Friday, August 5 Tom plotted out a little driving tour circling the countryside around Presque Isle; he had talked to the owner of our campground as well as various campers. The drive took us through very productive and prosperous farm country – more shades of green than I have ever seen before! Our first stop was Fort Fairfield, where a small fort (now the Blockhouse Museum) was situated on a village green – it is a fort from the Aroostook War! This was a military and civilian-involved confrontation in 1838–1839 between the United States and the United Kingdom over the international boundary between the British colony of New Brunswick and the U.S. State of Maine. Not a full-fledged war, it was more of an international incident. Loring Air Force Base, built in the 1950’s as a bomber squadron (100 B-36 Peacemaker bombers) was the closest base in the United States to the Soviet Union, Europe and the Middle East. Loring was a megabase with enormous weapon and fuel storage, part of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). All the buildings and roads are still there – and not a person in sight! It is completely abandoned. And creepy. This part of Maine is prime potato land and harvesting is going on right now. The schools used to close so that the kids could help pick potatoes. Tom was looking for a road-side stand to purchase a 5# bag of new potatoes. A man at the campground had told him to boil the new potatoes, add some peas, cream , butter, S&P and smash it all up. Back at the camper for lunch Tom did as instructed, except he didn’t have the peas and used milk instead of cream. The result was very excellent . . . mashed potatoes! The afternoon was amazing weather to sit outside and read – 75 degrees, blue sky, and a nice breeze. All sight-seeing this afternoon came from the vantage of our chairs. Our young neighbor is with a wildlife division that is doing a duck study of area lakes; she visited awhile and told us about trapping, gathering data, and releasing ducks. Back home in Bangor, her husband is a deer counter! Supper tonight was a gourmet treat – Ruben grilled sandwiches with corned beef, Swiss cheese, and thousand Island dressing -- with fried Maine new potatoes. Saturday, Aug 6 We are a little bit in the middle of nowhere up here in Northern Maine, but Tom had scoped out a visit to the Salmon Brook Lake Bog PRI. It was on the map! It was only 15 miles away. After a breakfast of eggs and bacon, we set out! Our main roads turned to back roads and then to gravel roads as we searched through the beautiful country scenery. A country mail carrier gave us directions and we followed those to one smallish sign – but there was nothing there! There was supposed to be all kinds of hiking, biking, and 4-wheeler trails, from gravel roads to narrower hiking trail and boardwalks over the bog. We could not find it! Driving back into the town of Caribou (known for its view of the Northern Lights – but not until December!) I had a hankering for a hair-cut. We found a salon and a guy that was between appointments and had time to trim me. He was so good, I wish we could take him home with us. Tom pulled into a 50’s-style Burger Boy restaurant for lunch. I sat with Pippa in the car while Tom went in and ordered three cheeseburgers and an order of fries for carry-out. Thirty minutes later (!) Tom emerged with our lunch! While he waited, he admired the artwork hanging in the restaurant. We landed back at the camper at 1:30 . . . with no other plan for the day except to enjoy the camping experience. Our neighbor came over with her Aussie-mini puppy to sit and chat. The puppy, EV, is so well-behaved and Pippa enjoyed a little romp session. Tom took a picture of the hillside view below our campsite – during the day . . . and again at sunset. Sunday, August 7, 2022 Today , our last day at Presque Isle, Tom outlined a little trip to Eagle Lake – about 50 miles away. As always, in Aroostook County the secondary roads wandered through the farmland and small towns, but this trip followed along the Fish River. Adding to the beautiful scenery, the roads were once again freshly paved! We found Eagle Lake, but there was not a rousing tourist trade or even a small downtown. There were some beautiful homes strung along the lake, but we got the feeling that most of those were family residences more than vacation homes. There were a few pontoon boats on the water but no speed boats, fishing boats, kayaks, or canoes that we saw. There was a parking lot with a picnic shelter that was perched beside the road, overlooking the lake! On our way back we stopped at a little roadside eatery – the dining room was closed (Covid?) but the place was doing a great business out the window! Tom got a hotdog that was as red as a fire truck (but tasteless), and I got a cheeseburger. They served Pippa’s burger plain, without the bun, nicely chopped into bite-sized pieces and in a container labeled “dog.” We were back at the Silvermine at 1:00, and surprised to see that a wind had come up and trashed the neighbor’s awning. Tom helped her untangle the supports, slice the rotted awning fabric off, and roll everything up in tidy bundles. It is not her trailer – but one that the Maine Department of Natural Resources loans to its employees when they are on assignment for a month . . . not well taken care of!
