Canadian Buffoon's Hi Low Vacation - South Central Musings

[Kiotzu]

I posted this earlier:

I am going to try this everywhere!

 

[pkondz]

I am going to try this everywhere!

I might not try it at the Super 8 motel or something...
but I've had a lot of success with it.

 

[Kiotzu]

I might not try it at the Super 8 motel or something...
but I've had a lot of success with it.

Do you think it is worth a shot at the hotels around DLR.

 

[pkondz]

Do you think it is worth a shot at the hotels around DLR.

Hmmmm.... Never tried it at a DLR hotel.
If it's not a Disney hotel I would.

 

[Kiotzu]

Hmmmm.... Never tried it at a DLR hotel. If it's not a Disney hotel I would.

I'm going to see if I can't get it to work at DLH when we are there in November. We are going to know our dates on the first week of September.

 

[franandaj]

I needed a windshield.

I can understand that.

And if I was going to restrict myself
to an hour and a half driving per day...

Well, I wouldn't be getting too far,
now would I?

You'd barely get out of Canada, and then it would take you weeks to get to California, and over a month to get up PCH!

The route I took is plotted
out on the map below.

Looks reasonable.

Usually, you want to have a big
sign on you when you're riding a bike.
"LOOK HERE! BIKE! SEE ME???"

Fran said that she always thought of herself having a target on her back when she rode her bike.

"Thick" doesn't begin to describe it.
If you've ever had a Frosty
at Wendy's, you'll understand.

I was going to say they always give you a spoon when you order a Frosty there.

They gave me a straw...
but I used it mostly like a spoon.

See what I mean!

Nice little town!
I liked it.

Looks quaint enough.

They didn't have the bulb
I needed to replace my burned out one.
But they did have a substitute
that would at least keep me safe
until I could get back home.

Well, at least you had that going for you.

The prairie where I grew up
and currently live,
was once part of a vast inland sea.
Which can be seen on this overlay
of North America.

This is the first time that I've read your update from my computer and I couldn't make out what that picture was. That's pretty cool! I'm in the middle of the ocean!

This is Bruce.

G'day, Bruce!
Oh, Hello Bruce!
How are you Bruce?

A slightly smaller one (30 feet)
is located right alongside.

They're kind of freaky looking in a cool sort of way.

Plum Coulee
(I just like saying that)
was another
"blink-and-you-miss-it" town.
I didn't stop.

It sounded like some kind of dessert to me, but I guess it's not. I tried to google it and all that came up was the town.

I passed a windmill farm,
and wanted to take some photos,
but couldn't stop.
Well, I could....
But I didn't feel like
having to re-pass
all the traffic that I'd just
put behind me.

Oh come on, people love when you do that! I'm sure that they would have all waved at you as you passed them a second time. "thumbsup2 <---- Not a thumb.

Note to self.
On your big trip...

Bring a spare.

Maybe you might want two.

So.... just out of curiosity.
How long did you spend watching that?

Well I couldn't see it on my phone, so when it actually came up on the computer I was mystified why you posted it and watched it about 7-8 cycles through before hitting "Insert Quotes".

 

[CyndiLouWho]

↑
I've always wanted to try Mon Ami Gaby. Almost went to the one in Bethesda, MD but the wait was 45 minutes.

I had no idea there was more than just the one!

http://monamigabi.com/
If I had known you were interested, we could have met there. One 5 minutes from my house, though I haven't been in a few years. Part of Lettuce Entertain You, a unique large restaurant group started in Chicago

 

[pkondz]

I'm going to see if I can't get it to work at DLH when we are there in November. We are going to know our dates on the first week of September.

Not sure... but maybe @franandaj can tell us
if DLH staff are allowed to take tips?

Worth a shot if they do.

 

[pkondz]

I can understand that.

Bugs + speed = blech.

You'd barely get out of Canada, and then it would take you weeks to get to California, and over a month to get up PCH!

I know!
That just wasn't going to work.

Looks reasonable.

I did this a couple days ago:
Tour map

Fran said that she always thought of herself having a target on her back when she rode her bike.

Not a bad thought actually.
Heck, I've seen Easy Rider.

I was going to say they always give you a spoon when you order a Frosty there.

See what I mean!

I did!

Looks quaint enough.

I liked it. Nice little place.

This is the first time that I've read your update from my computer and I couldn't make out what that picture was. That's pretty cool! I'm in the middle of the ocean!

Couldn't make it out?

