Washington, PA. We awoke naturally with no alarm around 8:30. Erik packed the car, Stacy bathed the kids and then we dined on free breakfast at the hotel.
Our last day on the road began at 10 a.m. Our trip home was going to be I-70 to Columbus, I-71 to Cincinnati and then I-75 to Chattanooga. This was different than on Day 1 as we took I-81 through Virginia and into West Virginia.
We hit our first rain of the road trip in Columbus, which was around kickoff of the Ohio State football game. We stopped to get gas just outside Wheeling, WV and Erik grabbed a 12-pack of Iron City beer for home usage.
We landed in Cincinnati around 2 p.m. and made our way to Busken Bakery for four 12-packs of Halloween and Bengals print cookies. The Buskens are the best ever.
After cookie pickup, we drove by Xavier and past University of Cincinnati to Ludlow Avenue. Our stop took us to Skyline Chili. As we walked in, the first words from Rigby's mouth were, "ahhhh, it smells good in here." After wiping the tears of joy from his face, Erik ordered. Chili-cheese coneys and 3-ways were the orders of choice for the family.
After a hearty dining experience, we drove through our second home city reliving the past.
Our final destination was The Party Source in Newport, Ky, just across the river from Cincy. This place has the largest beer cooler ever. They have rows and rows of wines and spirits and almost every type of beer you can imagine, except for Yuengling and Hudy Delight in a can.
We dropped a Benjamin and more, boxed up the goods and loaded the car with tasty treats for future references.
Our journey was nearing an end. We traveled through the 190-mile stretch of Kentucky and welcomed the dark. Erik listened to the Vols-Southern Miss game, since that was about the only thing the radio would pick up. The other choices were deep-woods country and the Kentucky football game.
We took a pit stop outside of Knoxville and then breezed down I-75 to Chattaboogie. We opted to turn off the radio and tell sppoky stories. Rigby told a 30 minute story about every monster he could think of. Seriously, 30 minutes.
We arrived at our home at 11 p.m.
Saturday consisted of:
-650 miles
-four pit stops
-three hours in Cincinnati
-13 hours total door (Pittsburgh) to door (Chattanooga)
Our seven-day journey was awesome. We traveled more than 1,800 miles during our adventure. What a great time.
The car is unpacked and the second load of laundry is already in the washer.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
Road Trip Day 6
The cell phone alarm woke us at 7 a.m. in Erie so we could get on the road early back to Pittsburgh. A quick breakfast at Old McDonalds and we were off.
We stopped in Wale Mark (Wal Mart Rigby-style) to get an umbrella stroller. We planned for a trip to a "see" museum and not a "play" museum so Rigby would be sitting in the new stroller.
We arrived back in Pittsburgh before lunch time and went to the Allegheny Cemetery to see Daniel William Cooper's grave, one of the seven founders of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The cemetery was very old and very expansive, but the grave site found Erik just like the other three he has seen before this one.
We traveled to and parked on the North Shore area to visit our final museum of the trip, the Andy Warhol Museum, seven-stories of Warhol in an old remodeled building. The museum was very contemporary, very Warhol. What a master he was. It was not your usual Marilyn Monroe pop what you would think of Warhol. It was so many different mediums he used throughout the years. The fifth floor held an archive of 600 boxes of memorabilia he had collected throughout the years.
After our museum experience, we ate at Atrias, which was built into the PNC Ball Park. The cheddar burger and reuben were awesome, as were the cold, Iron City beers we enjoyed (Lucy and Rigby had Sprite).
We breathed in the last daytime air of Pittsburgh and headed out to our hotel on the outskirts of the city.
But our day was not over! We freshened up and drove back to the city for our last big event - Pittsburgh Pirates baseball versus the Chicago Cubs. We parked in the city and walked across the Roberto Clemente Bridge, with thousands of other fans. Our seats were 20 rows behind home plate. The view of the Steel City in the outfield and the warm late summer breeze made for an awesome night.
The Pirates won 6-1. We left the ball park as the pirate raised the skull and cross bones in the outfield, signaling a win! Rigby and Lucy got foam pirate swords and swashbuckled their way out of the stadium.
We walked back across the Clemente Bridge looking over our shoulder at a great evening.
