Customs - Blogabond

Lawrence, United States

This morning, we woke up at 7:34am, since we planned on leaving at 8am. We got going, but wanted to find a pharmacy before we left. Most things were closed (because of the holiday), but we managed to find one not too far. Unfortunately, Chloe misled us and we ended up lost, so we called the place, and then found it ok. Got what we needed and we were on our way. =)

Canada

We set up Chloe to get us to Chicago and started the drive. It was a 9 hour drive. We didn't do breakfast, but just had a granola bar instead. As we drove, there were moments on the highway where you could smell the unique perfume of rotting fish. Turns out, Canadians use fish pulp as a fertilizer. Thank God for my husband who knows everything. So that was fun. =\

US Customs

On to the drive. The toll on the highway didn't actually have a toll booth, it was automated and sends a bill to your address. Strange. The four lane highways were in good condition, probably because they aren't used very often! I "slept" most of the time, in an attempt to get rid of my headache. We were making ok time even after the pharmacy setback when we reached the tolls/customs. The traffic to pay the toll was ridiculous, and so was the traffic to get through customs. We spent about an hour waiting for both. We were worried that the customs man was going to be an ass because of how long our line was taking; turns out he just is incompetent at using a computer. He barely asked us any questions at all, which was good.

After that, it was about 1/1:30, so we figured we'd stop for lunch. We found a Cracker Barrel right off the highway so we went there. I got a Reuben (with onion rings) and Mike got an open-faced roast beef sandwich. It was all very good. Probably one of the best Reuben's I've ever had. The corned beef was tender and almost melted in your mouth. Mike's was really good too. We wandered the store for a minute after we finished eating and found checkers! So we played, but called a truce (even though I think Mike would have won) so we could continue on our way.

Maurer truck!

As we continued on the road, Mike saw a truck with his name on it. So of course, there is a picture!

Cherry Waffles

We stopped for lunch at around 6:30. Mike saw a place called "The Waffle House of America" and decided that was where we were going. It was kinda a dive. Small, barely anyone was in there, two or three people working the place... but ok, we'll eat anyways. Mike got a waffle with cherries and whipped cream and I got one with pecans. They were both very good. The hostess came over and had a conversation with us... which we found strange. But she was nice enough.

Waffle House Bathroom Sink

So before we left, I went to the bathroom. It was like stepping into another world. The bathroom was huge, and gorgeous! Yeah, that sounds ridiculous, I know. But there were hand-painted flowers everywhere and it looked like it belonged in the house of some wealthy woman who loved flowers.

Waffle House Bathroom Corner

So of course, I had to take pictures of it =) Turns out, their bathroom won 5th place in 2004 for "best bathroom in America"!

After dinner, we continued on our way towards Chicago. And this is when things got interesting. So I'm passing this on to Mike for a chronicle of this adventure.

written by

prettyblueroses on August 4, 2008 from Lawrence, United States

from the travel blog: Mike & Heather's Cross-Country Adventure

tagged Canada, Driving, Customs and CrazyBathroom

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4 comments...

London, United Kingdom

There are a few things I fear in life - spiders, wolves, snakes, the woods at night, etc. - and one on the secondary level of fright for me is flying. Perhaps it's a fear of heights, or the thought that a crazy could be aboard, but I think a lot of it simply has to do with that feeling that I won't possibly be able to sit through the time it takes to make a transatlantic flight without going crazy. Thankfully, my mind was in "I'm on holiday" mode, and I decompressed enough to sleep a bit on the journey - that always makes things speed along more quickly!

Surprise Dinner at Midnight

Also, US Airways helped out by serving an unexpected meal at about midnight, EST. Surprisingly, it was rather tasty! Who knew? They also showed a film ("Duplicity"...I didn't watch it), and served a breakfast of coffee/tea and a strawberry turnover just before we made our descent into London. US Air gets a thumbs up from me for the food alone, but also just for having this flight...because my jet lag is minimal, and that's a truly nice feeling compared to the narcolepsy I'm used to experiencing here!

After we arrived and I freshened up as best I could (i.e. brushed my teeth, because they were GROSS), I busted my bum to get down to Customs before Vanessa started to worry about me. The queue was extraordinarily long, and I filled out my card incorrectly the first time, like a dork. (Leave it to me!)

When I finally made it up to the counter, I - of course - got the most sour-looking agent, but he did brighten up a bit when I greeted him. He looked over my card, then handed it back to me with an admonishment: "You forgot to sign your entry card." I looked at it, then back up at him, thinking I was in trouble, until he smiled at me. "You must have been too excited to get here."

With a big sigh of relief, I told him that yes, I was VERY excited to be here, and that I couldn't wait to see my friend, who was waiting for me. He stamped my passport and sent me on my way, with a new bounce in my step now that I was only a few corridors away from giving Vanessa a hug!

Arriving at Heathrow

Picked up my luggage (yes, Dad, it was highly visible, and no, there were no large groups who'd purchased the same rose-colored suitcase that I did! Ha ha!) and headed around the corner...and was told to stop! and smile! "...because I know you'll want this documented!" Gosh, she knows me well, doesn't she?

And one huge hug later, we were off to the car park and headed here, to Aylesbury, my home away from home for this holiday. The countryside is quaint and beautiful, and I can't wait to explore it with my homegrown tour guide.

Is it worth those hours upon hours tucked into a seat in a pressurized tube, way too high in the sky to think about without getting queasy? Oh my goodness, yes. Every minute, every time.

written by

Mary Rose on July 16, 2009 from London, United Kingdom

from the travel blog: UK 2009

tagged Food, Flight, Airport, Arrival and Customs

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Fish, Customs, and Waffles- Aug 4, Part 1

Lawrence, United States

International Arrival

London, United Kingdom

Heading South?