Fridges & Friends

Thursday, 10/28

The morning of reckoning.  Will the fridge be fixed, or will we have to replace it after our journey ends?  Those are the options per the manufacturer.

We park our coach in front of a scrappy little appliance store in Abingdon and wait for "Mack" to begin his work.  First, he shims all four fridge doors for better sealing of the doors, per the manufacturer's recommendation (we all fail to understand why the doors weren't shimmed at the factory).  As we completed the job, UPS delivers the new thermistor ($21 plus $45 shipping) and.  Installation issues are minimal and we're on our way after paying $72 for labor, about 1/3 of what it would have cost in California.  Now it's "wait & see" if the new thermistor is the complete solution to our fridge problem.

Back on the road by 11 a.m., we have a 5 hour drive to our intended destination:  Marietta, GA.  A suburb of Atlanta, Marietta is home to John and his family.  John became a very special friend during the winter of 1973/74 when we, along with two others, shared the responsibility of resurrecting an ill-fated venture of American Express Travel.  Living in elegant style in New York City, our seven months together brought 4 guys a lifetime of cross country friendship with few personal visits.  That absence had to be corrected on this trip!

Continued clear weather and good highways through eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia gave us a pleasant rolling view of the forested mountains, Knoxville and Chattanooga.  Knowing how important it is to keep drivers happy, Doris was treated to her favorite McDonald's soft ice cream after having driven two hours while I read and mapped potential routes after our Georgia visit.  Arriving at our chosen RV park only minutes from our friends, we snagged the last parking site and prepared for John & Cecile's arrival, the first reunion in 20 years.

What a treat!  What fun!  Doris's appetizers and our bar complimented four people sharing great stories of past times and families.  A late, great dinner at a diner minutes away left us exhausted but happy when we said goodbye at 11pm.

The fridge?  Found to be working well, even making ice for the next party.  A great way to end the day.

Cecile & John.  37 years later, John & I can  still can laugh about our lives together in NYC while draining American Express's bank account.

Tornado Or Fridge Problem ... Which Is Worse?

Wednesday, 10/27

Interested in what did happen during the night?  We thought so, because we sure were! 

Essentially, the weather produced nothing of concern.  Some heavy rain about 5 a.m. that ceased within the hour, never to return.  However, to the southwest is Chattanooga, Tennessee which took a major hit, as well as other locations on a line to the west of us.  Our friends, still in DC reported that they had more rain than we, but nothing more.  We're lucky.  Tornado warnings are given when the wind and storms are ripe for producing tornadoes, and did, but not for us.

Unfortunately for us, our refrigerator began failing at 5 a.m.  That meant we had to find a repair service qualified to work on it.  Not an easy task, but we succeeded and headed for a small outfit further toward our destination.  Weather cooperated and abundant sunshine made for more spectacular foliage sightings in the mountains of southwestern Virginia.  This was to become the best part of the day, as the fridge problem cannot be fixed until a part arrives tomorrow morning, and then we're not totally sure if the issue will be resolved.  Grrrr!!

Now, it's another overnight in another Walmart parking lot.  As you know by now, we find these locations to be safe, quiet and convenient for shopping.  This time, there's an "Outback" steakhouse across the street that will satisfy our need for a good time on this day.

The Shenandoah Valley & Tornado Watches

Tuesday, 10/26

After waiting for the notorious DC Beltway traffic to abate, we headed west to the Shenandoah Valley and I-81 southward toward North Carolina.  While the sky was overcast, there was no doubt that Virginia's foliage was peaking in these soft, low-rise mountains.  When the sun did shine, the colors were among the best of the trip.  Rolling through rich farmland, on a smooth interstate was quite a break from previous freeway travels of late!  Definitely, this highway is a great way to move toward the southeast.  Fine roads and less traffic.

Tonight?  Another Walmart parking lot experience.  As we always do, we called ahead and received permission to park.  However, on arrival, "security" told us to move on.  "No RV parking allowed.  Ever!"  Sooo, another call to management and again, we were confirmed as desired "tenants".  So much for effective corporate communication, even the printed memo that the security officer had in hand.  However, the incident also confirmed the need to ask management for permission, regardless of what the websites and other sources tell us to do. 

