Eastern Canada
August 4, 1967 - August 26, 1967
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It was cool and cloudy, and everyone was in a fine mood. May we keep it that way!
The ride today from San Antonio to eleven miles outside Malvern, Arkansas, where we are right now, has been quite pleasant. About three gas stops, a stop for peaches, and a lunch stop are all we had; so we had time to read a whole book, Farley Mowat's, The Curse of the Viking Grave today. This is a sequel to a book we read last year, Lost in the Barrens, that we enjoyed muchly. This we also enjoyed a lot -- it got three excellent and three very good votes. It help everyone's interest quite well from Bob who voted excellent, to Gram, who also voted excellent.
Bill has driven all the way and says the first four hundred miles was some of the easiest and the best driving he has ever done -- it was on a fine, super highway. We went through Austin and Dallas practically with a mear blink of an eye.
We read in the Mobil Guide about Texarkana, Texas, and Arkansas and how the town is right on the state line, and this rather fascinated the family. The rest of our drive into Arkansas to Malvern we used air conditioning until just outside Malvern. The big trees have been beautiful.
We had a fine hotel room at the Town House. While Bill and the kids had a swim, mother and I enjoyed a rest of two good beds (one with an electric massager) and watched the news on TV. Ah, this is the life!
We had a supper at a good cafeteria, watched 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.', had light out at nine.
Oh, yes, we're in Malvern, Arkansas. We drove 575 miles today.
August 5, 1967 Saturday
We left at 6:45 and first time out we didn't forget
anything! I remembered my light bulb, Bob, his pillow, dad his razor
cord.
We have a condition for rain all along our route today. So far this
morning,
it is cloudy, cool, and pleasant.
We fouled up a little this morning by not getting milk for breakfast last night. We had to drive 'til a store opened and we could buy it; consequently, we didn't eat breakfast until nine, and we were starved! We ate in a little muddy, rain puddle city park -- however, lunch made up for that. At lunch time we found a beautiful Tennessee state park called Natches Trace and ate under huge pine trees beside a deep gully covered in vines. 'Twas most nice and we enjoyed it very much.
On we drove -- of course, we crossed the big old Mississippi today -- until we came to Glasgow, Ky., where we had motel reservations for the night. Our room for tonight is twice as large as last night's ad is lovely. It has two double beds for Bill and me, and Barb and mother, and a couch that makes into two single beds for the boys. It is very nice. TV, though no one really cares much tonight, and plenty of light (I'm not using my bulb tonight).
We ate at a really fine place tonight called Foster's, surprisingly enough. It was an old converted Kentucky plantation house with tall white pillars, and the food was beautiful and served family style -- and what food! We had our choice of fried chicken or smothered steak or chicken livers. Then bowls of slaw, sliced tomatoes, cottage cheese, potato salad, green beans, creamed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans, and the best squash I ever put in my mouth. I tell you, it was a real meal!
We bought a few groceries, the boys went swimming, and all went to bed.
August 6, 1967 Sunday
One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was that
we read l'Engles, A Wrinkle
in Time. I found it rather uninteresting at
first, but then, toward the end, it was absorbing. I suspect it's a
book
that will sorta stay with you. Food for thought, rather.
This morning we got up at 5:30, breakfasted in the room, and went out to Mammoth Cave. We had time to hear the slide lecture about the cave, visit the exhibits, and talk a while before we loaded the buses for our Frozen Niagara Falls tour. We left mother writing letters in the visitor's center.
Our cave trip was only about a mile and a half and about an hour and twenty minutes. Frankly, this cave has great historical interest, but it can't hold a candle to the beauty of any other cave we've been in. We enjoyed the trip, though, as it was a challenge to our muscles -- 250 steps down and quite a climb back up.
We left Mammoth Cave and proceeded to Lexington via Ft Knox where we saw the building that houses 20 billion dollars in gold for the U.S.
We ate by the side of a river -- cool and shady, but, unfortunately, with flies.
In Lexington, Ky., we visited the two race horse farms, Dapper Dan where we saw Swap, sword Dancer, and somebody else who was pretty famous, and Spend Thrift, where we saw Nashua. We could have seen a lot more, but time pressed and we felt we had to move on. We had sorta planned to spend the night in Columbus, but we forgot about losing an hour today, and so we stopped here in Willmingham, home of a Quaker College, for the night. We have a fine motel -- similar to Saturday night's -- with a heated Olympic sized swimming pool adjacent to it. The children an I, after supper, swam a while before bed time.
