Day 8: Milwaukee to Minneapolis

Today, we had the relatively short (5 1/2 hour) drive from Milwaukee to Minneapolis. Not much to see along the way, though we had planned to stop at the House on the Rock. However, sadly I assumed this was immediately off of I-94, but it wasn't...and we discovered this too late to re-route. Actually, I knew nothing about the place, but thanks to a tip off from Dan Cwirka at the wedding, a small flame now burns deep within us.

After a quick drive-thru of Madison, we took a break at a rest stop with a nature walk. After a beautiful 10 minute stroll on a winding trail/boardwalk through dense woods, you come to this lookout, which disproves my assertions that Wisconsin is entirely flat and has fewer trees than Massachusetts:



Minnesota welcomes us, and I let slip a little about the Wisconsin / Minnesota rivalry, which in my mind, is mostly football based:




First installment of things we're excited about in Colorado:




We go to my brother Blake's apartment without any troubles, and, after a quick game of Ticket to Ride, toured his awesome, awesome neighborhood (Uptown...which is confusing because it's not on a hill, and it's south of downtown). We went to a Tibetan place right near his apartment called Namaste. It was interesting in that:

• the restaurant was basically still laid out like the house that contained it
• the waitress apparently bragged to a coworker that she could remember orders, then forgot our bread order, then dropped it while eventually bringing it later in the meal
• they give you a 1-5 hotness scale for your entrees, between us, we had a 2,3,4 and the scale was right on...and 4 was HOT let me tell you!
• the food was fantastic

Lo and behold, it was Improv Weekend (a world in which Blake is both a student and a participator), and so we saw two shows which were quite amazing. In each one, the two person group just asked for a suggestion from the audience and then went on for 30 minutes, acting out various sketches (that sometimes were sequels or prequels to each other) that wove in the central suggestion. They were superb.

Total Distance: 347 miles.

Day 7: Milwaukee - Summerfest

We woke up and went for a run this morning, cut short by the humidity. Janet connected with college friend Chris, who lives in town, and we met him down on Brady Street (right near where we had been last night) for Greek, eaten outside in the sun.

Curt got home, and as always served as entertainment till it was time to head out for the night. Mexican at Poco Loco (I probably didn't need to specify it was mexican, did I?), and then we took the bus down to Summerfest.

I should probably specify that every person Janet has ever met has mentioned Summerfest at one time or another, so I'm sure this was built up pretty big in her mind. We actually made some new friends on the bus (2 couples) after a conversation began about Janet's new rings. The women were trying to horn in on the guys golfing outings, and the men were understandably nervous...

Anyway, their marital advice to us was communication and prayer.

Summerfest, the Worlds Largest Music Festival (or so they claim) is held for 11 or 12 days every summer at grounds right on the lakefront. There are 10 or 15 music stages, most with acts throughout the day. $15 gets you in the door, at which point you can see any of the shows for free (except for the main act at the amphitheater). Basically, everyone gets drunk and watches some awesome musical performances. Behold, the relatively tame scene at 7pm:




We had tickets to see Stevie Wonder at the Marcus Amphitheater, which was surprisingly not sold out. Because there were some empty seats, we sat in a relatively empty area that would give us some extra space. Here we are waiting for the show to start:




Partway through, we moved up to the grass section to enjoy the breeze, skyline views, increased ability to dance, and sadly some mosquitoes. Here is what the end of Signed, Sealed, Delivered sounded like:



Towards the end of the show, we made another friend Melanie (who Janet started dancing with because her friends didn't seem to be doing their job) - who told Janet that I looked like a young Ashton Kutcher. This was flattering but also disturbing because Ashton Kutcher looks young already, and happens to be less than a year older than me. At least with the wedding ring and not living in Boston, people will stop asking me if I am in college.

She gave more marital advice: don't go to bed mad at each other. Also, incorporate the big guy upstairs (my words, not hers) into your relationship.

So there you have it. Random strangers in Milwaukee are pretty awesome.

The Big Bang (fireworks held on opening night each year) started slightly after the show, and we were able to get a great view from the top of the amphitheater. This is the tail end of the finale:




Oh yeah, lots of food at Summerfest, including numerous items sold on sticks:







Sadly, afraid that my camera might be confiscated, I was unable to get a shot of my favorite: Pickle on a Stick. $2.00 gets you, yes...a pickle. On a stick. Awesome. (In that ironic sort of way)

After the show, we milled about the Gnarls Barkley show (which was PACKED with young adults) looking for fried dough. Eventually we settled on some pizza (not sure where it was from, but it was fantastic), and rode the SkyGlider...a chairlift running from one end of the grounds to the other:

Day 6: Milwaukee

We woke up and chatted with my mom for a while, going our separate ways over lunch. I played frisbee golf with my dad at Lime Kiln Park, while Janet and my mom got pedicures. No, we didn't have those fancy frisbee golf discs. I can't stand those things. The consequence of course, is that the ultimate discs will bounce out once in a while.

