Cold and Clammy

June 12, 2011 
Day #31 
Middleboro MA to Salisbury MA  110 miles via I495

Molly is ready to head south....she's 14 and grumpy

Grey, cold and drizzle again.  We are cold, so why not go further North? On the way out we drove past the pool where one little girl was shivering after going into the water.  The other kids were all jumping on the jump pillow.  Poor kids have probably been all excited waiting for vacation..

So after a Dunkin Donuts coffee....okay, and a Boston creme donut we were on our way to colder and wetter weather.  We took I495 which goes around Boston to the west.  Way longer, waaaaaaay easier on the nerves, especially when you're over 50 feet in length!  About the most exciting thing happening during the ride was trying to figure out the flavor of jelly beans that we were popping.  There are some amazing jelly bean flavors out there.  I must have really been bored, I don't even like jelly beans!  Well...I did  like the strawberry cheesecake one.   I am so full of sugar this trip...ugh.

A couple of hours later we arrived at the Beach Rose RV Park.  Not a bad little place, small but quiet with a security gate and a pool (ha, ha) that was very un-used, good WIFI and cable.  We took a ride to look around the area and before we knew it we were in New Hampshire.  We haven't been in Hampton Beach in many years.  Of course it was deserted because of the weather.  And apparently we didn't have enough sugar in our bodies, we got some ice cream.  The block long walk back to the car in the wind and drizzle almost put me into hypothermia, but I overcame it enough to eat my ice cream cone.  By the way, we both agreed that the brand 'Richardson's' Ice Cream' was awesome! 


On the way back I saw a sea food place with fresh 'steamers'.  Actually, there are seafood stores practically on every corner up there.  Where there are not seafood stores, there are clam shacks!  Most of these have signs where they promote - Clams, Chowder and Ice Cream.  Huh?  That seems like a strange combo!

Steamers....now don't that make your mouth water?

I bought a couple of pounds of steamers (soft shelled clams to the non-new englanders) and we made our way back to the RV...with the heat on in the car.  Jim could not believe it when he saw me hit the button for the heated seat.  In the RV the dogs were shivering, Molly, the old lady of the bunch was still wrapped in the blanket that we had put her in before we left.  Southern dogs!

I enjoyed every bite of my steamed clams....dipped in butter.  I am so glad I had blood work done BEFORE we left...my cardiologist thinks I am eating a 'heart healthy' diet.  Hah!

Tomorrow we are going  down the road a bit to Gloucester and Rockport on beautiful Cape Ann

Who'll Stop The Rain...?

June 11, 2011
Day #30
Middleboro MA and Rhode Island

During the night we could hear the rain pounding on the roof.  The rubber roof is bad enough, but the shower has a skylight so all that's between the rain and us is a thin sheet of plastic.  Shower units make great  echo chambers !  The local news said hat we received over two inches of rain overnight.  I wish I could have sent it back home to Charleston...


The rain is one thing, but the temperatures are another!  Last week temps were 20 degrees ABOVE normal and now it is 20 degrees BELOW normal.  Can we have a happy medium please?
   
With all good intentions, we thought we would make the best of it and venture into downtown Boston.  Many years ago Jim worked in tthe Boston area and knows his way around and is not intimidated.  We got to within 16 miles of our intended destination before we WERE intimidated.  The rain was blinding and the traffic was becoming extremely heavy when a few crazy drivers caused us to reconsider exactly how much did we really want to visit Boston.  Or maybe it was my screams...I tried to stifle them, I really did.


A couple of quick turns later we were on our 'old friend' I95 and the Old Post Road, RT1 and headed for Rhode Island.  At least we knew our way around there and the thought of walking around Boston in the cold downpour was not so appealing.  Besides, Rhode Island has some weird foods that we can't find anywhere else!  Heck, you can find lobster and chowder anywhere, but New York System Hot Weiners are a very local gastronomic oddity.




Jim's lunch...I could only handle two!




