Grand Time in West Virginia

We left Pennsylvania and traveled to West Virginia to spend a few days with Chucks sister and her husband Jim. We decided to leave the "damnearahouse" in Harrisonburg at their son's house. The 45 miles to their home is either up hill or down hill and both are extreme. Both of which are enough to make me a nervous wreck just driving/riding over it. And the locals who drive it all the time sort of think of it as the grand prix, man, they can fly.

Anna Mae & Jim

Chucks sister, Anna Mae, was in a play that made it's debut while we were there, and it was absolutely wonderful. We laughed till we hurt, and the scene that Anna Mae had where she had accidentally taken heavy duty pain killers by mistake, was so hilarious, I had tears running down my face. And they even managed to bring Elvis into the play and it made sense.

Elvis lives!

In costume
(Mrs. Rich B----)

There also was the Treasure Mountain festival going on, with crafts and a quilt show. And of course lots of food......fried oreos were one of the things spotted, not the least bit tempting. We spent most nights talking and getting caught up on all that has happened over the years. Anna Mae has just retired and is getting used to the life of ease.


We left there, drove back to Harrrisonburg and spent the night in the 5er and were ready to roll by 8 the next morning. Drove about 300 miles and spent the night in the "Lone Dog Campground". Sounds bad, but was actually quite nice. Finished the drive today and we are settled in at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Chuck was getting kind of shakey, what with no golf for over 2 weeks, and they have 2 courses here. Also the Air Force museum and it is suppose to be very nice. They have the Air Force Ones of Kennedy and Reagan on display. We used the time today to wash the 5er and do laundry. Hit quite a bit of rain off and on, so glad that we could wash it.

Not sure when we are leaving here to head for the fairgrounds, where Nick's Rally is being held, probably Thursday or Friday. It is only about a 100 miles, so not a hard drive.

Where oh where does the time go?

Our last few days in Maine was our chance to have one big lobster boil. And we did it up royal.

Chuck with his glasses all steamed up.

The last night was spent having dinner at a well know restaurant, where the locals go, and it was very good. Yes, it does seem like all we do is eat!

cute idea for paper towels over every table

Our friends Dick & Jane

Thank you, for a wonderful time

Looks like Chuck thinks the lobster is after him!

Days are just flying by, it does past in a blur at times. We have been in Pennsylvania for over a week and this is my first post, just getting lazy, I guess.

Having left Maine the day after Labor Day we thought we would have lighter traffic, but think that most of the tourists had the same strategy. It was a safe trip, though longer than we had anticipated, due to the lack of campgrounds along our route. One of the first that came along was only about 80 miles from our final stop, so we decided to push through, 450 miles in one day is not something we even contemplate doing. But not having to move for a short jaunt was worth it. May have to rethink not making reservations.....na, we like the freedom of not having a time schedule.

We have stayed at this campground before, and it is about 12 miles from Chucks home town. Unfortunately for us a bridge is washed out and detours are part of the travels to and fro. We have been lost more these past few days, than in the 3 years we have been on the road. There are so many country roads in the area, and Chuck remembers just enough to get us totally lost. And our tom-tom isn't much help most of the time.

We have helped Chucks brother in law celebrate his 85th birthday with his lovely family.

Yes, he did get GREEN bananas.

Another hi- light was attending church last Sunday, where his niece, Holly, is the pastor. The congregation is truly lucky to have her, she is so inspiring.

Holly & Jonathan

Chucks niece, Debbie and her husband Norman

And Nora, somehow there are no pictures of you, but thank you for the tour of your charming unique home.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have spent with our relatives that are in the area.

This visit was very special for us.

We also managed to meet with Keith & Donna and Randy & Terry, it was a great time, and yes were once again eating! And this was Amish style, meaning they just keep bring food, and then comes the desserts. http://guilertravels.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow we are off again, driving down to Virgina to wisit with Chucks sister for a few days, then we will turn our sights on Ohio. Can't wait to see everyone again, and to experience Nicks rally.

Train's,Trolly's,Boats & Cars

Here comes our trolley.

We did a tour of Boston, after taking the train in

fromWells, Maine. Our tour guides,

Dick & Jane, are doing a wonderful job of making sure we see some

of the best the area has to offer.

At Court & Tremont Streets hangs the giant tea kettle "sign" of the old Oriental Tea Company. This huge tea pot was manufactured in 1873 by a company called Hicks & Badger.

Old State House

So out of place with all the skyscrapers.

