Our last day of the Ruth Powell month-long 60th Birthday Bash was wonderful! Patti and I did not have to check out of the Homestead until noon, so we made the most of that. We ordered breakfast delivered to our room (it was included in our B&B package!). We ordered enough breakfast for 6 people. However, we didn't mean to. Apparently one serving of strawberries means "the entire patch." Over-priced and over-sized portions continue to be my nemesis because I'm still a compulsive eater and a child of the depression mentality, and I HATE to throw anything away. All my issues coming to roost on one breakfast table. However, it was pretty cool eating breakfast on a table that was wheeled in, overlooking the beautiful mountains outside our balcony. And of course, it being our departing day, the weather was bright and sunny!
I decided that, given the whole breakfast pig-out, I would go back down to the pool and do a water work-out. Again, I had the whole pool to myself. So I was in this gorgeous room with this vintage arched ceiling and chandeliers, swimming in warmed water from the mineral pools. I swam for about 25 minutes, got out and read a chapter of Loving Frank, and got back in for another 20 minutes. I'll miss that pool!
We checked out at noon and drove home through the beautiful Virginia countryside. We stopped in Staunton with the idea of finding a matinee movie, but no matinees on Fridays yet. So we came home. Our last dinner was one brought by Patti and left in the freezer for tonight. . . . . .lobster tails and asparagus!!!! It was delicious, and we still had lots of birthday cake left. Not to mention the lemoncello that Patti also brought! So ends my eating orgy. But what a way to go.
After a week of rain, the grass is back up, so I'll have to mow again this weekend. It won't take so long since the grass is not that high and I can move the mower faster. I have a bird stuck in my woodstove, and there are 4 or 5 dead giant bees or something in my dishwasher (?????). Seems like the critters were partying in my house while I was gone. It will be good to get Chester back on Monday to take care of crowd control around here.
And so ends my saga of travels, friendships, family, eating, hiking, touring, being decadent, laughing and loads of memories. To my traveling and visiting companions, I love you all so much. To my followers, ditto! I will continue blogging when I leave for Chautauqua on June 25. You're welcome to join me. . . . . .Love, RP (Bix)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Final Homestead Day!
This has been a day of pampering for sure. Patti and I had breakfast around 9:30 so that we could limit ourselves to two meals today.
At noon we had our spa treatments: European facials. The spa facilities are incredible. We used the sauna, steam room, and afterwards the indoor pool. It is a beautiful, historic pool, and at one point I had it all to myself. Now I know how Oprah must feel! I decided that I needed the mineral wrap pedicure as well, so I signed up for that at 4. At 3 we repeated the afternoon tea in the Great Hall. And I headed back to the spa.
We had dinner at Sam Snead's restaurant across the road. In the final exercise in gluttony, we ordered ribs! Shout out to Casey, who was the last person I ate ribs with, and who would have loved eating at Sam Snead's!
We've ordered room service breakfast for tomorrow. All breakfasts were included in the package we got! We'll leave tomorrow after we check out. It's been great rubbing elbows with the well-to-do, and I don't mind at all going back to my more austere and frugal and mostly vegetarian/super foods diet. It's been a great run.
One more great dinner tomorrow. . . tune in to find out about that! RP
At noon we had our spa treatments: European facials. The spa facilities are incredible. We used the sauna, steam room, and afterwards the indoor pool. It is a beautiful, historic pool, and at one point I had it all to myself. Now I know how Oprah must feel! I decided that I needed the mineral wrap pedicure as well, so I signed up for that at 4. At 3 we repeated the afternoon tea in the Great Hall. And I headed back to the spa.
We had dinner at Sam Snead's restaurant across the road. In the final exercise in gluttony, we ordered ribs! Shout out to Casey, who was the last person I ate ribs with, and who would have loved eating at Sam Snead's!
We've ordered room service breakfast for tomorrow. All breakfasts were included in the package we got! We'll leave tomorrow after we check out. It's been great rubbing elbows with the well-to-do, and I don't mind at all going back to my more austere and frugal and mostly vegetarian/super foods diet. It's been a great run.
One more great dinner tomorrow. . . tune in to find out about that! RP
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
LIVING LARGE AT THE HOMESTEAD!
Oh wow, I could get used to this! Think large plush bathrobes, think multi-course dinners with multiple waiters, think large solarium rooms with chaise lounges and shelves full of books and the pictures of presidents on the walls, think tea in the Great Hall. This is not my normal way of life to be sure. But what a treat for 48 hours.
We arrived early afternoon and were able to check in. I don't know if it's the economy, or mid-week, or pre-season, but there are not scads of people here. So the service to those of us who are here is phenominal. To begin with we were informed at the check in desk that we were being given an upgrade. And what an upgrade. We're on the 19th floor (out of 21) of the tower section of the hotel. Our room is a suite with full living room, bedroom, bath, and two, count 'em two, balconies overlooking the golf course. Holy moly I've never seen such a room! We're not sure where the upgrade came from, but perhaps from Patti and Larry's connections from previous trips. But we're not asking questions! I choose to believe that some handsome,rich gentlemen saw two beautiful women checking in and sent the upgrade over, much like one would send a glass of wine at the bar. . . . but then I live in fantasy most of the time.
We explored the premises. . . Patti has been here several times, and I was here presenting a workshop once and watching Casey's band once. . .but I've never stayed here. We found the spa where we go for facials tomorrow. And adjacent to the spa was a bowling alley. . . empty but for the attendant. I dragged Patti kicking and screaming into two games of bowling. Patti managed to beat Barack Obama's score on one of the games. I bowled a 107, 106, which is not bad for how many years it has been. But what fun to have the whole bowling alley to ourselves. Patti was a good sport and still seems to like me anyway. But she said she absolutely would not go horseback riding, nor try to learn to shoot skeet!
From there we went to the Great Hall for tea. Big comfy furniture, impeccable service and a piano player. Bonnie and I discovered while we were in Massachusetts that afternoon tea is a very good thing and probably a tradition we should have clung to even as we ousted the British nearly 250 years ago. It's just so darned civilized!
We made our way to the presidents room which was a large library/sun room. We claimed two chaise lounges and spent about an hour reading our respective books (and me napping a bit as well). Heaven.
The dinner in the dining room tonight was phenominal. They kept bringing us little things we hadn't ordered: a tiny slice of tomato with a small hunk of mozzarella cheese, basil vinegrette and balsamic. Then a small dish of lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate. . . I'm not sure I've ever cleansed my palate before, unless you count gargling with Listerine. We shared an order of Risotto Fritters and I can't even begin to describe how fabulous that was. Tiny balls of risotto with a crumb coating and fried. Oh. . . .My. . . . .God! By that time I could have stopped eating. But the entrees were looming and I had a perch and risotto dish, and Patti had duck. Absolutely to die for. Eating is good. . . . . It appears the theme of tonight's culinary festival was Risotto! I'm a big fan.
Tomorrow is our full day and we plan to use the pool, sauna and steam-room before and after our facials. And back to the dining room for dinner tomorrow. Beyond that, we'll see what the weather is like. It was rainy all day which made it difficult to enjoy our two balconies. But we're not complaining. The birthday continues. . . . . Stay tuned. RP
We arrived early afternoon and were able to check in. I don't know if it's the economy, or mid-week, or pre-season, but there are not scads of people here. So the service to those of us who are here is phenominal. To begin with we were informed at the check in desk that we were being given an upgrade. And what an upgrade. We're on the 19th floor (out of 21) of the tower section of the hotel. Our room is a suite with full living room, bedroom, bath, and two, count 'em two, balconies overlooking the golf course. Holy moly I've never seen such a room! We're not sure where the upgrade came from, but perhaps from Patti and Larry's connections from previous trips. But we're not asking questions! I choose to believe that some handsome,rich gentlemen saw two beautiful women checking in and sent the upgrade over, much like one would send a glass of wine at the bar. . . . but then I live in fantasy most of the time.
We explored the premises. . . Patti has been here several times, and I was here presenting a workshop once and watching Casey's band once. . .but I've never stayed here. We found the spa where we go for facials tomorrow. And adjacent to the spa was a bowling alley. . . empty but for the attendant. I dragged Patti kicking and screaming into two games of bowling. Patti managed to beat Barack Obama's score on one of the games. I bowled a 107, 106, which is not bad for how many years it has been. But what fun to have the whole bowling alley to ourselves. Patti was a good sport and still seems to like me anyway. But she said she absolutely would not go horseback riding, nor try to learn to shoot skeet!
From there we went to the Great Hall for tea. Big comfy furniture, impeccable service and a piano player. Bonnie and I discovered while we were in Massachusetts that afternoon tea is a very good thing and probably a tradition we should have clung to even as we ousted the British nearly 250 years ago. It's just so darned civilized!
We made our way to the presidents room which was a large library/sun room. We claimed two chaise lounges and spent about an hour reading our respective books (and me napping a bit as well). Heaven.
The dinner in the dining room tonight was phenominal. They kept bringing us little things we hadn't ordered: a tiny slice of tomato with a small hunk of mozzarella cheese, basil vinegrette and balsamic. Then a small dish of lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate. . . I'm not sure I've ever cleansed my palate before, unless you count gargling with Listerine. We shared an order of Risotto Fritters and I can't even begin to describe how fabulous that was. Tiny balls of risotto with a crumb coating and fried. Oh. . . .My. . . . .God! By that time I could have stopped eating. But the entrees were looming and I had a perch and risotto dish, and Patti had duck. Absolutely to die for. Eating is good. . . . . It appears the theme of tonight's culinary festival was Risotto! I'm a big fan.
Tomorrow is our full day and we plan to use the pool, sauna and steam-room before and after our facials. And back to the dining room for dinner tomorrow. Beyond that, we'll see what the weather is like. It was rainy all day which made it difficult to enjoy our two balconies. But we're not complaining. The birthday continues. . . . . Stay tuned. RP
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
60th Birthday - Coda!
Well, I'm back because the celebration is not quite over. My friend Patti drove through rain all day from Southport, NC to join me for the last harrah (good thing. . . I'm almost 61!).
Everyone should have a friend like Patti. She scooped me up and rescued me at one of the darkest times of my life. We had great times together as "band moms" in the late 90's. I remember going to her house every Friday night, eating Chinese food with her and Larry, dipping our hands in hot paraffin, and watching Providence and drinking wine. And the fun never ends with Patti.
We "unloaded" her car in the rain. The first order of business was to pop open a bottle of Moet & Chandon champaign which she had brought!!! It doesn't get any better than that. I made the same shrimp meal that I had made on Joan and mine's first night in Nantucket. Patti made a blueberry upside down cake which baked while we had dinner. The eating orgy continues, apparently! After dinner Casey checked in, which is always wonderful.
We watched the Netflix movie "Milk" which neither of us had seen. Tomorrow we head out to the Homestead Resort for two nights of luxury and spa treatments, and I'm sure a large measure of hilarity. How blessed I am in the friends I have acquired over the years. Anyone who is still following along is most assuredly in that category. Stay tuned. . . . .RP
Everyone should have a friend like Patti. She scooped me up and rescued me at one of the darkest times of my life. We had great times together as "band moms" in the late 90's. I remember going to her house every Friday night, eating Chinese food with her and Larry, dipping our hands in hot paraffin, and watching Providence and drinking wine. And the fun never ends with Patti.
We "unloaded" her car in the rain. The first order of business was to pop open a bottle of Moet & Chandon champaign which she had brought!!! It doesn't get any better than that. I made the same shrimp meal that I had made on Joan and mine's first night in Nantucket. Patti made a blueberry upside down cake which baked while we had dinner. The eating orgy continues, apparently! After dinner Casey checked in, which is always wonderful.
We watched the Netflix movie "Milk" which neither of us had seen. Tomorrow we head out to the Homestead Resort for two nights of luxury and spa treatments, and I'm sure a large measure of hilarity. How blessed I am in the friends I have acquired over the years. Anyone who is still following along is most assuredly in that category. Stay tuned. . . . .RP
Friday, May 22, 2009
LAST DAY - FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO E-I-E-I-O!
And I'm home!!!
Today really was just a travel day. I brought out the book on tape I had brought from the library: Eat, Pray, Love. I had heard mixed reviews, but it's great and the perfect book to keep my mind off the dreaded highway 81, on which I drove all day!
So, to reflect on the trip:
LOBSTER
How many ways can a person eat lobster? Well in my case, twice as a lobster dinner ( you know, the rip it apart, snarf it down, take a shower version)- I had that once in Nantucket and once in Bar Harbor, lobster risotto ( Birthday lunch/dinner, Nantucket), lobster benedict (Ogunquit, Maine), lobster quiche (Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park), lobster roll (Bar Harbor), and lobster stew (last Maine meal, Bar Harbor Inn). It was all fantastic! Eating truly delicious food is one of life's great pleasures!
YANKEE INGENUITY
At a coffee shop I stopped in on my way to Vermont, I ordered iced coffee. They actually had ice cubes made out of coffee, so that as the ice melted, you still got more iced coffee!!! Genius!
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
During the 3 weeks I traveled by foot, Toyota Rav 4, ferry boat, ferry boat shuttle bus, taxi cab, bicycle, Smart Car, train, subway, Duck vehicle (land and sea), water taxi, swan boat, and school bus.
LITTLE KNOWN TOWNS
Ever heard of Mexico, Maine? Me neither. But it's there!
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
In Nantucket the staircase to the upper floor where I stayed was very steep and narrow with no railing. The only way I could come downstairs and feel safe was backward! Joan had to watch this every day.