The Wein O Rama Menu...I don't know who did their graphics, but WHAT is this?



They're not even that good, really.  I have heard them referred to as,belly busters and gaggers...just makes your mouth water, no?  What they consist of is a steamed hot dog bun, skinny weiner, a strange ground meat sauce that defines it and defies duplication, onions, mustard and celery salt. The *original fast food*, usually found in diner-type (think greasy spoon, or dive) restaurants in working class neighborhoods. In fact, there was a  Diners and Dives episode filmed in one of the oldest 'WEENIE JOINTS (as we used to call them) in RI, Olneyville Weiners. Jim even thought about going to that one, it was near where he grew up.  Then we gave it a little more thought and decided that we would like to live long enough to  collect at least a little  Social Security!

Guy Fieri of the food channel explains in this video Hot weiners
We went to a restaurant that always seems to be full, everybody knows everybody, they all complain about the weather and politicians and they all love the Red Sox (as long as they're winning) 
*apparently there are two ways to spell 'weiner or wiener'...I chose the weiner, like the menu!

Later we drove a very short distance (everything is a short distance...it's Rhode Island!) for another unique to RI food, the bakery pizza strip.  Hard to explain, just a thick rectangular strip of pizza dough with JUST a thick tomato sauce topping.  We took a couple of slices home back to the RV with us. 

It was cold, rainy and gray, we headed back to the RV.  Since we can just barely get any TV reception, we went to another movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.  Silly movie, but I just LOVE Depp's adaptation of the prancing, limp wristed Jack Sparrow!  He's a hoot.

Back at the RV.  I'm wearing cuddle duds to bed, we have a heavy blanket on, the heat is on, the dogs are shivering...

The rain is doing that miserable, drizzle, spitting thing...I always hated that.

I really feel bad for the people who work all week and wait for the weekend to enjoy the outdoors.  It was nice all week, even beach weather...the weekend came and it's miserable out.  The campground is empty and is usually booked solid for a mid June weekend.  Sad.

Tomorrow, heading up to Gloucester and Rockport to freeze some more!

Like A Rock

June 10, 2011
Day #29
Middleboro MA/Plymouth MA

Plymouth Rock

Yesterday morning Jim went to step out of the RV when I heard him mutter, "Where the heck did the stairs go?" 


It seems the automatic steps that automatically extend when the living room door is opened were not doing what they were supposed to do. He flicked the switch, checked the wires, checked all connections, checked the fuses....nothing.  A call went out to the RV repair guy who services the RV park.  He scheduled a visit for this morning.  I thought the name of his company was interesting, 'On the Road RV Repair'...sound familiar?  Anyway, he quickly checked the wires and then pulled out his  screwdriver to open up one of the inside stairs.  He flipped it open and there inside the stair  was ANOTHER fuse box!  Who knew?   Soooooo, a new fuse (which cost about a dollar) cost us $140 service call.
Another live and learn moment...this is getting redundant.

Boston area KOA - Beautiful place, bad WIFI and bad TV reception.

Shortly after the quick fix, we left for Plymouth...or as they spelled it back in the day, Plimoth.  Believe it or not, the both of us have never been there.  All of our friends in public schools had gone on field trips, but we went to Catholic schools and our schools couldn't afford field trips.  The parish priest always had the grandest house in town and a brand new Cadillac, though....


Anyway, we started out for Plimoth Plantation, only about 15 miles away.  Along the way we realized that we were going to have to hit the ATM for some cash, after being cleaned out by the RV repair guy,   because we were getting a little low.


 We have never had more trouble trying to find a bank, even when TOMTOM used all of the satellites all we found was an out of business bank in a shopping center. Who ever heard of a bank going out of business? Next we asked TOMTOM to take us directly into the town of Plymouth,  obviously a place filled with history. So we drove down Main Street (which is very nice, by the way) and actually did find a bank or two, but had no place to park.  Then, while trying to find a side street to come back around the block again for the bank, guess what we stumbled upon?  Plymouth Rock!  Well...we didn't actually 'stumble' on it.  I should say we discovered it.  Jim seemed rather surprised that there actually was a rock!



