Finishing the story

And so the longest day of the holiday was here. Today we would begin the long journey back home. We had mixed emotions. Ones of sadness because the day had finally come to return home, but ones of happiness as we have had such an amazing couple of weeks.

As we did have a long day ahead of us we decided to have a longer lie in and check out a bit later.

I still got up at 9:30 and tidied a few things up round the suite.I also finished repacking my cases which had become over cluttered. Definitely not anything to do with the amount of things I was bringing back.

Once we were all ready we made several trips to the car to pack all the cases and bags in before saying goodbye to our final accomodation. 

I drove Sam round to the front as Jill checked out.

We then headed to an IHOP about 15 minutes down the road for a final American breakfast. I had a breakfast biscuit with bacon,egg and hash browns.

Once we were all set we headed off to the Air and space museum near Dulles Airport. We had planned to visit the one in the centre of Washington but found out you had to pre-book a time slot, of which there were none available for the day, so we opted for the sister museum near to us.

We were not to be disappointed however as this was magnificent. It was split into sections, war planes, commercial aircraft and space.

We got tickets for a cinema showing of 'A journey into space' which was a short 25 minute film about the history of space travel and plans for the future. Very interesting.

Before that however we went up to the viewing platform at the top of the museum which gave us great views over Washington Dulles airport. I was using the flight radar app on my phone to track the aircraft that were taking off and landing. It was fascinating, there was a tour guide up there who knew everything about the aircraft and patterns flying into the airport.

The rest of the museum was amazing and very easy to get around. The space section held the space shuttle 'Discovery'. Yes the real one! It was so interesting to walk around. There was also an air France Concorde and the red bull space jump capsule that Felix Baumgartner used when he broke the record for the highest freefall.

We spent ages marvelling at all the weird and wonderful aircraft and could have stayed longer but at 5:30 the doors were closing.

We headed back to the car and headed out to get some fuel so we could return the car with a full tank. We queued up at a Costco, the queue was massive because it was Friday evening and everyone was filling up for the weekend. After a while it was our turn, but we soon realized we needed a Costco card to be able to fill up at the station, how stupid.

So our we went again and luckily just a few more miles up the road we found another place, with no queue.

Once we filled up we headed to Dulles airport and dropped off the hire car. I have nothing but praise for this car. It drove well, it was perfect for getting Sam in and out, and great for storing all our bags and cases.

Jill and I struggled across the road with our cases and soon after we checked in at the BA desk. We were well ahead of time however as it was only 7pm and our flight didnt go until 10:45

This was all pretty straightforward. Jill and I sailed through security no problem but Sam's chair set off a bomb alert! This means he and his chair had to be thoroughly searched. After a few nervous minutes we were clear through.

Once at gate B42 we were all hungry and thirsty again so got a cheeky Wendy's before doing a bit of last minute snack buying in the shops!

Once again when the plane boarded we were the first on. How ironic that waiting at the gate to help Sam on the plane was the same guy we were chatting to about Wrestlemania when we arrived over 2 weeks ago. He remembered us and we had a good chat with him about it, he was amazed at everything we had done on our trip.We had covered nearly 2000miles in total.

The flight took off pretty much on time, it would only be 6 hrs 25min flight time due to strong tail wings pushing the 777 across the Atlantic.

This flew by pretty quick as we got stuck into a couple of films. I didn't sleep at all as I never really felt tired.

We landed at about 11:00am. The staff were so nice whilst we got Sam off the plane. We were chatting to the cabin crew about our trip.The cleaners were waiting to get in as they had 1 hr to clean the plane before it was heading off to Riyadh.

We got through passport control fairly quickly and then baggage claim. Once we had loaded everything into the car Jill had to get used to driving on the left side of the road again. We had a slow drive home due to hold ups on the M25 and more hold ups the rest of the way, ironic after we experience no traffic jams in the whole 2 weeks we were away, well not to that extent anyway.

Got home at 2.45pm to be greeted by mum and dad who had a chat with Jill and Sam about what an amazing holiday it had been.

What an amazing time it has been, it felt like we were out there for ages because we packed so much in, now it will take a few days to settle back into the routine of normal life again, but the memories will last a lifetime!

Back to the Capital

Thursday was our final full day in the US. In some ways it feels like we have been out here for ages as we have done and seen so much.

Today we hoped to visit the attractions that we planned to see on the first day of the trip. It should be much quieter being a weekday and no other events going on.

Parking in the city center is still tricky however so we had to park in the JFK performing arts center which was a good 15 min walk from anything.

