Canadian Buffoon's Back to Front Vacation - Update! 05/18 - Falling Down

[pkondz]

That's what I said or will say again when you're here in May, but I suspect Elle will nix that.

Yup. Don't even ask.
But thanks for the offer,
I'd love to see the new place.
Maybe in September, if things
work out.

I mentioned it a bit earlier,
but I'll post my parks/days
and we can figure out a spot
to meet... Re-meet.

 

[docsoliday1]

Yup. Don't even ask.
But thanks for the offer,
I'd love to see the new place.
Maybe in September, if things
work out.

I mentioned it a bit earlier,
but I'll post my parks/days
and we can figure out a spot
to meet... Re-meet.

Absolutely. Looking forward to it, but seriously...if Elle will be uncomfortable, I don't want to be the cause.

 

[pkondz]

Absolutely. Looking forward to it, but seriously...if Elle will be uncomfortable, I don't want to be the cause.

Oh, no worries there. I've already told her.
"Listen. The guy that helped us out?
We're meeting him."

She was okay with it.
I told her it'd be a short visit,
not a meal or 1/2 day or something.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Helloooo! No excuses, but life. 1. Tablet won't let me comment, too lazy to get out of bed to comment. 2. Disneyland for training right before Christmas. 3. Christmas. 4. New Year in San Antonio with my son's brood of 7! (tried to share a photo here, but can't figure out how to load them. Used to be able to copy and paste?

5. Back here to try to catch up from work. Anyway, Loving all of your meets. So fun to see Mark's family. I haven't seen any pics in awhile. The kids are getting so big! Looks like Sarah is a normal teen Wow! I wouldn't expect a Corning museum to be so interesting. You really saw some beautiful pieces, and Tracy is beautiful also! Too bad you missed Rob. Hopefully I can keep up a little better, but please don't hold your breath!

 

[pkondz]

Helloooo! No excuses, but life. 1. Tablet won't let me comment, too lazy to get out of bed to comment. 2. Disneyland for training right before Christmas. 3. Christmas. 4. New Year in San Antonio with my son's brood of 7!

Hi!
Totally understand, Tammie.
Pop in when you can
and when you wish!

Back here to try to catch up from work. Anyway, Loving all of your meets.

All my meets were wonderful!!

So fun to see Mark's family. I haven't seen any pics in awhile. The kids are getting so big! Looks like Sarah is a normal teen

Aren't they, though???
Wish I could've met Sarah.
Maybe some other time.

Wow! I wouldn't expect a Corning museum to be so interesting.

It really was!
I want to go back
and spend a lot more time.

You really saw some beautiful pieces, and Tracy is beautiful also!

Yes and yes.

Too bad you missed Rob.

Still bummed about that.
I can see a redo/re-try
in my future.

Hopefully I can keep up a little better, but please don't hold your breath!

Okay!

 

[Chrystmasangel]

Hey darlin! =) I will get an intro in soon. I am whipped today and I am not sure how I will be tomorrow. Clinical days are getting longer. LOL

 

[pkondz]

Hey darlin! =) I will get an intro in soon. I am whipped today and I am not sure how I will be tomorrow. Clinical days are getting longer. LOL

So it would seem.

Hope you're feeling
better soon, though.

 

[pkondz]

Backside of Water

After a few days of
getting up stupid early,
it was time to catch up
on some much needed
shut-eye.

I don't regret those
early days, though.
I met or re-met some
wonderful folks.

But today...
No DISmeets scheduled.
Time to sleep in.


And I did. Until 9:00am.

Not nearly as much as I
wanted, but that's the
way the cookie crumbles.

Hmmm... maybe it was
cookie crumbs in bed
that woke me up.

Wait... I had ice cream,
not cookies.

Still, 9:00am isn't too
bad for me.
In any event, I was up
and out the door by 10am.

Today was an easy drive.
Asheville, NC to Atlanta, GA.
Google says I can do it
in under three and a half hours.


Well that won't do.

So I added on five hours.


I had told myself that
depending on the time
I woke up, it would dictate
the route I'd take that day.
If I had slept til noon,
I would've driven
straight to Atlanta.
But I didn't, so I didn't.


Okay.
In the car by 10:00am.
First things first.
Need to put some gas
in the jalopy.
Remember the drill?
I wrote this on the
very first chapter:

I have a system when I fuel up my car.
I put my card in the machine,
and while it decides whether or not
I am worthy of receiving its liquid gold,
I unscrew the gas cap.
Once it's deemed me worthy,
I fill up, and while I wait for my receipt,
I screw back the gas cap.

