Home

We took the ferry from Charlotte, Vt to Essex, NY.
Colors were fantastic through the Adirondacks.

We did a lot in eleven days and had a fantastic time but it's nice to be home.

Vermont, Web Farm, Chocolate, and bad roads

First our trip from Maine to Vermont (rt 89 through NH) was fabulous. Leaves had barely started to turn on the coast but they were fantastic in NH and VT.

Our main purpose in going to Vermont was to get chocolate but there was a flier...... Not far from the campground on the way to better things was one of our strangest stops ever. We drove up to the very small parking area and saw spider crossing signs. After parking at the Spider Web Farm we also saw spiders at work signs. We entered the small shop and there were very nice plaques with spider webs. The designs are really nice. There were also a number of nice wooden items. The owner's grandfather had worked on the Erie Canal and he talked with Bob a bit while I looked around. There was another customer in the shop and she had control of the conversation, by volume level. She was from Sweden (her children were all born here) and she told us what was wrong with America. It was an 'interesting' experience.

Next on my long list was chocolate. I have purchased (online) my chocolate from Green River Chocolates for years. I knew they were on Route 2 in Middlesex. It seemed to make sense to try and find the place and save the shipping fees. Bob found the phone number on his Blackberry! So we found the place- actually three places in one- A fiber products store, a bakery, and a chocolate/granola store. (No where did it say Green River Chocolates so I never would have found it). The woman working explained that Alan, who owned Green River, had gotten sick -cancer, now better; had made the chocolate for her granola. He sold Green River Chocolates to her. So we were able to get the chocolate and she remembered sending it to me in the past. Now she keeps up two websites Nutty Steph's and Green River. Her shop is called Nutty Steph's ; the name fits her. (This may become an annual trip).

I wanted to go to some of the factory stores. We did make it to the Cabot Cheese Store. What a zoo- it was packed! We got what we wanted and left, and no dents. When we got to Ben and Jerry's and there was a policeman directing traffic we passed on stopping.

Next was a brewpub. Found it. Parked. It was 2:00 and they opened at 3:00!

So everything else on my list was free (except for gas, etc).(The entire route of my list made a big circle back to the campground) . The map (and list of area attractions from the campground) showed some covered bridges and a floating bridge. We found the covered bridges- and we could drive over them. The countryside was very nice. We followed the map looking for the floating bridge. I thought a state route meant it would be a decent road (boy was I wrong). We finally found it and it was closed but it was a sight to see. Scroll down on this link to see pictures; http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1375. It looked about the same but there were large cement barriers at either end. The sign said this is the 7th bridge.
The GPS took us on a twisty, turny route back to the campground in less than 10 minutes.
It was quite a day- I forgot - we drove through parts of Montpelier and saw the capital and some of the bicycle sculptures.
It was a very busy day.

Lighthouses and a Train Ride

The directions seemed easy enough .....
Somehow, we're not sure how it happened, but we saw the Goat Island Lighthouse. While we were there we also watched a fisherman unload his lobster haul. We also talked with some other people from NY, the first used to live in Buffalo and the other couple was from Canton.
We then followed the directions to the Wood Island Lighthouse. Just seeing the coastline is worth the trip- both fantastic views.

Then we went to Portland and the Narrow Gauge Railroad. We just missed the 3:00 trip so had lots of time to look around the museum. The ride went along the Eastern Prom Park. We could see the two river lighthouses, Bug Light and Spring Point Light. We also had a view of the sailboat class and some much larger sailboats. The tracks are only two feet apart and the seats are one on either side of the train- it was fun.

Wednesday- Rain and more

Another good day! We went back to New Hampshire to do some shopping. (Seemed like the best way to spend a rainy day) We did things backwards today - we went to the brewery before the lighthouses. We went to the Portsmouth brewery and had an excellent lunch with beverages. We walked around downtown a little- It's nice to see how the old buildings are being revitalized and I think the brick walkways and roads remind you of the past. Then we headed for New Castle and the Fort Constitution Historic site. More old houses that have been restored and or maintained- big and small, brick and lumber- a really nice drive. From the Coast Guard site we could see the Portsmouth Harbor Light. The sun came out and so we put the car top down while we could. We then headed back to go to Kittery, Maine. We had to wait for the draw bridge before crossing the bridge that was in memory of those that served in The World War. In Kittery we headed for Fort Foster, the best place for viewing Whaleback Light. Lots more beautiful old houses with ocean front views. Fort Foster was closed but there were several people walking under the barrier and up the road. It was a nice walk except for the acorns that kept bombing Bob. There were fantastic views of three lighthouses- Whaleback Light, Portsmouth Harbor Lightsaving Station, and the White Island Lighthouse. We could also see the storms coming so we headed back to the car. We made it before it poured again.
After returning to the campground we had to do more shopping (lightbulbs for the bathroom).
While at the hardware store we also purchased a wooden clothes dryer. That item of course did not fit in the trunk or the front. Fortunately the rain had stopped so we could put the top down and take our purchases home.
Seeing the Cape Neddick light from a distance wasn't good enough so we took a drive up to see it late this afternoon. No wonder it's the most often photographed light!
After dinner we took a walk over to the beach and we watched both lighthouses. We also saw a super bright shooting star!
Tomorrow is supposed to be a good day for sightseeing.

