Blerf Blog: Oh, Canada! The long slog home.

It was 1200 miles back to Fredericksburg from PEI. We decided to take it in three chunks. The first day was 500 miles to Portland ME. It started out rainy, but improved after we crossed the long and expensive bridge to New Brunswick ($45 CAD!). The drive across New Brunswick was long stretches of rural wilderness with the occasional town. Crossing the border was at Houlton ME, the very top of I-95. The US border guy was rather jokey - which was probably part of his shtick... But an easy crossing. Not like the "old days", but not bad.

We stayed in South Portland near the airport at one of the worst Hampton Inns ever. Broken glass in the lobby. One elevator not working. Very worn and cruddy room. Too much driving to go downtown to eat, we ate at a local brew pub and had one last lobster roll.

Standard travel arrangement. Four in a Telluride.

The last lobster roll...

We broke up the second day of driving at Poughkeepsie with the bridge across the Hudson.

Walk Across the Hudson

The evening, we were at a Spark in Clark Summit PA. Spartan , bit clean and nice. Walked down to a take-out pizza place and had some surprisingly good pizza for dinner.

Takeout pizza - better than expected!

The third day, we broke up the trip with a quick detour through Pottsville. Didn't even get out of the car. Patti's parents were both from there and she spend a lot of time there growing up.

Maternal grandparent's house

Paternal grandparent's house

Catholic church

Patti's grandfather's planter still in use!

We also made a quick stop in Shippensburg PA to see the Conrail "It's just a box car, I promise!" Museum for Don. Did get out of the car...

I told you it was just a box car...

Tom and Sue cooked a nice steak dinner for everyone at their house after we all got to see Gavin and Rachel's new house nearby.

We said goodbye the following morning and made the jump to Atlanta in one day, just missing some road closures on I-40 from flooding the previous night.