Our first attraction to see was the Lincoln memorial. Just as we got out of the car it started to rain,typically. We persevered on though just as we did in Niagara falls.

Fortunately the rain let off as we arrived at the Lincoln memorial and we marvelled at the view down towards the Washington monument and Capitol Hill.

We took some pictures and walked up the steps to have a look at the Abraham Lincoln statue inside. 

The memorial looked very different from when I was there 15 years ago. They are building a new museum next to it and a new accessible platform (which wasn't open yet). The accessible platform had been placed right in the middle of the steps that lead up to the memorial which to me looked a bit out of place.

Nevertheless the view from the top was breathtaking.

We decided to walk along the path adjacent to the memorial pool towards the Washington monument and the WW2 memorial. There was an air of peace and tranquility in the area, apart from us having to dodge the electric scooters that were flying past us. We took some more photos around the WW2 memorial before finding a couple of food vans in the park. I had steak quesadillas and an Oreo milkshake which I managed to drip onto my trousers. Once I had wiped it off i had a wet patch which made it look like I had wet myself! Luckily the wind was quite strong so it wouldn't take long to dry!

After a brief rest we made our way a few blocks down the road to find the white house. Whilst making our way there we heard a lot of police sirens and saw a motorcade of bikes, police cars and other vehicles. There was heavy police presence. We later found out that the Japanese president was meeting at the White House with Joe Biden, so i doubt they would have had time to let us in as well.

As we approached the white house, which you could get quite close to, we encountered a group of protesters who were protesting about the Philippines supposedly being controlled or sold by the US. Anyway it didn't effect us as we were able to get some amazing photos of the white house stood right on Pennsylvania avenue.

Sam was overwhelmed with what he was seeing, he couldn't believe he was here.

After we had soaked it all in we headed back towards the car as it looked like the weather was going to get us soaked again. We made our way via the white house gift shop where Jill bought some things.

It was a long walk back to the car but our step count for the day was through the roof.

When we got back to the hotel which was about a 30 min drive away I decided to repack my cases ready for the journey home tomorrow.

For our last evening in the US we headed out to an outback steakhouse as we all fancied a steak. We had a lovely meal here. I had a steak with a few shrimps and garlic butter on the side plus veg. We spent the evening reminiscing our trip and all of the memories we had made.

After this we went back to the hotel,had a drink and watched TV. 

Tomorrow is our final day as we head to the air and space museum just up the road from here before we fly home in the evening. 

Final Destination

Today (Wednesday) was our final travel day as we would head south back to Washington DC. The original plan was to stay at the same hotel we went to when we landed but Jill managed to find a much cheaper option which would be ideal for our 2 night stay.

We had breakfast in the hotel but we only just made it down in time as they started clearing everything away 30mins early. Still we managed to get what we wanted. Had my first bowl of fruit loops on this holiday!

As soon as we were ready we gathered up all of our cases and stacked them in the car. We had worked out a good system for this now.

The hotel had served us well for the 5 night we were there, the rooms were very cozy and had everything we needed. We enjoyed talking to the staff about our travels and our trip to Wrestlemania.

After checking out of the hotel we found a gas station to fill up on fuel for the next leg of our journey.

It was a 2.5 hour journey down to Washington DC. We drove down through Baltimore and were able to see the bridge that had collapsed a few weeks earlier.

We stopped at a Starbucks halfway and had a nice caramel frappachino.

The traffic getting in to Washington was very smooth and we arrived at the hotel around 3.30

We had a nice suite at the Sonesta ES suites hotel near to Dulles airport, perfect for a 2 night stay. I tried to do some washing in the guest laundry but the washing machines were always full and being used by other guests. We reckoned there were people living in these suites as some had plants outside their rooms and washing hanging up in their living areas.

After chilling out for the rest of the afternoon we decided to go to a Vietnamese restaurant which had fantastic reviews and was only 5 minutes down the road. We had a lovely meal here. Sam had a cocktail whilst Jill and I had a massive beer each much to our surprise when it arrived. For the meal we had pad Thai, spring rolls, grilled chicken skewers and much more, however it was quite light so we didn't feel bloated.

After this we returned to the hotel before planning our sightseeing day in Washington DC tomorrow

Philadelphia - freedom city

Tuesday morning we woke up to sunny skies. Temps would be in the high 70s for the first time on this trip.

For breakfast we headed to the same IHOP that we went to on Sunday which was just 10 mins down the road.

The plan then was to head into Philadelphia again and visit the famous 'Rocky' steps and have a mooch around the city however Jill wasn't feeling well today unfortunately so after breakfast we drove back to the hotel and dropped her off so she could get some rest for the day.