Except every now and then
the system breaks down.
The pumps don't take my cards,
so I have to go inside to prepay.
Or the machine is out of paper
and I have to go inside to get
my receipt.

Both annoy me.
I like to get in and get out.


So having to take the extra
minute or two to prepay
or fetch a receipt...
Bugs me.


This morning was one of those mornings.
I put my card in, took the gas cap off,
pumped the gas, asked for my receipt
when the tank was filled and... nothing.

Grumbling, I marched into the station
to fetch my receipt.
Less than 30 seconds later, still grumbling,
I marched back to the car and drove off.

I have decided that I am a big baby.
(Every woman reading this has already
deduced this.
About every man, actually.)


Fifteen minutes later, I was on the road
when I met my first redneck.

Is that a correct term?
Do you have rednecks in NC?
Or is that only farther south?

Anyways...


I was driving along in the
right hand lane
(and if you don't...
MOVE OVER!
unless you're
passing someone.)
when out of the corner
of my eye
(do eyes have corners?)
I noticed a jacked up,
lifted up pick-up truck.
This monstrosity pulls up
beside me and...
Just sits there.
He doesn't pass, he just
keeps pace with me.

I hate that.
Either pass me or don't.
Don't just drive along
beside me.
I'm not racing you
and I'm not impressed
by your stupid truck.
And if I want to pass
someone... I can't...
BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING THERE!


Sorry for the outburst.


I, of course, don't give
him the satisfaction
of acknowledging his
presence.

Ha! That'll learn him.
Go peddle your wares
somewhere else,
Mr. Less-Than-Well-Endowed.

After a couple minutes,
I'm feeling like I accomplished
something by making a point
of ignoring him and it's time
to cast a withering glance his way.

The moment my eyes turned
towards him, the driver
pointed to my car
and mouthed something.


I politely nodded and pulled
over onto the shoulder.


I got out of my car and replaced
the dangling gas cap.


Whoopsie!


It's the machine's fault
for not having paper
at the gas pump
and disrupting my routine.
I am merely an innocent bystander...

By-driver...

person.


Nice of that young man
to help me out like that.
Did I mention he had
a nice truck?



Fuel properly safeguarded
for imminent consumption,
I continued on my way.


The last time I'd been
in this area, I'd had
several very pleasant
hours of driving in driving rain
and zeroing in on my destination
with zero visibility while sheets
of rain scared the...

It was not fun.

Today... I had decided to
put a little detour in my
route and enjoy a scenic
drive.

I am fortunate enough
to have a job that allows
me to take vacations
from time to time.
A job is more than just
a place to work.
It's also a place where
you cry in the bathroom.

The drive was gorgeous.
Winding roads for days.

A brief sampling:

My first stop was less
than an hour from
the hotel.
More if you add in time
to stop for gas and
again to look like an idiot
while you're pulled over
on the shoulder, reattaching
your dangling gas cap.

I'm pretty used to looking
like an idiot anyway,
so I pretty much nailed that part.


Looking Glass falls is a very
popular stop.
It's just off the highway
so easily accessible.
There were quite a few
folks coming and going.

I didn't stay overly long.
I popped back in the car
and drove... about a mile
farther on down the road.

I parked beside a family
who were busy putting
rubber boots on.

We exchanged good mornings
and I asked if the trail
was particularly muddy.
(I only had my sneakers.)
They assured me it was
a little wet, but not bad.

I had to stop and decide
if I wanted to risk the hike.
While I was no longer overly
concerned about getting
my shoes dirty, I was
worried about slipping
and jarring my back.

Nothing ventured, nothing pained...
Then again...
Sometimes when you follow
the masses... the "M" is silent.

So off I went.

The trek to the falls is mostly
up-hill and takes about 15-30
minutes (depending on fitness)
I probably did it in 20-25 or so.

While I do stop for photos,
when I'm moving... I move.
As it turned out, the only
issue I had was this fallen tree.

Over or under?
The thought of bending over
that much... possibly hurting
my back, possibly falling in
the dirt, decided for me.
Up and over!

When I arrived, I'd left a family
of four, whom I'd passed near
the entrance of the trail, far
behind and therefore had the
falls all to myself.
A perfect opportunity to take
some photos without heads
or bodies in the way.

Ladies and gentlemen...
The backside of water!!

(Just squint. You'll see it.)