After inspecting the mall across the street, filled with several interesting restaurants, we returned to our coach to learn that severe weather, even tornado "watches" were in effect until 3 a.m.  That news certainly energized us!  What to do?  Not much.  We closed the front slide, made sure awnings were fully retracted, and slept fitfully.

Gettysburg, etc.

Monday, 10/25

Oh dear, only 2 months 'til Christmas!  On the road for almost 2 1/2 months.  It seems impossible that we left our "other" home midsummer, and now we're closing in on the holiday season.  Still, there's much to see on this trip.  So, while Doris and most of the group are enjoying their trek to Gettysburg, PA, I get to spend quiet time attempting to calculate how much we can see and what routes to take so that we arrive in California before Thanksgiving.

Gettysburg.  Site of one of the bloodiest battles fought during the first days of July, 1863, there were between 46,000 to 51,000 casualties incurred in three days, with the Confederates suffering the most during this turning point in our Civil War .  A powerful monument covers acres and should be a required visit for all people, regardless of nationality.  I've been there several times during my tour company days, and have also circled it in an overfly during one of my cross country flying trips.  If television were there to transmit the battle, the war may well have ended the next day by popular decree. 

Gettysburg battlefield, one of numerous monuments to this pivotal Civil War battle.

The Union Army's hill top commanding view toward the advancing Confederate Troops below.  

Tonight?  Another farewell dinner as we leave for Virginia while our friends continue their exploration of the Washington, DC area. 

Sunday Surprise

Sunday, 10/24

It was my day to work.  Hours were spent washing the windshield (the first time in a month, thanks to few bugs at this time of year and the rains while parked), plus thorough dusting, mopping, vacuuming of the interior and some more outdoor chores.  Setting off to buy some new windshield wipers, we encounter our old friends as they arrive from having spent four days immersed in New York City.  What fun for all of us to see each other again! 

Doris had already made her famous chili plus "wings" while Tom pulled out his grill and others whipped up more food, including special desserts from "the #1 bakery", found on Hoboken, NJ, and popularized on one of the food channels.  Once again, good friends shared good times.  It just doesn't get better than this when on the road.  Maybe that's why it's difficult to part from them.

Towards Washington, DC

Saturday, 10/23

Leaving Delaware was another drive along country roads.  First, were the beaches facing the Atlantic, then turning west, through little towns like Bridgeville, boyhood home of General Custer, and more corn and soybean fields, just like in the Midwest, except smaller fields.

A major RV park in College Park, Maryland was our destination for today.  Doris & I couldn't write this blog until later because the group we'd left behind reads our blog and we wanted to surprise them with our decision to change plans and enjoy Washington with them rather than bypassing the Capitol and move further south.

Finding the park was easy, just off busy I-495 (the outer beltway).  The park is filled with RVs and trees.  Living in a forest only a few miles from DC gives a false impression of how close we are to the "headquarters" of the most powerful nation in the world.

The Capital Area and The Beach

Friday, 10/22

Weather continues to encourage exploration, so off to the countryside surrounding Dover.  Knowing that the Amish live in the area, we searched them out and found a fabulous country store with Amish delights ... especially in the bakery session. 

Doris doing what she happily does best:  finding the best carbs for my waistline.

The Amish are gentle people who specialize in farming the old fashioned way.  No electricity, no cars, no telephones.  They take care of each other during difficult times.  One thing for sure:  They are hard workers.  Along with their draft horses and buggy-pulling horses, they are a special feature of the Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even little Delaware.

Sharing the road with the Amish.

This election year, Delaware has produced a lightening rod of a candidate for US Congress.  On this day, we found two political statements within a mile of one another:

I'll leave the caption for you to create!

The Amish and their manure spreader at work ... a subtle (?) political statement.

Leaving Dover and the nearby Amish community, we continued south on towards the beaches of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.  Lewes is an old Dutch town that once relied on fishing and crabbing, like its neighbor, Rehoboth which was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, they are now tourist towns, catering to the big city populations attempt  to escape the sweltering summer heat and humidity.  We found them and the beaches to be very quiet at this time of the year, a pleasure for us.  Home this night would be another Elks Lodge parking area.  Again, nice people to greet us and make sure we were comfortable.

