Now we shall backtrack and show our vacation to Niagara Falls in September for our 50th wedding anniversary on the 14th (and my 71st birthday on the 13th).

On Friday 30 August we drove to Raleigh to begin our vacation.  We enjoyed six-month old Liam so much and had a very nice visit with Heather and Tom from 31 August to 3 September.

Liam Thomas Dowd

We had a nice time with them at Menchies and Aladdin's Eatery.

We enjoyed Priesthood and Relief Society on Sunday in the Raleigh 2nd Ward and had the sacrament in the Hispanic ward.

On 4 September we enjoyed a drive that we had made often in years past up I-85 and I-95, then off at exit 104 to get gas at Pilot. Then up US 301 across the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers to Maryland.    We often stopped in previous years at Horne's Restaurant in Port Royal, the only restaurant we have ever been to that served both Coca-Cola and Pepsi!

We got to Hughesville at 6 pm and enjoyed dinner with Geoff and Karen Heath.

Karen, Geoff, and Eileen during our mission

Geoff was the LDS missionary who baptized me on 9 December 1972 in Munich, Germany.  His missionary companion baptized Eileen.  We were surprised that the Heath’s are good friends of Robert and Diane Prince, who were our tour guides for our U.K. vacation in August with Fun For Less Tours.  We left just after 9 pm.

Diane and Rob Prince at Stonehenge

We got back to US 301 and drove north to Bowie and US 50.  We checked into the Hampton Inn & Suites a little after 10 pm, observing how much the area had changed since we moved from there in 2008.  We had a nice room and the young woman at the desk said "yes" to my two questions!  Breakfast was very good!  We checked out at 11 am.  You may ask, “What, no Comfort Inn?”  We had experience during a hurricane years ago with the one in the area and we weren’t impressed.

On 5 September we enjoyed lunch at the Brian Boru Irish restaurant in Severna Park with our oldest son Geoff at noon.

Then we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge 

and took US 301 before heading due east to Dover, Delaware.  We had a very nice visit with Ron and Bonnie Jess at their lovely home.  It is in a pretty development out amongst Amish farms and homes.

Ron and Bonnie on their mission

They took us to supper at Pizza Delight by Giacomo Italian restaurant 

and we visited some more at their home.  They served in the Family History Library while we were on our mission and they were often in their office on the British floor of the Library.

We left about 8 pm and drove up US 1 to I-295, crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge

onto the New Jersey Turnpike, getting off at exit 7, arriving at Eileen’s sister’s (Steve and Jane Stetka's) 

Jane and Steve Stetka

in Chesterfield, New Jersey, about 10:15 pm.  They were asleep and we brought everything in, all the luggage going upstairs and we hit the hay. 

On 6 September I helped Steve with some of decking materials as he worked on building a deck onto his home while Eileen visited with Janie.  Then we went to supper at the Town & Country Diner where I had an astounding "mile high" meatloaf!

On 7 September we were up at 8 am!  Steve made delicious blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  He continued working on the deck while I read and continued to put pictures on Facebook from our U.K. vacation.  Jane’s daughter Beth and her family (the Leone's) arrived at 2:30.  We enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill.

Tony and Beth Leone

On 8 September we were up at 7 am to get ready for church at the North Hanover Ward at 9 am.  Though visitors, we were asked to give the invocation (Eileen) and benediction (Ben)!  Youth speaker Sister Bell spoke on service, Sister Rivera spoke on temple standards (their son is going on his mission to Brazil), and Brother Rivera spoke on service to our family members who have passed on, i.e., finding joy in redeeming the dead.  Unusual was a "dismissal" hymn following the benediction. 

On 9 September we got up about 6:30 to say goodbye to Janie and we left at 8:15.  We got to Ben’s sister Lib's in Wantagh, Long Island, at 10:15.  We enjoyed spaghetti and meat balls that our granddaughter (Lib's daughter) Karin had made.  

Lib Segerdahl

On 10 September we left Lib's at noon.  We stopped in downtown Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to see Mike, the hot dog guy.  We had a nice chat and bought four hot dogs, eating two right away!  Delicious!  We had visited that hot dog stand in Perth Amboy for years when Mike's dad ran it.  Then Mike took over and we still visit him whenever we are up north.  He's getting ready to retire soon.

We got to Aunt Esther's in Flemington about 2:40 pm.  She is the last surviving member of Eileen's parents' generation, the youngest sister of Eileen's dad.  Eileen showed her pictures of our family on her iPad.