August 7, 1967 Monday
Yesterday we started a book, The
Mad Scientists'
Club, but because we did so much sightseeing, we didn't have a
chance to
finish it; so we have a book to work on today.
We got a late start this morning, but we could afford it. We ate in the motel, and then took off for Niagara Falls.
We left Ohio, went through Penns., and ended up in Niagara Falls via several toll roads and bridges.
During the drive we finished the Mad Scientists' Club and started The Mystery of the Emerald Star. We ate in a fine road side rest area that was a delight, and we had a giggling good time.
We arrived in Niagara Falls, New York, about four and checked into our motel. Then we went down and saw the Falls from the American side. It was awesome and beautiful.
Then we went over to the Canadian side and rode the Maid of the Mist. This was quite an experience! We took an inclined railroad down to the river. Mother went with us, and though there were quite a few stairs to climb, she made it. we had a time with the huge black slicker rain coats with their unbecoming hoods. We looked like a bunch of Trappist monks, or something. It was fun and funny.
Then we ate supper at a cafeteria at the Refractory. In view, still, of the falls, and later we saw the falls light up with the colored lights on them. I liked them better white.
On the way back to the states, we went by a hydroelectric company and saw a very beautiful floral clock. We were there when it chimed ten o'clock. We came back to the states, did some grocery shopping, and came to our motel. By eleven we were down and very out!
August 8, 1967 Tuesday
Our latest start! We were all pretty pooped last
night. Mother said the calves of her legs were really complaining, and
she said she told them, "hush up -- you ain't seen nothin' yet!".
This morning we ate a leisurely meal in the motel and started off. We decided to go to the northern shore of Lake Erie -- In Canada -- to Montreal.
At lunch time we were on the beautiful east-west highway tripping speedily along, but we couldn't find one of those frequent road side rest areas that are all over; so we finally pulled off on a fairly wide shoulder and ate a hurried meal there. Five miles later we found a park!
Anyway, the drive today has been one of the best ever. seeing Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence, and the 1000 Islands was quite a thrill.
We got into Montreal at six and went to Le Mil Cinq, but they couldn't put us up; so we went to another place for the night. we had the privilege of either staying our full five days there are moving to Le Mil tomorrow.
After we checked in, we had a sort of drug store supper, tried to get some groceries, were unsuccessful, got lost a few times, and came 'home'.
At nine we washed clothes and then went to bed.
It was noisy -- we're right next to the expressway, but we were tired.
August 9, 1967 Wednesday
Up at six-thirty. When we checked on how people
slept, we found that though the highway noise never lessened, we all
slept
fairly well. We have the choice today of staying here or moving over to
Le Mil Cinq. Bill decided to
stay here -- moving all our clothes would
be quite a task.
We left the apartment at eight. We got a little off our road driving to Expo because there were some one-way streets and 'can't turn left here' signs, we couldn't anticipate. Nevertheless, we arrived, had the car parked, rode the bus to the fair grounds, walked up to the gate, and the gate opened -- beautiful timing!
We saw the Pavilion of Great Briton first, and this was our longest wait of the day. We were there from about 9:20 till it opened at ten, but we saw so many interesting people and talked to so many that the waiting was almost the most fun.
After Canada we saw France, which I enjoyed even more than Great Briton. We ate at an 'all you can eat' place at noon -- cafeteria smorgasbord style. Then we saw Canada, and ended up with the Western Provinces which was most interesting. After a good little movie similar to Canada's, we went into a coal mine, 'descending' via an old shaky elevator (we didn't really go down -- but we thought we did), then we saw much of the industry and products of Canada's western states and ended our tour strolling through a beautiful, cool forest (you'd swear you really were in one). It was probably the most imaginative and interesting thing we saw all day -- though all the exhibits were good in one way or another.
We left about five, and this was a mistake, as it was probably a peak hour, for many folks wanted to get home fairly early and have supper at home. We wanted to get out to a big supper market before it's six o'clock closing hour, but we didn't make it. We did find a small place open, however, and got stuff for breakfast and supper.
We ate "at home". Had stew, green beans, bread and butter, and the best Borden's ice cream!