Neighbors for the night at the Lewes, DE Elks Lodge.  Sure was quiet. 

The First State

Thursday, 10/21

We thought California roads were bad, but the highways circumnavigating NYC, including those in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey are strong contenders for #1 in the involuntary dental filling extracting business. My God!  How our coach stayed in one piece is a credit to Monaco, the manufacturer.  Accentuating the problem is that one has to drive at 65 mph over the ruts, bumps, pot holes and occasional pieces of other vehicles in order to keep from being run over by other, highly aggressive drivers.  And it makes little difference how little or large their vehicles.  Combine bad roads and "kill or be killed" drivers and we have one stressed driver:  Me.  No wonder my sister says they avoid I-95 and the New York area when they make their snowbird trek from Vermont to Florida.  We'll do the same when possible.

As we headed south, things got better.  After refueling near Philadelphia, we crossed into Delaware and off the interstate to the capital, Dover.  What a treat!  A small city in the 49th largest state that was the first to ratify the constitution, Dover gave us more history, narrow streets to enjoy (although our coach "owned" them as we explored historic downtown) and more autumn beauty.  Having stocked up at our first Costco since leaving the west, we ultimately landed at a local Elks Lodge for an overnight.

Dover, Delaware.  One building among many that shows the history of this small, but important state.

Dover's City Hall

 

Goodbye New England

Wednesday, 10/20

It's time for the old gang to break up and begin our independent journeys toward home ... or so we plan.  Bill & Ginny left us yesterday for West Virginia.  This morning, the rest of of us caravan out of the park and head west and south through Rhode Island's continuing natural beauty, enter Connecticut where I have the closest "near accident" in my RV driving history. The New Haven portion of I-95 is some of the worst highway experienced, plus one lady driver (and I'm being veerrrry polite in my description!!!!) decides that I don't need the right front corner of our coach and does a quick left cutoff turn into me.  Using both braking systems, I was able to slow enough to avoid her, although at the worst moment, I could barely see her car ... she was so close to the front of us.  I hope she had to do as much laundry after that incident as I did.

All of us decide to refuel our coaches and ourselves before descending on the New York City area.  Milford, CT's Cracker Barrel Restaurants favors us with adequate parking and a familiar menu.  Then, it's back on busy I-95 where we combat ever increasing heavy traffic.  With NYC on the horizon, Doris and I change interstates, cross the Hudson River via the Tappan Zee Bridge, enter New Jersey and finally arrive in Westwood, home to Doris's brother and family.  And there they were, greeting us at the Westwood Elks parking lot, our home for a night.

Fun conversation, great dinner and active, very cute boys to entertain us, all making the separation from our foliage friends much easier.

Westwood, New Jersey provides an idyllic retreat from nearby Manhattan.

The Ocean State

Once again, our travels have become so busy with driving, exploring and sharing times with our traveling friends, I'm resorting to consolidating several days into one entry.  Bear with me as I recall the drama, drivel and driving.  In general, the weather continued to be outstanding.  And foliage?  Just as vibrant.  Individual trees of indescribable brilliance seemed to jump out at us as we drove or walked through the cities or countryside.  And, there would be more to follow as many trees had yet to begin their autumn artistry.

Our view of our Boston area RV park.  Beats staring at TV political commercials.

Sunday, 10/17 - To Newport

Mid-morning and we're caravaning again.  This time, it's southwest from the Boston area to the smallest state in the Union, Rhode Island.  A few minutes from Newport, our campground is located near perfectly for exploring the summer home of the wealthy (well, those like the Vanderbilt and the Astor families who could pay for their "cottages" before income taxes were imposed in the early 1900s. 

We attempted to take a half-day, somewhat educational tour of Newport, but all were sold out.  Independent lunch, shopping, a visit to the local Elks Lodge and a fun evening BBQ together ended the sunshiny day.

The picture is blurry because the photographer's eyes were focused on the food.

