October 1, 2007

9-1-I forget to mention last month that when we pulled into a park the last day of last month and Charlie went to release the car from the tow dolly he found that all through that New York mess, one of the straps that hold the car on (one on each wheel) had come completely off and only one tire was strapped on and I do not know how it manage to stay on the dolly!!!! We spent this day touring Allentown, where Charlie lived shortly after he was married to Ruth, 50 years ago! We saw all the places he lived and worked, and we just toured the town. So much to see. Allentown is getting rundown, but Bethlehem is flourishing. They did loss the huge steel company but have recovered nicely. We left town about 5 and drove to Palmyra where we turned wrong – got into a tiff - and ended up west of Hershey instead of east but did find another Wal*mart.
9-2 Sunday morning we took our time getting started leaving about 10 for Hershey, 4 miles away. It took a long time to get parked – we had forgotten this was the 3-day Labor Day weekend – and it seemed everyone was here! The first thing we did was get in line at Chocolate World for the ride through a chocolate factory. The line moved quite fast and soon we were learning all about chocolate, interesting. We also found that Hershey makes candy we didn’t realize were theirs, including Reeses and York Peppermint pattys. We browsed through the shops and bought something for Darlenes birthday next week, then splurged on a peppermint patty brownie, big enough for us to share! The parking and the tour were free, but anything else they had was $$$. There is a huge amusement park and museum and just so much to keep everyone busy. We cannot believe the amount of people that were there!! After that we did some caching and saw so much more of this wonderful town. Mr Hershey built the factory and then built the town for his workers, and it is very nice and well kept up. He has a campus/school for children needing some help and it is as nice or nicer than many college campus’s. We met 4 of the boys when we cached near their ‘home’. Well dressed and very good manners, just delightful to talk to. Finally back to the coach about 6 as it was beginning to cool down. Late supper and plan for tomorrow.
9-3 Up late and just lounged around till almost 11. Then took off, following the computer map that Charlie uses – It lead us to a residential dead end (he insisted on following the map!) and we had to unhook the car and the dolly to get turned around! Later a similar problem near where we had reservation for this evening- we were in a town we didn’t need to be be by following his map, and had missed the road we should have been on. Took a lot of maneuvering to get out and back onto the right road, and that was a very narrow and WINDING road for about 10 miles, and finally to the KOA where we are spending the night and expecting mail there. After finally getting settled in drove around to cache a bit and this was a better part of our day. We met some people at one, did several historic ones and took some walks in the beech forest. A nice time, then home and I did the laundry, and finally supper about 8:30, logged caches and off to bed. Today aviator and record holder of many records, Steve Fossett, was reported missing in a small plane.
9-4 Tuesday morn we took our time getting started, going to the office about 10 and finding the urgent mail for Charlie waiting for him. Signed up for another night and headed for West Chester to find a notary, which we did at a UPS store. He notarized Charlies pile of papers and sent then off for delivery tomorrow morning. Then off to Valley Forge for a day of history. We really enjoyed the 10 mile drive through the park and all the history, in fact it took us all day to visit all. It was also a beautiful blue and warm day, making it a real pleasure. Finally back home and a snack meal, some computering and off to bed. While in the park today we saw at least 12 deer and 3 tiny bambi’s! A very nice day.
9-5 Up early and by 10 had the motorhome moved down the road to a Wal*Mart. Then we headed for Philadelphia and some history. We parked in an underground at the National Park Visitor center and visited it first. Then out to walk around and I loved the place. All so old and mixed in downtown with the new! Our first stop was the Liberty Bell and it is now in a super modern building, but very interesting reading and seeing it again after 50 years! As we left we spied a lunch wagon serving ‘Voted the best Philly Sandwich in Philly’ so we shared one and it was good, but I still like the ones at Florence AZ best! Then crossed the street to Independence Hall where we were just in time for a tour. After that we just walked around, ending up on Jewelry Row seeing some beautiful diamond ‘stuff’! Finally decided we had had enough history for the day and tried to get out of town, but no way out- all roads did not lead to our Hwy 95! It took asking 4 times before we were on the freeway and heading home, arriving there about 7 PM. Another great day and I was really impressed with the town of Philadelphia.
9-6 Thur morn we were up early but not on the road till 11:30, but then we were not going far – only to the west side of Wilmington Delaware where we left the motorhome and went out to explore and cache. We ended up in the delightful town of New Castle where history goes back into the 1600s! We had clam and shrimp chowder at the Jessop’s tavern, built in 1724 and then walked about a mile around the town, later driving the outskirts of it. This is where William Penn landed many years ago and this town is just a delight of old homes and deep cobblestone roads-you can only drive very slow over them! This town was a real treat. Then headed back getting lost and finally finding our mobile mansion-we had a ‘mark’ on it in the GPS, but was interesting getting there from where we were! Loaded the jeep and took off for Maryland (Delaware is only about 12 miles wide at this point!) going just across the border to a tiny town of Elkton where a super Wal*Mart was waiting for us! A bit of shopping, some TV and computing and off to bed - at least tonight is not muggy!
9-7 Off about 10 to drive down the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It was not the ride we had expected, all inland and farmland, though still pretty. Only a few caches in the area too. We drove about 1½ hours to a small town where we had a lunch of clamcakes, as had been recommended to us. Really very tasty and filling! Then back to Elkton to pick up the mobile mansion and take it on the same road! Then across the Bay Bridge into Annapolis where we again got lost, because one of us didn’t want to hear any directions. Finally in town pulled into a church school parking lot and asked directions. The nicest lady helped us out and said she was going where we wanted to go so lead us over 10 miles to a Wal*mart in Bowie which is between Baltimore and Washington Dc. So that is where we are tonight. Snacked since still full from our large lunch, did our usual stuff and off to bed.
