Driving across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay toward the Eastern Shore After our grandson’s graduation weekend, we were on the move again, aiming for Allentown PA for Dave’s Mom’s Celebration of Life service. We were able to visit some friends on the way, as we sweltered in the unseasonable heat. After a week in PA, we moved further north to spend a weekend with Pat and Fred, before making the final trek to the Canadian Border by the southeast corner of Maine.
Virginia to Maryland
We took the long way around to get from southern VA to PA, which had the advantage of completely bypassing the DC traffic. We headed east to Hampton, where we met up with Sue and Steve who were in the midst of moving out of their house which has recently sold. We provided a distraction, and caught up with their many changes as they bought one house and sold another.
We took the long way around to get from southern VA to PA, which had the advantage of completely bypassing the DC traffic. We headed east to Hampton, where we met up with Sue and Steve who were in the midst of moving out of their house which has recently sold. We provided a distraction, and caught up with their many changes as they bought one house and sold another.
Tucked into our site at Tuckahoe Lake State Park in MD After our lunch together, we headed across the mouth of the bay on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel toward the Eastern Shore. Our next stop would be Maryland’s Tuckahoe Lake State Park, where our friend Mark is a ranger. This park is in line with the Route 50 Bay Bridge, but a world away from all of its bustle. We enjoyed our one night stay and, with Mark’s help, we extended for a 2nd night, allowing us time to see the Lake, the Aviary, and watch their snake being fed.
The campsites were shady and quiet, but the shade only did so much to cut down the heat. The temperatures had soared into the 90’s, so we were putting our AC to good use, and it was working well. We wanted to explore the park more, but after asking Mark about ticks (“they are everywhere”), we decided to stay off the trails, but walked the roads instead. And we made a trip to the nearby town to purchase some Permethrin to spray our clothes. Now we had insect-proof clothes, but maybe we treated them a little too late. More about that later.
The campsites were shady and quiet, but the shade only did so much to cut down the heat. The temperatures had soared into the 90’s, so we were putting our AC to good use, and it was working well. We wanted to explore the park more, but after asking Mark about ticks (“they are everywhere”), we decided to stay off the trails, but walked the roads instead. And we made a trip to the nearby town to purchase some Permethrin to spray our clothes. Now we had insect-proof clothes, but maybe we treated them a little too late. More about that later.
Family Gathering
While gathering to say goodbye to a loved one is something that is understandably difficult and sad, it is also often a time when family and friends scattered for years are brought together – a family reunion in miniature. This was the case for Dave’s mom’s service. While illness and distance kept some from attending, there were many that did make it. And there was a lot of joy in getting to see each other.
While gathering to say goodbye to a loved one is something that is understandably difficult and sad, it is also often a time when family and friends scattered for years are brought together – a family reunion in miniature. This was the case for Dave’s mom’s service. While illness and distance kept some from attending, there were many that did make it. And there was a lot of joy in getting to see each other.
It was good to be together, especially after the problematic trip to get to PA. Our son’s trip on the train from Missouri was probably the most eventful of those making the pilgrimage. His first train, the Southwest Chief, started 6 hours late, and the delays only got worse from there. By the time he reached Chicago, he was over 7 hours late. That meant an overnight in Chicago to wait for the 6:45 Floridian the next day. Luckily the night was on Amtrak’s dime. He was given very nice accommodations, a good breakfast and some money for food for the day. But by the time of his train’s evening departure, he was a day late and still had 24 hours of travel ahead.
Waking up early the next morning, we could see that the Floridian was slipping later with each passing mile. To the point where he would now miss his connection in Pittsburgh. On this leg, he was not getting much assistance from Amtrak. So we stepped in, guiding him to a Greyhound bus that would leave within 30 minutes of his arrival in Pittsburgh. This would come straight to Allentown, arriving late afternoon, instead of more uncertain connections for Amtrak. So, we were both relieved when we picked him up, and his travels were behind him for now and he would be there for the service the next morning.
Waking up early the next morning, we could see that the Floridian was slipping later with each passing mile. To the point where he would now miss his connection in Pittsburgh. On this leg, he was not getting much assistance from Amtrak. So we stepped in, guiding him to a Greyhound bus that would leave within 30 minutes of his arrival in Pittsburgh. This would come straight to Allentown, arriving late afternoon, instead of more uncertain connections for Amtrak. So, we were both relieved when we picked him up, and his travels were behind him for now and he would be there for the service the next morning.
