Today we decided to take our time leaving. We decided to meet later than usual for breakfast. The day was gorgeous--sunny and bright so I went for a walk on the beach before breakfast. There were lots of shells along the water's edge so I gathered a few as I walked and photographed others. After breakfast we headed into Hyannis. We went to the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory and took their self-guided tour which was very interesting-- and quick. At the Vermont Country Store a few days ago I had found Charles Chips which we used to get in big cans--they were great so I bought a big bag to share in the car. Today we were comparing the two brands as we drove away with samples from the Cape Code factory.
Next we went to downtown and visited the JFK Museum there which was a memorial to the time he spent in Hyannis during his youth and his presidency. It was a small museum with lots of photos and a few videos of his time on the Cape with sections devoted to Edward, John Jr., and Jackie as well.
In the same building there was also a baseball museum at which I learned that the summer leagues on the Cape produced a really high number of major league baseball players. Evidently top college players go there in the summer and get scouted--- it also provides top managers and staff to the major leagues as well. (Mike Flanagan of the Orioles for example.)
We also passed a cranberry bog that was being flooded. We got some great photos of the cranberries floating in the bog. Yesterday we had stopped at Ocean Spray but the bogs were just there---not being harvested as were the ones today.
] Randi and I wandered through the shops in town while the guys went to see a sports car museum and then we met for lunch at the British Brewing Company where we had a great lunch.
We then left the Cape--where we all would have liked to have stayed longer--and headed for Rhode Island. We checked in to the Christopher Dodge House late in the afternoon. It was built in the 1800's and again is a very colonial style building. We had a quick snack in their parlor and then walked over to the state house which is a beautiful building. It has the 4th largest unsupported dome in the world--for you engineers out there :) From there we walked --mostly uphill--to Brown University and wandered around the quad. It is a beautiful, typical New England, college. I was accepted there many years ago and chose not to attend..... Providence is also home to RISDE the Rhode Island School of Design as well as Providence College. After dinner at American Joe's--where the Dartmouth hockey team was also eating---we headed back to our b and b.
Hard to believe that we are heading across Connecticut into New York tomorrow and that we only have a few days of our odyssey left. Health report---today was the first day without prednisone and so no headache which was a huge help--the ear is still very loud and that is wearing and annoying but it is so much better without the prednisone complications!! Looking forward to seeing the show in New York tomorrow night!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Day 10 - October 24 Sturbridge to South Yarmouth, Mass. (Cape Cod)
We had coffee and pastries at the Publick House before heading out of town. We stopped at a post office so I could mail a package and pick up some more stamps. The day was overcast so although we saw lots of pretty scenery the cloudy sky made things look dark and grey. We went directly to Cape Cod and crossed the bridge onto the Cape heading for Sandwich. In Sandwich we visited the Sandwich Glass Museum where we spent about an hour. There was a video and animated presentation on the history of both the area and the glass making. Next we watched a glass blowing demonstration during which the young man explained and demonstrated three different methods used in the process. Pressed glass was an American contribution to the industry. The museum had examples of all kinds of beautiful glass products with history alongside. Of course Randi and I had to buy some things in the gift shop.
After we left the museum we walked down the street to take photos of a grist mill and the Thornton Burgess Museum. Thornton Burgess wrote childrens' books which my sisters and I read growing up. The museum was closed for the season--as were many things on the Cape.
We made the long drive out to Provincetown although we had planned to have lunch on the way we didn't have any luck finding places on the water or open! I was surprised at how wooded the Cape was all the way out until very near the end. Again, beautiful foliage but a dark day. It was taking so long to see the ocean we finally had to drive down a random street just to see it! We had a great lunch in Provincetown overlooking the water. After lunch as you may have guessed, Randi and I shopped but only a little since it was getting late and we had a couple of stops to make on our way back down the Cape to our hotel. The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown marks the place where they first came ashore. We found the town to be delightful and wished we had more time--the streets were very narrow and we found it hard to imagine what the area must be like in the summer!
My grandparents and my cousins' families spent a few weeks each summer in Eastham and I remembered Nauset Light Beach so wanted to visit that lighthouse just to get a photo which we did as it was getting late in the day. Next, also in Eastham, was a windmill that had been built in the 1600's which I have a small painting of back home that I had gotten while staying with my cousin there when I was 10 or 12 so wanted that photo too which I got just before dark :) Being on the Cape again after so many years evoked those happy childhood memories...and a few when I was in college and came down with friends too but I hadn't been back in over 40 years so it was interesting to put the memories beside the actuality. (Randi, David, and Bill were all great about stopping at these places!)
