Woke up without any mortal wounds. We are getting good at this.
Drove to where the ferry departs from and found that there was only one ferry that deaprts each day and that we had missed it. Pretty typical for the level of planning we had given it. We still did pictures by the lake tho.
After pictures we headed on towards Niagra Falls.
Got to Niagra Falls as it was getting dark. The viewing platform was closing in 5 minutes so we rushed ther and got some pictures. That sure it a big waterfall. Saw Canada from accross the water.
Headed towards boston at the end of the night and stayed in holiday inn.
So we didn't get much done apart from seeing niagra falls. But then again lots of people spend a day just visiting the falls so it's not so bad.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Day Twelve
woke up and drove to see lake michigan again in the day time.
Decided it would be cool to perhaps go into Canada at some point in the holiday as we were at the north of the country. We both checked we had our passports. Ryan didn't. Oh dear. Started to phone some of the motels we had stayed at and also the embassy. Became pretty sure they didn't have it.
Decided we should head for Washington a bit earlier as I had managed to lose my passport.
We headed towards some ferries to Kelleys Island on Lake Erie. They left from Sandusky.
We headed in that direction and stopped for lunch at Burger King somwhere along the way.
For dinner we stopped in a bar. Sat at the bar for food. John ordered a beer and was asked for ID. The woman behind the bar was pretty baffled by the european driving licence and went to consult her Big Book o' ID to if it was genuine. After, literally, a couple of minutes she came beck and decided John could have a beer. Another Proper american bar but different to the bars we have been to previously.
We got talking to a guy sitting next to us at the bar. We forgot his name but have decided to refer to him as Mike as we think that might have been it.
Mike spoke to us concerning many subjects and we learnt many important facts such as:
He works for GM,
American cars are as good as Japanese cars,
50 year old Mike doesn't approve of having girlfriends over 40,
he teaches his kids what the capital of Austrailla and Canada are
and Mike has hit 5 deer with his car in his lifetime.
Mike also suggested that Sharon Ozbourne was respected as much as the Queen. John corrected him saying that the Queen was very well respected and Sharon Ozbourne was not quite on the same footing. Mike clearly thought he had caused great offence as he quickly backed away from his previous statement. We for some reason didn't bother telling him he hadn't really caused offence. After we decided that Sharon Osbourne wasn't quite as respected as the Queen we left at the same time as Mike. Mike, after at least 4 beers decided to go driving. Ho hum.
We left and continued to Sandusky. When we got there it was pretty dark. We drove around a bit looking for somewhere to stay and found a road with a number of motels in it. We headed to the "Americas Best Value Inn" Sandusky. For some interesting reading here are some Reviews.
The rate was the cheapest yet! around $55 for a room with two Queen beds! Aferwards we worked this out to be under £15 each. The place looked a bit dodgy but we went to our room...... After a short while we decided to barracade the door with the sofa. We felt better then.
Time for sleep.
Decided it would be cool to perhaps go into Canada at some point in the holiday as we were at the north of the country. We both checked we had our passports. Ryan didn't. Oh dear. Started to phone some of the motels we had stayed at and also the embassy. Became pretty sure they didn't have it.
Decided we should head for Washington a bit earlier as I had managed to lose my passport.
We headed towards some ferries to Kelleys Island on Lake Erie. They left from Sandusky.
We headed in that direction and stopped for lunch at Burger King somwhere along the way.
For dinner we stopped in a bar. Sat at the bar for food. John ordered a beer and was asked for ID. The woman behind the bar was pretty baffled by the european driving licence and went to consult her Big Book o' ID to if it was genuine. After, literally, a couple of minutes she came beck and decided John could have a beer. Another Proper american bar but different to the bars we have been to previously.
We got talking to a guy sitting next to us at the bar. We forgot his name but have decided to refer to him as Mike as we think that might have been it.