UNIVERSAL TRUTH
Most people are nice! As a matter of fact, I didn't meet a not nice person on the whole trip. This is especially important when one is traveling along.
CREEPIEST REALIZATION
The Vermont Country Store sells sexual aids. Right there with the "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific" shampoo and the root beer barrels and the Evening in Paris perfume!
LATEST BOOK RECOMMENDATION
I'm finishing up OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout. It's a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It's really a series of short stories, brilliantly written, that are a novel when read together. This is a new favorite author of mine, and I look forward to reading other books by her.
MOST SIGNIFICANT REALIZATION
After experiencing such mind-blowing beauty in all the places I went, as I was driving down 81 coming home I realized that the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is right up there with the others. I kept trying to imagine what a Vermonter driving through that section would be saying, and I'm guessing they would be impressed. I'm so lucky to live in this area, and to be able to visit other beautiful parts of this country as well.
E-I-E-I-O
Arrived home around three o'clock to find the grass up to my knees! So I've been out mowing this evening. Back on the tractor in the cool of the evening is a great finishing off spot. It will take me several days to get all this grass under control, but I'm up to the challenge. Even if I am 60!!!!
PS
Thanks for following. I'll be blogging two days next week when Patti and I go to the Homestead. And then at the end of June for my first trip to Chautauqua. Just keep checking in if you're interested. It's been great having you along on this trip. I was NEVER alone!!!! :)
Today really was just a travel day. I brought out the book on tape I had brought from the library: Eat, Pray, Love. I had heard mixed reviews, but it's great and the perfect book to keep my mind off the dreaded highway 81, on which I drove all day!
So, to reflect on the trip:
LOBSTER
How many ways can a person eat lobster? Well in my case, twice as a lobster dinner ( you know, the rip it apart, snarf it down, take a shower version)- I had that once in Nantucket and once in Bar Harbor, lobster risotto ( Birthday lunch/dinner, Nantucket), lobster benedict (Ogunquit, Maine), lobster quiche (Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park), lobster roll (Bar Harbor), and lobster stew (last Maine meal, Bar Harbor Inn). It was all fantastic! Eating truly delicious food is one of life's great pleasures!
YANKEE INGENUITY
At a coffee shop I stopped in on my way to Vermont, I ordered iced coffee. They actually had ice cubes made out of coffee, so that as the ice melted, you still got more iced coffee!!! Genius!
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
During the 3 weeks I traveled by foot, Toyota Rav 4, ferry boat, ferry boat shuttle bus, taxi cab, bicycle, Smart Car, train, subway, Duck vehicle (land and sea), water taxi, swan boat, and school bus.
LITTLE KNOWN TOWNS
Ever heard of Mexico, Maine? Me neither. But it's there!
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
In Nantucket the staircase to the upper floor where I stayed was very steep and narrow with no railing. The only way I could come downstairs and feel safe was backward! Joan had to watch this every day.
UNIVERSAL TRUTH
Most people are nice! As a matter of fact, I didn't meet a not nice person on the whole trip. This is especially important when one is traveling along.
CREEPIEST REALIZATION
The Vermont Country Store sells sexual aids. Right there with the "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific" shampoo and the root beer barrels and the Evening in Paris perfume!
LATEST BOOK RECOMMENDATION
I'm finishing up OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout. It's a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It's really a series of short stories, brilliantly written, that are a novel when read together. This is a new favorite author of mine, and I look forward to reading other books by her.
MOST SIGNIFICANT REALIZATION
After experiencing such mind-blowing beauty in all the places I went, as I was driving down 81 coming home I realized that the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is right up there with the others. I kept trying to imagine what a Vermonter driving through that section would be saying, and I'm guessing they would be impressed. I'm so lucky to live in this area, and to be able to visit other beautiful parts of this country as well.
E-I-E-I-O
Arrived home around three o'clock to find the grass up to my knees! So I've been out mowing this evening. Back on the tractor in the cool of the evening is a great finishing off spot. It will take me several days to get all this grass under control, but I'm up to the challenge. Even if I am 60!!!!
PS
Thanks for following. I'll be blogging two days next week when Patti and I go to the Homestead. And then at the end of June for my first trip to Chautauqua. Just keep checking in if you're interested. It's been great having you along on this trip. I was NEVER alone!!!! :)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
DAY 21 - ALMOST HOME
It is such a gift to not be in a hurry! I had the most wonderful day, and I thought this would just be the first of two long travel days.
BREAKFAST
After a wonderful night's rest in this beautiful room, I came downstairs to find the table set with tea and a lovely bowl of cut up fruit - great big blackberries, cantelope and strawberries with vanilla yogurt. And I thought, "Yum! Great breakfast!" When I was almost finished with that, they came out with a homemade cinnamon scone and jelly. And I thought "Yum. Really great breakfast!" And after I finished that, Linda asked me what I wanted for breakfast! I said, "I thought this was breakfast!" But no, my choice was an omlet with Vermont cheese and fresh tomatoes, or a large pancake with bananas. Yikes! I asked for a one egg omlet, so that I could say I had Vermont cheese on my trip. The omlet came with two links of maple sausage! Yum. . . .really really great breakfast!
VERMONT COUNTRY STORE
Spent about an hour combing through all the items in this mammoth store, but didn't buy very much. I can always order out of the catalogue if I really want something. But I loved looking and seeing the store. I squirted my self once more with Yardley Lavender for good measure!
SERENDIPITY
Here goes another one of those strange happenings that crop up in my life. Yesterday as I was driving through Vermont, it wasn't just the theme from Newhart that was going through my head. When I saw the sign for The Great North Woods, my brain began to think: Whose woods these are I think I know. Before I knew it, I had my mind wrapped around Robert Frost and all of the poems I knew from memory, including Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. I was having trouble remembering all the words to my favorite Frost poem, Mending Wall. So I was thinking how when I get back home, I need to get out my Robert Frost book and revisit his poetry. While I was thinking all of this yesterday, I had no knowledge of where Robert Frost was from. .just that suddenly, and for about an hour, I was mulling over his words.
Today I headed down Rt. 7. I decided to stay on back roads because Vermont is just so darn beautiful. At one point I nearly missed a sign that pointed off to the right and was Highway 7A - above the numbers was written "Historic." At the last possible moment I veered on to highway 7A, because it just sounded interesting. I was sure it would join back up to 7 eventually and I'd be back on track. As I was tooling down 7A, I suddenly saw a sign indicating "Robert Frost historic site." I couldn't believe it. I turned into the drive and found myself visiting the house where he once lived, and from which he wrote Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening! The museum was fascinating. I spent quite a long time reading all the exhibits. I was the only one there besides the woman behind the desk. She and I started talking and got quite involved talking about Frost. She is the president of the organization who runs this site. When she found out I was from Afton, she talked about how close that was to University of Virginia, and how many Frost first editions and historic writings are in the rare books library at UVa. When I told her that a member of my book club works at the library, and that we've actually met at the library twice, she told me she knew my friend. I invited her to come and stay at my house if she wanted to go to the library to do research, and she's very excited about coming maybe in February! It was the most amazing visit! As I left I noticed that she drives a Rav 4 and that she was planning to jump on the lawn tractor and cut Robert Frost's grass between visits from people to the site! She said she loves cutting grass on a tractor!!!! How funny is that???? All because Robert Frost took over my head yesterday and I made the split decision to take 7A! I ended up going to Barrington down the road and visiting RF's gravesite!
MAKING TRACKS
The rest of the drive was also beautiful. I would like to thank the state of New York for one of the nicest roadways ever - The Taconic Parkway. It made for a nice transition between the back roads I had been on, and the first interstate I had to get on.
Right now I'm in Scranton, Pa at a hotel. I will make the rest of the trip home tomorrow. I will blog one more time tomorrow night. I should have only a few hours tomorrow and get home mid-day. Tune in tomorrow for the end of this phase! RP
BREAKFAST
After a wonderful night's rest in this beautiful room, I came downstairs to find the table set with tea and a lovely bowl of cut up fruit - great big blackberries, cantelope and strawberries with vanilla yogurt. And I thought, "Yum! Great breakfast!" When I was almost finished with that, they came out with a homemade cinnamon scone and jelly. And I thought "Yum. Really great breakfast!" And after I finished that, Linda asked me what I wanted for breakfast! I said, "I thought this was breakfast!" But no, my choice was an omlet with Vermont cheese and fresh tomatoes, or a large pancake with bananas. Yikes! I asked for a one egg omlet, so that I could say I had Vermont cheese on my trip. The omlet came with two links of maple sausage! Yum. . . .really really great breakfast!
VERMONT COUNTRY STORE
Spent about an hour combing through all the items in this mammoth store, but didn't buy very much. I can always order out of the catalogue if I really want something. But I loved looking and seeing the store. I squirted my self once more with Yardley Lavender for good measure!
SERENDIPITY
Here goes another one of those strange happenings that crop up in my life. Yesterday as I was driving through Vermont, it wasn't just the theme from Newhart that was going through my head. When I saw the sign for The Great North Woods, my brain began to think: Whose woods these are I think I know. Before I knew it, I had my mind wrapped around Robert Frost and all of the poems I knew from memory, including Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. I was having trouble remembering all the words to my favorite Frost poem, Mending Wall. So I was thinking how when I get back home, I need to get out my Robert Frost book and revisit his poetry. While I was thinking all of this yesterday, I had no knowledge of where Robert Frost was from. .just that suddenly, and for about an hour, I was mulling over his words.
Today I headed down Rt. 7. I decided to stay on back roads because Vermont is just so darn beautiful. At one point I nearly missed a sign that pointed off to the right and was Highway 7A - above the numbers was written "Historic." At the last possible moment I veered on to highway 7A, because it just sounded interesting. I was sure it would join back up to 7 eventually and I'd be back on track. As I was tooling down 7A, I suddenly saw a sign indicating "Robert Frost historic site." I couldn't believe it. I turned into the drive and found myself visiting the house where he once lived, and from which he wrote Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening! The museum was fascinating. I spent quite a long time reading all the exhibits. I was the only one there besides the woman behind the desk. She and I started talking and got quite involved talking about Frost. She is the president of the organization who runs this site. When she found out I was from Afton, she talked about how close that was to University of Virginia, and how many Frost first editions and historic writings are in the rare books library at UVa. When I told her that a member of my book club works at the library, and that we've actually met at the library twice, she told me she knew my friend. I invited her to come and stay at my house if she wanted to go to the library to do research, and she's very excited about coming maybe in February! It was the most amazing visit! As I left I noticed that she drives a Rav 4 and that she was planning to jump on the lawn tractor and cut Robert Frost's grass between visits from people to the site! She said she loves cutting grass on a tractor!!!! How funny is that???? All because Robert Frost took over my head yesterday and I made the split decision to take 7A! I ended up going to Barrington down the road and visiting RF's gravesite!
MAKING TRACKS
The rest of the drive was also beautiful. I would like to thank the state of New York for one of the nicest roadways ever - The Taconic Parkway. It made for a nice transition between the back roads I had been on, and the first interstate I had to get on.
Right now I'm in Scranton, Pa at a hotel. I will make the rest of the trip home tomorrow. I will blog one more time tomorrow night. I should have only a few hours tomorrow and get home mid-day. Tune in tomorrow for the end of this phase! RP
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
DAY 20 - VERMONT!
This was a long day on the road. I vowed to drive only "back" roads and I stuck to that except for 20 miles of an interstate. Now of course that made the driving day alot longer than it needed to be. But I saw things I would never have seen. I do love to drive around the back roads.
Now having said that, I will admit that when it ended up taking about 5 hours to cross the state of Maine, I was beginning to weary! To begin with, traveling due west from Bar Harbor crosses the widest part of the state. And then the back roads and towns exacerbated that. But if I had taken the main roads, here is what I would have missed:)
-The sign pointing the way to turn to get to the telephone museum ( I would have loved to see that!)
-The sign that said "Llama/Ostrich redemption" (were they sinners? Do people collect them and turn them in for cash? Do they recycle llamas and ostriches?)
-The sign for auditions for Kiwanis talent night
-THe town with no restaurants but a store that said "Marjorie's Tropical Fish"
-The stretch of highway when I was driving on Hwy 2 West, Hwy 7 North, and Hwy 10 South all at the same time!
-The time I was stopped on a bridge because a guy on a crane was changing a light bulb on the fake gaslights- I would have loved to stop and watch that.
You just don't get that on an Interstate! Plus, much like yesterday, I spent the whole day feeling like I was being held captive in a calendar. Nothing but one gorgeous landscape after another. This area is a feast for the eyes to be sure.
So when I finally crossed over into New Hampshire, all was forgiven. NH was gorgeous - beautiful view of the mountains - in particular the snow (!) on Mount Washington in the White Mountains! Also The Great North Woods section - breathtaking! Compared to Maine, I was only in NH for a heartbeat. . . a heartbeat being about an hour and a half. And then came Vermont and one adorable town/village after another. The theme song from the old tv show "Newhart" kept running through my head all day.
