Back to Reality

Why do vacations have to go so fast???  We left our hotel around 7:45 and I thought we were going to stop halfway for the night but Russell wanted to try to push for home.  The truck did really well and we experienced no mechanical issues, although it was a very long trip and we didn't get home until 11:00 pm.

Wasn't much to shoot in OH so I started in PA. 

Allegheny Mtn. Tunnel

Of course I was determined to shoot this again.

And this one.

It's very pretty in West/Central PA.  Lots of mountains.  Well.....mountains for the east coast.  They're no Cascades....

 The next three tunnels come up pretty fast, one right after the other.

Susquehanna River just north of Harrisburg

This is where we hit pretty bad traffic the closer we got to the NY metro area.

Getting there....

 Not long to CT from the Tappan Zee.

It was a long drive but we had the best time on this trip and can't wait to go back!

Trader's World

"Oh boy! We're going to Trader's World!!!!!"

"But first I need to chew on your finger Nonna".  I will say this kid has a death grip and is cutting two teeth. I could feel them as he munched on it.

This is a huge indoor flea market in Monroe, OH, with so much stuff it was overwhelming.  Val left for home that morning so it was the six of us.

We wandered around for a few hours.

  I do love coloured vinyl!

These lanterns are cool too.

I love how the building entrances are painted.

Wanted this one too although I want an old one that plays 45s, not CDs.

My pre-trip research told me in advance that I needed to be on the lookout for this building!

 There were lots of these funny signs hanging in the halls.

By this point, the kids were in need of a nap....and so was Grumpa!  Casi's mom, Tina, met us there so Jeff took the boys home and Russell went to the hotel for a nap.  So the three of us gals browsed some more.  I didn't buy much, but I did get a super sparkly rhinestone encrusted purse that I love!

Tina dropped me at the hotel and then later on, we all met up to go out to eat at the Rusty Bucket.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about their quesadilla since we got back from the last trip.  So good!

Ended the day with a great sunset.

The Final Push for Home

While the delay totally sucked, it enabled to pass through PA during the day which was good because there was something I'd seen on the way out that I was sooooo hoping to get a picture of, even if we were on the highway.   

This farm was huge.

I was surprised that the Chesapeake Bay Watershed starts to far west.  Chesapeake Bay is in the Maryland/Virginia/Delaware area.

I have always wanted to see a Mail Pouch Tobacco barn.  It's sooooo quintessentially Americana.  I saw two on the way west which took me by surprise and I was so bummed that I couldn't get pics.  I did make a mental note of the mile markers though.  On the way east I thought it would be impossible, but I had Russell put down the left rear window, I set my camera on sports mode (continual shooting) and when we got close to the mile marker area, I started shooting.  I was soooo happy with how they came out, considering we were doing about 70 mph.

This is the other one, almost covered by trees but I got it!

Twas a long trip home though.

This is coming into New York City, at about 9:30 p.m.

I actually love how these came out.

George Washington Bridge.

NYC from the bridge

We got home at 2:00AM.  We had both been up 43 hours straight and literally collapsed in bed.  It was a wonderful trip though and we can't wait to go back!