Typhoon Talas dumped record amounts of rain on Sunday in western and central Japan. The excess rain caused landslides in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture.
Location of Tanabe.
Trip Summary
Number of days on the road: 18
Number of digital photos taken: 2,090
Number of kilometres driven: 4,649
Most kilometres driven in one day: 1,042
Number of speeding tickets: 0
Number of states visited: 12
Number of Tropical Storms: 0
Number of Hurricanes narrowly missed: 1 (Irene)
Price of most expensive gas (in USA): $3.699/gallon USD ($0.982/litre CAD) in Big Chimney, West Virginia
Price of cheapest gas: $3.329/gallon USD ($0.889/litre CAD) in Corbin, Kentucky
Price of gasoline for trip: $413.29 USD
Taking the girls to Universal Studios, Walt Disney World and Tybee Island: Priceless
Day 18: Good To Be Back!
We rolled into Canada today around 1:30 PM, after a quick stop at Duty Free, we hit the border with little delay. Coming across the Peace Bridge.
A few questions and we were on the QEW heading for Scarborough to pick up Chloe. The worst traffic of our trip was probably today as we got stuck on the QEW near Cawthra, where 2 lanes were closed due to an accident. The Burlington Skyway was encased in fog.
You would think this pick-up truck full of corn was from a southern state, it was actually on Eglinton Avenue.
The girls still smiles after 18 days and 4600 kilometres.
Day 17: A Long Drive
It is time to head home, we are doing a long day in the car on Thursday which will allow us to get home at a decent time on Friday and pick up Chloe. We left Tybee Island around 8:30 AM and headed for Fairmont, West Virginia. I started the morning with a walk down to the beach to catch the sunrise.
Some of the South Carolina Department of Corrections Litter Crews, just as we were pulling out of the rest stop, they were pulling in.
The girls have been great in the car this trip, not too much complaining or fighting.
Going through Virginia along Interstate 77.
The Big Walker Mountain Tunnel (1288m) entrance.
We pulled into the hotel around 8:00 PM. Traffic was good all the way and the weather wasn’t getting any cooler as we traveled north. I have finally caught up with the blog posts. Hope you have enjoyed it. Once I get home, I’ll add some of the video we took.
Day 16: The Beach and Lighthouse
The sun was out early and we headed to the beach. It was a little busier than yesterday.
Not sure who this is getting swamped by a wave.
The girls with some of their beachcombing finds. Angela with a piece of umbrella and Gillian with a dead jellyfish.
Some beach art.
They sure enjoy the surf.
What happens when you feed the birds.
Angela flying her seagull kite.
We had lunch at MacElwees Seafood House and then headed to the Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum.
You can climb all 178 steps to the top of the lighthouse.
There were landings along the way to take a break.
Susan sticking close to the wall and hanging tight to the railing.
A magnificent view of the surrounding area.
Looking way down.
The north end of the three mile beach.
We made it!
The girls looking relaxed, Susan, not so much.
The historical society has reconstructed the Head Light Keepers residence along with the 1st and 2nd assistants houses.
Looking up to one of the 1000W bulbs.
Looking up at the stairs.
The summer kitchen, it contained artefacts recovered when reconstructing the houses.
They had the Head Light keepers house restored to the 1940’s era.
They relied on a lot of old photographs to get the finer details just right.
The museum is held in an old Battery.
Entering the museum from the observation deck.
They had a World War II submarine periscope in the entrance, what are older sisters for.
Angela creeping our car.
These batteries made up Fort Screvin, as we drove around the neighbourhood you could see more of them, some are privately owned.
The lighthouse displaying its 1916 Day mark. It was converted to electricity in 1933. Before then it required three light keepers.
Had we known we could rent one, we would have parked the car for the time we were here.
Day 15: Part 3–Savannah Sand Gnats
When we decided to stay in Tybee Island, I Googled to see if there was a minor league ball team playing in town. It turned out that the Savannah Sand Gnats are a low A ball team that play in the South Atlantic League, they are a New York Mets affiliate.