9-8 Up early and a lite breakfast, then off to the Metro Train station in Bowie. Got there just in time to get a ticket and hop on as the train was pulling out. A fast trip into town with a delightful lady telling us things to do, don’t and where to for the train and the town. First toward the Washington Monument and couldn’t get a ticket for a couple of hours so skipped that and headed toward Lincoln, with stops at the Korean, with the beautiful ‘statures’, then to Lincoln Memorial and later to the Vietnam Memorial wall. Just beautiful! We looked at everything, including the White House, and enjoying it all, finally into the Dept of commerce-Ronald Regan building, where we had to go through security stiffer than the airlines, and all we wanted was some ice cream! Wandered all around and through this complex, beautiful building and finally located the food court, where we finally decided on a fruit smoothie, Then after finally finding our way out headed toward the Capitol Building, but could see it was 9 more long blocks away and we were really dragging. Both of us were walked out, it is 97 degrees and very high humidity! We then stopped at the Archives building and had to wait in a long hot line to go through security again! We spent a lot of time here though and saw all the original documents for our wonderful country. They have a very nice display. When we left there we asked directions to the Metro station and were glad it was only a long block away! Figured out how to buy tickets again, caught the correct train and made a transfer to the New Carrollton orange line and headed home! Two tired seniors! But a great day. I had several emails and phone calls tonight about my birthday today, loved hearing from everyone! Just before dark we showered, dressed up and headed for Annapolis and the docks. Walked all around the docks enjoying the evening, so many people out tonight, and many Navy Academy guys and even a few gals all walking about looking splendid in their white uniforms. Finally found a place to eat, a spectacular place at the Marriott hotel, Pussers Landing – We had to wait till 9 but had a table out on the deck-Perfect – Yachts were tied up right next to our table, we could even converse with the people on them! A great seafood dinner, just what we had wanted for my birthday evening. Home by 11, just tired after such a busy and fun day.
9-9 Sunday morn we were up early and headed back into town via the jeep. First stop was at the Capitol Building that we had not gotten to yesterday. Being it was Sunday we could not get inside, so walked all around outside, as much as we could with all the fences and guards that are now in place! After that to the Botanic Gardens and then across the Potomac River to Arlington Cemetery where we saw Kennedys gravesite and arrived just in time to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This is a very moving experience. Leaving there we headed for my cousin Jill and husband Dans place nearby. It is a tall condo with a view that includes the Pentagon, just across the freeway-we could see the flag that has been placed where the 9-11 plane struck-and most of the monuments of town. Very impressive view! After talking for quite a while we decided to go to downtown Old Alexandria which is rich in history and old buildings. A street fair was going on so we toured that until we spied a great OLD bar where we had a drink, and while there Charlie discovered that he had lost his credit card somewhere!! Walked some more and then drove over to and through Georgetown because I wanted to see it. Next to a great Italian Eatery where Jill and I shared a veggie Pizza. Finally back to their condo and we headed home, arriving at 9:30, and it is almost midnight now and we are still up! Charlie called the Annapolis place we ate last night and they do have his credit card,-relief! It was another hot and muggy day also. Another great day and so good to see Dan and Jill again---
9-10 Up Monday and a slow lazy and hot start! Finally our on the road by 11, zipping around the edges of the city and heading south towards Richmond VA. We have fulfilled our goal of caching in all the states, except Kansas, so can now just cache for fun, not for a goal. A stop for fuel on the way and found a Wal*Mart in N Richmond, but just not a good parking place so went next door to Lowe’s to set up for the night. Now 3 PM so off to do some exploring. Today is Charlies daughter Darlenes birthday so called her. They are still searching for Steve Fossett, over a week now and no sign of him or his plane. We explored Richmond and found it to be very rich in history, both the N and S from the civil war had history here. Finally back home at 7pm, a light supper, our usual cache logging and computer stuff and off to bed. This was another very hot and humid day and we are both just dripping wet!
Sept 11th. Up early and off to explore Yorktown and Jamestown VA. Yorktown was interesting and we drove/walked around, saw a short interesting movie and just enjoyed the area. Then off to Jamestown and when we finally found the town and went into the Visitor center found that it was $14 each to go on in. It is almost closing time so we watched a short movie and moved on. Then we found the real Nat Park site, which is what we had wanted anyway, but, it had just closed for the evening! So drove back to Richmond via a scenic drive. A beautiful sunset tonight after a day that was 96 degrees and high enough humidity that it rained a bit. We decided on OUTBACK for dinner and found one 4 miles away, headed out, and when I checked the GPS we were over 6 miles away—something wrong here. Charlie kept driving for a bit and finally conceded that he might be going the wrong way! We explored a whole lot of Richmond hunting for our dinner! Many miles later we pulled in, had our usual great filet, and drove straight home, 4 miles, from there. We eat filets in many places, but always come back to Outback for a consistently good and tender filet. A fun day seeing more history.
9-12 Tuesday morning we were on the road by 10. We stopped at the rest area for breakfast and on as far as White Sulphur Springs, the first exit into West Virginia. It was only 2 PM but we are just 6 hours from home and needed to empty all systems and clean up out MM (mobile mansion). Wanted to cache here but cannot get a signal. We took a ride and ended up at the Greenbrier Inn, one of the premier inns in the USA! Fabulous, we wandered all through it and it is the most opulent place I have ever been. The ladies room has a well appointed lounge, and 4 stalls- each is a separate room with a door and a sitting room as well as a ‘sitting’ room!! Just impressive. Real towels and washcloths, the works! Over 6500 acres, 3 golf courses, homes and mansions for rent, and the lowest fee we could find is over $300 per night, per person. They even offer a 3 hour geocaching intro for $75 per person. (Greenbrier.com). Then some more driving around in the beautiful Allegheny hills and finally back to the MM. A supper, a margarita and since we have no internet decided to watch a movie tonight. ‘One Fine Day’ with George Clooney and Michele Pfeiffer was our choice. A very good choice. Then some ice cream and off to bed, for our last night on this holiday.
9-13 We slept in till about 8, took our time getting ready for the last leg of this holiday. By 10 we were on the road and an uneventful drive home through luscious West Virginia. The leaves are just beginning to ‘turn’, in a couple of weeks will be at the optimum! We saw gas prices from $2.49 to just over $3 on this trip, we had great weather except for the rain in Canada, and a few muggy and hot days that didn’t keep us from doing anything we wanted to do, so all in all, it was a great 4½ weeks and we saw many states. Since Charlie and I began caching and RVing together we have been in all the continental states (hey- we did drive through the corner of Kansas, but no caches there!) and 3 of Canada’s Providences. We arrived home at 4 PM, unloaded the MM, talked with some neighbors, bought groceries, relaxed and snacked for dinner. We are both tired tonight.
9-14 I was up at 7:30 and Charlie followed at 9! We did house things for a while and then he took the motorhome to Springfield for a few things that needed attention. Like the bolt that fell out of the main slide-out! He had lunch with Jake and was home at 3, just long enough to say hi and left for the plant till after 6. I spent the day doing stuff-wash clothes, sorting clothes, catching up on mail, just everyday things. A nice pork dinner, with tapioca for later. We are going to try, again, to lose some weight!! The scales here at the house weigh about 5 lbs lighter, so will take them with us next trip!
9-15 Charlie was up early and off to Springfield for his Sat morn breakfast gang, while I slept in. Finally up and lazed around to he came back, we talked a bit and he was off again to the airport where he will take the Cub up for tryout after being away so long. Next time I get to go! We decided to eat out so dressed up-long pants for him and long dress for me – and went to Carvers Steaks, an upscale place here in town. Our meal, and service were great but we were in the back area kind of like a warehouse with no atmosphere. They still haven’t found Steve Fossett; and OJ Simpson is on trouble again, armed robbery this time, but somehow he will weasel out of it!