Mike spoke to us concerning many subjects and we learnt many important facts such as:
He works for GM,
American cars are as good as Japanese cars,
50 year old Mike doesn't approve of having girlfriends over 40,
he teaches his kids what the capital of Austrailla and Canada are
and Mike has hit 5 deer with his car in his lifetime.
Mike also suggested that Sharon Ozbourne was respected as much as the Queen. John corrected him saying that the Queen was very well respected and Sharon Ozbourne was not quite on the same footing. Mike clearly thought he had caused great offence as he quickly backed away from his previous statement. We for some reason didn't bother telling him he hadn't really caused offence. After we decided that Sharon Osbourne wasn't quite as respected as the Queen we left at the same time as Mike. Mike, after at least 4 beers decided to go driving. Ho hum.
We left and continued to Sandusky. When we got there it was pretty dark. We drove around a bit looking for somewhere to stay and found a road with a number of motels in it. We headed to the "Americas Best Value Inn" Sandusky. For some interesting reading here are some Reviews.
The rate was the cheapest yet! around $55 for a room with two Queen beds! Aferwards we worked this out to be under £15 each. The place looked a bit dodgy but we went to our room...... After a short while we decided to barracade the door with the sofa. We felt better then.
Time for sleep.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Day Eleven
Both of us woke up with a hangover. Slowly got up and went to starbucks for food and coffee. After starbucks we walked towards the large park on the bank of lake michigan and in the centre of Chicago. Stopped for john to buy a few bits and bobs. Walked through the park to the lake which is rather large - no chance of seing the other side.
Had a look at "the bean" - actually called "cloud gate". The bean is a big shiny bit of metal about 3 stories high. We also walked around the stage area there.
Left Chicago and headed towards something on the other side of lake michigan. We ended up in a place called luddington. We went to a american diner which was a bit touristy but touristy for touring American tourists. Had some food and got talking to the waitresses. They thought we were cool (we are) as we were from London. We chatted about some stuff as they wern't busy and ended up finding out one of them had been caught drink driving :s
After dinner went to a holiday inn express where they had a games room. Wasted money on the arcades there and went to bed.
Had a look at "the bean" - actually called "cloud gate". The bean is a big shiny bit of metal about 3 stories high. We also walked around the stage area there.
Left Chicago and headed towards something on the other side of lake michigan. We ended up in a place called luddington. We went to a american diner which was a bit touristy but touristy for touring American tourists. Had some food and got talking to the waitresses. They thought we were cool (we are) as we were from London. We chatted about some stuff as they wern't busy and ended up finding out one of them had been caught drink driving :s
After dinner went to a holiday inn express where they had a games room. Wasted money on the arcades there and went to bed.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Day Ten
Woke up and booked a hotel in Chicago for the next night - The Hard Rock hotel.
Drove to Chicago and then got a bit lost in the middle. John asked me where the hotel was and I told him it was somewhere down the next street. we then looked up and we were sitting next to it.
Booked into the hotel and then an explore of Chicago. Ended up in the Apple store as john's iPhone was a bit crashy. John asked one of the staff to have a look, they saw the T-Mobile Logo as the network we were connected to and quickly backed away. " Cant talk about T-Mobile iPhones - sorry" After explaining that we hadn't unlocked the phone, just brought it from the UK. They were happy to talk.
After the Apple Store we had a lunch dinner thing at about 4:30. This was a Pizzeria Duo which was open by the guy who pioneered Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas. The Pizza was not really much like a pizza. With toppings it was an inch thick - Kind of like a open top pie. It was pretty good tho. We then went back to the hotel.
Sat down for a while and then John found us a bar to go to - the Redhead Piano Bar. I fitted right in.
We sat at the bar, entertained by a pianist for about 4 hours drinking what we liked and getting rather inebriated. They had a toilet guy tho and it felt rather like the IT crowd. The bill came to $93 for both of us and we were amazed at how little it was considering the location.
Stumbled in to a cab and back to hotel.
