Thursday, October 8, 2020

My Maine Journal

 My Maine Journal

Our travels have brought us all around the "lower 48". We've tried to zip zag, circle through, and around every state we could. Florida was where this endeavor started.

Enjoy your journal

Thank you for taking this wonderful journey with us. It has been absolutely incredible. 

Please keep in mind that some museums don’t allow photography.

Pambling Roads−My Maine Journal

Piscatague River Bridge

Entering Maine on an off-the-beaten path was fascinating. Not minutes after we crossed the border, I was looking out the window at the homes and land when I saw three really weird looking "horses" in the distance against the woods.

As the split second went by, I noticed that there was no fence and they weren’t horses -- they were moose. We were going to turn around so my husband could see but decided not to; it was Maine and we knew there were more moose per mile in Maine than any other state. He’d be able to see some farther on down the road >> poor guy, never had a chance to see another one in the area after that. (He finally got to see some when we were out west.)

Waterville, Maine

Heading over toward I-95, we made our pit stop in Waterville. The people there were great. We ate dinner and had drinks at the onsite restaurant, O'Brien's Restaurant and Pub. The service for the hotel and restaurant were top-notch. We couldn't have asked for a nicer room or a nicer stay.

We had a very interesting moment and wasn’t inconvenienced at all. The fire alarm went off and we (obviously) had to exit our room. Standing outside waiting for the firefighters to clear the hotel so we could re-enter, we chatted with some other travelers. We met and chatted with people from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Boston, MA.

I was just starting to ask questions about Nova Scotia and New Brunswick when we received the all clear to go back to our rooms.

Wilton

Our next stay was in Wilton, Maine where we spent the night at the Comfort Inn. I felt like I was surrounded by the magnificence of Maine. We saw a deer munching near the back of the hotel. My husband loved the pool and we were both thrilled with the excellent continental breakfast. (Loved the waffles!)

Medway

Medway, Maine was our next destination. We stayed at the Gateway Inn for a few nights and were able to visit with some friends that my husband hadn’t seen in too many years to count.  The lady at the desk was very friendly and helpful.

Our room was nice and clean. Their indoor pool was wonderful. The hotel was nestled against some awesome scenery.

Before we left, we made sure to purchase some of the unique puzzles they had for sale. They have them displayed on the walls. We love puzzles and it was a chance to get something different and unique.


Yes, that’s a puzzle! 

Our first night we went to a restaurant down the road in another town, East Millinocket. I can still hear the waitress "Hi," handing us our menus, "You're not from around here are you?"

Honest, she really did say that!

My response… "Is it that obvious?"

Her response… "No, not at all."

I believe that was a very quick recovery on her part. Really? Did we stand out or stick out?

So, the next night we did take-out from a different restaurant, Aerie Restaurant. The food was good. We enjoyed our meal and would recommend it to anyone in the area.

We ate breakfast at a restaurant near a gas station several miles outside of Farmington. The food was good, service was good, but boy, the waitresses sure knew how to bang the dishes, and let it echo very loudly through the restaurant.

We learned that Maine has two very different types of drivers− those in an extreme hurry, driving as close to your bumper as they possibly can, pushy and dangerous, passing on curves (with double yellow lines), swerving, and passing on the peak of a hill. Then there were the drivers who were very, very, laid back. Enjoying their day, going the speed limit, just as comfortable and relaxed as can be.
















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My Kansas Journal

 

Welcome to beautiful Kansas

Greensburg, Kansas

Best Western

Greensburg was a fascinating town and the people there were awesome. The whole town is a ‘green’ self-sustaining town. 

Kansas Meteorite Museum and Nature Center

We almost missed it and we are very glad we stopped for a visit. Admission is free. However, donations are welcome and appreciated. It has a huge collection of meteorites, rocks, and various other scientific equipment. Everything there to please those who have any interest in science.

The Brenham meteorites are fascinating to look at with multiple colors of green, yellow, orange, metals, crystals, etc.

www.kansasmeteorite.com

www.kansastravel.org/kansasmeteoritemuseum.htm

The Big Well Museum and Visitor’s Center        

The Big Well, built in the late 1880’s, is the world’s largest hand-dug well. There are exhibits circling the well telling about the well and the historical EF5 tornado that practically leveled Greensburg in 2007. The Big Well is 109 feet deep and 32 feet wide. There are stairs where if you choose you can go down into the well. 

On display, there is also a 1000-pound Pallasite meteorite, named The Space Wanderer.

www.greensburgks.org

Dodge, Kansas

Best Western    

Dodge City Trolley Tour

The trolley tour took us around the town with an interesting narration of its history and current events, showing everyone the thriving beef industry that Dodge is still known for. We were able to see the Million Dollar Block, Fort Dodge, Gospel Hill, and many other homes and historical sites.

 

Boot Hill Museum and Cemetery

Boot Hill Museum was moved to its present location and the area is set up replicating a section of old western Dodge. Included in the tour is the Boot Hill Cemetery, the Long Branch Saloon, A gun exhibit, a print shop, boot shop, and restaurant to name a few. We purchased the package that included the tour, dinner, a gunfight, and a variety show. It was fun, fun, fun!

Harvey Hotel and Santa Fe Train Depot  

This was a fascinating tour if you enjoy old architectural structures along with historical significance of the Harvey Hotel and Restaurant chains and the old west. This building is still in the process of being renovated and they have done an excellent job. They do have a dinner theatre there and if you have the chance, it is a great stop all around.


















Your personal journal!

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Journals don't have images in them.


 

My Iowa Journal

 

My Iowa Journal

Meeting the Americans

Pambling Roads, Meeting the Americans continues. Our travels bring us to Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. We didn’t stay at any hotels in Iowa but chose to travel through it on our way northward. We didn’t want to miss any countryside and was enjoying our travels. If you have been following this series, you would note that the Best Western Hotels and the LaQuinta Hotels are the two main places we have stayed. Honestly, there’s a well thought out reason for it. Both hotels are consistent in their service, employees, and cleanliness.

Iowa

Stopped by the Laura Ingles Wilder museum and took a guide of the hotel the Ingles lived in while they stayed in Burr Oak, Iowa. Everyone was getting acquainted when the other guide made an insulting comment about Florida. He continued informing everyone that whenever he thinks of Florida, he thinks about the fact that it isn’t a place he would want to go because people eat peoples’ faces there.

What???

My response: I would have thought you would say that Florida makes you think of the Space Shuttle launches? The Beaches? Walt Disney World? Not Zombies.

His response:

The rockets don’t take off from Florida. They take off from Texas.

Blink. Blink. Blink. Sigh.

Our guide was wonderful; she was quite knowledgeable about the author and the history of Ms. Wilder’s life. The visitor’s center is in an old bank, the vault still intact, and some local history about the first bank robbery in 1931. They have a smorgasbord of books from and about Laura Ingles Wilder along with some interesting frontier type souvenirs to purchase. 

http://www.lauraingallswilder.us




And a personal journal for you!
Pages for You to Fill in the Blanks 
Perfect for journal and diary writing. Fun trivia and tidbits about Iowa are sprinkled throughout the journal. Designed to nurture creativity and self-motivation. One side is blank for drawing, pasting personal pictures, and the other side lined for notes or journal writing.

Journaling improves mental health and happiness, provides creative outlets, and gives a perfect place to record life's precious events. Write personal notes, thoughts, and reflections. It's perfect for self-guidance to strengthen your faith, and give yourself positive expectations, and encourage positive living.
A wonderful gift and Great for all ages.

mybook.to/MyIowaJournal