As we left the city, we wanted to see one more area of town on the South Side that we had not seen yet. Although it was 10:30 p.m., we drove through the Carson Street area and counted at least 30 bars and restaurants, alive and kicking. What a place for the adults and college students. We scoped that one out for future visits. During our 20 minute driving tour through the area, Rigby talked to Tobi-o-wan (Erik's sister) describing his week.
The night ended in Washington, PA, 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Stacy and Erik lugged two tired kids in the hotel (and a couple fountain drinks and apple pies from Old McDonalds).
What a great week. It's time to head back home. The road trip back home begins tomorrow.
We stopped in Wale Mark (Wal Mart Rigby-style) to get an umbrella stroller. We planned for a trip to a "see" museum and not a "play" museum so Rigby would be sitting in the new stroller.
We arrived back in Pittsburgh before lunch time and went to the Allegheny Cemetery to see Daniel William Cooper's grave, one of the seven founders of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The cemetery was very old and very expansive, but the grave site found Erik just like the other three he has seen before this one.
We traveled to and parked on the North Shore area to visit our final museum of the trip, the Andy Warhol Museum, seven-stories of Warhol in an old remodeled building. The museum was very contemporary, very Warhol. What a master he was. It was not your usual Marilyn Monroe pop what you would think of Warhol. It was so many different mediums he used throughout the years. The fifth floor held an archive of 600 boxes of memorabilia he had collected throughout the years.
After our museum experience, we ate at Atrias, which was built into the PNC Ball Park. The cheddar burger and reuben were awesome, as were the cold, Iron City beers we enjoyed (Lucy and Rigby had Sprite).
We breathed in the last daytime air of Pittsburgh and headed out to our hotel on the outskirts of the city.
But our day was not over! We freshened up and drove back to the city for our last big event - Pittsburgh Pirates baseball versus the Chicago Cubs. We parked in the city and walked across the Roberto Clemente Bridge, with thousands of other fans. Our seats were 20 rows behind home plate. The view of the Steel City in the outfield and the warm late summer breeze made for an awesome night.
The Pirates won 6-1. We left the ball park as the pirate raised the skull and cross bones in the outfield, signaling a win! Rigby and Lucy got foam pirate swords and swashbuckled their way out of the stadium.
We walked back across the Clemente Bridge looking over our shoulder at a great evening.
As we left the city, we wanted to see one more area of town on the South Side that we had not seen yet. Although it was 10:30 p.m., we drove through the Carson Street area and counted at least 30 bars and restaurants, alive and kicking. What a place for the adults and college students. We scoped that one out for future visits. During our 20 minute driving tour through the area, Rigby talked to Tobi-o-wan (Erik's sister) describing his week.
The night ended in Washington, PA, 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Stacy and Erik lugged two tired kids in the hotel (and a couple fountain drinks and apple pies from Old McDonalds).
What a great week. It's time to head back home. The road trip back home begins tomorrow.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Road Trip Day 5
Day 5. Erie, Pennsylvania. Went out to the car early morning and discovered the sun casting a shadow on a piece of tire on the passenger side. The tire was not flat, but it was injured. Luckily, the Avis store was about 3 miles away at the Erie International Airport.
Upon our arrival to the Avis counter, I informed the Avis representative that we had an injured tire. He questioned me why I had not noticed it early. Sorry, I thought, I am not vehicle inspection man. At first I thought he was not going to assist me, but he told me he could trade the car out if we felt it was unsafe. Of course I said yes.
So a 30-minute delay switching cars and kids and we were on our way to breakfast at a local establishment called Taki's. It was a good ole local establishment with omelets, hot cakes, bacon, sausage and coffee.
After breakfast we began our tour of Erie. We are not too sure what to make of the place. There is a nice area through town with tourist markers showing where the art museum, the maritime museum, the beaches, bayfront, etc. were, but it looked like this once bustling town of the 1900's was forgotten along the way. There are some awesome old churches and buildings and signs of prosperity from years past.
We went back to the hotel and changed into our beach gear for a trip to Presque Isle on Lake Erie. Upon our arrival to this serene state park, we drove to the end of the isle and beach 10.
