York Beach, Ogunquit, and Home

The southern Maine shore felt like an Easy-Bake Oven.  The ice cream shop had a que six lanes wide. 

   

Don has always thought eating the wings of pigs that flew would be a great idea.  Dreams can come true!

Don enjoys a bike cruise around the trailer camp.  Alex and Drew--do you recognize the music?

At some point we began to feel homesick for the back woods of Owego.  Don kept thinking about what was happening in his garden.  We talked it over and decided to come home--a 'staycation' for the rest of the summer would be what we needed most. 



Ozzie showed no excitment at our arrival.



Johnnie barely looked up from his supper dish.

Don went right to work in the garden...

which had turned into a jungle!

Our home on wheels afforded us another flawless adventure!

Acadia National Park, ME

"Saved to future generations as it has been to us, in the wild primeval beauty of the nature it exhibits, of ancient rocks and still more ancient sea, with infinite detail of life and landscape interest between, the spirit and mind of man will surely find in it in the years and centuries to come an inspiration and a means of growth as essential to them ever and anon as are fresh air and sunshine to the body."  --George Dorr

We visited friends who said that Acadia was their favorite park and once we arrived we quickly understood why. 

Jay and Cheri

Going to the top for the best view.

Rock climbers--not us!

We met Uma the Cat who was walking the trails with her owner.

Our three mile hike around Jordon Pond included rocky paths as well as mile-long plank walk.

Jordon Pond--clear water and balsam forest breezes.

One of the 17 massive stone bridges in the park.

Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.  This is the first location in North America to view the morning sun.

One of the ships we passed on our cruise around the island.



We explored Acadia with friends Mary and Geri--four great days with two wonderful people!



The view of Sandy Beach from the peak of our shore-side hike.

Time In Cape Cod With Good People

We visited with Don's brother Tom and wife Jan the last two days at their annual vacation location on the Cape.  It was especially fun to meet Jan's side of the family--the Manleys.  Jan's Sisters,  Brothers and families spend a week each summer on the beach laughing, eating great meals (thank you Sue!) and finding fun things to do.





One of Jan's nieces, Jennifer, planned an afternoon where everyone painted themselves a shirt.  The work went on for hours.  Some of us used dead fish dipped in paint and rolled onto the shirt for a very Cape Cod-fish effect.  You had to be there--it made perfect sense.

Don liked the beach house THIS MUCH.

Don's Good Luck in New Port Rhode Island

On our way to New Port Rhode Island we stopped and made a simple meal, which included wild berries found in a field of proud back-eyed Susans.  Not only are we vagabonds, we are now taking up serious hunter gatherer tendencies!

Little car carries large surf board--cooler than a SUV.

Don's dream to
 play on a grass finally came true at the Newport Tennis Hall of Fame and it turned off even better than he had imagined.  He had made arrangements to attend a group lesson and when he showed up he was the only one.  So, he enjoyed a one and a half hour private lesson by default--for the same cost.  He held his own and got some great advice from the instructor.  Cross another thing off the Bucket List...

 

Sunday in Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT, was designed and built by the same landscape architectural firm that created Central Park.  It was originally dedicated in 1900 and remains well cared for to this day. We enjoyed a picnic on Sunday with Dana and walked the trails and viewed all the features--waterfalls, bandstands, gardens, and flocks of water fowl.  Included is a picture of Ellie, a kitty who is obviously very happy in her new home!  

In the evening Don and I traveled to Bristol, CT, to meet up with Joey.  He's transferring next week to ESPN in Austin, Texas.  It's a very exciting opportunity which will mean year-round weather that works for bike riding as well as a strong arts community.  It felt good to be able to see him before he moves.

Summer Time and the Travelin' is Easy

We've begun our 2011 summer trip North by going East.  Don did a lot of work revising the van using knowledge gained on last year's trek.  He built a longer more comfortable bed, installed a swiveling front passenger's seat, added back another captain's chair, and put in a folding table that hangs off the side door.  He also moved the microwave and cupboard shelves toward the back.  The net result is a more spacious and simplified interior.

Our first stop was to see friends Jane and Ed.  Don lived with them during his 3 years in Pougkeepsie with IBM.  Their four grandchildren are at their home this summer--a healthy, beautiful brood who found the fact that we were sleeping in a van to be absolutely fascinating. 

Our next stop was to meet daughter Dana at the Alta Moda Spa in CT where she works.  She gave me a wonderful skin treatment and I've been glowing ever since. 

      A great start!