Looping the USA

[DonnaR57]

DAY 5 and 6:

Drive, drive, drive, and then keep driving. One thing about a modified speed-run, and that's that it can be considered like a work day. After a visit with friends near Fort Worth, which was very relaxing, it was back to the grindstone. There's usually a light at the end of a tunnel after the drive, though. Our routing was to get around Fort Worth and Dallas in a quick way (thankful that it was not a weekday and rush hour). I was humming the “DALLAS” TV show theme song as we came into view of the downtown Dallas area. Once we traversed that area, we were on I-20, to US 49 out of Jackson, down to I-10, I-75 and the FL Turnpike.

Vicksburg was a stop along I-20. We viewed the movie, watched a demonstration of a cannon being shot, and then started along the 16 mile drive. My husband was fascinated: he likes Civil War history and really didn't need the movie. Along the drive, we stopped at a monument or two, especially the Illinois marble building, and then spent a lot of time at the USS Cairo. Too much time, as a matter of fact. We learned that we are not the type of traveler to stop and see things along the way. We will stick to our own method, which is to pull into an area, stay overnight, and see what's there. If we miss something along the way in this manner, there's usually another trip!

Night #5 was spent at a Best Western in Wiggins, MS. We arrived at 6:30 pm and they had no more 1st floor rooms left, despite that I made reservations for this several weeks before. It was a nice place for the price ($68).

Eating out was almost a CHORE! The hotel staff gave us directions to a local grill, but we couldn't find it. Our GPS had no record of it at all. Then GyPSy tried to send us down a wooded drive in search of Popeye's, which we later found by ourselves.

The drive from Wiggins to Orlando was mostly rainy. Tropical Storm Debby is rearing her ugly head and reminding us that she's out there. We did fine until just after Pensacola, where the rain started to come down. Our windshield wipers, who usually get very little exercise, got quite a workout. In many places, the rain was barely coming down, but the spray from other vehicles caused a lot more wetness landing on the windshield.

The traffic was HORRIBLE after Pensacola, too. That did not help us at all. We seemed to flow from one “pocket” of traffic to the next one. Thank goodness we did not have any sightseeing stops planned. We had made a breakfast stop in Pensacola (Ryan's Cafeteria) and then a Wal-Mart stop in Lake City, just after we got on I-75.

We took the turnpike to Orlando area - $3.00 charge – then took Toll Road 429 down to Disney rather than staying on the Turnpike. That was another $1.25. No, we don't have a Sun Pass, because we'd decided that it was too much trouble to have 3 different types of highway toll systems with us!

Fuel prices were LOWEST in Mississippi. Diesel fuel has been running $3.63/gal most of the way across the country. I've noticed $3.29 for unleaded. However, in MS, diesel was $3.39 – 3.45, and unleaded showed in some places as under $3!

Disney World is well signed, from the time we left the turnpike all the way to our hotel. We had no problems finding our way (“the back way”, along Whigham Way) to PopCentury Resort. Check in was a breeze, with a helpful concierge. Disney “cast members” (as employees are called) are well-trained. Our concierge told us that the Magic Kingdom (MK) was open late that night for those staying “on property” (Disney-owned hotels).

With a 4-day passport, we decided to go to MK that evening. Wow, what a parallel universe! Some things looked just like “our” California park, at least at night, and other things were so different. We did Tomorrowland, then walked over to the other side of the park to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and do the Haunted Mansion. We'd have tried Big Thunder in the dark, too, but they were having trouble with it.

We bought ponchos because the rain was still coming down. It has the makings of being able to destroy this week for us, but I'm trying not to let it. It DOES keep the crowds down as the “locals” cancel plans to make a daytime trip.

Pictures when I can....the Internet connection is slow, I've had trouble with RTA PhotoShare and am having trouble with creating albums in another way.



Donna

[DonnaR57]

DAY 7:

First full day in the parks, and we had to waste quite a bit of it. We needed to prepare for upcoming parts of the trip by buying Universal and Kennedy Space Center tickets. When one is military, that should be done at a military facility. I took a bus, a monorail, and another bus to Shades of Green military resort on the Disney property, stood in yet-another-line to buy the tickets, and then took a bus and a monorail to meet hubby at Epcot.

We rode Spaceship: Earth, then walked our feet off by going around World Showcase. We missed an attraction because hubby was hungry, then didn't go back to it. We did China's CircleVision: lots of PR in that one for China! Later, we caught dinner in the France area and ALMOST did not make the fireworks.

The rains in Orlando continued to dampen the spirits but we tried to enjoy the experience anyway -- or at least, I did. That day, it was mostly dry, but we occasionally jumped into the ponchos ($8.50 each) and that helped keep the camera dry!

