Bill and Eileen's Travels: 2021

Thursday, December 23, 2021

New England Trip part 2 (9/21 - 10/12)

I never posted anything after Bar Harbor. We left Bar Harbor on 9/21 and moved on to Conway NH. Eastern Slope campground. This was an old campground with lots of water from recent rains but we managed after changing the site they assigned to us. From here we shopped in the pm then next day we drove ot the cog railroad for Mt Washington. This was a unique experience that I have wanted to try for many years. The ride was fun but unfortunately the mountain was fogged in and it was blowing like crazy on the summit. I took some interesting pictures of the summit. That night we had a great dinner at a restaurant in North Conway. Next day 9/23 we moved on to Bear Pine Woods Campground in Moultonborough, NH to visit Paul and Cindy. The campground here was for the little guys and we had a terrible time leveling, even after changing our site. We were in the weeds and sloping mud. Not fun, this one is off the list for sure. Had a fun visit with our good friends in spite of solid rain. We were able to take our third shot at planning the excursions for our European River Cruise. Sure hope the third time is the one. We went out to dinner both nights and had a great visit. They have a beautiful place on the lake. On 9/25 we headed out to East Thetford, Vt which is just north of Hanover NH. Rest N Nest Campground. We visited Hanover, went to church with Mary Kemp and had a nice dinner at the Hanover Inn. What a beautiful part of the country. We met Marys husband Tom and took in the beautiful view from their home near Hanover. Fun visit. On 9/27 we moved on to Apple Island Resort in Hero, Vt. This campground is on Lake Champlain and it is a great place. Small restaurant, 9 hole golf course, pull in sites overlooking the water, and nice people. We were there basically off season but still a nice facility. This one is near the top of my return list. Next day we explored the Island that we were on. Went apple picking and drove to within a couple miles of the Canadian border. We stumbled onto a Shrine to Saint Ann that was established here many years ago. A very neat place with an outside stations of the cross. Very nice. The details will be on the pictures. We spent three nigths here and enjoyed them all. 9/30 we headed for Herkimer NY where we joined up with Carol and Skip and Noel and Eileen. This is a KOA accross the street from the Herkimer Diamond mines. It is a nice facility and the mines are some commercial but mostly tourist related. The "diamonds" are really crystals that are found in the rocks here. They do make jewelery out of them. It was fun going into the mine field and trying to discover something. We all found something and had a nice time watching each other. The next day we had tickets for the Erie Canal ride. This was a fun trip up a portion of the canal, through a lock and back again. The captin gave us some of the history of the canal and the local area. Fun time. We enjoyed our time with the crew, spent nights at the campfire and even enjoyed a few libations. Keith and Beth joined us on the last night for dinner. Apparently they live nearby. We had gone to Copperstown NY to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. Even as a non baseball guy I really enjoyed the museum. It is very well done and really brings out all aspects of the game. The town is all baseball tourist stuff. We had a great day there. 10/4 it was time to head out to Williamsport. We visited Dan and family, had dinner at Tom and Sandi's house, played golf with Tom and Corey, dinner with Sherry,Dave,Patty and Bob , and worked in a cosmo and a visit to the cemetery. Fun visit. 10/8 we headed to Americamps in Asland Virgina, had lunch with Sara and Wes and shopped at Bass Pro. 10/10 we headed for Selma and while we shopped on Monday I had the bus serviced at Cummins in Kenly, NC Next day was home. Overall this was a great trip. Our goal was to see the leaves change but because of the warm wet weather that NE had the leaves were very later and we really only got a small taste of the real glory of the leaves. I actually saw better color on my way hunting this year than we did in NE. I took my mobile hunting lodge to Pa once again and had a great hunt even though I didn't put anything in the freezer. The bus is in bed now and I'm starting to plan a trip for next year. I start now talking my bride into it. I'm still as excited about the travels as I was in 2006. See y'all next trip.

Very low visibility today, 40 mph winds!

I made it to the summit in the howling wind!

Not foggy at the bottom!

All aboard to hed back down.

Paul and Cindy's Lake House!

Planning our excursions for the third time!

In front of the Hanover Inn at Darthmouth!

Looking at Vermount from Mary's side yard. Beautiful place!

The Cog Railroad to Mt. Washington

Erie Canal the lock is opening!

Our cruise ship for the Erie Canal!

Lunch spot on Lake Champlain!

Neat place on the water. Lots of history here!

You have to decide where you want to sit. Democrats on the Left Republicans on the right!

Herkimer Diamond Mines!

My fortune in Diamonds!

Our site in Herkimer!

The locks are opening!

Our cruise ship at the Erie Canal!

Baseball Hall of Fame Cooperstown NY

Sara and Wes at Bass Pro in Asland Va

Atlanta Braves!

Willie!

Basebaall has been Very Very Good To Me!

Rest and Relax!