Sunday the 16th-We messed around here at the house till 3pm and then cached for a bit- getting 8, and meeting TeddyR at the last one. Enjoyed a chat with him. I fixed a shrimp and pasta for a light meal. OJ is jailed with no bail! I can’t imagine anyone who is not happy with this situation! He deserved it!
9-17 I am just messing today- but Charlie has haircut, dentist, office-just a busy day. Noon and I am finally going to take my shower and do some shopping! Charlie home before going to the office, and when he left I headed out to Wal*Mart for groceries and a new bra and a blouse. Fixed him a special dinner of pork chops, some broasted, seasoned potatoes, broccoli in cheese sauce and sliced tomato, green pepper with feta cheese. It turned out good and he really liked everything. I had a long phone chat with Betz and with Carol today. Today is Charlie3’s 8th birthday but nothing was planned for him.
9-18 I was up early. Charlie was not—we did house stuff till late when he left for the office. I spent most of the day just reading, baked cookies and computered! Darlene came by for a while and we had a good chat. Charlie finally arrived home at about 7 pm; we had spaghetti with shrimp, salad with feta cheese (a favorite of ours!) and bread and wine. Things are more laid back now that we are home, and our bodies seem to need this rest!
9-19 Wednesday morning and we were up early. Still catching up on paperwork from being gone. Charlie left before noon for a business lunch meeting. I fought with getting on the internet, on both of our computers, till after 2 PM, then spent the rest of the day trying to get a HP iPAQ PDA + ‘everything’ to work, and after finally getting it going found it would not work with the VISTA on my computer!! Charlie called just after 5 and asked if I would like to go ‘cubbing’; of course I would, so he picked me up and off to the airport we went. This was my first flight since we returned and I looked forward to it! The weather was just perfect and I always like flying around so low so we can see what is ‘down there’! On his last flight Charlie completed 7000 air miles- a lot for a non commercial pilot! A stop at the grocery and home about 9 for a fast dinner of hotdogs and baked beans. Listened to the OJ Simpson drama, or is it comedy, for a while and retired to bed.
9-20 Charlie was off to play golf in Springfield this morning, then libations and a sandwich with the guys. He picked up the motorhome and brought it to Centerville and left it at the new CB warehouse and offices. That is much closer than the factories where we used to park it. I stayed here and just did lots of little things that I had put off and feel much better for getting them done.
9-21 We finally had a morning to sleep in! I stayed home again while Charlie had some chores to attend to. I packed 6 large boxes of books that had belonged to Linda and were in the downstairs room. They are ready to be taken to the clubhouse for the new library. They are all self-help or books on painting and neither of us or anyone in the family wants them. He was home by 6pm and by 7 we were on our way to ‘The Green’, an upscale shopping center near Beavercreek. This is a neat place that looks like an old town of about the late 40’ or early ‘50s. Really nice. We met Mary and son Joey there at the square where the kids were playing in the fountains, families were lounging about, (several hundred people) and a band, the 24/Seven was playing, from 6-10 PM. They were very good and all the people were enjoying them. Tried the closest eatery but wait was 80-90 minutes, so Mary and I walked to the Cheesecake Factory and only had a 35 minute wait there. We had an outside table and could still see and hear the music. Just a perfect evening, the weather was also perfect, warm breezes and no jacket needed.
9-22 Sat morn and Charlie was off to Springfield breakfast. I washed the bedding. Charlie was back early and soon after Darlene, Jim and Jimmie arrived with a ‘by the numbers’ bed for us. They did not like it and were getting something else and giving us this one. It took us quite a while to set it up but should be nice-it’s the same as the one in the motorhome. Then I put the old king set on Craigslist.org and we went caching for a couple of hours, doing 8, some that we had not been able to find in the past. When we returned we had 12 inquiries for the bed and notified one of them and they are to pick it up yet tonight, but now 10pm and no show yet. We also went to the motorhome to check it all out and get some things from it. A busy day but lots accomplished. Mattress finally picked up at 11pm!
9-23 This morning was early and Darlene arrived a bit after 10 for a day of caching. We planned a bunch of easy ones but ended up at a park doing one that was a .65 (crow flies measurement!) and found another one a bit out of the way in a diff direction so Charlie took us the long way to it! Then back to the trail and did the one we were after, and when done he said he knew this park and would take us right back to the car. I had put a ‘mark’ on the car but my GPS batteries died just as we needed them! Use his batteries? NO, he KNEW the way out-you can see what is coming, right?! After much walking we came out to a road- on the opposite side of the park from the parked car! As a crow flies we were .78 from the car—so—Darlene insisted we wait and she would go get the car. And eventually she returned with the jeep. Then on to do a few urban and less walking ones. A trip by the motorhome and then home so Dar could have time to fix a nice dinner for her family. The news from yesterday that I didn’t mention was that her husband Jim landed a job! And we are all happy about that, except, it is in Maine, near Portland and they will have to move! He is leaving on the 8th and has rented a small place near the job. She and Jimmie will stay here until the house sells (it has been on the market for a year now with no buyers and they just dropped the price again). We don’t want them to leave this area but it sounds like a good opportunity for Jim and I hope it works out. I guess that means we will be going to Maine again soon. Tonight we are also looking online and dreaming about Hawaii in March or April. Oh, Charlie has 2396 caches and I have 3992.
Monday Sept 24th- Charlie was off again today-lots of chores and the factories. Dar came over about 12 and we went to Sam’s Club. She has a card and I don’t. We had a fun time in there talking and buying – far more than my list but all stuff I ‘needed’! Back home and I had boxed up about 100 self help books and at least that many Art, painting, drawing type books. Dar took the artsy ones home and will put them on Ebay. The rest we will take to the library here at the condo office. I fixed us salmon, pasta and salad for dinner and Charlie fixed us a margarita. I also called Sue Schiewe-I have known her since we were infants, and she now lives a couple of hours from us, but we have just not taken the time to visit her yet.
9-25 Tues Charlie was off to some meetings and I did some cleaning in the basement. I took a closet FULL of Linda’s clothes and a lot of Charlies suits, plus boxes of fabric and bedding etc, an entire stuffed Jeep load to Goodwill! Then cleaned that bedroom cause son Chuck will be moving in, possibly this Thursday. His divorce from Kim is almost final and they are in a house moving merrygoround. Kim to his current house, him to our house and sell the big house. After Charlie arrived home we changed to dressy clothes (long dress for me) and met Chuck, Dana and her parents Nila and Dave, from Scottsdale AZ, for dinner at NCR Country Club. They always have great food, and no exception tonight. We enjoyed the company and the food, and all were reluctant to call an end to the evening. It started a light rain on the way home.
