Tag: #USAroadtrip

Illinois

6 June 2018

This morning I left Indiana and their Amish community which does not use electricity and ended the day at the other end of the spectrum.

For my techie friends, I had a tour of the Blue Waters Supercomputer at the National Petascale Computing Facility at the University of Illinois.

This computer runs on 13800 volts, an average household uses 240 volts in Australia (220 volts USA) and the Amish nil.

I arrived at the facility and was advised I had to register online to be provided access and a tour but somehow I got a private tour on the spot 😉

Thank you to Mo who gave me a tour.

On campus at the University of Illinois, I found this interesting and wonder do we have a similar program in Australia? Makergirl.us. Brings 3D printing, Science,Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to life for girls to start creating anything they want in their lives.

Nappannee Indiana (IN)

5 June 2018

It is so quaint to see the Amish amongst the “English” (that’s what the outsiders are called). Although they are a peaceful community, their way of life is not accepted by everyone. I have always been intrigued by them and here are some interesting facts I learned:

  • their children only go to school to Year 8
  • their right to keep their children out of mainstream schools for religious reasons was upheld by the USA supreme court as the children are schooled in their community
  • they pay taxes but they do not claim pensions or social security as they see this as a form of insurance and they consider insurance gambling
  • only adults are baptised so that they make a conscious decision to live by the laws of the Amish
  • prior to being baptised, young people from the ages of between 16 – 21 go through a period of Rumspringa. At this time the elders turn a blind eye while the young experience everything from alcohol, drugs to sex and a lot of things I know most “English” don’t ever do. After they have “sowed their wild oats” normally around 21 they decide to either be baptised and remain in the Amish community or leave the community. Most remain.
  • The Amish community is the fastest growing community in the USA with a population of over 313,000 which is 150 percent more than 25 years ago. Compared to other religions which have seen a large decrease over the same period.

There are many fascinating facts about this community and I don’t want to judge their ways. However, with the difficulties our society is having with guns and social media (to mention only 2 items) gives us something to think about. Although I am too rebellious to even consider and my smartphone, especially while travelling is my link to everything – my GPS, my booking accommodation, my checking up and annoying my kids, my banking, calendar and of course the social media.

Here is the closest I will get to being Amish. I fail here as well as they are not permitted to have their photo taken.

On a lighter note, I explored downtown Nappannee and they have quirky art scattered throughout town.

This is a scone in the USA. I keep forgetting I have to ask for a biscuit if I want a scone.

I move on from Goshen tomorrow. I have enjoyed it but I won’t miss the continual sound of freight trains sounding their air horns every half hour at least about 20 times. The first time I experienced this was in Memphis and I thought there was some crazy emergency. I have learned from my train trip in San Diego that the horn is sounded to alert people who may be on a grade crossing, of which there are lots in this country and especially this town. Give me Sydney airport with the planes any day.

Michigan (MI)

4 June 2018

Leaving Windsor Canada through Michigan off the motorways, is such a pleasant drive. Returning to the USA the scenery and architecture really moves my emotions. You feel the history here. I have never been so interested in houses as on this journey.

This is a channel in Coldwater MI. I find it difficult to imagine all these areas under thick snow during their long winters. Today it was 24C (75F)

These barns are so cute and are everywhere on this road and remind me of many movie scenes.

Quincy MI

A teepee in MI

And then I crossed into Indiana and came across my first Amish.

The birds have classy homes as well.

I pick places to stay randomly and I am so lucky that every place is so special. Goshen IN is another historical town. I feel as if I have walked into Clint Eastwood’s movie The Gran Torino.

How many gables does this house have! And that is only half the house.

A walk around Goshen.

Goodbye Windsor Ontario

4 June 2018

This was my third time in Windsor meeting up with my cousin Adrian and Great Aunt Luisa. The previous times I was here in winter experiencing a white Christmas once with Carlos and then with Dion.

This time the weather has been mixed but definitely no snow.

I have enjoyed a few days taking it easy with my Great Aunt Luisa.

I spent time with my cousin’s partner, Maria Luisa.

And I went to a Croatian wedding of Marko and Kira, my cousin’s neighbours.

Today I was very excited to hear the sound of the Grand Prix running in Detroit. It would have been exciting to go but I did not realise until too late. Besides I was up until 4:00am watching an exciting game of NRL where unfortunately my Wests Tigers were beaten by the Roosters.