Eileen and Aunt Esther

Her daughter Lynn (Eileen's cousin) arrived near 4 pm and she saw the family pictures.  Then I showed both of them pictures on my laptop from our U.K. tour/cruise.  We went out for supper at the Blue Fish Grill.  Flemington is very picturesque!

Aunt Esther

Lynn Baldwin

We got to the Comfort Inn in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, about 10:30 pm.

Comfort Inn in Clarks Summit

On 11 September we had a good breakfast and left about 10 am, reaching Palmyra about 1 pm.  We visited the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center.

We drove to the top of the hill taking pictures of the Angel Moroni Monument.

Eileen at the Angel Moroni Monument

Ben at the Angel Moroni Monument

Then we went to the Palmyra Inn about 2:30 and checked in. 

Palmyra Inn

We went to the E.B. Grandin Building where the Book of Mormon was first printed in 1829 and got a nice tour from Elder Close, who is on a full-time mission there with his wife.

We parked by the Catholic Church and visited the grave of Alvin Smith, the older brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.

Catholic Church

Alvin Smith's Gravesite

We walked to the Four Corners with the Episcopalian Church (absolutely beautiful, reminding us of England), Methodist Church, Baptist Church, and Presbyterian Church.

Zion Episcopal

First Baptist

Western Presbyterian

First Methodist

Then we crossed the Erie Canal and drove to the Palmyra Stake Center, which was very impressive, and the Palmyra Temple, which was beautiful.

Palmyra Stake Center

Palmyra LDS Temple

We had supper at the Yellow Mills Diner.  

On 12 September Bart and Ruby Conlin arrived a little after 9 am and we started seeing the sights.  The Conlin’s were our predecessors on our mission as zone leaders on the British floor of the Family History Library

Ruby and Bart Conlin

Ruby, Bart, and Eileen during our mission 

Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

and were full-time missionaries for six months at the Palmyra Temple from April to October.  Since rain was forecast, we went to the Sacred Grove first and then into the Visitors' Center.   The Sacred Grove is where the First Vision took place in 1820.  Here the Father and the Son appeared to the young boy Joseph Smith Jr. and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church began.

Stained glass depiction of the First Vision

Sister Sumsion, a full-time young missionary from Centerville, Utah, gave us the tour of the Visitors’ Center followed by the Smith log home, Smith frame house, barn, and cooper's workshop.

Bart, Ruby, and Eilen

Sister Sumsion, Ruby, Eileen, and Bart

Ben, Eileen, Ruby, and Bart
at the Smith log home

Ruby, Eileen, Ben, and Bart
at the Smith frame home

Then we drove to the Martin Harris Farm site.

The Martin Harris home

For lunch we stopped at Sauder's Amish Store for candy, snacks, and large sub sandwiches.

We drove to the Peter Whitmer Visitors’ Center and ate our lunch at the outdoor pavilion there.  We had a very nice tour of the Visitors’ Center and the Peter Whitmer home with Elder Close again!

Bart, Ruby, Elder Close, and Eileen

Bart, Ruby, Eileen, and Ben
at the Peter Whitmer Farm 

Ben at the Peter Whitmer Visitors' Center

We visited the Erie Canal and Lock 29 as well as the Mud Creek Aqueduct.

Ruby, Bart, and Eileen

Mud Creek Aqueduct

Finally we went to Chill 'n' Grill for delicious ice cream and the Conlin’s dropped us off at the Inn.

On 13 September we checked out of the Palmyra Inn at 10 am and went to the Palmyra Temple for the 11 o'clock endowment session for my 71st birthday.  After we left the temple, we headed west following the Conlin’s and had lunch at the Macedon Hills Family Restaurant.

Macedon Hills Family Restaurant

We then drove to their apartment in Pittsford where we changed clothes and gave them the book we had gotten at the Palmyra Inn entitled "This Land: Willard's Cumorah Land".  We also got one for ourselves.

After we left them, we stopped at the post office to mail a Book of Mormon sheet from the E.B. Grandin Building to our grandsons in Arizona.  Then we went to a medical clinic on the way in Victor, NY, to have my stitches out from my bit of chest surgery by our dermatologist.  It was my birthday and I received 45 birthday wishes on Facebook.  A couple of hours later we pulled into the Tamarack Club in Ellicottville.

Tamarack Club

Tamarack Club entrance

On 14 September we had a very nice day for our 50th wedding anniversary.  We drove north and hit heavy traffic nearing Grand Island, so we turned off toward Tonawanda and discovered the Carrousel Museum!  It was delightful!

Eileen and Carousel Animals

Carousel

Ben and Carousel Animals

We enjoyed the Canadian side of the Falls, taking lots of pictures and videos.