9-26 Up early, we are both sleeping much better in the new bed! I don’t think I move all night! Charlie had a 3pm meeting, and by 10 had a call for a noon meeting so he is off. I finished up in the spare bedroom, then did some cleaning in the ‘storage room’ so I can get more into it!! I then started on the middle office- this was Lindas and Charlies was at the front of the house, but he has sorta drifted into this one too and has stuff all through it. I moved a lot of Lindas stuff downstairs, mostly photos- thousands of them- still in the package from the developers, and am trying to clean it out so Chuck can use it. Now to convince Charlie to move to the desk in ‘his’ office!! I also carried about 100+ books on ‘self-help’ out to the car to donate to the library here in the complex. Then was in the kitchen and bit down, and----broke a big piece off of a tooth- I don’t think there is enough left to save!! I have appt tomorrow at 1:45. Guess we will have soup for supper—Dar had brought us some ‘Serve cold’ soup so we will have that and some pork I have in the freezer. Cleaned and sorted more in the office till Charlie arrived home. After dinner Chuck showed up and is moved into the basement bedroom at least temporarily. This will be interesting around here. It has rained a steady but gentle rain all day, but we really do need it here.
9-27 I was up early and made coffee, then back to bed. When we got up at 9 Chuck had drank some coffee and left for work. It is raining steady and fairly hard today. There are wrecks on nearly all the roads and some are shut down completely – people just don’t know how to drive after the rains start! I received sad news from Carl Hudson that his wife Jackie had died this morning. Jim and I met them many years ago, around 1988, and enjoyed their company all these years. They lived in The Dalles Oregon and Yuma AZ. I had a dentist appt and got the news that I do have enough tooth left for a crown, but, $998 - $100 less if I can pay cash! They cannot fix it till Monday and then I won’t get the permanent crown till we return at Thanksgiving! Charlie didn’t even get dressed till about 6 when we went to the store (we were out of ice cream and milk!). It was a lazy day for him. We had a wonderful dinner –Chicken and cheese Ravioli with a gorgonzola cheese sauce that I made from a recipe Dar had given me. IT was just great-rivaled anything we have gotten out – and a spinach, mandarin orange, feta cheese salad with raspberry dressing. One of the best meals I have fixed. After dinner Chuck arrived and Dana was with him. We enjoyed them, as always
9-28 Charlie and Chuck we up early and I joined them. Chuck left for work and Charlie headed to Columbus with guy friends for an air show. I stayed here till a lady showed up to take the candle making box of stuff and the stained glass box plus a box of ribbon art stuff. The house is getting less cluttered all the time. When she left I headed to the motorhome, after a batch of choc chip cookies, to shampoo the carpets. Not a big job but one I had been putting off. After doing that I did a bit more cleaning and sorting, talked with a couple of the factory workers and headed home. Charlie called and said he would be home soon so showered and dressed for a night out. We went to a salad bar for a light dinner, then home and Chuck arrived just after we arrived. As has happened ever night since Chuck arrived –they had a nightly ‘discussion’ over their differences in how to run the company.
9-29 Charlie off to Springfield for breakfast and later to play golf. Chuck and I spent a lot of the morning talking and doing laundry; then he was off to play tennis. He was back in the mid afternoon and headed downstairs for a nap, and shortly Charlie arrived home. We had a snack lunch and then off to cache for a short while. Did 8 and one VERY good hide-a ‘best’ as far as we were concerned! That was my # 4000 and Charlies 2400th cache. Home and did a quick dinner of spaghetti with sauce and shrimp and more of the spinach salad. Logged our caches and off to bed.
9-3-September is over already- time does fly when you are having fun! Up fairly early and shortly after Chuck and Dana were here for breakfast, as Charlie was getting up. I fixed Chuck a Dutch Baby German pancake after Dana left for church. The three of us talked for a long time and finally Chuck decided to go into his office for a few hours. We dressed and headed downtown Centerville for a geocache event at Panera Bread; we really like these events where we get to meet the faces that go with the geo names we have seen in the logs, and also a chance to talk caching. We met several we have been wanting to meet and had good talks with them. Met a retired couple that we really liked and they will be going to Florida also. They said they have gone to 7 states this summer and found our names on the logs! Just a good 3 hours. Then headed to Lebanon to do some caching and struck out on a couple but had fun at the ones we did find. Finally home at dusk for a salmon dinner. The weather has been so Sept perfect since we arrived back home-even through the couple of days of rain, and the entire month has been a good one. I love my ‘new’ life.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

A lazy start to the month – up and slow getting started. Finally showered and ate and now sitting around doing paperwork and putting last month online. Later I took a drive up the canyon, did 3 caches, visited Donna Mae and then Ken and Joan and finally back to Anita by 7pm. Charlie called and he is fish camping with Charlie3 and Nikki in the motorhome at Johns private fish lake. When I talked with him it seemed all he was doing was baiting hook, taking hooks out of fish and untangling lines! But they are having fun.
I left Anitas about 9 heading north, stopping at Fry’s to buy 12 volt cords for our GPSs, then on to Carols. We had a massage appointment at Newberg, and Patti called and asked us to come in early and she could give us an hour apiece rather than ½ hour. It felt sooooo good, and the hour went by so fast! I read and talked to Charlie while Carol had her hour, then back to town and a late lunch at our Chinese place. Home, talked a while and out to pick blackberries by her house. Back in the house and watched a CD she wanted to show me, ate the blackberries with coolwhip, two helpings on them! I took the berries that were left and my stuff and drove back to Woodburn to Suzie and Lees. They and the neighbors, Bill and Sharon, were playing cards.
Friday started out slow at Moores – just sit around and chat – Nice! I reluctantly packed up and headed back to Salem, stopping to visit Shirley and Wes DeLapp but only Wes was home. Then on out to Anita, and she was gone. I took my stuff back in and baked some peanutbutter cookies for Sunday. She arrived about 4, we finally got around to spaghetti around 7, hemmed a pair of my new pants, some phone calls, some book reading and off to bed.
