The Final Leg Home!

August 12-13, 2010....Our last day and night of vacation. We took Amtrak from New York City, New York to Atlanta, Georgia. We departed New York City at 2:25 pm on Thursday and arrived in Atlanta at 9:50 am (2 hrs late). It was Christa's first trip overnight on a train and at first she was nervous but ended up liking it. We ate our meals onboard (Steak for dinner) and breakfast. It was included with the cost of our room. We had a room (#2) on the Crescent, train #19.

This is a view of the room with the bottom bed folded out for the night. The photo at bottom is what the room looked like in the day when the bed was folded up. The room had a second bed that pulled down from the ceiling. It was a great trip home and a good nights sleep as well.

After 19 days we are now home and I for one wish we could go back and start all over again. Christa thinks differently as she is glad to be home with the kitties. I love you baby but I wish we could do it all over again!

Awesome New York

August 11, 2010...we stayed at the Affinia Manhatten Hotel across the street from Penn Station. Awesome place right in the middle of everything and within walking distance of many sites.

Our hotel was just around the corner from the Empire State Building. I took a walk around the Empire State Building the morning before we left New York and it was a wonderful site to see.

We made a visit to Carlos Bake Shop via the Water Taxi from Manhatten across the Hudson River to Hoboken, NJ. We started to wait in line to but some goodies but found the line to be two blocks and a two hour wait to get in. Sorry but we had to go because it was hot and we had to much to see during our one day visit to New York City.

New York City! What an Experience?

August 11, 2009....Ok this wasn't the best move we made in New York City. It looks harmless but down those stairs is another world. When we got to the bottom of the stairs we discovered hundreds of people waiting for the subway. We also discovered when the subway arrived that there were hundreds of people already on the train. OMG....we were packed inside those little cars and with no air it was very hot and miserable.

We also discovered that the world down under was no place for us so after visiting our first destination we suffered once more so we could get back to our hotel and we never rode another one.

There are so many tracks, too many walkways leading you in circles when trying to find the number subway your looking for. The first thing I did notice was that all types of life, from people in suits and ties to down and dirty, ride the subway in New York City. It was an experience of a lifetime.

We did experience the sights, sounds and bright lights in Times Square. It's beautiful at night.

We ate dinner at the Carnagie Deli near times square and it was awesome. The biggest ham sandwiches we had ever seen. It was very good and then the Cheese Cake with Strawberries we had for desert was the best. It would be worth another visit to eat here again! So for a day to start out crappy it ended very good!

Moose Hunting?

August 7, 2010...we went Moose Hunting. We stopped at L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine and bought a Moose caller for our adventure. I thought a quick trip to the Desert of Maine in Freeport, Maine would be a good start to find a Moose.

Ok, all we found was lots of sand in the desert...of course we brought some home.

Ok, off to the next lookout spot.....we drove to Norway, Maine. Read about this lake here that says you can see Moose walking around the lake all the time. Ok, someone lied because there was no Moose even though I blew and blew the Moose caller.

Ok, I found a store and saw this hat. I put it on and told Christa that I found her a Moose. She laughed and had to have a picture.

Actually, I don't look to bad for a 200 plus pound Moose! Hahahaha!

Ok, we moved on and found us an awesome fudge and chocolate store.

Just outside this fudge store was a miracle....I found Christa a Moose. If I would have known they loved fudge I would have come here first.

So Christa posed with the Moose so we could show everyone that we did find a Moose in Maine. No one said it had to be real.

Next time for sure we will find a real one!

Our First Visit to Maine Together

August 5-8, 2010....we arrived in Maine. We stayed at the Shore Lands Resort....a small but nice cozy motel in Kennebunk, Maine. During our visit we visited three light houses. The one to the left is Nubble Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine.

We actually ate lunch there and this was our view. It was a little overcast but we were able to see it.

The second lighthouse that we went to was Portland Head Lighthouse in Portland.

It was a clear nad beautiful day here and we even went looking for some sea glass and got some sand here for our sand collection.

It was very relaxing and the water here was very cold as usual but if you was to ask my wife she would tell you that it's not cold.

This lighthouse here was as close as we could get and that was even with zooming in with our camera. Oh well, we still got to see it.

It's Cape Porpoise Lighthouse in Cape Porpoise. The tide was out that day so we looked for some shells and sea glass. Came up empty on the sea glass. Sorry sweetheart but next time we will find lots!

August 4, 2010 we walked the Freedom Trail and visited many historical sites. The photo of the right is the grave site for Paul Revere who rode his horse through the strees shouting the "British are coming, the British are coming" back in 1775. It was an honor to be standing at the foot of his grave and thinking of what he had done to help America in his day.

The Freedom Trail route continued throughout Boston with many sites to see.

Here to the left is the Old State House and it was also the site of the "Boston Massacre" in 1770.

Walking the trail and seeing these historical buildings and sites brought much thought to wondering what it was like being in those places back in the late 1700's when these historical moments took place.

Boston holds alot of history that brought America to where we are today!