Drove to Chicago and then got a bit lost in the middle. John asked me where the hotel was and I told him it was somewhere down the next street. we then looked up and we were sitting next to it.
Booked into the hotel and then an explore of Chicago. Ended up in the Apple store as john's iPhone was a bit crashy. John asked one of the staff to have a look, they saw the T-Mobile Logo as the network we were connected to and quickly backed away. " Cant talk about T-Mobile iPhones - sorry" After explaining that we hadn't unlocked the phone, just brought it from the UK. They were happy to talk.
After the Apple Store we had a lunch dinner thing at about 4:30. This was a Pizzeria Duo which was open by the guy who pioneered Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas. The Pizza was not really much like a pizza. With toppings it was an inch thick - Kind of like a open top pie. It was pretty good tho. We then went back to the hotel.
Sat down for a while and then John found us a bar to go to - the Redhead Piano Bar. I fitted right in.
We sat at the bar, entertained by a pianist for about 4 hours drinking what we liked and getting rather inebriated. They had a toilet guy tho and it felt rather like the IT crowd. The bill came to $93 for both of us and we were amazed at how little it was considering the location.
Stumbled in to a cab and back to hotel.
Day Nine
Woke up in a Holiday Inn express somewhere between Memphis and St Louis.
Drove to St Louis.
Loads of people around for some sort of event in the Centre of St Louis. We went to park the car and John asked the person who sold us the parking ticket what was going on. He thought that was a rather stupid question until we told him we were from the UK. They were playing a professional American Football game. We had a look round but there were no tickets left. There was almost a carnival atmosphere with different music stages and loads of different stalls selling food.
As we couldn't get tickets we walked into the quieter bits of St Louis without the crowds. We stopped in a bar for a beer. Proper American bar but very different to the one in Oklahoma City. Had a miniature railway running around the top of the bar. Decided to stay for food.
We then went to see the massive arch in St Louis. We had no idea why it was built. Once we got there we learnt that there was a underground museum in between the ends of the arch. This was the "Museum of Westward Expansion". We had a look through the museum which made us feel rather uneasy as while there was much talk of the destruction of the native Indian culture and the expansion west there was not a hint of remorse for the effective destruction of a race.
After we left the museum with a bad taste and went up the arch. To do that there is a strange lift/track system with 6 capsules with 5 people in each sit and it takes you up to the top. The journey was rather cramped.
One up the to the view was pretty impressive. Saw the Mississippi and St Louis. And saw a helicopter take off from above.
We came back down in the same lift thing and then got back to the car. We then drove towards Chicago. Stopped at a Holiday Inn express somewhere between St Louis and Chicago. We had dinner in a Mexican place, served by a proper weedy American geek - could have been straight out of a teen movie.
Headed back and went to sleep.
Drove to St Louis.
Loads of people around for some sort of event in the Centre of St Louis. We went to park the car and John asked the person who sold us the parking ticket what was going on. He thought that was a rather stupid question until we told him we were from the UK. They were playing a professional American Football game. We had a look round but there were no tickets left. There was almost a carnival atmosphere with different music stages and loads of different stalls selling food.
As we couldn't get tickets we walked into the quieter bits of St Louis without the crowds. We stopped in a bar for a beer. Proper American bar but very different to the one in Oklahoma City. Had a miniature railway running around the top of the bar. Decided to stay for food.
We then went to see the massive arch in St Louis. We had no idea why it was built. Once we got there we learnt that there was a underground museum in between the ends of the arch. This was the "Museum of Westward Expansion". We had a look through the museum which made us feel rather uneasy as while there was much talk of the destruction of the native Indian culture and the expansion west there was not a hint of remorse for the effective destruction of a race.
After we left the museum with a bad taste and went up the arch. To do that there is a strange lift/track system with 6 capsules with 5 people in each sit and it takes you up to the top. The journey was rather cramped.
One up the to the view was pretty impressive. Saw the Mississippi and St Louis. And saw a helicopter take off from above.