Later Bob and I took a walk (yes, after all our walking at the fair) and discovered some of the stores we have around us.
It rained on us some at the fair today, but it certainly didn't slow us down or dampen our spirits. In fact, we enjoyed the coolness and lack of glaring sun. The lines weren't too long -- our feet held out, but just barely. Mother didn't seem to get too tired, though she wasn't sure she'd make it again tomorrow. We'll see.
We were all in bed and out by ten.
August 10, 1967 Thursday
We were up and through breakfast at 7:15. Today
we enjoyed a luxurious bacon and egg breakfast. Wonderful!
Our bottleneck in the mornings is the bathroom -- six people tae a long time -- we know how many luxuries we have after we live like this for while.
We left the house about eight and must have followed the same schedule as yesterday for we parked in Rhinoceros; we were in Rhino 2 yesterday. The huge auto park is divided into sections so you can find your car -- and each section has an animal picture over it and numbers to help patrons find their way; it's a clever, effective way to mark the park. Which reminds me, where in downtown San Antonio are people going to park for Hemisfair ?
Today, as soon as we got to the fair, we headed for Czechoslovakia. However, by the time we got there, we were two hours from seeing it; so we gave it up. It was probably a mistake, though, as we watched the lines grow to a five-six-and possibly seven hour wait.
We went, instead, to Italy for our opener. It was only fair, I thought. Then we went to CN -- Canada National, I believe, Kodak, Ceylon, India, Canada Limited, Pulp and Paper, and ended up with Russia, which was a fizzle as far as I was concerned -- the others were all good. Many today had films, and they were quite good, we thought -- especially one called 'We are Young' that had lots of speed, motion and sound. Oh, yes, we also saw Kaleidoscope, one very good one. I liked Kodak's unusual pictures with water falls and I liked the idea of live people and cartoon-type movies that Pulp and Paper used. The performers were most bouncy -- even though the performance was a little boring.
We left the fair a little later tonight, drove to a big shopping center and bought groceries, and came home to a nine-thirty supper. We were all too pooped to pop after that. Fell exhausted into bed. I wrote this and read a while before I was ready for sleep -- rest I wanted, but sleep wouldn't come -- for a while.
August 11, 1967 Friday
Up and at 'em again this morning -- only with
two changes; we didn't have mother with us and we went on the Metro
(underground)
instead of taking the car.
Mother decided she needed a day of rest, and no amount of teasing or urging would change her mind. It was just as well as we were on our feet a great deal of the time today.
Anyway, riding the Metro was an interesting experience and rally quite pleasant and extremely fast. Of course, we stayed at the fair longer this evening, and missed the rush periods, but where it took us a couple of hours by car, we made it from the fair to home in less than 30 minutes.
We almost fouled ourselves up, too, by being too smart today. since we missed the Czech Pavilion yesterday, Bill wanted to have another go at it today; so when we went to the gate, Barb and I headed for the Telephone Pavilion, Bill and the boys went to Czech. If they got pretty good places in line, Bill was going to leave the boys and come get us out of the Telephone line. If not, they would come over and get in the Telephone line with us. Well, that was all well and good, but Barb and I were near the first of Telephone, and lo and behold, they opened at 9:30 rather than ten when all the others did. We were just ready to go in the building when Bill came.
Barb and I found it pretty hard to leave and go with him, but we did.
The Czech Pavilion opened at ten and by 10:45 we were in it and seeing the "best pavilion at the fair". It certainly was a good one -- a wood carved village with many moving parts that took two men 40 years to complete -- beautiful glassware, jewelry, laces, clothes, good movies -- well, it lived up to it's billing.
When we finished that, we went to the U.S. Pavilion, and due to a mix-up, we didn't get out of it until three -- we couldn't find each other.
We were starving and snappish, but after we had had some of the ham-cheese-onion pie recommended by Frank Camp, we felt better and could go on to see some more (we were all about ready to come home!).
I'm glad we didn't though, because we then went to the Telephone Building and saw the Walt Disney-made 360 degree theater travelogue of Canada. It was terrific -- you saw everything coming and going.
Then we saw four theme pavilions (Theme: Man and His World, Man and His Planet and Space, Man and Life, Man and the Oceans, and the best, Man and the Polar Regions). After that, we staggered to the Metro, rode home, had supper, washed a few clothes, and ourselves, and fell into bed.