We finally arrived at the Ocean Club on Smugglers Beach in South Yarmouth and got checked in. Our room is supposed to be an ocean view--guess we'll see in the morning! We went out and got dinner at a place called Hearth N Kettle which had a great --extensive--menu and then came back to collapse and watch the World Series--Go Giants!
Tomorrow we are going to spend some time in Hyannis before heading to Providence and then on to New York on Friday.
After we left the museum we walked down the street to take photos of a grist mill and the Thornton Burgess Museum. Thornton Burgess wrote childrens' books which my sisters and I read growing up. The museum was closed for the season--as were many things on the Cape.
We made the long drive out to Provincetown although we had planned to have lunch on the way we didn't have any luck finding places on the water or open! I was surprised at how wooded the Cape was all the way out until very near the end. Again, beautiful foliage but a dark day. It was taking so long to see the ocean we finally had to drive down a random street just to see it! We had a great lunch in Provincetown overlooking the water. After lunch as you may have guessed, Randi and I shopped but only a little since it was getting late and we had a couple of stops to make on our way back down the Cape to our hotel. The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown marks the place where they first came ashore. We found the town to be delightful and wished we had more time--the streets were very narrow and we found it hard to imagine what the area must be like in the summer!
My grandparents and my cousins' families spent a few weeks each summer in Eastham and I remembered Nauset Light Beach so wanted to visit that lighthouse just to get a photo which we did as it was getting late in the day. Next, also in Eastham, was a windmill that had been built in the 1600's which I have a small painting of back home that I had gotten while staying with my cousin there when I was 10 or 12 so wanted that photo too which I got just before dark :) Being on the Cape again after so many years evoked those happy childhood memories...and a few when I was in college and came down with friends too but I hadn't been back in over 40 years so it was interesting to put the memories beside the actuality. (Randi, David, and Bill were all great about stopping at these places!)
We finally arrived at the Ocean Club on Smugglers Beach in South Yarmouth and got checked in. Our room is supposed to be an ocean view--guess we'll see in the morning! We went out and got dinner at a place called Hearth N Kettle which had a great --extensive--menu and then came back to collapse and watch the World Series--Go Giants!
Tomorrow we are going to spend some time in Hyannis before heading to Providence and then on to New York on Friday.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Day 9- October 23--Lebanon to Sturbridge, Mass.
Our time with the family was great although always too short! We saw the girls off to school and then packed up. Randi and David arrived at 9AM and we headed for Massachusetts. Our first stop however was a trip into the past as we visited the Vermont Country Store--"purveyor of uncommon goods"--and so many things from our youth that you can not find anywhere else--a fun place to visit.
We decided not to do any of the long loops through western Massachusetts and headed for Sturbridge. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel along the way. In Sturbridge the Old Sturbridge Village was closed because it was Tuesday. We went to visit a place that was supposed to be an orchard and brewery with tours etc. and it was nothing! A wasted trip except for the sign that told us that it was a pond :) We had fun going through the Yankee Peddlar Store and then decided just to collapse for a while. We are staying at the Publik House which is a historical landmark as is the area since it was a route to Boston during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 especially.
My grandparents' farm was about 10 miles from where we stayed and it brought back many memories of the time we spent in that area as kids. It was sort of bittersweet to realize how long ago those times were and how my youngest doesn't really even remember the farm.....
We enjoyed the Publick House and Randi and I managed to find a little gift shop next door to do some shopping in :)
We decided not to do any of the long loops through western Massachusetts and headed for Sturbridge. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel along the way. In Sturbridge the Old Sturbridge Village was closed because it was Tuesday. We went to visit a place that was supposed to be an orchard and brewery with tours etc. and it was nothing! A wasted trip except for the sign that told us that it was a pond :) We had fun going through the Yankee Peddlar Store and then decided just to collapse for a while. We are staying at the Publik House which is a historical landmark as is the area since it was a route to Boston during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 especially.
My grandparents' farm was about 10 miles from where we stayed and it brought back many memories of the time we spent in that area as kids. It was sort of bittersweet to realize how long ago those times were and how my youngest doesn't really even remember the farm.....