The trek back down, was oddly
less strenuous than the hike up.
When I got to the car,
another vehicle was just pulling up
and they asked me if this was
Looking Glass falls.
I gave them directions and information
on the trail and falls here.

I've mentioned this in other TRs...
I don't know what it is, but I
often get asked for directions.
And, even though I'm a stranger too...
I frequently know
the answer!


I only made a couple more stops
after this. I still had to get
to my night's destination,
in Atlanta.

One of my first stops, was
Smokey Mountain Harley.
I went in to collect my poker-chip.
Nice place. One of the bigger ones.
And...
I saw chips for other places?
Odd. I've never seen that before.

I asked a clerk where the chips
were for this location.

"We don't have any.
This is an outlet."

Uh... what?
I've been to over a hundred
Harley stores.
Including some that only sell
shirts and novelties (no bikes.)
This is the first time I've
encountered anything like this.
They all have their own chips.

I moved on out of the outlet.


My next stop would be much
more satisfying.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop,
in Knoxville, TN.

I sashayed in and ordered
up an apple pie and an orange soda.
I can't say which was better,
that's like comparing apples to oranges.

mmmmm…. pie.
And just the right size.

Well... any size pie
is the right size.

It's pie, people!
(Do not, under any
circumstances, ever
order people pie, people.)

You may have noticed that
the pie in question is not
a full-sized pie.
And I can neither confirm
nor deny that I might have
also had a lemon meringue pie.

Tummy happy, I waddled out
and drove on.


I eventually arrived at my
destination hotel in Atlanta.
I was a bit surprised when
I got there.
All Country Inn & Suites seem
to follow a fairly common
architectural design.
This one looked like it had
once been an apartment block.
And not a particularly new one.

Well... I'm here now.
I approached the check in
desk and waited.
The clerk was not overly talkative.
She just looked at me.
I told her I had a reservation.
She said "Name?"
I told her... and that's the last
thing she said until she handed
me my keys and I asked her
what time breakfast was served.

She said "Seven."

That was it. Two words.
Gotta admire the restraint
to engage in superfluous
conversation.


Info procured, I went off
to find my room.
I don't remember the exact room
number, but it started with a higher
number, like 11 or 12,
so I got in the elevator.
Once in, I quickly saw that the hotel
didn't have 11 or 12 floors.
I rode up to the top with a couple
other people, then road back down.
My room was on the main floor.
Of course.
Made perfect sense.
All the other hotels on the planet
were doing it wrong. That's all.

I got into my room and spotted
this sign in the bathroom:

Ummm….

I fell asleep wondering if
my car would still be there
in the morning.
And which items I might
consider purchasing.

I decided to leave the pillows,
sheets, blankets and comforters...
but take the mattress.
It, apparently, was free.

I'm all about the freebies.


I also made sure the door locks
were firmly in place.


Today's map:

In case you didn't see it:

Did you see it in this chapter?

Coming up... Just breathe.

Chapter 10. A Whale of a Time​

 

[Pluto0809]

I've had great meets.
You were one of them!

All I could think there was...
"I wanna meet your mom."

Um, no, you do not want to meet my MIL. She wasn't concerned for my safety at all, was just thinking I was stepping out on her precious son.

So his mistake was... not!
Was it the same chain?
Or did he have to call the other
hotel and cancel?

It was the same chain. That's how he got mixed up. Coming from a small town (Erie, PA), he had no idea that a city might have more than one hotel from the same chain.

That's funny. I guess I can understand why it's a bit more concern for a woman, but that's also why we met at a very public place. Also, I think getting to know each other through TRs and such before hand helps (I hope) with any reservations/nervousness.

Well, she wasn't actually concerned for my safety, just made I was meeting other men behind her son's back.

(Every woman reading this has already
deduced this.
About every man, actually.)

I noticed a jacked up,
lifted up pick-up truck.
This monstrosity pulls up
beside me and...

Definitely a red neck.

I got out of my car and replaced
the dangling gas cap.

See even red necks can be nice sometimes.

Looking Glass falls is a very
popular stop.

Pretty!

The trek to the falls is mostly
up-hill and takes about 15-30
minutes

It doesn't look like too bad of a walk, they even provided some steps!

A perfect opportunity to take
some photos without heads
or bodies in the way.

Another pretty one!

Ladies and gentlemen...
The backside of water!!

ohhhhh, ahhhhhh!!

My next stop would be much
more satisfying.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop,
in Knoxville, TN.