August 12, 1967 Saturday
Lynn and Frank Camp told of meeting a retired
couple from Iowa who were going for their 26th day at the fair, and we
all thought that was really something. However, now, today as we start
our last day at the fair we all think we could enjoy more of it -- and
at a leisurely pace.
However, if we can get done what we plan today, we will have seen most of the major attractions. There are some 150 pavilions, though, and we have seen only 30 or 40!
Oh, there's lots to see -- and it's spread over quite a large area.
Mother rested and slept most of yesterday; so she was ready to go again today.
We went first today to Labyrinth. We had a 45 minute wait after the doors opened, and then when we got inside, we had another wait, as the first movie broke down. Anyway, in about 30 minutes we did get to see it and the others. This was an interesting pavilion, but tiring for mother as it was all (or mostly all) stand up. Then we went to Habitat, which was also stand up. Then we went to 'Man and Health' and 'Man and Community' -- both mostly stand up and walk through things.
Then we went to the Scandinavian, Austrian and Israeli pavilions.
We dropped mother off in Australia and didn't pick her up until we had been to La Ronde to pick up Bill. He left us at Australia and went to La Ronde alone. Then we went over and picked him up and let Bob and Barb ride the (in)famous Gyrotron -- a ride in which a monster eats you up!
After we had gathered mother up, we came home via a ride through La Ronde and had a last look by night of the fair. we were all pretty well popped, and we bathed quickly and started to bed.
No one said, "Let's go back to the fair tomorrow". I think we've really done everything we wanted to do -- and more.
August 13, 1967 Sunday
Checkout time at the apartment was eleven o'clock
today; so we all said, "Let's sleep as late as possible". as tired as
we
were, that could make the 11 A.M. deadline hard for us to make.
We did make it, though, and enjoyed our drive back to within fifteen miles of the U.S. border -- then -- disaster! The car began to spew and steam and smell funny. At the border we were heating up terribly; so we pulled out of the long line checking out at the border and sat and let the car cool a while. Then we checked out and drove into Champlain where the nicest New Yorker I ever met helped us get the car fixed. A circulating tube for the heating system had slipped its moorings. It wasn't hard to fix, fortunately.
Then we went down an interesting little state highway #2 that 'island hopped' right down through Lake Champlain. It was a beautiful drive
We ended up at Barre, Vermont, home of the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, the largest one in the world. We tried to get here in time to go on their tour, but we didn't make it. We did, however, look over the quarry -- it's huge!
We ate at The Dugout, a fine but rather expensive place. Oh, yes, before we ate, we went swimming in the motel's 'heated' (tee haw) pool. The water was just barely this side of frozen solid.
We were in bed by nine -- exhausted.
August 14, 1967 Monday
We were sleepy heads today and didn't have breakfast
and leave the motel 'til almost nine. we went back to the Rock of Ages Quarry and spent an
hour learning how the granite is quarried out and polished
and the like. It was a good tour.
At a little after ten we took off for Bar Harbor, Maine.
The drive was just beautiful. We went through Vermont, New Hampshire, and crossed Maine. At seven we were in Bar Harbor.
We had supper in a rather fancy restaurant and the dropped Bob and mother off at the cabin while Bill, Billy, Barb and I went to the ranger talk in Acadia National Park. it was excellent. we learned much of the area, saw some beautiful slides, and heard a most clever, entertaining ranger.
We were home by nine-thirty and in bed by nine-thirty-one. Tired!
August 15, 1967 Tuesday
We slept until eight-thirty -- ate until nine-thirty,
and then left and went down to an information booth in Bar Harbor -- about
five miles away -- to check on beauty shops, and we were referred right
back out next door to our motel!
Bill dropped mother and me off there and Barb at our cabin (they are cute little individual cabins with kitchens) so she could wash her own hair.
Mother and I should have washed our own, too, as our shampoo and set cost us five dollars! Each, that is.
We went back to the cabin and fixed lunch, and soon the men came -- with some wild blueberries Bob collected. They were delicious!
After lunch we set out for the park again and were on a ranger walk and lecture along the sea coast. It was good. We poked around in the low tide water pools and found all sort of interesting animals and plants of the sea.
When we finished our sea walk, we got back in the car and drove along the shore loop road around more of "the most beautiful island in the world".
