Through this association, Bev has been fortunate to have traveled for the library to advance her knowledge of library operations and prepare for the changeover to Kuali. By doing so, it has also given her the chance to explore many places within the US and Canada. Bev's husband Ed was able to join her before the Toronto Conference.
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- JANUARY, 2003
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| Ice on the Delaware River |
The American Library Association (ALA) meets twice a year to discuss various topics related to the functions of libraries. Mid-winter meetings are held in January each year. Bev was asked to participate on one of the financial committees, so her first meeting was in January, 2003.
Because the mid-winter sessions are mainly available for committee meetings, Bev knew that her conference time requirement would give her time to explore the city. Knowing that it would be "cold", she packed her longjohns and boots.
Bev's first stop was Penn's Landing, which houses the Independence Seaport Museum, the submarine "Becuna" and "Gazela Philadelphia". The Becuna was launched in 1944; retired in 1969; and served in WWII & the Cold War
The 'Gazela Philadelphia' was built is 1883 and is the oldest & largest square-rigged vessel still putting out to sea Across the river is the shipyard at Camden, NJ. Here resides the Battleship New Jersey. This was completed during WWII & earned 15 battle stars during 3 major wars.
Bev had been to Philadelphia for a brief visit several years ago with her Mom (more on that later) and did see the Liberty Bell. However, this is something that no one should miss on any visit to this city.
There were so many other historical sites within a few blocks. I'll only touch on a few of those now. During my travels from building to building, I intersected with several school groups out on a days' excursion. It was fun to "tag along" and hear the history from their guide.In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and members of his discussion club bought the books for the first circulating library in America.
Independence Hall was built in 1732. It was where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. It was also where George Washington accepted the position of commander-in-chief of the Colonial armies.
Congress Hall was used by the US Congress between 1790-1800. George Washington's second and John Adam's inaugurations were conducted here.In 1791, Alexander Hamilton regulated the national monetary system; in 1797, the first bank was built.
B Free Franklin Post Office & Museum commemorates Benjamin Franklin's appointment as the first postmaster general in 1775.
City Tavern was the social, cultural and political center of the city.Elfreth's Alley is the oldest residential street.
Tours are given of Betsy Ross' house -- She sewn the first flag that was adopted on June 14, 1777 (Flag Day)
Christ Church was built between 1727 and 1754. The 200-foot steeple dominated the skyline serving as a landmark for residents and travelers. Revolutionary leaders and Congress worshipped here. Pews have nameplates showing the family names. The larger pew was reserved for George Washington when he and his family were in Philadelphia. Seven signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried in the church cemetery. 
Benjamin Frankin's (died 1790) grave is located here. A block away is a Franklin bust covered with 80,000 copper pennies; symbolizing Poor Richard's adage, "A penny saved is a penny earned." |
| Teri & Laine |
TORONTO, CANADA -- JUNE, 2003
The next conference was to be held in Toronto, Canada. Since neither Bev nor Ed had been there before, they took two weeks vacation and headed north before the conference was to begin. Their flight was delayed in Denver because of an electrical storm. The passengers weren't told to leave the plane, but it was announced that airport personnel should take cover.
Because of the storm delay, they arrived late in Toronto. The rental car they had reserved had already been rented; so, the rental company gave them one with a GPS system. Neither had worked with one before. They had reservations, so left the airport in the rain and finally found the hotel. |
| "Maggie" |
Two things came out of this -- 1) Ed & Bev were headed in the wrong direction and 2) Ed said Maggie was a lot polited in giving directions.
Along the way to Niagara Falls they traveled through the area wine region. Wine in this area is made from 'tree fruits and berries' -- such as peaches, cherries, and applies -- which are mainly used as dessert wines.
Niagara Falls has a height of 170 feet, a deafening roar, and plumes of mist. It is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic areas. Along with walking along the waters edge at the top and the nightly fireworks over the falls, there were other adventures to do:
There is a walk under the falls where you can hear the roar -- there is an open area where you can walk out and feel the pressure of the water.
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| Standing under the falls |
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| Whirlpool Aero Car |
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| Maid of Mist Boat Ride |
The Whirlpool Aero Car takes you across the river just above the falls. The Maid of the Mist boat ride takes you under the falls.
When leaving Niagara the next morning, there was an eerie fog rising from the falls. Before crossing the border into the United States, Bev & Ed stopped at Old Fort Erie. "The year is 1812. You're far from home in the unknown wilds of Upper Canada. The place is Fort Erie and war is in the air. All around you are the exciting sights and sounds of men preparing for battle. Step back into a time of red coats, black powder and gray fortress walls. Over 200 years of living history resides within, at Old Fort Erie." http://www.niagaraparks.com/old-fort-erie/ After entering the US, the next stop was Rochester, NY where Ed could pay tribute to whom he had worked many years.
From here it was on to the Adirondacks in upper New York. "The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 by the State of New York amid concerns for the water and timber resources of the region. Today the Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined. The boundary of the Park encompasses approximately 6 million acres." http://www.apa.state.ny.us/about_park/index.html While driving through the Park Bev & Ed stopped to see some wooden boat races.