G'day, Bruce!
Oh, Hello Bruce!
How are you Bruce?

They're kind of freaky looking in a cool sort of way.

They are. I wasn't really expecting two of them.
I knew about the one since it's advertised...

It sounded like some kind of dessert to me, but I guess it's not. I tried to google it and all that came up was the town.

Apparently, a coulee is a ravine.
I did come across a very small river
(more of a creek)
that was called the little coulee river.
No idea about the "plum" part.
Plum trees do grow here, so... maybe...

Oh come on, people love when you do that! I'm sure that they would have all waved at you as you passed them a second time. "thumbsup2 <---- Not a thumb.

So friendly!

Maybe you might want two.

I've only got so many pockets!

Well I couldn't see it on my phone, so when it actually came up on the computer I was mystified why you posted it and watched it about 7-8 cycles through before hitting "Insert Quotes".

I posted it because when I saw it, I laughed.
That was good enough for me.

 

[pkondz]

If I had known you were interested, we could have met there. One 5 minutes from my house, though I haven't been in a few years. Part of Lettuce Entertain You, a unique large restaurant group started in Chicago

Huh! Well I'll be.
But didn't you say that you had...
I think it was an eight year old with you
and couldn't make it?

 

[franandaj]

Do you think it is worth a shot at the hotels around DLR.

Not sure... but maybe @franandaj can tell us
if DLH staff are allowed to take tips?

Worth a shot if they do.

I saw this yesterday, and thought about commenting, so now that you have called me out I guess I have to! I do not have much experience staying on cash at the DLR. Mostly in the Villas on points, however, I doubt that this method would be effective on Disney property. CMs are so eager to please and sprinkle your day with pixie dust, that they would do it for the asking and not because you're passing them a twenty. Besides Disney is very strict about which CMs are in "tipping positions". I doubt that someone in a non tipping position would risk their job for twenty bucks.

With the surrounding hotels, you could probably do it, but I'm not sure any of those really have any "better" rooms. Sure there might be a room or two with a jacuzzi at some hotels, and some have kitchenettes or an alcove that seems like an "extra" room, but most of the hotels on Harbor and Katella are just Best Westerns, Howard Johnsons, Hilton or Marriott chains. I would save the $20 for a Chicken Dinner at the Plaza Inn!

Bugs + speed = blech.

Ewwwww! That never even occurred to me. I was just thinking the wind would be bad. I forget how bad the winshield gets when you drive through farm country.

I did this a couple days ago:
Tour map

Looks reasonable.

Not a bad thought actually.
Heck, I've seen Easy Rider.

I may have seen it too, back in 1983 or 84. At least I know I saw some motorcycle movie.

Couldn't make it out?

I mispoke there. When viewing from my phone I couldn't make it out. Finally when I sawas it from my computer I could make it out clearly.

I've only got so many pockets!

Wow t you have some kind of suitcase to carry fresh underwear?

 

[pkondz]

I saw this yesterday, and thought about commenting, so now that you have called me out I guess I have to! I do not have much experience staying on cash at the DLR. Mostly in the Villas on points, however, I doubt that this method would be effective on Disney property. CMs are so eager to please and sprinkle your day with pixie dust, that they would do it for the asking and not because you're passing them a twenty. Besides Disney is very strict about which CMs are in "tipping positions". I doubt that someone in a non tipping position would risk their job for twenty bucks.

With the surrounding hotels, you could probably do it, but I'm not sure any of those really have any "better" rooms. Sure there might be a room or two with a jacuzzi at some hotels, and some have kitchenettes or an alcove that seems like an "extra" room, but most of the hotels on Harbor and Katella are just Best Westerns, Howard Johnsons, Hilton or Marriott chains. I would save the $20 for a Chicken Dinner at the Plaza Inn!

And there you have it.
Thanks, Alison!

Ewwwww! That never even occurred to me. I was just thinking the wind would be bad. I forget how bad the winshield gets when you drive through farm country.

Yup.
But really... its' for the wind.


But after seeing how gross it was....

Yeah... bugs too.

Looks reasonable.

It was.... provided I took breaks. Which I did.

I may have seen it too, back in 1983 or 84. At least I know I saw some motorcycle movie.

Spoiler

At the end, the two protagonists are deliberately run off the road and (presumably) killed.

I mispoke there. When viewing from my phone I couldn't make it out. Finally when I sawas it from my computer I could make it out clearly.

Ah, okay.
I was wondering if I'd screwed it up.