DAY 8:

We jumped out of the Disney Experience and into the Universal Experience, for the better part of a day. Hubby is a big Harry Potter fan and wanted to go to Harry Potter World. AAMOF, it was the initial reason for including Orlando and FL on our vacation list. We managed to do two of the major attractions in that area before the rains started. First off, hubby actually got me on a roller coaster that goes upside down in loop-de-loops! And then he insisted that we ride IN FRONT, which in retrospect at least I knew we where we were going. I just did NOT look down. When I got off the ride, I was shakey and dizzy. I know that there's a roller coaster in Disney's Animal Kingdom that goes loop-de-loop AND backwards, and I'm sure hubby will insist that we ride it.

The attraction that I enjoyed the most all day was Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey. GREAT ride -- like Soarin' but it also goes along a track.

A LOT of the other attractions in Universal's Islands of Adventure had 75+ minutes wait, such as Spiderman.

We came back to the hotel with tired legs, tired feet, and with two more days of this type of stuff, we know we should rest up!

Pictures when I can....

Donna

[Maggief99]

Sounds like you're having fun, in spite of our East Coast weather! Really early for a tropical storm here - they're more famous for hitting in September the past few years. Looking forward to seeing some pics of your Harry Potter experience!

[DonnaR57]

DAYS 9 and 10:

Finally, we started to see some sun. After all, Florida IS the "Sunshine State", but we didn't believe it until our 4th day in the state. It was all the residuals from Tropical Storm Debby.

We spent part of the 9th day in Disney's Animal Kingdom. As soon as we walked in and started down a path, I felt like I was walking through the San Diego Zoo. We came into an area and did a "Kilimanjaro Safari" that was strangely like the San Diego Wild Animal Park (now known as the Safari Park). Chatting with a park conservationist on Rafiki's Planet Watch, we told him how we'd felt. It turns out that the park was designed by a former exec from the San Diego Zoo!!!! Hubby actually got me on another roller coaster, this one called "Expedition Everest". Similar to the Matterhorn from the CA Disneyland, this one stops at one point, the track switches, and you go BACKWARDS! I was a little shakey when I came off that one. Earlier that day we'd ridden a couple of other things, plus a spinning roller coasters. One of these days, I'll be more used to roller coasters!

That evening, we went back to the Magic Kingdom. With no rain in sight, my favorite Disney parade was going to run - - the Main Street Electrical Parade. I've loved it since I first saw it 35 years ago and miss it every time they pull it out of the park. I was happy to see it again! The parade and the fireworks afterwards are always beautiful.

The last day in Disney, Day #10, was spent in 3 different areas of "The World". We started at Magic Kingdom, switched to Hollywood Studios (hubby got me onto another roller coaster, this one goes upside down too), saw two shows there. One was for me --- "Beauty and the Beast" -- the other was for hubby --- "Indiana Jones Stunt Show". Third place we went was Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island for dinner at Fulton's Crab House. Hubby had crab, I had chicken. (Allergies.) Then it was back to the room so we could pack out for the next day's departure.


Donna

[DonnaR57]

DAY 11: WDW to Jacksonville FL via Kennedy Space Center

It was another long day, but it was especially interesting! It was also really sad to check out of Disney after the fun we had there. I will add: if you want to get the most out of WDW, go in the off-season. During the summer, everybody and his brother is there, the crowds are thick and the lines are long. Using Fast Pass is a great alternative, though, and we took advantage of those where we could.

Driving from Orlando out towards Port Canaveral, we were toll-roaded a lot. We had to stop every few miles to drop some money. (It was reminiscent of the Dan Ryan in Chicago, I think.) We drove south on A-1-A to Patrick AFB....GyPSy died completely and needed to be replaced after 5 or 6 years (old Garmin Nuvi). We replaced her with another Garmin Nuvi, this one with LMT -- lifetime maps. I got 'er going when we headed north as we were trying to locate something special.

One of my hobbies is collecting things related to the old TV show "I Dream of Jeannie" whose fictional location was Coco Beach, FL. (It was actually filmed in Burbank at the Columbia lot there.) However, they referenced a few places in Cocoa Beach, which we passed by. We also stopped by the Lori Wilson Park for two reasons: one was because the entrance to it is called "I Dream of Jeannie Lane", and the other was because I wanted to photograph the Atlantic Ocean. That way I know that we have literally gone "from sea to shining sea". It was a pretty beach!

Off we went towards Kennedy Space Center. We had allotted ourselves 5 hours and used every bit of it doing the bus tour and some of the exhibits in the visitor center. I hadn't been to KSC since 1969, and my mom told me that the tour was FREE back then -- well, at $39 for a military ticket (purchased at Shades of Green) it's hardly free any more, but VERY worthwhile. (Regular price $45, or $41 for 55 and up or active duty military who didn't buy the ticket at the base.)

The bus tour took us first to the Observation Platform where one could see Launch Pads 39 A and 39B. The last time I laid eyes on Launch Pad 39-A, I was a little girl and Apollo 13 was on the pad ready to go. We spent a little time at the Platform and moved on with the next bus, to the Apollo/Saturn V building.