The lake was nice and quiet - there were only about 10 other people in the area we were at. We dipped our feet and bums into the chilly water and collected cardboard-thin, smooth rocks, some of the best we have ever seen for skipping across the water. We soaked in the sun, walked along the shore and Rigby sat atop a lifeguard stand.
Sleepiness set in and we headed back for naps in the hotel. And then it was hungry time!
Stacy had read about this local restaurant downtown called the Pufferbelly Restaurant, housed in one of the oldest fire stations in Erie. The Pufferbelly recalls the nickname given to the steam pumpers and engines of the late 1800s.
The Erie Fire Department became an organization in 1816. Construction on the firehouse that is now the Pufferbelly Restaurant, was begun in 1907. It was built at a cost of $14,889.00 and was completed in 1908. Fire House No. 1 enjoyed a long history of fire protection and the department stopped using the station in 1979.
We enjoyed appetizers, dinner, dessert, drinks and really full bellies.
We ended our day at a city playground as the sun set and then in the hotel pool. The GrayStation soaked in the hot tub, Lucy floated around in an inflatable car and Rigby laid on his back in the pool dressed in a life jacket. Rigby even asked to go to the bathroom while he was in the ool. He has learned there is no "p" in it.
On to Day 6 - back to Pittsburgh for Pirates vs. Cubs at PNC Ball Park.
Upon our arrival to the Avis counter, I informed the Avis representative that we had an injured tire. He questioned me why I had not noticed it early. Sorry, I thought, I am not vehicle inspection man. At first I thought he was not going to assist me, but he told me he could trade the car out if we felt it was unsafe. Of course I said yes.
So a 30-minute delay switching cars and kids and we were on our way to breakfast at a local establishment called Taki's. It was a good ole local establishment with omelets, hot cakes, bacon, sausage and coffee.
After breakfast we began our tour of Erie. We are not too sure what to make of the place. There is a nice area through town with tourist markers showing where the art museum, the maritime museum, the beaches, bayfront, etc. were, but it looked like this once bustling town of the 1900's was forgotten along the way. There are some awesome old churches and buildings and signs of prosperity from years past.
We went back to the hotel and changed into our beach gear for a trip to Presque Isle on Lake Erie. Upon our arrival to this serene state park, we drove to the end of the isle and beach 10.
The lake was nice and quiet - there were only about 10 other people in the area we were at. We dipped our feet and bums into the chilly water and collected cardboard-thin, smooth rocks, some of the best we have ever seen for skipping across the water. We soaked in the sun, walked along the shore and Rigby sat atop a lifeguard stand.
Sleepiness set in and we headed back for naps in the hotel. And then it was hungry time!
Stacy had read about this local restaurant downtown called the Pufferbelly Restaurant, housed in one of the oldest fire stations in Erie. The Pufferbelly recalls the nickname given to the steam pumpers and engines of the late 1800s.
The Erie Fire Department became an organization in 1816. Construction on the firehouse that is now the Pufferbelly Restaurant, was begun in 1907. It was built at a cost of $14,889.00 and was completed in 1908. Fire House No. 1 enjoyed a long history of fire protection and the department stopped using the station in 1979.
We enjoyed appetizers, dinner, dessert, drinks and really full bellies.
We ended our day at a city playground as the sun set and then in the hotel pool. The GrayStation soaked in the hot tub, Lucy floated around in an inflatable car and Rigby laid on his back in the pool dressed in a life jacket. Rigby even asked to go to the bathroom while he was in the ool. He has learned there is no "p" in it.
On to Day 6 - back to Pittsburgh for Pirates vs. Cubs at PNC Ball Park.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Road Trip Day 4
Hello from Western Pennsylvania. They do not sell beer in convenience or grocery stores. You have to buy from a package store, and if those are not open (most close at 10 p.m.) you have to buy from a bar. So Erik bought a six back of Yuengling from Rocco's Tavern in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Now on with the first of the day and what a fun-filled day it was.
We woke up bright and early on Wednesday morning to walk down to the market district. We had breakfast around 8 a.m. and then started on our trek. The market area is where all the fresh produce and meats are brought into the city. The area opens before dawn and closes by lunchtime. We went in and out of local shops enjoying and wishing we had the cheap prices at home.
After a couple hours in the market area, we went back to the hotel to take a mid-morning swim. Erik and Rigby dipped into the hot tub and Lucy latched onto Stacy in the pool.