Saturday, September 18, 2021

New England Trip 9/6 - 10/12/2021

9/6 - 9/17

It seems that as the years go by I am much less active with the blog on a day to day basis. This trip is designed to visit friends and hopefully do some leave peepin up North. We left EI on Labor day boogied to Fredericksburg KOA for the night then moved on to Pine Hill RV Park in Kutztown, Pa. The morning we left Eileen did someting to her foot so when we got to Kutztown we spent a couple hours visiting a med center for x-rays and examination. Fortunately it was just a light sprain and after a couple of days it was on the mend. We didn't realize that this campground was close to Carol and Skip. We could have joined them for dinner. (Next time).

On Wednesday we headed for Rhode Island. I decided that it would be fun to drive through Long Valley NJ which wasn't that much out of the way. It was neat to see the old hood and see how it has changed. The biggest change was the size of the trees that line the road. That area of NJ is very pretty but not worth the taxes.

Our time in Newport was brief and about 80% of it involved rain. We did get in a Viator van tour of the area which was very informative. We also had a nice meal at the Brick Alley Pub and Restaurant.

On Friday 9/10 we boogied to Brookline NH where we spent two days visiting with Mary Ellen Quinn. It was so nice to see her and be back in the Amherst area. To bad it snows there we both love that area of the country. The visit was a little to fast we could have spent at least another day with her and just soaking up the atmosphere of Southern NH.

On Sunday 9/12 we moved on to Wells Beach, ME. We had a very special two dys because Seth flew all the way from Tokyo to spend four days with us. What a marvelous treat to have him with us. The family wasn't able to come due to Covid. Thank you Seth for spending the money and making the effort to join us. It has been to long. Damn Covid! We spent two days poking around Wells, walking the beach, shopping in Kittery (I love that trading post) and eating well. So nice to be together.

On Tuesday 9/14 we headed for the Shorw Hills Campground in Boothbay, Me. Seth had a rental car from Boston so he met us up there. This campground is one of my favorites and we had the opportunity to explore Boothbay Harbor and some of the surrounding area and eat some excellent food at The Thistle Restaurant in Boothbay Harbor and Reds Eats. It was sad to have to say goodbye but ond the morning of 9/16 Seth headed to Boston and eventually NY. The time with him went like lightening and we both miss him terribly already. Can't wait until the Covid Curse is lifted and we can get back to "normal" again. We miss hugging the grand kids and being with the whole family very very much. Our last day in Boothbay we explored a little further and had lunch with a couple of interesting ladies that have lived, at least part time, in Boothbay Harbor for many years. It was an interesting and information conversation. One of the ladies had lived in Sweden for over 15 years.

On Friday 9/17 we drove up Route 1 to Bar Harbor, Narrows 2 Campground. We spent the afternoon relaxing, doing wash, and arranging to get a better site on the water. This morning we will move to the water site then head into Bar Harbor.

The leaves are just starting to change here and we are hoping as we head to NH we will see the change begin to roll South.

9/6 -9/17

Wellington 1 (1983-1986)

Wellinton 2 (2002 - 2010)

Wells Beach - 9/12/2021

Windy Day at Wells Beach!

Mom and Son!

Lunch in Freeport after shopping in LL Bean

York Beach Me.

Seaweed City!

Near Saohier Park - Nubble Lighthouse!

Nubble Lighthouse!

Kennebunkport Harbor! A shopping trip!

Reds Eats Lobster Roll!

Plenty of time for pictures when you wait over two hours!

Almost two pounds of lobster in this Lobster Roll! Delicious!

YUMMY!

Dinner spot in Boothbay Habor. Great Place

Kennebunkport Harbor!

Cape Newagen south of Southport.

Boothbay Harbor downtown.

Hydrangeas in Maine!

Maine Coast!

On the dock in Boothbay Harbor!

Shore Hills Campground walk!

Beautiful Morning!

Happy Hour in Boothbay Harbor. Happy to have Seth with us for these few days.

9/18-9/21 - Bar Harbor Maine

The campground near Bar Harbor is on the bay that is affected significantly by the tides. We had to move sites on day two to get a site on the water. At night the tides were down and you can see numerous large bouldeers on the bottom. In the morning the tides were up and you can hardly tell the rocks are there.

It is a very serene spot and just nice to sit along the water looking directly at Cadillac Mountain. On day two we ventured into Bar Harbor, did some shoppiong and had a marvelous luch outside at the Bar Harbor Hotel above the harbor. It was a little cool but a beautiful day and a beautiful spot.

On day three we ventured into Acadia NP stopping at the welcome center and driving around the park until our appointment to go up Cadillac Mountain. This is the third time we have been up there and the view gets better each time. You can see for many miles and Bar Harbor is clearly visable. A very beautiful place. After we went up the mountain we got on the loop road, detoured for a picnic lunch and we were lucky enough to get some views of early color. We took a short hike and toured a small garden in the park.

We made reservations for dinner at the Bar Harbor Inn and it did not dissapoint. We had our second great meal there. On Monday morning we had to move our site once again to a second row site with views of the bay. We enjoyed our time in Bar Harbor. Other than having to move twice it was very relaxing. Two night fires (one rained out) and beautiful views of the water and the full moon.