Sam and I carried on with our planned activities however so we headed off into the city.  Without my chief navigator I propped the phone up on the dash and embraced the challenge of reading the sat nav myself. Luckily the journey to the area was pretty straightforward but the directions to the car park were not. After driving round in a circle for a few minutes a luckily found the car park. It was very busy so we just had to jump in a space we could find. 

We got out and walked around the perimeter path of the Philadelphia art museum. Saw some sights along the way including an ice cream truck with a very annoying jingle and a woman sunbathing on a patch of grass right by a busy main road.

Anyway we found the rocky steps. Sam took another amazingly funny video as I reeannacted the scene of Sylvester Stalone running up the steps and back down again.

From there we went to the Rocky statue just along from the steps and had our photo taken with it. There was a long queue but it went down pretty quick. Still lots of Wrestlemania fans in the area.

We were trying to find a way to get to the top of the steps via an accessible path but the only way seemed to be via the art museum which was closed. So after asking for directions we followed a path around the outside of it which brought us onto a building site. We had reached the top of the steps but were soon shouted at by some builders who told us to get out of the way.

We bumped into a nice family who had the same idea,and we were telling them about our trip. One of them was from the UK and was visiting family in Philadelphia.

As our parking allowance was about to expire Sam and I walked around the park behind the rocky steps before heading back to the car. Our next stop was the JFK plaza which gave great views of the city looking down Benjamin Franklin Parkway. 

Finding somewhere to park was highly stressful as I didn't know where I was going or where I might find parking. After 30mins of driving around, taking wrong turnings and getting tooted at we eventually found an underground car park right near where we wanted to be.

Parking wasn't cheap so we didn't stay here that long. However we still got to the plaza which was a very nice area,took a few photos and admired the scenery and architecture around us.

Before heading back to the car we phones Jill to see how she was as we wanted her to join us for dinner that evening.  She was feeling a lot better now thankfully. So we decided to head back to the hotel and pick her up.

In the evening we headed back into the city to visit Mac's Tavern which is owned by Rob McElhenney and features on the Wrexham FC Disney+ documentary.

We had a lovely meal and drinks in there and had a lovely conversation with the bartender about our travels. They were so nice that they even replied to our Facebook post when we name dropped them. They said what amazing people we were and that they would pick up the tab for us on our next visit. Its just a shame that we are leaving Philly tomorrow.

To end the day we headed back to the hotel to chill out with another drink? Its our final travel day tomorrow as we head back towards Washington DC for a few days sightseeing.

Total Eclipse

 After the excitement of the previous 2 nights and not getting back until 2am we had a lie in and a leisurely morning. 

Took the time to plan our day for today as we would venture out and explore the sights of Philadelphia.

About midday we headed out towards the city centre to go and explore the famous liberty bell. 

We parked up just a few blocks away and walked to the building where it was situated. There are lots of historical buildings dotted around and intertwined with the modern ones. We came across the foundations of an old courthouse from the 1700s. 

There were lots of people gathered in the park, lots with Wrestlemania tops on, some with telescopes pointing into the sky. They were there to view the rare sighting of a total solar eclipse. There was someone handing out special glasses so we could view the eclipse without damaging our eyes. We were incredibly lucky to see this once in a lifetime event. The best place to view it ironically was Niagara Falls which is where we were a few days earlier.

 Cloud cover came over just before totality which was a bit unfortunate but still great to see what we did. 

After this we found a food court across the road where we had an authentic Philly cheesesteak which was delicious.

Later on we joined the small queue to see the liberty bell, one of Philadelphia’s most famous landmarks. It signified liberty, independence and freedom within the USA.

There was strict airport security to get in here so we all had to place our bags through the scanner.

This was a small museum providing a bit of history in the city and the significance of the bell. We all had our photo taken with the bell which is heavily guarded.

From there we were going to head to the Philadelphia visitor centre but they were just closing up, we did manage to sneak in the gift shop however!

On the way back the car just happened to veer off the road towards a wal mart where Sam and Jill stocked up on clothes and snacks.

For dinner we headed to a Red Lobster where we had a lovely meal, I had 2 styles of shrimps with fries and a Long Island iced tea!

We have another sightseeing day on Tuesday where we plan to visit the famous Rocky steps and a few other landmarks. 

Being part of history

 After a late night (or should that be early morning) when we stumbled through the hotel doors at 2am we had a much needed lie in.

After I got up I put Man Utd v Liverpool on the tv and watched a bit of the first half.