After the swim we packed up and went across the street to the Heinz Pittsburgh History Center, a massive seven-story museum. We could have stayed there all day, but Lucy and Rigby were ready to go after two hours. Inside was a chronological history of the city, complete with a lifesize cabin, city street, and house. It was awesome.
Also housed in the center was the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Housed on two floors, the area featured the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins pro teams as well as high school sports and Olympic sports.
Rigby even through a football to Steelers football players!
The interaction throughout the museum was great for young and old. We were as impressed with this museum as we have been with any other we have ever been in. Definitely worth the trip and for a revisit. Rigby, Lucy and Erik had their picture taken around the Three Rivers Stadium goal posts which stood from 1970-2000 and saw many championship Steelers teams.
After picking up some goods from the history store, we traveled across town to experience the Carnegie Science Center, a five level feast for the senses on the banks of the Ohio River and next to Heinz Field, home of the Steelers.
In the Science Center, Rigby and Lucy experienced their first planetarium show in a digital theater dome. We watched a 30-minute presentation on the Pittsburgh night sky. Lucy did great and Rigby really enjoyed peering at the 360 degree view of all the stars and constellations.
After a quick bite to eat in the cafe, Rigby and Erik went to the waterfront to hop aboard the USS Requiem, a cold-war era submarine. What a tight fit!
We finished up our visit seeing the other three floors of the museum, entering a wind tunnel, experiencing an earthquake, playing in water games and seeing the largest model train set display we have ever seen.
The center closed quicker than we wanted so we left and jumped into the car to go get some University of Pittsburgh Panthers gear on campus. Erik got a sweatshirt and Rigby got a Panthers cap. We then walked among the thousands of college students and had sushi at a small streetside shop.
Finally, to end the day, we loaded up the car and drove 126 miles to Erie, Pennsylvania, where we arrived around 9:30 p.m. We checked in at the Clarion Hotel, located just a half mile from Lake Erie. We plan to stay a day or so here and then go to where the road takes us.
See you tomorrow! Time for sleep - note below, this was right after midnight as Lucy FINALLY fell asleep. She was an evil hornet and having a good time staying up late.
Now on with the first of the day and what a fun-filled day it was.
We woke up bright and early on Wednesday morning to walk down to the market district. We had breakfast around 8 a.m. and then started on our trek. The market area is where all the fresh produce and meats are brought into the city. The area opens before dawn and closes by lunchtime. We went in and out of local shops enjoying and wishing we had the cheap prices at home.
After a couple hours in the market area, we went back to the hotel to take a mid-morning swim. Erik and Rigby dipped into the hot tub and Lucy latched onto Stacy in the pool.
After the swim we packed up and went across the street to the Heinz Pittsburgh History Center, a massive seven-story museum. We could have stayed there all day, but Lucy and Rigby were ready to go after two hours. Inside was a chronological history of the city, complete with a lifesize cabin, city street, and house. It was awesome.
Also housed in the center was the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Housed on two floors, the area featured the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins pro teams as well as high school sports and Olympic sports.
Rigby even through a football to Steelers football players!
The interaction throughout the museum was great for young and old. We were as impressed with this museum as we have been with any other we have ever been in. Definitely worth the trip and for a revisit. Rigby, Lucy and Erik had their picture taken around the Three Rivers Stadium goal posts which stood from 1970-2000 and saw many championship Steelers teams.
After picking up some goods from the history store, we traveled across town to experience the Carnegie Science Center, a five level feast for the senses on the banks of the Ohio River and next to Heinz Field, home of the Steelers.
In the Science Center, Rigby and Lucy experienced their first planetarium show in a digital theater dome. We watched a 30-minute presentation on the Pittsburgh night sky. Lucy did great and Rigby really enjoyed peering at the 360 degree view of all the stars and constellations.
After a quick bite to eat in the cafe, Rigby and Erik went to the waterfront to hop aboard the USS Requiem, a cold-war era submarine. What a tight fit!
We finished up our visit seeing the other three floors of the museum, entering a wind tunnel, experiencing an earthquake, playing in water games and seeing the largest model train set display we have ever seen.