Monday, 10/18 - Touring Summer Cottages

Finally we get the Newport tour.  We learned more about the wealth of yesteryear than some of us could remember.  OK ... none of us remembered all of it, except that we'll never have what the railroad and oil magnates of the time were able to show off during what became known as the "Gilded Age".  A couple of hours guided through the Vanderbilt summer cottage, named "The Breakers" was further proof of our present poverty, comparatively speaking.

The annual two summer months at the Cornelius Vanderbilt's summer cottage must have been similar to living in our home-on-wheels.

Lunch was at the White Horse Tavern, since 1673, oldest continuously operating tavern/restaurant in the US.  British soldiers occupied the building during their occupation of Newport in the Revolutionary War. 

Newport's White Horse Tavern.  The British army chose a fine establishment to house their troops.  Next time, we'll order the beef wellington for our candlelight dinner. UmmmHmmm!

Tonight, we dine on seafood (I've forgotten that there is other types of food) and say farewell to Bill & Ginny as they will be leaving tomorrow for their independent travel westward to home.


Tuesday, 10/19 - Galilee

Leigh, our Park Ridge, IL friend who once lived in the Newport area, recommended an excursion to Jamestown and the fishing port of Galilee for a seafood lunch.  Nothing like enticing this group of foodies with more gastronomic delights!  Not only did we have lunch by the water, some of us made a visit to the docks just as a trawler was being unloaded of its day catch.  Rapid fire unloading, conveying, weighing, boxing, icing ... and refrigerated trucks, both small and big stood by to transport the catch to retailers and restaurants.  Wow!  We should not be annoyed with the price we pay for seafood.  These guys work hard!

The payload is about to be unloaded.

Unloading the catch, a fast, furious, dirty job.

Caught today, iced and boxed at the dock.  Could be on your table tonight.

The sun sets on our group's last night in Rhode Island ... and the end of our tour.

This is the last night of our RV gang's official Autumn in New England tour together.  We're all so seafood stuffed, that the best we could do is snacks and adult beverages in Tom & Sheryl's coach.  Even that seemed to add another few pounds to this scribe.

Buddy, the tour group's mascot does NOT like his fish-filled belly poked!

Quiet

Saturday, 10/16

I've enjoyed so much the opportunity to catch up with my tasks that I passed on the chance to travel with others to Gloucester and Rockport, both coastal towns north of Boston.  Those who went had fun (and more lobster) while I swept the forest debris from our roof, managed some plumbing issues, blogged, bookkeeped, dealt with changes at the next RV park, worked on our independent travel once we part from the group, blah blah.

Tonight's dinner will be a group feeding frenzy at a local restaurant.  Watch out, Larry & Lana Lobster!

Rain, Reflections & Friends

Friday, 10/15

Two months ago today, we left our California home.  Here we are on the other side of our country, having already accumulated so many experiences.  With another month to go, we don't know how we can "top" what has been mostly enjoyable, enlightening and filled with friends, relatives and even new relationships with other "roadies". 

Today is a perfect day (have I said that phrase more than once?) for such reflection.  It's a stormy day, one good for staying in and catching up on slow breathing and perusing hundreds of photos, some of which are worth sharing, even if not perfect.  Yet, there are members of the stronger gender willing to trudge forward to the shops of the community.  And they did, giving some of weaker ones time to deal with details.

Tonight, friends came by and we enjoyed an impromptu dinner and discussion.  A fine, relaxing ending to another day on the road, in the forest, under a strong, non-leaking roof.  Yeah!!!

This is not a picture of tonight's dinner guests.  However, rather than packing a VW Bug or telephone booth with as many friends as possible like we did in our college days, we prefer packing our coach with our traveling friends.  Apparently, some of them enjoyed the challenge.

Ending today's blog entry, I've copied part of an email I received from Leigh Olsen.  When Doris & I pulled up in front of our friend Sandy's house in Illinois way back on Labor Day, a car stopped beside us and out jumped Leigh, a total stranger ... but not for long.  Seems he was about to take delivery of a Monaco coach similar to ours and his enthusiasm for same caused him to introduce himself and tell us of his purchase and plans to live in it full time while continuing career as a writer.  The purchase didn't work out, but Leigh apparently is not a busy person as he's been spending way too much time reading this blog.  This has caused him to write to me and share his concerns (that applies to all of us) while traveling through New England.  He's made money because of us, but we need to take heed of his warning:

"I have been following your travels and exploits with eager anticipation of your next blog posting.  At times I have felt like your "Jewish Mother from Chicago" wondering and worrying when there have been no posts for 3 or 4 days.  I finally realized that having fun is exhausting and very time consuming - hence the understandable delays.

