Author: Sara Moser

Road trip Day 6 – Ohio across Pennsylvania to New York

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The rain that I drove through most of the day was a delicious, misty, soaking-the-earth type of rain. I relished it, remembering the monotony of the dry climate when I was in Carson City in the summer. I love rain (but not if it is torrrential while I’m driving!)

I slept soundly in the wonderful airbnb bed, and really wouldn’t have minded staying there longer!

Wonderful house with lovely people

But, I still have people to see! So I packed up my stuff, and got a delicious coffee and a fig scone at Rising Star Coffee roasters. I tried to eat it outside, but had competition from bees so had to make a run for it.

  • The bees were interested!
  • Rising Star Coffee Roasters

I then got my first glimpse of Lake Erie at the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve – a really nice place to walk and reflect.

After that I drove east on Lakefront Road for a while, enjoying periodic views of the lake, and found a small park, perfect for a picnic lunch by the water.

Feeling satisfied, I got on Interstate 90, thinking I would make better time. That was horrible! So many 18 wheelers, and tons of traffic. So, when I got to Erie, PA, I got off that road and took Hwy 5 most of the way to Buffalo. My google map later told me I was very smart, because I was avoiding crashes on 90!

I was surprised to see acre after acre of lush vineyards between Lake Erie and the well-maintained two lane road I travelled on. Sometimes there were cornfields on the other side. I loved driving through the small towns, and looked enviously at the interesting homes with the Great Lake in their backyard. I wondered what it was like, waking every morning to that sight! I also wondered what it was like in the winter!

The rain got a little heavier, traffic in Buffalo was a mess, but I arrived in Niagara, happy to have another place to lay my head.

This guy was playing amazingly at the rest area/welcome center in Pennsylvania!

Tomorrow: The Falls!

Road Trip Day 5 – Ohio, the state with 3 C cities

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My friend moved to Ohio a couple of years ago. She told me which city she lives in, but never gave me her address. We’d been texting back and forth about me stopping by for a short visit on this trip, and were both excited! So, last night I was updating her with my plans, after I had booked a place to stay in Cleveland. Well….turns out, she lives in Cincinatti! I laughed at myself so hard, and laughed even more when I looked back at my texts that clearly say that’s where she lives!

I decided that I wanted to go to Cleveland anyway, to see Lake Erie. So this morning I got up really early, hit the road while it was still dark. Brought back some of my best childhood memories. My parents would pack up the family station wagon, the rented Uhaul, the cartop carrier that fit under the canoe, and get all us kids up and in the car along with the dog and be on the road by 5 am.

I wasn’t quite that early, but did get to her place by 10, after getting to experience a gorgeous sunrise. We chatted and caught up and took a walk and she gave me some great cookies. Then I was on my way and got to my airbnb in Cleveland by 4:30.

Cincinnati to Cleveland is about the same distance as Houston to San Antonio, but a bit more interesting. The Texas trip, which I’ve made quite a few times, is straight, flat, and just generally nothing to look at. The Ohio trip started out being kinda similar, but Columbus was along the way, breaking up the monotony, and after that, the trees were pretty with the start of fall colors

Right now I am very tired, and happy that tonight, I am sleeping in a comfortable bed in an awesome home. I have no idea what I’m going to do tomorrow!

My friend is a very private person so I’m not posting a picture with her, so here is the beautiful sunrise.

Road trip Day 4: Across Illinois to Indiana

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The sky was solid gray when I left Rolla this morning, but as I drove west through the Mark Twain forest, it cleared and became a beautiful sunny day. Before noon I was crossing the Mississippi River and humming along through southern Illinois. Except for being slightly more hilly, it reminded me of the Texas Plains.

The trees increased in Indiana and fall colors began to show. Hints of yellow, with an occasional flash of red caused me to smile with the anticipation of actually experiencing a bit of fall as I continue my travels north.

My companion on the road today was the book The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus. It is based on historical fact, the tale of a young man who joined an expedition to attempt to rescue a boy taken by the Apaches, and all that befell him and his companions along the way. It is well written and well narrated.

Finally, I arrived at my destination. My daughter and her husband live in Bloomington, Illinois, and I had not visited them there. (They moved last year). He is a college prof, working late, and she and I spent the afternoon/evening catching up, got delicious takeout, and just enjoyed each other’s company. I will sleep on their comfy couch tonight, glad to be with family instead of the sterility of a hotel.

Me and my daughter Rachel

And I have a funny to tell about tomorrow.

Road Trip Day 3: Oklahoma to Missouri

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Today was a day that put the road in road trip. Lots of musings about travel, relationships, how people live, what I want to do with my life – ideas for future blog posts for when I’m not driving 500 miles a day, solo. I need to get a tool so I can dictate my thoughts when I’m traveling. Hard to use my phone because I’m using it for google maps. I do listen to music and audiobooks too. My song for the day: On the Road Again. Of course! I love me some Willie Nelson!

I was three hours down the road, singing along with Willie, when I realized I left my toiletry bag in the hotel room. It was the last thing I packed but somehow it didn’t make it to the car. It is a really nice, compact bag which I love, so I called the hotel and they are mailing it to the location I will be at in a few days. This, finding food, and driving through a major rainstorm were the major events of the day.

Missouri sky

Tonight, I am in Rolla, Missouri.

Road Trip Day 2 – Austin to Springtown to OK (and cats)

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If I were an animal, I would definitely want to be some sort of cat. Today, I got to visit my son and his wife and their multiple beautiful felines. They live out in the country in a geodesic dome home built in the 70’s, and perfect location to enjoy nature and cats.

It was rainy when I left Austin, but before long the sky cleared and it was another beautiful, hot, day. I decided to take highway 183 which runs parallel to the interstate heading up to Fort Worth. I enjoyed the hillier, more picturesque route through the small towns along the route. Did you know there is a place called Fairy, Texas? It was uneventful, I saw a lot of cows, and wished I could take pictures while I was driving. Springtown is a small town to the west of Fort Worth, and I timed my arrival to coincide with lunch. Smart, right?

My son was putting the finishing touches on some Texas sized egg/mushroom/pepper/cheese burritos, and they were delicious and filling.

Filling for the yummy burritos

The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up and playing with and petting the cats.

These are four of the ten or so cats they currently have. The black and white’s name is Moo, and he’s the boss!

I enjoyed the afternoon, and David packed me another burrito for my supper. They don’t have guest quarters, so I drove another 100 miles north to get a head start on tomorrow, and am spending the night in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Me and my son David
Me with David and his wife Roni

Next stop: TBD.