TR so Far.

[Csaks]

Well it's 9:30 at night and we are at Quality Inn in Hardeeville SC. So far it has been 18hrs on the road and the best part is gas is cheap down here!

We filled up at 1.63 a gallon in Columbia SC and the other was 1.99 a gallon in Flatwoods WV.

Other than two single car wipeouts it has been uneventful. The first had us held up from Moorsville to Charlotte for over an hour and the second we just missed by a few minutes, tow truck but no police. I can't figure out why they ended up were they did but it didn't look like anyone got hurt.

I have a bunch of pics but this connection is to slow to download them.

P.S. It's raining horses and cows down here right now.

Rest stop in PA.

Tunnel entrance.

Just before the NC boarder.

Five percent downgrade with a oh no rescue ramp.

I'll be pulling in sometime tomorrow.

 

[Ham Ham]

Travel safe.
Sounds like you took either 79/77 or 81/77.

GTA is forecast to get a messy storm Sunday evening/Monday morning.
Amount of snow depends on if we stay above or below.

Think of us when you're sitting in the hot tub at your hotel.

 

[Csaks]

79/77 route Ham Ham. Not to many State Troopers either compared to last years trip, not one on US19 .

If this is the storm on it's way to Ont. you better hope it stays warm! I can't believe the amount of water coming down right now. Reminds me of the one we had a few summers ago that flooded everything.

 

[glenpreece]

those truck ramps freaked me out when we drove in '05

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Drive safe..... I hope the water is getting wrung out of the clouds down there so we don't get it too bad!!
May you find sunny skies in Florida!!

 

[dis_guy]

Thanks for the pics! Being an Albertan, we really don't have the choice of driving down (unless you have lots of time) and it's not a part of the US I've ever seen. How long was the tunnel?

 

[cslittle999]

There are two tunnels on I77. The Big Walker Mountain Tunnel is 1288 m and the East River Mountain Tunnel is 1649 m.

 

[grantclaire]

Keep the Reports coming! We are thinking of driving of driving down next year. Have never done it. When did you leave Ont ?

 

[cslittle999]

The drive from the Toronto area is about 21 hours on the I79/77 route. We like to leave around 5 AM and stop around Charlotte (either just North or just South). That's around 13 hours. That lets us get into WDW mid/late afternoon the next day.

 

[MinnieMommy]

Safe journey.
Can't wait for more!

 

[Csaks]

Keep the Reports coming! We are thinking of driving of driving down next year. Have never done it. When did you leave Ont ?

We left at 3am and stopped at 9pm at SC/ GA border.

Sunday afternoon was WET. Tornado warnings south of Orlando. We went to the MK but it was a MVMCP night so we decided to go to Epcot by way of monorail. Tried out the new Spaceship Earth, it was pretty good. Did I ever tell you how much I hate flash photos . Had something to eat at the place near Mouse Gear and came up with the DUMB idea to walk to DHS EMH, somewhere on here I read it's not a long walk from the Boardwalk, Balderdash!!! I am not going to live that one down for a long while. Spent the night at DHS, even with EMH it wasn't to bad. The only thing in the whole park with a wait was Toy Story 90 mins.

I gotta go the boss is ready, finally .Oh I'm gonna pay for that one.

I'll post some more pics tonight.

 

[SaskDisNut]

Glad to here you made it safe and sound. So how is the weather forecast looking? And how is CSR?

 

[Csaks]

Glad to here you made it safe and sound. So how is the weather forecast looking? And how is CSR?

Sunny and cool, mid teens.
How is CSR, well let's just say it is a great resort but is not for us. I can't seem to figure out what it is, El Centro has everything you could need. We have visited the bar, restaurant and Pepper Market. The few times we took the buses they were not much of a wait. This place is vast, maybe that is one of the things that is bugging me. Our room is the best view we have ever had but we don't go to the main lobby unless there is a reason, we are in 8B facing the lake but it's a nice hike to the front. The Ranchos in the next area have some great landscaping around them and are beautiful but I could not imagine staying in them, talk about the boonies. We are missing POR and AB section it seemed more intimate and cosy.
Like I said great place but not for us.

I'll try and put some pics up later.

 

[Ham Ham]

Enjoy your time in FLA

The country may be a little different when you return.


The Tragically Hip will lead a coalition government, Celine Dion will become Governor General and our new national anthem will be the Rodeo Song.

Please return to you holiday.

 

[SaskDisNut]

Sunny and cool, mid teens.
How is CSR, well let's just say it is a great resort but is not for us. I can't seem to figure out what it is, El Centro has everything you could need. We have visited the bar, restaurant and Pepper Market. The few times we took the buses they were not much of a wait. This place is vast, maybe that is one of the things that is bugging me. Our room is the best view we have ever had but we don't go to the main lobby unless there is a reason, we are in 8B facing the lake but it's a nice hike to the front. The Ranchos in the next area have some great landscaping around them and are beautiful but I could not imagine staying in them, talk about the boonies. We are missing POR and AB section it seemed more intimate and cosy.
Like I said great place but not for us.

