Be sure to check out my movie trailer on my facebook page!!!!

Well, after a tremendously long day of travel I made it back home to my hubby and my wonderful PUGS!  I LOVE PUGS -- They always give you hugs... 

Here is Mister Knuckles playing "Catch me if you Can" with his favorite chew bone - deer antler ... 

UMI -- the cat has been settling in and is now out and about in the wild of Dad's yard.  Yeah Umi.... currently she is not giving any interviews.  But hopefully soon!

Our first full day back we headed for our favorite beach near our home ... Narragansett Beach!  Great day!

Surfer at Narragansett   --- nice. 

On the Second day - sister Beth came into town and the three of us (Marg, Beth and Kath) set out for a girls trip to BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND -- a great island just 12 miles off the coast.  It is a beautiful place!

Beth and Kath muscle up for some lunch by the beach just outside of the tourist-ville of Block island ... although, we managed to escape the people in the picture

Our table view during lunch... we head for that path once we finished ... 

The prize -- I peeled off and went swimming after lunch!  As I floated and swam I repeated "I LOVE YOU WATER!" .... 

The real prize when the island visit was over --- Fried Clam Cakes.. my favorite!  Can you say lovely STOMACH ACHE!

Well, we finally made it.  After 3,141 miles (or more).  We had a nice 2.5 hour drive from Norwalk, CT.  I have video of our arrival as well as some other pictures.  However, not all will load so I will be making a movie/slide show for facebook.  

We arrived to see dad on his tractor mower -- his "buggy" and primary means of transportation around the yard!  

We unpacked and then went for a great Swim at the SYC - our little swimming hole on the bay of Narragansett.  See pic below

We got home just in time.  ST. John's Ice Cream Social was last night!!!! St. John's Church is a block away from our house.  We all attended this church as kids and they still have great summer activities for families.  Last night the entire town gathered to buy some dessert and listen to the Lafayette Band play an hour of great music in the church yard.  This was a real throw back because the band's conductor, Mr. Palosi, was the conductor when I used to go as a kid!  He has been doing the ice cream social for probably 50 years!  It was really nostalgic to be there.  Yeah St. John's - I think you are the prettiest church around!

Dad and Sue have done a bang up job on the yard.  Thanks to James, as well, who really helps out with the harder chores.  Dad even have a chipping green all set up --- really nice, dad!

Lastly, my real home-away-from-home -- the good O'l Saunderstown Yacht Club.  As a kid I would come down here at 8am and would not go home until 6PM!  Literally!  My mother must have loved it.  With the Newport bridge in the back ground as a view -- this place is a real treat and we swam here yesterday once we finished unpacking - or shall I say, once KATH finished unpacking!!!  I just floated away in the salt water and then rested on the swim raft nearby.  My FAVORITE PAST TIME!!

Ahhhh - Heaven!  Kath and I had a great day of Driving.  We got on the road early and cruised wonderfully out of Ohio, through beautiful Pennsylvania (at least off the I-80 it was great - no coal mines!) through New Jersey -- 

By the way, New Jersey's license plates should say 
"New Jersey - The Police State"  - by far the most cops on the road pulling people over then we saw anywhere else on the trip.  

and then into New York, over the Tappenzee Bridge (my favorite bridge name) and into the Gold Coast -- Norwalk, CT!  You know when you hit New England ... it just feels like home... especially in the summer!

We landed at the Dolce Resort where my sister Beth works!  So AWESOME!!!  Beth greeted us at our hotel room with her homemade pastry desserts (see pic below) and wonderful cheeses.  WHAT A TREAT!  We lapped in the luxury of the resort and the beauty of the area (hikes in for tomorrow for sure) and we had a great swim in the olympic lap pool - with each of us racing one another from one end of the pool to the other in one way or another (Running in the water, swimming under the water, the crawl, back stroke, side stepping and more!)  After that we lounged and ate food and I had myself one heck of a martini!  YEAH!  

Tomorrow -- we head out for Rhode Island -- my home sweet home -- I can smell the seafood already and can't wait to indulge in all my favorites --- fresh clam cakes, mussels, flounder and all sorts of goodies (I don't do Lobster ... don't ask!  long story)...  

