Vacation 2013
10 September - 7 October 2013
Taking Joseph to Univ. of Chicago and mini-vacation in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
a map of our travels (click on map for larger version)
10 September - 7 October 2013
Taking Joseph to Univ. of Chicago and mini-vacation in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
a map of our travels (click on map for larger version)
No photos for the first part of the trip from McAllen, Texas to Houston. - 10 September 2013.
It was a uneventful drive. We arrived via a shortcut on a road around the NW part of Houston
which is far from being finished (major construction on overpasses) but cut a lot of time and frustration by
allowing us to get to our destination without going inside the 410 loop.
We arrived at our relatives house, and decided to eat out at a favorite Mexican restaurant.
Then home and settled in for the night.
All the major ways to get out of town during rush hour are awful, much like slowly moving parking lots.
We gave it some thought and decided to leave early and avoid the traffic by choosing our time.
In fact, we got on the road by 4:47 AM. (Ok you who know me understand how unusual that is... quit snickering.)
We made very good time just taking Interstate 10 into town then turning North on US 59 to be on our way.
At 7:10 we had breakfast at a McDonalds in Lufkin, TX, edible and the coffee was OK.
By 11:00 AM we entered Arkansas, got an official map at the visitor center.
The very knowlegable attendant wished us luck navigating into Hot Springs Village (controlled access community) our next stop visiting and staying with a friend.
Actually it was not too difficult after checking-in at the gate. Procedure much like entering a US Military installation.
It was very wooded, mostly decidious, park-like.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
Roadway was well paved, 2 lane and very winding with little hills and humps.
GPS and a Google map printed out in anticipation helped a lot.
Hospitality was great including snack, later supper and after a great night's sleep a hearty breakfast,
all which were cooked and served as befitting a 5 star restaurant.
By 7:35 we were on the road, winding our way back onto Interstate 30 through Bentonville (home of Walmart).
The Interstates in Arkansas and Missouri were in good repair and fast.
We turned North just West of Memphis and
The Art Museum - from the North
This whole complex is a leftover from a major fair at the turn of the century... that is about 1900 AD. What is sometimes called the Gilded Age
The statue of St. Louis, king of France
The pond (lake) down and in front of the museum
It is huge - for scale see the man walking on the walkway on the near side... that tiny speck.
~ A few samples of what I saw at the museum ~
Gilhouli glass
Chair by George Nakashima in 1982
Wedgewood
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Paul Cezanne - Artists Mother - - - - - - - - - - - - Edouard Manet - The Reader
Roman Mosaic
Greek vase with Athenian owl
Cuneiform tablet - record of Receipt and debit of Barley 1791 - 1750 BC
Ancient art room
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Kate and Joseph - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gerard and Joseph
We headed on west to Jefferson City, Missouri and spent the night with friends there.
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Hadley next to the pear tree - delicious pears - - - - - - - - - - Hadley and Gerard
Susie and Joseph by the garden
mid Illinois
Illinois has wind farms too
a mid northern Illinois farm
We entered Wisconsin at Beloit then turned east and passed through Milwaukee at a busy time.
Then we headed north to Sheboygan arriving shortly after dark.
There was some construction which we navigated around partially by trial and error assisted by the GPS and maps on Joseph's phone.
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update 16 October 2013
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