Mother had stayed in the car while we went on the hike, and when we returned, she had twelve little mosquito bodies lined up on the outside ridge of the car door. Those and the people walking by, rather than her murder mystery and Bob's pillow, had entertained her while we were gone.
Later we went to Anemone Cave, Thunder Hole, and Sand Beach. At the last we lost Billy for about an hour. He went for a hike off the beach without letting us know.
From there we went home, driving a new road over a new part of the island.
We fixed and ate supper at the cabin. while we fixed it, the children picked blueberries right in our front yard.
After supper we went to the Jackson Laboratory to see their evening program. We were there at 7:45, but the auditorium wa full and we could not go in! Our first big disappointment of the trip!
However, we need the rest anyway; so we bought some ice cream, went home, ate it, and went to bed.
August 16, 1967 Wednesday
Goodbye, beautiful Acadia National
Park! Goodbye,
blueberries at out front door! Goodbye, Maine seacoast. Today we go
through
Mass. and probably stay in Rhode Island tonight.
We had a good breakfast of bacon, eggs, French toast, blueberries, and donuts before leaving at ten till eight this morning.
As we drove along this morning to our first gas stop, I read last year's journal. It brought back many memories and more than a few chuckles.
Bill told us a couple of days ago that half our vacation was over. It's been a fine half. In fact, we have done enough to call this a whole vacation already!
As we traveled along today, I finished the Roy Chapman Andrews section of Beyond Adventure. We had previously read the Carl Akeley portion. It got 4 good votes and 2 excellent (the two Bills).
We rolled along until we got to Cambridge, Mass. Then we took time to tour Harvard and see their museum. Barb and I looked at the beautiful and unique glass flowers while the men toured the comparative zoology part. Then we saw Bunker Hill, Old Ironsides, Old North Church, and Paul Revere's home before being caught in the horrible going home traffic on Boston's expressway -- south bound a tunnel and two stalled cars slowed traffic to the point that it appeared to be moving backward part of the time.
We drove on past Providence, Rhode Island, and found a fine motel and excellent all-you-can-eat-fried chicken dinner at Westerly, R.I.
After supper we came home and went to bed -- much tired.
'Twas a good traveling day, and we are reading Mr. Revere and I now; so it's most apropos.
August 17, 1967 Thursday
Mother got us up at 7:30- this morning -- we
all slept better than usual. It was wonderful sleeping last night --
naturally
cool and most delightful!
Last night we ate in a pretty new little cafe that was attached to Grants Variety Store, and it was so good. We had an all-you, etc. deal of fried chicken for $1.49. After the high prices we've had at the fair and in New England, we really felt we had a bargain!
This morning we decided to visit them again for breakfast. We had a fine meal.
Then we went to New Haven and visited Vale University -- we felt we should give equal time to Harvard and Yale!
Then we drove on toward New York, and soon Bill and I changed places so he could direct us and I could drive into New York City.
We arrived at Loew's Midtown Motor Inn at 48th St. and 8th Ave. about 3:30, got checked in, and them Bill and I went over to NBC to check on TV tickets. We got some for 'Password' at five; so we came right back and grabbed the family and went over to see it. Mother and I went in a taxi, Bill and the kids walked. we saw two programs taped for play on Sept. 6 & 7 -- a Wed. and Thurs. I believe. Jim Baccus was the guest star.
After we saw the shows, we came back to the motel, rested a while, and then went to Tad's for supper. Then we went to see Betty Grable in 'Hello Dolly'. It was good, but we were in the second balcony and had to climb too many steps for mother! We were most sorry she had to do that. However, she enjoyed the show, as did we all -- even from the second balcony.
We got back to the hotel after eleven -- were in bed by midnight -- exhausted -- XXXXX
August 18, 1967 Friday
I got up and went out early to NBC
for tickets.
I got three for 'Personality'.
When I got home, everyone was ready for
breakfast; so we all went out and ate together; then we separated. Bill
and the children went to the Bronx Zoo
while mother and I went to Rockerfeller
Center and saw two tapings of the show, 'Jeopardy'. Then
we went over to
the United Nations Building,
but nothing was going on there -- except there
were lots of visitors.
Coming back from the UN building we had a most interesting taxi driver who talked all the time.
When we got back, we went to two tapings of 'Personality'. It's a new program and was pretty interesting. We saw Eve Arden, Kay Ballard, and Cliff Robertson. They were fine.
