Dayton Ohio

We have just spent 4 days in Dayton, Ohio and while Beverley worked over the first 2 days we took the opportunity following this to do some sightseeing.  Dayton has lots of interesting things to see and do.

Our first visit was to the Maimisburg Mound which is Ohio's largest conical burial mound and was built between 800 B.C.and AD 100 by the Adena Indians.  To see more about this interesting State Memorial have a look at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

Dayton has a population of some 100,000 people and since the closing down of the automobile factory their unemployment levels are running at some 9%.  The city is a very clean, open city and everyone we have meet has been very pleasant and most helpful. 
 

We also took the opportunity to visit another landmark which was Woodland Cemetry and Arboretum.  A very peaceful place which is well maintained and is the final resting place of the Wright brothers and other well known American legends. To learn about the rich history of this listed garden cemetery please at look at www.woodlandcemetery.org    

Another well known known individual was Paul Laurence Dunbar who was America's first African-American poet to earn international acclaim.  We also visited his home and to see more about  his home check out www.daytonhistory.org  
 

We also visited the Wright Cycle Company and the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Centre.   This is an amazing place as you will see from the next few photos but to learn more of this have a look at www.nps.gov/daav

We also visited the Sunwatch Indian Village/ Archaelogical Park which is a reconstruction of a village along the great Miami River.  It was the home to the Fort Ancient Indians more than 800 years ago.  More information about these people can be found at www.sunwatch.org     

Our final stop of the day was to visit the Dunbar Home and as many of you will know Ross has a real interest in old cast iron stoves.  The one below took his eye and he was able to tell the guide so much about this stove and the ice safe which was sitting alongside.
  

We have had a great time in Dayton and we fly tomorrow back to Bangor,Maine and will be back in Fredericton on Monday.

Until our next update stay happy, safe and well.

Best wishes to all,

Ross and Beverley

End of the Road Trip

Hi All, back home in Fredericton after an amazing trip and Ross is now preparing to head back to uni for another semester this time doing Irish Studies after having completed the theology degree.

The weather here is such a contrast to Texas, where it was over 100f every day we were there and today here in New Brunswick it is overcast and 68f.

The map shows the route we took and as you know from previous updates we took 9 days on the trip down (including 2 days in Nashville and 2 in Memphis) and 11 days coming back (including 4 days with Scott, Trish & Murray and Tina & Mike in Mt Horeb, Wisconsin).

For those interested in some minor details - we travelled 5500 miles or 8851km and used 305 gallons of fuel costing around $1375 USD. We stay at Holiday Inns and the average night cost for a nice room with microwave and fridge was around $100 USD.

Things will get a little more quiet from us for the next few months but we will be heading back to Texas around November.

Bev is doing a little more part time work for Aspen USA and is heading to Dayton, Ohio for a meeting with the US DOD in 2 weeks.

Please stay safe.

Cheers Ross and Bev



Wisconson to the Canadian Border

The last day of our holiday in the USA was spent travelling from Green Bay to Sault Ste Marie in Michigan.  While in Green Bay we saw the home of the Green Bay Packers commonly referred to as ' Cheese Heads'.  It is located at Lambrau Field and covers serveral acres. 

We also had the opportunity to spend a delightful evening at Plae Bistro which has a great menue.  Sarah was our server and she was a very pleasant young lady.  To see more of what this bistro has to offer have a look at http://www.plaebistro.com/html/aboutPlae.htm

After departing Green Bay we stopped for lunch in Manistique which is located on the banks of Lake Michigan.  It was a lovely sunny day and the picnic area was a great place to stretch our legs and to enjoy our lunch. 

We finally arrived at Sault  Ste Marie on the Michigan side of  the border and after settling into our hotel we went onto explore the city.  We came upon the Soo locks which are used to connect Lake Superior and Lake Huron.  This is amazing set up.   For more information on this area have a look at http://www.soolocks.com/index.phtml
   

Just a little further on from the lock area is the historic port area and to see more about this area please look at http://www.eyeonmichigan.com/guides/saultstemarie/

We are now in North Bay,Ontario and will be travelling to Quebec City tomorrow.  We plan to be back in Fredericton by Friday.