So the plan for Vermont was to see The Vermont Country Store. So I headed for Weston. Arrived when the store had 1 hour left to be open. I have received catalogues from this place for years. If you aren't familiar with them, they sell nostalgia, and specifically, products that used to exist that have been gone for years. But you can still get them in this store. For example: right now I reek because I squirted myself with Wind Song, Yardley Lavender, and Emeraude - all three fragrances from my childhood! They have Prell concentrate shampoo, and Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo. And Clark's chewing gum. It's so much fun to look around. I needed more time there, so the woman behind the counter tipped me off about an Inn across the street. I went there and it is really upscale, and as a result, expensive! But there was no one booked for tonight, even though a crowd of people are coming tomorrow for the beginning of the season. If you log on to The Inn at Weston and look at The Parkhurst Room, that is the room I'm staying in! And he gave me a price much much cheaper than he regularly charges. So I have an entire elegant inn to myself tonight! The owners live next door. I was even shown where the wine is in case I want a glass before I go to bed!!!! So I would say this day turned out just great!
My plan tomorrow is to go back to Vermont Country Store when they open, and then hit the road and get as far as I can on the way home tomorrow (this means interstates!). It's time to get home, and I'm ready. PS - I ate very conservatively today, keeping my promise to myself! Until tomorrow. . RP
Now having said that, I will admit that when it ended up taking about 5 hours to cross the state of Maine, I was beginning to weary! To begin with, traveling due west from Bar Harbor crosses the widest part of the state. And then the back roads and towns exacerbated that. But if I had taken the main roads, here is what I would have missed:)
-The sign pointing the way to turn to get to the telephone museum ( I would have loved to see that!)
-The sign that said "Llama/Ostrich redemption" (were they sinners? Do people collect them and turn them in for cash? Do they recycle llamas and ostriches?)
-The sign for auditions for Kiwanis talent night
-THe town with no restaurants but a store that said "Marjorie's Tropical Fish"
-The stretch of highway when I was driving on Hwy 2 West, Hwy 7 North, and Hwy 10 South all at the same time!
-The time I was stopped on a bridge because a guy on a crane was changing a light bulb on the fake gaslights- I would have loved to stop and watch that.
You just don't get that on an Interstate! Plus, much like yesterday, I spent the whole day feeling like I was being held captive in a calendar. Nothing but one gorgeous landscape after another. This area is a feast for the eyes to be sure.
So when I finally crossed over into New Hampshire, all was forgiven. NH was gorgeous - beautiful view of the mountains - in particular the snow (!) on Mount Washington in the White Mountains! Also The Great North Woods section - breathtaking! Compared to Maine, I was only in NH for a heartbeat. . . a heartbeat being about an hour and a half. And then came Vermont and one adorable town/village after another. The theme song from the old tv show "Newhart" kept running through my head all day.
So the plan for Vermont was to see The Vermont Country Store. So I headed for Weston. Arrived when the store had 1 hour left to be open. I have received catalogues from this place for years. If you aren't familiar with them, they sell nostalgia, and specifically, products that used to exist that have been gone for years. But you can still get them in this store. For example: right now I reek because I squirted myself with Wind Song, Yardley Lavender, and Emeraude - all three fragrances from my childhood! They have Prell concentrate shampoo, and Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo. And Clark's chewing gum. It's so much fun to look around. I needed more time there, so the woman behind the counter tipped me off about an Inn across the street. I went there and it is really upscale, and as a result, expensive! But there was no one booked for tonight, even though a crowd of people are coming tomorrow for the beginning of the season. If you log on to The Inn at Weston and look at The Parkhurst Room, that is the room I'm staying in! And he gave me a price much much cheaper than he regularly charges. So I have an entire elegant inn to myself tonight! The owners live next door. I was even shown where the wine is in case I want a glass before I go to bed!!!! So I would say this day turned out just great!
My plan tomorrow is to go back to Vermont Country Store when they open, and then hit the road and get as far as I can on the way home tomorrow (this means interstates!). It's time to get home, and I'm ready. PS - I ate very conservatively today, keeping my promise to myself! Until tomorrow. . RP
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
DAY 19 - CLOSING CEREMONIES
Today during lunch I officially ended my birthday celebration - with the exception of the two days next week when Patti and I will be at the Homestead!!! But now I am officially through celebrating, even though I will still blog my trip home. I'm truly excited about tomorrow because I have no idea what I'm going to do except that I'm going to head for Vermont!!!! But that's tomorrow, and this was today. And what a day it was.
MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE
I awoke to (Gasp!) SUNSHINE streaming through my windows! I could not wait to get up and head for Acadia. If it was gorgeous in the clouds and rain, what would it be like in clear blue skies. I drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which was my third trip up. There are no words to describe the views in the clear weather. It was still very cold, having gotten down to 33 last night. But hardly any wind which surprised everyone. I met a couple who were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, and we marveled at our similar celebrations. Seeing how active they were made me not too surprised that they were still going strong.
After soaking up the beauty of the top of Cadillac, I did my favorite thing. . . . driving around. I almost circumnavigated the entire island. I went through Northeast Harbor, home to rich people including Martha Stewart, the Rockefellers, and the Astors among others. WOW!!!! And I went through other less pretentious neighborhoods as well. I stopped often and enjoyed the views, NPR classical music on the radio. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
MAKING THE TWO HOUR WINDOW!
There was a method in my madness. I needed to get back to Bar Harbor by noon to make the tide window that would allow me to walk across the low-tide-exposed sand bar that is created between Bar Harbor and Bar Island, a small, unoccupied island close by. I was in luck, and headed across. Once on the other side (about a half mile walk) you can then head up a trail that leads to the summit of the island and look back on Bar Harbor. Stunning views, especially today. The other interesting thing about today's trip is that grounded on the sand bar was the large, 4-masted schooner called Margaret Todd, that is available for sightseeing. There was a hive of activity around the boat as a group of men were painting the bottom of the boat. It was while I was over on the island that it dawned on me that they had probably puposefully driven the boat to that spot where it was grounded in the low tide, and that they were painting it with the intention of taking it back to the harbor when the tide came in. So of course I had to ask them as I was returning, and sure enough I was right! I made it my mission to return later in the day to see it free itself and sail away, freshly painted. More on that later.
THE FINAL FEAST
And so it was that after the walking I looked around for my last gluttonous birthday-related meal. I decided to try the swank Bar Harbor Inn right on the harbor. Sure enough, they had outdoor seating overlooking all the boats and scenery. By this time it was light jacket time with full sun. . . perfect for eating outdoors. My last birthday meal of the trip was a goody! I had a wonderful drink made with pureed raspberries and strawberries and champaign!!!! Then I had lobster stew in a bread bowl. Ended up with bananas foster bread pudding. OHHHHHH YUMMMMMMM! And it was during that hour and a half meal that I made the decision to end the celebration and go back to eating right. But what a way to go!!!! The weather, the setting, the food. . . it doesn't get any better than that. I waddled away from the table and took the "shore walk". . .a mile along the edge of the shore. By the time I was done and back to my house, I figure I walked at least as far as I did yesterday.
THE FINAL AFTERNOON IN MAINE
I stayed out in the beautiful weather and walked the streets of Bar Harbor (does this make me a street walker?) one last time. Then I took my car and my book and drove to where the schooner was now beginning to be in water. I sat in the sunshine in the car for an hour and a half reading my book, using my binoculars to watch the crew prepare the boat (shout out to Dave who gave me those binoculars many years ago. . . they are fantastic!) and watched the tide claim the walkway that I had been on earlier in the day, and slowly float the boat. . .which then started up its motors (darn, I wanted to see those 4 giant red sails unfurl!) and float away. Spectacular!!! And I got a call from Casey while I was sitting there. Pretty fantastic!
REFLECTIONS ON TEN YEARS PASSING
As I sat eating my lovely meal and contemplating the last ten years of my life, it made me think of where I was ten years ago. And here's where I was: I was in a pretty bad place with my boys, I was still teaching elementary music, I was not contemplating retirement, I had no thought of ever building a house in the mountains nor moving there, I had no thought about rejoining the Choral Arts society, I had never been to Europe, Atlanta, or Phoenix, I had never seen the Grand Canyon, I had no thoughts that I would ever live in Old Town, I had no thoughts that I would ever teach pregnant middle school girls, I didn't know any of my friends where I live now, I had not reconnected with my friend Ethel, I didn't have a special needs dog named Chester, I had never driven my own tractor to cut the fields of a country home, and on and on and on. Boy if that doesn't make you look forward to the next 10 years, I don't know what does!!!
Stay tuned. . .I have no idea where I'll be tomorrow!!!! RP
MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE
I awoke to (Gasp!) SUNSHINE streaming through my windows! I could not wait to get up and head for Acadia. If it was gorgeous in the clouds and rain, what would it be like in clear blue skies. I drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which was my third trip up. There are no words to describe the views in the clear weather. It was still very cold, having gotten down to 33 last night. But hardly any wind which surprised everyone. I met a couple who were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, and we marveled at our similar celebrations. Seeing how active they were made me not too surprised that they were still going strong.
After soaking up the beauty of the top of Cadillac, I did my favorite thing. . . . driving around. I almost circumnavigated the entire island. I went through Northeast Harbor, home to rich people including Martha Stewart, the Rockefellers, and the Astors among others. WOW!!!! And I went through other less pretentious neighborhoods as well. I stopped often and enjoyed the views, NPR classical music on the radio. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
MAKING THE TWO HOUR WINDOW!
There was a method in my madness. I needed to get back to Bar Harbor by noon to make the tide window that would allow me to walk across the low-tide-exposed sand bar that is created between Bar Harbor and Bar Island, a small, unoccupied island close by. I was in luck, and headed across. Once on the other side (about a half mile walk) you can then head up a trail that leads to the summit of the island and look back on Bar Harbor. Stunning views, especially today. The other interesting thing about today's trip is that grounded on the sand bar was the large, 4-masted schooner called Margaret Todd, that is available for sightseeing. There was a hive of activity around the boat as a group of men were painting the bottom of the boat. It was while I was over on the island that it dawned on me that they had probably puposefully driven the boat to that spot where it was grounded in the low tide, and that they were painting it with the intention of taking it back to the harbor when the tide came in. So of course I had to ask them as I was returning, and sure enough I was right! I made it my mission to return later in the day to see it free itself and sail away, freshly painted. More on that later.
THE FINAL FEAST
And so it was that after the walking I looked around for my last gluttonous birthday-related meal. I decided to try the swank Bar Harbor Inn right on the harbor. Sure enough, they had outdoor seating overlooking all the boats and scenery. By this time it was light jacket time with full sun. . . perfect for eating outdoors. My last birthday meal of the trip was a goody! I had a wonderful drink made with pureed raspberries and strawberries and champaign!!!! Then I had lobster stew in a bread bowl. Ended up with bananas foster bread pudding. OHHHHHH YUMMMMMMM! And it was during that hour and a half meal that I made the decision to end the celebration and go back to eating right. But what a way to go!!!! The weather, the setting, the food. . . it doesn't get any better than that. I waddled away from the table and took the "shore walk". . .a mile along the edge of the shore. By the time I was done and back to my house, I figure I walked at least as far as I did yesterday.
THE FINAL AFTERNOON IN MAINE
I stayed out in the beautiful weather and walked the streets of Bar Harbor (does this make me a street walker?) one last time. Then I took my car and my book and drove to where the schooner was now beginning to be in water. I sat in the sunshine in the car for an hour and a half reading my book, using my binoculars to watch the crew prepare the boat (shout out to Dave who gave me those binoculars many years ago. . . they are fantastic!) and watched the tide claim the walkway that I had been on earlier in the day, and slowly float the boat. . .which then started up its motors (darn, I wanted to see those 4 giant red sails unfurl!) and float away. Spectacular!!! And I got a call from Casey while I was sitting there. Pretty fantastic!
REFLECTIONS ON TEN YEARS PASSING
As I sat eating my lovely meal and contemplating the last ten years of my life, it made me think of where I was ten years ago. And here's where I was: I was in a pretty bad place with my boys, I was still teaching elementary music, I was not contemplating retirement, I had no thought of ever building a house in the mountains nor moving there, I had no thought about rejoining the Choral Arts society, I had never been to Europe, Atlanta, or Phoenix, I had never seen the Grand Canyon, I had no thoughts that I would ever live in Old Town, I had no thoughts that I would ever teach pregnant middle school girls, I didn't know any of my friends where I live now, I had not reconnected with my friend Ethel, I didn't have a special needs dog named Chester, I had never driven my own tractor to cut the fields of a country home, and on and on and on. Boy if that doesn't make you look forward to the next 10 years, I don't know what does!!!
Stay tuned. . .I have no idea where I'll be tomorrow!!!! RP
Monday, May 18, 2009
DAY 18 - BAR HARBOR HELD OVER!
It's official. . .I'm staying an extra day. There's just too much to do and I'm not ready to leave this beautiful place.
Today I took what was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour bus tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We were out nearly 3 1/2 hours! The guide was excellent . .a retired school teacher! We saw all the highlights of the Park - some which I had not seen the day before. I had already decided that after the tour I would drive back to the park and have a late lunch at Jordan Pond, the only restaurant inside the park. They are known for serving popovers with meals, and for offering an afternoon tea with popovers, strawberry jam, and tea. In summer, the tea is on tables out on the lawn overlooking the pond.
I, of course, needed my daily lobster fix, so I wasn't having no stinkin' tea!!! I ordered lobster quiche and salad. Delicious. And of course, blueberry crisp ala mode for desert. After lunch I donned my hiking boots, grabbed one of my hiking poles, and set out on a 3.2 mile hike around Jordan Pond. Another reason I love being here at this time. This is a popular hike in the summer, but I was virtually alone for an hour and a half in this breathtaking place. There is red and pink granite everywhere, and when you find some that is under water it is the most beautiful, vivid red. The pond itself is the island's drinking water and is reputed to be the cleanest pond in the country. And I believe it. I don't think I've ever seen such clear water.