My sister Beth's TOP NOTCH, AWESOME smore tartlettes (with homemade marshmallow!) and other welcoming treats!  What a way to finish the driving for the day... 

Having a good day of driving ... but feeling a little batty to get home or at least get to Connecticut .... 

Kath and I stayed at this hotel two nights ago on our trek to Iowa City.   MY GOODNESS, was this place a trip.  Decorated stylishly in full King Arthur's "Round Table" style .... uh, back in 1971, this place really had it's "essence" and, honestly, it ended up being very memorable in a positive way.  Although, we needed to make three room changes before we could settle in.  The first room - the back wall was a sliding glass door that was directly adjacent to the first floor exit and ARCADE!  The Second: was a pet room that must have had a large dog take a dump in it -- because is smelled like Dog Sh*t:(((  HOWEVER, like Goldie Locks .. the third try was the charm and we finally settled in.  I would say FLIP FLOPS REQUIRED!  

Kath and I, though, swam in the pool, which was clean and big, and got some stretching in after a long day's drive.  

Lastly, on our way out I noticed that the hotel was situated behind all of Iowa's PROPANE reserves... SERIOUsLY! SEE PIC BELOW!   I was glad to move on ... 

I will try to load photos that are hiding somewhere in my computer files. 

OK -- bye for now - onto our DAY 6 Duties. 

Love, Madge

Crazy Propane - gas world behind our hotel!  Aaaaack!

see our wrap up of Day 5 below (last night's post) .... 

Day 6 and we are going to try and make the big push to Connecticut.  We hope for some nice sites but we are also on a time frame to get to Rhode Island for some relaxing and home coming there.   Yesterday was tilted ... but we are back in shape and ready to roll. 

REGARDING Nebraska and Colorado pics.  My computer was having trouble loading pics from this portion of the trip ... but these are worthwhile trip.  While eating breakfast I am going to work on loading these.  Press the Link Below to check out ... 

FIRST and Foremost I have been meaning to throw some props out to our Mostess with the Hostess of Hotels... Ravella at Lake Las Vegas - A Dolche Hotel & Resort. We look forward to further stays with ALL of their TOP NOTCH RESORT PROPERTIES.  By far, to date, Dolce has  provided us with the best of accomodations .. it is even the most Highly Recommended by Umi, the Cat!  We couldn't ask for better thread counts on the sheets, quality service and a truly wonderful experience with staff, service and locations.  THANK YOU, Dolce!

I have been trying to get Kath to put her own 2 Cents forth.  However, we have both had our chores... each night she works the routes and I the blog. She is more comfortable that I gab and blab ... and she is happy just mapping away.... I tried FOLKS... I really did try to have her say something.  We shall see how the end of the trip pans out and see what she has to say ... 

Ugh -- This was a tough day.... We are both bushed and East Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio REALLY HURT... there wasn't much to see from I-80 East, although these areas have SO MUCH to offer... our goal was just to get from Point A2B ... and we were both tired.  We hope to have more... but Umi has a special "Witness Location Program" review ... see below -- and see if you can decipher .. .she is very happy to be relaxing but is in a secret hiding location ... for specific reasons. 

Today we had a long but great haul from North Platte, NE, all the way to Iowa City, Iowa!  We had TWO major high lights to the trip.  FIRST:  an incredible meal at the Corn Crib Restaurant in Shelby, IA, just off the 1-80.  Doug and Dave Robinson (two nice and funny brothers) own and run the restaurant and station in great style and taste. They were incredibly friendly and the food is HOME MADE!!!  God love 'em: their Grandma's Chicken Dinner was the best fried chicken and home mash potatoes I have had in a verrrry long time.  Kath was in absolute heaven and it was a lovely treat after a good 5 hours of driving (see Kath in food heaven shown).  Each plate was $5.99 each!  These guys are awesome.  I have a pic of Dave and Doug but it was a bit blurry - Bummer.  However, I have provided a link to their website below ... go visit them if you ever are in their neck of the woods!

