Colorado Bound - Day 2
Day 2 — Avon Lake, OH to South Bend, IN
First,I can't believe people are freaking out to not see the latest installment of my adventures on the way to Denver. I was late in posting this because the stops I made did not have free wifi. I'm at a rest stop in Iowa, approaching Davenport, as I post this Tuesday afternoon. Thanks for the interest and encouragement!
I woke early in the morning, at 4 a.m., with the sound of a little electric snowplow clearing the snow away. It was a record snowfall for Dec. 27 in northern Ohio — go figure. I estimated about 8 inches where I was, but on the radio they said it was 5-6. Isn't that how it always is?
I drove to a 24-hour diner called the Blue Sky Restaurant, near Oberlin. They did not have wifi available to the public, but the owner gladly supplied me with the secret password using the connection for Mr. Hero's Subs. It's "romanburger." Sorry, Mr. Hero.
The connector roads were still snow covered, and with the added weight in my Bonneville, well, she no stop too good. Better to find that out on desolate roads at 4 a.m. than later. Caution was to be the word of the day. It was an endless cup of coffee and some trip planning for the day. About 7 a.m., I made my way back to the Turnpike. the 27 degrees warmed up, and the snow turned to a sleety frozen rain as I headed toward Toledo. Memories came back of a day trip I took 25 years ago to the Toledo Zoo with a church-based singles group from Euclid. That day like a year. I am certain all of those people are still single, somewhere, organizing torturous road trips.
Rush hour traffic and icy rains were getting to me, so I pulled off at a rest stop. I reorganized my car for the rest of the trip, making room up from for my big down parka and the warm blanket my sister-in-law Michelle made for me a few years back. Then, I tested it out, catching a 2-hour nap that made up for my insomnia from the last week.
The Frog Angel was in no hurry, and we took a few pictures at the service center. Drove to Maumee, Ohio to the Panera Bread. It was, after all, a work day, and I had a few hours of work to cram in. I'm happy that some of my clients are getting serious about using the internet to make money. The timing could be better, but it was a nice diversion from another catastrophy that presented itself back home. The funny and encouraging comments from all of you on Facebook and on my blog made this a pleasant stop. I was also able to make a connection with some of my Cleveland friends — still great people after all these years.
I hit the road, eagerly awaiting the Indiana border. I had never been to the Land of Letterman before. I've heard nice things about it. I took my toll ticket from the automated toll plaza. From the priniting on the ticket, it appeared as though the tolls to cross the state would be $27. I can just about live for a week on $27, so I exited at the first stop, which was supposed to be $3. The friendly lady asked me for $.75. I asked what the printing on the ticket was, and she shook her head and dismissed the folly with a wave of her hand. She informed me I could cross the state for $8.
FA and I went on a little excursion seeking some photo opps, then jumped back onto the Indiana Turnpike. I learned that FA has a devilish side, too. FA made me listen to right-wing hate radio from WJR in Detroit. Then, the road sign. South Bend. The Fighting Irish. We followed the signs to campus, and made the left turn onto Notre Dame Avenue. Straight ahead was the famous Golden Dome. Catholics sure know how to use their gold! The parking lot, which ordinarily charges $2 — free! Thank you, Frog angel. Okay, so school was out of session, but still, I appreciate free parking. More than I'll tell you in this blog. FA and I battled blustery winds to walk down the tree-lined road dissecting the campus. Photos ensued, and they speak for themselves. Touchdown Jesus on the Hesburgh Library was impressive. I felt an odd excitement seeing the stadium for the first time. Through the locked steel gates, you could see down the tunnel to the field, and right there was part of the yellow goalpost. As the ropes clanked against the flag staffs in the wind, FA said he could almost hear ghostly chants of "Rooo-Deee, Rooo-Deee, Rooo-Deee!" I told FA that maybe he could matriculate and try out for the team, but he said it was too cold to take off any clothes and asked if we could just go back to the car.
We found a lovely co-ed to take our picture in front of the dome, and then went to the Sacred Heart Basilica. The sign said it was open to the public until 4 pm. It was 3:59. The doors were locked. Then, upon leaving the campus, there were street signs near the entrance to the football parking areas that said, "Watch for Left Turns." I made a left turn, but nobody gave me a watch. Another Catholic lie!
Off to Starbucks, and calls from Angela and a new bujsiness associate. I really appreciate the calls, even though I need to conserve my phone minutes. It was nice.
I'm hoping the phone conference will result in new business, as I'm going to need the revenue stream. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings to see if I could watch a hockey game. They don't like hockey so much in Indiana. But it has to be the hugest emporium for mediocre chicken wings on the planet. They still allow smoking in the bars here, which really was annoying. I stayed through the end of the Bears OT win over the Vikes. This is Bears Territory. Had a very good night's sleep, uninterrupted, and I feel better heading into Day 3, a beautiful day drenched in sunshine.
Snow and freezing schmutz outside
There is still JOY at Notre Dame, even after a disappointing football season.
Along Notre Dame Ave. We're building suspense here!
FA is humbled by the golden dome.
Kerry and FA on the Notre Dame Campus. The coed who took our picture got my camera sticky.
In the distance, that's Notre Dame Stadium.
180 degrees, and it's Touchdown Jesus. Don't let the smile fool you. I was freezing.
Ru-dy, Ru-dy, Ru-dy!
Bringing better fortune to Coach Kelly and the FIghting Irish for next year.
Starbucks gets the environmental angel of the day from FA for its recycling program.
It is certainly a green frog.