After my hike I came back to town. I picked up my edamame salad for dinner and came back to the Inn.
It has been pretty cold all day - I'd say the upper 40's this afternoon. Tonight it's supposed to get down to 33 degrees! Hopefully it will be warmer and hopefully sunny tomorrow. My priorities are to hike the "bar" - a strip of land that is only exposed in low tide and offers hiking access to Bar Island. You have to watch the time or you can get stranded on this island until the next high tide. I still have another short hike in the park I would like to do.
In spite of not being able to go to Campobello, this has proved to be a highlight of my trip. I look forward to my last full day here, and my last lobster meal. RP
Today I took what was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour bus tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We were out nearly 3 1/2 hours! The guide was excellent . .a retired school teacher! We saw all the highlights of the Park - some which I had not seen the day before. I had already decided that after the tour I would drive back to the park and have a late lunch at Jordan Pond, the only restaurant inside the park. They are known for serving popovers with meals, and for offering an afternoon tea with popovers, strawberry jam, and tea. In summer, the tea is on tables out on the lawn overlooking the pond.
I, of course, needed my daily lobster fix, so I wasn't having no stinkin' tea!!! I ordered lobster quiche and salad. Delicious. And of course, blueberry crisp ala mode for desert. After lunch I donned my hiking boots, grabbed one of my hiking poles, and set out on a 3.2 mile hike around Jordan Pond. Another reason I love being here at this time. This is a popular hike in the summer, but I was virtually alone for an hour and a half in this breathtaking place. There is red and pink granite everywhere, and when you find some that is under water it is the most beautiful, vivid red. The pond itself is the island's drinking water and is reputed to be the cleanest pond in the country. And I believe it. I don't think I've ever seen such clear water.
After my hike I came back to town. I picked up my edamame salad for dinner and came back to the Inn.
It has been pretty cold all day - I'd say the upper 40's this afternoon. Tonight it's supposed to get down to 33 degrees! Hopefully it will be warmer and hopefully sunny tomorrow. My priorities are to hike the "bar" - a strip of land that is only exposed in low tide and offers hiking access to Bar Island. You have to watch the time or you can get stranded on this island until the next high tide. I still have another short hike in the park I would like to do.
In spite of not being able to go to Campobello, this has proved to be a highlight of my trip. I look forward to my last full day here, and my last lobster meal. RP
Sunday, May 17, 2009
DAY 17 - GOING WITH THE FLOW
"The world is so full of such wonderful things,
I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings."
I've always been interested in the workings of the brain. Like at this stage of life, how easy it is to lose a common word you need to speak a sentence, and conversely how a random thought from years gone by can be called to mind by some sight or sound stimulus. As I was driving through Acadia National Park for the first time today, that little poem, from my childhood, popped into my head.. . .a little gift from the past.
Acadia National Park has already moved me in the same profound ways that The Great Smoky Mountain NP did years ago when I used to take my boys there in the summer. I'm so happy to be here before all the crowds. More about this later.
MEETING NEW PEOPLE
The thing about a B&B is that you get to meet others who are staying there, especially at breakfast. The breakfast at The Acacia House Hotel (check the website) does not compare with the one we had at The Captain's House. But I did have an interesting conversation with a young couple with an 18-month old daughter who had spent one night here. The wife was LILITH!!! And I mean Frasier Crane's wife! She had the pulled back dark hair, and very much the same delivery as Lilith. Every time the little girl would move, she had Lilith-type feedback: ie: the little girl crawled up on the wicker couch. . .response: "Buns and knees on the seat!" The little girl turned around and looked at me. . . Response: "Tell the lady hello." The little girl turned around the other way and said hello. . . .Response: "Look her in the eye and say hello." Enter father who was much more laid back. Thank goodness. I had to do some cheek chewing to keep from laughing.
VEGGING OUT
I was going to go for a bus tour of Acadia today, but the only one was at 10:00, and I got involved with CBS Sunday Morning, my favorite show, which was broadcast from the Biltmore House. It was a great episode. The fact that it poured rain last night and was still raining steadily this morning made it easy to decide to cocoon in my room with my favorite show.
WASHING THE CLOTHES/STUFFING THE FACE
After the program I headed to the laundromat and did a couple of small loads. Followed by going to this great little mom & pop cafe and having lunch. . . .Lobster Roll with blueberry pie ala mode for dessert. Oh I'm going to pay for this big time, but how completely wonderful it was!!!
MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE
After that I got in the car and drove through the park as I mentioned earlier. Even in the rain it was glorious. Driving around here is reminiscent of driving the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive except you see lots and lots of water. I took the car to the top of Cadillac Mountain which is the highest ground on the coast from here to Brazil. It was cold and windy on the top, but the 360 degree views of the surrounding water and even Mt. Katahdin 150 miles away (the end of the Appalachian Trail)were spectacular. I will take the bus tour tomorrow as a way of being able to look out and hear the narration.
BEST LAID PLANS. . . . .
Minor glitch in the overall plans for this trip. I was so looking forward to a day trip to see the Roosevelt home on Campobello Island which is technically in Canada. I did not do my research thoroughly enough. . . they don't open until next Saturday, and you now need your passport to get there. My passport is home on my desk. Another reason to have to come back here another time, I guess. Even with that setback, I'm seriously considering extending my time here by one day. I think the weather is supposed to get better, and there are hikes to take, maybe a bike to ride, maybe a boat trip to experience, and definitely more lobster to eat. I'll decide that for sure by tomorrow.
As penance for my gluttony at lunch, I went to the local market and got some edamame salad from their deli section, a banana, and some raw almonds for my dinner. All of that was also delicious (I'm a cheap date when it comes to food). Maybe that will be my modus the whole time I'm here. Binge at lunch, small dinner (absolutely no purging allowed!!!). I'm hoping my body will forgive me.
I forgot to wash my pajamas, so I bought a night shirt with moose and bears on it! There's a great visual to leave you with until tomorrow. . . . . RP
I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings."
I've always been interested in the workings of the brain. Like at this stage of life, how easy it is to lose a common word you need to speak a sentence, and conversely how a random thought from years gone by can be called to mind by some sight or sound stimulus. As I was driving through Acadia National Park for the first time today, that little poem, from my childhood, popped into my head.. . .a little gift from the past.
Acadia National Park has already moved me in the same profound ways that The Great Smoky Mountain NP did years ago when I used to take my boys there in the summer. I'm so happy to be here before all the crowds. More about this later.
MEETING NEW PEOPLE
The thing about a B&B is that you get to meet others who are staying there, especially at breakfast. The breakfast at The Acacia House Hotel (check the website) does not compare with the one we had at The Captain's House. But I did have an interesting conversation with a young couple with an 18-month old daughter who had spent one night here. The wife was LILITH!!! And I mean Frasier Crane's wife! She had the pulled back dark hair, and very much the same delivery as Lilith. Every time the little girl would move, she had Lilith-type feedback: ie: the little girl crawled up on the wicker couch. . .response: "Buns and knees on the seat!" The little girl turned around and looked at me. . . Response: "Tell the lady hello." The little girl turned around the other way and said hello. . . .Response: "Look her in the eye and say hello." Enter father who was much more laid back. Thank goodness. I had to do some cheek chewing to keep from laughing.
VEGGING OUT
I was going to go for a bus tour of Acadia today, but the only one was at 10:00, and I got involved with CBS Sunday Morning, my favorite show, which was broadcast from the Biltmore House. It was a great episode. The fact that it poured rain last night and was still raining steadily this morning made it easy to decide to cocoon in my room with my favorite show.
WASHING THE CLOTHES/STUFFING THE FACE
After the program I headed to the laundromat and did a couple of small loads. Followed by going to this great little mom & pop cafe and having lunch. . . .Lobster Roll with blueberry pie ala mode for dessert. Oh I'm going to pay for this big time, but how completely wonderful it was!!!
MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE
After that I got in the car and drove through the park as I mentioned earlier. Even in the rain it was glorious. Driving around here is reminiscent of driving the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive except you see lots and lots of water. I took the car to the top of Cadillac Mountain which is the highest ground on the coast from here to Brazil. It was cold and windy on the top, but the 360 degree views of the surrounding water and even Mt. Katahdin 150 miles away (the end of the Appalachian Trail)were spectacular. I will take the bus tour tomorrow as a way of being able to look out and hear the narration.
BEST LAID PLANS. . . . .
Minor glitch in the overall plans for this trip. I was so looking forward to a day trip to see the Roosevelt home on Campobello Island which is technically in Canada. I did not do my research thoroughly enough. . . they don't open until next Saturday, and you now need your passport to get there. My passport is home on my desk. Another reason to have to come back here another time, I guess. Even with that setback, I'm seriously considering extending my time here by one day. I think the weather is supposed to get better, and there are hikes to take, maybe a bike to ride, maybe a boat trip to experience, and definitely more lobster to eat. I'll decide that for sure by tomorrow.
As penance for my gluttony at lunch, I went to the local market and got some edamame salad from their deli section, a banana, and some raw almonds for my dinner. All of that was also delicious (I'm a cheap date when it comes to food). Maybe that will be my modus the whole time I'm here. Binge at lunch, small dinner (absolutely no purging allowed!!!). I'm hoping my body will forgive me.
I forgot to wash my pajamas, so I bought a night shirt with moose and bears on it! There's a great visual to leave you with until tomorrow. . . . . RP
Saturday, May 16, 2009
DAY 16 - PHASE 4
Be careful what you wish for. I said I didn't want heat, and I don't have it! It's very cool here in Bar Harbor, and a little misty. But what a grand place it is. But first. . . . how I got here!
Did not repeat my sleeping-in debacle of yesterday. I was out of Jean's house by 7:30 this morning. I decided to give her a break from having to fix me breakfast and get breakfast on the road. I have truly loved my trip so far with the luxury of having company on a daily basis, and having that company be people I really care about. But taking off today for the solo portion of the trip was wonderful. I really like making it up as I go along. . . .just me and the open road!!!!!
MINUTE MAN LUST
I decided to head for Lexington and at least drive through there. I was able to find a parking space across from the green where the Revolutionary War got started. It is a beautiful town, and I look forward to returning and seeing that town and Concord, Walden Pond, etc. on another visit. I did get a picture of the Minute Man statue, which, according to my guide book has him dressed inappropriately for the time of year when the skirmish took place. Apparently short sleeves were not called for on a cold April morning. At any rate, the Minute Man was a hunka burning love if you ask me. According to our guide in Boston, Sam Adams was butt ugly, so all the statues and beer labels really have a picture of Paul Revere, who I guess was much better looking. Maybe the Minute Man was Paul????????
MAINE - THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE
I decided to get off 95 once I got into Maine and go up Route 1 through Ogunquit, where I've been twice and have loved. I stopped at a restaurant for breakfast and had, what else, LOBSTER BENEDICT!!!! This is in keeping with my last two trips to Maine when I have vowed to eat lobster a minimum of once a day, a maximum of however many times I wanted. All I can say about the lobster benedict is that it was WICKED GOOD!
Jumped on 95 after Ogunquit until north of Portland. I like the slow easy route along the water. And it did not disappoint.
READING MATERIAL
In keeping with my determination to be reading books that are set in the place where I am, I stopped in a couple of bookstores on the way up Route 1 to find my "Bar Harbor novel." The first shop was very interesting, but their idea of used books was to take a 10 year old novel that had been out in paperback for years, and price the hardback version $2 under the original price. I'm used to buying books like this for a buck at the thrift store. The second store I went to was the bookstore that most of us have dreamed of owning in our retirement. In a quaint little village, on the main drag, on the corner of the block, made of red brick with big windows with cute displays. It was adorable. I bought two full price books there, neither of them set in Bar Harbor, but interesting none the less. You just gotta support places like that!
DUNKIN' DONUTS
There is a Dunkin Donuts shop about every 5 feet up here - ever since I got to Connecticut. This makes me wonder if there are as many where I live and I just haven't noticed! At any rate, an ice coffee from there helped keep me alert for the drive! I'll probably stop there again.
BAR HARBOR
The closer I got to Bar Harbor the more beautiful it got. My B&B is great. Easy walk to town, wireless internet, a new flat screen TV in my room, and Patti and Bruce, the owners who have already scoped out my trip to Campobello, and have arranged for me to get an overview bus tour of Acadia National Park tomorrow. This is a good plan since it's supposed to rain tomorrow. I walked to town after I got here and bought some bubble bath for my claw foot tub which is in my room, and had dinner. . . . .you guessed it. . . . . the lobster special which included a 1 1/4 pound lobster, rice and green beans. And glass of Kendall Jackson! That's lobster twice today. Ah Maine. . . . .The Way Life is Supposed to Be!!!!! Stay tuned. . .
Did not repeat my sleeping-in debacle of yesterday. I was out of Jean's house by 7:30 this morning. I decided to give her a break from having to fix me breakfast and get breakfast on the road. I have truly loved my trip so far with the luxury of having company on a daily basis, and having that company be people I really care about. But taking off today for the solo portion of the trip was wonderful. I really like making it up as I go along. . . .just me and the open road!!!!!