We hopped off the trolley had lunch and were back up and running.

We walked to the harbor area and caught the boat for the harbor cruise. "Codzilla" was there, a high speed tour boat, but no one was interested in that, except for me.....love the

scary rides!

The weather could not have been more perfect, and the sights of all the

boats and the shore were wonderful. The pictures can not do justice to them.

Boston skyline

For Rent

Condos

For Sale

Would just take a few million

Actually the bottom floor is the fire department

for the harbor.

The Constitution

OLD IRON SIDES

We were back on the shore and on our way to see a few more landmarks.

Paul Reveres house, which was in a very small courtyard, so taking any

pictures did not work out, but there was a great pear

tree.The house was very small and it was amazing how many children he

had, nine by his first wife who died in May, and he remarried in October, and there were nine more children. Made me wonder how he ever had time to make a midnight ride. Then we were off to the Old North Church.

Very different, in that each "pew" was more like a private family seating area, the enclosures were

five feet tall, very private. Beautiful pipe organ though.

Memorial in front of church. Each dog tag represents

a soldier killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, very chilling.

Time was getting short, as the train left at 5:45 and the next was not until 11, so we did not want to miss it. But Cheers had to be seen, so we jumped on the trolley and hopped

off near by, ran (okay, walked) over for some pictures, and back to catch the trolley to the train station.

We were all of a sudden told that the trolley would be waiting at the harbor for the

last cruise to come in before continuing on, which wouldn't work for us. So we were of into the subway, and with the blind leading the blind, at RUSH hour, we did manage to make the train.

WOW, we aren't country bumpkins after all.

Restaurant that brought a tear to

my eye, a dear grandson by that name.

So that was our day in Boston

Matilda dressed for the cooler temps,

and it is getting very cool at night.

Chuck and I took off to do some shopping and to get some prescriptions filled,

which of course involved lunch, Well the little seaside lobster shack like restaurant, had just been visited by George Bush (the father) a few minutes before us. They told me that I

was sitting on the same bench as he had. So the next day we headed north of Wells, and had to

get some pictures of his home at Kennybunkport.

Not too shabby.
SUV's are black

speedboat is black.....

looks like they mean business

Lobster floats or what ever they are called. very colorful and interesting.

Beach along the way to Portland
Globe at a map store. It was huge, a very interesting store. Needless

to say we bought some up to date Atlas's and a few other books that we

felt would make traveling easier, that is if we can find them

them.

Think that catches me us to date. wow, know there was a lot I missed, we are having a great time, Chuck is getting in his fair quota of golf, and we are just loving the peace and quiet, enjoying the time visiting with good friends.

Lovin' Maine

We are enjoying our time here in Maine. It is so nice to have a local as a tour guide. We had a big lobster boil the first night we were here, it was sooooo good! We have been here before, about 3 years ago, so we knew what to look forward to. The rain this past week-end was a real gully washer. Jane and I thought we would do a little shopping, but only hit one store and decided that between all the tourists out doing the same thing and the rain we would call it a day.

Been playing cards most nights. We have been getting a bridge fix, as we all play, love it. Hard to find people who play, so when we do can't waste the chance!

The beach

Today the guys are off playing golf, which is great. Jane and I resumed our shopping outing, but that didn't last too long, neither one of us are big shoppers. Tomorrow we are taking the train into Boston for the day, looking forward to that. Will have my camera charged up, the other day it was totally dead, which never happens. It has a huge rechargeable battery that never seems to go dead, but then it could be like me....getting old.
Love Blooms

Leaving Chuck in the Dust

Today was a great day, played golf for the first time in months and on the scorecard actually beat Chuck scratch. May have been a little fudging on my part but it came out that way. Had beaten him before in 9 holes but never 18. Wonderful day for anything outside as the weather was perfect. Th golf course was an interesting one with a lot of character and challenge.
Am now back home celebrating with a margarita or two. Last night we celebrated our arrival here with a lobster dinner, and it was wonderful. Tonight my friend Jane is cooking, which is great, being as the margaritas are beginning to take effect. Life is good. life is great.....lalalalalala

Making Lemonde

Here we were just as happy as could be, going down the road, when one of those hateful warning lights came on. Throttle light, if not blinking safe to drive.....okay, twenty miles, and all the warning lights are on, we are now desperately looking for a place to pull over. All options are over, engine dies. Thankfully we are in a small town, right across from the American Legion, and they are having a Friday night fish-fry. Call Good Sam, eat dinner, tow to a campground, and all is well. Nothing could be done with the truck till Monday, and there was not a rental car to be had in the area, but there was a playhouse theater a block away, plus the river boat tours, so we managed to enjoy the down time.

