Morty's views!

After nagging Elizabeth to put stuff on the blog she said it's my turn.

Wow. The trip from Long Island to Oneida was incredible. We set the GPS and our trip plan was to go via the Long Island Expressway, over the Throgs Neck Bridge (pay toll), through the Cross Bronx Expressway, through Manhattan Island (at the top), over the George Washington Bridge and onto the New Jersey Turnpike. Everything went great. Even all the changing of lanes, the double decker George Washington Bridge, 7 lanes on the New Jersey Turnpike, express lanes on the JNT & HOV lanes on the Expressways (High Occupancy Vehicles).

The trip to Scranton was travelled on the "Interstate". Concrete all the way. Only glimpses of the countryside. We made great time but saw little. If you watch "The Office" (American version with Steve Carrell) you will know that Dunder-Mifflen paper supplies (fictitious) is in Scranton. And as we were told, there is NO Hooters in Scranton - the show refers to this. Part of the train museum that Elizabeth wrote about has the Union Pacific RR "Big Boy". Ok, I'm totally gob smacked. This train is the BIGGEST train I have ever seen!! I will put photos on flickr soon but here is a web site to see it. The wheel configuration is 4-8-8-4 plus the tender.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/bigboy/

We decided to get off the "Interstate" to actually see this beautiful part of America so from Scranton to Oneida we detoured to Ithica, by the finger lakes. Words can't describe this part of the world. Photos are only 2D and won't do it justice. See the photos later.

Oneida is amazing. The houses are out of picture books and movies. I DO have hundreds of photos. Tonight we went out to tea with the library staff and their husbands and they mentioned a casino run by the Oneida Nation Indians. I had heard of Casinos run by American Indians and had seen programs like South Park taking the p*ss. Well we went to look. It's massive and its in farming area. It like putting a 5 star hotel, golf courses and an entertainment venue with big acts in Eudunda. Take a look at the size of this place. http://www.turningstone.com/lodging/
It's called the Turning Stone Casino and it is impressive. 100's of pokies (most don't take cash, you insert your special card that you put money into), 5 different restaurants and a multi level carpark. There is even an indoor golf dome as well as the actual golf course. All this in a small country town surrounded by farms.

Only 2 more days in the US before we head to Canada before we head home. We only realised that we leave on Saturday and because we travel back over the international date line, we arrive in Adelaide on Monday. Sunday will not exist for us. And Sunday is Mothers day. And kids, even though Mum will miss out on Sunday completely, that doesn't mean you should forget. (hint hint)