MINUTE MAN LUST
I decided to head for Lexington and at least drive through there. I was able to find a parking space across from the green where the Revolutionary War got started. It is a beautiful town, and I look forward to returning and seeing that town and Concord, Walden Pond, etc. on another visit. I did get a picture of the Minute Man statue, which, according to my guide book has him dressed inappropriately for the time of year when the skirmish took place. Apparently short sleeves were not called for on a cold April morning. At any rate, the Minute Man was a hunka burning love if you ask me. According to our guide in Boston, Sam Adams was butt ugly, so all the statues and beer labels really have a picture of Paul Revere, who I guess was much better looking. Maybe the Minute Man was Paul????????
MAINE - THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE
I decided to get off 95 once I got into Maine and go up Route 1 through Ogunquit, where I've been twice and have loved. I stopped at a restaurant for breakfast and had, what else, LOBSTER BENEDICT!!!! This is in keeping with my last two trips to Maine when I have vowed to eat lobster a minimum of once a day, a maximum of however many times I wanted. All I can say about the lobster benedict is that it was WICKED GOOD!
Jumped on 95 after Ogunquit until north of Portland. I like the slow easy route along the water. And it did not disappoint.
READING MATERIAL
In keeping with my determination to be reading books that are set in the place where I am, I stopped in a couple of bookstores on the way up Route 1 to find my "Bar Harbor novel." The first shop was very interesting, but their idea of used books was to take a 10 year old novel that had been out in paperback for years, and price the hardback version $2 under the original price. I'm used to buying books like this for a buck at the thrift store. The second store I went to was the bookstore that most of us have dreamed of owning in our retirement. In a quaint little village, on the main drag, on the corner of the block, made of red brick with big windows with cute displays. It was adorable. I bought two full price books there, neither of them set in Bar Harbor, but interesting none the less. You just gotta support places like that!
DUNKIN' DONUTS
There is a Dunkin Donuts shop about every 5 feet up here - ever since I got to Connecticut. This makes me wonder if there are as many where I live and I just haven't noticed! At any rate, an ice coffee from there helped keep me alert for the drive! I'll probably stop there again.
BAR HARBOR
The closer I got to Bar Harbor the more beautiful it got. My B&B is great. Easy walk to town, wireless internet, a new flat screen TV in my room, and Patti and Bruce, the owners who have already scoped out my trip to Campobello, and have arranged for me to get an overview bus tour of Acadia National Park tomorrow. This is a good plan since it's supposed to rain tomorrow. I walked to town after I got here and bought some bubble bath for my claw foot tub which is in my room, and had dinner. . . . .you guessed it. . . . . the lobster special which included a 1 1/4 pound lobster, rice and green beans. And glass of Kendall Jackson! That's lobster twice today. Ah Maine. . . . .The Way Life is Supposed to Be!!!!! Stay tuned. . .
Friday, May 15, 2009
DAY 15 - BYE BYE BOSTON
After nearly a week, I'll be bidding Boston a very fond farewell with the promise to be back. I really love this city, and I love getting around by any means other than my car. Driving here is a nightmare, but public transportation is a breeze!
Joan will appreciate this next story. I have been waking up every morning very early because it gets light here around 5 am. Last night, my first night at Jean's, I had a room where I could draw the drapes and keep the room dark. And I slept until almost 10 o'clock!!!!!!!I was pretty embarrassed when I came downstairs. I guess I must have needed all that sleep, but HOW RUDE!!!!!!!!
We ate a quick breakfast and headed to the JFK Library. This was a fabulous choice. We all remember JFK (well, my kids don't) and it was very moving to see all the exhibits. I could have stayed all day and watched ALL the videotapes they offered. Watching the Kennedy/Nixon debates made me realize that we're still battling many of the same issues today. I really loved going to the JFK museum/library. It is truly a "must see."
We went from there back to Cambridge where we had lunch at a local Indian restaurant. Shout out to Casey for getting me into Indian food. It was delicious and provided big enough portions to bring half the meal back to have for dinner.
In between lunch and dinner, Jean took me to the Mount Auburn Cemetery, which is the nation's first garden cemetery. Lots of bird-watchers out today. Summer arrived today and it was actually hot! This cemetery, along with having many famous people buried there (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Mary Baker Eddy, Henry Cabot Lodge, etc), also has miles of paths, lakes and ponds. We watched a Blue Heron sunning himself on the top of a very tall tree. Never seen one of those up in a tree before and he looked like he was doing transcendental Meditation up there with his wings fanned out to catch the sun. I could almost hear him chanting "OMMMMMMMMM" from where I sat. Also there is a great view of the Boston skyline from there.
We drove back past Henry W. Longfellow's house. I was pretty sure old HWL was not at home since I had recently seen his grave.
We rested a bit and ate the rest of the Indian food. Jean had gotten us tickets to a ballet presentation at her church which is on Harvard Square. A great ballet company that is based in the church. Very impressive performance.
Tomorrow I leave for Maine. I'm tired of all this hot weather!!!!! It's been hot for about 16 hours now, and I've had it! Look for my entry tomorrow from Bar Harbor.
RP
Joan will appreciate this next story. I have been waking up every morning very early because it gets light here around 5 am. Last night, my first night at Jean's, I had a room where I could draw the drapes and keep the room dark. And I slept until almost 10 o'clock!!!!!!!I was pretty embarrassed when I came downstairs. I guess I must have needed all that sleep, but HOW RUDE!!!!!!!!
We ate a quick breakfast and headed to the JFK Library. This was a fabulous choice. We all remember JFK (well, my kids don't) and it was very moving to see all the exhibits. I could have stayed all day and watched ALL the videotapes they offered. Watching the Kennedy/Nixon debates made me realize that we're still battling many of the same issues today. I really loved going to the JFK museum/library. It is truly a "must see."
We went from there back to Cambridge where we had lunch at a local Indian restaurant. Shout out to Casey for getting me into Indian food. It was delicious and provided big enough portions to bring half the meal back to have for dinner.
In between lunch and dinner, Jean took me to the Mount Auburn Cemetery, which is the nation's first garden cemetery. Lots of bird-watchers out today. Summer arrived today and it was actually hot! This cemetery, along with having many famous people buried there (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Mary Baker Eddy, Henry Cabot Lodge, etc), also has miles of paths, lakes and ponds. We watched a Blue Heron sunning himself on the top of a very tall tree. Never seen one of those up in a tree before and he looked like he was doing transcendental Meditation up there with his wings fanned out to catch the sun. I could almost hear him chanting "OMMMMMMMMM" from where I sat. Also there is a great view of the Boston skyline from there.
We drove back past Henry W. Longfellow's house. I was pretty sure old HWL was not at home since I had recently seen his grave.
We rested a bit and ate the rest of the Indian food. Jean had gotten us tickets to a ballet presentation at her church which is on Harvard Square. A great ballet company that is based in the church. Very impressive performance.
Tomorrow I leave for Maine. I'm tired of all this hot weather!!!!! It's been hot for about 16 hours now, and I've had it! Look for my entry tomorrow from Bar Harbor.
RP
Thursday, May 14, 2009
DAY 14 - HOLY COW IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS!
Phase 3 begins.
Bonnie and I left The Captain's House this morning and drove to Cambridge. Had no trouble finding my friend Jean's house thanks to Mapquest. We spent a couple of hours walking around Cambridge and specifically Harvard University. Bonnie's daughter, Jackie graduated FROM (shout out to Joan) there last year. I was seeing the campus for the first time and it is impressive. After a tasty lunch at Jean's we took Bonnie to the airport. It was such fun having her along for the last 4 days.
Jean and I tootled around Cambridge in the rain and traffic. I got to see The New England Conservatory of Music, the glass flower exhibit at the Peabody Museum, MIT, etc. This is an amazing metropolitan area for sure.
Jean and I spent hours talking. She is the daughter of dear friends of my parents. I met her last summer in Chautauqua, and she has become a dear friend. Didn't even know her this time last year! How cool is that?
Latest update on my boy Chester: His girlfriend Laila left, but was quickly replaced by a white female dog named Luna. My dog is a playah!!!!! Lyell, the owner of the kennel, even sent me a half dozen pictures of my boy having fun at "camp." He won't even want to come home after I've installed the $$$$$ electric fence!!!! But all that is a couple of weeks away. Right now, it's party on! RP
Bonnie and I left The Captain's House this morning and drove to Cambridge. Had no trouble finding my friend Jean's house thanks to Mapquest. We spent a couple of hours walking around Cambridge and specifically Harvard University. Bonnie's daughter, Jackie graduated FROM (shout out to Joan) there last year. I was seeing the campus for the first time and it is impressive. After a tasty lunch at Jean's we took Bonnie to the airport. It was such fun having her along for the last 4 days.
Jean and I tootled around Cambridge in the rain and traffic. I got to see The New England Conservatory of Music, the glass flower exhibit at the Peabody Museum, MIT, etc. This is an amazing metropolitan area for sure.
Jean and I spent hours talking. She is the daughter of dear friends of my parents. I met her last summer in Chautauqua, and she has become a dear friend. Didn't even know her this time last year! How cool is that?
Latest update on my boy Chester: His girlfriend Laila left, but was quickly replaced by a white female dog named Luna. My dog is a playah!!!!! Lyell, the owner of the kennel, even sent me a half dozen pictures of my boy having fun at "camp." He won't even want to come home after I've installed the $$$$$ electric fence!!!! But all that is a couple of weeks away. Right now, it's party on! RP
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
DAY THIRTEEN - END OF PHASE 2!
Oh my God, we are such TOURISTS!!!!! After years of living in the DC area and rolling my eyes at the hoards of people with their cameras and dropped jaws, I have joined the ranks big time.
Did we stay around here today and enjoy the little local fishing villages?????? NOOOOOOOO, we didn't. We hopped on the train to Boston yet again. The guy who owns the inn where we are staying was reduced to asking why we hadn't stayed in Boston!!! He clearly didn't know that he was in the presence of a professional commuter like me.
Now the case could be made that we took the train to Boston so we could flirt with the conductors again. And the case could be made that we took the train to Boston so that we would not waste the $6.60 left on our Charlie cards. And while both of those were probably contributing factors, we really just wanted to see more of Boston. I think I could do this indefinitely. And I LOVE riding a train. And I finished my book!
We took the T to Boston Public gardens and rode in the swan boats! There were movie set type lights set up, and apparently they were shooting promotionals for Wheel of Fortune when it's set in Boston in the near future. I was absolutely sure that when the crew laid eyes on me they would ask me to do multiple takes of walking past the cameras, but alas, that did not happen. Their loss!
We saw the "Make Way For Ducklings" statues and then out on the street passed the Cheers bar. I told you we were tourists! We headed toward the Prudential center and found the Boston Legal building. We ate lunch out side the Globe Bar and Grill and I kept looking around for Denny Crane and Alan Shore. But perhaps they were with Vanna White somewhere. . . . .
One of our themes today was: GO PLACES WHERE PEOPLE TOLD US TO GO (except for the obvious).
So we went to the Christian Science mother church building and saw the Maparium (shout out to Joan for the fantastic recommendation!). You go inside this huge globe and see a presentation. Also, if you stand in the middle under the North Pole and whisper, it sounds like you're using a microphone!!! VERY COOL! Could have stayed at that museum longer, but my friend Ethel had recommended the Fine Arts Museum. We got back on the T and got down there, but it was too late in the day to get our money's worth and we were already pretty tired. I would really like to save that for a day when I'm fresh and can spend a long time. So instead we headed a block away to the Isabel Stewart Gardner museum. This was recommended by one of the cute conductors (although the way he said it was "Isabel Stewaht Gahdnah" and we almost got sidetracked until we realized that he had left out all the R's.) It's a Spanish style mansion with Ms. Gardner's art collection. And the most drop dead gorgeous garden/courtyard I've ever seen. Also, it had the prerequisite cafeteria where we indulged in more Jasmine tea and shared a banana bread pudding. Afternoon tea and desert: it's a good thing.
From there we could take the T right to the train and right home. Upon arriving in Rockport we decided to drive to Manchester-by-the-Sea to check the place out and to be able to tell the Inn owner that we did something local. Stopped by a restaurant and ordered a small veggie pizza to go. We were forced to drink a glass of wine while we waited. Drove home via Gloucester and happened by the famous Gloucester Fisherman statue so I had to dash out and snap a picture. . . .sealing my fate as the tourist-of-the century. We also managed to wolf down the pizza that we were supposed to have back at the Inn.
Tomorrow to Cambridge. Bonnie flies out around 4:00. I'll stay two nights with my friend Jean, and then on to Maine! Stay tuned. . .
Did we stay around here today and enjoy the little local fishing villages?????? NOOOOOOOO, we didn't. We hopped on the train to Boston yet again. The guy who owns the inn where we are staying was reduced to asking why we hadn't stayed in Boston!!! He clearly didn't know that he was in the presence of a professional commuter like me.
Now the case could be made that we took the train to Boston so we could flirt with the conductors again. And the case could be made that we took the train to Boston so that we would not waste the $6.60 left on our Charlie cards. And while both of those were probably contributing factors, we really just wanted to see more of Boston. I think I could do this indefinitely. And I LOVE riding a train. And I finished my book!
We took the T to Boston Public gardens and rode in the swan boats! There were movie set type lights set up, and apparently they were shooting promotionals for Wheel of Fortune when it's set in Boston in the near future. I was absolutely sure that when the crew laid eyes on me they would ask me to do multiple takes of walking past the cameras, but alas, that did not happen. Their loss!
We saw the "Make Way For Ducklings" statues and then out on the street passed the Cheers bar. I told you we were tourists! We headed toward the Prudential center and found the Boston Legal building. We ate lunch out side the Globe Bar and Grill and I kept looking around for Denny Crane and Alan Shore. But perhaps they were with Vanna White somewhere. . . . .
