Home Saturday Nov 16, 2013

Friday was a long ride down from north of Fayetteville, NC to St Augustine, FL.  We stopped at the St John's RV park, again just a place to rest for the night.  We arrived home Saturday about 2 pm and were welcomed by overcast skies and temps in the high 80's.  Our road trip journey was 4755 miles. 

Thursday Nov 14 2013

Charlie Dog had some problems the night before we left Rhode Island. He had been bitten by a tick and was yelping.  We had called our vet who recommended we see a vet on the road, but we arrived in Williamsport too late Wednesday evening to find one.  But, Bob had checked on the computer and found a vet off I-81 in Winchester, so our first stop Thursday morning was there.  We had to brave the 25 degree morning temperature and frost, but we were able to arrive just as the office opened.  The parking lot was large enough to accommodate our big rig, although the ladies at the front desk were a bit dubious as to whether or not we were going to take out their sign or front window.  The vet, Dr. Pfouts, and her assistant, Dee, were very kind and caring, and gave us some medicine and advice.  We are grateful that they were able to see us on such short notice and would recommend that anyone who has need of a vet while traveling thru Winchester stop at her office, the Berryville Avenue Veterinary Clinic.

 From I-81, we headed down I-64 to pick up I-95.  It was a very pleasant drive, with little traffic, and nice scenery.  After about 400+ miles, we stopped at an RV trailer park that left a lot to be desired, but at least it was a place to stop for the night in Four Oaks, NC, just north of Fayetteville.

 Scenic overlook south of Charlottesville, VA on I-64

Temperature was about 66...the first time in over 2 weeks that we didn't have to wear jackets.

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013

All that is left is the long ride home.  We reversed our tracks heading back towards Jersey and southwest and stopped at Williamsport, MD at the Yogi Bear Park. We enjoyed snow scenes along the way, and traffic was not that bad, considering we traveled thru a lot of  urban sprawl.

View on exiting the KOA park in N Stonington, CT

 

At a rest stop in NY along I-84.  At least you could make snow cones on your picnic!

Believe it or not, NY labels the rest areas as a "text stop". Three texting while driving violations in NY result in the loss of your license. 

 



 

 

 

More events Tuesday Nov 12 2013

After the tour of Watch Hill, we went to Kelly's Deli for lunch.  Then Bob went back to the campsite and Tina and I drove south to Madison to visit with her daughter Barbara and grandchildren Brady, Landon, and Ella, and on to her son James' home to visit with her daughter-in-law, Lauren and grandchildren Owen, Jack, and Cole.  This was the first time I've been able to see the grand kids in person, so it was a special treat for me.

Barbara and Jason's home.  There us a salt marsh and creek at the back of their property, and it is a beautiful view.  They are having an in ground pool installed, but construction has been halted due to the weather.

 View from Barbara's master bedroom.

Tina and Brady, another  Yankee fan!!!

Barbara, Ella, Tina, and Landon.  Landon is very creative and Ella is all little girl

Lauren, and her youngest, Jack, who will soon be two.  Lauren is expecting their 4th child in March.  It is a much welcomed girl, who very likely will be named Julia, but Lauren is still doing "due diligence" (her words) reviewing the 8000+ name options.

                 Cole, the second son and most loquacious of the boys, with Tina and Jack.

                                            Couldn't resist another picture of the little guy.



Owen, the oldest of the boys, enjoying a cream puff without taking off his gloves.

Lauren, Jack, and Sam, the gentle giant



James, Lauren, and the boys are currently living in Lauren's parents' second home.  James and she are having this house built next door.

We met Bob back at Tina's house, where she served us delicious appetizers and a scrumptious dinner.  The visit was all too short, but thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you, Tina.



 

 

 



.

Tuesday Nov 12 2013 Westerly RI

BRRRR...snow flurries.  About 11 am, we met up with Tina and went to the cemetery to pay respects to her husband, Jim, who passed away August 13, 2011.  After that we took a tour of Watch Hill, a very prestigious community where old Victorian homes from the 1880's were destroyed in the hurricane of 1938. The community survived, and is and has  been home to personalities like Taylor Swift, Conan O'Brien, Clark  Gable, and Henry Ford, to name a few. The area was first established during the French/Indian Wars as a look out point.  The lighthouse was originally built in 1745.



Snow!

More snow

A home that has to be elevated after Super Storm Sandy 

Watch Hill Lighthouse originally built in 1745

The Ocean House, hotel and restaurant ...originally built in 1868...torn down in 2005 and rebuilt in 2010.

 

Vehicular beach access is permitted after the summer season

This "cottage" was owned by the Roman Catholic church as a nuns' retreat.  It was recently sold.  According to Tina, the new owner has a 13 car garage under the hedges in the background.

                      Taylor Swift's home is the one on the hill above the shore.  There were security guards all around the property.

 

View of the harbor from the yacht club parking lot

Monday Nov 11 2013

From Milton, NJ, we took a northerly route over I-84 to connect to I-95 into North Stonington, CT, to a KOA campground we've stayed at before when visiting my cousin Tina, who lives in Westerly, Rhode Island, about 8 miles across the CT state line.  After setting up camp, we drove to Tina's, then drove to Stonington, CT, to have dinner at the Dog Watch Café. 



On I -84

A very nice campsite with Weber grill, fire pit, stone patio with seating. Most sites were unoccupied, although the units were stored for the season. Unfortunately, it became too cold to enjoy the outdoors.

View from our table at the Dog Watch Café.  Sunset was about 4:30!!

Tina and Bob at the Westerly Yacht Club, a social club that Tina has belonged to for several years.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Nov 10 2013

We met Plish and John at the Allwood Diner in Clifton for breakfast for our last get together for this trip.  After, we went to the cemetery to plant some flowers at the gravesites.  We later stopped at Adele and Michael's to say so long to them, then headed back to the campsite to do some preparations for our trip to Rhode Island on Monday.  We hope to be able to return in the fall next year.

 

Window art at the diner

 



Check the cash gas price here in Jersey!!

There were hundreds of flags to commemorate Veterans' Day in front of the Clifton City Hall center at the crossroads of Van Houten Avenue and Clifton Ave Extension, which used to be the animal quarantine station over 50 years ago.

 

 

 



Nov 9 2013

The other milestone  celebration we  attended was Adele's 60th birthday party.  Her family did such a wonderful job coordinating the special event at Portofino's in Oak Ridge, one of their favorite restaurants.  About 50 family and friends were there.  The 4 course dinner was delectable.  Jill and Rachel had compiled 16 photos of Adele at various ages, copied the photos onto a two sided sheet of paper and handed them out to the guests to guess how old Adele was in each photo.  I got only 4 right; Bob only 1; and Adele's brother Joe didn't even get one right.  I think her sister, Carol, got 7 correct.  I had written a limerick which happened to dove tail with the age game, and Rachel delivered it perfectly.  Jill was an excellent emcee for the game.

Adele and her dad,  my Uncle Mickey

Jill and Sean

Guess the Age page 2

 

Annie, Rachel, and Aaron

Blow and make a wish, Adele....

 

There once was a gal named Adele,

Whose age you never could tell.

Even at sixty..

She still looked like a pixie...

Yes, she wore her wrinkles that well!