Dec 2016 – Jan 2017

USA Xmas 2016

A 29-day adventure by Walkabout AUS Read more

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Trip start
December 6, 2016
USA Xmas 2016 Walkabout AUS
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Day 1
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 10:00 AM
🌬 27 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Australia Brisbane Airport -27.403824, 153.10991427°24’14” S 153°6’36” E
... in Brisbane Airport
December 6, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
All checked and sorted enjoying a quiet breakfast in the Singapore Airlines Lounge.
Also have packed away a very special gift for our surrogate US daughter Shannon. Being a top college soccer player we figured a Socceroos jersey with her name and number would make a great Xmas Gift. A thank you for being such a great friend and support for Bec so far from home for so long.Read more
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Day 1
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 10:06 AM
🌬 27 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Australia Brisbane Airport -27.403816, 153.10996527°24’14” S 153°6’36” E
Departure time
December 6, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
So all checked in, legroom seats, through customs, and enjoying a relaxing breakfast in the Singapore Airlines Lounge. Right opposite our gate so we can see everything.
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Day 1
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7:43 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 37 m
United States Los Angeles International Airport 33.941004, -118.40440133°56’28” N 118°24’16” W
Arrived LAX
December 6, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Had a very smooth flight and the free upgrade into better legroom seats made the trip very enjoyable. Good food, smooth flight, and now we wait for our connecting flight to Detroit.
It's only 2 hours so by the time we have a feed and a quick browse it will be time to board for the next leg. Brisbane to LAX was a simple 13hrs 20min, so not so bad.
Sue is feeling a little unwell and headaches from the flight but should pick up again soon.Read more
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Day 1
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 4:55 PM
🌧 4 °C
Altitude: 210 m
United States Shook Drain 42.208151, -83.35718942°12’29” N 83°21’26” W
Massive Detroit Airport
December 6, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 4 °C
This place is massive, the terminal is so long it has its own internal train that runs from one end to the other.
Flight from LA was just under 4 hours, but tiny seats and just could not get any comfort at all.
As you can see from our travel timer snap we have been in transit for over 20 hours.Read more
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Day 2
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 4:53 PM
⛅ 2 °C
Altitude: 320 m
United States Poland 41.023624, -80.62974541°1’25” N 80°37’47” W
Old English Pub in Boardman
December 7, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C
Travel half way around the world for a Guinness in the Olde English Pub in Boardman, Ohio. Met some great locals and have already been invited to their family homes to celebrate Xmas day, such friendly people. There is just nothing like mingling with real locals rather than just meeting people in tourist areas. It's why we always travel away from the beaten track.
Fantastic seeing Bec after 15 mths, however this week she has a big final week with her final assignments and projects.
Today was a beautiful sunny day of -1C and predictions of snow showers overnight. Heading to the YSU Penguins qtr final home game on Saturday, but better rug up as predicted to be high of -7C and low of -16C.
Now this is certainly gonna get some getting used to. Lol.Read more
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Day 2
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 11:12 PM
☁️ 0 °C
Altitude: 309 m
United States McKays Corners 41.02174, -80.63403341°1’18” N 80°38’3” W
Dinner with our Princess
December 7, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
A beautiful dinner with our lovely princess and 2 of her diving team mates, Beth & Ryleigh. According to Bec there are very few places that you can get a great steak due to us as Australians being spoiled with great steaks in Australia.

The Texas Longhorn restaurant proved to be a pretty good alternative, although it still left a lot to be desired to what we are used to back home.Read more
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Day 3
Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 11:52 AM
🌫 -3 °C
Altitude: 315 m
United States Boardman 41.024754, -80.6680641°1’29” N 80°40’5” W
Weather cooling slightly
December 8, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 -3 °C
Well it's day 2 in Youngstown and the temperature is starting to cool a little.
Sitting here at Denny's having a late breakfast and watching it trying to snow outside, just a few flakes falling at the moment.
No plans today, but see how our clothes handle the temperature difference, not looking too good at the moment, we may definitely need to get some warmer gear. The waistline is gonna suffer with the food over here. Even just a bacon and eggs brekky flys out to a massive 1100 calories the way it's cooked.Read more
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Day 3
Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 2:02 PM
☁️ -3 °C
Altitude: 349 m
United States Tippecanoe Estates 41.025085, -80.73069841°1’30” N 80°43’51” W
The Seasons First Snow
December 8, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -3 °C
Well we've come back to Peaberry's Cafe in Canfield for the best coffee in the US, much like our Barista coffee back home.
Whilst here the first snows of the season started to come down, quite mild but even now at -4 it stays on the ground and will start to build up.
Check out the photos to see the difference after just 15 mins.
Sue had to do some shopping today for warmer boots and some pants that didn't let the sub zero cold through, it's damn cold but so very refreshing.Read more
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Day 4
Friday, December 9, 2016 at 2:00 AM
🌫 -5 °C
Altitude: 320 m
United States McKays Corners 41.019356, -80.63376641°1’10” N 80°38’2” W
Glamorgan Castle
December 9, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 -5 °C
Found this amazing home in Alliance built in 1901 by a Welsh Engineer. He wanted to recreate the feeling of the old home castles in Wales and built Glamorgan Castle. Unfortunately it is under the control of the local High School and they have no idea about maintaining heritage buildings, they have converted nearly 80% of it into office and storage space, such a shame.
