Vacation Travel Philosophy

Posted on September 22, 2011September 22, 2011 by Dusty Roads

When I started this blog I said it was Sights, Scenes and Travel of an everyday person. The intention was that you could follow along with my adventures and mishaps as I began to get my travel legs. I did not then nor now feel that I am an expert although I’m a lot more seasoned than I was. 🙂

When I travel with my sister and we get misdirected (aka lost) she laughs and says “We’re not lost, we’re “sight-seeing”. And what a great idea that is. Why do we care when we’re on vacation if we get twisted around a little? Unless we’re trying to make it to a Tour, we have all day. We never would have had our little adventure on the Longest Dirt Road In the World if we’d been worried about getting a little lost..oops , misdirected.

In Hawaii we went looking for a green sand beach. We never found it but we found the Southernmost Point and some beautiful sights we would have missed if we hadn’t taken that detour.

I ran across another travel quote that I think needs to be added to our travel lexicon. Rita Rudner is credited with this gem: “I never panic when I get lost. I just change where it is I want to go.”

I love it and I have done it! Sure takes the stress out of traveling!

Bridges

Posted on September 21, 2011September 21, 2011 by Dusty Roads

I guess by now you know I like bridges. I get a thrill out of driving over really steep bridges like the Mount Hope Bridge in Bristol, RI

even the Sagamore Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal

and I just love photographing little wooden bridges or iconic covered bridges.

To me, bridges are just cool.

I remember being a passenger on a huge combo bridge tunnel when I was a kid. I think we were in the south maybe crossing Chesapeake Bay. I’m going to find that bridge and drive it for myself one of these days.

But today I wanted to share what I have learned about the Newport Bridge also know as the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge.

First of all it is a suspension bridge. One of those bridges where the bed is held up by cables running down from vertical supports also called “Suspenders”. I think they look so fragile and beautiful.

The Bridge is operated by the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority and spans the east passage of Narragansett Bay. Newport RI is located on Aquidneck Island. The only way into or out of Newport is over a bridge of some kind. The Newport Bridge connects Newport RI with Jamestown on Conanicut Island, RI. The other bridge connecting Jamestown to the mainland is Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, which is also a neat bridge that may be a subject for another time.

But back to the Newport Bridge, it is a modern 4 lane highway, 2 lanes in each directions and is part of RT 138. The bridge is the only toll road in Rhode Island. The toll is $2.00 / axle so for cars that makes it $4.00. It is also unique because Rhode Island residents with a Rhode Island EZ Pass pay a deeply discounted rate.Nonresidents pay full price. This discount is so unusual because it is the only toll in the US that gives a resident discount to non-adjacent neighborhoods.

The main span of the Newport Bridge is 488 meters (1601 ft), ranking it number 70 among the longest suspension bridges in the world, and making it the longest suspension bridge in New England. The overall length of the bridge is 3,428 meters (11,247 ft). Its main towers reach 122 meters (400 ft) above the water surface, and the roadway height reaches as high as 66 meters (215 ft).

The bridge was constructed from 1966-1969 at a cost of $54,742,000.

At night the bridge is illuminated by strings of lights that follow the graceful sweep of the suspension cables. I’ve been checking maps to try to find a good spot to take a night picture.

Bicycles and walkers are not allowed on this bridge. However I may have just discovered a loophole. On Sunday, November 13, 2011 A fund-raiser called The “Inaugural Citizen’s Bank Newport Pell Bridge Run” will debut. The entry fee is $50.00. Proceeds from the run will benefit several local charities including the Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

Now I’m no runner but maybe I can be a “walker” if I pay the fee and that will get me on the bridge for pictures…maybe? I am going to have to make some calls and if I get the OK then I will have to try to get the day off from work. The race starts at 6:30 am!

I promise if it am successful you will be the first to know! 🙂

Highly Recommended!

Posted on September 19, 2011September 19, 2011 by Dusty Roads

One of my favorite bloggers just went to Alaska. I was behind on my reading so just got a chance to check out her blog. If you want to find out about Alaska you have to check this out! I only made a quick visit just now but will be back after work to read this in detail and enjoy the awesome pictures.

It just looks amazing. If you are interested in Alaska, please take a minute to visit this blog! Tell them Dusty sent you! 🙂

http://homesteadramblings.wordpress.com/

Time for Another Trivia Quiz

Posted on September 19, 2011September 19, 2011 by Dusty Roads

We haven’t done a travel trivia quiz for a while so for a change of pace I thought it might be fun to try one again. Let’s see how you do.