One of our themes today was: GO PLACES WHERE PEOPLE TOLD US TO GO (except for the obvious).
So we went to the Christian Science mother church building and saw the Maparium (shout out to Joan for the fantastic recommendation!). You go inside this huge globe and see a presentation. Also, if you stand in the middle under the North Pole and whisper, it sounds like you're using a microphone!!! VERY COOL! Could have stayed at that museum longer, but my friend Ethel had recommended the Fine Arts Museum. We got back on the T and got down there, but it was too late in the day to get our money's worth and we were already pretty tired. I would really like to save that for a day when I'm fresh and can spend a long time. So instead we headed a block away to the Isabel Stewart Gardner museum. This was recommended by one of the cute conductors (although the way he said it was "Isabel Stewaht Gahdnah" and we almost got sidetracked until we realized that he had left out all the R's.) It's a Spanish style mansion with Ms. Gardner's art collection. And the most drop dead gorgeous garden/courtyard I've ever seen. Also, it had the prerequisite cafeteria where we indulged in more Jasmine tea and shared a banana bread pudding. Afternoon tea and desert: it's a good thing.
From there we could take the T right to the train and right home. Upon arriving in Rockport we decided to drive to Manchester-by-the-Sea to check the place out and to be able to tell the Inn owner that we did something local. Stopped by a restaurant and ordered a small veggie pizza to go. We were forced to drink a glass of wine while we waited. Drove home via Gloucester and happened by the famous Gloucester Fisherman statue so I had to dash out and snap a picture. . . .sealing my fate as the tourist-of-the century. We also managed to wolf down the pizza that we were supposed to have back at the Inn.
Tomorrow to Cambridge. Bonnie flies out around 4:00. I'll stay two nights with my friend Jean, and then on to Maine! Stay tuned. . .
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
DAY TWELVE - THOUGHTS FOR FOOD
If I were to sum up the food priorities on this trip they would have to be:
1. seafood
2. french fries
This second one was totally unintentional. After years of eschewing (as oppposed to chewing) the dreaded french fry, I find that they tend to accompany lunch items, and once started, I'm powerless to stop. So I guess if my new rule is that I can shamelessly indulge in french fries every 10 years, then so be it. Can one claim moderation if one averages out abstainence and binging?????
3. Boston Cream Pie
This was on my bucket list. However, I didn't know it was on my bucket list until yesterday when our guide pointed out the Omni Parker House Hotel as the place where Boston Cream Pie was invented. From that time on I made it my life's mission to have a piece of BCP at that hotel. This day-long dream was made a reality today when we stopped by and had the desert! More on that later!
Okay - we took the train back into Boston today. Now we were old hands and could concentrate more on how cute the conductors were than on whether or not we had the correct change. Observation: most men under the age of 35 are really cute.
Leaving the train we walked the remainder of the Freedom Trail (sans the haul up Bunker Hill which really isn't Bunker Hill at all anyway). We signed up for the Duck Tour - one of those vehicles that goes on land and water. Our guide for the trip was a retired Boston history teacher. He was quite good except for the prerequisite retired teacher jokes. Sidenote on the Freedom Trail: I got my first senior citizens discount on the guided tour yesterday. I decided it was cause for celebration instead of the beginning of the end. . . .
The Duck tour was an hour and a half on land and sea, and very interesting. After disembarking the bus/boat we caught the ferry shuttle across the harbor to the long wharf. Found a Legal Seafood restaurant and had a late lunch. Followed by the 20 minute walk to the aforementioned Omni Parker House restaurant for Boston Cream Pie and green tea. Yummy x3! Walked back to the train and traveled back to Rockport. It was a full commuter train, but since we are the end of the line, only a few made it to the end.
We may stay local and explore the surrounding quaint villages tomorrow. Stay tuned. . . .RP
1. seafood
2. french fries
This second one was totally unintentional. After years of eschewing (as oppposed to chewing) the dreaded french fry, I find that they tend to accompany lunch items, and once started, I'm powerless to stop. So I guess if my new rule is that I can shamelessly indulge in french fries every 10 years, then so be it. Can one claim moderation if one averages out abstainence and binging?????
3. Boston Cream Pie
This was on my bucket list. However, I didn't know it was on my bucket list until yesterday when our guide pointed out the Omni Parker House Hotel as the place where Boston Cream Pie was invented. From that time on I made it my life's mission to have a piece of BCP at that hotel. This day-long dream was made a reality today when we stopped by and had the desert! More on that later!
Okay - we took the train back into Boston today. Now we were old hands and could concentrate more on how cute the conductors were than on whether or not we had the correct change. Observation: most men under the age of 35 are really cute.
Leaving the train we walked the remainder of the Freedom Trail (sans the haul up Bunker Hill which really isn't Bunker Hill at all anyway). We signed up for the Duck Tour - one of those vehicles that goes on land and water. Our guide for the trip was a retired Boston history teacher. He was quite good except for the prerequisite retired teacher jokes. Sidenote on the Freedom Trail: I got my first senior citizens discount on the guided tour yesterday. I decided it was cause for celebration instead of the beginning of the end. . . .
The Duck tour was an hour and a half on land and sea, and very interesting. After disembarking the bus/boat we caught the ferry shuttle across the harbor to the long wharf. Found a Legal Seafood restaurant and had a late lunch. Followed by the 20 minute walk to the aforementioned Omni Parker House restaurant for Boston Cream Pie and green tea. Yummy x3! Walked back to the train and traveled back to Rockport. It was a full commuter train, but since we are the end of the line, only a few made it to the end.
We may stay local and explore the surrounding quaint villages tomorrow. Stay tuned. . . .RP
Monday, May 11, 2009
DAY ELEVEN
The Captain's House, our inn in Rockport is sensational. We ate breakfast on the porch overlooking the sea. There were binoculars on the table, so I was able to check out the fishing boats as they passed by. I think I might possibly have caught sight of the Gordon's fisherman as he was bringing little square, breaded fish filets out of the water. But maybe not. It never ceases to amaze me that as I live the routine of my life, so many others are doing their day to day work, and it is so much different than mine.
Our room for the first two nights here is a large room with a queen sized bed, and a porch with a twin bed. I slept gladly on the porch last night. It was cool so I kept the windows shut where I could still hear the waves. It was a full moon as well. Glorious!
Bonnie and I caught the 10 o'clock train from Rockport to Boston. This is not a metro type train, but a true railroad train. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to get to Boston, passing the cutest little towns: Gloucester, Manchester by the Sea, etc. We were able to jump right on the T system from the train and went to Boston Common. We signed up for a guided walking tour of about 60% of the Freedom Trail narrated by a costumed docent. Very interesting. During one of his "presentations" we heard a scuffle close by, then heard a man's loud voice yelling "Thief!!!!" and saw a man running away very fast carrying what looked like a gym bag. No one really responded and I guess the guy got away. With costumed people all around, I guess it's hard to tell what's real and what isn't. But this I fear was very real. I held my purse a little tighter after that. But truth to tell, it was kind of exciting.
After the tour we ate at the Quincey Market - all you people who know Boston will no doubt know where that is. We walked for another part of the Freedom Trail, covering everything except the Charlestown part. We plan to go back there again tomorrow. So much to see and do. Weather was sunny but brisk. Great for walking around!
We're back at the Inn nursing our sore feet and contemplating dinner. . . .
I am currently reading The Last Days of Dogtown, by Anita Diamant who wrote The Red Tent, which I loved. This book is about the Dogtown area of Gloucester during the early 1800's. . .novelized of course, and absolutely fascinating. I'm trying to get it read while I'm here so that I once again am reading a story about the place where I'm at. . . .I have another book waiting as I head for Maine!
Sorry about the trouble posting comments. But thanks for those who are taking time to email me! It's great to be followed!!!!! Stay tuned. . . RP
Our room for the first two nights here is a large room with a queen sized bed, and a porch with a twin bed. I slept gladly on the porch last night. It was cool so I kept the windows shut where I could still hear the waves. It was a full moon as well. Glorious!
Bonnie and I caught the 10 o'clock train from Rockport to Boston. This is not a metro type train, but a true railroad train. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to get to Boston, passing the cutest little towns: Gloucester, Manchester by the Sea, etc. We were able to jump right on the T system from the train and went to Boston Common. We signed up for a guided walking tour of about 60% of the Freedom Trail narrated by a costumed docent. Very interesting. During one of his "presentations" we heard a scuffle close by, then heard a man's loud voice yelling "Thief!!!!" and saw a man running away very fast carrying what looked like a gym bag. No one really responded and I guess the guy got away. With costumed people all around, I guess it's hard to tell what's real and what isn't. But this I fear was very real. I held my purse a little tighter after that. But truth to tell, it was kind of exciting.
After the tour we ate at the Quincey Market - all you people who know Boston will no doubt know where that is. We walked for another part of the Freedom Trail, covering everything except the Charlestown part. We plan to go back there again tomorrow. So much to see and do. Weather was sunny but brisk. Great for walking around!
We're back at the Inn nursing our sore feet and contemplating dinner. . . .
I am currently reading The Last Days of Dogtown, by Anita Diamant who wrote The Red Tent, which I loved. This book is about the Dogtown area of Gloucester during the early 1800's. . .novelized of course, and absolutely fascinating. I'm trying to get it read while I'm here so that I once again am reading a story about the place where I'm at. . . .I have another book waiting as I head for Maine!
Sorry about the trouble posting comments. But thanks for those who are taking time to email me! It's great to be followed!!!!! Stay tuned. . . RP
Sunday, May 10, 2009
DAY TEN - PHASE 2
A change of venues, and a change of companions. The celebration continues.
Joan and I awoke to bright sunshine (of course. . .) and breezy conditions on our last morning on Nantucket. We had washed everything the night before, so were ready when Kevin, AKA Briscoe Darling picked us up at 8:45. Joan sat in the front this time and seemed to emerge from the car unscathed. The crossing was uneventful, save for the choppy seas. We were grateful that it was not any worse.
Since we had some extra time, Joan and I decided to make the trip to Rockport to see the B&B where Bonnie and I were to stay tonight. Rockport, as it turns out, was swamped with people and no parking spaces. We managed to find a spot on a side street and had a lunch of fish and chips. We found The Captain's House (Google this and you'll see how wonderful it is). Wow! What a place. Right on the ocean and rocky coast. I'm glad Joan got to see it, and also the quaint town of Rockport, people and all. We drove back to Logan and met Bonnie whose plane had landed early. We got Joan's bags all squared away and enjoyed conversation and snacks at Au Bon Pain. All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Joan, which is always difficult but especially so this time. Among my most treasured "possessions" in life is this dear dear friend who I have known and loved since I was 4 years old!!! Not many people are lucky enough to have such a lifelong buddy.
Bonnie and I took the scenic route back to Rockport, driving through Salem among other small towns. We have arrived and settled in for the next 4 days. We plan to take the train to Boston tomorrow, and at least one other time too. The trip continues. Happy Mother's Day to all my friends who are mothers!!! RP
Joan and I awoke to bright sunshine (of course. . .) and breezy conditions on our last morning on Nantucket. We had washed everything the night before, so were ready when Kevin, AKA Briscoe Darling picked us up at 8:45. Joan sat in the front this time and seemed to emerge from the car unscathed. The crossing was uneventful, save for the choppy seas. We were grateful that it was not any worse.
Since we had some extra time, Joan and I decided to make the trip to Rockport to see the B&B where Bonnie and I were to stay tonight. Rockport, as it turns out, was swamped with people and no parking spaces. We managed to find a spot on a side street and had a lunch of fish and chips. We found The Captain's House (Google this and you'll see how wonderful it is). Wow! What a place. Right on the ocean and rocky coast. I'm glad Joan got to see it, and also the quaint town of Rockport, people and all. We drove back to Logan and met Bonnie whose plane had landed early. We got Joan's bags all squared away and enjoyed conversation and snacks at Au Bon Pain. All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Joan, which is always difficult but especially so this time. Among my most treasured "possessions" in life is this dear dear friend who I have known and loved since I was 4 years old!!! Not many people are lucky enough to have such a lifelong buddy.
Bonnie and I took the scenic route back to Rockport, driving through Salem among other small towns. We have arrived and settled in for the next 4 days. We plan to take the train to Boston tomorrow, and at least one other time too. The trip continues. Happy Mother's Day to all my friends who are mothers!!! RP
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Day Nine - Last day in Nantucket
Well, under the heading All Good Things Must Come To An End. . . . here we are on the last full day. It was rainy again today. Somehow all we wanted to do was sit and read since we finished our "trashy" (which turned out not to be too trashy) novel and both started on different books. I bought a second book by the same author, again set on Nantucket. It's such fun to read a book when the setting is literally where you are at the moment.
Around mid-day we took a walk into town to see if we needed reservations for the ferry tomorrow AM. We had our last restaurant meal at the Rose and Crown. We walked around parts of town that we had missed before. It's fun getting off the beathen track here and seeing how the local folks live. Stopped at Even Keel for coffee and a rest. Went home ot read and napped some more. Back into town for a last look around, and clam chowder to take home to dinner. It was misty and very Nantucket-y. Now we're packing, doing laundry, etc. We are going to catch the 9:30 ferry with Briscoe Darling picking us up at 8:45. If you don't understand the reference, read day 3. I will be sitting in the back seat this time.