My final photo in Ontario is the evening Detroit skyline.

Windsor Ontario

29 May 2018

Leaving Niagara Falls I stopped at the Butterfly Conservatory. What a magical place this is! I was only meant to stay for perhaps 15 minutes but it was so beautiful I stayed for one (1) hour and could have stayed longer. Many species of butterflies in a controlled enviornment and the only Australian butterfly called the Eggfly (it should have a prettier name) landed on my toe!!

Butterfly video

I drove to Windsor to be with my cousin Adrian. We went for a walk along the Detroit River in Windsor and took a photo of the Detroit skyline across the river. The USA border is only 12 minutes from this spot.

I enjoyed a sunbake at Sand Point Beach in one of the Great Lakes. The water was freezing, a lot colder than Sydney beaches.

Niagara Falls Canada

28 May 2018

What a glorious day for Niagara Falls. It was 30C (86F) but down near the falls the temperature dropped as the spray made it much cooler on the boulevarde.

Video of Niagara Falls

The last time I was here in 2010 it was winter and very different.

I much prefer the warmer weather Niagara Falls.

Today I was fortunate to experience Memorial Day celebrations and the Falls were lit up in red white and blue. There were magnificent fireworks which were so loud because they boomed and echoed around the Falls. Brilliant!!

Video of Niagara Falls at night.

And there was a full moon as well!!

Kitchener Ontario Canada

27 May 2018

The last 2 days I spent with my cousin’s partner, Maria Luisa, who is from Colombia.

After a hard work week Maria Luisa switched into party mode and invited her fellow country women Joanna and Luisa over for dinner.

Unwinding required some Tequila lick, sip, suck which I have not done for 30 years.

These Colombian ladies know how to have fun and I even got to dance salsa!!!

Thank you to all, especially Maria Luisa for your hospitality and love.

Toronto Canada

25 May 2018

Toronto has a population of almost 6M people and they have as much traffic as some of the large USA cities. More than Boston and several accidents so I decided to take the Greyhound in from Kitchener, where I am staying with my cousin’s partner Maria Luisa. So glad I did. I walked 27,000 steps and it would have been difficult facing a 2 hour drive after that.

Met up with my cruise son, Grant, from my Transatlantic cruise.

I did the free walking tour with Tour Guys.

I relaxed at Queen Quay Park and watched the planes coming in to land at the airport over the harbour. It made me feel like I was home.

Napanee Ontario Canada

24 May 2018
I took a detour from the USA roadtrip as I was going to drive through two states I had already crossed, Pensylvannia and Ohio. Instead I decided to drive parallel through Canada. After Kingston yesterday, I spent the night in Napanee.
This morning I enjoyed the Napanee River walk and cascades.

I realise the lushness of all these North American places is what transforms after all the snow.

I spotted water snakes, a cute family of ducks with their ducklings and turtles sunning themselves.

Crossing from New York State to Ontario Canada

23 May 2018

I left Tupper Lake NY for Canada to visit my great aunt, cousin and friends. The GPS took me on a fun route including an unexpected ferry ride to Wolfe Island.

I didn’t realise I was crossing to an island until I got to the Canadian border check where the officer informed me the only way off was to get another ferry to Kingston Canada or go back to New York USA. My plan was to go to Kingston I just didn’t realise that entailed 2 ferry trips.
I can’t think what the border officer thought of me driving without knowing where I was going. Although most of this trip I start off with a destination but end up somewhere else.

I met these quirky women dressed in red hats and purple clothing. I asked if I could get a photo for my blog and they said people would think they were crazy. I told them that my friends would say that we are a good fit and I believe “your vibe attracts your tribe”. The Red Hat Society is a worldwide playgroup for women over 50, currently with membership in 30 countries. Audrey, Noreen, Frances and Helen are Kingston Ontario Canada Red Hat Society ladies and they were certainly fun.

On the second ferry trip, the 20 minute voyage was free!!

I explored Kingston Ontario Canada and it is an easy city to walk around. Parking is $CAD1.50 an hour so quite reasonable.

Walking around I loved the aromas coming out of the restaurants, so different to the smell of USA fried food.

On my walk I found the Martello Alley which lures you in to explore the quirky art. David, the gallery owner, is responsible for brightening up this alley which is the only art alley in the province of Ontario.

The gallery is also a co-op for local artists. When in Kingston pop in and say hi to David and meet the inhouse artists.