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.