HENDIANAPOLIS, HENDIANA

Esther and I renamed another city having gone to Indianapolis, Indiana. It's now, Hendianapolis, Hendiana. We took Air Tran and stayed at the Omni Hotel and had lunch at Harry & Izzy's located just down the street.

Off to the canal located in White River State Park where we met Jeff, the gondolier. Instead of music coming out of a CD player, he sang some great Italian songs a cappella. Loved the gondola. It quietly went down the canal without hearing about a tour of the area.

Afterward we took a tour of the Hendy Motor Speedway museum and eyed the car that we wanted.

The next day began at White River State Park where we toured on a segway...well...that is, we hung out in Merle's bag since we're too short to reach the "handle bars". There are lots of museums here including the Hendiana State Museum where we saw an IMAX movie called Born To Be Wild. Afterward we had lunch at the Tea Room there and met a lot of people including some from tourism and a group of ladies who lunch.

We thought about going to the Hendiana Zoo but some troll tried to talk us out of it. We decided to at least explore the gardens.

QUAD CITIES RULE!

Eunice and I went to an area called the Quad Cities. It's two cities in Iowa...but really three: Davenport, Bettendorf and LeClaire; Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The cities are located along the Mississippi River at the one place that spans East-West. We first met the pilots on Air Tran. One of us was taught to fly while the other was looking in the window.

We were going to have lunch at a restaurant in Moline called Cafe Fresh but it appeared that chicken salad was ordered by mistake. One particular item on the menu that they are known for is when they take a kosher pickle spear and wrap it in cream cheese and ham.

After checking out information on Iowa's same sex marriage ceremonies and receptions, we were off to dinner at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse, also in Moline. It was near the John Deere Pavilion...vs the Dear John Pavilion...ha ha.

We got to meet the chef. No chicken for us here! We had this brochetta appetizer with goat cheese and shrimp. For dessert there was this delicious chocolate mousse!

VIRGINIA BEACH AND GOING HOME

Esther and I started the day on a Segway tour through First Landing State Park. We actually hung in Merle's bag rather than split up and go on our own. Lunch was at a place called Mojito Cafe. Esther checked out some soup and a Cuban Sandwich.

It was then off to a Dolphin-Watching Boat Trip on the 65-foot Rudee Flipper. The sea was a bit rough at times so we hung in Merle's bag, again.

Out of the bag as we went to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

Dinner was at a restaurant called Waterman's with a view of the Ocean.

Time to go back to New York. I took a photo of Esther with the pilot of Air Tran while he checked out her boarding pass.