It was a quieter day today. I did run out to Starbucks for coffee and we sat here and did nothing until noon. Then we met Molly and Emil for brunch at les Halles. It was delicious.

Molly, Jeff and I then zoomed across the river to Brooklyn to the major flea market over there. We spent quite a while going through the stalls. I did buy a bracelet made from old mahjong tiles.

Last stop was at Dumbo where we had an ice cream. Must walk a lot more tomorrow.

Just In

Just In

In Washington's Footsteps

Our day was filled with The American Revolution and other military adventures. Our first stop was Washington’s headquarters in Newburg, NY. It was not open but the view of the Hudson was spectacular.

Then it was off to New Windsor and the last encampment of Washington along the river. Again it was beautiful with all the fall colors.

Last stop was West Point and the US Military Academy. We really enjoyed the museum.

At lunch at a pizza place and met some folks who had an apple farm.

After a drive down highway 9W...we had a few wrong turns.....we made it to NYC and dropped off the car. i am sure glad I wasn't the driver!

We will meet Molly and friends tonight.

On the Road Again

We made our way out of Connecticut and into New York. On our way we did see our first covered bridge.

Perhaps the highlight of this day was a visit to Orange County Choppers. Wow what great motorcycles.

Digging

Our inn is extraordinary. Wow, we had a wonderful breakfast.

We left first thing after breakfast and headed for the East Hartland Cemetery. We found the grave of my Revolutionary War ancestor and his wife. Then we moved on to find the house that my 5th great grandfather built in 1777. It is hard to imagine that someone is still living in that home.

The rest of our day was spent driving around looking at antiques. We saw some nice colors but I guess we missed the peak by a couple of weeks.

Keep on Going

The party continued on Saturday night. Howard and Leanne’s friends, the Bryant’s hosted a fabulous dinner. A nautical theme was put up in their garage and it had a menu to match with lobster, steak, corn on the cob, salad, clams and more wine. My hat is off to them for the grand time. Needless to say, my fingers got buttery and I got smudges on the camera lenses.

Sunday we moved on down to Portsmouth, NH to see my high school friend Jane. She took us to see all the sites of Portsmouth and out to lunch at the shore. ? We spent the night with her and Jeff had to endure the reminiscing.

Left this morning for our digging in the Hartland area. We are staying at the Dutch Iris Inn. Driving down to Hartford tonight to take our nephew, William to dinner.

Party Time

Words are hard to find to describe the first night of the birthday party. We all arrived at the Englanders home for cocktails and treats. I was Halloween!

Then we were all of to dinner at The waterfront Restaurant. Nearly 60 of us trekked from the house to the restaurant. More to drink. I took lots of photos. Scallops were my choice and they were delicious.

The night did not end with eating as we moved on to a local bar for some dancing and a little more drinking. We made it back to the Lord Camden. What a night.

This morning we took a drive to Port Clyde. It is a small village south of Camden. Beautiful setting along the sea.

We took our time driving back to Camden where we met up with the rest of the partiers and played a mean game of candlepin bowling.

More tonight. Can’t wait.

Jeff and his mussels.

Well after the bad stay at the Ole Lyme Inn we had a beautiful stay at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Maine. Great dinner, good drinks, fabulous breakfast.

Jeff got to see LL Bean. I think he was a bit disappointed after such places as Bass Pro and Cabela’s. Oh well.. We got a few things to take to New York. God knows we have no room to take anything home. Did stop at a coppersmith’s. Saw a beautiful moose but decided the economy was not good enough to warrant the buy. Settled for a copper star. It will look great on the Laguna house.

We drove down to Boothbay Harbor. We had been there in about 1993. It has not changed. We were there in the summer before and rented a house right on the water. So many things had closed for the season but we managed to find a nice place for lunch with lobster rolls and mussels. The old candlestick bowling hall is still there. too bad it was closed. I think Molly and Sally played 100 games there.

We drove on to Camden. Checked in to the Lord Camden Inn. Ready to party tonight.

Old Lyme, CT

Our stay at the Old Lyme Inn was horrendous. We got there at 8:05 and the restaurant had closed at 8:00. It really looked like they had been closed for hours. One old lady sat drinking at a small table. The desk clerk informed us the restaurant was not open but there was a good place to eat down the road. She also told us that breakfast would be served at 8:30am.