I am right there beside you and vicariously enjoying your trip reports.  I am originally from the East Coast and consider many of the places you have visited to be my "old and favorite stomping grounds".  A real nostalgic trip through the eyes of another.  Just think - You have saved me thousands of dollars by leaving me at home and yet bringing me along through your prose and photos - Thanks!

 

And now the warning...

 

"Just a few concluding remarks and I will let you go.  You may be barraged by solicitations once you get back to California (and do tell Nancy Pelosi - Pfffittt for me when you get there).  I have sold your name and contact info to numerous outfits like Jenny Craig, Nutri Systems, Weight Watchers, South Beach, Atkins, and Pritkin Principle just to name a very few.  Who knew these outfits were so willing to pay handsome bounties for prospective clients?  I didn't do it for the money alone - I am truly concerned about your waist line and would hate to see you lose your "boyish figure".  Per your blogs - to say you have been eating well is the understatement of the century.  I was salivating for over an hour earlier today when I read about your multiple encounters with lobster rolls."

I've replied to Leigh, advising that I'm sharing his concerns with the nine others on this leafy odyssey for I've consumed far fewer lobsters/lobster rolls than my fellow traveling gluttons.  Maybe more scotch, but fewer former members of the Atlantic's deep.

Where It All Began

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Cambridge home.

Thursday, 10/14

Actually, it didn't "all begin" in Boston.  That was 1609 when the English attempted a settlement in Jamestown, VA.  In 1620, pilgrims landed, first in Provincetown, MA at the tip of Cape Cod.  They needed to make beer and do laundry ... maybe even taking a bath.  Later that month, they stepped foot on the continent at Plymouth, MA.  The famed rock can be viewed with a yawn and a question, "Is that REALLY the rock they first stepped on?"  The answer?  Probably not, but it's a symbol of the first successful settlement.

Then, there's Boston, begun in 1630 as a successful settlement and natural seaport.  Today, we board our 20 seat tour bus (i.e., our group of 10 taking control by our sheer numbers and loud voices) and, with John, our driver/guide zipping off to see what today's Boston and Cambridge have to share.  In spite of our presence, John did a great job of navigating and steering with one hand while hold a mic with the other and giving us a continuous narration that covered the past 380 years.  Bunker Hill, a tour of the USS Constitution (oldest US Navy ship still in service), touring all throughout haphazard streets of Boston, lunch at Fanueil Hall (more seafood), Boston Common, "Cheers" pub, Newbury Street, Old Trinity Church and its towering neighbor, The glass sided Hancock Tower.  Then there was Cambridge, home of Harvard and MIT universities.  It has been quite a day that didn't require much effort beyond trying to remember all the data that filled our ears, along with the sights of sites of historic significance.  How fortunate we are to have this day of over viewing a great city.  We now can return to explore in greater detail those areas of personal interest.

Aboard the USS Constitution.  They don't make sailors, uniforms or ships like they did in the 1700s.

Sleeping quarters below deck.  Not for the tall, nor the insomniacs.

Rum.  A sailor's best friend.

Copley Square's Old Trinity Church, mirrored in the 62 story Hancock Tower.  Designed by the I.M. Pei architectural firm, the insurance company had to replace all the windows due to imperfections in the glass that caused them to shatter.  Meanwhile, the tower's weight on the landfill below also caused flooding of the church's basement.  The lawyers were the only winners in all the cases.

Tonight was another dinner with our touring friends ... and the beginnings of a torrential rain storm that pounded our roofs with water and tree parts.  

Boston's Copley Plaza Hotel gloriously flys Old Glory.