I went into town this morning to visit with my cousin Warren and his wife Nanci in the Salem hospital. I had seen her on Friday but she has had surgery since so wanted to visit again. An interesting thing! The gal at the help desk gave me the room # and I looked down at her name tag. It said Connie Bagley. Did you live in the Bay Area-Oakland –SF? Yes, at a rooming house, well, yes; Have a roommate named Connie! Yes! Well, it was me! Could not believe it! We had roomed together for several weeks while we job hunted, keep in track for a while and then didn’t! We talked for half hour before I went up stairs and longer when I came back down. We are all caught up for now and will keep in touch. Then I got onto the shuttle bus and talked with a lady from Marion, near my hometown of Stayton. Told her I had been out there twice to visit Rita G. Turned out she knew Rita. This time Rita was home so had a good visit with her. She is only about a ‘crow flies’ 2 miles from Don and Anitas place. Back up there for supper and started packing. Tomorrow is my 49th class reunion in the park at Stayton. I am looking forward to it.
Up early to get ready for the reunion. Anita will drive me to it and I will leave with a classmate and spend the night at her place near the airport for tomorrow morning. A great day-19 or 20, never got a good count, of our 1958 classmates. Most had been to a previous reunion but a few new faces plus two teachers! We talked and ate, ate and talked and then talked some more and somewhere in there made plans for next years BIG event! Judy, Pat, Shirley and I left after 3pm stopping by the golf course to ‘crash’ the class of ’56 reunion. Unfortunately we had waited too long and there were only 4 left, but we did enjoy talking with them. Finally off toward Portland where Judy and I were dropped off at a shopping center where she had left her car. After getting settled at her house and talking more we went to Pho Oregon for a Thai dinner. Then home and more talk till around 11 and finally we both gave up and went to bed. A really great and nostalgic day! I really enjoyed seeing friends from the past.
Up at 5 am, finished packing and a light breakfast before heading to the airport. This time all went smooth, except for the bent wheel on my large suitcase! It squeaks and pulls to the right then flops over and dies! It weighted 50.5, but they let it go. Now hope it was ok for inspection. I have jellies, feta cheese and about 6 lbs of frozen salmon in it! I was in Sacramento by 9:10 – yes, I had to go via Sacramento Ca. I had a 3 ½ hour layover there before heading to Columbus via a stop in Chicago. Spent part of the time in the airport on computer till battery was down to ½ so did some phoning and reading till boarding time. An uneventful trip till just out of Chicago, when we flew as low as possible trying to miss a storm. After stopping at Midway Airport to depart and pick up passengers we tried to get out of the airport quickly, but some snags kept us there till the runways were temp. closed. I called Charlie who had just arrived at Columbus to pick me up. And finally out and flying again, though still storming. Ride was a bit rough but an hour later I was off, getting my squeaky luggage and meeting Charlie out at the curb. Big hugs and we were both glad I was back. It was after 10 pm but we managed to find a Perkins that was open till 11 and grab a light supper. Home and sorta unpacked – gave Charlie the salmon and he loved it! I knew he would! Finally to bed at 1 am, and I was so wound up I couldn’t sleep, but finally got some rest. A long day and a good and fun holiday and I am happy to be back in Ohio with Charlie.
Tuesday we both slept in and noon finds us getting lots of ‘little’ things done at the house but still in our jammies. It feels like a sauna outside and is to be the hottest and a record day today. It turned out we never got out of the jammies all day but got a lot of stuff done around the house.
Up early and off to the grocery store before even having breakfast (no milk in the house). Then gave the entire house a good cleaning before going to the motorhome to give it good cleaning and get it ready for our next holiday. Extremely hot and muggy again. The motorhome was like a hot tin can in the heat so put the air on and went over to the factories where we spent a lot of time talking to various employees and finally into Georges office. They were involved in shoptalk so I went to the motorhome and started cleaning. The air did not help much and it was still 99 degrees inside! I did the cleaning and eventually Charlie returned and we did a bit more. Then back into another of the factories where we got involved talking to an employee till almost 7:30! Home for a quick shower and to Bravos Italian for an excellent dinner, probably one of the best we have had. Finally home by 10pm. Still hot and thunder storm warnings till late tonight – we did have rain showers while eating.
I was up at 8 and Charlie finally dragged out of bed at 10! It is going to be another hot day, but maybe the last of this heat wave. Some parts of the area were without electricity yesterday and last night. That would be awful in this weather! It did get to 100% humidity in the afternoon with a shower of warm rain. (How do you tell it is summer in Ohio? The rain is warmer!). Still getting caught up on stuff around here; this afternoon Charlie shopped for sandals-no luck, and got his pedicure. I stayed home and fixed us a very nice salmon dinner and even dressed up in one of the new outfits I bought in Oregon. We are going to have to get our New England plans finalized by Monday, and the company picnic is Sunday. And both of us are tired so off to bed at 8:30!
We sat around here all morning and finally Charlie headed for the factory, and the motorhome where he drained tanks and refilled, then washed the motorhome! I did some shopping and talked to Dana while out. We decided I would fix supper for her and Chuck. They arrived about 6:45 and Charlie after 7. He quickly showered and we talked and ate. They didn’t leave till after 10. Dana was tired – she had her gall bladder removed on Monday – and was expecting friends from DC yet tonight. Chuck and Charlie ‘discussed’ business for most of the evening. We had our icecream and off to bed.
Sat morn and Charlie is off to his Springfield breakfast. I am making a dessert for the dessert contest at the picnic tomorrow. Since Charlie may be a judge I am not showing it to him or even what dish it will be in! I will enter it under a ‘fake’ name too! He called to say he was playing golf with John and Jake so I had plenty of time. I started packing too. So confusing taking stuff from house to motorhome and back and back again! Charlie arrived about 4. We ate dinner and decided to go get the coach from the factory where we park it (about 9 miles away). It is now parked at Wal*Mart and will bring it here after the picnic and load up for our next adventure.
Up early Sunday and hope to take a load to the coach before the picnic. We were able to take two jeep loads over to the coach and were dripping wet from the humidity and heat even though early morning! Back home for a shower and dress for the company picnic. We left about 11 and had to go to north of Dayton, about 35 minute drive. We wanted to be there early since Charlie had volunteered me to see that all got a name badge at the entry. There were about 160 people and all seemed to have a very fun time. There were lots of games for adults and kids, and the ‘balloon’ lady was there again – the kids love this and I even saw some adults in the line! The food was catered and was excellent and lots of variety – no one went home hungry and we even brought some of the best mashed potatoes I have ever eaten home with us! There was an appetizer contest and the dessert contest. As I had guessed Charlie was a dessert judge, and I had sneaked in my dessert so he had no clue! I saw him make out his ballot and he DID NOT vote for mine! Later they gave the results and guess what!! I won FIRST PLACE! A plaque and a $50 card for Kohl’s!! Was he ever surprised. We also participated in the CORNHOLE toss – and lost! Charlie was in the balloon toss and the egg toss and I played bingo. It was nice and cool inside but miserable outside! Then there was a large bang and the electric transformer outside ‘blew up’! No more air conditioning!! With no breeze it finally was just too hot and everyone but the poker players headed home. We did a bit more packing and off to bed by 10. Today was also a big day for 2 grandsons – A Tak Won Do ceremony for Jimmie, 13, who received his black belt, stage 1, and Charlie3, 7, who received his brown belt. We are really proud of both of them and sorry we couldn’t have been at the ceremony.