We didn't get through there until 4:30; so it was five before we got back. The others were already back. They had had a fine time. Bill and Bob were swimming.
We went to eat Italian food at Luigi's then we journeyed by bus to the New Lincoln Center of Performing Arts (a beautiful set of buildings) and saw a fine performance of 'South Pacific'. We got home about twelve -- New York streets were fairly swarming when we got off the bus at 11:45. Doesn't this city ever sleep ?
August 19, 1967 Saturday
Do you know that everyone slept till nine 'tis
morning? It's amazing, but true! Mother didn't even get up during the
night. That's something. Consequently, at 10:30 we were just finishing
breakfast. Then, again, we split forces. Mother stayed at the hotel,
and
the Brookses spent the day at the New
York Museum of Natural History. A
most interesting day, but my feet almost refused to function after our
cafeteria lunch in the museum. Sooo about three I started coming home
with
Barb and Bob. At 4:10 we were actually on the subway (lots of last
minute
things to see), and at 4:30 we staggered into the hotel. My poor feet!
We had no plan for tonight -- no TV programs or stage shows. Bill tried to get us to do something, but this morning when he wanted to make the plans -- we weren't interested.
Sooo we rested 'til about 7:30, went out and ate, and did a little windows shopping and came home to bed.
Bob went swimming again -- on the roof -- but it ended in a calamity. He got dived on and got a good bump on his head!
And so to bed.
August 20, 1967 Sunday
We were all awake by eight. All had a good sleep!
We breakfasted the same place we had the last two mornings and had a fine meal. Then we loaded the car and started out of New York -- waved goodbye to the 'Lady' and went over to the Veranzo-Narrows Bridge -- a beautiful and huge new bridge.
Then we used the five Pennsylvania turnpike and breezed to Philadelphia by lunch time.
We had a little trouble finding the Natural History Museum, but finally we did find it and spent a good hour and a half looking it over.
We ate a lunch gleaned from vending machines -- cheese crackers, milk, fountain drinks, little cakes, and ice cream -- not very substantial, but quite good.
Then while Barb, mother and I read, napped, and wrote post cards, Bill, Billy, and Bob went over and spent another interesting hour in the Franklin Institute of Physical Sciences Museum. They really enjoyed it, too. Bob got to 'drive' his own tug boat, Billy saw how a human heart functions -- they saw space capsules and all sorts of things.
Because we spent so much time in Philadelphia, it was almost seven before we got into the picturesque little city of Hershey, Pennsylvania. We checked in at the Inn and just barely got into the cafeteria before it closed.
After we ate, we went to a nice little washateria and got all our clothes clean for the last time on the trip.
Then we came up to our lovely little room in the Inn, read, wrote, and bathed.
August 21, 1967 Monday
Up after a delightful night's rest (for me --
not so good for Billy, he said) and down to an excellent Cocoa Inn Cafeteria
breakfast. Then we went over to the Hershey
Plant for a tour of their candy
making. It was a great! We saw the big bars, little bars, kisses,
syrup,
cooking chocolate, and cocoa. Everything was antiseptically clean and
noisy.
After we went through the plant, we were given a souvenir of candy, hot chocolate, and several little brochures of the Hershey Plant's history, products, and what have you. It was a fine visit.
As we drove on towards Washington, D.C., I finished the Greek Myths I was reading and started one almost as boring (at least to me) called On Safari by Waldeck. I have read about six chapters, and it is still dragging. I hope it picks up soon!
At the end of chapter 6, we found ourselves at the Pawtuckett Wildlife Refuge outside Washington, D.C. We took a self-guided auto tour of ten stops through the area. I read, Bill drove, everyone looked.
Then we came on in to Washington, D.C., and checked in at our hotel. The Ambassador is old, but it is quite adequate. In fact, we have more room than we've had for some time -- two adjoining rooms with three beds each in them -- two TVs, too, which delighted Bob!
It was two before we had lunch, but we ate at Schoff's -- a good cafeteria less than a block from our door.
Then we came back to the hotel, cleaned up, and called for the car.
We dropped the two boys off at the Museum of Natural History and mother, Barb, Bill, and I went to the Capital, visited the Senate and watched its session for about half an hour.
Then we picked the boys up and rode around Washington visiting and viewing the monuments. We didn't stop at them, though, because it started raining.
