Week 1 2024

This was our 6th road trip to the USA. We flew in to Boston, and after some negotiation, picked up our rented car.

The plan was:- A total of 12 Airbnbs. Travel to Niagara, then Toledo and Detroit. Down to the Ozarks and on to Nashville to fly back home.

A truly great trip, one of the best.

Wednesday 4th September

The flight was at 2.25 pm but we left for Heathrow at 8am. It was a good job we did. The traffic on the way there was horrendous all the way right to the airport. Then at terminal 5 most of the check in machines were down. Eventually they all went down and the system had to be re-booted. It wasn’t like that 13 years ago when it opened. The security was extremely slow with disinterested staff seemingly wanting to chat rather than help.

The flight was good though, a BA A380 – great aircraft.

We arrived in Boston and began the process of renting a car. The car was pre-booked and was the usual large SUV. Our journey was to take us into a small section of Canada. On hearing this, the receptionist refused to give us a large SUV. I pointed out our booking voucher which had “free travel to Canada” and “large SUV”. Nevertheless she was adamant. We had booked two Airbnbs in Canada and we offered to cancel them and rearrange our trip to stay entirely in the USA. They refused, saying we could only have a car. Their reasoning was it was company policy not to allow high value cars into Canada as there were gangs stealing vehicles to order. Luckily for us when we arrived at dispatch, the lovely lady allowed us to take a premium SUV on the  proviso we rearrange our holiday to stay entirely in the USA.

Wow, what a vehicle – a Chevrolet Suburban. Massive!

The Airbnb was just what was required and we slept well.

 Thursday 5th September

We had one day in Boston so it seemed to make sense to visit the Boston Tea Party Museum. This was one of the weirdest visits we have ever been on. Lots of actors dressed in period costume reciting stuff we could hardly hear. Nevertheless we got the gist of it. Us Brits being the baddies!!

Friday 6th September

Today was a driving day, from Boston to Frankfort, NY State. It was busy and there were a lot of toll roads. We only stopped for a lunchtime McDonalds (at least it’s reliable!).

This was our second Airbnb and very different from the first. A cabin on its own with a great layout and all you could ask for in terms of facilities.

Saturday 7th September

The weather was rubbish today, heavy rain for most of the day. We decided to take a boat trip along the Erie Canal. This was interesting and showed us the importance of this canal in the emergence of New York as a centre of trade. The canal was amazingly wide, with the locks also very wide. We saw plenty of wildlife, including three Bald Eagles.

I showed the captain a picture of our narrowboat and he was very interested. He said he had been watching “cruising the cut” on British TV.

Sunday 8th September

Off to Niagara……. Following a three hour drive and an emergency McDonalds (I know!!!), we arrived at our new cabin in Niagara. It’s a bit old fashioned but very spacious.

Monday 9th September

Niagara Falls day. We drove to nearby Niagara and boarded the Maid of the Mist for a tour to the Falls. We didn’t realise how wet it would be, but great fun! A bunch of Smurfs came to mind!!!

Tuesday 10th September

Day two in Niagara. We can’t take the car into Canada so we decided to walk in. It was a lot easier than we thought. Just a short walk over the suspension bridge, a quick passport check and we were in.

It was hot today after an afternoon of rain yesterday. I was recovering from a nasty chest infection so it was a very sweaty walk on the Canadian side.  We eventually, and accidentally, came across the “tunnel behind the falls” walk. It was great, if a bit wet.

The interesting observation when comparing the US side and the Canadian side is that we preferred the US side as it is far less commercialised and is massively less busy.

…. end of week one now onto week two… click here