Over the 6 weeks we have been away we will have travelled some 5,000 miles/10,000 klms.  We have spent time with all of our friends and enjoyed the hospitality of so many.  Everywhere we have travelled we have meet friendly people and enjoyed fine weather. 

So until our next update look after yourselves and stay happy, safe and well.

Best wishes,
Bev and Ross

Mt Horeb get together

For some time we had been planning to meet up with Scott, Trish, Murray, Tina and Mike.  When the opportunity presented itself we planned our return to Canada via Wisconson so that we could spend a weekend of fun with our friends.  We had all met when we were in the military.    Scott has a lovely house and was kind enough to host us all at his home.



On the day we arrived we took the chance to have a look around the area as we were staying 11 miles from Scott's house at Verona we visted Epic which is  a huge electronic medical management design and programming software company.  To know more about this facilty please have a look at  http://www.epic.com/about-index.php

 

Our weekend started with a BBQ where Scott cooked the largest, juciest TB steaks.  Before the BBQ started to smoke there was an opportunity for a kodac moment with Trish, Murray, Scott and Ross.   

The weekend was puncuated by conversation, food and drinks and this was us all having lunch at  the "Grumpy Troll".



Following which some sporting activities were enjoyed.

Back to eating again and this was brunch on Sunday morning before we said our farewells.  

Prior to departure we caught Murray preparing the RV for the days travel.

We had the best weekend and it seemed as if no time had passed since we last had spent time together.  It was sad to say farewell to Scott, Trish, Murray, Tina and Mike however we do plan to meet up next year if at all possible.

Please see more on this weekend on Trish and Murray's blog at  http://warwarekrvusa.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow we will be crossing the border at Sault Ste Marie (Ontario) into Canada so more to follow.

R&B    

New Glarus Wisconsin

On our first day in Wisconsin and before meeting up with our friends we spent the day sightseeing.  We visited a pretty little village which is unofficially called New Switzerland and looking at the buildings in the village it is certainly reminiscent of the 'old country'.

There are many craft shops and quaint eating places along with shops that offer a great array of locally produced cheeses and a variety of delicious fudges.    

We also visited the local New Glarus Brewery and sampled several of their beers.  http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/  Ross's favourite beer being the Spotted Cow.

After a day of enjoying the local areas we spent a great evening with Scott, Trish and Murray.

More to follow about our great weekend spent  with friends.

R&B 

Tulsa and Joplin

After leaving San Antonio we overnighted in Tulsa.  We stayed down town and after booking into our hotel we spent some time walking around the town.  As can be seen Tulsa has its share of large buildings.  

We also took the opportunity to enjoy some interesting and very tasty Japanese cuisine.  



We also enjoyed spending time with Maxine and Frank at their home in Joplin.  We became friends with Maxine and her late husband Carl when Bev was posted to Ft Sam Houston in 1993.  Maxine and Carl sponsored Bev and invited her to their home and would take her out for meals.  They also welcomed Ross and we enjoyed many a happy times with them.  Some years after losing Carl, Maxine and Frank met and now they spend their time between

Joplin, Missouri and Arizona.

 

It had been some years since we last saw Maxine when she still lived in San Antonio so we were so pleased to see that she and Frank are happy and enjoying their lives.     

 

After spending a couple of very pleasant hours with Maxine and Frank we made our way to Kansas City.

More to follow.

Best wishes,

Ross and Bev





San Antonio Pt 3

It was great to spend time with Dennis and the family and the evening before we left San Antonio was another opportunity to have a family get together.  Dennis is the King of the BBQ and here he is producing another great feast for us all.

Just like Australian BBQ there is always time for groups to catch up and you can see below Lizzy with her aunties Liz and Teresa and her cousins Jilly and Michael.

Steve, Dave and Ross caught up with the football match.  Dave is also profecient with BBQ and provided us all with the best ever ribs which took 6 hours to cook.

After a long day at work it was great to see Justin again.

This was a lovely evening but it is always sad to say farewell however, we are planning to return soon.

We are now on our way back to Canada via Fort Worth, Tulsa, Kansas City and Verona and Mt Horeb in Winconsin (to catch up with old friends).

Next update will be from there.

Cheers Ross and Bev