Wow t you have some kind of suitcase to carry fresh underwear?

Not yet.
But I plan on getting something for the bike later.
Just haven't decided on what yet.

Still....
These two trips are starting to show me something...

I may have to limit myself to either shipping the bike ahead...
or taking shorter (maybe a week, tops?) trips.
I was pretty tired after that one day.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Huh! Well I'll be.
But didn't you say that you had...
I think it was an eight year old with you
and couldn't make it?

That's true but that was assuming an hour drive. But hey, I'm sure we'll meet up some time.

 

[Kiotzu]

I saw this yesterday, and thought about commenting, so now that you have called me out I guess I have to! I do not have much experience staying on cash at the DLR. Mostly in the Villas on points, however, I doubt that this method would be effective on Disney property. CMs are so eager to please and sprinkle your day with pixie dust, that they would do it for the asking and not because you're passing them a twenty. Besides Disney is very strict about which CMs are in "tipping positions". I doubt that someone in a non tipping position would risk their job for twenty bucks.

With the surrounding hotels, you could probably do it, but I'm not sure any of those really have any "better" rooms. Sure there might be a room or two with a jacuzzi at some hotels, and some have kitchenettes or an alcove that seems like an "extra" room, but most of the hotels on Harbor and Katella are just Best Westerns, Howard Johnsons, Hilton or Marriott chains. I would save the $20 for a Chicken Dinner at the Plaza Inn!

And there you have it.
Thanks, Alison!

HOORAY I HAVE AN ANSWER!

 

[pkondz]

That's true but that was assuming an hour drive. But hey, I'm sure we'll meet up some time.

Is that what kept you from meeting?

Oh, geez. Um.... Did I happen to mention that I drove...
1,000 miles out of my way for a DISmeet
on that trip?

Pretty sure I could've done an hour!

Next time!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I first ran into Darcy online
on the DIS Caption Contest thread
which I eventually took over
and ran for a couple of years.
So he is quite possibly
my longest running DIS friend.

And a fellow DIS Dad! Glad you guys could meet up!

(I can be very charming when I put
my mind to it you know.)

How come you never put your mind to it?

Moments later, we were at VJ's.
Just a little shack with an extremely
limited menu.
Here it is, in its entirety.
Burger.
Hot dog.
Fries.
Milk shake.
Pop.

That's it.

My kinda place.

Reasonably sure that I just went down
and grabbed some yogurt or a muffin
or something equally dull for breakfast.

Riveting.

Hmmm... how about this.
There was a large poisonous snake
slithering through the lobby.
People were screaming
and running in panic.
I calmly walked up to the snake
and began to rhythmically move my hands,
effectively hypnotizing it.
Once the snake was swaying in synch
to my hand gestures,
I quickly grabbed it just behind the head,
avoiding the sharp fangs.
Moments later I had fileted the animal
and was serving up fricasseed snake
to the now cheering guests.


Sure. Let's go with that.


I love this "no notes" thing!

Yes! So much better, isn't it! Welcome to the Dark Side.

We were going to go to the Bellagio
and pay a visit to Jean Philippe Patisserie
We had both been there before...
on separate trips.
And we both really enjoyed it.
They have amazing sandwiches and wraps
and of course... chocolate!

Sounds good to me.

Want to see some photos?
Me too!


I didn't take any.

That's roughly when we discovered
that it was closed for renovations.



Well.... poop.

Hmm. Usually you poop after you eat at the restaurant.

So... guess where we ate lunch! Guess!!!

No. Really. Guess.
I sure don't have a clue.
So your guess is as good as mine.

I do know we ate somewhere outside.
On the strip. Somewhere.

Probably Taco Bell, if you wanted to poop.

Yes. You read that right.
If you weigh 350 pounds or more...
You eat free.

I don't think I could get myself there if I weighed 350 lbs.

And it's lit.
With over five hundred lights!

No. Wait!
It's five hundred thousand LED lights!

Impressed?

Well, actually, that number isn't right either.

The canopy has more than twelve million
multi-coloured LED lights.

Wow! That's way more impressive than 25,000 imported Italian twinkle-lights!

And every hour on the hour,
from six pm to one am,
all the casino lights are
temporarily extinguished,
and then relit with a show
on the underside of the canopy.

Cool!

Sights that I'm pretty sure
would make some people blush.

Fremont Street is not for the meek.

I took this photo.
It seemed to encapsulate
what Vegas is all about.