They play at historic Grayson Stadium. It was built in 1926 and renovated in 1941. The first South Atlantic League game with both Black and White players took place at Grayson Stadium on April 14, 1953.
This is Willie Smith, one of the long time season ticket holders, throwing out one of the ceremonial pitches. I talked to this guy when we sat down, I had to ask if we were sitting in the right spot. Next thing we knew he was on the field.
We had general admission tickets, Angela sitting a few rows up waiting for a foul ball.
The Sand Gnats mascot “Gnate”.
We had a good time at the game.
Me with my new Sand Gnats ball cap and my $3 Yuengling 16 oz. draft beer.
We left in the 7th inning, the Sand Gnats were leading the Charleston River Rats 9-3. The River Rats are a Yankee affiliate.
The Sand Gnats ended up winning the game 11-8.
Day 15: Part 2–Fort Pulaski
After the beach we headed to Fort Pulaski National Monument, it is an old fort that has been reconstructed. It is located on Cockspur Island close to Tybee Island. We arrived just in time to see the musket firing demonstration.
The fort was built before the Civil War using 25 million bricks. The fort was held by the Confederates, but over two days the Union was able to breach the wall using new rifled cannons to compel a surrender by the Confederates. That was the end of brick forts.
You are allow to explore the fort.
There are good views from the top of the fort.
What the cannons would have looked like back in in 1862.
As you can see there is not much to keep you falling off the one side of the parapet.
Some of the forts architecture.
Part of the fort was converted into a prison for the Confederate officers known as “The Immortal Six Hundred.”
Looking out to the parade ground.
The girls decided they would climb inside this barrel.
They left part of the fort unfinished so you could see what it looked like under the floors.
Gillian photo bombing the picture.
Inside the solitary confinement.
There were a lot of neat nooks and crannies in the fort.
The front entrance.
The demilune is a huge triangular piece of land that is bordered on all sides by the moat and protected the rear or gouge wall of the fort. Their are large earthen mounds, built after the war, that overlay four powder magazines and passageways to several gun emplacements. You can walk inside the demilune.
I walked around the outside of the fort.
Some of the original cannon damage.
There may be alligators in the moat.
Day 15: The Beach
We all slept in, had breakfast and then headed to the beach. It started out cloudy and windy, as you can see Gillian and Angela trying to put the blanket down.
A few clouds weren’t going to stop us.
Under the pier.
It was pretty busy, good thing we got their early.
The girls in the waves.
Claudia could spend the whole day at the beach if we let her.
We found some small crabs, until some of the birds got to them, we managed to save two of them.
They sure like their signs down here.
The parking ticket dispensing machines are solar powered.
Day 14: Part 2–Island Time
We headed from Disney World to Tybee Island, Georgia, about a five hour drive up the coast. Tybee Island is about 20 minutes east of Savannah, GA.
Driving down the road towards Tybee.
Heading towards Tybee Island.
After checking in to our hotel we walked down to the beach.
There is a pavilion and pier you can walk out on.
A palm tree blown over.
Susan relaxing on one of the beach swings.
The girls were right into the ocean.
After their swim we headed up to the pier.
We are here until Thursday morning, a good break before heading home.
Day 14: Chef Mickey’s
We had done seven days of park passes and seven nights at Disney this time, so our eighth day was just a pack up and check out day. We had planned our last table service meal for the last morning at Chef Mickey’s breakfast buffet with the characters. It would keep us going until we reached Tybee Island. Chef Mickey’s is located in the Contemporary Hotel.
The girls with Goofy.
Don’t be scared Angela, it’s just Mickey.
The girls with Mickey Mouse.
Angela and Donald.
Minnie Mouse.
The last of them was Pluto.
We enjoy the breakfast here and next time will try the dinner buffet.
We were packed up and ready to hit the road. Saying goodbye to our cabin 2438. We would stay here again, they are well kept and very roomy, we never found ourselves tripping over each other.
Looking forward to the beach!
We made one last stop at the Meadows Trading Post. Here is Gillian pointing to our cabin location.
It has been a busy couple of weeks, we are heading up to Tybee Island in Georgia to rest up before heading home.