The center closed quicker than we wanted so we left and jumped into the car to go get some University of Pittsburgh Panthers gear on campus. Erik got a sweatshirt and Rigby got a Panthers cap. We then walked among the thousands of college students and had sushi at a small streetside shop.
Finally, to end the day, we loaded up the car and drove 126 miles to Erie, Pennsylvania, where we arrived around 9:30 p.m. We checked in at the Clarion Hotel, located just a half mile from Lake Erie. We plan to stay a day or so here and then go to where the road takes us.
See you tomorrow! Time for sleep - note below, this was right after midnight as Lucy FINALLY fell asleep. She was an evil hornet and having a good time staying up late.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Road Trip Day 3
Tuesday morning sleep in! We woke at 9:30 a.m. and Rigby and Erik headed down for some complimentary breakfast and to pick some up to bring back to mommy and Lucy.
After baths and showers, we headed to the North Shore to visit the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. The museum is inside old post office and planetarium buildings, connected by a new modern glass structure. The entire building runs off of hydroelectric, solar and wind energy.
The museum was quite large, spanning four floors. We started in Mister Rogers' neighborhood. Mister Rogers is a Pittsburgh native. There were props and sets from the TV show.
We continued into the a room with ghosts, shadow makers and a gravity room with tilted floors. Rigby climbed into a two-story "limb bender," a maze that fit inside a wall. It was awesome and Erik wished he could have climbed in.
The next room was a garage, complete with a Mini-Cooper car. This room was inside the old planetarium dome.
We visited the second floor with train sets and Lucy-aged items. The third floor was a waterworks area where we could build boats and sail them across pools of waters. Rigby and Lucy had full rain gear on so they would not get soaked. When they were done, there was a wall of dryers to dry off the kids.
The basement housed Clifford, the Big Red Dog. After some Clifford action, we stopped into the old planetarium lobby, which had been transformed into a cafe and rest area.
It was a great children's museum - completely different from Chattanooga's.
Lunch was taken at Lula's near the University of Pittsburgh campus. This Asian cuisine establishment was voted "Best of" for several years and it did not disappoint. Rigby stabbed cucumbers with chop sticks and Lucy ate curry noodles!
We chose the zoo to visit next, but discovered that it closed at FOUR when we arrived at 4:03. We were all pissed, so we took some quiet time at nearby Highland Park. There was a large fountain, super playground and lots of green space for all to enjoy. Rigby ran like a wild horse and Lucy picked flowers.
A stop back at the hotel to freshen up was needed, and we watched a little TV.
We got back out on the road near sundown to drive up to Mt. Washington to see the city and rivers immediately below. The view was breathtaking, and we walked up and down some hilly roads to the Duquesne Incline, in operation since 1877. For $7 for the family, we rode down the incline and back up watching the city skyline and spotting deer on the hillside.
Night fell and we enjoyed the night sky on a mountain overlook. We reluctantly got back in the car, not wanting to leave the beautiful views, but we were ready to get something to eat. As soon as we got in the car, Rigby grabbed a "sippy cup" of Sprite and proceeded to spill the drink all over him - a faulty lid was to blame.
After driving around looking for something to eat, we settled on a local favorite establishment, Primanti Brothers in the Strip District near our hotel.
At 9:30 p.m. the proclaimed area that does not sleep was snoring. Nothing appeared open but Primanti's and it is open 24 hours. ROCK ON. Erik went in to get to go orders since the kids were asleep. After ordering steak and cheese, corned beef and cheese and bacon and cheese sandwiches, Erik enjoyed an ice-cold Iron City Beer.
We took the food and sleepy kids back to the hotel and got on the food. To note, these sandwiches were topped with slaw and fries and must have weighed a pound each. Rigby's bacon and cheese must have had 12 pieces of bacon on it. He did wake up and is eating the bacon right now, actually.
So time for bed and on to Day 4.
After baths and showers, we headed to the North Shore to visit the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. The museum is inside old post office and planetarium buildings, connected by a new modern glass structure. The entire building runs off of hydroelectric, solar and wind energy.
The museum was quite large, spanning four floors. We started in Mister Rogers' neighborhood. Mister Rogers is a Pittsburgh native. There were props and sets from the TV show.