Incredibly we came across this old offset printing press up in the attic. I worked on exactly these presses 40 years ago in Melbourne. It was an Addressograph Multigraph 1250 model. Amazing, haven't seen one in years.Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 2:10 AM
⛅ -4 °C
Altitude: 297 m
United States Stambaugh Stadium 41.109571, -80.64988941°6’34” N 80°38’60” W
YSU Game Day - Qtr Finals
December 10, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ -4 °C
YSU has made the Qtr Finals this year and today's game was a fantastic game. They went points for points all day and went into 2 overtime sessions with YSU coming out on top with a 30-23 win.
Off to the semis next week against E Washington at EWU's ground. Shame we won't be here to see it as we will be heading to Philadelphia.
This could be Youngstown States Year.Read more
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Day 6
Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 9:40 AM
🌫 -4 °C
Altitude: 307 m
United States McKays Corners 41.02169, -80.63393641°1’18” N 80°38’2” W
The SNOW has arrived
December 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 -4 °C
Well we woke this morning to a blanket of snow. Such a beautiful sight for someone from down under. We had breakfast and then headed out to start the engine and clear the snow from the windows, 10 minutes later when the car had some heat in it we headed back off to Peaberry's for our morning coffee. We do need to find a closer coffee to Boardman though as Peaberry's is a 12 mile (20k) round trip. Will post some more shots in our Day 6 Album. Keep your eyes open for that once it's uploaded.Read more
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Day 6
Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 3:23 PM
🌫 -2 °C
Altitude: 317 m
United States McKays Corners 41.019387, -80.6336541°1’10” N 80°38’1” W
Lunch at Magic Tree
December 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 -2 °C
A typical American tavern with good beer (draught Guinness) and the usual full of fat, deep fried food. Oh well, they say When in Rome.....
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Day 7
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 1:38 PM
☁️ 1 °C
Altitude: 268 m
United States Roman Orthodox Church 41.234349, -80.81218441°14’4” N 80°48’44” W
Gourmet Lunch in Warren
December 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C
Time for a quick gourmet lunch at Taco Bells, not. Ok, so it isn't too bad, but certainly cheap.
A relaxing lunch after being accosted in the toilets in Youngstown Downtown. Was quite funny afterwoods although it did raise my heart rate slightly though. Tiny little toilet with just 2 toilets and a dark chap stood behind me.
Asked for money and then when I said I had none, demanded my wallet. Calmly said I'll be with you in a sec, and when I turned around, said "ok then, come get it if you think you're good enough." At that he paused, looked back at me staring at him, and backed away into the corner and allowed me to leave.
I was half expecting to find a couple more outside the toilets, but no one was there so I suspect he was not really any threat. That was my heart raising exercise for the day.Read more
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Day 7
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 3:31 PM
🌫 1 °C
Altitude: 256 m
United States East Orwell 41.535061, -80.81887141°32’6” N 80°49’8” W
Sue Boozing Again
December 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 1 °C
On the side of 322 we found this great little Inn in the middle of nowhere. The obvious thing to do was of course stop and check it out.
Met some great locals and one has his brother living in Australia north of Byron Bay.
Great people great beer, and put on some afternoon snacks for us.Read more
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Day 7
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 4:34 PM
🌫 0 °C
Altitude: 258 m
United States East Orwell 41.535027, -80.8185541°32’6” N 80°49’7” W
YES back at Orwell
December 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 0 °C
So after a great few drinks at the Creekside Inn we headed off back to Youngstown. 25 miles down the road says "Oh, where's my hand bag".
Needless to say I very silently found the next exit and made our way back to the Inn. Funnily enough, we did say we would be back, just maybe not this soon.Read more
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Day 7
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 7:50 PM
☁️ 0 °C
Altitude: 343 m
United States Godward Run 41.066532, -80.56981741°3’60” N 80°34’11” W
Bogey's in Struthers
December 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
Having dinner at one of Youngstown famous restaurants, Bogey's, named of course after you know who, Humphrey Bogart.
The menu is traditional home cooked family Italian with stunning food varieties. We all started with something called a wedding soup, a bit like minestrone but with spinach and meat in it as well, a stunning starter.
