The late‑night ride from the ferry to somewhere — anywhere — far enough inland to feel safe from the coast was supposed to be simple. It was dark, raining, and I was tired, but the GPS promised a loop road that would swing me around and drop me back onto the route I’d missed. Well.A) […]
When I was in second grade, a new boy joined our class. He was quiet, shy, very smart, and the first left‑handed person I remember meeting. His family had just moved into a tall, imposing two‑story colonial on a little street off mine — a house I’d watched rise from the ground all summer. His
As I pulled out of Pittsburgh, I found myself drifting toward a place that’s woven into years of my family’s travel history: the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Back when we lived in Pittsburgh, the quickest route to Tennessee ran straight down US‑19, which meant crossing the New River Gorge Bridge more times than
My next stop was an old hometown in the Pittsburgh suburbs, Pennsylvania. I lived in Beaver County from 2000 to 2005, and one of my sons still resides there with his wife, three children, and a grandchild of his own. I did not get to see much of Hoggin (my son) because of his work
Leaving Owen Sound, I embarked on a journey toward Kitchener, Ontario. Although I had frequently traveled from Owen Sound to Guelph, this was my first time passing through Kitchener. Road construction led me on a more scenic route, which turned out to be a delightful detour. I found myself deep in Ontario’s dairy country, surrounded
I want to start by telling regular readers that this entry will be a little different. Usually, I try to provide my observations and advice on what to see in the locations I visit. However, Owen Sound, Ontario, holds a special place in my heart. It’s the place where I met and fell in love
I left Saint Ignace, and headed to Canada. To get there, I had to go to Sault Ste. Marie and cross at the Soo Locks. I had spent some time in Sault Ste. Marie on my 2013 gypsy trip, so I didn’t spend any time exploring the locks, although they are fascinating. If you’re interested,
As I left Voyageurs National Park, I headed south. I first came upon the city of Duluth, Minnesota. I’m not sure what I had in my head, but I don’t think I envisioned a natural resources port as large as this one. It was interesting to see all the different types of facilities there for
Voyageurs National Park is located about a two-hour drive almost due north of Bemidji, Minnesota. It is one of the few national parks where you need a boat to reach the bulk of the area, as most of it is not drivable. The land area of the park is contained within the islands of the
Over 700 miles separate Medora, North Dakota and Voyageurs National Park in International Falls, Minnesota. I made three stops along the way. The first stop was in Jamestown, North Dakota. It is on I-94 and is home to the world’s largest buffalo statue. I spent the day there. The statue is in Frontier Park, which
