Summer Vacation

[Trumpetmaster]

Enjoy the drive, TM. If time permits, take it in two days (three, even?) and avoid freeways. If you keep the windows open, you might even find good barbecue.

See if you can find Dixie Bones. It's south of the DC beltway off I-95. Go east on 123, then south on US route 1 to Occoquan Road. 703-492-2205

It's not Fat Ivor's, but it's darn good barbecue!

Noted down... I will look to stop there for sure!

Thanks!!!!

[Trumpetmaster]

I don't know where in Georgia you're going.. last time i traversed it N-S I took US27 instead of I75, found it way more serene.

blue highways....

Will be travelling to Augusta, GA.
Northeast quadrant of the state

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Mmmm. Fat Ivor's. Yum.

I have a sudden longing for barbecue. I may have to wander around the county a little this weekend, visit a farmer's market and a barbecue joint and maybe a bakery...

[Schmeelkie]

Went camping this past weekend with my parents and some families from their church (two 'kids' I grew up with there and their husbands and collective 5 kids, and another set of grandparents). We went to Stoney Brook State Park here in NY (only a little over an hour from Rochester). Our campsites were right next to the brook, so the kids spent 75% of their time in the water or throwing rocks in... they had a great time - I was amazed at how long Bella could squat in about an inch or so of water, putting rocks into and dumping out of her bucket. She slept better than usual (of course ended up spending 1/2-3/4 of night with me..), ate better than usual and even napped well (albeit starting about 2 1/2 hours later than usual). Thunderstorms at bedtime Saturday night didn't faze them - thought it would be an issue in the tent, but they didn't care. Lucky to get a break early on to brush teeth and pee (husband got rained on when it was his turn, but the kids stayed dry...). Pumpkin didn't want to leave... he crashed early Sunday night and Bella napped for almost 3 hours - one in the car on the way back, then almost 2 later in the afternoon. Husband and I didn't sleep too well on the air mattress (getting cots for next year!), but otherwise enjoyed ourselves. Especially when it was time for Bella's nap and the grandparents took Pumpkin and the rest of the group on a hike down the stream - husband and I sat and read in the shade and nice breeze, listening to the stream....ahhhh...

[Trumpetmaster]

Took 12 hrs 15 minutes to go from L.I. to Augusta, GA.
that was with 4 stops along the way.
My dad had a cold Sam Adams waiting for me..
that went down very fast!

the only plan is to go to dinner next Saturday for
my dads b-day... other than that,.,, will be listening to b.com
and vegging out...

[piqaboo]

Mmmm. Fat Ivor's. Yum.

I have a sudden longing for barbecue. I may have to wander around the county a little this weekend, visit a farmer's market and a barbecue joint and maybe a bakery...

I'm not sure what our Sunday holds, but we might could be persuaded to join you, if you want company.
Sat, OT and :The Royals of San Diego: are performing at Clairemont Family Day.
Friday, the Altoid ages and celebrates that fact.

[OperaTenor]

Oh yeah, Anyone around here - Selma, GC - want to hear some great doo wop, we'll be at the Clairemont Family Day at the community center on Clairmeont Dr. We perform from noon to 1pm.

[Mahlersfifth]

Do you have a sound bite or a clip of some of that doo wop, OT?

My summer vacation is coming up and we are sailing. We start out of Toronto on Lake Ontario to the Welland Canal, Lake Erie, Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Lake Huron, North Channel and Georgian Bay. Six weeks.

This is me:

[Shapley]

Do you have a sound bite or a clip of some of that doo wop, OT?

My summer vacation is coming up and we are sailing. We start out of Toronto on Lake Ontario to the Welland Canal, Lake Erie, Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Lake Huron, North Channel and Georgian Bay. Six weeks.

This is me:

Sounds like an excellent vacation. Six weeks, sailing. I'm envious!

[Trumpetmaster]

Oh yeah, Anyone around here - Selma, GC - want to hear some great doo wop, we'll be at the Clairemont Family Day at the community center on Clairmeont Dr. We perform from noon to 1pm.