Now the photo to the left is the "L Street Tavern". It was a regular hangout on the weekend for Christa when she lived in Boston. It is also the bar that was made famous in the movie "Good Will Hunting" and the inside is decorated with memorabilia from the movie. We visited the "L" and toasted a drink to us!

I was thrilled that Christa wanted to share her old hangout with me. She always said she did alot of her thinking about me inside that tavern. If you don't know my wife, you should. She's the greatest and my heart and soul who I love with all my heart!

We're off to Boston!

August 2, 2010....we left Minnesota at 7am and flew to Boston, Mass on Sun Country Airlines for the second half of our vacation. Boston is a beautiful city with lots to see and do. But if you have never been there before I urge you not to go! Two reasons I say this and it's traffic congestion all day and too many people. It's a crowded city that is crammed into a small place!



We hit Boston Common first taking a ride on the Swam Boats around the lake. We then went to Castle Island and walked around the "Sugar Bowl" as Bostonians call it.

The photo to the left is a picture of Boston taken from Castle Island. We enjoyed walking around this as it's a really nice place to walk and in the evening time it's a perfect place to see the sunset.

We came back another day and had lunch here and watched the sailboats sail around the lagoon and watched planes fly over us as they were landing at the airport.

Family Reunion 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010....My first Burns
Family Reunion! I was very nervous and
Jacob was to as this was the first time that we would be meeting other members of Christa's family outside her dad (who is in the photo to the right) and her sister and brothers family.

It was held in New Ulm, Minnesota and it actually turned out to be ok and not so scary after all. Of course when you have Christa's sister Linda there with you it makes it alot better because she can keep a conversation going instead of no one saying anything and the situation becomes awkward. I did remember some names even though I was told it would be hard keeping up with all the names as the family is large. To put it in a nut shell, the reunion was fun and Christa has a wonderful extended family that includes alot of uncles.

Now our trip to Minnesota would not be complete without a visit to the Mall of America. We have to atleast make one trip to the mall each time we visit. It's a gimme that we visit Rybicki Cheese and get some cheese curds. Not to mention that the Mall of America has special ties for us as we were married at the Chapel of Love inside the Mall on February 1, 2008.

One our last day Jacob, Matthew (our nephew) and I went to the mall and went putt-putting. I have to admit that Jacob was the winner and gained his first victory ever in putt-putt against me. Good Job Jacob.

It's Minnesota Time

Tuesday, July 27, 2010...we finally made it to Minnesota. We were able to another trip through Walnut Grove...home to Laura Ingall's from Little House. The museum pictured left is a must for any first time visit. We drove out to where the Ingall's lived on Plum Creek while living in Walnut Grove. We had seen the homesite once before but this trip was for personal reasons. Christa and I collect sand from the different places that we visit that has meaning to us or historical ties. Plum Creek being a historical site from the Ingall's living there we wanted to get some dirt from the creek. There is a large rock that sits Plum Creek that is marked by a sign that tells Laura Ingall's sat on that rock at times when she was writing the Little House books. So we thought that was the spot to get the sand. I was able to kneel down on the same rock Laura sat on to reach in Plum Creek and grab some sand from the cool waters of the creek.

Pictured to the left is the Plum Creek with the marker in the back ground showing the site the Ingall's lived while in Walnut Grove. We got our sand from the right about 50 yards down stream from the spot where the historical rock sits in the creek.

For some reason I really enjoy this small town and could visit it each time if I could when we return for family visits. After all who wouldn't want to live in the town that the Ingall's made famous.

Sioux City Iowa Heros

A Tribute to three of Sioux City's Hero's! We visited these sites upon our arrival in Sioux City and paid tribute to the ones that sacrificed their lives in and for this city. First the Flight Memorial for United Flight 232 that crashed on July 19, 1989. This memorial is for both, the 185 survivors and the 100 that lost their lives that tragic day. The city did a good job in remembering these brave souls.




The second tribute goes to Sergeant Charles Floyd Jr (Sgt Floyd Monument). He was the only member of the Lweis and Clark Expedition to die during their journey. He died on this spot and was buried here and this monument was built over his grave site to honor him for his bravery and dedication that he gave during the expedition in 1804.









This last memorial is the Statue of Chief War Eagle. He was a great Indian Chief and leader who brought peace between the Indians and the White Man. Where the statue stands today is the spot that Chief War Eagle is buried along with several family members and two of his daughters.


This was an experience that will forever be etched in my memory. I appreciate my wife for going with me to see these sites even though they may not have been interesting to her. She is the greatest!

Minnesota Bound via Iowa

Vacation time is here and we are hitting the road for three weeks! Our first week was to Minnesota to visit Christa's family and attend a family reunion on her dad's side. But first to get to Minnesota we would travel to Iowa to visit the town my wife grew up in for a good part of her early years. We left on Monday, July 26, 2010 and flew from Atlanta to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and changed planes and flew to Des Moines, Iowa. We rented a car and drove to Woodward, Iowa, the city my wife lived in when I met her in 1984. I was excited to finally see where she lived and went to school. It was a small, quiet and pleasant town. It would definitely be worth a trip back to visit again one day. After a wonderful trip down memory lane we were off to our next destination.......Sioux City, Iowa where we would stay the night!