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Tuesday, Aug 2 Our goal today was Seal Harbor and the little town of Northeast Harbor. We found the little on-the-shore town to be a minimal version of Bar Harbor with a few shops and restaurants. One shop in particular was unbelievable – being half store and half museum! I took more pictures of the inside than I did of the Harbor outside. Had this store been there when my kids were little -- we would have never gotten out of there . . . for under $1,000! Finally, done shopping (nothing purchased!), we found a water-front city park with a walkway down to the harbor. There were a couple of food trucks and Tom bought a barbacoa Taco, and I got the barbacoa Quesadilla. There were picnic tables on lush green grass under large shade trees, and the weather was perfect in the mid-70’s. We arrived back at our campground at 2:00 to take a break – Pippa got a much-needed bath! At 4:00 we headed out to walk another section of the Bar Harbor shops – this time, up on the hill from the harbor. The stores were all dog-friendly – but so were the people; we were constantly stopping to let people pet, hold, and inquire about Pippa. At 7:00 we were back at the Silvermine for quick showers and a hamburger dinner. Wednesday, August 3 This morning we drove into Ellsworth to do laundry, and we were back by 10:30. We packed some snacks for a lunch and headed off on the Park Loop Road; I wanted to go to Jordon Pond again. It seems that the weekend tourist action starts picking up on Wednesday, as there was no place to park . . . anywhere! We circled around for awhile before giving up and eating our snacks while driving on the loop road. Back at the campground we rested awhile, and I did some cleaning and sorting in the camper. Tonight is our last night in Acadia and we will have a grand good-bye supper of lobster. At the lobster pond, we also bought two slices of blueberry pie, and frozen shrimp for in the future. The only pictures I took today was of the sunset – goodnight! Thursday, August 4, 2022
This has been a very nice campground – but we missed staying in Acadia National Park; the compensation was that we had water and electric hook-up! In no hurry this morning, with only 200 miles to drive to Presque Isle, we will be paralleling the Canadian border the last 100 miles, and will settle in Aroostook County – the northern-most county in Maine. The county covers 1/3 of the land mass of Maine and is primarily farming country – potatoes! Our campground, Arndt’s River Lodge, is very pretty. Built on a hill with stair-step sites all covered in thick green grass, there are trees the higher on the hill you are! We first pulled in and set up with the water/electric on the back side of the camper. Thirty minutes later when we saw the sun going down directly on the front side of the trailer, we pulled up the set-up and backed the trailer in the other way. Now, without even putting the awning down, we have nice shade created by our camper in our own front yard in the afternoon. Saturday, July 30 The morning was a slow-go as we organized and packed the inside and the outside of the Silvermine for 30 days of non-rally camping. Tom cooked a breakfast of hash/eggs, and we packed in measured motion as we said good-bye to our NOVA friends. We pulled out at about 10:00 a.m. The drive to Bar Harbor was just under 200 miles, but slow as it was mostly back, winding roads, with only a few miles on Interstate 95. We stopped at a toll-road service station for lunch, and arrived at Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort, just 6 miles from Bar Harbor, at 2:00. Our site was one down from ocean-front and nicely shaded. (We had hoped to get a site in Acadia National Park, but even though we were “on it” on the first day available – we did not score. We dumped our tanks and have water and electric at our site. The temperature was in the high 70’s and there was a brisk ocean breeze. About 15 other Airstreamers had the same idea that we had, landing at this campground after leaving the International Rally. We got comfortable in our new home, which we will be in for about 6 days, and then did an exploratory trip into Bar Harbor, about 5 miles away. We parked down by the harbor (Frenchman Bay) by Adamant Park and Town Pier. We walked a few of the shopping-district streets which we well remembered from our last visit years ago with Caleb. Traffic was picking up on the street . . . and on the sidewalks. At 5:30 we left the downtown area and drove back to our campground (and one mile past) to a lobster pond. Tom asked for two large lobsters; when we got them back to the campsite, they were so big we only cooked one. The one monster was plenty for the evening meal, and the other is . . . on deck for tomorrow! Sunday July 31, 2022 No rush this morning as Tom fixed our bacon and eggs, and it wasn’t until 10:00 that we were off to explore Acadia National Park. The last time we were here was with Caleb 10-15 years ago, and we are finding things very different. As we jumped on the Park Loop Road we pulled into the Hills Cove Visitor Center – absolutely no place to park! Driving on down the Loop Road we passed the turn-off to Cadillac Mountain – must have a reservation “ticket” for a specific morning or afternoon to drive that road! Luckily, we do have a reservation for tomorrow – but it is