That looks amazing. I'll have to keep it in mind if I ever make it back up to Knoxville. I've only been there once and it was for a DIS meet.

I got into my room and spotted
this sign in the bathroom:

Definitely tells you want kind of area you were staying in.

I also made sure the door locks
were firmly in place.

I don't blame you at all considering the area of Atlanta you were staying in.

Did you see it in this chapter?

I did see your sponsorship of the pie place but it took me twice through to see it. Sneaky, I was looking for Marvin as usual and missed it!

 

[pkondz]

Um, no, you do not want to meet my MIL. She wasn't concerned for my safety at all, was just thinking I was stepping out on her precious son.

Oh, dear.
I hope you told her there were two men...
and let her imagination run wild.

It was the same chain. That's how he got mixed up. Coming from a small town (Erie, PA), he had no idea that a city might have more than one hotel from the same chain.

Imagine that!

Well, she wasn't actually concerned for my safety, just made I was meeting other men behind her son's back.

It's not like we took
you out for dinner
or anything.

Definitely a red neck.

Called it!

See even red necks can be nice sometimes.

And Northerners
can be opinionated.

Pretty!

It doesn't look like too bad of a walk, they even provided some steps!

The walk wasn't bad at all!
Certainly didn't have to
worry about turning
an ankle or anything.

Another pretty one!

I actually preferred this one.
A bit more remote.
A bit more quiet.

ohhhhh, ahhhhhh!!

Correct response.

That looks amazing. I'll have to keep it in mind if I ever make it back up to Knoxville. I've only been there once and it was for a DIS meet.

There may be one closer to you.
I know when I double checked,
that I saw a few in other cities.

Definitely tells you want kind of area you were staying in.

Unfortunately... yes.

I don't blame you at all considering the area of Atlanta you were staying in.

I had no idea.
Then again... I picked
it for proximity to my
next day's outing.

I did see your sponsorship of the pie place but it took me twice through to see it. Sneaky, I was looking for Marvin as usual and missed it!

Can't keep doing the
same thing all the time.
How else can I keep you
on your toes?

 

[irene_dsc]

Purty waterfalls. The second reminded me a bit of the scenery at Starved Rock State Park (in Illinois).




Complete with the backside of water...

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

And I did. Until 9:00am.

That's pretty on par for me. Some days I can stretch it until 10.

Well that won't do.

So I added on five hours.

Well of course.

Grumbling, I marched into the station
to fetch my receipt.

See, I just don't ever get a receipt. I have a checkbook register on my phone, plug it in there, and roll on.

Is that a correct term?
Do you have rednecks in NC?

Depends on where you are. Eastern NC you have rednecks. Western/mountains you have hillbillies.

I got out of my car and replaced
the dangling gas cap.

I knew this was coming when you first outlined your steps.

It's also a place where
you cry in the bathroom.

Or dry heave. You know, if you're suffering from the sickness that they say only hits in the morning but really is all day.

The backside of water!!

This is our wifi name

Joe also had an excellent moment once in Disney World. We were trying to find Pecos Bill's, and he pointed out an entrance. I said I thought it was the back of the restaurant, and without missing a beat he goes "The ninth wonder of the world, the backside of a restaurant!"

I can't say which was better,
that's like comparing apples to oranges.

Groan.

It's pie, people!

Eh. I'm not a huge fan of pie. Too much crust, not enough yummy stuff.

I got into my room and spotted
this sign in the bathroom:

Ha. Yikes.

I also made sure the door locks
were firmly in place.

When we were on our way back from Disney last September and trying to get around Florence (the hurricane, not the city), we stayed the night at an America's Best Value Inn because it was the only hotel with an available room within 50 miles. When we got to the room, I sent Joe back out the truck for a screwdriver so we could screw the chain back into place on the door.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

And I did. Until 9:00am.

Not nearly as much as I
wanted, but that's the
way the cookie crumbles.

Ever since I had kids, I can't sleep past 7:00 a.m. 9:00 is incredibly late!

Hmmm... maybe it was
cookie crumbs in bed
that woke me up.

Wait... I had ice cream,
not cookies.

Ew. Now that's a mess.

So I added on five hours.

As one does.

I have decided that I am a big baby.
(Every woman reading this has already
deduced this.
About every man, actually.)

HEY!

Ok, maybe a little, but it hurts to see that out in the open.

Fifteen minutes later, I was on the road
when I met my first redneck.