Anyway, that night we hung out with Sue and my dad. Walked around Riverwest (an area along the Milwaukee River that has undergone substantial redevelopment in the last few years), and ended up at dinner at Trocadero. Although the food was mediocre, the place was really cool, with distinct and unique inside seating, patio seating, and outdoor seating (next to a fountain, which we watched a diner knock his champagne bucket and bottle into).

From there, we went down to Alterra coffee, along Lincoln Memorial Drive for coffee and dessert (again, really cool setting). To cap off the evening, we went over to the marina and tossed the frisbee around in the parking lot, eventually doing so while balancing one-legged on concrete barrier pillars (round and 3 feet high). It was much harder than it sounds...

Sadly, we have no video from today. :-(
I haven't taken pictures in/around Milwaukee in quite some time, perhaps because it's home and it never feels like I'm "traveling" while there.

Janet needs your help!

So called "copilot" Janet has been having trouble performing her duties.



You guys got any suggestions?

Day 5: Windsor to Milwaukee

First thing in the morning, we went over the bridge and into America. Where they asked no questions, but did actually look at our passports. Time for another, things we'll miss:



So basically, nothing happened all the way along I-94 through Michigan (which looks remarkably like Ontario) except that we stopped in Ann Arbor. Like Boulder, it's a small, cute town, dominated by an enormous state university.

We also did a drive-thru of Kalamazoo.

Then Indiana welcomed us:


It's great to have a good co-pilot with you on a long drive. What makes a good co-pilot you ask? Thought provoking conversation? Amusing anecdotes? Nope. It's someone who still has the presence of mind to focus on presentation when you politely ask for a snack:



Translation: "....Janet still has time to prepare a tasty meal..."

And the rapid fire state welcomings keep on coming. Chicago welcomed us, and we came through with another installment of things we'll miss:



Soon enough, the Sears Tower loomed in the distance:




My home state of Wisconsin welcomed us with a giant fancy wood sign, giving us another chance to reflect upon things we'll miss:



And one more we forgot:



We ended up at my mom's house many hours ahead of schedule, and hung out around the house playing with Curt and my dad, watching wedding videos and looking at pictures.

Total Distance: 391 miles.

Those Crazy Canadians

Only 1 picture was noteworthy from day 4, and it was this one.

If you had to run out the door and just don't have the time...you simply MUST be fishing as soon as possible. Well then, your prayers have been answered:

Day 4: Toronto to Windsor, Ontario - Part 2

The big tourist attraction in Toronto is the CN Tower, the highest man-made structure in the world (for now), and the highest observation deck in the world (1465 feet). So, we walked to the base, detouring through a section or two of the PATH, an enormous network of over 1,200 underground stores and eateries (the largest in the world I'm told...or maybe Toronto just likes to brag about stuff?).

After heading through this high tech security system (which blasts you with air from every direction), we were heading up:

So, the whole experience was pretty cool, not necessarily mind blowing, but definitely not something you'll see in many (any) other places. Let's call it....awe inspiring? The land surrounding Toronto is uber flat, so you get incredibly long views (to the other side of Lake Ontario). And you get a great view of the Toronto Islands, the largest car free community in North America.

They have whole sections of glass floor up there. It's pretty hilarious, because as you'll see, only the children will walk out onto it. A bit scary for those of us with a sense of mortality though:

We could watch the rapidly approaching storm, with accompanying lightning (great time to be standing inside the worlds largest lightning rod, right?):

Waiting in line for the space pod (an observation deck another 300 feet higher) was maddeningly frustrating, mostly because you are already so high up, and crammed into a small space, then forced to wait another 30 minutes to complete the rest of the trip (that you have to pay a little extra for).

And, just for posterity, here are the official numbers on the tower's height:

By the time we finally arrived at the space pod, the storm had arrived, and it was too cloudy and rainy to see much of anything. :-(

Then, you had to wait in line again to get back down. :-(

By then, we were too tired to do much of anything that didn't involve sitting, so we figured it was a good time to skip town...and made it to Windsor just as the fireworks were starting. What day was it? Apparently they have a giant shared independence celebration along the border between the US and Canada this time every year. According to the woman at the Best Western (which was maddeningly expensive in comparison to our Priceline deal in Toronto), they spend millions of dollars and 5 million people come to watch? Can someone do the research on those numbers?

