9/19/09 - Halifax, Nova Scotia

So today I continue up north and end up in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Here's today's route.
Overall, I had a very pleasant albeit long drive. Very pretty country, mostly rural all the way. I'm having an interesting time with the money. I try to keep American money in one pocket and Canadian in another. I'll say this... It's very colorful. Me likee...
I was worried about needing to have C$ at the outset, but so far it hasn't been an issue. Even the tollbooths take A$ and give change in C$ (minus 5%) Overall, not a bad deal especially if you don't have the local currency.

On a positive note, I finally got a hold of a card reader so I can upload pictures. Too intent on getting to Halifax today to take any. Look for some tomorrow.

Along the way, I passed through Stewiacke, NS. Now, you may ask yourself, why is this idiot telling us about this place in the middle of nowhere? Well dear reader, I'll have you know that it's one of a few, cities in the world that is halfway between the equator and the north pole. Dat's right, here be 45 degrees latitude. A little factoid to share at the next cocktail party.

Random thoughts:

• Everything is so clean!
• Somewhere along the way I entered the ADT (Atlantic Daylight Timezone) I totally missed it until I turned on the TV and found out I was an hour behind what I was expecting. Good thing it didn't affect the eateries...
• It's chilly up here. 56-58 degrees all day
  
• Livestock update - Left - 45 cows, right - 87 cows. Hmmm, I hesitate to add that I saw 5 raccoons that MUST be shared - not animated.
• Listening to: The Cat Who Walks Though Walls - RAH
• No ESPN at the hotel... Can't watch the UGA/Arkansas game... Maybe it's a good thing.
• I'm having a hard time with the 110 Kph speed limit. I keep checking my gauges to make sure. The cruise control helps, but it still throws me every time I see the sign.

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

9/18/09 - Portland Maine

So today I decided to continue up north into New England.

Here's today's route.

Traffic through Massachusetts was horrid. Added an additional hour to my trip. One was understandable... There was a car on its roof on a on-ramp... 5 police cars, 2 ambulances, one fire engine and 8 humvees from the national guard. I've never known the NG to be mobilized for a single overturned vehicle, but I don't know everything.

I call the central reservation line of the hotel (to be named later depending on how they handle the situation). I tell the agent I want to book a room in Portland Maine for the night. He takes my details, books the room and gives me a reservation number. I drive up the hotel, and they can't find my reservation. After some looking they tell me they can't believe how good a rate I got... Wait for it... but my room is in Portland Oregon. I ask that they cancel the room in OR and give me one here. The agent gets on the phone with customer service and comes back and says she can't do that because it's after the cancellation time, but she can let me have a room at the ME hotel at the going rate. Says I have to call and request a refund because I'm the card holder.

So, I book the room at twice the rate I was expecting and head up to chill and make the calls. I'm walking down the hall and I hear barking from the room two doors down. I drop off the luggage, on my way down to drop off the cart, the dogs are going off again. I asked the front desk girl what the hotel policy is on yappy dogs. She says they're a pet friendly hotel, but will ask the guest to quiet the dogs down. I get something to eat and on the way back to the room she says that if necessary, she'll give me another room. I ask her if the guests told her to "eff off". Her body language and expression say "Yea, but I can't tell you that". I move on, and get to the room. On the way there, the barking intensifies. I get to the room, call down and tell them I want another room. No problem she says and tells me to wait in my room.

A few minutes later she comes up with another key, we grab my stuff and head up a floor. Turns out they decided to upgrade me to a suite. Very nice. Size of two rooms with a microwave and fridge. The front desk folks are trying really hard to make amends. I'm very happy with their effort, but will still dispute the charge for the Oregon room if they don't resolve the issue. So overall, I'm happy with the local service, but the HQ and west coast peeps are a a problem... at the moment.

Random Thoughts

• Gas is expensive here... 50-70 cents more than I paid in Atlanta
• Did not notice any livestock today.
  
• Listening to Spade and Archer The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon and The cat Who Walks Though Walls - RAH.
• Maybe I need to start booking through Hotwire again... At least if I get screwed there, it won't be too much of a surprise
• No pics today... Still need the card reader

That's all for now... Stay tuned...

9/17/09 - Hagerstown Md

So today I headed up towards the Great White North.

Here's today's route.

I forgot my camera cable, so No pictures of the trip today. I'll have to get another cable or a card reader tomorrow.

No big loss really. The weather was lousy. Rainy and misty all the way up.
This was the view all the way...

Random thoughts:

• Wondering when the rain will end
• Got a good deal on the hotel by remembering a sign I saw 30 miles previous - Sweet!
  
• Listening to Quitters Inc. by Stephen King and Spade and Archer The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon - A really cool book if you're into old detective stories.
• Livestock update - Left 398, right, 285

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

8/22/2009 - Julia's wedding

Cousin Julia got married today...

Here are some pictures of the event and more importantly, the reception...

CLICK on the pictures to get the full size! These are thumbnails!

Enjoy!

A rose by any other name...
Is still a rose...

The happy couple.
Mom and the siblings.
Over the head shot. That'll teach you to sneak up on me.

Would you look at that!


The "circle"

Checking the cameras...
The ceremony