Then I had to go down to reception and enquire about room availability for tonight. We weee scheduled to be checking out of the hotel today and moving to another one down the road, the one that let us down a few days earlier. However as we liked it here we decided to stay on for the additional 3 nights we would be in Philadelphia.

So stupidly we had to check out if our rooms and check back in again, the only complication being that I would have to move rooms as mine had been allocated to another guest already, so I wouldn’t be able to check in to my new room until we come back from Wrestlemania tonight, let’s hope they haven’t forgotten!

As we missed hotel breakfast we decided to make for an IHOP just down the road. With it being a Sunday it was very busy so we had to wait to get a table. 

I had a lovely omelette with some coffee, Sam had pancakes and Jill had eggs, bacon and sausage. Perfect to set us up for the day.

Afterwards we made our way back over to Lincoln financial field. Traffic was already bustling and there were fans everywhere. We parked up on the same place as  yesterday. Great access to the stadium.

There was a great sense of buzz and excitement around the stadium and after waiting a bit they let us in. We headed straight to the elevator which would start taking us up when the concourses opened at 4:45.

Fans flooded in once again like yesterday and once we reached the 2nd floor we headed to guest services where we got our tickets exchanged again. We were in the same section as last night which would give a great view overall.

The event itself was breathtaking from start onto finish. Great matches, drama, spectacular entrances and even some surprise visits from wwe legends as well.

The main event ended brilliantly with the Rock and the Undertaker facing off in the ring. The match was won by Cody Rhodes who ended Roman Reigns title run of over 4 years

Sam was beside himself with joy. 

We later found out this was the highest grossing wrestiemanja, 15 previous shows had sold out as well. The Rock coming back probably helped as well.

Once back to the car we must have been sat for 1 hr to get out .eventually got to the hotel and just crashed about in our rooms at about 2am.

Tomorrow we explore the wonders of Philadelphia 

Wrestlemania night 1

 So the day has come, this is what we were in Philadelphia for. I used to follow WWE years ago and was mad on it for about 3 years, never did I think I’d ever be at the grandest event of their year but here we are. I had to do a bit of research before the trip to follow the storylines so I had some context as to what was happening.

Sam has been massively looking forward to this all trip.

It was another freezing cold day in Philly and we headed for breakfast, which wasn’t great really. Rubber scrambled egg and plastic sausages so we might skip that tomorrow. 

After breakfast we chilled out for a bit and watched some football on tv before heading to the Lincoln financial field  early in the afternoon which was where Wrestlemania was taking place. The atmosphere was already building at 2.30pm. We found a car park right by the stadium entrance, albeit at a cost. 

Despite the gates not opening until 3.45 there were people already queuing. The lines were easily 100 people deep. We got in the accessibility queue which was a lot shorter. Sure enough at 3.45 the gates opened and sea of people flooded into the grounds.

 The queue for merchandise was already long, we wanted to get programmes and some other bits. The queue moved fairly quickly and we were able to get what we wanted. We then had to fight our way through the crowds to find the elevators which would take us up to guest services where we would need to exchange our tickets for ones in the accessible seating section. 

However the main gates to the concourses didn’t open until 4.45 so it was a bit of a wait. The crowds were building and so was the atmosphere. A bit later than scheduled the gates opened and fans flooded onto the concourse. We got in the elevator and made a beeline for guest services. There was already a queue there, we were about 10th in line but there was only 1 person on duty. One fan was kicking off because he had been placed in a section where his view was completely obstructed by a tarpaulin. No such issues for us however as we were placed in the club suites section and had a very good overall view of everything.

The event started at 7pm and was brilliantly done, everything ran like clockwork and the matches were of the highest quality. The superstars entrances were very impressive. We got to see The Rock in the main event which was pretty cool. He won his tag team match which sets things up nicely for night 2.

Sam was beside himself with excitement, amazement and adrenaline.

It finished about 11:15. Traffic getting out was quite disorganised and I don’t think we moved very far in 1hr.

Once we got going on the open roads however it was a smooth drive back, Sam completely crashed out on the way back. We got back to the hotel about 1:30am and headed straight for bed. I watched a bit of the F1 which was starting and eventually got to sleep at around 2am.

A great day all round and we get to do it all again on Sunday!

Road to Wrestlemania

 Friday would be the start of Wrestlemania weekend as we would wake up to snow in Scranton this morning. The temperature was a roasting 45 degrees outside. 

After breakfast we checked out of our hotel and headed east for a 2.5 hour drive to Philadelphia.

It was a smooth ride down as the temps climbed once we were at a lower altitude. We stopped off half way to fill up on gas and so Jill could get a coffee. I then took over the driving, a nice straight road for an hour to get used to the car and general driving on the wrong side of the road. 

