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.