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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Still Visiting

Gee, how can you just leave New England when your kids keep cooking and baking.  How about a fresh apple pie baked by Scott?
Scott, Rachel, and Lucas were great hosts for their open house.
When all of the kids are such great cooks, how can you just disappear?
Scott had apple pie, pumpkin pie, the veggie cheese baked dish below,
 and some wonderful salmon on the grill to mention a few dishes.
In the previous blog you saw some examples from Alison.  Last week we had a wonderful slow smoked pork butt from Sean, and Gary has some credentials when he has the down time.
I had a chance to go on a food shopping visit with Scott at this new place called Whole Foods?
I know, it's not new.  But we never come across stores like this in our travels.  What an experience!
Above are champagne cheese, serious Italian cheese, brie, and whole figs.
Probably just as well that we don't see Whole Foods on our travels.
Rachel's veggie dip and good old clam dip look wonderful at a family get together.
Love the back roads of New England.
Of course, sometimes the GPS doesn't quite give you the right direction in time.  So we figured why not try the alternate route?
Because this is what happens when you go on a quite pretty, but narrow and winding alternate route.
The sign says 11 foot clearance.
But, why not?  We have 5 to 6 inches of clearance.  It is still unnerving to hear the antennas hit the crossbeams as you cross over.
Our wanderings bring us to Winhall Brook COE Camping Area in South Londonderry, Vermont.
Apologies to Sarah and Morgan. We think we were quite close to you, but it was later in the day. Next year we need to plan ahead?
This is one of those Corps parks that few know about except the locals.
It is located at the junction of the West River where our site is and Winhall Brook where there are also sites.
Many of the sties have a view of the water and, of course, after Labor Day there is good availability.
We enjoyed the bike trails.
This one leaves right from our site and follows a rail bed to South Londonderry through the woods along the river.
A very small town in South Londonderry, but a nice view from the bridge.
The visitor's center is nicely kept. We assume that it is open during the summer months.
You can see how the visitors center used to be an old train depot. 
Along the bike trail are many old stone walls dating back probably to the 1800's or earlier.
This weekend we are at Hammonasset State Park in Connecticut again. Jan and her sister Marsha are visiting their sister Barbara in Boston.















Saturday, September 19, 2015

New England Summer

Wow!
The last posting was almost 2 months ago. Where did that time go?????

We decided to post all the summer pictures(to date) at once. So, if you are in a hurry, just scroll down to check out the ocean, lobsters, campgrounds, or family pics.

Always happy to start our visits with a visit from Jan's sister Marsha.  This picture is at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut along Long Island Sound.  The clear beach is a short walk from your campsite.







From Connecticut, we follow along Route 95 to Shawme-Crowell State Forest in Sandwich, Cape Cod.

Madison and Sean join us there on a Friday night to avoid the bridge traffic on Saturday morning.







And then on to North of Highland Camping Area in North Truro, Mass.

We spent many summers here in tents and a tent trailer when the kids were growing up. Now they like to return with their own kids to enjoy a great tenting spot.  From here they can walk down a sand path to Head of the Meadow Beach , now part of the National Seashore.

Scott and Lucas enjoying relaxing at the site.
Lucas loves his cousin Madison
Lucas and Grandma walk down the path to the beach
Jan and Sean --what a great time when you can get together with family.

Gary looks relaxed . This place will have that effect on you.
Emilie is a great hugger.
Can you believe? A senior already.
The three cousins.  They have a great time when they can get together.

This was the clearest year for the beach. No seaweed at all! Great body surfing waves too!
Every year requires a visit to Highland Light.
Scott, Rachel, and Lucas really enjoying the water and sand.
The three.  Sean, Gary, and Scott.

When it rains, the Truro Library has great programs and resources.
Another popular visit is to the Wellfleet Audubon which is on Cape Cod Bay.
This view is looking towards Wellfleet harbor.
The Dads always have some extra lifting.
All smiles!