Is that a correct term?
Do you have rednecks in NC?

Looks like @SoccerDogWithEars has you covered there.

This monstrosity pulls up
beside me and...
Just sits there.
He doesn't pass, he just
keeps pace with me.

I hate that.
Either pass me or don't.
Don't just drive along
beside me.

Oh, man. One of my pet peeves! I also hate it when two cars block both lanes ahead of me by driving the same speed. They have rear-view mirrors, right? They can see the line of cars piling up?

I got out of my car and replaced
the dangling gas cap.


Whoopsie!

Nice of the driver to help you out.

Nice of that young man
to help me out like that.
Did I mention he had
a nice truck?

A job is more than just
a place to work.
It's also a place where
you cry in the bathroom.

More if you add in time
to stop for gas and
again to look like an idiot
while you're pulled over
on the shoulder, reattaching
your dangling gas cap.

Yeah, but nobody would leave it off in the first place.

I'm pretty used to looking
like an idiot anyway,
so I pretty much nailed that part.

Dang it! You had 20 readers ready to jump on that joke.

Wow, nice shot!

Sometimes when you follow
the masses... the "M" is silent.

I think I've heard you use that one before.

A perfect opportunity to take
some photos without heads
or bodies in the way.

Excellent!

Ladies and gentlemen...
The backside of water!!

Looks like Schweitzer Falls, after the famous Dr. Albert Falls.

"We don't have any.
This is an outlet."

Uh... what?
I've been to over a hundred
Harley stores.
Including some that only sell
shirts and novelties (no bikes.)
This is the first time I've
encountered anything like this.
They all have their own chips.

Well...that's a bummer.

My next stop would be much
more satisfying.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop,
in Knoxville, TN.

Oh, man. Now this sounds promising.

I sashayed in and ordered
up an apple pie and an orange soda.
I can't say which was better,
that's like comparing apples to oranges.

I see what you did there.

Wow, that looks legit!

It's pie, people!
(Do not, under any
circumstances, ever
order people pie, people.)

What about soylent green pie?

And I can neither confirm
nor deny that I might have
also had a lemon meringue pie.

Attaboy.

That was it. Two words.
Gotta admire the restraint
to engage in superfluous
conversation.

It's that old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Nothing like it anywhere.

Info procured, I went off
to find my room.
I don't remember the exact room
number, but it started with a higher
number, like 11 or 12,
so I got in the elevator.
Once in, I quickly saw that the hotel
didn't have 11 or 12 floors.
I rode up to the top with a couple
other people, then road back down.
My room was on the main floor.
Of course.
Made perfect sense.
All the other hotels on the planet
were doing it wrong. That's all.

Wow. I guess that's one way to address it.

I also made sure the door locks
were firmly in place.

So I wonder...was this the same Country Inn I stayed in near Atlanta? Was it in the southern part of the city, next to the old Braves ballpark? Because man, that was a skeevy one.

Did you see it in this chapter?

Stealing airplane plasticware again, I see.

Eh. I'm not a huge fan of pie. Too much crust, not enough yummy stuff.

This is incorrect.

 

[pkondz]

Purty waterfalls. The second reminded me a bit of the scenery at Starved Rock State Park (in Illinois).

It really does look similar!
Now I have a new waterfall
to go see.

Complete with the backside of water...

Hey! You're stealing my lines!
(which I stole from Disney.)

 

[pkondz]

That's pretty on par for me. Some days I can stretch it until 10.

Same here.
Occasionally I can go to 10,
but I'm going to have to be
pretty short on sleep
for that to happen.

Well of course.

It's what I do.

See, I just don't ever get a receipt. I have a checkbook register on my phone, plug it in there, and roll on.

Is this an app?
I'd like to do that.
I do keep receipts,
but I don't really need
the ones for groceries, etc.

Depends on where you are. Eastern NC you have rednecks. Western/mountains you have hillbillies.

Ah. Well, you'd be the expert.

I knew this was coming when you first outlined your steps.

Always give the readers
just enough info to figure
it out for themselves.

Or dry heave. You know, if you're suffering from the sickness that they say only hits in the morning but really is all day.

Gotta say I haven't been
"afflicted" with that before.

You didn't say when you were
ready to pop, though?

This is our wifi name

Joe also had an excellent moment once in Disney World. We were trying to find Pecos Bill's, and he pointed out an entrance. I said I thought it was the back of the restaurant, and without missing a beat he goes "The ninth wonder of the world, the backside of a restaurant!"