 

Toward Beantown

Wednesday, 10/13

This morning, we saddle up our 400 horses and begin the drive towards Littleton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston that will be our home for the next four days.  As it has been throughout the foliage trip, the weather provided perfect driving conditions as we rode the interstate, paid more tolls, and left Maine.  Three dozen miles of coastal New Hampshire, then the Bay State and its busy traffic kept us alert until we reached our leafy RV park.  Guided to our sites, we carefully negotiated dirt trails among the veeerrrryy close trees to a perfectly level spot.  Once again connected to the vitals (water, electricity, sewer and cable TV), the 10 of us joined forces and headed for the nearby "99 Restaurant".  This New England chain has entertained us with some of the best restaurant food at reasonable prices.  Lunch today was no exception.  The best part was watching the last of the Chilean miners being brought to the surface.  How could we miss this real "reality" show?  Surely, this gave all who watched a special feeling of thanks, wonder, and pride that humans CAN do good for its fellow man ... and did today, ever so successfully.  Strong people; strong will; strong commitment.  Of course the US was there, with many other countries.  A truly great effort with a great ending.

The view of the forest from our living room.  Foliage in this part of Massachusetts has yet to change colors for us.  Notice the reindeer, moose, bison, black bears, chipmunks and cows have already come in ... predicting a hard winter ahead.

The Necks

Tuesday, 10/12

Tom, Sheryl, Doris & I join forces and head north along US 1, once "the" highway connecting Maine with Florida.  I-95 now is the route of choice, but not if one wants to see the coastal towns and villages of this fair state.  First stop was Bath, location of the Bath Iron Works.  Ship building is BIW's business.  Both naval and commercial vessels are born and raised here in the harbor.

The major part of the day was spent enjoying Booth Bay Harbor at the tip of one of Maine coast's "necks", or what we, the less informed would call "peninsulas".  Again, lobstering is the business, along with tourism.  "Kodak Moments" are everywhere, all the time.  Even the restaurant that sated our lobster addiction provided exquisite views of the harbor, homes, foliage and the path to the Atlantic.  While many shops had already closed for the season, others provided buying opportunities and staff seemingly enjoying our temporary company, especially because we were among a dozen or so tourists in town.  A week earlier, a month earlier and we would have been 4 among thousands.

It's difficult to select from the many views of the harbor restaurant, but here's one for you.

Towards the Atlantic.

Main Street, Booth Bay Harbor.  The tourists have left for the season.

Attention tourists!  There's more of the same ahead of you.

It's either a crusty ol' Maine sea captain, or our friend Tom.

Of course, the foliage and bright sun added to the beauty that bring so many to this naturally beautiful area of our country.  Today's offering of all components was among the best.

Returning to our RV park, Doris and I were met by Holly and taken to Cindy & David's for an artistically presented dinner.  With relatives like them, we don't need fancy restaurants.

Yarmouth, Maine.  Foliage not quite at its peak.  Wait a 3-4 days for that to occur.

Light Houses

Monday, 10/11

Columbus Day!  At least this is the day we get to celebrate his discovery of our continent.  It's also another perfectly clear day, perfect for taking Portland, Maine's light house cruise.  Great views, good narration and a captain named Davis at the helm.  How could it be better?!

A lobster boat inbound to Portland harbor.  Its "passengers" will be our guests for dinner this evening.



 Another round of lobster rolls round out our lunch, then it's exploring Portland on foot.  This city, harbor and the surrounding "Calendar Islands", so named because early explorers incorrectly counted 365 of them, have played a major part in the growth of New England, ship building and during WW11 was a staging area for the fleet headed for Europe.  Today, it's still important as well as being very photogenic.

Captain Davis being assisted by our Captain Al.

Portland Light House.  Still important to navigation.

Exchange Street, up the hill from the harbor.

Cobblestone streets,  1800s buildings, apartments with a view of the past and present ... this is old Portland harbor living.

Tonight, it's appetizers at our place, then a potluck dinner at the clubhouse. 

Doing what we do best, accompanied by nieces Holly & Cindy.

The Sabbath, Shakers, Lobster, Eartha, Vodka and Custard

Sunday, 10/10

A gray morning, but we all head to New Gloucester to visit the SabbathDay Lake Shaker Village, dating from 1782.  Shakers were, and are, a religious group with colonies scattered throughout the east and Midwest.  This colony is considered the last active village.  Unfortunately, the village was closed to visitors on this day.