We got a room with a view, but sadly they were over before you knew it, with an underwhelming/non-existant finale.

Miles driven: 220.

How to read/view/enjoy this blog

A few questions have come up, bringing to my attention that I am taking a few too many things for granted. Things to know about this blog:

• The most recent post appears at the top. Because we break down some days into several posts, make sure you read the title (which day, which part) and scroll down to see if you missed anything. (Also, at the very bottom of the page is a link to "Older Posts", in case you are joining us late).


• Most of the images are actually movies. Click on the little play button and let your senses be delighted.


• All the movies have sound. If you don't hear any, seek out some tech support (possibly Ryan).


• Occasionally there are photo slideshows. If you click on them, you will be able to see larger versions of the photos, and have more time to read the captions (I cannot figure out how to change the speed of the slideshow).


• Please comment! I have opened the comments to all, so feel free to make this interactive by asking questions, laughing with us, making requests, or just saying hi in the comments. Others will be able to read whatever you write.

Public Service Announcement: Workplace Safety

You may have seen some of the recent Canadian Public Service Announcements on YouTube and whatnot. But it's not limited to commercials...Canada is pretty damn serious about scaring the crap out of people:

Day 4: Toronto to Windsor, Ontario - Part 1

Being the go-getters that we are, we got up early with the intention of running. Waiting on our room service breakfast we had ordered the night before (yes, we wanted to sample the good life), we realized it was late. Calling down to the front desk thankfully resolved the situation, as one of us (who shall remain nameless) had forgotten to write down the room number on the order sheet. Thankfully, they had prepared it anyway, hoping that we would call down and ask for it.

They bring up your muffin wrapped in a napkin, giving you the opportunity for a hilarious scam:

1. Simply put the napkin aside, then call down and tell them you didn't get your muffin.
2. They will apologize and bring up two more muffins to apologize for the mistake!
3. Then, after you have finished breakfast, reach for the napkin and realize that it already contains two hidden muffins.
4. Laugh maliciously while scarfing down your third and fourth muffins of the morning (hopefully they aren't all bran!)

Ambitiously, we went for a run, which meant the first half mile was spent running 1 block at a time, waiting for a walk sign, then running for another block. We stopped at a map, which pointed us along a "bike path" through several green sections, and out to a lakeside park.

To make a long story short, we basically ran through 40 minutes of abandoned industrial views, cursing the deceptive green areas of the map as well as our own overambitious metric conversion skills before arriving here:





The return trip was better, because we were running towards the scenic downtown skyline, instead of a distant and unseen park amongst smokestacks, semis, and abandoned lots. After what amounted to a 10k, we returned to prepare our bags, which looked as though they had exploded into all corners of the room.

Please enjoy this next clip courtesy of the poor people waiting in the lobby after we had to send 3 empty elevators to the top floor just to score a ride in one of the scenic ones:

Pictures from day 3

Photo montage from Day 3 (no sound).



Click for larger images.

Day 3: Letchworth State Park to Toronto - Part 3

After learning that Niagara Falls were formed by during the Wisconsin glacial period, Janet expressed some confusion at what exactly glaciers do. Don't they primarily form glacial valleys, like those seen in Glacier National Park?

Well, no. They also form waterfalls, flat land (like Wisconsin), and pretty much everything else that cannot be explained by natural historians. Basically, "glaciers" is the scientific equivalent of a parent telling their child "because I said so".

How was the river valley formed? Glaciers.
That rock formation? Glaciers.
Machu Picchu? Glaciers.
Probably also stonehenge, and those giant heads out on Easter Island.

Anyway, onto Toronto. Just for the fun of it, we thought it would be cool to find a good vegeterian restaurant in town, so we came across this place, Commensal, not realizing that it was buffet style, pay by the pound dinner:



Regardless, it was seriously the best meal I've had in some time.

We wandered through Queen's park, saw some students practicing Shakespeare outside in a little park, and briefly toured the Bloor/Yorkville neighborhood. Of course, I insisted on taking the subway to get back, because what better way to learn more about the locals, right?



Oh yes, and did I mention that we used priceline for the first time that day? $100 for a night at the four star Toronto Hilton!

Day 3: Letchworth State Park to Toronto - Part 2

So we drove through some lovely parks and gardens, and drew ever closer to the falls. Parking as soon as we could catch a glimpse:




But seriously, wading through the throngs of people, we came upon what I call in the video American Falls, although it is actually Bridal Veil Falls...awwwww, how semi-relevant.