Yep, that seems to cover it.

I felt kinda guilty.
You can see it written all over my face, right?

Right?


Hello?

Well....I was thinking you looked more like, "I'm not supposed to be enjoying this, so I can't let it show!"

She was a good sport.
Just shook her head sadly and said:
"Go ahead. Do what you have to do."

Ruby has much more patience than my wife.

Sorry ladies.
Two spins (one each) and zero wins.

You each owe me a dollar.

... we jumped at the idea.
And then we saw the prices.

A bowl of soup alone is $17.

Does it come with a TV in it?

My meal came with "mushy peas".
I don't care for peas very much.
If they're fresh out of the garden, yes.
(Like what my grandmother used
to give me when I'd visit. )

Otherwise.... no. Not usually.
My mom would open up a can,
toss it in a pot and boil the snot
out of it, until it looked and tasted
like... well..... snot.

I took a forkful and put it in my mouth.

You can guess what happened next.

Except you'd be wrong.

Wow.

This stuff was amazing.

I know! Peas! Who'd've guessed!
But it was actually really tasty!

Upset of the year! Are you sure it wasn't escargot?

I mean, really.
What's more important?
Their future?
Or me having mindless fun
for an hour or two?

Exactly.
So I went gambling.

Attaboy. Short-term, selfish gain always wins out.

Pro tip. When in a crowded casino,
always sit in an empty chair.
If you sit in one that's already occupied,
you will either get a very angry reaction
or a romantic proposal.
But it's a toss up on which one you're gonna get.

I soon found a seat at a table and sat down.
The woman whose lap I sat in wasn't pleased.
She gave me an earful.
So... lucky at cards, unlucky at love I guess.

I wouldn't have expected that from Ruby. Maybe she wasn't happy about the photo.

It took about 30 minutes to play those hands.
And I didn't lose a single hand.

Not one.


I didn't win them all;
a few I pushed.

But I left the table $100 richer
than when I sat down.

Still.... I've never had a streak like that.
But, I keep hearing that a good player
knows when to walk away.

But... I'll always wonder...

I've also heard that the house always wins. So you did the right thing.

We returned the car,
took the shuttle to the airport,
and without anything note-worthy occurring,
(Which is author-speak for I don't remember)
flew back home.

Where it was frickin' cold!
And I had to shovel!

NOOOOO!!!! That's just wrong.

Thank you. From the bottom of my fart.



Heart! Heart!
I meant heart!

Oh.... poop.

Taco Bell again?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Step one was... getting a bike.
Except I didn't want a touring bike.
You know...
One suited for long bike trips?

Well, we certainly wouldn't want to introduce common sense at this stage.

I needed a windshield.


I like my bike without, though.
But... hanging on with a 65mph
wind hitting you gets tiring fairly quickly.
I didn't have a problem with the
trip there and back...
but there's no way I'd try that
for longer distances.

Crap. Now that does make sense.

Care to come along
on a quick trip around
South Central Manitoba?

Well, I'm in the middle of Delaware, so...sure!

Now most people who "know" Manitoba
think of it as relatively flat farmland.
And, well...

You stole that photo from North Dakota, didn't you?

But, unfortunately for you,
that's the part I drove through!

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! Actually, we didn't stop for t-shirts.

My first (non emergency)
stop was the tiny
(and I mean tiny!)
town of Brunkild.
I like that the sign says
"Still Growing Strong"

To me it sounds like
"Not Quite Dead Yet!"

I'm getting better!

I feel happy...

"Thick" doesn't begin to describe it.
If you've ever had a Frosty
at Wendy's, you'll understand.

They gave me a straw...
but I used it mostly like a spoon.

Nice. I like my milkshakes basically turned back into ice cream.

The statue above, is a replica of "Bruce".
The largest mosasaur on public display in the world.
It was discovered a short (10 minutes) distance away.

Cool! Hopefully it was found by a kid looking for his lost baseball or something.

And... even though the population
of Morden is about a tenth that
of Winnipeg,
(8,000 vs 700,000)
It's Harley dealership is much nicer.

I like the western theme. It's fun.

Actually, the Museum is located
in the basement of the Community Centre.

The museum is holding a 50/50 raffle this week and Bingo Night is on Tuesdays.

I'm gonna go out on a limb
and say he looks a little on the
thin side.
Then again, he is 80 million years old.

Better go get him one of those milkshakes.

Roughly 70 percent of the 43 feet of bones
you see were recovered over two years
just a few miles west of here.