That's very good!

Groan.

You're welcome.
I was particularly pleased
about that one.

Eh. I'm not a huge fan of pie. Too much crust, not enough yummy stuff.

So then leave the crust.
I do.

Or....

"Spoon in hand, Annie happily
opens a tin of pie filling
and digs in."

Ha. Yikes.

Yikes. Now there's an
appropriate response.

When we were on our way back from Disney last September and trying to get around Florence (the hurricane, not the city), we stayed the night at an America's Best Value Inn because it was the only hotel with an available room within 50 miles. When we got to the room, I sent Joe back out the truck for a screwdriver so we could screw the chain back into place on the door.

I remember you telling me about it.

Presume (like me) you were glad
to leave (in one piece... with all your stuff.)

 

[pkondz]

Ever since I had kids, I can't sleep past 7:00 a.m. 9:00 is incredibly late!

Don't worry.
That'll come back...
In about 20 years.

Ew. Now that's a mess.

Not my bed.

Um... does this mean
the invite to stay over
at your place is rescinded?

As one does.

Yes. You would know that.

HEY!

Ok, maybe a little, but it hurts to see that out in the open.

Dude. It's not like it's a secret.

Looks like @SoccerDogWithEars has you covered there.

Oh, man. One of my pet peeves! I also hate it when two cars block both lanes ahead of me by driving the same speed. They have rear-view mirrors, right? They can see the line of cars piling up?

Yes! Drives me nuts.


See what I did there?

Nice of the driver to help you out.

Yeah, but nobody would leave it off in the first place.

For sure!
Who would do that????

Dang it! You had 20 readers ready to jump on that joke.

Pre-emptive strike.

Wow, nice shot!

Thanks!

I think I've heard you use that one before.

Nope! First one.
Pretty sure.

Looks like Schweitzer Falls, after the famous Dr. Albert Falls.

This was Moore Cove falls.
Named after the famous spy,
Moore, Cove Moore.

License to drip.

Well...that's a bummer.

Ah well.
Will write a strongly worded
letter to Harley headquarters.

Oh, man. Now this sounds promising.

I see what you did there.

Wow, that looks legit!

Gotta say...
I was pretty happy with it.

What about soylent green pie?

Dude! I just talked about that!

Attaboy.

Yuss!

It's that old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Nothing like it anywhere.

Very welcoming and open.

Wow. I guess that's one way to address it.

Effective, I'm betting.

So I wonder...was this the same Country Inn I stayed in near Atlanta? Was it in the southern part of the city, next to the old Braves ballpark? Because man, that was a skeevy one.

Yes! That's the one.
Possibly the last time I stay there.

Stealing airplane plasticware again, I see.

Thievery everywhere!
I need to put up a sign.

This is incorrect.

 

[irene_dsc]

It really does look similar!
Now I have a new waterfall
to go see.

If you do go to Starved Rock, there are several waterfalls, actually. You can get to one or two in a short time, but most people do it as a day trip, or stay overnight. Some of the hiking is more challenging than others. I forget if that particular waterfall was accessed by one of the trails that was officially closed (due to a bridge being out) but accessible via scrambling around an alternate route, so to speak. That was also during the pouring rain, tho that part is not necessary for the experience! It gets pretty crowded on weekends, since it is convenient from Chicago, but dh and I went on a Thursday-Friday and it was a lot more manageable.

 

[pkondz]

If you do go to Starved Rock, there are several waterfalls, actually. You can get to one or two in a short time, but most people do it as a day trip, or stay overnight. Some of the hiking is more challenging than others. I forget if that particular waterfall was accessed by one of the trails that was officially closed (due to a bridge being out) but accessible via scrambling around an alternate route, so to speak. That was also during the pouring rain, tho that part is not necessary for the experience! It gets pretty crowded on weekends, since it is convenient from Chicago, but dh and I went on a Thursday-Friday and it was a lot more manageable.

Thanks Irene.
Not sure if I'll make it
there or not.
No clue yet if my next
(well... next after May)
will be driving or flying.
And if it's driving...
If I'll have the time.

Looks intriguing, though!

Just to be sure, it's This One right?

 

[irene_dsc]

Just to be sure, it's This One right?

Yep, that's the one! Worth a trip, but it's not a quick stop at the side of the road, that is for sure.

 

[pkondz]

Yep, that's the one! Worth a trip, but it's not a quick stop at the side of the road, that is for sure.

Thanks!

And... I kinda got that impression.