Up very early and Charlie met friend Wallace Lee for breakfast at 7 am and home by 8:30. I left at 9 for a dentist appt and by 9:45 had the new cap put on my tooth and one cavity filled. We were in the coach heading out on our new adventure by 10:45. We headed north through Columbus, Cleveland Ohio, Erie PA, and on to Buffalo NY where we stopped for the night, at Wal*Mart of course!
Tue morn we were up early and after downloading some caches decided to take some time and visit Niagara Falls in Canada. Off we went and had to wait at least 20 minutes to go through customs – we had remembered our passports! Then find a parking space, finally ending up at a $4 one .38 miles from the water. Down we went and this area has changed to a very commercial combination of Disneyland, Hollywood and Las Vegas! We cannot believe the places that want to take your money-Big name places and ‘rides’. But we walked past all and down to the river. The American falls are beautiful from this side! The we walked to the Horseshoe falls, about a mile away! We decided to take the ‘Mist’ boat trip but the line was hours long! This was a beautiful day for visiting here – we were sprayed by the mist off the falls, took lots of pictures and just had a very nice time. Then had to walk back to the car park. We figured we walked 3-3 ½ miles today! Maybe a Frosty at Wendys—another long line and Frostys are $3.75 each! So skipped that and drove up the coast to a little town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a beautiful and laid back town, just full of tourists! We stopped at a local winery, tasted and bought some wine, blueberries and fresh peaches. Walked around for a while and couldn’t find just the right place to eat dinner so headed back to the falls. On the way remembered a place we had cached near earlier – the Great Wolf Resort (greatwolf.com) and this was just the most fabulous place we had ever seen for a all inclusive family holiday! And the food was good too. Finally headed for USA at 8 pm and were surprised that there was no line going back. Earlier in the day it had been over a mile long and 4 lanes deep! Took a different route home and ended up in a neighborhood I don’t think we wanted to be in. Really glad to not have had a car breakdown there!! Then find it is only a few blocks from where we are parked for the night! Finally, 11:30 and we are off to bed.
Neither of us got a good night sleep and woke early for some pillow talk before starting the day. Over to Wal*Mart for milk, then on the road heading east. We stopped in a small town on the way for a cache and to have breakfast then on through Syracuse and north ending the day early at Watertown New York. We parked and cached for a few hours getting 15 for the day and seeing lots of the town. Home to log them and plan out tomorrow when we will be at Charlies niece Marlene and husband Harveys place by noon. This is the couple we visited in Florida last fall. They own a horse dude ranch and next week will be closing it up for the summer. (http://www.childrenscamps.com/index.php). Weather was warm but not muggy so a nice day.
Wed morn I was up early and did some house organizing before Charlie was up. We had a breakfast date at Bob Evans for our favorite meal of biscuits and gravy, then a fast trip to Wal*Mart and off to the Adirondacks. A beautiful drive on route 3 and we were at Goodmans by 12:30. Well, we drove right by their driveway at that time! Could not turn around at the next intersection and had to drive a 9 mile round trip to find a turnaround!! Drove in and there are horses and kids everywhere! We are at ‘The Ranch – Lake Placid Academy’. Yep, the right place. They own a riding academy for kids and this week is girls 7-18. There are at least 40 plus counselors here now. We watched 3 learning to jump, then watched 8 or so in the corral in front of us as they groomed their horses. We are parked in front of the dorm barn, the riding shed and the outdoor corral. The house is about .25 up the hill with an unbelievable view of the far mountains. And just now at 4pm it is starting to rain! The rainmakers have done it again! We went up to the house for shrimp and crackers and talk, then to the cookhouse to eat with the kids! A real experience. Then down to the dorm barn to the hayloft where the girls are giving a dress rehearsal of a ‘play/musical’ that they are presenting for the parents tomorrow night. It was surprisingly good and there is some real talent in the group! Tomorrow is the end of 8 weeks of riding school. Monday Goodmans will leave for Florida. While Marlene handed out ‘awards’ for the last night, Harvey and we retired to the coach to talk a bit. Finally some icecream and off to bed. We are watching lightening off to the west and rain, again, is on the way!
Up early to a beautiful blue day, and are watching all the girls grooming their horses right in front of us. Up to the cookhouse for a breakfast. This is the last day of camp so girls are all excited and anxious. They will have a horse show and then perform their play for the parents. We decided to take a drive to Whiteface Mt Ski area. We cached a bit on the way and then took the Gondola ride to the top – up over 2000 ft gain. A beautiful site! Very windy and we didn’t spend too much time there. Then back to camp via Lake Placid and Saranac Lake arriving while the horse show was still on so watched the rest of it. Then got our computers and up to the house hoping to get a signal. Charlie did but I didn’t so went into the house and used Marlenes’ to get caught up. Harvey came limping by and we found that he had been kicked by a horse this morning. On his left side where hip and leg join. Finally all but the counselors and 7 or 8 kids were left for our evening meal. The counselors will clean the place tomorrow and the kids will all be picked up during the day. One has a taxi picking here up at 3 AM for a ride to the airport in Albany and another has to be taken to the local airport at 5 AM. It has been an experience seeing this ranch in operation! A LOT of work and worry and work and fun! As the last of the kids left this afternoon it began lightening and some rain. The 4 of us drove into town in it to get some groceries.
It rained most of the night, sometimes hard and is very overcast this morning as we are getting moving at almost 9am. Up to the cookhouse for fresh bread and coffee, then into the house where the remaining kids families were each stopping by to say very tearful goodbyes! Back to get the coach ready for leaving with orders from Marlene not to put the slides in or leave till she came down! She brought Miranda the Russian gal who is their cook with her. We cleaned house and visited with people while waiting. I had planned to take pictures today but just to overcast. Off to Plattsburgh NY and arrived there about 1:30 finding a campground for the night. We need to clean systems and wash clothes. Off to explore and did 4 caches and did not find several also. One was a disaster! Just as I found it and handed it to Charlie I felt a big pain on my ankle back! I yelped and he poo-pooed me. Then it happened again on my ring finger! Real PAIN! I took off running, while Charlie tried to sign the log and finally he started yelling and dropped all the geostuff and ran too!! Turned out to be some very vicious bee/fly?? Looking it up find it could have been a black fly but what a pain! It is 2 ½ hours later and we still both have severe pain and swelling. I had to get my ring off fast! We stopped by the house and got me an allergy pill but Charlie would not take one.