Cool find! I had no idea about the inland ocean, but it makes sense given the nature of the great plains.

The town really is called Plum Coulee.

It's like they lost a bet or something.

Note to self.
On your big trip...

Bring a spare.

And that windshield.

So.... just out of curiosity.
How long did you spend watching that?

Not long. But it is kind of mesmerizing.

 

[Steppesister]

One suited for long bike trips?

Who knew they'd make such a thing!?

I needed a windshield.

Why? I'm sure the Capt. Jack Sparrow look would suit you well.

Now most people who "know" Manitoba
think of it as relatively flat farmland.
And, well...

So kinda like Oklahoma.

Visibility is key to not dying.

I could make a snarky quip about being in a car being key to not dying..

oops.

Those elevators dot the prairie.
The come in varying shapes
and degree of modernity.

They are all around here too! Hey, we have something in common!!

OOoooh, nice windshield!

Tummy happy, I continued on

Tummy happy, arteries screaming!

Variety.
Spice of life people.

As the sign says,
Home of the Manitoba Stampede.

Bull riding, bronc-busting and steer wrestling!

THIS I would love to see!

So.... just out of curiosity.
How long did you spend watching that?

This time or the 1st or 2nd time I read this update.

 

[pkondz]

And a fellow DIS Dad! Glad you guys could meet up!

How come you never put your mind to it?

I like to put my worst foot forward.
That way people will never be disappointed
"Yeah. He's actually just as bad as I thought."

My kinda place.

Thought you'd approve.

Riveting.

These TRs write themselves sometimes.

Yes! So much better, isn't it! Welcome to the Dark Side.

Should've had the snake explode.
In a helicopter.

Snakes On A Chopper.
(Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Pretty much.

Hmm. Usually you poop after you eat at the restaurant.

we like to save time
and do it ahead of time.

Probably Taco Bell, if you wanted to poop.

Ask me how many times
I've eaten at Taco Bell.

I don't think I could get myself there if I weighed 350 lbs.

Julie can't push a wheelbarrow?

Wow! That's way more impressive than 25,000 imported Italian twinkle-lights!

Not by much!

Well....I was thinking you looked more like, "I'm not supposed to be enjoying this, so I can't let it show!"

Oh, no.

I definitely enjoyed it.



Definitely.

Ruby has much more patience than my wife.

Nah. We're older.
She's just given up on me.

Smart girl.

Does it come with a TV in it?

Just a gold bar.

Upset of the year! Are you sure it wasn't escargot?

I was... shocked.
To say the least.

Attaboy. Short-term, selfish gain always wins out.

It's all about me!
Let the rugrats fend for themselves.

I wouldn't have expected that from Ruby. Maybe she wasn't happy about the photo.

So that explains it!

I've also heard that the house always wins. So you did the right thing.

I'll never know for sure...
But... I do know that if I kept playing
sooner or later....

The house always wins.

NOOOOO!!!! That's just wrong.

I was less than impressed.

Taco Bell again?

You haven't asked yet!

 

[pkondz]

Well, we certainly wouldn't want to introduce common sense at this stage.

It's far too late for that.
However...

Crap. Now that does make sense.

... once in a while...

Well, I'm in the middle of Delaware, so...sure!

Like you wouldn't come here
if you could.

You almost did!
(although the area you
were going to, is much
more picturesque.)

You stole that photo from North Dakota, didn't you?

Dang! Secret's out!

It is eerily familiar, isn't it.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! Actually, we didn't stop for t-shirts.

In North Dakota...
You know those signs:
"You are here"?

They have
"You are nowhere."

I'm getting better!

I feel happy...

Nice. I like my milkshakes basically turned back into ice cream.

Spoon > straw, huh?

Cool! Hopefully it was found by a kid looking for his lost baseball or something.

Actually!
It was discovered they think because a cow
stepped on its head, pushing the other end
up out of the ground.

I kid you not.

I like the western theme. It's fun.

I was really surprised
(pleasantly so.)

The museum is holding a 50/50 raffle this week and Bingo Night is on Tuesdays.

That's exactly what it felt like!

Better go get him one of those milkshakes.

I think it might be too late.

But I'll eat it for him.

Cool find! I had no idea about the inland ocean, but it makes sense given the nature of the great plains.

Yup.

It's like they lost a bet or something.

And that windshield.

Hey! That's a good idea!

Not long. But it is kind of mesmerizing.

Makes me happy to watch it.