Can't believe that at this time tomorrow Joan will be on her way home and Bonnie and I will be in Rockport, Mass. Phase 1 has been a rousing success!!!! RP
Around mid-day we took a walk into town to see if we needed reservations for the ferry tomorrow AM. We had our last restaurant meal at the Rose and Crown. We walked around parts of town that we had missed before. It's fun getting off the beathen track here and seeing how the local folks live. Stopped at Even Keel for coffee and a rest. Went home ot read and napped some more. Back into town for a last look around, and clam chowder to take home to dinner. It was misty and very Nantucket-y. Now we're packing, doing laundry, etc. We are going to catch the 9:30 ferry with Briscoe Darling picking us up at 8:45. If you don't understand the reference, read day 3. I will be sitting in the back seat this time.
Can't believe that at this time tomorrow Joan will be on her way home and Bonnie and I will be in Rockport, Mass. Phase 1 has been a rousing success!!!! RP
Friday, May 8, 2009
DAY EIGHT
Well, guess who arrived today. . .none other than old Mr. Sun! I had forgotten what he looked like. He was accompanied by his buddy, Mr. Blue Sky. We hardly knew how to act! But we had a half day left with our Smart Car, and it was Joan's turn to drive. So off we went, slathered in sun-screen, bedecked with sun glasses, rumbling and bumbling down the roads and stretches of Nantucket. The ocean was calmer every time we would drive to the end of the road. The nice thing about being on an island is that all roads lead to the ocean eventually.
We also found Barlett's Farm which is a spectacular working farm/nursery/whole foods/gardening/deli type mecca. It has a working giant wind turbine that is beginning to generate masses of electricity for the farm and the island. Would never have discovered that without the car.
Drove through gorgeous neighborhoods, our favorite turned out to be Monomoy which has breathtaking views of the Nantucket Harbor with the ferry boats coming and going. A very nice man let us go onto the driveway of one of the multi-million dollar homes and snap pictures of the harbor.
We reluctantly returned the car after filling the gas tank. Two half days of driving drained 2+ gallons out of the tank. We ate lunch at Even Keel again, this time outside in the back garden. The sunny day was so welcome after all the rain.
We spent some time reading, and then walked to the Sea Grille for their lobster dinner special. Yummy for sure. We can't believe that tomorrow is our last full day here. And it will be taken up with last minute trips to town, and packing and laundry, etc. so that we can try to make the 9:30 ferry boat off the island on Sunday.
THere is even more buzz today, Friday, as the weekenders come in. YOu can smell "full swing" just around the corner! We love Nantucket! RP
We also found Barlett's Farm which is a spectacular working farm/nursery/whole foods/gardening/deli type mecca. It has a working giant wind turbine that is beginning to generate masses of electricity for the farm and the island. Would never have discovered that without the car.
Drove through gorgeous neighborhoods, our favorite turned out to be Monomoy which has breathtaking views of the Nantucket Harbor with the ferry boats coming and going. A very nice man let us go onto the driveway of one of the multi-million dollar homes and snap pictures of the harbor.
We reluctantly returned the car after filling the gas tank. Two half days of driving drained 2+ gallons out of the tank. We ate lunch at Even Keel again, this time outside in the back garden. The sunny day was so welcome after all the rain.
We spent some time reading, and then walked to the Sea Grille for their lobster dinner special. Yummy for sure. We can't believe that tomorrow is our last full day here. And it will be taken up with last minute trips to town, and packing and laundry, etc. so that we can try to make the 9:30 ferry boat off the island on Sunday.
THere is even more buzz today, Friday, as the weekenders come in. YOu can smell "full swing" just around the corner! We love Nantucket! RP
Thursday, May 7, 2009
DAY SEVEN
Time is just going much too fast! I'm sitting in the front room of the cottage listening to more wind and rain. We've had sun for maybe 2 hours since we got here. But given the great time we're having I'd say that maybe sun is over-rated!
This morning I had to respond to the dismal day by walking 10 minutes down the road to the Day Spa and get a wonderful massage. I'm am completely congratulating myself right about now for the weeks (actually months and years) of living frugally, shopping in thrift shops, and saving money so that I could come on a trip like this. I will begin saving again the minute I get back!
After the massage we walked to town for lunch at a cute little restaurant called Even Keel . . .apparently Rachel Ray has broadcast her show from there, and Ted Kennedy hangs out there when he is on island. Then we walked to get our cute little black Smart Car. What a hoot! Once inside, it's hard to remember it's so small. But after reaching a destination, parking and looking back at it, you just can't help but "AWWWWW!!!!" Great little vehicle. Today was my driving day. . . tomorrow is Joan's. It was so great to see the far reaches of the island. This is my third trip here but have never been to some of the outer beaches. It was foggy and windy, so the surf was definitely up almost everywhere. We loved exploring and seeing places we had never been.
We're home for the evening. I'm cooking a dinner of lamb chops, sweet potatoe fries and salad. It's a good plan to eat out at noon and eat in for dinner, especially with this weather. The crowds are picking up, and the whole island is abuzz with workers and white vans and pick-up trucks as the establishments get polished and scrubbed for the season. There's a wine festival next weekend, and then the rates go up. All in all, this is a good time to come! Stay tuned. . . .rp
This morning I had to respond to the dismal day by walking 10 minutes down the road to the Day Spa and get a wonderful massage. I'm am completely congratulating myself right about now for the weeks (actually months and years) of living frugally, shopping in thrift shops, and saving money so that I could come on a trip like this. I will begin saving again the minute I get back!
After the massage we walked to town for lunch at a cute little restaurant called Even Keel . . .apparently Rachel Ray has broadcast her show from there, and Ted Kennedy hangs out there when he is on island. Then we walked to get our cute little black Smart Car. What a hoot! Once inside, it's hard to remember it's so small. But after reaching a destination, parking and looking back at it, you just can't help but "AWWWWW!!!!" Great little vehicle. Today was my driving day. . . tomorrow is Joan's. It was so great to see the far reaches of the island. This is my third trip here but have never been to some of the outer beaches. It was foggy and windy, so the surf was definitely up almost everywhere. We loved exploring and seeing places we had never been.
We're home for the evening. I'm cooking a dinner of lamb chops, sweet potatoe fries and salad. It's a good plan to eat out at noon and eat in for dinner, especially with this weather. The crowds are picking up, and the whole island is abuzz with workers and white vans and pick-up trucks as the establishments get polished and scrubbed for the season. There's a wine festival next weekend, and then the rates go up. All in all, this is a good time to come! Stay tuned. . . .rp
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
DAY SIX
I'm typing this and trying to stay awake!!! Today was bicycle day. When you rent a bike for only one day, there's a lot of pressure to get your money's worth! We awoke to pouring rain so we nixed the bikes and walked to town for coffee. By the time we got back, the rain was letting up. We decided to watch part 1 of Joan's birthday present to me: the complete set of HBO presentations so far of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I love those books, and have heard wonderful things about the series. Part 1 was fabulous. What great story telling and production of these books.
We could hardly believe our eyes that the sun was peeking out! We got on the bikes and rode a short distance to The Sea Grill restaurant for lunch. Ate way too much superb food, but knew we were going riding. We ended up riding about 20 miles. This included a ride to the charming, rose-covered (in season) cottage community of Sconset. We took one detour down the road leading to the airport. I love watching planes and we couldn't believe how many take offs and landings of the small commuter planes we saw in the short time we were there. The old TV series "Wings" is set in the Nantucket airport. The whole building is undergoing a massive remodel. We continued on to Sconset. . . .a trip we had made when we were here for the 50th birthday. We were pretty proud to make this trip down and back and survive it after 10 years. We returned the bikes, picked up more clam chowder for dinner, and hobbled home! Exercise is the bomb. I'm tired but happy to have been outside breathing the ocean air and seeing this beautiful island. Tomorrow we will see the rest of it by Smart Car! We have vowed to traverse every single street on the island in our little (hopefully) black car. Stay tuned. . . . .
We could hardly believe our eyes that the sun was peeking out! We got on the bikes and rode a short distance to The Sea Grill restaurant for lunch. Ate way too much superb food, but knew we were going riding. We ended up riding about 20 miles. This included a ride to the charming, rose-covered (in season) cottage community of Sconset. We took one detour down the road leading to the airport. I love watching planes and we couldn't believe how many take offs and landings of the small commuter planes we saw in the short time we were there. The old TV series "Wings" is set in the Nantucket airport. The whole building is undergoing a massive remodel. We continued on to Sconset. . . .a trip we had made when we were here for the 50th birthday. We were pretty proud to make this trip down and back and survive it after 10 years. We returned the bikes, picked up more clam chowder for dinner, and hobbled home! Exercise is the bomb. I'm tired but happy to have been outside breathing the ocean air and seeing this beautiful island. Tomorrow we will see the rest of it by Smart Car! We have vowed to traverse every single street on the island in our little (hopefully) black car. Stay tuned. . . . .
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
THE BIG DAY!
Well, my cup runneth over today. I've had messages and calls from all my favorite people. . . even out here on this island. Thank goodness my phone works better here than in Virginia!
Joan and I have had a stellar day, despite wind and rain. We decided to have a wonderful birthday lunch instead of dinner. We went back to the place where we ate yesterday because I saw something on the menu that just looked too good for words. So we each got a glass of delicious Vigonier, my new favorite wine, and then an order of lobster risotto which was to die for. After lunch we walked over to the Smart Car place and reserved a shiny black car for Thursday at noon. We decided to reserve our bikes for tomorrow. The bike place is closed tomorrow so we got a great deal of a one day fare but we got the bikes overnight. And wonder of wonders the sun broke through as we were paying for the bikes so we rode them home. It stayed dry, if cloudy so we did some bike riding today. We stopped long enough to read the last chapter of our semi-trashy novel. Loved it and read that the author is local. So we looked her up in the phone book and decided that life was too short not to have an author stalking afternoon.
We got on our bikes and rode to her house. I had a fantasy that she would be out in the yard working on her garden, we would ride up and tell her the fascinating and delightful story about my 60th birthday, the fact that we chose her novel to read, and the fact that we had just finished the novel in the last hour. Then she would invite us into her house, sign our books, and we would all have sparkling reparte' over a glass of wine. What really happened is that her street was flooded, her front door was open, but we chickened out of going up to the door. Oh well.
However, we passed a golf course and are considering the possiblity of taking a golf lesson if we can arrange it. Shout out to Casey and Patti(who is playing a match play tournament championship tomorrow!) If I find any balls while I'm there I'll grab them for you.
Home to dinner of clam chowder which we had picked up at "Stubby's". We had stopped at the grocery and wine shop while on our bikes. However, getting home I realized that we had not remembered our "medicinal chocolate" so after dinner I walked back to the store and got that. We ended the day by drinking wine, eating chocolate while watching The Biggest Loser. No irony there.
All the while retrieving calls from my loved ones! Shout out to everyone. . . I am so completely blessed in this part of my life. Thank you everyone for being a part of my wonderful life. But it's not over even though I can no longer brag about being in my 50's (well, I could, but it would be a lie!). So tune in tomorrow. . the best is yet to be. RP
Joan and I have had a stellar day, despite wind and rain. We decided to have a wonderful birthday lunch instead of dinner. We went back to the place where we ate yesterday because I saw something on the menu that just looked too good for words. So we each got a glass of delicious Vigonier, my new favorite wine, and then an order of lobster risotto which was to die for. After lunch we walked over to the Smart Car place and reserved a shiny black car for Thursday at noon. We decided to reserve our bikes for tomorrow. The bike place is closed tomorrow so we got a great deal of a one day fare but we got the bikes overnight. And wonder of wonders the sun broke through as we were paying for the bikes so we rode them home. It stayed dry, if cloudy so we did some bike riding today. We stopped long enough to read the last chapter of our semi-trashy novel. Loved it and read that the author is local. So we looked her up in the phone book and decided that life was too short not to have an author stalking afternoon.
We got on our bikes and rode to her house. I had a fantasy that she would be out in the yard working on her garden, we would ride up and tell her the fascinating and delightful story about my 60th birthday, the fact that we chose her novel to read, and the fact that we had just finished the novel in the last hour. Then she would invite us into her house, sign our books, and we would all have sparkling reparte' over a glass of wine. What really happened is that her street was flooded, her front door was open, but we chickened out of going up to the door. Oh well.
However, we passed a golf course and are considering the possiblity of taking a golf lesson if we can arrange it. Shout out to Casey and Patti(who is playing a match play tournament championship tomorrow!) If I find any balls while I'm there I'll grab them for you.
Home to dinner of clam chowder which we had picked up at "Stubby's". We had stopped at the grocery and wine shop while on our bikes. However, getting home I realized that we had not remembered our "medicinal chocolate" so after dinner I walked back to the store and got that. We ended the day by drinking wine, eating chocolate while watching The Biggest Loser. No irony there.
All the while retrieving calls from my loved ones! Shout out to everyone. . . I am so completely blessed in this part of my life. Thank you everyone for being a part of my wonderful life. But it's not over even though I can no longer brag about being in my 50's (well, I could, but it would be a lie!). So tune in tomorrow. . the best is yet to be. RP
Monday, May 4, 2009
DAY FOUR
Success! After fighting with the in-house internet, I'm online in the house we rented. Hooray!
Now I can write: "I'm still 59" one more time!