Several hundred yards away from the main falls (Horseshoe Falls), you get a constant spray of mist which billows up higher than the falls (which I believe are just under 200 feet high). It's not really the height, but the power, volume, and width which are most impressive:

Some extra photos

I forgot to link in these photos from day 2:



(click slideshow for larger view)

Also, I've added a new batch of photos to the gallery on the wedding website. Check back every few days for more photos.

Day 3: Letchworth State Park to Toronto - Part 1

After braving the fitness trail at the crack of dawn:



our spirits slowed when we were unable to find a place to eat breakfast in "town", and forced to subsist on McDonalds. My day was almost ruined when I realized that they gave me a McMuffin instead of a McGriddle, killing my goal of enjoying the tastes of: an english muffin like object and pancake and egg and sausage and syrup, all in each and every bite. Sigh. I made do.

Our first milestone of the day was entering Canada, where we learned two valuable pieces of information:

1. When entering Canada, do not bother to pull over and rummage through your entire car looking for your passports. Instead tell border control that you:
   • Are moving across the country (not their country)
   • Do not have a current place of residence
     
   • Do not have jobs
     
   • Obviously do not have any pets suffocating in the backseat
   
   
   
2. Due to the relative equality of the USD and Canadian dollar, signmakers across Canada are currently forced to unnecessarily duplicate their efforts when displaying prices on signs.

And thus another installment of what we'll miss:

Day 2: The Adirondacks to the Grand Canyon (of the East) Part 3

Sorry...having a problem posting part 1

We hiked back the way we came, along the shady, wooded, mossy, scenic, deserted Gorge Trail and back to our car. Stopping at this lookout point on the way back to the campground:




The campground was decent, perhaps not as nice as the Old Forge Campground, but had a bizarre reservation system. You go to the front desk, they write down a list of available sites, and then you drive around scoping them out. Truthfully, it doesn't sound weird, I've just never seen anyone else do it this way, and if anything it leads to a bit of buyers remorse (wouldn't that one have been better?). Anyhoo, number 620 was ours:




And then we had another crappy fire, attempting to burn the remaining two logs of useless supermarket firewood, along with all the papers I'd been unable to shred in the last few months since breaking my shredder...

Day 2: The Adirondacks to the Grand Canyon (of the East) Part 2

It poured briefly just before we arrived at the park, perhaps scaring away all the visitors? Or perhaps it is normal for the park to seem nearly empty? The park is over 17 miles long, straddling a deep canyon formed by the Genessee river, which used to flood approximately every 7 years until they built a giant dam in the 1940's. It's funny to see a 700 foot high dam with just a trickle of water running through it...

We took a short hike down to lower falls:
Problem with this video...



Continuing along the Gorge Trail, we hiked for an hour along the edge of the canyon, occasionally detouring around areas where the path had eroded away into the gorge. We saw a grand total of 1 person. Arriving at the stately Glenn Iris Inn, we remarked what a great place it would be for a wedding....and it happened to be hosting one at that very moment. 50 yards away is Middle Falls:

Day 2: The Adirondacks to the Grand Canyon (of the East) Part 1

Due to the lack of commotion at the campground (and perhaps overexertion from trying to nurse last night's campfire), we woke up rather late. But after a breakfast of instant oatmeal, we were on the road again, heading towards Letchworth State Park and 'The Grand Canyon of the East'.

We stopped briefly in Syracuse, having found a great sounding cafe for lunch, which, unfortunately was closed. So we ate at Pita Pit. Which was yummy.

Day 1: Boston to the Adirondacks

6 days after getting married, we backed up what was left of our stuff, and hit the road...saying goodbye to our old place one last time. It was empty, echoey, and a bit sad...



After several hours of packing the 'last few things' and then getting lost inside REI for about an hour (picking up a fancy new cooking stove, new boots for Ryan, and some fun little 'chairs'), we were on our way out of Massachusetts! The excitement was a little bit too much for Janet to handle:




In mid afternoon, as we passed out of Massachusetts and into New York, we reflected upon things that we'll miss about our home state for the last four or so years:




We took a one hour detour from our most direct route just so we could say we camped in the Adirondacks (yes, the very same state park where we got engaged!). Well, car camping wasn't as bad as it could have been, but didn't seem far enough from home yet, as within minutes Janet had met a woman whose best friend also worked for Liberty Mutual in Boston.

We settled into our groomed, sandy bottom campsite, and ate some less than stellar hamburger helper. Sitting in our new comfy chairs (essentially a sling for our sleeping pads), we desserted on classic Smores, even though it took about an hour to burn our 4 tiny pieces of wood. Do not by campfire wood from the grocery store in Old Forge; where the parents curse at their children and people think nothing of exposing literally HALF of their own buttcracks in public.