I had an Angus Sirloin which just melted in my mouth and Sue went with a pasta meatball dish, of humongous proportions that she couldn't get through. Our new friend Brad treated us and we had a fantastic evening.Read more
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Day 8
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 2:00 PM
❄️ 0 °C
Altitude: 283 m
United States Harrison Field 41.105469, -80.64287641°6’20” N 80°38’34” W
Wick oval ave, youngstown
December 13, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C
Today was a day with our daughter Bec, doing shopping, buying mattresses, fridges etc, general stuff for her apartment. The weather as you'll see from the pics was mild at -3 and fairly heavy snowfalls. Roads got a bit dicey with ice and snow but the snow ploughs do a great job of keeping most of it cleared. A few slippery spots saw Bec down on her backside, so no better time for a candid shot.Read more
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Day 9
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 1:28 PM
☀️ -4 °C
Altitude: 310 m
United States Idora Park 41.067545, -80.6838141°4’3” N 80°41’2” W
Lantermans Mill, Mill Creek. Ohio
December 14, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ -4 °C
A visit to this stunning spot in winter is so beautiful, with the snow and ice shows across the park. One fatal mistake was forgetting my gloves in the -6 conditions, got some great photos but unfortunately this app only allows for 10 to be added. Took our shots, then headed back into town for the last of our sunny day before the arctic freeze arrives this evening.Read more
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Day 10
Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 11:13 AM
🌫 -11 °C
Altitude: 298 m
United States Poland 41.025768, -80.62832241°1’33” N 80°37’42” W
Breakfast at Mocha House
December 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 -11 °C
Finding a good coffee in the US is pretty difficult as they don't have the great coffee culture that Australia has. Most American coffee is filtered or percolated style coffee, so very few places have true baristas that can make a solid espresso style coffee.
Today is starting to push the limits of acceptance with -13 and wind chill of -26, so even though we look out the cafe window to what appears a beautiful day, stepping outside is sure a wake up call, like walking into a super freezer.
However it is about to change with serious blizzard snow due within the next couple of hours. Temps will drop to about -28.Read more
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Day 10
Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 1:08 PM
🌫 -10 °C
Altitude: 313 m
United States Ohlton (historical)41.122307, -80.77453641°7’20” N 80°46’28” W
Harley Davidson Youngstown.
December 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 -10 °C
Had to drop in to a local Harley dealer of course. Could be a good spot to pick up a Harley for our ROUTE 66 ride and then ship the bike home from LA.
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Day 10
Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 5:25 PM
⛅ -12 °C
Altitude: 404 m
United States Grove City Airport 41.140248, -80.15834741°8’25” N 80°9’30” W
Grove City, Pensylvannia
December 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ -12 °C
We planned to come to this massive outlet today for all the top name clothing brands, due to it being tax free on clothing in PA.
Bec then tells us it's an outdoor style outlet complex and we went oops, it's -24 outside. Oh bugger it, lets go anyway. It was bloody freezing, surprise, surprise.
Will come back again on a warmer day, maybe -8 or something.Read more
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Day 11
Friday, December 16, 2016 at 11:26 AM
⛅ -10 °C
Altitude: 318 m
United States Boardman Ditch 41.030338, -80.66233141°1’49” N 80°39’44” W
Yankee Kitchen for Breakfast
December 16, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ -10 °C
Met the girls early today, if you call 10:30 early, for breakfast at the famous Yankee Kitchen on Market St.
Ordered the ham and cheese omelette expecting it to be pretty simple, but we were invaded by cheese yet again. Americans have an infinite love affair with cheese and even our omelettes were dripping in melted cheese, and with the cheese being as sweet as it is we had to sort of eat around the cheese a bit. Service and treatment was really good though, as Sue had ordered sunny side up eggs that had the whites just barely cooked. The lady then just went back and had them remade without question as easy over, so Sue could still dip her toast, even though it was no fault of theirs. Such great service with a huge smile.Read more
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Day 11
Friday, December 16, 2016 at 4:26 PM
☁️ -8 °C
Altitude: 272 m
United States Metropolitan Baptist Church 41.106606, -80.65467841°6’24” N 80°39’17” W
Leaving for Pittsburgh
December 16, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -8 °C
Well with our first Youngstown leg coming to a close, the car was dropped back to Enterprise whilst waiting for the girls to complete their packing. The boys offered me another great deal on a car when we get back from New York and even placed a hold on a car for me immediately, really looked after me on price too.
Then I figured well, I have maybe an hour to kill waiting for the girls to arrive so down the road I strolled to the Charlie Staples Bar & Grill. A couple of Buds to wash down the salt and ash dust from the roads, and wait for the girls to get here.
Heading to Pitt early due to predictions of bad ice conditions early tomorrow morning, so as per usual, I take the just in case decision and head down tonight instead of the morning.Read more
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Day 11
Friday, December 16, 2016 at 8:12 PM
☁️ -6 °C
Altitude: 231 m
United States Market Square 40.440903, -80.0023540°26’27” N 80°0’8” W
Diamond Market Bar & Grill
December 16, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -6 °C
Walked around Pittsburg just a short while as -11 is a bit tough to just stroll. Found this great Burger restaurant named Diamond Market Bar & Grill. Had Guinness so I was happy, then some awesome HOLY COW burger named a Big GRRRR. Check out the pic.Read more
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Day 11
Friday, December 16, 2016 at 10:09 PM
☁️ -5 °C
Altitude: 216 m
United States United Methodist Foundation of Western Pennsylvania 40.439752, -80.00313340°26’23” N 80°0’11” W
Skating under the Chrissy Tree
December 16, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C
After dinner we went around the corner to the Pittsburg Christmas Tree for the ice skating, such a great thing to see as we don't have this white Xmas stuff. Ice skating, ice, snow, Chrissy Tree and Xmas songs. Cool stuff.Read more
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