We continued into the a room with ghosts, shadow makers and a gravity room with tilted floors. Rigby climbed into a two-story "limb bender," a maze that fit inside a wall. It was awesome and Erik wished he could have climbed in.
The next room was a garage, complete with a Mini-Cooper car. This room was inside the old planetarium dome.
We visited the second floor with train sets and Lucy-aged items. The third floor was a waterworks area where we could build boats and sail them across pools of waters. Rigby and Lucy had full rain gear on so they would not get soaked. When they were done, there was a wall of dryers to dry off the kids.
The basement housed Clifford, the Big Red Dog. After some Clifford action, we stopped into the old planetarium lobby, which had been transformed into a cafe and rest area.
It was a great children's museum - completely different from Chattanooga's.
Lunch was taken at Lula's near the University of Pittsburgh campus. This Asian cuisine establishment was voted "Best of" for several years and it did not disappoint. Rigby stabbed cucumbers with chop sticks and Lucy ate curry noodles!
We chose the zoo to visit next, but discovered that it closed at FOUR when we arrived at 4:03. We were all pissed, so we took some quiet time at nearby Highland Park. There was a large fountain, super playground and lots of green space for all to enjoy. Rigby ran like a wild horse and Lucy picked flowers.
A stop back at the hotel to freshen up was needed, and we watched a little TV.
We got back out on the road near sundown to drive up to Mt. Washington to see the city and rivers immediately below. The view was breathtaking, and we walked up and down some hilly roads to the Duquesne Incline, in operation since 1877. For $7 for the family, we rode down the incline and back up watching the city skyline and spotting deer on the hillside.
Night fell and we enjoyed the night sky on a mountain overlook. We reluctantly got back in the car, not wanting to leave the beautiful views, but we were ready to get something to eat. As soon as we got in the car, Rigby grabbed a "sippy cup" of Sprite and proceeded to spill the drink all over him - a faulty lid was to blame.
After driving around looking for something to eat, we settled on a local favorite establishment, Primanti Brothers in the Strip District near our hotel.
At 9:30 p.m. the proclaimed area that does not sleep was snoring. Nothing appeared open but Primanti's and it is open 24 hours. ROCK ON. Erik went in to get to go orders since the kids were asleep. After ordering steak and cheese, corned beef and cheese and bacon and cheese sandwiches, Erik enjoyed an ice-cold Iron City Beer.
We took the food and sleepy kids back to the hotel and got on the food. To note, these sandwiches were topped with slaw and fries and must have weighed a pound each. Rigby's bacon and cheese must have had 12 pieces of bacon on it. He did wake up and is eating the bacon right now, actually.
So time for bed and on to Day 4.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Road Trip - Day 2
Day 2 began with baths, showers and a full breakfast at the Beckley, WV Fairfield Marriott. After packing the car back up, we headed back out to where the road will take us, as Rigby keeps saying.
We detoured 30 minutes into our drive to look for the New River Gorge National River. We ended up going through some old towns and looped back around to Highway 19. We crossed the New River Gorge Bridge (longest steel arch span in the western hemisphere) and found the national river visitors center. We had never been to a national river, but it is park of the national parks system.
We discovered the striking size of the gorge with one of the world's oldest rivers at the bottom. A short hiking trail took us into the gorge on a wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk has two observation decks which offered great views of the bridge and the mile-wide gorge it spans.
We soon made our way back on the road, stopped at an Old McDonalds (of course) and headed north to Morgantown, WV, home of the West Virginia University Mountaineers. We just drove through the campus area and went on our way.
After driving 260 miles, we traveled through the Pennsylvania hills and as we neared Pittsburgh, we passed through the Fort Pitt tunnel. As soon as the tunnel ended, the Steel City appeared. It was a great way to enter the city.
We drove around and got the lay of the land, driving around and through the city. We stopped into a coffee shop on the University of Pittsburg's campus for milk, coffee drinks, muffins and wi-fi access. We then settled in at the Hampton Inn & Suites downtown next to the Convention Center and across the street from the Heinz History Center.
After unpacking and throwing the kids from bed to bed, we got dressed and headed out on foot to explore the city at sundown. We walked a dimly-lit path to Point Park, the area where the three rivers meet at the point of the city. To our dismay, the large signature fountain was off and the park was closed for a $35 million renovation.
