How our trip went...
...except we took 65 from Indy to the Windy City!
...except we took 65 from Indy to the Windy City!
Michele's sister Sharon's husband Antoine is a US Marine. He's returning to Iraq for yet another tour. So while he's there for the next 9 or so months, Sharon and her two children (Noah and Ana) will be staying with us. So Paul flew out to Raleigh, N.C. this past Friday where Sharon drove to pick him up and they all drove together to Rochester, MN. As usual, Paul was awfully concerned...driving a vehicle pulling a massive U-Haul trailer while it's still winter across most of the country. He was expecting it to be something like the book "As I Lay Dying" but it turned out to be an easy trip. The weather was dry and clear for almost 90% of the trip. With the trailer they averaged a little over 15 mpg.
Sharon pulls up with the trailer to pick up Paul
at the Raleigh Airport on Friday.
at the Raleigh Airport on Friday.
They spent Friday night at Parkersburg, W.V. in the Econo Lodge. The guy there was extremely friendly to Paul and told him he was giving them a room with jacuzzi...for no charge. Paul was kind of puzzled by it all, but was polite and said thank you. It made no sense, why would it be such a big deal about a jacuzzi. Then, when Paul took Sharon's dog Einstein out for a walk, he figured it out. He saw next door "Playmates Exotic Showbar." Apparently there must be quite the demand for the "Jacuzzi Room" a the Parkersburg Econo Lodge. Needless to say, they didn't use the extremely large jacuzzi, although Noah and Ana liked playing with it's fawcet.
The Parkersburg Econo Lodge...
...in West Virginia...
...did Senator Byrd ever sleep here?
...in West Virginia...
...did Senator Byrd ever sleep here?
Noah and Ana playing with the jacuzzi...
...notice the size of the fawcet!
...notice the size of the fawcet!
Playmates Exotic Showbar...
...next door to the Parkersburg Econo Lodge.
...next door to the Parkersburg Econo Lodge.
The trip was long, but it went well. The kids, the dog, even Paul behaved well. Sharon did most of the driving due to Paul's worrying about towing a trailer...and she did an excellent job. They encountered a little bit of snow in Western Wisconsin and Minnesota, but it was easy going in Sharon's Buick. The cat's didn't seem to be so thrilled about the dog in the house, but they are adjusting.
Einstein the dog travelling in the back of Sharon's Buick Rendevous
Sharon changing one of many diapers along the way...
Finally arriving in Rochester...
...notice all the snow!
The Boo Boo Kitty and Veto the Cat....
...apprehensive about the dog Einstein in the house.
...apprehensive about the dog Einstein in the house.
Sharon and Michele and their children.
Aunt Sharon holding little Sammy for the first time!