At the spur of the moment while I was driving I saw a sign for the bridges of Madison County.  I took the exit and drove about 10 miles (3 down a winding, dusty road) to reach the Hogback Bridge (shown).  WE ARE SO GLAD we made the detour! It was great! and to top it off; the back drop was a massive field of black-eyed susan's -- a massive swath of mustard yellow.  Click image for a view of the slide show of these pics... just stay with the first picture that shows from the link and the slide show will play .. 

The dusty road (it was curvy at times) to the Hogback bridge!

Okay -- Kath and I are a bit perplexed at the names of the service stations out here ... What subliminal message are they sending?  There was another service station called "PUMP and Pantry" .. I told kath -- "I thought it said PUMP & PANTY!"  ... what is with KUM and Go ... my goodness!

Alright! Today we took it easy with a leisurely ride through the rest of Colorado and into North Platte, Nebraska!  Colorado was great. SOOOO GREAT, that, for those of you that know me, I drove off the highway when I saw a YARD SALE  --- off an exit ramp, thats is.  Just off the 1-70 in Idaho Springs, CO - about 20 minutes before Denver.  The folks having the sale were great.  Kath got a cribbage board, a Buddah incense burner and a nice throw blanket.  I got a couple of great blankets as well and plan to take them back -- and I got them FOR A DOLLAH!  AWESOME!  I almost bought a cool pair of fold up opera glass for 50 cents... but they didn't have THE POWAH and I don't normally see opera's where I live!  I have provided a nice picture of the folks who hosted the yard sale below, Carol and Bob.  Idaho Springs was a great little Town with a lot of charm and homey feel.  It makes you feel good about  the US of A and the world.  People are genuinely GOOD and KIND -- and road trips like this help to reinforce that.  

Just before we reached the Border of Nebraska we definitely have some kudos for the Shell station we hit.. great owners, clean bathrooms and good advice.  I am sad I didn't get the proper name and location of the station -- tssk, tssk!  See pictures below as well as the link of our photos for the day.  

AS FOR UMI, the cat:  GREAT GIRL again today... and she definitely has a great recommendation for the AAA recommended La Quinta hotel off of I-80 in North Platte.  See her link... 

BEST ATTRACTION in NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA:  
The Golden Spike Tower in North Platte, Nebraska, rises 8 stories above Union Pacific's 2,850-acre Bailey Yard the world's largest train yard -- this is amazing ... see the link  ... 

Kath and I made it from Vegas to Vail yesterday.  A very long and exciting 4 State haul with beautiful and incredible scenery, skies and changing, dramatic weather through Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.  Kath drove from 8:30AM-1:30PM and I drove 1:30PM-8PM - see the link to a slide show below.

The 110 mile stretch through Utah - the longest stretch in the whole of the United States without any services  - had some of the greatest views of the day. But Colorado proved just as dramatic with some crazy weather, hairy driving and heavy rain at the tail end of the trip.  The drive along Colorado's White River National Forest was incredible - with the running river, tight highway and dramatic red/orange & green cliffs rising sharply to our right.  It was raining and Kath, my polite, white-knuckled passenger, did her best to enjoy the show.  Although she had a few of what I call the "IBP's" --  IMAGINARY BREAK PEDAL move!  

As we made the final leg to Vail, night fell as did the heavy rains.  Plenty of hydro-planing and white knuckles. At the peak of this intensive part of the leg Kath's inner wish came out when she began singing in the slightest of whispers  ... "Shout, Shout, let it all out!"  --- I broke out in absolute hysterics!  It kept us sane.  

UMI the cat UPDATE:  No pictures as of yet.. she is in her hiding accommodations at the moment.  SHE WAS GREAT!  She slept the whole time and was very hungry when we finally settled in.  

HOTEL:  See Umi's Review below.  We stayed at the Everygreen Lodge in Vail, CO ... WE have been spoiled by our stay at the Dolche in Las Vegas ... 

Little Diner, Vail, Colorado.  AWESOME FOOD done to perfection.  The grits were to die for!  And incredible eggs.  These guys have the art of diner food down!

The Green Ski Slopes in the little Disneyland-ish, Ski village.