Being a skier, Ed was excited to see Whiteface Lake Placid. This was the home of the Winter Olympics in 1932 & 1980. "In Lake Placid, three of our jumps are equipped for summer flight. Surfaces made of half-cut porcelain marbles and plastic shingles, which we water to simulate snow, allow jumpers to practice and compete year-round. For the freestyle athletes, their landing is a bit wetter in the summer, as they complete their routines by splashing into a 750,000 gallon pool. Stand at the base of the jumps and watch the athletes—some among the best in the world, others just getting a feel for the sport—tuck down the launch ramp, burst into the air and, seemingly, hang there, suspended, before sticking the landing. Nearby, aerialists will spring off steep kickers on the freestyle hill in a flurry of twists, turns and tumbles." http://www.whiteface.com/summer/index.php Bev & Ed took out their lunch snacks and sat at the bottom of the hill and watched as jumps and aerials were being performed.
Ed and Bev took the ferry across Lake Champlain to Burlington, VT. While approaching the ferry terminal, the GPS system kept trying to get them to "politely turn around." It seems that GPS systems do not have capabilities of tracking ferry rides, but as soon as the ride was over, Maggie was "recalculating."
It was a quick trip across Vermont and New Hampshire. Some of the highlights included the covered bridges.
Another highlight in Vermont was the "Quechee Gorge" -- which is advertised as 'Vermont's Little Grand Canyon.' As they were leaving a hot air balloon appeared over the rise. There was a quick stop in Laconia, New Hampshire. This is where the eastern version of 'Stugis' is held every year.
One of the highlights while visiting Maine was seeing all of the lighthouses. Longfellow used to write poems regarding the Portland Head Light.
Quoddy Head Lighthouse Park (pictured left) is the easternmost point of land in the lower 48 states. Whitlocks Mill Light (pictured right) is the northern most lighthouse in the US 
You can't leave Maine without having lobster, so after leaving the lake, Ed and Bev journeyed into Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor is nestled on the 3rd largest island on the east coast. Early visitors were fishermen and farmers; and, then the rich and famous began coming when two Hudson River School artists, Thomas Cole and Fredric Church, started hanging their landscapes of this area in various salons.
"The St Croix River forms part of the Canada – United States border between Maine (U.S.) and New Brunswick (Canada). The opposite shore from Calais, Maine is St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. The river is an estuary (a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea) between Calais-St. Stephen and the river's mouth at Robbinston and St. Andrews." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Croix_River_(Maine_%E2%80%93_New_Brunswick) Ed & Bev stayed in Calais and were able to watch the tide change from 20-28 feet overnight. Calais has the greatest tide change in the continental US.
While traveling to the Canadian border through northern Maine, Bev & Ed came across the Stanley Museum in Kingfield. This is where the Stanley Brothers (Stanley Steamer fame) came from. Also, they passed the Sugarloaf Ski Area.After crossing the border, the primary language turned into French. Since neither Bev nor Ed remembered any French from junior high, sign language needed to be used to find a bathroom in one of the small towns. Approaching Montreal, it appeared that they would be close to rush hour. After becoming more familiar with Maggie (although she said the last 50 miles of road to the Canadian border didn't exist), they plugged in the coordinates for their hotel in downtown Montreal and hoped for the best. There were moments when they questioned some of the routes she was taking, but at the end, they were deposited at the front door of the hotel.
The next day was spent touring Montreal:
Nortre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (pictured on the left) was the first stone church built in Montreal in 1678. There was a fire in 1754; it was rebuilt in 1771. Nortre Dame Basillica was built in 1829. This is where Celine Dion was married in 1994.
Place Jacques Center was originally a marketplace. It now is a focal point of the city. Pictured left is City Hall and next to it a monument to Admiral Nelson. Onlookers see the monument as an odd tribute -- the statue faces away from the St Lawrence River and it is a tribute to the British conquest over the French navy.
An Indian festival (left) was going on in one of the parks as a tribute to the Native tribes of this area. Saint Paul Street (right) is known to be narrow, but has plenty of restaurants & boutiques. We stopped for drinks at the Hard Rock & then dinner at one of the outside restaurants.After getting back into the car, and heading out of town towards Toronto, Ed learned some 'French sign language' when he entered the crosswalk in front of one of the Montreal residents. The trip between Montreal and Toronto included a drive along the Loyalist Parkway. "The Loyalist Parkway follows the course of Loyalist settlement which commenced in 1784 following the American Revolution." http://www.loyalistparkway.org/ Along the parkway is another ferry crossing that the GPS was unaware of. Maggie kept instructing "to turn right at the next intersection"; and, then when the car would go past the intersection, she would say "re-calculating."
Back in Toronto, Maggie took control of the directions and led the car to the hotel adjacent to the Skydome. Maggie was able to follow the express lanes into the city. When turning the car back into the rental company, Bev & Ed agreed that a GPS is worthwhile having.