I'll try and put some pics up later.

Thanks for the update. We've got lots of warm stuff packed for the cool evenings. It is -15C with a -25C windchill around here right now so anything will feel better than this!

CSR sounds great but ya this size of the resort might be a bit much. We'll see for ourselves in a few days.

 

[Csaks]

Enjoy your time in FLA

The country may be a little different when you return.


The Tragically Hip and will lead a coalition government, Celine Dion will become Governor General and our new national anthem will be the Rodeo Song.

Please return to you holiday.

I heard about all that just before we left, whether a Mickey Mouse government (pun intended) or a new election, our country doesn't need this right now.

Thanks for the update. We've got lots of warm stuff packed for the cool evenings. It is -15C with a -25C windchill around here right now so anything will feel better than this!

CSR sounds great but ya this size of the resort might be a bit much. We'll see for ourselves in a few days.

-25 windchill , I had to remind myself of that when it was cool the last few days. Haven't worn shorts yet but tomorrow looks promising.

This trucker was a Batman freak. Stuff all over the truck.

Our view from our room.

This is a castle shot.

I got a good hologram shot, no flash needed.

We went to the Space centre on Tuesday, I loved it but Amy was bored to tears This was the pad where the three astronauts died in their ship during a test, I believe Applo 1. They launched one mission from here after the accident and then turned it into a historic site. The burn marks are still on the ground from the one launch.

That is Amy walking under the Saturn 5 rocket, it is massive, I could stand up inside the motor .It was as long as the building,if you can see the end. It is one of the rockets they were going to fly but the moon program was cancelled and all efforts were put towards the Space Shuttle program and this one and it's lunar lander are on display inside the Centre. It is truly amazing what people could do with so little, the computer had the power of a modern calculator. I wonder why they can't do something like this today .

 

[Remmy]

Great trip report thus far.

I love the pictures. The castle always looks so pretty. I would love to see it with all the lights on it.

 

[Csaks]

Well the Disney marketing machine deserves a pat on the shoulder, it is busy here no matter where you go. I would say it is about as busy as our April/ May trips. 60 minute wait times for all the big rides. Here is a sample crowd shot. I was thinking of you guys and gals when I took it, Amy was wondering what the heck I was shooting.

Yesterday we went to DS and Epcot. Did I say it was busy here this time! Here are some shots.

Indy at night.

We have never seen these fiber optics. A shot Amy never knew I took.

Toy Story, worth the wait.

Back to Epcot for Candle Light. If you have never done it, it is worth doing once.

Waiting in line to get in.

I just love the Warriors in China.I would love to see the real thing someday.

Some good and bad. No big deal but some things we have noticed.

Bad - The crowds are huge compared to last year at this time.
- Le Cellier was very disappointing this year, very ho hum.
- The cleanliness is not what we have come to expect from
Disney, mostly in the parks.
- The flushing toilets, but if we got up with everyone else I guess we
wouldn't notice.
- Amy is having serious problems with her left knee. Never had it before!
- Rained two nights so far, but we were prepared.

Good -The Italian restaurant in Epcot was great, the food and service were
top notch.
-Candle Light was a nice thing to experience.
-Cast members in general have been great.
- MVMCP was much better when it is not raining. Will never pre-buy
the tickets again. I don't care how much is saved.
-Coronado has amazing facilities, but I wish it wasn't so big.
-Buses, when we have taken them they have been pretty good.
-Walmart has some great deals on Disney stuff at a quarter of the
price, just 5 miles away
-Did I mention the Cast Members here at Coronado have been great,
gave us directions to Walmart to get a knee brace for Amy. Instead of
showing us to their store.

That's it for now, going to bed soon.

 

[Csaks]

Well it's the last day before we leave for the real world and it is only fitting it ends the way it started, pouring rain .

Here's one for the train fans, I've loved them since I was a kid.

A day time castle shot.

This has to be one of the coolest pictures I have ever taken. It was from the walkway to our room. The sun was setting on Everest, timing is every thing.

Si-Fi was a neat place to have lunch.

Amy gave me a new camera last Christmas and I just love it. I like AK, it's like a zoo on steriods. Here are some shots.

I think we are Disney'ed out, I didn't think that could happen but we also have seen all the stage shows we never took the time to see before. They are just amazing, Lion King, Nemo, Beauty & The Beast, the Little Mermaid and the Candlelight. Well worth the time.

I actually am looking forward to going home and seeing our furry kids.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

your pictures are so good! Safe trip home!!!!