1. If you wanted to order a frozen hot chocolate in the place where it was invented, where would you go?

A) Chicago B) Los Angeles C) New York City D) Miami

2. If you wanted to see the longest river in the United States, which river would you head to?

A) The Colorado B) the Mississippi C) The Missouri D) The Ohio

3. If you wanted to see the smallest state in the nation, where would you go?

A) Hawaii B) Delaware C) New York D) Rhode Island

4. If you want to visit Yellowstone National Park, which state do you go to?

A) Arizona B) Iowa C) Wyoming D) Utah

5. Which four presidents are immortalized on Mount Rushmore?

A) Washington, Lincoln, Adams, Roosevelt B) Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Jefferson C) Washington, Grant, Roosevelt, Jefferson D) Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt, Madison

6. What is the fastest roller coaster in the United States?

A) Space Mountain, Disneyland, Caifornia B) Superman The Escape, Six Flags Magic Mountain, California C) Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey D) Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, Ohio

7. In 2005, GQ Magazine listed the best hamburgers in America. Where can you get the best hamburger in the country?

A) Le Tub, Hollywood, Florida B) Peter Luger Steak House, Brooklyn, NY C) Louis’ Lunch, New Haven, CT D)Rouge, Philadelphia, PA

8. What California town was named after the movie studio?

A) MGM B) Universal C) Paramount D) Columbia

9. In what city will you find Coit Tower?

A) Chicago B) San Francisco C) Los Angeles D) New York

10. If you wanted to stay in the most expensive hotel in America, where would you stay?

The Mansion at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas D) Inn at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

11. If you wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where would you go?

A) Arizona B) California C) New Mexico D) Nevada

12. If you want to see the capital city of Florida, which city should you visit?

A) Miami B) Daytona C) Tallahassee D) Kissimmee

Answers:

1. If you wanted to order a frozen hot chocolate in the place where it was invented, where would you go?

Correct Answer: New York City

2. If you wanted to see the longest river in the United States, which river would you head to?

Correct Answer: The Mississippi River

3. If you wanted to see the smallest state in the nation, where would you go?

Correct Answer: Rhode Island

4. If you want to visit Yellowstone National Park, which state do you go to?

Correct Answer: Wyoming

5. Which four presidents are immortalized on Mount Rushmore?

Correct Answer: Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Jefferson

6. What is the fastest roller coaster in the United States?

Correct Answer: Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey

7. In 2005, GQ Magazine listed the best hamburgers in America. Where can you get the best hamburger in the country?

Correct Answer: Le Tub, Hollywood, Florida

8. What California town was named after the movie studio?

Correct Answer: Paramount

9. In what city will you find Coit Tower?

Correct Answer: San Francisco

10. If you wanted to stay in the most expensive hotel in America, where would you stay?

Correct Answer: The Mansion at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas

11. If you wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where would you go?

Correct Answer: New Mexico

12. If you want to see the capital city of Florida, which city should you visit?

Correct Answer: Tallahassee

How’d you do?

I was just thinking of Hawaii..

Posted on September 17, 2011September 17, 2011 by Dusty Roads

The other day I took off to Narragansett. It was a spur of the moment thing. I’ll tell you about the drive and the awesome bridge another time. It was one of the nice warm fall days that makes you think it’s still summer and there was a little surf. Actually there was more surf than we saw at anytime while we were in Hawaii.

There were surfers too and I think that’s what got me thinking about Hawaii…this time. I think about Hawaii a lot. The funny thing is that when I suggested our first trip it was more because my Mom had mentioned going with “us girls” someday. It was sort of “ok, I have this time share and you said you wanted to go to Hawaii so..let’s go.” Planning the trip was fun but if I were really honest with myself, I would admit that as the trip neared I wasn’t excited. I was trying to put on a good front but of the 3 I would bet I was the least enthusiastic.

As is the way things usually work out, I was the one bitten by the islands..BIG TIME! You know the song…I left my heart in San Francisco? Well I left my heart in Hawaii.

I’ve been twice. Once to the Big Island with its barren volcanos and dry desert-like Kona District. And of course there’s Kilauea. Fascinating and amazing, I loved everything about Volcano National Park.

I also loved the wet side of the island. The lush rainforest with ocean views, 400 ft waterfalls, and tropical blooms.

I hated to leave and I couldn’t stay away. I came home only to start planning my return.

My 2nd trip was to Oahu. We stayed in Honolulu 4 blocks from Waikiki. We looked for the famous surf but the seas were flat, flat, flat. Not being a surfer myself I was only disappointed in not seeing the surf. I doubt I would have tried it but I did go snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, something not to be missed even if snorkeling isn’t normally your “thing”. The water is shallow and warm and the sea life plentiful. Best of all you are in the protected harbor of a collapsed volcanic crater!

Of course if you are in Honolulu you have to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

That was worth the whole trip and I was hesitant to go. I knew it would be emotional, that it would touch me deeply, and I was right. Still it was worth the sadness I felt over all those we lost to see the beautiful memorial in a beautiful, peaceful place.

Finally. on the last day of our visit the surf came up..a little. There were a few die-hard surfers trying to catch a wave off Diamond Head. They were so far away they were little more than specks.

So here I was in Narragansett and there were the surfers. Still no gigantic waves but they were waves and they were long lasting enough that the surfers were out for a good time. I guess the waves don’t have to be huge to give you a good ride.