We came back down in the same lift thing and then got back to the car. We then drove towards Chicago. Stopped at a Holiday Inn express somewhere between St Louis and Chicago. We had dinner in a Mexican place, served by a proper weedy American geek - could have been straight out of a teen movie.
Headed back and went to sleep.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Day Eight
Woke up in the aforementioned Medical inn. We still had our limbs and hadn't been shot!
Left oaklohoma city and travelled towards memphis.
Stopped for lunch in an Arbys. When we got in the girl behind the counter asked me something in a fast southern accent. I didn't hear her properly and she repeateded herself: " the roast beef is good today" I replied "thanks" for the reccomendation but the she looked confused. John asked her to speak slower: "are you eating here or out today?" I felt rather silly.
Food was eaten and a quick getaway was made before more embarassment ensued.
Went through Arkansas. John and I had an argument about pronunciation untill he cited the rough guides book which proved it was pronounced Arkansaw. I thought arkansaw must have been another place as how can you pronounce an s as a w? Apparantly it's a law to pronounce Arkansas as arkansaw.
Stopped at the waffle house where we met victoria who liked our accents lots. "say something; I love your accent.". We saw a chicken biscuit on the menu. As we had no idea what it was john asked "what is a chicken biscuit?" this was too much for poor victoria who referred the question to her collegue. Her collegue replied "it's a biscuit with chicken on it" after this insightful answer it was decided that a chicken and a sausauge biscuit was to be ordered along with the waffles. The best discription for a biscuit that john and I have come up with is a kind of scone thing with no fruit. We left the waffle house after consuming much fat and sugar.
Drove towards memphis and got there after dark with the roof down. John got the satnav to direct us to a motel which turned out to be in a rundown part of town. We decided that we didn't want to stay there and john said to pull over to put up the roof. "as soon as we put the roof up don't hang about, get moving." I took this to mean: "wouldn't it be funny if you did a wheel spin when you pull off". After the wheel spin a car on the other side of the road stopped. We didn't hang around to find out why. We spent an hour trying to find our way out of the ghetto and decided to head north.
Stopped at a holiday in express somewhere.
Miles covered: 800 ish
Left oaklohoma city and travelled towards memphis.
Stopped for lunch in an Arbys. When we got in the girl behind the counter asked me something in a fast southern accent. I didn't hear her properly and she repeateded herself: " the roast beef is good today" I replied "thanks" for the reccomendation but the she looked confused. John asked her to speak slower: "are you eating here or out today?" I felt rather silly.
Food was eaten and a quick getaway was made before more embarassment ensued.
Went through Arkansas. John and I had an argument about pronunciation untill he cited the rough guides book which proved it was pronounced Arkansaw. I thought arkansaw must have been another place as how can you pronounce an s as a w? Apparantly it's a law to pronounce Arkansas as arkansaw.
Stopped at the waffle house where we met victoria who liked our accents lots. "say something; I love your accent.". We saw a chicken biscuit on the menu. As we had no idea what it was john asked "what is a chicken biscuit?" this was too much for poor victoria who referred the question to her collegue. Her collegue replied "it's a biscuit with chicken on it" after this insightful answer it was decided that a chicken and a sausauge biscuit was to be ordered along with the waffles. The best discription for a biscuit that john and I have come up with is a kind of scone thing with no fruit. We left the waffle house after consuming much fat and sugar.
Drove towards memphis and got there after dark with the roof down. John got the satnav to direct us to a motel which turned out to be in a rundown part of town. We decided that we didn't want to stay there and john said to pull over to put up the roof. "as soon as we put the roof up don't hang about, get moving." I took this to mean: "wouldn't it be funny if you did a wheel spin when you pull off". After the wheel spin a car on the other side of the road stopped. We didn't hang around to find out why. We spent an hour trying to find our way out of the ghetto and decided to head north.
Stopped at a holiday in express somewhere.
Miles covered: 800 ish
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