The rock has its own little building.

The Mayflower got hit by lightning the night before and started to burn!







Seems that we almost forgot about the ROCK.  See, we don't always do our homework and didn't realize that Plymouth had a cute  little waterfront area, with all the usual shops on one side and a fishing harbor on the other.  Oh yes...and the boat, the Mayflower!  Well...not the actual one, that one would be pretty old by now, and you know about rot and worms in the wood and all those things that mess wooden ships up. 

We went to the visitors center to find ask about Plimoth Plantation and where the nearest bank within walking distance was...yes, we were still looking for that ATM!  We spent a few minutes in there, picked up a few pamphlets while waiting for the two employees to finish helping a couple of ladies.  Actually, one lady from the U.K. was done with her travel info, but was talking non-stop to the visitor center lady...we waited, and waited  - nothing.  You all know that Jim is a paragon of patience, right?

Out the door, still looking for the ATM, we walked across the street to where two fat motorcycle cops were sitting.  They should know where to find a bank!  And they did.  On the way back from the ATM we were ready for lunch.  Let's see. now...who could we ask about good local food?  Hmmmm, of course, the two fat cops!  They sent us to two waterfront places, this is a fishing village after all, and these we just what we were looking for. 

Woods Seafood Restaurant

We chose Woods Seafood Restaurant.  Nothing fancy, you can watch the fishing and lobster boats loading up and going out to sea.  I knew we made the right choice the minute we went in and I saw plate after plate of boiled lobsters, fried clams, and lobster rolls passing by.  Be still my heart!  So many choices, so little room in my stomach!  Seeing that I had my clams yesterday, I thought a 'proper' lobster roll (people along the new england coast know just I mean by 'proper') would be in order.  And maybe, just maybe I could squeeze in a little new england white chowder...(chowdah)




Proper bun = top sliced hot dog bun, toasted! 


The food came and I pulled out the camera.  Jim gives me 'the look' rolling his eyes and asks, "Are you going to take ANOTHER FOOD PICTURE?  You're embarrassing me!"


 Can you tell he was a detective?  Across the table I am focusing a camera a few inches from my plate, and he asks me this! 


It was wonderful, as was the chowder.  They even had the proper vinegar (vinegah in dialect) for the french fries (chips) which is, of course, MALT vinegar.  All was right with the world...at least until lunch .was over.

Up the road a mile or so was Plimoth Plantation.  We went in, and  watched  a 15 minute movie.  Thankfully, they are a little more upfront about the Native Americans now.  There is a Wampanaug village and the settler's village.  The Indian guy making the dug-out canoe was the coolest person in the entire place.  He also spoke in the present time and would answer peoples' questions referring to 'how it was'.

The city kid feeds a cow

I love my HOUSE, I love my STREET, I love my LIFE in this century!



Indian hut 


The people who work in the village are all costumed role players.  They do whatever chores a person living in 1627 would be doing.  They even speak in the in the manner (which can be difficult to understand) of the early settlers.  They are living in 1627 and speak in the present tense when relating events of that time.  Not for nothing...but it kind of creeped me out.  But that's just me.





Later that  evening we asked TOMTOM where the nearest movie theater was.  He directed us to an older mall in Taunton where we saw 'Super 8'.  We both liked it, nothing spectacular, just a cute movie.  Reminiscent of ET...and who didn't love that?

Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates (and that looks doubtful) we'll go to downtown Boston...







You're Sure To Fall In Love With Old Cape Cod

June 9, 2011
Day #28
Middleboro MA/Cape Cod MA




Cape Cod National Seashore


If you're fond of sand dunes, and salty air
Quaint little villages, here and there
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you like the taste of a lobster stew
Served by a window with an ocean view,
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Winding roads that seem to beckon you
Miles of green beneath the skies of blue
Church bells chiming on a Sunday morn,
Remind you of the town where you were born

If you spend an evening, you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you spend an evening, you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod
You're sure to fall in love,
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Old Cape Cod   Patti Page



I couldn't say it any better than that...