That's where we spent the majority of our time. There are 2 films you are required to see before entering the museum area, about early Apollo. Hubby and I remember Apollo and none of the info was new, but it was good review for what you were about to experience. We were most impressed with the Saturn V rocket bolstered on its side down the length of the building, and with the LM (lunar module) that was suspended from the ceiling -- a real one that didn't get to the moon because they used a different one that was modified to house the Lunar Buggy. They had some moon rocks, one which you could reach in and touch, but I preferred the ones that had not been touched except by astronaut's gloved hands, and those of the scientists later.

Riding back on the bus to the Visitor Complex, we stopped at the Rocket Garden to sit in Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsule mock-ups. Hubby commented that the Gemini capsule must have been extremely uncomfortable to sit that way and not stretch ones legs for the 14 days that the 2 astronauts had to be in it! Makes our road trips seem a whole lot easier!

It was time to be on our way, as our reservations in Jacksonville awaited us, as did at least two loads of laundry. We had been gone this long without doing laundry, and our suitcases were mighty empty. We'd chosen the motel, Best Western Jacksonville Airport, because of its location and the availability of a coin-op laundry on site. Usually while on a road trip, we stay enough with family not to worry about coin-op laundries. They are running $2.25/load these days. At least this motel gave you 60 minutes worth of dryer time.

And the saga continues....


Donna

[Mark Sedenquist]

Quite a story saga thus far.

and yeah, sitting in the Gemini capsule was not for the weak!

Mark

[DonnaR57]

DAY 12:

This was the day that we learned WHY one should try to use some other route besides I-95!

Off we went in the morning, knowing that this would be an "easy day" of around 300-350 miles. We had no set stops, no set plans for the evening. The weather had gotten VERY hot and, because of the storms heading across the USA and Tropical Storm Debby, very humid. The first 90 miles or so were pretty easy, all on I-95 with fairly light traffic. Then we pulled into South Carolina, stopped at the Welcome Center, and tried to get back onto I-95. Goodness knows what must have happened ahead, but the traffic was STOPPED on the freeway. We got off at one of the next exits and made our way up to US-17 via other routes. There were some traffic lights but, as hubby said, at least we were moving!

Most of the day was spent along US-17. It's a pretty drive from Gardens Center up to Myrtle Beach, especially when you're a Southern Californian not used to wide, wide rivers and lots of beautiful forests and swamplands.

Traffic started at Litchfield, eased up again, got tough again at Murriett Inlet, and into Myrtle Beach. We pulled into a Super 8. Here was an example of how coupons do not always work. They had no more "coupon rooms" available, as only a specific percentage of their rooms can be sold at that rate. We took a discounted rack rate -- about $100/night. At least it was a decent room. To make up for it, we cooked dinner in the room. We needed a break again from eating out.

Donna

[DonnaR57]

DAY 13:

Another day of driving. We have decided that we're really not US-highway drivers. It IS a great way to see something other than the sides of the interstates and what's at the exits. But it also means a lot of slow speeds, stop lights, stop signs, and no way to pass slow drivers.

We were on US-17 going north out of Myrtle Beach. Of course, that's a big tourist area, and we were only "just passin' through". One stop light after another, and despite being early in the morning (before the beach-goers were out), traffic. It was like that for miles. At Wilmington we finally lost a lot of traffic.

We caught US-13 a little later, and it wasn't any better. AAMOF, it was narrower and full of bumps, with more stops. We kept thinking that I-95 couldn't have been much slower!

The other bummer to driving on US highways is the lack of rest areas. You have to "make do" by stopping for fuel, as we did, or at Wal-Mart. (My commuter mug had cracked and was leaking, so we stopped to replace it at Wal-Mart. Why does everyone else in the world have a Super Wal-Mart but not our city in SoCal??! -rhetorical question.) The day before, we'd stopped at a Food Lion. That day, we also stopped at McDonald's, because I needed the facilities, and besides -- it was so hot and humid -- and their dollar menu ice cream cone tasted so good.

We found ourselves at a place that used to be Springhill Suites in Chesapeake VA. I had a coupon that actually expired, but when I went to check in, the clerk was so nice. He told me that they are no longer Springhill Suites, but are now Studios and Suites 4 Less. He also said that many of the facilities like the exercise room, pool, and continental breakfast were shut down. The pool had to be drained -- that was disappointing, but we didn't care about the breakfast or the exercise room. (Though maybe after Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast, we should have been using the exercise room! We can't get KK donuts any more, so that was a treat.)

I should add that the reason I haven't uploaded photos recently is that they are in the neighborhood of 4 - 6 MGs each. I still have to learn how to cut the size down for uploading to RTA....not RTA's fault at all!

Donna

[Lifemagician]

I should add that the reason I haven't uploaded photos recently is that they are in the neighborhood of 4 - 6 MGs each. I still have to learn how to cut the size down for uploading to RTA....not RTA's fault at all!

As I understand it, the uploading automatically alters the size to an acceptable size for the site. I couldn't tell you how big my pics are, I just upload them. The site takes care of the rest (I think!).

Lifey

[Mark Sedenquist]

Yes, that's correct.

I actually size mine to be no larger than 600 pixels wide, but I resize photos all day long.

The photo uploading tool we use will resize as needed.

Mark