FROM MURPHYS TO MANCHESTER
This trip began when the Don Bosco College yahoo group (aka SOBs--Salesian Old Boys) scheduled a reunion in Montreal. Immediately, possibilities flashed into my head: what a great opportunity to see old college buddies, do some genealogical research on the LaPlante side, celebrate Jennifer's birthday, make a mini pilgrimage to the Shrine of Blessed Kateri, St. Joseph's Oratory and Ste. Anne de Beaupre, tour Montreal and Quebec, and visit the Lighty clan in Saratoga Springs--among other things. Besides that, we had free air miles to cash in or lose, and perhaps, most of all, we were ready for a vacation. We didn't need further motivation.
Murphys
It all began with a visit to Murphys (near Sonora) to see Jennifer and Steve's new home and to celebrate Jennifer's birthday at the nearby golf course restaurant. Steve was busy making appraisals. We were a day early for Jennifer's birthday and he had special plans for a family celebration the next day.
After lunch we headed for a Comfort Inn near the San Jose airport to get some sleep before our early morning flight to Las Vegas, Chicago, and Manchester NH. We were still sleepy when we reached Las Vegas for an hour and a half layover. I decided to try my luck at the slots and hit a jackpot to help with travel expenses. Right after I hit the jackpot, the airline changed our boarding gate. I wouldn't have chanced on the lucky slot machine if we had been at the other gate--our lucky day.
Now the long flight and multiple stopovers were easier to take. By 7:30 that evening we had picked up a Ford Focus at Budget Rent a Car and found the Manchester Holiday Inn.