The day started out a little overcast, which was a very good thing, the weather forecast was for temperatures to be nearing one hundred degrees.  We headed toward the Atlantic Ocean, taking the older, two lane roads and passing through the tiny towns.  Most of the time we traveled Rt 6a, which follows the bay side, not the ocean side.  I can't even describe how beautiful this drive is, around every corner is another great view.  The rhododendrons were a little past their peak, but for one variety that blooms lavender.  The blooms were spectacular.  I don't know if this was an exceptional year for them, or if I've just forgotten how  showy these shrubs are.  Either way, they always seem to thrive closer to the ocean and I certainly enjoyed seeing them again. 

If you are going to be in the area, and have a little extra time, do yourself a favor...get off the highway (which is mostly a scrub pine tunnel) and take Rt.6a.  You will not regret it!


About mid Cape we were getting hungry.  Try as we may, we couldn't remember where (or the NAME for that matter) a seafood restaurant that we ate lunch at a few years ago.  We gave up and took a little side trip to a little known spot, Rock Harbor.  I remember it fondly from the mid 1960's.  It has changed, the charter fleet and parking lot are larger and  the enormous sand bar looked bigger. 

Cooks Seafood in Orleans on the Cape

A lady there told us about a place she likes for fried clams and off we went.  TOMTOM was a little confused on this one, luckily the lady had noted landmarks and we eventually found it.  I ordered a fried clam platter, small size...$23.00, and Jim had a clam strip platter for almost as much.  Clams are expensive these days, but I can't get fried clams with 'bellies' (don't ask) back in Charleston so I always get them when I am  here in new England.  They laid a couple of onion rings on top of the order and I wish I had the room to order some.  Good onion rings are hard to find, and they always seem to have the best where the best fried clams are!

Fried clams!

Continuing on the Cape...we were giggling about how long the trip seemed years ago.  I know the highways are better now, but back then a Rhode Islander very, very seldom strayed more than 30 minutes from home, normally a 15 minute trip for anything was more than enough time to spend on the road.  Tiny state, tiny distances = normal.  Now we know different.

If we go anywhere on the cape, it is always to Provincetown.  Cape Cod is shaped somewhat like an arm, P-town would be around the palm of the hand, and Race Point, at the tip of the cape, would be one of the fingers. 

Narrow streets....why are there so many FUDGE shops in tourist areas?

An old colonial village, with tiny  streets and an artsy community, P-town never changes much over the years.  The store fronts change, but for the most part it is still a historic village where one must walk in the street a good part of the time because the sidewalks are only one person wide in spots.  

Provincetown Harbor

 

We somehow got a parking spot right in the center of town at the Town Hall...that never happens!  Fed a few dollars into one of those new meters that collect for entire lots, and walked toward the pier.  It was a sunny 85 degrees, beautiful walking weather.  We stopped at a couple of shops, bought a Christmas ornament, and walked a little more before sitting on a park bench in front of Town Hall to people watch.  Trust me, there is PLENTY to watch in Provincetown! 

Lastly, we rode out to Race Point, a breathtaking beach that goes on for miles, and is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  We reminisced about climbing on these dunes during one of our more memorial dates in high school.  Not too many years later, we were at these same dunes on vacation, with our 3 year old son and 11 month old daughter waiting for the Appolo 11 astronauts to exit the LEM  and take the first walk on the moon.

And that was so very many years ago...



Race Point

Perfect end to a perfect day

Because I am a little behind on the blog, I am writing about Thursday's adventures and trying to catch up.  The lack of good WIFI in some of the camping areas prevents me from uploading photos and getting much accomplished on line...but I'm trying.