It got a bit busier as we entered Philadelphia. We were headed to the Pennsylvania conference Center for WWE world, a pop up exhibition to ramp up the hype for Wrestlemania. Getting parked was tricky as there were fans everywhere and hardly any spaces available. We eventually parked up in Chinatown, just a short walk away. Once we were in the exhibition there didn’t seem a whole lot of exhibits but there was a nice display of old title belts, a display of old costumes and lots of places to get photo opportunities. There was even a popup tattoo shop! 

One of the coolest interactive pieces was the opportunity for fans to create their own entrance where you could perform a walk out to one of your favourite superstars entrance music.  Sam was up for this, there was quite a queue but we had time. Sam convinced me to do the entrance with him so we walked out to Roman Reigns entrance!

Next was the superstore to get some merchandise. The queue to get in to this was absolutely insane. Easily 200 people waiting in line. However, Jill managed to pull a few strings for us and we were allowed to skip the queue!

The store looked like chaos, hangers, clothes and people everywhere. Very disorganised. I managed to grab a T-shirt and a cap, Sam and Jill got a few things and we got out of there. 

Then we stopped a Trader Joes supermarket to get some fruit and other supplies before heading back to the car to go and find our hotel.

Hotel was only about 20 mins away so not far, Jill went and checked in and was there for a long time. She came out fuming because they had given her and Sam an upstairs room and they had no elevator! This obviously was no good so we couldn’t have the room and they had no other availability. So then we were faced with having to find a hotel on Wrestlemania weekend that had vacancies! After looking on booking.com Jill found another place not far away and luckily they had 2 rooms free for the weekend, a little more expensive but we couldn’t be choosy. 

The hotel was really nice. Once checked in we headed over the road to a nice restaurant for a meal and a well earned drink! 

Now we’re ready for wrestlemania night 1 on Saturday!

Chasing Waterfalls

 Thursday morning in Buffalo looked a lot brighter weather wise than yesterday, the sun was even trying to peak through the clouds. 

Today would be a busy one as we had booked the maids of the mist boat trip in Niagara Falls but we were also driving 4.5hrs east across to Scranton in Pennsylvania. We were using it as a stop off on route to Philadelphia. 

So after an earlier breakfast we checked out of our hotel in Buffalo which again had served us very well.

It only took one trip in the elevator with all our cases and the car was waiting for us by the entrance.

We bundled all the cases into the car and set off. As we drove away from the hotel a member of staff came running after us waving their arms. They stopped us to tell us the boot was still wide open. Good job they saw it otherwise my cases might have ended up on the interstate!

After no more dramas we arrived in Niagara falls again. It was a little busier than yesterday, due to the weather and the fact that it was the first official day all the attractions opened. We had done the viewing points yesterday so headed straight for our boat trip.

To get there we had to go on the observation platform which gave us even more breathtaking views of Niagara Falls. We stood and just soaked it all in again before heading to our boat tour. The staff were great with getting Sam on the boat. 

This was a 20 min boat ride that took us straight into the horseshoe falls. The views were breathtaking and so were the gushing sounds from the falls. You could see nothing once right in the falls because you were engulfed by mist and spray. Our ponchos kept us from getting wet through.

An amazing experience we’re so glad we went back for!

Now we were off to Scranton as we drove through more towns and more mountainous scenery. We stopped off for a KFC halfway. The weather was absolutely freezing, 45 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s now I regret not packing a woolly hat!

We got to the comfort suites in Scranton in the montage mountains about 7pm, checked in and just chilled out for the evening. Did some planning for Friday as we will be off to Philadelphia for WWE Wrestlemania weekend which is sure to be a great experience.

 

Soaking it all in

After travelling in the car for 5 hours to get to Buffalo yesterday today would be the day that we would get to marvel at the wonders of Niagara Falls.

I had previously visited back in 2009 but for Sam and Jill it would be a brand new experience.

The day started off once again with a complimentary breakfast to fill us up for the day.The weather outside was horrible,it was pouring with rain and freezing cold, only 48 degrees fahrenheit. I am so glad I packed a lot of short sleeves clothes for this trip!

We would not let the weather dampen our spirits however. The hotel has valet parking so a member of staff would fetch the car whenever we needed it.

The drive to Niagara Falls State Park was very picturesque as we could see Canada from our of the left window and the Niagara river.

As we got nearer to the falls you could see the river turning into rapids  and the cloud of mist from the falls in the distance.

We parked up, got our waterproofs on and braved the elements.