The long-awaited rum cakes arrived in great shape. There were other mishaps over the weekend. Perhaps the most comical was the delivery of three precious rum cakes from Savoia Bakery in Rochester. When Bonnie’s friend, who had volunteered to deliver them, fell ill and needed surgery, we went through 3 different possible alternatives before finding a gracious former scout that Dave’s mom had mentored decades ago. She went above and beyond in keeping them cool for the long trip, and the cakes were a treat for several days.
Once the service was over and most of the travelers had headed home, we turned our attention to some clean-up around the house. We focused our efforts on old paperwork that we were in a unique position to assess. With our son’s help, we began shredding all the old documents, but the volume quickly burnt the motor up in the old device. So, after a trip the store and with lessons learned, we worked our way through 4 drawers of a filing cabinet and a dozen or more years of records with Cathy making a first pass, Dave the second and our son feeding the shredder.
Once the service was over and most of the travelers had headed home, we turned our attention to some clean-up around the house. We focused our efforts on old paperwork that we were in a unique position to assess. With our son’s help, we began shredding all the old documents, but the volume quickly burnt the motor up in the old device. So, after a trip the store and with lessons learned, we worked our way through 4 drawers of a filing cabinet and a dozen or more years of records with Cathy making a first pass, Dave the second and our son feeding the shredder.
This little monster was pulled from Cathy's back. Should have worn those treated clothes. But there was one more unexpected event over our stay. All day during the service, Cathy’s back kept itching. Thinking it was just her eczema flaring, she asked Dave to help apply some ointment to ease the itch. But what he found was something very different. She had a lonestar tick on her back that had been there for several days, likely since leaving the state park in Maryland. Dave slept poorly that night thinking our trip to Newfoundland might be on hold. But after a trip to Urgent Care in the morning and a dose of antibiotic, we were feeling reassured that Cathy might dodge the more serious bullet of illnesses from the tick. But only time will tell.
The Bennington Monument in Bennington VT was our backdrop for a Walmart stay en route. PA to New Hampshire
Heading out after a week of family time, we made our way north from Allentown, taking care to avoid NYC as we made our way toward Canada. Our next official stop would be with Pat and Fred at their home in New Hampshire, but we had planned a night on the road. We made our way north to I80 and then east to NJ before taking the thruway (I87) north to Albany. Swapping drivers, Cathy was taking the leg up I87 with a blustery day having its effects on the van, and it said so. Cathy got a “Driver Alert”, stating that she “needed a rest”. Apparently she had made too many erratic turns of the wheel to counter the effects of the wind. So, as soon as we made the turn east off the interstate, Cathy decided it was Dave’s turn to drive.
Heading out after a week of family time, we made our way north from Allentown, taking care to avoid NYC as we made our way toward Canada. Our next official stop would be with Pat and Fred at their home in New Hampshire, but we had planned a night on the road. We made our way north to I80 and then east to NJ before taking the thruway (I87) north to Albany. Swapping drivers, Cathy was taking the leg up I87 with a blustery day having its effects on the van, and it said so. Cathy got a “Driver Alert”, stating that she “needed a rest”. Apparently she had made too many erratic turns of the wheel to counter the effects of the wind. So, as soon as we made the turn east off the interstate, Cathy decided it was Dave’s turn to drive.
Even in a parking lot, we can enjoy a pretty sunset. Only a few miles later, there was a whack on the windshield, presumably from a stone. But it didn’t matter what I was, the effect was that we had a spider web crack on the windshield. With more than 1000 miles of driving ahead and moving into more remote territory, Dave wanted to get it fixed quickly before it got bigger. Cathy contacted 2 places in nearby Bennington, VT and the 2nd one referred us back to the first: Green Mountain Glass. When Green Mountain Glass’ owner called us back, she couldn’t have been more helpful in giving us advice on how to limit the crack without making it more difficult to repair. She was willing to work with us to get the repair done, but it was late in the day. Even so, we were given an appointment for the next morning before they officially opened.
The cracked windshield is history. We made our way to a nearby Walmart to park for the night (which happened to be in the shadow of the Bennington monument). The next morning, we arrived early to Green Mountain Glass for the appointment, and the owner met us just after we arrived. He had the repair done within about 15 minutes and we couldn’t have asked for better service or a more reasonable price. We were back on the road.
If not for a crack in the windshield, this might have been our view for the night. We crossed over Vermont’s Green Mountains to head into New Hampshire, which was a lovely drive, although it did test the van’s lower gears. Not far from our destination, we made a quick stop at Walmart in Concord NH, and Cathy saw that there was a 5-star BBQ place just around the corner, called 603BBQ. BBQ in New Hampshire? We had to check this out.