Madison and Lucas love watching the hundreds of Fiddler Crabs scurrying about.
A great dinner at the Surf Club Restaurant at Provincetown Harbor.  We are on the deck overlooking MacMillan Wharf where the Whale Watch boats leave, the Boston boat arrives , and is usually a beehive of activity. 
The menu?
How about Wellfleet oysters on the half shell, lobster, fried clams, and steamers to start?
The joy of a Lazy Daze.
Actually they come here with Class A motorhomes as well, but we like to think we can fit into many more spaces with Lady Blue.
This is at Herring Cove Beach at the very end of Cape Cod.  Your senior pass will allow you free entrance here even in the summer.
Pure joy!! Lucas loves the bubbles


Next is a visit to Alison and Keith in Maine.  This is the view from the front of their camp.
Alison is another great hugger and a wonderful cook.
Imagine about 55 lobsters.  It was a large group of family and friends.  Keith was happy to also have his son, grandchildren, daughters from Texas and Colorado, and more.
This is only part of the weekend feast.
Whoa!! Wait a minute. You mean all the grandchildren like seafood?
Alison is working on a pan of roasted vegetables.
Tastes even better than it looks.
All this food and paddle board, kayaks, tube running, swimming , and fishing.
Then to a state park we had never visited---Mt. Blue State Park in Weld, Maine.  This is Maine's largest park that seems hidden to most in central western Maine.We followed back roads including Route 4 to Wilton.  This is one of those spots where you will want to look at the directions on the park website.  The GPS will take you to another part of the park about 20 miles away  .Mt. Blue
Beautiful birches by the beach on Webb Lake. Views of Mt. Blue and Tumbledown Mountain. Lots of fishing, boating , and every kind of hiking trail here.
Sites are well spaced. We were here on Labor Day weekend and did not feel crowded at all.  Great place for  a campfire. The park had well seasoned wood for a reasonable price.
A view from near the entrance to Mt. Blue campground 
A view from Center Hill on the east shore of Webb Lake
We follow Route 142 to Route 16 to Kingfield and then along the Kennebec River to Jackman , about 20 miles from Canada, and then along Route 15 down the west side of Moosehead Lake on Route 6 and 15 to Greenville and then north on the east side to Lily Bay State Park. The picture above is of Mt. Kineo as we enter Rockwood, Maine.

The view from our site.  There are many sites here that have direct access to the water.  Much more availability after Labor Day.
There were people lined up and waiting for a ride on the Katahdin in Greenville.  This is the southern point of Moosehead Lake.
A lot of activities in Greenville.  The next weekend will be a seaplane fly in.  Sea Plane Fly-in
Hundreds of seaplanes converge on Moosehead for this annual event.
Could not resist a 1929 Model A.
After Moosehead, we follow Route 6 and 15 south to Guilford and then 23, 7 and 11 south to Belfast, Maine
Young's Lobster Pound is on the water right off Route 1
While waiting for your lobster, you can watch the lobster boats come in.
They unload right at the deck.
And then, the lobsters arrive.
From our campground on Route 1 , we watch a commercial 
boat head in to Searsport to unload. We also have really enjoyed walking around Belfast.  This town is in the process of a reawakening as a tourist town.

On a side road near Windham.  
And, no, we were not in Lady Blue (clearance 10 feet)
Madison practiced during the summer for Neverland with the Maine Dance Theater.
What a great performance. The girls ranged in age from 11 to seniors in high school.
A professional cast!
The lead--Peter---is a senior who also has been a member of Maine All State Chorus, band, and a number of other activities.
Flowers from Dad.
A view from Winslow Park in Freeport Maine. A no hookup city park campground just minutes from LLBean.
Colorful mushrooms on the Maine hikes.  You also really notice the pines and white birch.
At a Pow-Wow in Naples, some older vehicles.
Note this 1920's Ford has double wheels in the back with caterpiller treads for winter.
Still in New England , visiting family and friends until the beginning of October.