It was not very busy because the weather was so bad but also because a couple of the attractions don't open until tomorrow, so we will have to come back then to do the maids in the mist boat trip. More on that later.

So we ventured to the first stop on the trail, the american falls. Absolutely breathtaking views as water cascaded over a massid sheer drop. We stood there in awe of what we were seeing, it was a moment to savour.

We carried on through the trail getting wetter and wetter. My poncho was sticking to my jacked, which was sticking to my jumper. My Jeans were weighing me down as they were soaked through, my shoes were soaked, my socks were squelching and the less said about my underwear the better. For a brief respite we decided to do the caves of the wind experience, which brought us inside where we would view some exhibits and learn aboutthe history of Niagara falls. 

After this we followed the trail which led us to the bottom of the falls alongside the american falls. Again, another breathtaking views.

The most famous part of the falls however is called 'Horseshoe Falls' and we were determined to see this as it gave the best view of the falls from the usa side from a viewing platform. I remembered standing in the same spot 15 years ago, but it was a lot busier then. We were all just in awe of what we were seeing, it truly was amazing even in such poor weather.

Afterwards we just had to take cover and the gift shop just happened to be the nearest place at the top of the hill.

By the time we had seen everything we decided to head across the road to the hard rock cafe and get something to eat. We each enjoyed a lovely meal and I had a long island iced tea which came with its own glass with Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe on it.

We then headed back to the hotel where a much needed change of clothes was in order.I also took the opportunity to put some washing on.

The day ended with a nice drink in the bar. Jill got chatting to a couple in the bar who were touring the US in an RV. They were amazed at the trips we had done\were doing?

Tomorrow we head back to Niagara Falls to experience the boat trip that takes you right into the horseshoe falls. It'll be well worth getting soaked again.

On the road again

We woke up in Bedford on Tuesday morning to torrential rain, the worst we had seen on this trip so far. It was cold as well.

Today would be another travel day but we would end up in Buffalo,NY about 20mins drive from Niagara falls.

Sam and I had breakfast whilst Jill brought all the cases down from the rooms.

 Once we had checked out we loaded the cases in the boot and around Sam before heading on our 4.5hr journey north west.

The road conditions were horrendous, the rain drops were huge and there was lots of standing water everywhere. We were even hearing local weather warning reports for flash flooding coming through the car radio which sounded very dramatic.

Fortunately later on the rain abated and we could see the scenery again. We drove through some glorious scenery again and passed through some interesting towns. All of which had a theme, the all consisted of an industrial estate, a cluster of wooden houses and a graveyard.

About halfway we stopped at a convenience store where I got a wrap and some potato chips for lunch,as well as a coffee. It gave us the opportunity for a much needed rest.

The remainder of the journey was pretty smooth and we arrived in Buffalo about 4.30. We found the hotel despite me navigating us to the wrong one initially,luckily ge correct one was just around the corner. The embassy suites was a very nice hotel,with a cozy room, an onsite restaurant and a free guest laundry that i will be taking advantage of whilst I'm here.

We arrived just in time for the complimentary drinks reception at 5pm which allowed us 2 free drinks each!

After this we headed to the nice on site Italian restaurant where I had a lovely pepperoni pizza.

 We chilled out in our rooms for the remainder of the evening as we were all in need of a wind down after a long day travelling and hustling the cases in and out of hotels.

We need all our energy for tomorrow though as we will be exploring the wonders of Niagara falls.

Road trip

So after an amazing day on Sunday we had a bit of a lie in before checking out of our hotel in Richmond. It was a nice room and the hotel staff again were very nice.

We sorted all the cases and loaded them in the car before heading to a nearby IHOP where we had a delicious breakfast. I had bacon, egg, sausage, hash browns and toast.

We needed a good breakfast as we had a long journey today. It would be a 4 hour drive to a place called Bedford in Pennsylvania. We were merely using this as a stop off on our way to Buffalo,New York.

We drove through some amazing countryside onto some rural roads. We were in the true American heartland. Wooden houses with pickup trucks and white picket fences. It was very idillic, especially as we had Brooks and Dunn blasting from the radio,made it even more authentic.We fueled up the car for the first time half way into the journey which was good going considering we had done a good few miles so far.

We only stopped once more for a coffee,we arrived at Bedford at around 5pm.

Once all the luggage had been taken up to the rooms we headed to a steakhouse which was conveniently only a 2 minute drive up the road. I had a lovely crispy chicken and fries with a free salad bar, harvester style. No alcohol was available sadly so I had to settle for a coke.