no longer possible to show up and just decide to take the drive! As we continued down the road to the Bubble Rock pull-off, there were, again, no parking space. Finally, at Jordon Pond we scored a parking space and were able to walk some of the paths down to the pond and then back up to the Jordon Pond House . . . and gift shop. Shortly after that point the loop road turned into a one-way road (the other way!) and we got off on Highway 3 for the drive back to our campground for lunch. So, the big conclusion from today’s excursion is that this park is heavily jam-packed with cars and people. Tomorrow our goal will be to set out earlier to score some parking spots. In the afternoon we were due for a major reinforcement of food stocks, and with a list we drove back into the little town of Ellsworth. First, we walked the sweet little streets of Ellsworth, although many stores were closed on Sunday. Then, we hit up a grocery store before returning to our campsite at 4:30. Our big lobster was still alive – but not for long! After dinner we went for a drive around Bar Harbor returning home just as the sun set. A shower in the campground bath house ended my evening. Lesson learned today – get up and go early if you want a parking spot! Monday, August 1 We were up early and anxious to continue exploring Acadia. Quickly we discovered that it was not as crowded as it had been on Sunday, and we were able to park at various stopping points along the Park Loop Road. As we started our drive the temperature was almost 70 and the sky was overcast with a grey haze over the water. That later changed to clear views and blue sky. The Hulls Cove Visitor Center was not open when we arrived at 8:00 so we drove on to Sand Beach. Tom went all the way down onto the beach, but I stayed on top with Pippa – no dogs on the beach! Despite the name, the beach is not made of sand . . . but, small ground up seashells! We stopped next at Thunder Hole where the ocean waves funnel into a narrow channel and where escaping air creates a deep “thunder” noise. The tide was out, so not as much water was booming through, but we were able to hear some baby boomers! We stopped at Otter Cliffs and continued the one-way drive back past Jordan Pond and the turnoff to Cadillac Mountain and back to the Hull Cove Visitor Center . . . which was now open with parking available. The National Park Center has the last laugh, though – there are 52 steps to reach the Visitor Center! That is a lot of climbing for little Pippa Joy! Vehicle reservations are required to drive on the Cadillac Summit Road from sunrise to sunset from May 25-October 22. This is another indication that tourism at Acadia is booming! Tom bought our reservation on-line months ago. The Summit Road is only 3.5 miles long and was built in 1931. The top of Cadillac Mountain is the first point that the sunlight hits on the Eastern Seaboard – 1,530 feet high! We were right on time for our 5:30 trip to the top. True to the Park Service’s intent, there were lots of parking spots on top and a reasonable number of tourists. There is a ½ mile trail that you can follow around the summit for good views of the harbor down below with other paths feeding off of it for observation areas. The paths are rough from upheaval and there are lots of uneven steps. I am sure I navigated it all with more agility 15 years ago! It was very windy on top, and poor little Pippa looked to be blown away. We stayed on the top for an hour, and then returned to our camper by 7:00 for supper.
Thursday, July 28 Today was a big day for Carol and me as we did a girl-only trip to the 45th Annual Maine Quilt Show at the Augusta Civic Center. It was a drive of 85 miles both ways, and very worth every inch of time and gas! The quilts were spectacular – it was like being in an art gallery where you wanted to stand in front of a quilt for a long time while it “spoke” to you (or didn’t speak to you!). There were over 500 quilts, and Carol knew most of the piecing patterns/techniques, fabric choices, quilting patterns, and the pattern designers and some of the quilters! There were lots of vendors with a great variety of fabrics, tools, accessories, demonstrations, lectures, classes. Several “challenges” made for interesting viewing: all quilters had the same pattern, colors, and fabrics, but applied different quilting patterns and techniques. Another was all quilters have the same pattern, and chose their own fabrics, colors, and quilting style. When Carol and I arrived back at the Rally (promptly at 5:00) we gathered up Tom and Randy and headed for a local restaurant. That poor (lucky?) restaurant has been besieged each day by rally folk, and there were two other tables of NOVA peeps there! The restaurant owner had even called in her father-in-law to help out cleaning up tables! With that, we wrapped up the day. Friday, July 29, 2022 At 9:00 was the popular flea-market event where people sell their craft items, and spare Airstream parts, pieces, gadgets, and items – everything from sewer hoses to folding chairs. I couldn’t resist a sweet little fabric-wrap and sewn basket. Pippa has spent so much time in the Airstream that we took her down to the event area to walk around and do her favorite thing -- people-watching. She makes eye contact with somebody and then puts on a big show and display wanting to be petted. Few can resist.