Attention Walmart Shoppers

June 8, 2011
Day #27
Westhampton MA to Middleboro MA  130 miles via US202, US9, US146,I295, I95, I495

Hotter than heck again today!  We took US66 over to Northhampton on the way out, such a charming town, too bad we didn't have time to look around a little.  We took the older route 9 across most of the state.  Yes, there are much faster ways, but the route was so much of what we grew up with and remember that we enjoyed it.  Jim's dad grew up in Ware, one of the towns we passed through.  Strange feeling seeing the mills where his grandfather worked and the city streets that his dad grew up on.  I'll bet if he was still alive he'd be pointing  out all the buildings while telling us all about his adventures growing up.



Never saw this before....and we've seen a bunch of Walmarts!


We stopped for a quick lunch at a huge Worcester Walmart and to pick up a few things that we seem to never remember.  I was impressed looking up at the parking lot lights, they have wind generator to provide power to them!  Wouldn't work at home, we have very little wind.   Inside however, all is the same, except it took me a couple of tries to find a person who spoke English to direct me to where the pet food area.  I was also glad to see that it isn't only the south that is home to the 'People of Walmart'...yeah, they got them here too!

So...I haven't had any problems with my teeth for years.  I went for my six month check-up/cleaning in late February.  But last week I noticed a little redness on the gum below a bottom molar and within a few days it got very sensitive to cold.  Doesn't it figure something will happened while away from home?  Now me AND the dog are on antibiotics!  Let's hope she and I can stave off anything major for a few more weeks, until we get home...

We went to the CVS pharmacy a few miles away to pick up my antibiotic and that's when we saw this 'mobile fish market'...interesting.  We'll be looking for him to be open so we can go inside and see what it is all about.

Tomorrow we will take a ride out to the end of Cape Cod.

Oh Deer

June 7, 2011
Day #26
Florida NY to Westhampton MA   180 miles via I84 and I91

The Black Bear Campground here is nice, nothing fancy, but comfortable and quiet.  Along with quiet the other things we look for are security and good WIFI and cable or at least good TV reception with the converter box.  We're finding that most of the places lie little about either the WIFI, TV reception or both.  Bookings are down in the campgrounds this year, they also tell us that they will be booked solid and they never are..

This campground is loaded with deer.  Every time we leave, we drive through a wooded section and see at least one, who sits there only feet away, looking at us very calmly.  They don't even bother to get up most of the time, laying down and chewing.  We were told that there are five deer 'families' there an two of the mama deer have twins.  We saw one of the does with her fawns last night drinking out of the pond.  Very cute...except when are eating your landscaping!

The trip today was short, it was hot.  We got to the KOA near Springfield mid afternoon.  There is a nice pool so we took an hour to enjoy the sun...we don't swim in ice water though.   The countryside here is typical new England and there are some beautiful homes, also mountain views. 

We needed a few things and went into town, we were not far from Springfield and went into the city, we'd never been in downtown Springfield.  Like so many other places on this trip, drove by many times but never actually drove in. 

Tonight we saw a good deal of the tornado damage.  It is hard to imagine it until you actually are standing in the middle of it.  Those magnificent 100+ year old trees snapped like matchsticks.  Street after street of destroyed homes, some leveled, some badly damaged.  We only saw a small portion of the tornado's path and it is still hard to believe that such a strong, wide and long lasting tornado happened here, Oklahoma, sure...but NOT here! 

Tomorrow we leave to travel across Massachusetts to be closer to Cape Cod and Boston.

Sweet Land of Liberty

June 6, 2011
Day #25
New York City

Great weather again...can't believe we haven't gotten rained out once on this trip!   Temperatures were in the 70's with low humidity.  Who could ask for more?  Well, maybe a few less miles between us and the city...

We waited for the rush hour to be over and were surprise to find much lighter traffic than on Sunday.  We did a re-play of the  previous day, only parked at a garage a little closer to Times Square.



On the GW going in to the city.  The tag reads, *OH VEY* which is exactly how I felt.