We got back just in time so Sam and I could watch WWE Monday night raw in preparation for Wrestlemania this weekend.

Tuesday is another travel day as we move on to Buffalo,NY just a few miles down the road from Niagara falls. Travel distance will be the same as Monday but it will be well worth it if the scenery is anything like it was then.

Raceday in Richmond

Sunday we woke up to sunny skies in Washington on Sunday morning but the forecast for the rest of the day in Richmond was very unpredictable.

The day began in the best way with another tasty breakfast in the hotel. I got my fix of egg, bacon,sausage and hash browns with a much needed 

coffee.

After breakfast we had to check out of our hotel which had been really nice, the rooms were very nice and the service was fantastic. We really enjoyed the restaurant and especially the bar which was conveniently open each night we fancied a drink. I am glad we are here again at the end of the trip.

It took us a few trips to bring all 400 cases of luggage down from the 10th floor. Lots of others were checking out as well which meant space in the lift was at a premium.

I grabbed the last of the cases as Jill fetched the car. Then we were off south to Richmond.

We had a smooth ride down there which took about just under 2 hours. With me navigating and Jill driving proving to be an effective combination we found the best western glen Allen inn with ease.

As we were unloading out cases the heavens opened so we had to rush them in quick.

Once everything was sorted in the rooms we ventured out towards the race track but as time was in our side we headed into a nearby Wal-Mart to stock up on supplies such as bottled water and snacks. As we were in there it would have been rude not to have had a proper look round as Sam had never been in a Wal-Mart before. Somehow whilst going round there a pair of Wranglers and a new shirt just happened to fall into the trolley, along with some flamin hot Cheetos and mtn dew!

Once we could tear ourselves away we decided to head down to Richmond for the race. We were really lucky to park up right outside turn 1 which meant a short walk to the gates. As we got there about 4pm the heavens opened again and it remained shower up until about 7pm

After grabbing  philly cheese steak and fries we headed to the merchandise stands where I got to stock up on NASCAR merch with a couple of new caps, 2 t shirts,a hoodie and a set of socks. Sam and JIll each bought a T shirt.

As time was moving by quickly we headed to the fan zone in the infield. This gave us great access to view all the cars in their garages, Sam and Jill were amazed by everything and how close you could get? The best was yet to come however as we got to meet a number of drivers after they had left their drivers briefing? Jill was yelling at some of them telling them all we had come from the UK to watch them race. Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott were just a few. Blaney and Wallace were so nice to Sam as well.

We were over th moon and buzzing after this, the rain was still coming down but we didn't care.

We headed to our seats high up in turns 1&2 with a great view of the track, beers in our hands. The rain finally stopped about it 7pm and We were very surprised to hear that NASCAR were going to start the race on a damp track in wet tyres. The first time that had ever happened in the sport.

Sure enough the engines fired at 7:30 and after a few laps under the safety car the race was underway! It was a great race that had everything from strategy, close battles and late race drama. Denny Hamlin took the win after a late race restart.

Once my rented scanner was returned we headed home exhausted but thrilled at what a great day we had.

Capital congestion and a moment of reflection

Saturday started with a bright and sunny morning as we kicked things off with a delicious breakfast from the hotel, had to go for the scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns, would have been criminal not to.

We were all refreshed after our travel day yesterday and ready to go out and explore. 

The plan for today was to explore the area near tidal basin which is where you’ll find the Washington monument, Lincoln memorial, capitol building and White House.

We took some very picturesque route down there with nice houses one side and a lake on the other.

The countryside gave way to the hustle and bustle of the area, the cherry blossoms were out in full bloom and with it being the last chance to see them, the area was packed with tourists. Plus there was a kite flying festival on which made things even busier. 

This made parking nigh on impossible in the area so we decided to switch tactics and head across the bridge to visit Arlington cemetery, I had previously visited but for Sam and Jill it was their first visit here. It was very peaceful and respectful walking round there, we walked right up to the top where we had a view over the whole of Washington DC. 

Whilst walking back down we were lucky enough to experience a wreath laying ceremony for the unknown soldiers killed in all wars. This was done with a full military honours and was very well drilled. 

Once back to the car we realised we were now getting used to the operations of the accessible vehicle and how each door opens, we were still struggling with getting the phone to pair up with the in car dash however so we could use the map directions. So we ventured in to a shopping mall right near the pentagon to get a US SIM card so we could use unlimited mobile data.

We had a great view of  the pentagon en route.

Once we parked up we decided to grab something to eat, which we did in a nice little sports bar right by the shopping mall. Jill asked one of the waiters to see if they could find the Man Utd v Brentford game on TV for me but they couldn’t so I was spared the agony. 