Waiting in line for BBQ The place opened at noon, and we arrived just about that time. There was already a line well into the parking lot. It was actually a food truck operation, since the restaurant building wasn’t done yet. We ended up waiting over an hour to get to the front of the line. And just before we did, they ran out of Dave’s favorite – brisket burnt ends. However, the owner couldn’t have done more to make it right. He gave us a “sample” of 2 meaty ribs and free sodas to go with our meals. And they were delicious. We could see what the enthusiasm was about.
Fred and Dave at home in NH Visiting with Friends
We had been pleasantly surprised by Pat and Fred’s visit the previous weekend to attend Dave’s mom’s service. And within a week, our route north would take us by their house in southern NH. It had been over a decade since we had made the trip north to visit, and that time we either arrived or left by boat. We couldn’t remember which. While in the area, we visited with Donna and Dave from Merlin at their home in Newburyport. Although the Merlin we knew was no longer theirs, they were working to put their next Merlin in the water for sailings this summer.
We had been pleasantly surprised by Pat and Fred’s visit the previous weekend to attend Dave’s mom’s service. And within a week, our route north would take us by their house in southern NH. It had been over a decade since we had made the trip north to visit, and that time we either arrived or left by boat. We couldn’t remember which. While in the area, we visited with Donna and Dave from Merlin at their home in Newburyport. Although the Merlin we knew was no longer theirs, they were working to put their next Merlin in the water for sailings this summer.
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On our last visit, there were 2 things that Dave had fond memories of (well, other than Pat and Fred): clams with “bellies” and lobstas. Our first night in town, we checked the first one off the list. And, when our stay was extended another night by a bad Nor’easter, our second night included some steamed lobsters with butter. With Pat’s careful picking, we also had lobster for a lobster roll before heading out the next day.
The storm that delayed our departure was a doozy. It rained for more than a day and the winds took down limbs and ultimately power. Since Pat and Fred have a generator, the power switched seamlessly. However, they are on a community well for water, and that was not so well reinforced. Cathy was taking a shower when the water started to slow. Hmmm. . . Then it dawned on her what the discussions about the well might mean. She scrambled to rinse off and made it out just as the last drip of water came down. That was close. The water came back later in the day, but we were glad we had delayed our travel to wait it out. We had thoroughly enjoyed our time together.
On Sunday, we made our way north on a still overcast, chilly day. Opting to drive along the Maine coast on route 1 (vs I-95), we made our way through coastal towns, including Freeport, home to LL Bean. We managed to leave without any extra camping gear, but as hunger struck down the road, we kept seeing signs for lobster rolls. Maybe we should try one more. Google helped us find the Alaskan Captain in Rockland ME. This unassuming business didn’t have the long lines or crowded parking lots, but it did deliver on the food. The rolls couldn’t have held any more lobster chunks and were drenched in butter. It was wonderful.
We spent the night at a Harvest Host location, the Hampden Highlands UMC in a small town about 2 hours from the Canadian border. Tomorrow, we would cross into Canada.
Van Stuff
So, how is the van holding up? Or more specifically how are we holding up in the van. We keep learning how to be patient in a small space, what is important to secure before moving, how quickly the batteries recharge, and lots more. We are enjoying the travels, and we keep finding small things that make better use of the space or to make everything work – a place to hang a paper towel holder, motion sensor lights in some deep cupboards, and a 15 to 30 amp adaptor.
So, how is the van holding up? Or more specifically how are we holding up in the van. We keep learning how to be patient in a small space, what is important to secure before moving, how quickly the batteries recharge, and lots more. We are enjoying the travels, and we keep finding small things that make better use of the space or to make everything work – a place to hang a paper towel holder, motion sensor lights in some deep cupboards, and a 15 to 30 amp adaptor.
One thing we didn’t expect was to see the alternator no longer charging the house bank batteries as they had done when we first purchased the van. Dave suspected that something went awry when the batteries were installed back in February, but to understand more, we had to remove the driver’s seat which sat over them. With Troy’s help and tools, we did that and after some trial and error, discovered a sensing wire for the battery charger that was incorrectly re-attached. Although we moved it to what we believe is the correct location, we still haven’t seen evidence that the alternator is charging the batteries. But so far, the solar charging has been sufficient for our needs.
Parting Shot
As Cathy learned with Troy and the kids, Legos are not just for kids any more. Cathy and Pat spent one evening putting this display together.
As Cathy learned with Troy and the kids, Legos are not just for kids any more. Cathy and Pat spent one evening putting this display together.
