Heidemarie Lundblad

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Traveling through the USA

Heidemarie and Birgit's (and then Nick's)

marvelous trip

Some time ago Heidemarie (having just retired) decided to buy a new toy: A nice little Audi S4 (It is at the bottom of the page). Having tried it out on the Autobahn, Birgit and Heidemarie decided to take it on a little spin through the US. The car and Birgit came to California (one by boat, the other by plane). Then we headed to New York - via Toronto. Once there, Birgit flew back home and Nick joined me for the return trip to California.

Birgit and then Nick took pictures and I posted them. If you are interested in our little adventure, have a look at the links on the left for the English version, Deutsch ist auf der rechten Seite. Since I have had a bit of time to think about it, here a few reflections about the trip.

Did we enjoy the trip? Yes, it was fun; the car is made to run; the weather was hot but bearable. Driving 9,000 miles through the country gave us a much better appreciation for the immense space that is the US and how sparsely populated most of the country is. Driving for hours on end through desert or prairie or forest and then finally seeing a tiny town with one gas station but enough churches to (it seems) serve a state, helps one to understand the country a bit better.

We saw some fantastic scenery - Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone; the Painted Desert immediately come to mind. We enjoyed great museums in Toronto and New York. We visited several sites of importance in US history - some pleasant and uplifting (Williamsburg) , some thought provoking and/or sad (Ellis Island, Monticello, Richmond, Vicksburg, Montgomery) Some was just fun - visiting with friends in Minneapolis andWilliamsburg. Crossing Lake Michigan on the historic train (now car) ferry, the SS Badger and more or less successfully using New York's various transportation possibillities was a change from driving.

We stayed in a lovely B & B (the Lamplighter Inn) in Ludington, Michigan. Some of the memorable hotels we would like to visit again were the Three Bear Lodge; the Occidental Hotel; the Monmouth Plantation; Mills House; La Posada. I spent a week in a suite at the New York Warwick and felt like home.

Did we eat well? Birgit and I are a bit fussy, so our basic objective was sustenance without getting poisoned. Nick eats most anything, but he drew the line at the deep-fried pickle. We will not easily forget the food in Edison. "...but the portions were so large.." Nick recommended gatorade and energy bars, we never sank that low.

However, there were some excellent meals in pleasant, sometimes even elegant surroundings. We thank Wayne in Minneapolis and Kathleen in Williamsburg - those were great meals! (A special thank you to Barbara for the Campari - truly over and above!) The breakfast at the Lamplighter Inn was excellent, as was the lunch at the Royal Ontario Museum - even if the "Rainbow Trout" was really a Salmon Trout. The dinner at the Monmouth Plantation was outstanding, as was that at La Posada. Who would have thought there could be great food in Winslow, Arizona?

Some food firsts: Piki Brot and (for me) French Toast; Fried Green Tomatoes (smothered with Shrimp and Crab in a very rich cream sauce); Elk with blackberry sauce. Very good.

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