Chautauqua really looked like a winter wonderland this morning. That was the pretty part. The slush over ice on Rte. 394 was still to come...

Route 86 and the famous lake effect snow, which we (enjoyed/endured, take your pick) for a little over 100 miles -- heavy snow, lowered visibility, but no accumulation --so not too bad to drive in. Much better than the first 40 miles out of Chautauqua-- though the road was plowed, changing lanes meant crossing slush-covered ice. Very exciting, though I sure hoped it wouldn't stay like that through the rest of Ohio and Indiana. Though I haven't driven real winter weather in a long time, I'm grateful I learned to drive on New England roads in winter!

notice how my Apple's photo program IDs the image. 'snowbelt!' Wonder if that's a seasonal ID or the good people in Cupertino think all it does in upstate NY, PA, and Ohio is snow...

After the snow subsided and the skies cleared, we saw the beauty of yesterday's ice storm, and were glad we hadn't tried to drive in it. Even more so when we passed three jack-knifed tractor-trailers on Rte. 90. Two were on the side of the road, facing the wrong way. A third was in the meridian. (We weren't quick enough to catch the shot, but this is what they looked like - all ended up facing the oncoming traffic.)

18 degrees. it's a festival of salt and snow. If we were in New England year-round, there's no way the Dream Car would make it to 26 years and nearly 300,000 miles!

Just a pretty barn by the side of the road. The roads were clear by now, but the winds had picked up -- mostly heavy sideways gusts. the good thing about a 26-year-old car is that it's relatively heavy. and all our stuff helps, too!

Elwood: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses." Jake: "Hit it."

(did i mention i ended up driving the whole 497 miles today?)

We are so brilliant with our trip planning. Arriving Chicago just in time to enjoy Friday rush hour. That's okay, it gave Joe time to place his order for curbside pizza pickup (sometimes it's Lou Malnati's; this time it was Giordano's).

Mark Twain, in his own hand. I love this stuff. Even more when it includes edits.

From the Dick Van Dyke show and the inimitable Carl Reiner. Edits included. Years ago, Terry Gross interviewed Reiner on Fresh Air, and he made two points he believed were key to the longevity of the show. First, it was never mean-spirited (Everybody Loves Raymond, I'm talking to you). And it never used references to current events, or slang that would date it.

I'm sure my parents can relate.

Bob Hope's USO shirt, hat, and ID.

This sign advising me that I'd already given them my release appears for the first time just before the gift shop at the end of the visit.

first stop, Landis Arboretum, Esperance, NY. One of three old-growth arboreta in eastern North America.

It was icy, so our walk was very short. Snowshoes would have been ideal. I can't imagine adding them to our fully packed car!

It seems dinosaurs are a requisite on any x-c drive. I just didn't expect one in the first four hours.

Brothers Mark & Dave. Dave lives in Duanesberg, next town over. Mark just moved from Colorado. Dave's teaching Mark about tree identification.

I asked Dave if Duanesberg was known for antiques. No, he said, it's more known for survivalists, with stores on either end of town. He adds sometimes it's tough for him as a progressive.

Signs of the times. At least in Duanesberg.

On the road to the arboretum. I don't know which looked more bleak to me: the weather or the flag.

While Papi & I visited with Dave & Mark, Joe was hard at work on a zoom call.

not pictured: the Meep.

Di Rienzi in Binghamton. How can you not love an exterior like this?

Third-generation owner Carmen DiRienzi is so proud of his Scali bread, that when Joe asked about it, he brought out two loaves from the back, and proclaimed, "Tomorrow's bread, today!" as he handed them to Joe.

This is not Carmen. (Look closely and see the 'masks required' sign over his shoulder.)

This label is branding genius.

late day contrails over route 88. it runs from Albany to Binghamton (the highway one NY legislator managed to get built so he'd have a nice commute from his district to the state capital).

We did not expect on arrival (after 619 miles) to have to walk across a sheet of ice to get in! We scrambled to get some rock salt and some tools, with help from the officer on duty, Angelo Giuffre over. He even insisted on helping Joe unload the car. We gave him one of our loaves of bread. Turns out he is from Italy, and we had a really nice visit. A potentially stressful arrival turned into a sweet moment.

Little Papi settled in, even before we brought in our luggage!