It was overcast and drizzly and downright rainy all day and it was wonderful. We walked and walked and walked. Nantucket is a place where you never run out of wonderful streets,lanes and alleys to walk down. Gorgeous houses and gardens everywhere. We walked to the cafe this morning where I posted yesterday's blog. Then back to the house (about 10 minutes from town) to drop the computer. Short rest and then back to town. Had a great lunch right on Main Street. Enough food that we brought back half after lunch and are getting ready to have that for dinner!
This afternoon we went back to town and walked down towards Brant Point by John Kerry's house (actually, his wife's house. . . according to locals: Kerry has no money!), Tommy Hilfiger's house (he has lots of money) and all around. I'm sure we got our 10,000 steps in today. We stopped at a great restaurant/bar called The Brotherhood of Thieves, and had a martini each called The Hemingway. Grapefruit juice and hooch, basically. My last cocktail before turning 60! We have decided to rent a smart car on Thursday. Joan and I tooling around the island in the teeny tiny little lump of metal that is a Smart Car! We can't wait. And it is a convertible!!! Hope it doesn't rain. How fun does that sound?
TOmorrow, birthday day, is supposed to be a steady rain. But we will not let it dampen our spirits!
For the last time. . . . . .I'm still in my 50's!!!!!!! RP
Now I can write: "I'm still 59" one more time!
It was overcast and drizzly and downright rainy all day and it was wonderful. We walked and walked and walked. Nantucket is a place where you never run out of wonderful streets,lanes and alleys to walk down. Gorgeous houses and gardens everywhere. We walked to the cafe this morning where I posted yesterday's blog. Then back to the house (about 10 minutes from town) to drop the computer. Short rest and then back to town. Had a great lunch right on Main Street. Enough food that we brought back half after lunch and are getting ready to have that for dinner!
This afternoon we went back to town and walked down towards Brant Point by John Kerry's house (actually, his wife's house. . . according to locals: Kerry has no money!), Tommy Hilfiger's house (he has lots of money) and all around. I'm sure we got our 10,000 steps in today. We stopped at a great restaurant/bar called The Brotherhood of Thieves, and had a martini each called The Hemingway. Grapefruit juice and hooch, basically. My last cocktail before turning 60! We have decided to rent a smart car on Thursday. Joan and I tooling around the island in the teeny tiny little lump of metal that is a Smart Car! We can't wait. And it is a convertible!!! Hope it doesn't rain. How fun does that sound?
TOmorrow, birthday day, is supposed to be a steady rain. But we will not let it dampen our spirits!
For the last time. . . . . .I'm still in my 50's!!!!!!! RP
DAY THREE - even though it's 4
Ahhhhh - Island living! No internet in the house that I can get to work, so I'm in The Bean coffee shop on Day 4, reporting on day 3. I may have to come here every day.
Joan and I caught the 11:00 ferry to Nantucket yesterday. This is distinquished by the fact that two high school la crosse teams were also going over to play a game vs. Nantucket High. How would you like that commute as a soccer mom????? Needless to say the crossing was calm sea-wise, and rowdy boat-wise. Although the crossing is only an hour on the high speed (40 mph) boats.
We got a cab driver who had a Briscoe Darling beard (shout out to my family and any other Andy Griffith fans who understand that reference), was still mad about the Vietnam War, and felt the need to constantly put his hand on my leg after I was dumb enough to sit in the front seat. HOwever, it makes for great story telling! And it is likely the last "action" I will ever see in this lifetime. . . .
The weather is drizzly and likely to be so for the remainder of the week, the exception being the sun predicted on Wednesday. So we did not rent bikes for the week, but will just get one on the days we can ride. We walked our fannies off yesterday back and forth to grocery stores and town. It's glorious walking around here, even in the rain.
Had a great lunch in one of the restaurants that is open in this pre-season phase. An adorable waiter named Sean spent alot of time giving us references for my birthday dinner. . . he did not offer to accompany us, however. We walked to the spot and found the restaurant non-existent. We decided that either things are changing really fast around here, or Sean was having a great time at our expense. Either way. . . a great story.
The house is gorgeous. A wonderful kitchen begging to be cooked in, and I obliged by whipping up a great shrimp, white bean, tomato, basil dish last night. The upstairs could sleep nine, but one tiny bath would make it awkward if all the beds were filled. It is perfect for me, however, and that is my domain. Joan is the the beautiful room in the back of the house on the first floor. We don't even care about the weather. . .there's a great thousand piece jigsaw puzzle, and a huge dining room table just calling to us for the evenings. Are we little old ladies or what?
For those trying to post comments but can't. . . .try this. . . Read the blog, and then click on where it says 0 comments at the bottom. That should take you to a place where it gives you the option to post a comment. I can do that even if I haven't signed in on my account. And if there are any comments, you can read those as well. In the meantime, thanks Helene for the Sandy update. . . I'm thinking about you and Bill, Sandy. Thanks, Nancy for the lovely wishes. Chip and Dave, I hope you can figure out how post a comment, but I'll check my email as well.
If I miss a day posting, it's just that I haven't lugged my computer into town. . . either that or I contracted the swine flu, or I've been swept out to sea.
By the way. . .I'm still 59!!!!!! RP
Joan and I caught the 11:00 ferry to Nantucket yesterday. This is distinquished by the fact that two high school la crosse teams were also going over to play a game vs. Nantucket High. How would you like that commute as a soccer mom????? Needless to say the crossing was calm sea-wise, and rowdy boat-wise. Although the crossing is only an hour on the high speed (40 mph) boats.
We got a cab driver who had a Briscoe Darling beard (shout out to my family and any other Andy Griffith fans who understand that reference), was still mad about the Vietnam War, and felt the need to constantly put his hand on my leg after I was dumb enough to sit in the front seat. HOwever, it makes for great story telling! And it is likely the last "action" I will ever see in this lifetime. . . .
The weather is drizzly and likely to be so for the remainder of the week, the exception being the sun predicted on Wednesday. So we did not rent bikes for the week, but will just get one on the days we can ride. We walked our fannies off yesterday back and forth to grocery stores and town. It's glorious walking around here, even in the rain.
Had a great lunch in one of the restaurants that is open in this pre-season phase. An adorable waiter named Sean spent alot of time giving us references for my birthday dinner. . . he did not offer to accompany us, however. We walked to the spot and found the restaurant non-existent. We decided that either things are changing really fast around here, or Sean was having a great time at our expense. Either way. . . a great story.
The house is gorgeous. A wonderful kitchen begging to be cooked in, and I obliged by whipping up a great shrimp, white bean, tomato, basil dish last night. The upstairs could sleep nine, but one tiny bath would make it awkward if all the beds were filled. It is perfect for me, however, and that is my domain. Joan is the the beautiful room in the back of the house on the first floor. We don't even care about the weather. . .there's a great thousand piece jigsaw puzzle, and a huge dining room table just calling to us for the evenings. Are we little old ladies or what?
For those trying to post comments but can't. . . .try this. . . Read the blog, and then click on where it says 0 comments at the bottom. That should take you to a place where it gives you the option to post a comment. I can do that even if I haven't signed in on my account. And if there are any comments, you can read those as well. In the meantime, thanks Helene for the Sandy update. . . I'm thinking about you and Bill, Sandy. Thanks, Nancy for the lovely wishes. Chip and Dave, I hope you can figure out how post a comment, but I'll check my email as well.
If I miss a day posting, it's just that I haven't lugged my computer into town. . . either that or I contracted the swine flu, or I've been swept out to sea.
By the way. . .I'm still 59!!!!!! RP
Saturday, May 2, 2009
DAY TWO!
This was a sensational day! Helene and I went for the greatest walk in Elizabeth Park in West Hartford. Fabulous gardens. . .all my master gardener buddies would have gone berserk seeing them. She gave me an auto tour of West Hartford. . . a beautiful community. I could live there!
Picked up Joan at Logan right on time. We headed for the Cape! Stopped in Plymouth for gas and lunch. Had to see Plymouth Rock of course, and tour the replica of the Mayflower. We enjoyed that American History lesson. But as only Joan and I can. . .we sniffed out two antique malls where we could have spent hours. It's lucky she is on a plane, and I have a smaller car. It could have been ugly if we had tried to get in the car all the things we saw that we loved. We got out of there with Joan buying 5 wine glasses that she will attempt to wrap up in her underwear inside her carry-on bag for the trip back to Indy!
Once on Cape Cod we got our ferry tickets for the morning, checked into the Holiday Inn and headed for Provincetown for dinner. What a whacky wonderful experience that was. As two women together we fit right into that culture. Alot of assumptions were made about the nature of Joan and mine's relationship, I'm sure. We found a great restaurant called Beachside Betsy's. It was very lively inside, made all the moreso when Betsy informed us it was Drag Weekend! We promptly ran into two guys in drag, one with tall, blonde, Marge Simpson style hair and a martini glass as big as an ice bucket! (S)He was a riot. I got a great picture but alas cannot hook up my camera to my computer, so I can't include it. Which is too bad, because it really was funny. P'town is going to remain a highlight of the trip, I'm sure!
So we're off to "Tucket" tomorrow. Chester is enjoying licking the ears of his new girlfriend, and having his ears licked. Apparently he's a randy old fellow when combined with the right woman!!! This is a side of him I have not seen. . . . . .Stay tuned. I'm still in my 50's. RP
Picked up Joan at Logan right on time. We headed for the Cape! Stopped in Plymouth for gas and lunch. Had to see Plymouth Rock of course, and tour the replica of the Mayflower. We enjoyed that American History lesson. But as only Joan and I can. . .we sniffed out two antique malls where we could have spent hours. It's lucky she is on a plane, and I have a smaller car. It could have been ugly if we had tried to get in the car all the things we saw that we loved. We got out of there with Joan buying 5 wine glasses that she will attempt to wrap up in her underwear inside her carry-on bag for the trip back to Indy!
Once on Cape Cod we got our ferry tickets for the morning, checked into the Holiday Inn and headed for Provincetown for dinner. What a whacky wonderful experience that was. As two women together we fit right into that culture. Alot of assumptions were made about the nature of Joan and mine's relationship, I'm sure. We found a great restaurant called Beachside Betsy's. It was very lively inside, made all the moreso when Betsy informed us it was Drag Weekend! We promptly ran into two guys in drag, one with tall, blonde, Marge Simpson style hair and a martini glass as big as an ice bucket! (S)He was a riot. I got a great picture but alas cannot hook up my camera to my computer, so I can't include it. Which is too bad, because it really was funny. P'town is going to remain a highlight of the trip, I'm sure!
So we're off to "Tucket" tomorrow. Chester is enjoying licking the ears of his new girlfriend, and having his ears licked. Apparently he's a randy old fellow when combined with the right woman!!! This is a side of him I have not seen. . . . . .Stay tuned. I'm still in my 50's. RP
Friday, May 1, 2009
Day One. . . . . .update
Great news! Just got a note from doggy camp that Chester has a girlfriend! They are in love and play all day. I have never known him to play with or even like any other dog. He'll get his little doggy heart broken in 6 days when she leaves, but for now, life is good at Ms. Doolittle's Country Kennel.
Anderson Cooper on. I feel like I know him. Also. . . so far it seems I have not caught the swine flu! Stay tuned. . . .
Anderson Cooper on. I feel like I know him. Also. . . so far it seems I have not caught the swine flu! Stay tuned. . . .
Birthday Bash Trip - Day 1
Icy tendrils of fear gripped RP as she made her way out into the early morning Virginia mist and headed for the car. . . . .Actually it wasn't that bad. But the icy tendrils of fear line is a shout out to Chad. . . .he'll understand the joke if he reads this.
But truthfully I always feel a little fearful and vulnerable at the very beginning of a long drive. But what the heck. . . I do it anyway. And today was great. . .8 1/2 hour drive . . .weather fine and traffic not so bad, even in New Jersey around New York.
But the best part was getting here in West Hartford, Connecticut. I have only met Helene once in my life. She stayed at my house one night when I wasn't even there. But what a welcome. She had invited two friends, Irma and Jane, to join us for a delicious dinner. And the biggest surprise was that Irma (who I had never met) made me a birthday cake FROM SCRATCH!!!!! Delicious. Candles and everything. And I'm still in my 50's!
Then we went to Central Connecticut State University to hear Anderson Cooper speak. He was amazing. . funny and profound and extremely attractive. We would have invited him back to the house, but he had his 10 o'clock broadcast on CNN to give from the very auditorium where we sat. Now Helene and I are back at her house waiting to watch him on TV. I'm a new fan. What a fabulous first day of my trip.
Tomorrow: Joan arrives!!!!!! Stay tuned. . . . RP
But truthfully I always feel a little fearful and vulnerable at the very beginning of a long drive. But what the heck. . . I do it anyway. And today was great. . .8 1/2 hour drive . . .weather fine and traffic not so bad, even in New Jersey around New York.
But the best part was getting here in West Hartford, Connecticut. I have only met Helene once in my life. She stayed at my house one night when I wasn't even there. But what a welcome. She had invited two friends, Irma and Jane, to join us for a delicious dinner. And the biggest surprise was that Irma (who I had never met) made me a birthday cake FROM SCRATCH!!!!! Delicious. Candles and everything. And I'm still in my 50's!
Then we went to Central Connecticut State University to hear Anderson Cooper speak. He was amazing. . funny and profound and extremely attractive. We would have invited him back to the house, but he had his 10 o'clock broadcast on CNN to give from the very auditorium where we sat. Now Helene and I are back at her house waiting to watch him on TV. I'm a new fan. What a fabulous first day of my trip.
Tomorrow: Joan arrives!!!!!! Stay tuned. . . . RP
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