We came back to the hotel, ate, and went to bed to watch TV and read.
August 22, 1967 Tuesday
Up and away from the hotel by nine. We went first
this morning to the National
Geographic Headquarters, and they had some
very interesting displays -- work of Dr. Leakey in Africa, Peary in the
Arctic, the Mt. Everest trip, undersea exploration, a balloon bell, and
a three minute flight to the moon -- all this and more!
Then we went to the Dept. of Interior, toured their museum and saw a movie on touring Washington, D.C.!
Then we drove to the Natural History Museum and spent an interesting hour or so. Then out to the unknown soldier grave and Lincoln's Memorial. I wanted to walk up and see him once more. Billy did, too. The others stayed in the car.
After all that, we came home and let Bill and Bob swim in the hotel pool while the rest of us rested.
We all went out for supper at seven, then came home to bed.
August 23, 1967 Wednesday
It started raining when we woke up this morning.
we went to breakfast through the rain, and Bill picked us up at the
cafeteria
and deposited us at the East entrance of the White House for our tour.
When it was over, we left, still in the rain, and went back to the
hotel
and checked out and started for home. We stopped in Virginia at Monticello,
Jefferson's home, and toured the plantation. It was terrific.
I've always
admired Jefferson, but now I'm awed by him. He was quite an architect.
The rest of the day we merely drove and read Waldeck's, On Safari. I finished it tonight after supper in our motel in Buena Vista, Va. This is one of the nicest motels we've had -- lovely, new, spacious. We like it. It was still raining as we all went to bed tonight.
August 24, 1967 Thursday
Today was strictly a driving, reading day. Bill
drove -- I read. We were in rain most of the day; consequently, we
didn't
picnic at noon but ate instead in a cafeteria. I read Aiken's book, Black
Hearts At Bettersea today.
It was delightful -- had several of
the same
characters found in Wolves
Of Willoughby Chase.
Tonight we had a fine motel with three double beds. We ate supper and breakfast in the same cafe.
Before we went to bed tonight mother called Sis and learned that all was well there -- it was raining there, too.
August 25, 1967 Friday
Up this morning early and in the rain. We were
in Tennessee this morning, then very early we dipped a corner of
Georgia
and started across Alabama. We will also be in Miss. and La. today,
which
will make this our record day for different states. several times we
have
been in three in one day, but today it will be five! And all in the
rain.
The rain has been extremely heavy today going through Alabama. No
picnicking
at noon for us now!
By noon today we were almost through Alabama, and I finished Harkina's book, Young Skin Diver. It was good.
As we drove on today (through the rain, have I mentioned that?), we read Durrall's, Overloaded Ark. Although it's an interesting book, it isn't a good book, particularly, to read solidly hour after hour as it's all catching animals in Cameroon and has a sameness about it.
We lunched in Meridian, M., in a cafe established in 1870. Tonight in Covington, La. we ate in an Italian place. Mmmmmgood. To bed by 9:30.
August 26, 1967 Saturday
Through the summer it seemed that our vacation
would never come, and now our vacation has reached it's last day! It
has
been a wonderful vacation but I'm ready for it to be over. Of course,
by
Monday we'll wonder if we've ever been away -- but right now I know we
have been away!
On this vacation we've visited 20 states, 2x Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. Our states: Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
We got up early today because we had far to go. It was raining again!
We ran into some car trouble about noon -- our windshield wiper went out. We stopped in Jennings, La., and went to a Chevrolet place right at 12 o'clock Saturday. They couldn't get us the piece that was broken; so they welded the piece, but it broke again before we were out of town! We went back, but they couldn't help us. Sooooo we improvised with some strong nylon string -- one attached to each wiper and pulled the wipers manually across the windshield. It wasn't the best way, but it did work; so we went on through several more thunderstorms.
In Beaumont we stopped for gas and called sis to tell her we wouldn't be in by supper time -- worst luck!
Then we settled down to driving. I read Felson's, Hot Rod
today and over
half of The
Overloaded Ark.
I was still reading at 7:30 as the sun went
down.
Books Read:
| 1967 |
Eastern Canada |
 |
US Pavillion Montreal World's Fair Kodachrome @60 |
 |
Brooks Family & The Old Man of the Mountain |
 |
Acadia NP Maine |
|
|
|