First,I can't believe people are freaking out to not see the latest installment of my adventures on the way to Denver. I was late in posting this because the stops I made did not have free wifi. I'm at a rest stop in Iowa, approaching Davenport, as I post this Tuesday afternoon. Thanks for the interest and encouragement!
I woke early in the morning, at 4 a.m., with the sound of a little electric snowplow clearing the snow away. It was a record snowfall for Dec. 27 in northern Ohio — go figure. I estimated about 8 inches where I was, but on the radio they said it was 5-6. Isn't that how it always is?
I drove to a 24-hour diner called the Blue Sky Restaurant, near Oberlin. They did not have wifi available to the public, but the owner gladly supplied me with the secret password using the connection for Mr. Hero's Subs. It's "romanburger." Sorry, Mr. Hero.
The connector roads were still snow covered, and with the added weight in my Bonneville, well, she no stop too good. Better to find that out on desolate roads at 4 a.m. than later. Caution was to be the word of the day. It was an endless cup of coffee and some trip planning for the day. About 7 a.m., I made my way back to the Turnpike. the 27 degrees warmed up, and the snow turned to a sleety frozen rain as I headed toward Toledo. Memories came back of a day trip I took 25 years ago to the Toledo Zoo with a church-based singles group from Euclid. That day like a year. I am certain all of those people are still single, somewhere, organizing torturous road trips.
Rush hour traffic and icy rains were getting to me, so I pulled off at a rest stop. I reorganized my car for the rest of the trip, making room up from for my big down parka and the warm blanket my sister-in-law Michelle made for me a few years back. Then, I tested it out, catching a 2-hour nap that made up for my insomnia from the last week.
The Frog Angel was in no hurry, and we took a few pictures at the service center. Drove to Maumee, Ohio to the Panera Bread. It was, after all, a work day, and I had a few hours of work to cram in. I'm happy that some of my clients are getting serious about using the internet to make money. The timing could be better, but it was a nice diversion from another catastrophy that presented itself back home. The funny and encouraging comments from all of you on Facebook and on my blog made this a pleasant stop. I was also able to make a connection with some of my Cleveland friends — still great people after all these years.
I hit the road, eagerly awaiting the Indiana border. I had never been to the Land of Letterman before. I've heard nice things about it. I took my toll ticket from the automated toll plaza. From the priniting on the ticket, it appeared as though the tolls to cross the state would be $27. I can just about live for a week on $27, so I exited at the first stop, which was supposed to be $3. The friendly lady asked me for $.75. I asked what the printing on the ticket was, and she shook her head and dismissed the folly with a wave of her hand. She informed me I could cross the state for $8.
FA and I went on a little excursion seeking some photo opps, then jumped back onto the Indiana Turnpike. I learned that FA has a devilish side, too. FA made me listen to right-wing hate radio from WJR in Detroit. Then, the road sign. South Bend. The Fighting Irish. We followed the signs to campus, and made the left turn onto Notre Dame Avenue. Straight ahead was the famous Golden Dome. Catholics sure know how to use their gold! The parking lot, which ordinarily charges $2 — free! Thank you, Frog angel. Okay, so school was out of session, but still, I appreciate free parking. More than I'll tell you in this blog. FA and I battled blustery winds to walk down the tree-lined road dissecting the campus. Photos ensued, and they speak for themselves. Touchdown Jesus on the Hesburgh Library was impressive. I felt an odd excitement seeing the stadium for the first time. Through the locked steel gates, you could see down the tunnel to the field, and right there was part of the yellow goalpost. As the ropes clanked against the flag staffs in the wind, FA said he could almost hear ghostly chants of "Rooo-Deee, Rooo-Deee, Rooo-Deee!" I told FA that maybe he could matriculate and try out for the team, but he said it was too cold to take off any clothes and asked if we could just go back to the car.
We found a lovely co-ed to take our picture in front of the dome, and then went to the Sacred Heart Basilica. The sign said it was open to the public until 4 pm. It was 3:59. The doors were locked. Then, upon leaving the campus, there were street signs near the entrance to the football parking areas that said, "Watch for Left Turns." I made a left turn, but nobody gave me a watch. Another Catholic lie!
Off to Starbucks, and calls from Angela and a new bujsiness associate. I really appreciate the calls, even though I need to conserve my phone minutes. It was nice.
I'm hoping the phone conference will result in new business, as I'm going to need the revenue stream. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings to see if I could watch a hockey game. They don't like hockey so much in Indiana. But it has to be the hugest emporium for mediocre chicken wings on the planet. They still allow smoking in the bars here, which really was annoying. I stayed through the end of the Bears OT win over the Vikes. This is Bears Territory. Had a very good night's sleep, uninterrupted, and I feel better heading into Day 3, a beautiful day drenched in sunshine.
Snow and freezing schmutz outside
There is still JOY at Notre Dame, even after a disappointing football season.
Along Notre Dame Ave. We're building suspense here!
FA is humbled by the golden dome.
Kerry and FA on the Notre Dame Campus. The coed who took our picture got my camera sticky.
In the distance, that's Notre Dame Stadium.
180 degrees, and it's Touchdown Jesus. Don't let the smile fool you. I was freezing.
Ru-dy, Ru-dy, Ru-dy!
Bringing better fortune to Coach Kelly and the FIghting Irish for next year.
Starbucks gets the environmental angel of the day from FA for its recycling program.
It is certainly a green frog.
Kerry: Your blog is so much fun to read! Glad your taking the time to see the sights on your way to Denver! I await your next blog!
Reply to this
Greetings,
. . . and I must say it is good to hear from you. I take all is well and when you arrive in Denver, please call. I can be reached direct at 303-733-0822.
Happy New Year! I love your spirit.
Reply to this