And so it begins...

A hundred years ago, I was flush with babysitting money and stopped at a Bob's Big Boy when I was 11-years old. I sat at THE COUNTER, I ordered what I wanted, and I LEFT food on my plate. Oh, I felt so grown up. So when we saw a Big Boy in Toledo, we had to eat there. Ok, turns out the food isn't exactly Bob Evans quality. But the coffee was decent and the service was great. I took a cuppa to go and CaDiva stopped at Kroger's to pick up her Starbucks. While I sat in the car waiting for her, I caught sight of this tree across the parking lot. I thought...OK, now it begins.

 We used our GPS (aka Jillian) to find our way back onto I 90 East and headed towards Buffalo around 11. We had a slow start since the time changed and, well, it was morning and we were on vacation. So don't give us a hard time.

CaDiva drove until we pulled off at one of the nice Ohio Turnpike service stops. They are sort of rest stops on steroids. This one had an interactive weather map that promised rain as we approached Buffalo (more on that later) as well as two gift shops and another Starbucks. She wasn't done with her venti no whip mocha but she had plans - an iced venti no whip mocha would keep very nicely in her insulated cup and she would have something to nosh on at the hotel tonight.

 I was seriously disappointed when I missed Lake Michigan. Oh, not enough to go back, but I didn't want to miss another opportunity. And that interactive map at the service stop did indicate the exit nearest Lake Erie. We had a plan. I took over the driving and kept an eye out for the exit we wanted. The lovely thing about turnpikes is the smooth ride with limited merging issues. 

I may have mentioned I have a small problem with the merging skills of other drivers. HRH has opinions of the problems I have with other drivers. And CaDiva just wishes I would keep the volume of my behind-the-wheel lectures down to a dull roar. But, again, I digress.

The bad thing about turnpikes is they tend to dump you out when they are done with you and there you are, naked and alone. I wasn't going to miss another opportunity, just because I didn't know how to read an interactive map, I took a page out of Rachel Ray's book, I asked the toll booth attendant what exit he would take if he were a pair of Iowa ladies looking for Lake Erie. Oh, man, was he good. He gave me three steps that took me across Ohio and through downtown Cleveland to the edge of the lake.The waves were crashing over the breakwater, the sea gulls were carrying on like shopkeepers in an ancient bazaar, the wind was cutting and the skies were grey. IT WAS AMAZING.

 We decided against going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After all, we did still need to make it to Niagara tonight. So, we asked Jillian how to get back to our path towards Buffalo. OH 2/I 90 east along the lake, until we needed to stop for gas. The credit card points gave us a boatload of gas cards and we signed up for the rewards thing with Shell that gives us a minimum 3 cent discount. Of course that doesn't mean the Shell station is going to be immediately off the interstate exit. Still and all, it gives us a chance to see a really charming little town and some more fall colors.

This proves my theory that there are no wrong turns on a Girls Trip...oh, that's a new rule. I should update that list too. Maybe tomorrow... Today is still weighing on my keyboard. 

We followed the lake, including one lovely CinemaScope panorama of the lake above the rolling country side but below the low hanging clouds which could only have been better if the sun, which appeared briefly, was still around.  It turned out the interactive map was right about another thing. It was going to rain. Since CaDiva was driving by now, I did offer to take the wheel during the rain. I may have sounded slightly patronizing because she declined the offer, even though she was pretty certain she was going to accidentally slide into Canada on the slippery roads.

We did not, but we did cross the Niagara River over to Grand Island and caught sight of Fantasy Island Amusement Park.  And finally, we were there. Niagara Falls, NY. 

The skies were still gray and sort of weepy. And there was that whole having our exit closed and having to drive through Niagara's less than vitalized area.  

But we still got to meet a new friend. Don't tell the kittens. HRH says they are still pouting and it  won't help if they think we are cheating on them.  

Finally, we found the Hampton on Rainbow Blvd. Even before we checked in, we booked our tour for tomorrow, Thank you Nephew and Nephew's lady friend for the wedding present. 

Now, as the fireworks over the falls lull me off to sleepy time, I promise you more tomorrow.