Looks like a nice day today as we get ready to head to Canada. Charlies ‘stings’ are ok this morn but mine are still red and swelled. They did stop the intense hurt/sting about 3 this morning-12 hours after being stung! Cannot get my ring on yet and the other one is just where the top back of my shoe rubs. Off by 9 heading North and quickly crossed the border into Quebec, stopping at a visitor center to get info. We then got lost trying to find the Jet-Boat Whitewater trip. We had a reservation for 2:30 but arrived at 12:30 and they had room for us on the boat leading immediately! We hastily got ready but didn’t have time to change into the clothes we had planned to wear. The put us in rain jump suits with hood, then life preservers and then rain jackets with hood. Onto the boat with about 35 people (at $60 each!) and off. We went a couple miles up the river and got into the most fantastic whitewater!!!!! Round and round we went, diving into the biggest waves – we were doused by huge heavy waves at least 40 times. Just buckets right on our bodies, some like body slams!! Fantastic. Charlie pulled my hoods off the first wave and the wave hit me hard and right down the back of the suit! Gallons inside my rain gear!! I was totally drenched – from then on just let it hit – I even got it into my nose! What a trip! We were out in those waves for a long time. Back and could hardly walk so wet! Took off the raingear and there we stood – water just pouring off of us! They gave us some hot chocolate. We went to the car for dry clothes and back to change into them, and then another cup of chocolate. Finally feeling a bit warmer and drier took a long walk in old town. And that is fantastic OLD buildings. We spotted the place we wanted for dinner and made reservations, then out to just drive around the city. We had planned to find someplace to change clothes again, but never did and it was getting to dinner time. We parked on a semi busy street about a block from GIBBY’S and changed clothes, pants, tops and all in the car. We had to be contortionists to pull it off but we managed, and walked to GIBBY’S for a very nice meal. Charlie had eaten here before and it is in an old stable, dark and elegant with ambience. A good experience for our day in Montreal Quebec Canada. No line at customs and home by 8:30. My ‘sting’ is still bad and red and warm, will be watching it carefully. It does hurt.
Up and off to get fuel and then down to the Ferry where we will cross from New York to Vermont (about a 10 minute ride for $40 for coach and car and extra passenger-me) leaving from near Plattsburg New York and ending on an island where we drive SE to Burlingame Vermont, stopping for brunch and caching a while. Then crossing Vermont and spending the night in St Johnsbury, almost to the NH border. We are in an empty lot here in town. A beautiful sunset to end the day. Charlie took a long walk through town while I stayed here – now and then we need some alone time. My stings are still red and swelled but seem a bit better-finally.
We left Vermont and took Hwy 2 into NH stopping in Gorham and driving around, finding a Mt Washington auto road road to the sky that takes you to Mt Washington State park, to the highest-6288 feet - peak in New England. ($27.00!) It is a narrow and steep, 12%, 8 mile trip to the top. This Mountain has the highest wind record in the US—231 MPH! We enjoyed the view and I am sure we could see at least 100 miles in any direction! (Mountwashington.org). We had parked the coach in town so the trip was enjoyable. Leaving town we headed toward Maine, still on Hwy 2 and are spending the night at Farmington Maine. On the way, in some small town, Charlie ‘cut’ a corner and we went over the curb! After the incident of my broken dishes I had moved what was left to a different cupboard and I am glad. Two cupboards in the kitchen and one in the bathroom flew open and stuff went everywhere. What a noise it make. This time nothing broke-but stuff just everywhere! We saw some farmhouses today that have the barn attached so they can get to the barn in the harsh winters – interesting and nice looking.
Wednesday morning and I am up at 8:15 to a beautiful blue day. Charlie is now getting up and we will head towards ‘BaHaba’ today. A lovely drive and arrived at Bar Harbor Maine about 2 pm, getting a space in the closest RV park to town, the Bar Harbor Campground. After getting settled in and having a quick lunch we headed out to tour Acacia National Park. It is a beautiful place, probably the most impressive of any park I have seen! We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain and the view in any direction is just fantastic! Water, lakes, ocean, islands, boats, ships, lobster pots and a blue sky, no wind day. Just perfect. Then down and around the park stopping in several places to tour and even a couple of caches! Finally into town and a mile walk on the waterfront and then downtown ending with a dinner at Poor Boy’s Gourmet where we had lobster, what else, and shrimp scampi. My first lobster too! Now spending time trying to decide what to do tomorrow
Up and took our time, Charlie talked for an hour with neighbor guys, and then we were off to explore some more of the island. We parked the coach at the visitors center taking the jeep to explore the sights along the waterfront. While at one we walked down the gangplank, or whatever it is called, to a lobster boat to talk with the two fishermen and before we left they gave us 8 crab claws! They were not keeping the crabs, just throwing them back, so broke off and gave us the claws! Sounds cruel to me, but they said they would grow back!! Then drove around the island on some different roads and explore the beautiful sights. Today is overcast but still nice. Finally back to the coach and drove it into Ellsworth to park it at a Wal-Mart. It said no parking but Charlie talked to the manager and it was fine. We quickly packed up for an overnight stay and took off for New Brunswick, about 120 miles to the NE. We arrived just at dusk and had about a 20 minute wait at customs, then began looking for a motel. One full one directed us to (she called first) on at St Andrew 29 miles away, out at the end of a peninsula. It was dark when we arrived so not sure what we will see in the morning. It is a very basic room with no amenities. We had brought stuff for a sandwich so had a snack dinner in the room. We logged our 3 caches for the day, did some computer stuff and off to bed..
Up early and downtown to a recommended place for breakfast, then a few caches and explore St Andrew-a very narrow peninsula that is very tourist and fishing oriented. It was raining hard when we got up this morning and rained till we were back in the States for a while. We were both just drenched, even with umbrellas! But we were having fun and laughing about our soaked state! We drove toward our destination of St John but finally gave up as the rain became just too much and cached and turned around at St George. We had another wait at St Stevens customs and finally back in the states. The weather eventually at least quit raining making it more enjoyable. We arrived back in Ellsworth about 5 and quickly packed up and took off in the coach for as far as we could get tonight. Stopped at 7:30 in the town of Rockland Maine. We had had a fun but wet day, saw a lot of things and found 16 caches. The reason we were going to St John was to see the fantastic high/low tides as they are around 55-60 feet tides! Back around the border they are about 20 feet! Still impressive and all the bays and rivers are empty till the tides come in! It was low when we were there. It is hard to imagine it as high as it goes! We were told that the bays can fill in as little as 15 minutes! We will have to go back and stay 24 hours so we can see this happen.