Ben and Eileen

Together Since 1963!

We had a nice late lunch at the Queen Charlotte Tea Room and British Restaurant and headed back to Ellicottville. 

Eileen at the Queen Charlotte Tea Room
and British Restaurant  

On 15 September we enjoyed the little Olean Ward which is smaller than our branch.  We went for a ride to Little Valley en route back to the resort.  

Little Valley United Methodist Church

Our resort had a brochure on the Amish Trail which included a map of the Barn Quilt Trail and pictures of the 31 quilt locations.  We enjoyed our cereal and berries for lunch.  Eileen napped and then made ziti and meat balls with tossed salad for dinner.

On 16 September we spent almost all day driving through Western Cattaraugus county.  We visited 31 quilt locations, 25 of which had quilts.  We stopped at the Valley View Cheese Store, Malinda's Candy store, and Barbara's baked goods store.  Malinda and Barbara were Amish.  We nibbled chive and horseradish cheese curds also one each of Barbara's glazed donuts which are huge and one each of her oatmeal raisin cookies.  We also got a loaf of bread and a pecan pie.  In Randolph we stopped at a bakery and bought a chicken pot pie and an apple tart.  We had the latter for supper and we dug into the bread and pecan pie. 

Historical Society building

Amish Traffic Sign

Barn Quilts

On 17 September we had a fun day north of Niagara Falls.  I started the day with a piece of pecan pie!  We drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake, only to find out that the Butterfly Conservatory was not there, but south along Niagara Parkway.  We enjoyed going for a walk in historic downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake, with Eileen taking lots of pictures of the beautiful floral arrangements all over.  I took some pictures, too, but today for a change she took far more pictures than I.  We stopped in the Scottish Loft and bought Eileen a nice necklace for only $12.95 and a fridge magnet that says "Keep Calm and Carry On".  Later we went to the Niagara Home Bakery where we bought nanaimo, Irish cream nanaimo, lemon tart, sausage roll, Scottish pie, bridie, scone, and a little bottle of clotted cream.

Before our trip to the United Kingdom in August, we were told that we had to try scones with jam and clotted cream.  We did so in Stratford-upon-Avon and it was delicious!  We also enjoyed it at the Queen Charlotte Tea Room.

“Clotted cream is a thick cream made by indirectly heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this time, the cream content rises to the surface and forms 'clots'.  It forms an essential part of a cream tea.  Although its origin is uncertain, the cream's production is commonly associated with dairy farms in South West England and in particular the counties of Cornwall and Devon.” Wikipedia 

Nanaimo bars

"The Nanaimo bar is a dessert item of Canadian origin popular across North America. It is a bar dessert which requires no baking and is named after the west coast city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It consists of a wafer crumb-based layer topped by a layer of light vanilla or custard flavoured butter icing which is covered with melted chocolate made from chocolate squares." Wikipedia

Scotch Pie

Sausage rolls

“A sausage roll is a savoury pastry popular in the United Kingdom and other countries.” Wikipedia

"A Scotch pie is a small, double-crust meat pie filled with minced mutton or other meat." Wikipedia

"A bridie is a Scottish meat pastry that originates from Forfarshire, Scotland." Wikipedia

Bridie

Scones, jam, and clotted cream

"A scone is a single-serving cake or quick bread. They are usually made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent, and are baked on sheet pans. The scone is a basic component of the cream tea or Devonshire tea." Wikipedia

Cenotaph and clock tower.

Flowery Median

Flowery Curb

Prince of Wales Hotel

Ben on Guard

British Motivational Poster

Lovely Eileen and Lovely Flowers

We drove south and saw the monument to Sir Isaac Brock whom we had been introduced to in Guernsey and then the floral clock.  Sir Isaac was called "The Hero of Upper Canada" for his role in the War of 1812 in defeating the United States.  He was born at St. Peter Port on the Channel Island of Guernsey.

Statue of Sir Isaac Brock

Sir Isaac Brock (1769-1812)

Then on to the Butterfly Conservatory which was fun and took a horse-drawn carriage all around the Botanical Gardens.  I had an ice cream waffle cone of chocolate and creme brûlée ice cream.  We continued south along the Niagara Parkway admiring the view of the Niagara River and many of the gorgeous homes along the way.  I took pictures of theWhirlpool Aero-car.  

Butterfly Conservatory

Landing on Eileen's hand

And on Ben's hat!

Eileen and Ben on the horse-drawn carriage

Eileen and equine friend

Whirlpool Aero-car

We reached the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie and quickly drove home, stopping at Tops supermarket in Ellicottville.