 Looked around Times Square for a bit, then took a subway to Grand Central Station.  I haven't been there since I was a child and it still amazes me.  I must have looked like a real dork looking up at the ceiling.  Years of restoration has this landmark looking perhaps better than new.   If you are ever in New York, do not miss it!

It was already past noon, so we decided to eat lunch before we took the subway over to Ellis Island.  The trip is combined with the Statue of Liberty.  We finally set foot on Liberty Island again, both of us haven't been there since we were kids.  For me, it was during the NY World's Fair...I am sooooo dating myself there!

Since we were in Grand Central Station anyway we just did a 'fly-by' of all the places around the perimeter and chose Juniors for a sandwich.  I had a heart attack on wheat...actually a sandwich I'd not heard of before, an egg salad BLT.  Like eating two sandwiches at once!  It was good.  Thank you Lipitor!

Down into the catacombs we went.  We decided to replace my week Metro Pass would be foolish, so I've been buying single ride passes for $2.50.   We rode to the Battery Park area, near the World Trade Center...in fact you probably remember it from that. 

The line for the ferry to the islands was quite long, we waited for about 45 minutes in the scorching sun.  However, I was told that it is usually much longer.  The post 9/11 search and metal detector pass through took a bit more time, some of the ladies from India seem to wear a great deal of jewelry and metal adornments and they hold up the entire line until they can clear.  Soon we were on our way to the islands and the cool breeze on the boat was much appreciated.



Looking back toward Battery Park...sure looks different with the Towers gone



We walked around Liberty Island and took some photos, but we really were more interested in seeing Ellis Island.  Lady Liberty is awesome, no matter how many times you see it, she still takes your breath away. 

I remember when I was very small and asking my mother what the Statue of Liberty was.  She told me...well as much as I could understand at that age, about it.  But the thing that I really remembered was that she mentioned that my father had cried when his troop ship had sailed back into NY Harbor on his way back from India in World War II.  My father cry?  Whatever could be so special about this statue that it could make my father cry?  I decided then and there that it must be a very, very special thing.

And it is.

The next stop, after waiting in another long line in the sun...was Ellis Island.  Hard to imagine the mixed feelings those immigrants must have had.  Try to imagine leaving everything you have ever known and with only a trunk or even just a bed roll, taking a miserable voyage to a place you have never been.  The photos on the walls of people from all over the world are sobering.  We certainly were lucky to be born here and at this time in history.

It was already rush hour so we got back on the subway.  Well I tried...Jim passed through before me again and I didn't time my 'single ride pass' right.  You need to swipe and keep walking fast through the turnstiles.  If you stop for half a second to read the panel to see if it says 'go', you are timed out and your pass is invalid.  Again Jim is yelling at me from the other side of the gate.  This is getting old.  Back to the kiosk I go and feed a few more dollars back into it to get another pass.  By now I was getting paranoid about how I am going to time my swipe/walk and I'm almost in tears.  I swear if I got 'invalidated' again I was going to walk over to the nearest cab stand and be DAMNED what it cost!  Luckily, that didn't happen.

Back to Grand Central Station to pick up some cheeses to take home.  And seeing that we were already there....hmmm, maybe we could stop back by Junior's and have a coffee, and wouldn't a piece of their famous strawberry cheesecake go great with that coffee?  We didn't have room earlier, and it would be a shame to be in NYC and not have cheesecake, wouldn't it?

When in Rome....

When we got back to Times Square we discovered that there were easily 10 million people there.  It smelled much better than it usually did.  Seems there was a 'Taste of NYC' or something like that going on and hundreds of restaurants were cooking on the square.  There were tickets being sold so you could go have a taste here and a taste there.  Too bad we were full! Jim was in a hurry to get home, grabbed me by the arm and all but ran with me through the square to get back to the garage..

.  Don't remember much it's all a blur..

Heading west on the GW...leaving the city.  We'll be back someday.

Tomorrow, we leave Florida NY and will travel to central Massachusetts, near Springfield.