Renaissance Toronto Hotel At SkyDome was one of the designated hotels for the ALA Conference. "The Skydome is a multi-purpose stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower near the shores of Lake Ontario. Originally opened in 1989, it is home to the American League's Toronto Blue Jays, the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonaut. While it is primarily a sports venue, it also hosts other large-scale events such as conventions, trade fairs, concerts, funfairs, and monster truck shows. The venue was noted for being the first stadium to have a fully-retractable motorized roof, as well as for the 348-room hotel attached to it, with 70 rooms overlooking the field. It is also the most recent North American major-league stadium built to accommodate both football and baseball teams". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogers_Centre There was a concert going on while Bev & Ed were there, so the 70 rooms facing the interior of the dome were already taken. However, they were able to get a table at the Hard Rock Cafe that gave them a view into the Dome area. The windows opened between the cafe and dome, so they were also able to hear part of the concert.
The CN Tower is the "world's tallest freestanding structure at 1,815ft5in. The observation deck is located at 1,122 ft, where one can stand on a glass floor and look directly below. For those more daring (Bev & Ed were), you can ride the elevator to the SkyPod which is 1,465 ft. The views from here were spectacular!!
On the last day before Ed needed to head home and Bev join the conference, they took a ride on the Kajama -- 165-foot three-mast Tall Ship which had been originally launched in 1930. The ride lasted about 6 hours and travelled around the Toronto waterway. Passengers were given the opportunity to take part in doing some of the crew activities -- whether pulling in the ropes or steering the ship. Some of the younger passengers found how difficult it was to bring in the rigs. The view of the Toronto skyline was breathtaking!
Laine didn't make it to Toronto for this Conference. However, Teri and Jennifer from Morgan Library and Jennifer's husband John joined other ALA participants in Toronto. San Diego, January, 2004
Laine joined Bev again for the conference in San Diego. The first night they were joined by Teri and two other members of the "rowdy bunch" -- Ken and Deb -- at Dick's Last Resort. 
The next morning Laine had an early meeting, so Bev ventured out by herself. The conference hotel was on the waterfront. Being a navy brat, Bev was pleasantly surprised to learn that the USS Midway aircraft carrier would be making its momentous final voyage from North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado to its berth at Navy Pier that morning. Launched March, 1945, the carrier was the first to be commissioned after the end of World War II being active in the Vietnam War and in Operation Desert Storm. http://www.midway.org/
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park was picked by several to visit during free time from the conference. "Old Town San Diego is considered the "birthplace" of California. San Diego is the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California. It was here in 1769, that Father Junipero Serra came to establish the very first mission in a chain of 21 missions that were to be the cornerstone of California’s colonization. Father Serra’s mission and Presidio were built on a hillside overlooking what is currently known as Old Town San Diego. " http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/history.html  |
| Old Town Mexican Cafe |
Ivar's was a definite stop for fried oysters. Bev met her friend Pat from Morgan Library for lunch. One of the conference sponsors provided dinner at the San Diego Zoo, so Bev joined Pat and her husband Charles for that event. Zoo personnel opened up some of the area for viewing, but the main animals to be seen were the various forms of snakes. Bev also met Cathy, previously from Morgan Library now in Minnesota, for dinner.
Laine and Bev also took a ferry ride and had dinner at Anthony's Fish Grotto at the Seaport Village. This is where Bev started acquiring 'parrots' as trip souvenirs.ORLANDO, JUNE 2004
Universal Studios opened up the park on Saturday for ALA participants. So before the park opened, the group decided to take in dinner at the Motown Restaurant on City Walk-Universal.
Bev made a stop in the Nascar Cafe to pick up a souvenir. Then off to the park. The group enjoyed seeing Shrek 4-D and Men in Black Alien Attack; taking a stroll down Hollywood, Rodeo and Sunset Boulevards; and seeing Marilyn Monroe along with Lucy and the Desi Arnez Orchestra
Cathy invited Bev to join her for a sponsor-based dinner at Sea World. Like San Diego, they allowed the participants to enter the park right before closing. Cathy and Bev were able to see the puffins and the penguins and give some food to the seals.
Laine and Bev strolled down International Drive and had lunch at the Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant. Experience a full service motorsports themed restaurant packed with rare racing memorabilia from all forms of motorsports! Race Rock is a sight and sound experience. This Shrine to MotorsportsSM features celebrity owners Michael and Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Richard and Kyle Petty, and more. http://racerock.com/racerock/index.html 
Then just a few blocks farther is the Titanic Experience. Hundreds of thousands of visitors each year come to stroll through full-scale recreations of Titanic‚ most famous rooms, including her Grand Staircase, First Class Parlor Suite, Boilers, and Promenade Deck, where you can walk out and feel the chill of the cold Atlantic air as you gaze at the stars. http://titanictheexperience.com/ When you purchase your ticket, you are given a passenger name. At the end of the tour you will find out the background of that passenger and whether they survived. This was the first we had heard of this, but now there are other exhibits throughout the US. This is definitely worthwhile seeing.
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