We walked away from the way we came and traveled the other side of the city looking for access back across the highway and into the city. At this point we had walked about two miles and were a little frustrated, and in the dark.
We found our way back in to the city and walked to the PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass) campus. This place was awesome, with its tall black glass buildings. It looked like a medieval fortress. The center of the quad had a large fountain and Rigby and Erik made sure to get a little wet.
Back on track, we took Penn Avenue back through the city and to our hotel.
Note that Rigby walked almost all three miles (at least), Lucy stayed awake in her stroller and we had nothing to eat. Being Labor Day and we were in a blue-collar city, nothing was open at 9 p.m. It was a little strange.
So we hopped in the car to look for some grub. We ended up on the University of Pittsburgh campus and found the Original Hot Dog Shop, which we discovered was ranked the fourth-best hot dog in America by Gourmet Magazine.
What great college food and atmosphere. We walked in at 10 p.m. with a hungry Rigby and completely asleep Lucy.
This place opened up in 1960. Walk inside, and we're assaulted by the sights, sounds and smells of urban Americana. Signs everywhere offering various dogs and a man behind the counter with half a head of hair, half a beard and one eyebrow - and he was very congenial.
Stacy got an Original Hot Dog with ketchup, mustard, onion and relish. Erik got the Super Dog - a hot dog with two pieces of crunchy bacon and melted cheese, plus mayo, ketchup, onion and relish. Rigby had pizza from a counter on the other side of the shop.
The fries were awesome and served in mass quantities - they're bright yellow-gold -- some twisty, some tiny, some crunchy -- and cooked tasty.
There were coolers all over the place with 12-packs of beer and 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor which you could purchase to go with the meal. We had sodas.
Bellies full, we headed back to the hotel and crashed for the night. On to Day 3.
We detoured 30 minutes into our drive to look for the New River Gorge National River. We ended up going through some old towns and looped back around to Highway 19. We crossed the New River Gorge Bridge (longest steel arch span in the western hemisphere) and found the national river visitors center. We had never been to a national river, but it is park of the national parks system.
We discovered the striking size of the gorge with one of the world's oldest rivers at the bottom. A short hiking trail took us into the gorge on a wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk has two observation decks which offered great views of the bridge and the mile-wide gorge it spans.
We soon made our way back on the road, stopped at an Old McDonalds (of course) and headed north to Morgantown, WV, home of the West Virginia University Mountaineers. We just drove through the campus area and went on our way.
After driving 260 miles, we traveled through the Pennsylvania hills and as we neared Pittsburgh, we passed through the Fort Pitt tunnel. As soon as the tunnel ended, the Steel City appeared. It was a great way to enter the city.
We drove around and got the lay of the land, driving around and through the city. We stopped into a coffee shop on the University of Pittsburg's campus for milk, coffee drinks, muffins and wi-fi access. We then settled in at the Hampton Inn & Suites downtown next to the Convention Center and across the street from the Heinz History Center.
After unpacking and throwing the kids from bed to bed, we got dressed and headed out on foot to explore the city at sundown. We walked a dimly-lit path to Point Park, the area where the three rivers meet at the point of the city. To our dismay, the large signature fountain was off and the park was closed for a $35 million renovation.
We walked away from the way we came and traveled the other side of the city looking for access back across the highway and into the city. At this point we had walked about two miles and were a little frustrated, and in the dark.
We found our way back in to the city and walked to the PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass) campus. This place was awesome, with its tall black glass buildings. It looked like a medieval fortress. The center of the quad had a large fountain and Rigby and Erik made sure to get a little wet.
Back on track, we took Penn Avenue back through the city and to our hotel.
Note that Rigby walked almost all three miles (at least), Lucy stayed awake in her stroller and we had nothing to eat. Being Labor Day and we were in a blue-collar city, nothing was open at 9 p.m. It was a little strange.
So we hopped in the car to look for some grub. We ended up on the University of Pittsburgh campus and found the Original Hot Dog Shop, which we discovered was ranked the fourth-best hot dog in America by Gourmet Magazine.
What great college food and atmosphere. We walked in at 10 p.m. with a hungry Rigby and completely asleep Lucy.