Wish I could get there....
Would love to hear you sing.. then go to Fat Ivors
Wonder how fast I could drive from Augusta, GA to San Diego, CA.

Seriously.. I will get out to San Diego one of these days.... Have to have Fat Ivors....

There is a GREAT BBQ place we found a few years ago....
It is called Smokin Als...

Here is the link..

http://www.smokinals.com/ordereze/default.aspx

I took my friend from Kansys City there and he loved it.. Very Impressed with the
sizes of the platters...
I have to find the picture he took where I got the Monster, Baby Back, and Regular ribs..
It was enough for 3 people to eat dinner....

These are the monster ribs.. this picture does not do justice to how big there are.
I thought I was Fred Flintstone when they brought them out...

[piqaboo]

Oh Mahler's 5th!
That sounds like a grand vacation, if you and your co-vacationers are good at sharing small spaces.

It sounds so very relaxing, interspersed with lock-related moments of anxiety.

Enjoy!

[Mahlersfifth]

Relaxing with moments of sheer terror. Hence my praying mode.

A bit off topic... .did you feel the quake this afternoon?

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

...did you feel the quake this afternoon?

Missed it. Several people here in the office felt it but they were all sitting still at the time. Seems the quake happened while I was up and moving around. Since I'm still a bit unsteady, it was nothing unusual at all, at all.

My youngest called to see if I was OK and I had to admit to having had a blond moment and missing it. (Or maybe it was a senior moment. Blond senior moment?)

[piqaboo]

Felt it, very clearly.

Mom is ~ 15 miles from epicenter - lost the glass from 6 photographic prints which fell off the wall. Also had a large bookcase fall onto her car. Wheeeeee. The walls twisted enough that the outlet covers (childproofing things that stick into electric outlets) were popped out.

Dad works at the epicenter. Got him on the phone before service was overwhelmed. Assuming since he was up and answering the phone that no heavy equipment fell on him. Dont know if his shop got damaged and I expect he doesnt know if his home did.

[jamiebk]

Glad to hear that our neighbors to the south were not hit more violently. First reports were (as usual) overstated and dramatic. However, as the day progressed it sounded like a close call and STRONG reminder about what could come for any of here in Cali.

[jamiebk]

Folks, Last week, I reported that I was on my way to our annual week-long backpacking trip to the high Sierra. This trip took us to the area of the Sonora Pass which in itself is 9,600 feet elevation. We climbed to around 10,500 at several points and hiked 3-6 miles daily bagging peaks and making new trails to points of interest. Here are some shots from what we saw along the way. Enjoy:

This is a shot of one of our camps. It was idyllic...right on a lake that can be seen in the last shot posted here

This is the general area in which we were hiking...high and rugged. The predominent peak you see is over 11,000 feet

Could anything be more beautiful and peaceful than this? A meadow filled with summer alpine flowers. The Lupine was spectacular!

These were some incredible volcanics that jutted up out of parts of the granite mountains. A real stark contrast

Lastly, here is a picture of the lake beside which we camped for several days while doing day hikes. The water was perfect for swimming and bathing and the area was largely uninhabited except for some passers-by on their way up the main trail (the west Walker Trail that came out of Leavitt Meadow. This is off of Rte 108 just before the Sonora pass). Here we actually decended to about 7,500 feet where we could breathe a little easier.

[Serenity]

Nice pictures Jamie!
Were you carrying your iPoddy and if so, what were you listening to?

[jamiebk]

Nice pictures Jamie!
Were you carrying your iPoddy and if so, what were you listening to?

No iPods in sight. The sound of a nearby waterfall, birds and soft winds were enough for me. I did have a crappy book ("Next" by Crichton) to read in case the weather turned bad and I was stuck in a tent for a day. However that never happened.

[Trumpetmaster]

Glad to hear our friends in So. California are OK.

Jamie, wonderful pictures!!!

[piqaboo]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................:dreamy smiley:
Jamie, nice place to play you chose. Nice pix!
I havent been up in the Sierras for decades. (Since before the need to filter all water and rule to pack out (or burn) all paper products). Thanks for refreshing good memories.
Didja swim? How was the water temp for you?