Sitting here in Dick and Dorothy's kitchen in Douglas I have time to catch up on our 2022 Eastern US road trip to visit family and friends.
After about nine hours we arrived at our hotel in Corning. It was fourth time we stayed in this lovely town and the third time at the Hilton Garden Inn, a great location right next to Corning's headquarters and a short walk across the river to the main part of town.
After unloading and unpacking we were greeted with hugs and glasses of Prosecco awaiting one final guest for dinner, our niece Mallory.
This past Tuesday was a gorgeous autumn day in West Michigan as we pulled out of our driveway and headed for Port Huron and the Canadian border. Before our departure we had just learned that Canada had lifted all restrictions which included having to use the ArriveCan app within 72 hours before crossing. Another travel hassle avoided.
We made good time through Michigan passing some nice color along the way, a harbinger of color yet to come.
There was hardly any traffic at the border which was a plus and we passed through quickly; the border guard was smiling as he welcomed us into Canada, a nice touch.
Traffic was light as we zipped through Ontario, until we reached the 401 when, of course, vehicular volume really picked up. One stop for lunch at the Onroute Service Area near Woodstock and we were back on the highway soon switching to the 403.
We skirted Hamilton via the Lincoln-Alexander Parkway and before long found ourselves parked at the US border at Lewiston. Cooling our heels for about 25 minutes along with hundreds of other folks, all the while spewing more carbon emissions into the environment than necessary, we passed through into the greater Buffalo area in the search of I-90 and the New York Thruway. The state of New York is in the process of redoing the service plazas on the Thruway, a serious nuisance to be sure, and quite a few are open for gas only. This will undoubtedly affect our planning for the return trip this Sunday.
As we neared Rochester we turned south onto I-390 and headed for Corning, New York, our first stop of the trip.
We had never driven down I-390 before and found the road in good shape but it was the stunning autumn color along the route that we couldn't stop talking about: Mile after mile of huge swatches of golds, reds, and various shades in between. This visual chorus would be pretty much the story for most of the rest of the trip but we would never tire of it.
 |
| quick bathroom stop off the QEW |
After about nine hours we arrived at our hotel in Corning. It was fourth time we stayed in this lovely town and the third time at the Hilton Garden Inn, a great location right next to Corning's headquarters and a short walk across the river to the main part of town.
After checking in we opted to just hang out at the hotel and sitting outside with a glass of wine. For dinner we grabbed a couple of salads at the hotel before turning in for the night.
 |
| relaxing in Corning |
Leaving Corning Wednesday morning a little after 9:00 am we traveled up I-86 and switched to I-88 at Binghamton, New York. Upon arriving at Oneonta we got off the interstate onto Rte 23 and the casual driving of back country roads. After a total trip of about 3 hours we pulled into the Archer driveway in the hills over looking Prattsville.
Gloria had prepared a tasty lunch for us - egg salad, Tabouli, Salmon salad, slaw and focaccia. The four of us sat and caught up on all the news, sharing stories and trials from the past year. (We last saw them on our 2021 driving trip out east.)
Eventually we said adieu to the Archers and returned to the highway. Making our way out of the Catskills and onto I-87 north for just a few miles before we switched to I-90 east just south of Albany. We continued to revel in lovely fall color until reaching the Connecticut River Valley when the trees turned drab with little character. Leaving the I-90 at I-395 we headed south towards Connecticut getting off on Rte 16 at Webster wending our way on backroads until we reached D & D's home in Douglas, MA.
 |
| outside at the Archer's |
 |
| brunch with the Archers |
Eventually we said adieu to the Archers and returned to the highway. Making our way out of the Catskills and onto I-87 north for just a few miles before we switched to I-90 east just south of Albany. We continued to revel in lovely fall color until reaching the Connecticut River Valley when the trees turned drab with little character. Leaving the I-90 at I-395 we headed south towards Connecticut getting off on Rte 16 at Webster wending our way on backroads until we reached D & D's home in Douglas, MA.
 |
| Rte 23 heading down out of the Catskills |
 |
| view looking down in to the Hudson Valley from Rte 23 |
After unloading and unpacking we were greeted with hugs and glasses of Prosecco awaiting one final guest for dinner, our niece Mallory.
The remainder of the evening was spent swapping stories, trying to keep all discussion of health issues to a minimum and enjoying a delicious meal of stuffed shells, a specialty for which sister-in-law Dorothy is widely known.
No comments:
Post a Comment