Seattle to Princeton NJ to Austin July 2025
Flying into Newark Liberty International Airport is a concern these days with the issues of radar and Flight controllers. We had the additional concern of strong weather systems moving through New Jersey as well. The Captain of our flight came out to address the passengers waiting through a long delay and said that if we just board the plane and taxi out then we have a better chance of making the flight and she was determined to get us to our destination. So we boarded and spent longer than normal times on the tarmac but by golly we got to take off, the flight was smooth with a bit of an edgy landing but we were able to get our rent cars and depart the airport before midnight!
 |
| July 1 we flew with family to Newark International |
 |
| Pre-colonial community's eventually joined to become Princeton |
 |
| So many Colonial era homes still survive but this one ( our Air BB) had updated siding and a completely modern interior |
 |
| I do not recall seeing black squirrels last year when we were in Princeton |
 |
| They gutted this house and re-imagined it. |
 |
| This cat is the main attraction |
 |
| The Oregon Trail is not far away, is it? |
 |
A very fun day visit from our Brooklyn granddaughter, Ella. She took 1 subway and two trains, a two hour ride from the city. We picked her up at Princeton Junction Station, then we took a hike around Princeton University
|
 |
| You can see the Delaware and Raritan Canal passes right through the Princeton property. |
.JPG) |
| WE stopped at the book store on the Drag, Nassau St |
 |
| Hook 'Em |
 |
Time to cool off, It gets hot in New Jersey Y'all
|
 |
The Nassau Diner on the drag is a great place for take out
|
 |
| This family enjoys animals. |
 |
WE dropped Ella off at Princeton Junction
Station where you can catch a train every 20 minutes to Brooklyn! The mass transit system up here is so convenient, Sorry we cant think of those things in Texas. |
We went to Morven Museum for July 4th Holiday events. see
https://www.morven.org/ They had a great opportunity inviting everyone to sign The Declaration of Independence. No time like Now to sign for sure! We all bellied up to the signing table and squeezed in our signature next to John Hancock! The White haired guy exclaimed "All us traitors are in this together!"
 |
Kids can vote here!
|
The next day we heard the news from Texas. Yet another Flood disaster in Central Texas.
My first home in Abilene, Texas had a creek just beyond the back yard fence, I recall from a very early age of 3 when our back yard flooded almost up to the house. That must have been very impressive to me. Later in life when it was time to buy our first home I was not interested in anything near a creek or other body of water in Texas. I did go look at a home that was just across the street from Lake Austin, most of the homes that lined the constant level lake were out of our range but this one was within the high end of what we could afford. The only problem was that it was downstream from Mansfield dam. To much risk for me. Central Texas has endured floods for as long as as anyone can remember, deadly disasters are not uncommon every 8-10 years. Texas Flood is the debut studio album by the American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released on June 13, 1983, by Epic Records. The album was named after a cover song featured on the album, "Texas Flood", which was first recorded by blues singer Larry Davis in 1958. Everyone in Texas knows where the floods will occur. Those born in the fifties are already dropping dead left and right by flood or otherwise. I pray that those in power have learned from the latest event and construct the necessary technology in place to provide adequate warnings to save those who for whatever reason choose to sleep in the path of raging waters. https://www.npr.org/2025/07/05/nx-s1-5457759/texas-floods-timeline
 |
Ella's good friend Quinn went to Rider, we just happened to be driving by so we stopped by to walk the campus.
 | | Lake Travis before the floods. |
A map of all the Texas lakes now full after the floods.
| 
Lake Travis after the floods. We have witnessed this several times before. Just more damaging, more severe due to the increasing effects of climate change. What will the future floods be?
|
|
.HEIC) |
| Imagine being from Austin and finding a Whole Earth grocery store. became a great place for lunch |
 |
| Vegan Melt |
 |
| We ended our time i New Jersey at an airport hotel so we could easily manage making our flight to Austin, You could see New York City from the rooms window. |
 |
| We were greeted by a Coopers Hawk when we returned to Austin. |
 |
| Sea Biscuit could barely wait for this moment! |
 |
| It's not hot in Texas |
 |
| Well, this would be my first visit to Q2 stadium, the MLS 2025 All Star game! |
 |
| Lots of fan fare before the game. |
 |
| See that sombrero? Big D has been trying to get on the Jumbotron for a long time, that camera beamed right on that cute kid in the Verde Sombrero! And everyone of us got in on the action, FUN! |
 |
| Do not know who this guy was but everyone else in the stadium seemed to know! |
 |
| This picture was taken by Big D's dad all the way back in Seattle! |
 |
| A week of a Texas Horse Camp |
 |
| First time to complete the show unassisted! |
Due to the unusual amount of rains, July has been noticeably cooler, very few 3 digit temps which has made for more friendly outdoor time. Hover that is changing the last week of July as the HOT HUMID days storm in. One way to stay cool and have maximum fun is a Good OL Family Dinner
 |
It takes two, We are missing 4: Kendra & Ella in Brooklyn, Liv in Portland, and Russell in Seattle
From the Left Sister Ginger, Brother Dave, Nephews Lux, Zack, Luna, Josh, Daughter Lia, Grandkids Clara and Drew, Admiral Lynn and son Graeme. |
.JPG)
.HEIC)