Saturday morning and off to an early start, but after a few miles saw a laundrymat and stopped at a nearby school to park and go do the laundry. This is first time since we left Dayton so really needed it. Then on South with a stop at an airport in New Hampshire where Charlie had wanted to make a short flight. NH is the only state he has not made a take- off and landing so he had hoped to get a flight today, but didn’t happen. Chuck had called the day before and suggested we meet him and the grandkids, Nikki and Charlie3 in Boston. They met us at a WalMart and spent the night. They have been vacationing for over a week now. I have really enjoyed all the East Coast homes—they are just like I have seen in the books over the years- huge, ornate and just beautiful! After the kids leave we will tour Boston and there are so many things to see here, going to enjoy it! The weather has cleared up- but rain in the future, and my bee ‘bites’ have finally almost gone away- after a week! We have the blow-up bed and the pull out couch so Chuck and the kids should be fine.
Sunday morning and up fairly early to find Chuck had gone out for coffee. Eventually I fixed pancakes for all, and after some discussion we decided to move to the Canoe River RV Park, about an hour away. The kids rode there in the bedroom watching a movie on the TV. This was a fun place for the kids- lots to do and they were busy. The park it’s self could use a bit of repair, but we were there so the kids could enjoy! Couldn’t make any decisions on what to do for supper so Charlie finally took us out to Jimmie’s Pub- that had been recommended by 2 different persons today. Very noisy but a good meal. Back where the kids played outside till 10 pm! The kids have been fun but our age is not made to deal with lively kids for too long at a time. Grandparents have it good-love ‘em and send them home!
Up Monday morning with the intention of taking the kids to see Plymouth Rock, but kids being kids, we ended up staying in the campground so they could play more. Charlie and Chuck spent most of the day ‘talking’ business! We made arrangements to spend another night here, then move coach somewhere else while we tour the town of Boston tomorrow. Chuck and kids have a flight home at 7pm, from Springfield MA, about 2 hours from here. They finally got out of here at 4:30 – we were getting nervous for them cause of the long drive to the airport. After they left we relaxed a bit and then went out to cache- our first in MA. Did 6, realized we were LOW on fuel so found refill and then home for a dinner of ‘bring home’ from last night plus a toasted cheese sandwich. Logged caches and listend to PBS ‘doh Wah’ music for a couple of hours, even danced a bit to some of it!
Up early after after a good night sleep and headed to Boston- stopped by the office to pay for another night and they said no-there were no spaces for tonight! They gave us a place outside the park we could leave the coach while we toured the town. Several people had suggested we not drive in, so ended up driving to Braintree Ma, parking the jeep and taking the subway (The MTA - remember it from a song by the Kingston Trio?). $8 for a round trip for both of us and we enjoyed it. Got off at the Park Street square downtown and caught the Trolley for a 3 hour trip-but- you can get off at any stop to tourist and then catch the next trolley. We spent all day doing this and had a great time. So many old 1700 and 1800s buildings. I loved it. We saw the US Constitution - didn’t go on but did tour a Navy vessel parked there. We stopped at the harbor and wandered around finally opting for lunch at American Joes on the Harbor- A fun place and good food, but a very inattentive waiter! Finally to the end of the tour and caught the MTA back to the jeep, drove back to our coach, hooked up and off as far as North Attleboro Ma –about 18 miles and almost to Rhode Island. I really enjoyed Boston, and so glad we let them do the driving on the very crowded and many narrow streets. We should do this more often. The Tea House from the Boston tea dump burned to the ground yesterday!
Off to a lazy start this morning, about 10 before we left to heading south to Newport Rhode Island. What a wonderful place! They have over 100 housed that date back BEFORE 1800! And of course, many more from the 1800s’. We took the bridge to Goat Island to check out the yachts and there were literally hundreds! We talked with 2 deckhands on a 137 ft one-just beautiful. They have a crew of 6 at all times. Then found Belleview Rd where all the mansions are! They are bigger than many huge city museums! I just couldn’t believe some of these were single family summer homes! We spent the entire day here, getting back to the coach about 6:30 – a PS- we were at the Wal*Mart where the bomb threat was in Newport yesterday!
Today, the 30th, we are on our way to Mystic Conn and later to Madison Conn to visit the Biehn Travel agency, and Charlies niece Vickie and nephew John who run the agency. We are hearing this morning that Wal*Mart stores are being targeted all over the USA with bomb threat/extortions. We are sitting in front of a Wal*Mart as I write this! The weather has been just wonderful the last week and hope it lasts. We unhooked the jeep in Mystic and toured around the town – This town was founded in the 1600’s!! The houses are again just unbelievable, and the area is beach front so even more special. Later stopped in the town of Groton to again explore. This is a submarine building town and again a very old town. Finally headed on to Madison, a small beach town with many more old homes. We are parked next door to the Travel Agency, in the parking lot of a mortuary for the night. I met John Biehn and sister Vickie Swan and after chatting made arrangements to meet at Johns for dinner. We quickly took a shower, it has been very muggy here today, and off to their home near the ocean. We met Johns wife Pat and her daughter, who was also the chef for the night! Really enjoyed the dinner and listening to them talk about the past and the future. We are finally back home at 11pm!! Time just flew by tonight – we had a good time.
We were up at 8 and still tired from such a late night, but at 8:45 Vickie and John arrived to check out our mobile mansion! We talked for a while, they went into the travel agency and Johns stepdaughter Sam came by to see us, and finally we left town heading towards New York City. This is the Friday of Labor Day Weekend! We had to drive into town and through the Bronx and over the George Washington Bridge. Along the way we saw hoards of cars, miles of them going out of town! Then we got into traffic also—To cross the bridge was over 4 miles of backed up traffic, 2 wrecks and one truck stalled in the center lane! It took about 40 minutes to go the 4 miles and then it did not clear up—Miles of crawling and narrow lanes and many truck. It was actually a bit scary and we are glad to not have to do that every day like many people! Finally it cleared a bit but as we approached the Penn border and another toll bridge the same backups. We stopped for the night in Allentown where Charlies started his career in ‘cutting tools’, and took the wife of a guy he worked with back then to dinner. She is a delightful Italian lady-77 years old-but Alzheimer’s is talking its toll on her. She is adorable, black hair and 102 lbs and amusing and fun, but repeating herself all evening. Took her to the motorhome and she had NEVER been in one before. She is not adventuresome at all, does not drive, fly or anything. Charlie found an old VHS tape that included her and her late husband Jim and we watched that until after 11 when he hastily took her home. This has been another wonderful month for us and we look forward to the next one.