This place opened up in 1960. Walk inside, and we're assaulted by the sights, sounds and smells of urban Americana. Signs everywhere offering various dogs and a man behind the counter with half a head of hair, half a beard and one eyebrow - and he was very congenial.
Stacy got an Original Hot Dog with ketchup, mustard, onion and relish. Erik got the Super Dog - a hot dog with two pieces of crunchy bacon and melted cheese, plus mayo, ketchup, onion and relish. Rigby had pizza from a counter on the other side of the shop.
The fries were awesome and served in mass quantities - they're bright yellow-gold -- some twisty, some tiny, some crunchy -- and cooked tasty.
There were coolers all over the place with 12-packs of beer and 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor which you could purchase to go with the meal. We had sodas.
Bellies full, we headed back to the hotel and crashed for the night. On to Day 3.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Road Trip - Day 1
Labor Day Week Road Trip 2007 has begun!
We left Chattanooga around 1 p.m. and pulled into Beckley, West Virginia at 11 p.m., 450 miles away. But we had some good pitstops along the way.
Exit 407 on I-40 - Aside from all the tourists and straight-up rednecks (I know, it is my stomping grounds), we enjoyed a quick bite to eat at Old McDonalds.
As we toured up I-81, we decided to take our first detour and travel about 100 miles out of the way to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.
The Arby's on Exit 69 in Virginia has clean bathrooms.
As we arrived on the campus, the sun was setting. We walked across the field to a new memorial dedicated to all those that lost their lives in April on the VT campus. There were 32 Hokie stones in a semi-circle with memorablia and flowers adorning each one. It was quite a moving and sobering experience.
Nearby, students were playing soccer, football and enjoying their lives. How could something so horrible have happened on that campus - or anywhere?
We finished the Blacksburg evening at Backstreets, a great little pizza place. Lucy ate parmesan cheese off the table, Rigby scarfed down pizzinis and pizza slices and Erik and Stacy finished off a NY style pie.
Since we had gone out of our way, we took old highway 460 through the mountains in total darkness to Bluefield, WV, then the I-77 toll road and into Beckley, WV, where we are staying in a Courtyard Marriott with speedy wi-fi access. We did stop on the side of the toll road so Rigby could pee-pee on the rocks.
On to sleep and Day 2!
We left Chattanooga around 1 p.m. and pulled into Beckley, West Virginia at 11 p.m., 450 miles away. But we had some good pitstops along the way.
Exit 407 on I-40 - Aside from all the tourists and straight-up rednecks (I know, it is my stomping grounds), we enjoyed a quick bite to eat at Old McDonalds.
As we toured up I-81, we decided to take our first detour and travel about 100 miles out of the way to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.
The Arby's on Exit 69 in Virginia has clean bathrooms.
As we arrived on the campus, the sun was setting. We walked across the field to a new memorial dedicated to all those that lost their lives in April on the VT campus. There were 32 Hokie stones in a semi-circle with memorablia and flowers adorning each one. It was quite a moving and sobering experience.
Nearby, students were playing soccer, football and enjoying their lives. How could something so horrible have happened on that campus - or anywhere?
We finished the Blacksburg evening at Backstreets, a great little pizza place. Lucy ate parmesan cheese off the table, Rigby scarfed down pizzinis and pizza slices and Erik and Stacy finished off a NY style pie.
Since we had gone out of our way, we took old highway 460 through the mountains in total darkness to Bluefield, WV, then the I-77 toll road and into Beckley, WV, where we are staying in a Courtyard Marriott with speedy wi-fi access. We did stop on the side of the toll road so Rigby could pee-pee on the rocks.
On to sleep and Day 2!
Saturday, September 01, 2007
FOUR YEARS
Four years of joy.
Four years of happy times.
Four years of tearful moments.
Four years of time flying by.
Four years of learning.
Four years of seeing life grow.
Four years of listening.
Four years of laughing.
Four years of teaching.
Four years of hugging.
Four years of waking up.
Four years of playing games.
Four years of friendship.
Four years of following.
Four years of fun.
Four years of running.
Four years of cleaning.
Four years of protecting.
Four years of smiles.
Four years of buying toys.
Four years of watching.
Four years of sharing.
Four years of love.
Four years of our son.
Four years old.
We love you, Rigby Wilder Gray. Happy Birthday.
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