Sioux Falls, SD to Casper, WY

I'm really behind in keeping up with our travels. We've had great days. 

We planned a full day in South Dakota - visiting the Badlands, the famous Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore. 

We kicked it off at a great breakfast joint that let has have Napo on the patio. Thank you All Day Cafe for your hospitality. 

The Badlands was Napo's favorite. That might sound strange.....but I wish you all could have seen his reaction. For most of the trip he has slept...waking up and paying attention (as he does) when the car slows down or makes an exit. 

At the Badlands he was up and straining to get into the front. He stood on the center console and really looked around as we drove the park. I've never seen anything like it. The scenery is so different from everything we've ever seen - he was  completely engaged. 

Mount Rushmore was mind blowing - remarkable. It has been on my list of things to see for as long as I can remember and it didn't disappoint. 

We didn't make the trip up to the observation point. I actually felt as though the view from the parking lot was pretty good! 

It was our most full day and the drive to Casper, WY was long and exhausting - but we made it....and were in need of dinner....when was the last time anyone was in a restaurant that still allowed smoking??????

We'll take our order to go....thanks. 

Cross Country Day 3

Crystal Lake, IL to Sioux Falls, DK

We decided to take the state scenic highway from Crystal Lake, IL - route 14 - and that took us to Madison, WI. 

It was a pretty drive on 14 and gave us an early glimpse of Midwestern landscape. 

Corn was most definitely the word of the day. There were corn fields for as far as the eye could see. 

Madison, WI turned out to be a great place to stop. If I had to live in Wisconsin-it would be a solid choice! 

We walked the lake front -

Had some lunch -  tried cheese curds and had a brat - when in Rome right?!?!

Napoleon was incredibly excited to visit the state that produces cheese, his favorite! 

And visited the State Capitol building. 

They even appear to have a vegetable garden growing just outside. Lettuce, kale, tomato, green onions....

We decided to take the scenic route from Madison to the state line - 

Crossed the Mighty Mississippi 

And drove across the state of Minnesota in the rain as quickly as we could. 

Minnesota was mostly wind turbines and bugs. I haven't ever experienced driving through bugs like that. It sounded as though it was raining - the car is a mess. 

We landed in Sioux Falls, SD. Where we were grateful for a very comfortable bed! 

Cross Country Day 2

Elmira, NY to Crystal Lake, IL

The day started with a thunderstorm - not Napoleon's favorite weather. We all stayed in bed a little longer. 

We left Elmira after a quick breakfast at a cute little local bakery and a trip to AAA to get the maps we needed to make it to Illinois. 

After a few hours in the car we realized that it was sunny in the backseat for Napo...so our fur baby got a sun shade after a stop at Babies 'r Us we felt better about Napo in the backseat and he could and did relax a bit. 

Jeff and I have realized that one of the best parts of driving across the country with a dog is that you HAVE to stop in places where you can go for a walk and eat at places that are puppy friendly. 

And traveling with a dog as awesome as Napo means that people stop and talk to you because they want to meet him ❤️🐶

We stopped in Perrysburg Ohio, named for Oliver Hazard Perry, from RI. 

This was not lost on me - of all the towns to stop in along the way - I pick the one with the RI connection! 

We had a great dinner and gorgeous walk. 

Then it was back in the car for the next phase. 

Indiana to Crystal Lake via Chicago. We made it to our friends house and crashed. 

What a great time visiting with the Montano clan and the chance to meet the newest addition....Cam. 

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Cross Country Day 1

Newport, RI to Elmira, NY

Today marked the day Napoleon and I left Newport, RI for our sunny destination of Pasadena, CA!

Jeff and I packed the car....

Thank goodness #subaru is a big car! It's loaded with stuff but we got it all in and there is room for Napoleon. 

 

He is the greatest rider ever!! 

RI - CT - NY

Stopped into Sarah's house outside Hartford for a quick visit and then back on the road. 

19 different license plates spanning a wide range of states. 

One gorgeous sunset. 

And a road trip mix that I made for my friend Gina when she moved to Chicago 12 years ago!! 

This find is even more fitting because our next official destination is Gina's in Chicago! 

Adventure is ahead...

Zones

So.....does anyone think that boarding by zones has made the boarding process better????? 

I do not....

Missed are the days when we boarded by row....back of the plane to the front. What was wrong with that? I must be missing something. 

Not to mention the hilarity that is the boarding process anyway. Zone 1 is really about the 4th group to board. 

