at their house. It was so nice to get the same house year after year. There were blackberry bushes a a wonderful creek which ran through the back yard. We were not in a town so there were tons of places for a pack of kids to explore. It was a great adventure every summer for real city kids. |
Kstme | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 05:22 pm     My best memory of the Russian River comes from a trip down 101 in 1970. The Swiss Colony Wine place used to be very close to it and you could drink as much wine as you wanted IF you could "walk" to the bar. My ex-dh and I ate, drank and went to a place called Palmino to camp out. It was the BEST! Our little red Volkswagon and youth! LOL I think I even liked him at this point... |
Buttercup | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 06:59 pm     Okay, since we seem to be sharing Russian River stories I will add that one of my trips a few years back was down the actual river itself and it involved canoes, tubes and liquids other than river water  |
Lancecrossfire | Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 08:06 pm     TnT--it sounds like you drove over a lot of miles that afforded you some of the best scenery of you trip so far. Not knowinging if you drove the Oregon coast highway, I can only say if your drive was 1/2 as nice, you saw some fantastic views! Marm, it's great you hear you were able to get settled in and enjoy yourself so much. It's also great you came out a few dollars ahead--not everyone can say that as they drive away. Maybe you should visit there for a celebration once you get those 3 extra letters added to the end of your last name? |
Tntitanfan | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 07:40 am     Would you notice if there was a day missing? Maybe so - maybe not, but I am being thorough - 10/3/02 Thursday - Crescent City I took an early morning walk down to the harbor which was much larger than I would have assumed from the size of the "city" itself. There was a good-sized fleet of crabbing and fishing boats, and TWO reserved parking spaces in the parking lot for Scoma's (where we ate in SF). There was a memorial to the commercial fishermen lost from that port, and I was surprised to see several names for most of the years the memorial covered. I guess I didn't realize what a hazardous job that still is - The remainder of the day was spent having breakfast at Denny's, doing laundry, re-organizing my luggage for the cooler climate, and planning each day's travel for the remainder of the trip. See why I almost skipped today? 10/4/02 Friday - to Portland Not long out of town on our journey northward we were detoured into the deep woods. We emerged near Grant's Pass to pick up I-5. It had been a long time since our route had an "I" in its name! Although we hated to miss the beauty of the OR and WA coasts, we decided that we needed to pick up the pace a little. Upon arrival I got busy and set up a tour for the next day with directions to the tour office downtown and directions to a parking lot close to the tour office. Hooray! I was going to get to meet mjhenry here! Upon re-reading the last two paragraphs, perhaps I should have skipped that day as well! Improvement cometh! 10/5/02 Saturday - Portland I made motel and tour reservations for Seattle and - best of all - arrangments to meet mjh for dinner that night! Despite light drizzle lurking about, we set off for our tour. We found the parking garage; we found the tour office; the only thing we couldn't find was a sunbeam! The tour included a survey of downtown Portland where tons of renovation is going on. We visited the Pittock mansion - begun when Mr. P was 80! - and were surprised to find such things as an intercom and central vacuum system in 1914!! A tour of the famous rose gardens in a drizzle was better than a tour of the totem poles in AK in a downpour last year, but only marginally! A bright spot was in store, however, as mjh was so nice and most interesting to talk with! We had dinner at Newport Bay and talked and talked and talked!! Anyone who is up that way should certainly try to get together with her - you'll treasure every minute. Additionally - as if I needed an "additionally"- she brought me a handmade ballerina ornament and didn't even know that I have a "ballet" Christmas tree! How's that for coincidence?? |
Jewels | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:17 am     Sorry you had to experience Portland on such a yucky day, it really is a great city. It's to bad you couldn't have spent more time here. And in the whole state. I love it here. Have been enjoying reading all about your travels. Sounds like I great trip. Last summer I went from Portland, down the coast to Ft. Bragg and then along the river to Santa Rosa and down to SF. Sounds like the same route you did. The roads to Ft. Bragg were the curviest I have ever been on, I was happy to stop for the night too! The whole trip was beautiful though, I loved it! |
Juju2bigdog | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 12:45 pm     Uh oh, TnT. You will have to come back. The OR coast is something not to be missed. |
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