Change in Plans

We're in York Harbor, Maine at the Camp Eaton campground. The ocean is across the street (a two minute walk from the campsite). From there we can see two lighthouses: the Boon Island Light and the Cape Neddick (Nubble) light!
We may try New Hampshire another time. Traffic and construction discouraged us when there was another option within 30 minutes.
Tomorrow we'll explore (I got lots of fliers at the rest area- tourist info;)).

Gloucester 2,The Beach, Lighthouses and more

We started with a beautiful drive along the Eastern coast of Ipswich Bay- great houses and a fantastic rocky coastline.
We first stopped at Halibut Point State Park. After a walk through the woods we arrived at the quarry. Beginning in the 1840s, granite was quarried from this area, first on a small scale and primarily along the coast, and then on a much larger scale when the Rockport Granite Company acquired the Babson Farm quarry and expanded its operation. Shortly after the Cape Ann granite industry collapsed in 1929, 17 acres on the eastern side of the quarry were purchased and given to the Trustees of Reservations. The remainder of the area sat unused until late in World War II when a fire control tower (now the park's Visitors Center) was constructed to provide aiming information for the massive coastal defense guns that guarded Boston and Portsmouth Harbors. (from the website http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/halb.htm)
There were lots of signs NO SWIMMING in the quarry- we could see why it looked so tempting in the summer.
We continued on the path to the ocean overlook- fantastic! It was clear and we could see all the way to Maine along the coast. We also saw some fishing boats and lots of lobster lines.



After enjoying the view we continued along the coast to the Paper House. The house was started in 1922 . It has a traditional wood frame and roof. The papers were covered with varnish and have survived but are very brittle. The walls are 215 thicknesses. The curtains are folded papers. It was interesting.
We then found a parking place and walked around Rockport. We checked out several shops and a couple parks. We enjoyed all the old buildings. It’s an interesting to place to walk around. The Artist Open Studio tour is next weekend.
Bob then drove an some of Massachusett’s worst roads to find lighthouses. We saw the Thatcher Island Twin Lighthouses, and after driving all over, we didn’t go down the private road to see the Eastern Point lighthouse.

Then finally we made it to the Cape Ann brewery.

Tomorrow we head for New Hampshire.

Gloucester part 1

We made it to the Cape Ann Campground without a problem. We have a beautiful view of the bay and salt marshes of the Annisquam River. We were watching a sailboat when we first got here.
The lady who checked us in gave us a map and general directions. She also had a flier about all the local lighthouses. She said to come back if we need more directions.
We went to the end of the road the campground is on to the Wingaersheek Beach. From there we saw part of the Ipswich Bay, some huge house and the Annisquam Lighthouse.
We then went into Gloucester. We drove around a little bit, parked and tried to go to the Cape Ann Brewery but it was closed. We then walked around a bit and went to one of the fish stores on the bay to got lobsters for dinner. The man working was hoping to sell everything so he could go home and watch the Patriots game.
We then drove around a little more and again parked and walked around some more. We saw the famous Fisherman Statue, the Fishermans Wives statue, and we drove by the Joan of Arc and Fitz Henry Lane statues. From the park by the Fisherman's statue we could see the Ten Pound Island Lighthouse.
Tomorrow, hopefully, we will see the rest of the area lighthouses.

Leaf Peeping

We're off on our fall leaf peeping trip.

So far so good.

We stopped at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass. We joined 3 bus loads of people older than us.
It was interesting - the guide pointed out things about several paintings- things to look for as we looked at the other pictures. His pictures were in several magazines, most notably The Saturday Evening Post . Mr. Rockwell felt a picture had to be framed to be finished. The magazine would remove the frame and make the copies etc and then throw the picture in a pile, so, the guide explained, Mr. Rockwell would pick them up the next week when dropping off the new picture.
He used family members and local people as models for his pictures. The guide told us about one picture where a young boy on a train is trying to figure out how much he should leave for a tip. His son Peter was the model and he told how hot it was that day and the suit was scratchy etc. He said his father finally told him if he'd sit still for an hour he'd take him to FAO Swartz and buy him anything he wanted (he got a train set). Bob's cousin had been a model for 2 of the magazine covers, the window washer and the University Club, both were Saturday Evening Post covers in the 1960's.


Today Tim, Ann Marie, Bob and I went to Fruitlands. Tim and Ann Marie had been there for some functions but only outside on the grounds.
There are 4 different buildings. As recommended we started at the Farmhouse. It was, briefly, the home of Bronson Alcott and his “consociate” family' ( he was the father of Louisa May Alcott). Then we went to the Shaker Museum, the Indian museum, and the Fine Art Gallery. All were very interesting and more information is available at http://www.fruitlands.org/attractions.
It was a very good day.