This is one of my favorite SNL skits #snl #saturdaynightlive and it's perfect for this situation. 

https://screen.yahoo.com/airport-090000680.html?soc_src=unv-sh&soc_trk=ma

So the upside is that I get around having to pay for my checked bag....cause by the time I get on the plane the bin space is gone....no big deal...

But really there must be a better way to get it done. A way that would keep people from standing around anticipating the call for their zone.... Making it nearly impossible to get around a gate area. 

Can you imagine it....a gate area where folks were waiting patiently? Not stressed about pushing to the front of the line. 

Oh how nice it would be...

Checking in....checking out.

It's a big day. 

My last day at Connecticut College 

Conn will always be a part of my life - my alma mater - where I met some very wonderful people. I was happy to go back to work for a couple of years...but I'm ready to go. I'm ready to start the next chapter in my life. 

Next piece of big news... I listed my house today!!!! 😃😁😮😯

Now I'm checked in and on board the plane to California....

It's time to find a place to live in Pasadena. 

So I'm checking out of the life I've known for years. Here comes the next adventure. 

Love in Paris

How many girls get a marriage proposal in Paris?!?! Well, probably a bunch...and I count myself in that group. 

I hadn't ever been to Paris before - the city of love some people call it. I can certainly understand why. It is romantic. With bridges covered in locks - placed by couples in love. (I tried not to think about how structurally unsound those bridges are now...with all those locks) 

Romantic - sweet - I could go on. Next time we are there we will lock it down. One thing at a time. 

Lots of fantastic memories. 

I can look past the aggressive, scary locals at the train station who tried to scam us...it was overwhelming when we arrived in the train station from England. It made me grumpy and feeling like I wanted to go home. But once away from the chaos of the transportation center things were nicer. I've never felt so uncomfortable while traveling - in all the cities I've been to....

The sites made up for it for sure and I can understand why it's a favorite city for so many people. 

I will look forward to another trip. 

Pie Day

Let there be pie....

In honor of pie day Jeff and I went to Republic of Pie in North Hollywood. A celebration of chocolate banana bread pudding, chocolate banana cream pie and coconut cream pie...By the slice, not the whole pie. 

Was absolutely delicious. Took us two days to eat the three pieces of pie. 

Can't wait for my return trip to Republic of Pie. #republicofpie #bestpieever 

www.republicofpie.com

Flashback Friday

Another Flashback Friday #flashbackfriday for a memorable hotel stay. 

In July 2014 I used the Hotel Tonight App for the first time ever. Jeff and I woke up with no plan for a place to say in Boston that night....so we decided to give this app a try. I'm glad we did...I was really impressed with the app and their customer service. 

We booked our room and headed to Boston. We arrived at the Boston Park Plaza...an iconic hotel downtown. We checked in and headed to the room. It had a table and sofa...and I couldn't see a bed. I was having a flashback to the room that inspired this blog. 

I picked up the phone to call the front desk....when he found it....the Murphy bed. You know...the kind of bed that pulls down from the wall....but looked like a pet of the book shelf?!?!

Ah....I just figured it was what I get for booking a cheap rate...so we made the best of it...laughed and went about our stay in Boston. 

Two days later I received a request to rate the app and give a review. So I opened the request and typed the following "wasn't expecting the Murphy bed..." Just like that....it was all I wrote. 

You can imagine my surprise when I received an email a day later from the Hotel Tonight customer service. They apologized for the room and assured me that when booking through that app the expectation would be a standard room. They contacted the hotel, gave me a full refund AND a credit toward a future booking with Hotel Tonight. I was impressed and they had me...I've used them again and will keep using them. 

I would and do recommend them to others too! 

JetBlue...I like you more each time I fly.

Delays....de-icing...waiting. 

Sunshine awaits just hours from now....assuming we can take off. 

Patience...that's the name of the game. It irritates me when passengers act as if their lives are more important than others....walking around talking loudly on the phone about their plans...we get it...its annoying....but everyone is in the same situation...

So good job JetBlue....tonight you are taking your time and being prudent....sure am I still sitting on the ground in Providence when I should already be in Florida??? Yes, but I'd rather take my time...especially with the weather about to hit the northeast....again. 

This is the second time JetBlue has been prudent and impressive. 

In December I was flying from JFK to LAX and there was a security situation on the plane. Several hours delayed....Port Authority called and a full security sweep of the plane. One guy arrested....strapped to a gurney and taken away with a bite mask bag over his head. Police dogs sweeping the plane...

The craziest experience I've ever had - but JetBlue promised to get us to LA and they did. We were late but we were safe and that's all that matters in the end.  

Travel safe everyone....