Mather Arch Park, Ft. Erie, Ontario

Canine friend in Tops Parking Lot

In the evening we shared the sausage roll, Scottish pie, and bridie, and Eileen had some jam and clotted cream on her scone.  Then we shared the nanaimo, Irish cream nanaimo, and lemon tart, the latter being the best.  We watched the DVDs of Guernsey and Stirling Castle from our trip to the U.K. in August. 

One of the Channel Islands

Stirling Castle, Scotland

On 18 September we drove into town and enjoyed a walkabout in Ellicottville.  We took some pictures and had a nice lunch at Balloons Restaurant.  It was very good!

Edelweiss Lodge with Stonehenge-like Entrance

Holy Name of Mary
Roman Catholic Church

Holy Name of Mary
Roman Catholic Church

St. John's Episcopal Church

Ellicottville Town Hall and Gazebo

The Purple Door Knob

Ben and Eileen in Balloons Restaurant

Eileen in front of Balloons Restaurant

On 19 September we visited the Niagara River's rapids above the falls.  They were amazing!

Niagara River rapids

Niagara River rapids

Ben and the Niagara River

Then we had a delightful visit at the Queen Charlotte Tea Room and British Restaurant with Ben's cousin Judy Lawrie who is his Uncle Donald Darrell's granddaughter.  So she is actually our children’s second cousin.  After that we went to the American Falls and enjoyed them and more of the rapids before returning to Ellicottville.

Judy Lawrie and Ben 

Eileen and Judy Lawrie

On 20 September we checked out of resort at 9:35 after having a delightful conversation with front desk clerk Kate from Northamptonshire, England.  We enjoyed visiting Kirtland sites very much.  We met Elder and Sister Poulos and Holtry in the Kirtland Visitors’ Center and Elder and Sister Peterson at the Morley Farm.  

Kirtland Temple

Ben relaxing behind the temple

Ben and Eileen in front of the Kirtland Temple

Eileen and Ben in front of the Newel K. Whitney Store

Inside the Newel K. Whitney Store

Inside the Newel K. Whitney Store

Inside the Newel K. Whitney Store

Inside the Newel K. Whitney Store

Eileen in the Newel K. Whitney Store

Upstairs in the School of the Prophets room

Ben in the School of the Prophets room

We met Jennifer Boston, now Clark, whom we knew from our years in Maryland.  

Eileen and Jennifer Clark

Kirtland Sawmill

Inside the Kirtland Sawmill

Inside the Kirtland Sawmill

Kirtland Ashery

Inside the Kirtland Ashery

Site of the Whitney Red Store

Site of The Morley Log Schoolhouse

We checked into the Quality Inn in Wickcliffe, Ohio.  There was a lack of "quality." We had a wonderful supper at New Wong's in Wickcliffe. 

Quality Inn in Wickliffe

New Wong's Chinese Restaurant

On 21 September we left the Quality Inn at 9:15 and reached Hiram at 10 am.  We had a delightful time at Johnson Farm with Elder and Sister Packer.

Historic Johnson Home

Ben in front of the John Johnson Home

Bowery Site

Upstairs at the Johnson Home

Eileen and Ben in the Johnson Home

Inside the Johnson Home

Inside the Johnson Home

Inside the Johnson Home

Inside the Johnson Home

Sister Packer and Eileen inside the Johnson Home

Inside the Johnson Home

Inside the Johnson Home

We arrived at the Comfort Inn at 2 pm.  Eileen had napped over an hour in the car and I napped for maybe an hour at the hotel.  We attended the 5 pm endowment session at the Columbus Ohio temple.  It was packed as the temple is then closed for two weeks.

Comfort Inn North Conference Center in Columbus

Columbus Ohio Temple

We had supper at Spageddies which was so-so.

Spageddies

On 22 September we enjoyed sacrament meeting at 9 am of the large, young Hilliard Ward.  The sacrament meeting ran until 10:20!  We went back to the Comfort Inn to change clothes and pack the car, leaving at 11 am.

We arrived at John and Jennifer Roberts’ home in Fisherville, Kentucky, about 3 pm.  John and Jennifer had lived in our ward in Maryland many years and Ben had served in the ward bishopric when John was the bishop.  We had a nice visit with a casual dinner and left about 7 pm.

John and Jennifer Roberts

Jennifer and Eileen

We arrived at the Comfort Inn in Franklin about 9 pm (8 pm CDT).

The Comfort Inn in Franklin, Kentucky

On 23 September we checked out about 10 am.  We reached Georgia and stopped in Dalton at the AT&T store, then at Toyota for an oil change.  We got home around 4 pm and all was well!