We enjoyed the Publick House and Randi and I managed to find a little gift shop next door to do some shopping in :)
Day 8 - October 22--Lebanon, NH
Randi and David stayed at the Residence Inn while we were with Emily's family. We walked Camille to her bus stop, Grandpa made sure she got on okay, then we walked Josie to her pre-school. From there we walked to the town green with Emily to catch the (free) bus that took us over to Hanover to Dartmouth College.
At Dartmouth we visited Emily's office and then left her to prepare for class. We went to one of the libraries on campus and checked our e-mail, etc. while we hung out in the coffee shop there. At 11
AM we went back to Emily's office and went to class with her. The class was entitled "Race and Ethnicity" with this particular class topic being "Laissez Faire Racism". We were honored to watch our daughter teach the class and interact with her students.
After class we went to meet Randi and David for lunch at the famous Hanover landmark, Lou's Diner. They had spent the morning touring Woodstock and Quechee Gorge. We wandered through a couple of the Dartmouth stores and then they dropped us back at the house. Randi and David had dinner plans with a friend of hers from elementary school and we were having dinner at home with the family. We called John so we could all say happy birthday to him.
After everyone was in bed we watched the 3rd Presidential Debate.
At Dartmouth we visited Emily's office and then left her to prepare for class. We went to one of the libraries on campus and checked our e-mail, etc. while we hung out in the coffee shop there. At 11
AM we went back to Emily's office and went to class with her. The class was entitled "Race and Ethnicity" with this particular class topic being "Laissez Faire Racism". We were honored to watch our daughter teach the class and interact with her students.
After class we went to meet Randi and David for lunch at the famous Hanover landmark, Lou's Diner. They had spent the morning touring Woodstock and Quechee Gorge. We wandered through a couple of the Dartmouth stores and then they dropped us back at the house. Randi and David had dinner plans with a friend of hers from elementary school and we were having dinner at home with the family. We called John so we could all say happy birthday to him.
After everyone was in bed we watched the 3rd Presidential Debate.
Day 7---Sunday October 21-Stowe, VT to Lebanon, NH
In Stowe we visited the Von Trapp Lodge and walked around the downtown area a little. We stopped along the way at Danforth Pewter, Lake Champlain Chocolates and Cabot Cheese. We also visited the state capitol building for a quick photo in Montpelier. We arrived at our daughter and son in law's home in Lebanon, New Hampshire after lunch at Friendly's--love those hot fudge sundaes! Randi and David went and checked in at their hotel and then came over to join us as we babysat the girls and had pizza for dinner. (Emily and Joel went out to belatedly celebrate their anniversary)
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| Stohof Inn |
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| Trying to represent |
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| Von Trapp |
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| Emily & Josie |
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| Emily & Joel |
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| The Dizon Family |
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| Modeling Costumes |
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| Montpelier, VT |
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| Camille & Josie |
Monday, October 22, 2012
Day 6--Saturday October 20--Bethel, ME to Stowe, VT
We had a delightful time with the owners of Rivendell House. The B & B has just the two rooms with one adjoining kids room. Breakfast was wonderful and we left a bit sad that we couldn't stay longer in such a comfortable spot!
Long drive today Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
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| Lunch at Gypsy Cafe |
Saw lots of beautiful country and a lovely old covered bridge.
We did have some fun on our tour of Ben & Jerry's and we also stopped at a cider place so we learned how ice cream and cider are made and of course the highlight was the tasting at both places :)
We arrived in Stowe in the early evening. Unfortunately there was a wedding at the Stohof and the heat was broken--on in our room so it was hot and noisy til quite late--or early. Randi and David fortunately were in another section of the inn so they had a better night!
Day 5--Friday October 19--Bar Harbor to Bethel via Bangor
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| Bar Harbor Inn |
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| Bar Harbor Inn |
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In the morning we toured Acadia National Park which was the first National Park east of the Mississippi River. It has mountains, lakes, a rugged granite coastline, sandy beach and a lot of wildlife.
We then returned to Bar Harbor to shop and have lunch before we headed toward Bangor and eventually Bethel, Maine.
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| Bar Harbor |
We stopped for an afternoon snack at my friend Heidi's in Bangor--coffee, brownies, and ice cream!
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| Maine! |
It was rainy and dark by the time we finished our 4 hour drive to Bethel. We had dinner at the Jolly Drayman Pub and arrived at Rivendell House around 8PM in the rain.
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| Randi & David's Room |
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| Our Room |
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