Turning lemons into lemonade, we head for Freeport where everyone visited the multi-building LL Bean store, had more lobster rolls and clam chowder, wandered along the streets looking for that special bargain.  Well, the women did while the men enjoyed standing in the sunshine, learning more about the area from the "locals". 

Freeport's stores have to love these shoppers.

Further exploration took us to "Eartha".  Not a female, Eartha is the largest known globe in the world.  Designed by the employees of the DeLorme Company, this 3 ton rotating globe represents one of the largest computer mapping databases in the world.  The printed data on the globe is a composite of satellite imagery, ocean-depth data and information about road networks & urban areas.  Sorry, but no picture can present the works, but you can go to www.delorme.com to learn more about it and the company.

Then, there's vodka.  Potato vodka, that is!  Of course it has to be made from potatoes if it's to be made in Maine, one of the largest potato producing states.  A tour and samples (of course!) were part of the afternoon.  By the way, blueberry flavored vodka was not a hit, although blueberries are another major Maine crop.


Hey!  Men can shop too!

 Custard?  Yes, to appease Doris, we had to stop at the frozen custard shop before it closed for the season, as so many shops do in Maine's coastal area after the tourist season .  A warm afternoon aided everyone aboard to consume even more calories ... but they were good tasting calories, which makes them legal.

After all this fine dining, I can't remember what we did with the rest of the day & evening, but you can bet we didn't stop terrorizing the local lobster.

East to Down East

Saturday, 10/09

We're blessed again.  It's a traveling day and once again, the weather is perfect.  Driving along US 302 into Maine and southeasterly along Sebago Lake toward our destination, the morning sun slanted through the forest of pine and mostly brilliantly colored foliage alongside the road.  I'm beginning to wonder if our group will finally say they've had enough of this foliage stuff!  Nope!  The CB chatter says otherwise.  I've seen so many foliage-filled autumns back here, yet even I am awed by this year's presentation of autumn artistry. 

Arriving at our Freeport, Maine RV park, there's a bit of confusion as the owner had erroneously canceled one space, the first kerfuffle of the trip.  Once sorted out, we establish our residences for the next four days a short distance from LL Bean's famed headquarters, store, and surrounding village filled with interesting shops and restaurants.  "The Lobster Locusts" as this group has become begins its independent search for the finest (or at least the most) lobster that everyone can consume.  After all, that's what one does in Maine, and we're all going to do it with gusto!

Doris & I have an advantage.  Cindy & Holly, our nieces, live nearby and have selected a special restaurant with seating by the fireplace and exquisite service.  But first, we are taken to Cindy & David's home in nearby Yarmouth, a quintessential New England village, where we enjoy reconnecting and a libation.  A tour of the garden with their new puppy is special. 

From Nova Scotia, this pup LOVES fresh tomatoes from the vine.

A wonderful down east lobster dinner with family.  A great combination.

Fryeburg Fair

Friday, 10/08

This morning's sunshine brought out Tony's obsession with Vitamin D.  Or maybe he's just drying out after the rains.

Sunshine!  It was either astute tour planning on my part, or (more believably) dumb luck favoring us wandering Californians that gave us sunshine on the day we chose to cross the nearby border into Maine and partake of the Fryeburg Fair. 

On this trip, Doris & I have enjoyed the Wyoming State Fair,The Tunbridge (VT) World Fair, and now the Fryeburg (ME) Fair.  None are like the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton because all three were in the country and filled with country style exhibits and activities for farmers and ranchers rather than the carnival atmosphere of the more suburban fairs.  This time with friends, we really enjoyed the agricultural aspect.  Blue ribbon winning work horses, oxen, sheep, goats, chickens ... you name it, we saw them all.  Especially interesting was the ox pulling contest.  No, we didn't pull the oxen.  Instead teams of ox competed in pulling heavier and heavier weights.  Maxing out at  pulling 11,700#, the team that won certainly deserved an extra dessert.

Ox pulling contest,  near standing room only audience.

If you're going to pet the goats, you better bring food!

With signs like this at the fair, we began telling everyone that we're really from Canada, not California.