So in the mall we managed to grab a SIM card then Jill couldn’t resist a brief shopping trip before we headed back to the hotel.

The journey got off to an interesting start as it was now dark and our rear lights weren’t on, as we were told by a passing by motorist. We then figured there was a separate switch for the rear lights!

After getting back to the hotel we decided to de-stress by having a cocktail in the hotel bar before heading to bed. 

Sunday we move south to Richmond, which is about a 2hr drive, where we’ll be attending the NASCAR Cup series race, let’s hope the weather is kind to us. It is Sam and Jill’s first nascar race so let’s hope it’s a good one 

 

Welcome to DC

 After a nice chilled out day on Thursday, the day we had been waiting for had finally arrived!

Got up at 8am and went through the whole ritual of making sure everything was packed in the cases, then checking it all again!

Started the day with a lovely breakfast which included a traditional full English, I was good though and had fruit as well.

That set us up nicely, the next thing to do was to check out of the Sofitel which was amazing it has to be said, the service was second to none. There was a very generous free mini bar in the room as well!

So from there we had 2 trips with the cases from the rooms down to the lobby where we were just a short walk through a corridor into terminal 5.

The staff were amazing at the BA check in desk with all our luggage and Sam’s things.

We were then fast tracked through security, this time I got through the scanner without needing to be frisked and it was all straightforward. 

After a quick stop in WHsmith to buy some essentials it was straight to our gate via a subway train where we pretty much boarded straight away. I think it’s the quickest I’ve ever been through an airport.

We were first on the plane as Sam was helped into his seat  and we got everything else sorted.

The premium economy seats were fantastic, more space and legroom, a welcome drink….and proper cutlery to eat dinner with! The flight itself was 7hrs 45mins but with the choice of tv shows and films to watch that just seemed to fly by (if you excuse the pun) pretty quickly. 

The food was good as well, had chicken breast with carrots and mash as well as a chocolate mousse dessert which had a mini egg on top! Shortly before landing we had a chicken and veg pastry. Hardly any turbulence all flight either so it was all very smooth.

We were last off the plane so that Sam could get off more easily. The staff were great with him and we were chatting with them about our plans for the trip. One of them was very envious that we are going to Wrestlemania.

US customs was easy as we were again fast tracked through. I managed to get through without any issues this time and no further questioning much to my relief!

We then had to board a shuttle bus to get us to the main terminal. This resembled something out of thunderbirds and was a big coach sat about 20 feet off the ground on tractor tyres, which enabled it to dock with the terminal building. This was called a mobile lounge, or so we were told by the captain of our aircraft who was also on this vehicle along with the rest of the cabin crew.

As soon as we got the bags it was a short walk to the rental car which is amazing, feels more like a spaceship. Once Jill and I had played Tetris trying to get all the suitcases in the car around Sam we were ready to go and find our hotel, the Embassy suites about 20mins from the airport and city centre. Jill drove and I navigated as Sam sat in the back and was mesmerised by everything, even a set of roadworks!

Found the hotel with ease and checked in, before heading down to the restaurant for a quick snack (shrimp with nachos and sauce) as well as a refreshing cocktail.

After that we were all very shattered as it had been a long day but were now ready to kick things off and hit the capital!

Here we go!

 So then, let the adventure begin!

It’s just over 7 years since I was over in the states and in some ways it feels like yesterday.

This trip has been a long time in the making and now it’s here.

Just over 2 weeks of travelling around the east coast of the USA. This trip will see us fly out to Washington DC before travelling down to Richmond VA for a NASCAR race. We then take in the amazing sights of Niagara Falls in Buffalo NY before travelling over to Philadelphia for 2 days of Wrestlemania. The trip ends with 2 more days of sightseeing in the capital, who knows, we may even drop in on the president!

The holiday started at 10am when Sam and and Jill picked me up before we made our way to the Sofitel hotel in Heathrow airport. We fly out on Good Friday but decided to stay here the night before to cut out all the stress of an early morning airport run.

We dropped our 400 cases off with the hotel staff who sent them to our rooms whilst we headed for a lovely afternoon tea. 

Later on Sam and I decided to have a tour of the hotel, which is very nice before heading down the walkway and into the airport terminal, to suss out our route for Friday. We stopped for a cheeky beer at the bar before heading back.

In the evening we had a lovely cocktail in the hotel bar before heading to a nice French restaurant for dinner. The food was lovely and it was a really nice way to round off day 1. 

Next stop, Washington DC. See you there!