We went outside to get our bags and as we were unpacking the desk clerk drove away. Hummmm…we were the ONLY car in the lot. Who was that old lady inside?

She was gone when we went back in.

Our room was satisfactory..but not great.

It was cold outside but we were very hungry so we left to try “The Hideaway.” It was a lively neighborhood bar and restaurant with live music. We had a big plate of mussels. Top that off with oysters and scallops. What a great dinner.

Morning dawned and we went downstairs for breakfast. No sign of life. We decided that we would have to seek out something to eat. Just as we were about to leave the innkeeper drove into the place. She said breakfast was not being served because business was slow and we had arrived late. So what????

We found out we were the only guests. Don’t stay at the Old Lyme Inn!!!

The day's highlight was stopping at the Duck River Cemetery to find the grave of my 8th great grandfather, Wolston Brockway who died in 1707.

We did have a great day of driving through Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and finally Maine.

We are now in Freeport. Jeff is drooling to go to the LL Bean Outlet. We will save that for morning.

Well, here we go. I have my appetite for lobster, my shovel for digging up old ancestors and my ipod for tunes.

It was a real experience driving out of JFK to our destination in Connecticut. Thank god someone invented the GPS. It is a marriage saver.

Our first stop is be Old Lyme, CT.

My family came to Connecticut in the 1600s. I hope to find some old graves to photograph and continue my quilt making.

Some early settlers of Lyme, CT were the Wolston Brockway family. We plan on going to his burial site in the Duck River Cemetery

Attention WalMart Shoppers

Election Day is only 8 days away. There is still time for Sarah to head to WalMart! Keep the votes coming in.

New York to Maine

On Tuesday, ocotbeer 29th, Jeff and I are off to Maine to celebrate our friend Leanne's birthday. We will fly to New York and then drive the coast to Camden. It should be grand!

Last Night

Another Day in Paradise

Mosquito Pass

Mosquito Pass is the highest open mountain pass in the United States. There are passes that are higher, but they are one way access; once you get there, you have to go back the same way you came. Mosquito Pass tops out at 13,185 feet above sea level. This is higher than many of the mountain peaks in Colorado and only 815 feet away from being on par with some of the 14,000 foot peaks that people climb within the state. This is not a hard 4WD pass, but there are parts that need good ground clearance and quite a lot of ascent/decent will be fairly steep. You won't be traveling fast - 3 to 8 miles per hour once you head up the pass, and you'll spend a lot of time in low gears.

What a Day

We made it to about 12,700 feet.

The views were amazing.

The mountain goats did not seem to mind that we were trespassing into their territory.

I really was trying to hold the camera steady.

The Two of Us

This is my great friend B! What a team!

Jeff on His Own

I thought I was busy, but look what Jeff was doing while I was off bowling!

Day Two

Well, my great team of M, B and A finished first in the fourth flight. After a bad first day we had a tremendous second day. Look at that red bowl sooooo close to the jack.

Let's Look Forward to Tomorrow

We really look like we understand what is going on. That is me with my good friend M. She is the boss of the game. I am trying to learn soemthing.


It is our head! Look at the placement! Grand!




Talking nice to the bowls helps.

Opening

Americans try to have some dignity and invite the piper toplay at the opening ceremony....then there are a few of us who leave their dignity at home. What is under that kilt?

Separate Roads

Friday we are off in different directions...but will meet up soon.

Linda is going to San Franciso to the US National Open Lawn Bowling Tournament. Jeff is off to fish in Colorado.

US Open Lawn Bowling Tournament 2008

"Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing." Phil Jackson

Well, iarrived in Oakland! I had never flown SW before. "OPEN SEATING" I hadn't checked in online so i was 107th to board. Needless to say seating was at a premium by then. Kept my eyes peeled for any middle seat that did not have flesh from the other two seats pouring over the armrests. Yeah! I found one. Met my friend B and we made our way to the event headquarts, picked up our party bags and then off to practice.

Travels With Jeff and Linda

"Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers, that the mind can never break off from the journey. " Pat Conroy

We will be off on more journeys. Please join us on our adventures.