Now Tuesday, we have the truck back, very minor considering all the inconvenience it caused. So we will be back on the road tomorrow once again heading to Maine. Should be a short drive as it is only 200 or so miles.

THOUSAND ISLANDS

We are in one of the prettiest areas! The views of the islands are truly awesome. And yes, there is a castle, and it was built for a woman who died, and was never lived in

because of the great love that was lost. Hmmmmmm....

Seems there was never a castle built that has a

happy story.

We did the tour and it is being restored, and what has been finished is a work of art. Only the first floor has been completed, so there is the basement, "playhouse", and three upper floors.

The boat house is also finished, across the way on another island. There is an exhibit

of antique boats that are all hand crafted. And a few of the racing

boats that the "rich" used and how they tried to keep an honest

competition, which proved impossible.

Just your average bungalow

Power plant for the Castle

We reboarded our paddle boat and off we went on the island tour.

There were some fabulous houses, what a place to summer.....but then the bad news,

we were told the property taxes for water front were, 1000.oo per foot!
Think that means all the way around this house?
There are over 1800 islands here, to qualify as an island it must be above the water 365 days a year, and have at least 1 tree.

Some were lovely

We sure were envious on this nice warm day, watching all the people jumping in the water, it sure would have really felt good.

I was just loving it, think in another life

I must have crawled up out of the water.

Loved this one

Think this was the smallest one we seen. It did have it's tree!

It was a great few days that we spent in the area, met a very nice couple, who also

were traveling with 2 cats. They (cats) were so content, outside most of the time

on their leases. Two Bits was giving them the evil eye, I'm

sure wondering how come I can't go out?

We are off again tomorrow, hopefully with the wind

at our back, but with hurricane Bill coming in, we will probably have

rain in our face.

Canada

Canadian Geese

Here I am trying to catch this blog up and we are fixing to get back on the road tomorrow, yikes, better get busy. We crossed into Canada at Port Huron, and had a easy drive to Grafton. Well, let me add, with the exception of Toronto. Holy Moly, there are a lot of cars there.....seven lane freeway, bumper to bumper, 100+k per hour.

That was the only bit of drama for which I was so thankful.

Tried to put the "Damneara House" in the yard of our friend, but it was just a little too

much of a slope. There was a campground close by, so it was an easy choice, as we

were only staying there for 3 days.

He has his house up for sale, and the lookers have been giving him a run

for his money. Almost 30 showings in just 2 weeks, and 2 offers came in while

we were there. With all that was going on with that we still managed to have a nice

visit, and did see some of the area. Had one of the worst thunderstorms while there though. Thunder that just went on and on, rolling thunder, that you could actually feel it. Lost "hydro" and with it water, as it was powered by a pump from a well. Just polped a hat on and

went out for breakfast. We had bought a new GPS before leaving the states, wanting to make

sure we could find our way in Canada. Well when I put the address in it would not come

up, so for the heck of it tried the 5 year old one.......and it mapped us right there! His house was way out in the country with a lot of road changes and all, so to say I was surprised is putting it mildly.

Just cause I love flowers

Then we were off to Oswaha, which was back towards Toronto. We were visiting Lois, who we became great friends with in Texas. She has had a few problems, but is starting to have the time of her life once again. Almost made me out of breath when she was telling me all the activities that she is involved in. Met her daughter and lovely family, who were the greatest. Thank you, Valerie and Henry, for a wonderful time, you helped make my birthday a very special

time. And Chuck thanks you for the golf fixes he got in, he needed them badly.

We stayed at the provincial park which was lovely, pricey, but then it is Canada. And GAS...wow, 90 some cents a liter, or is it a shot glass full? The tequila we were buying for 8 dollars in Mexico, was 43 there. Luckily we had a few bottles to leave behind, was sort of afraid of getting stopped going in, but we just coasted through. And that about does it for Canada, we did not see all that much, but the people we came to visit were our reason for being there.

We had planned to come back into the states near Niagara Falls, but that meant we would be taking our life in our hands and going through Toronto again. The Thousand Islands area was one we wanted to see, and it was a wonderfully easy drive. So there was no

problem choosing. And that is where we ended up, on Wellsley Island. We are about 300 feet in the good ole USA.