Carol and I had an afternoon pow-wow to hash out another Airstream quilt. We went from one idea to another, and everything seemed complicated. Suzie came over and the three of us were able to settle on an idea we all liked and made a plan for the four of us to complete it: Sue, Suzie, Carol and Ella. All day long there were indications that the rally was coming to a rapid conclusion as many people left the Fairgrounds. For us the evening was slow-paced: pack a little – chat a little! Tom went to the closing ceremony which was preceded by the installation of new officers. RALLY DONE! Sunday, July 24 There have been many pictures of the Airstreams taken by drones, and I am slipping this one in my blog! It was taken by Diane Ruby Titche and was posted on the Fryeburg Facebook page! The big news this morning was that the “honey wagon” was making its way down our row of Airstreams. The news spread, and everyone hustled to finish up in the bathroom (!) and run all the water they wanted for cleaning! It is such a nice, fresh, feeling after having our grey/black tanks fully discharged! The gals and guys running this business are HEROES to everyone at the rally! Another group of HEROES are the men and women running the shuttle service all over the fairgrounds. They keep going and going, and there is very little reason to walk from the far reaches of the Fairgrounds to the center of the activities. NOVA member Jamie is pulling a large tractor-shuttle with room for lots of people! Other shuttles are golf-carts. The Region 4 Brunch was at 11:00; we went down early to walk around the flea market on the inside of the race track. It was already starting to get uncomfortably hot, and the building hosting the Brunch was uncomfortable with no breeze. We ate quickly and then left for a run to get some grocery items. WalMart was airconditioned! At 2:00 we went down to watch the Pet Show in the Livestock Arena. The poor dogs (and owners) were very hot while they waited for the show to get underway 25 minutes late. We left. I know there is more stuff to do in the afternoon and early evening – but with temperatures reaching 95 degrees – I cancelled everything else on my agenda . . . and on my blog! I include this picture of one hot doggie sportin' his Blue Beret with style!! Monday, July 25 It started sprinkling at 7:00 this morning, and by 8:00 it was pouring rain and flashing lightening. Tom made coffee and was sitting out under the awning by 7:30, and I joined him by 8:30 – it was wonderful. The NOVA President’s breakfast was to have been at 9:00, but with lightening in the area it was decided to be safe and reschedule for 11:30. I used some of the down-time to put Pippa up on the table and groom and trim, getting off a surprisingly large amount of hair. At 11:00 people started hustling around to cook the brunch foods just two trailers down from us, at 11:15 the smell of bacon filled the air, and at 11:30 brunch was served. About 30 people attended, and the social mingling lasted for a long time. The brunch was hosted by our NOVA President/First Lady Randy and Chris, aided by Cougers and other volunteers who stepped in to help cook! After eating, Randy gave the members a pep talk to thank volunteers, and encourage people to volunteer. Tom and I headed down to hear Pee Wee Schwamborn show slides and talk about his mother Helen Schwamborn. Helen was Wally Byam’s cousin, and she began the WBCCI club. During the early 50’s Helen was the only woman in management at Airstream with all the good ole boys. Before we left the campsite, we put the awning away because of predicted storms! At 5:00 Tom and I were both back at the Silvermine as a storm blew in. Within minutes there was pounding rain – not much wind – and lightening. Two Airstreams down from us, an awning broke under the heavy rain impact – the arm just snapped! As the rain cleared away, there were at least 8 people out assessing the situation and looking to shore it up until it could be fixed! byTuesday, July 26, 2022 Tom said it was 65 degrees when he woke up this morning – but by the time I was up and outside at 8:00, it was about 70 and climbing. Tom cooked breakfast and then we were off for a few sit-and-listen presentations. Justin Humphreys, Chief Operating Officer and VP of Sales at Airstream gave an update on Airstream and the RV industry. He had great slides and statistics and described how the Airstream company has been on a roller coaster of highs and lows in the last few years. Samantha Mart, Archivist/Historian and main force behind the new Heritage Center at Airstream gave a great presentation with slides of some of the features at the Center, while leaving much of it as a tease in order to not give it all away; we need to go see it! Tom and I ate a quick lunch and by noon we were in the next-door little town of Conway doing laundry . . . by 1:30 we were back! It seemed the right time to do a good cleaning and organizing of the inside of the Silvermine while we put clean clothes and bedding away! Wednesday, July 27 We began the morning with a “Tool Kit” presentation put on by NOVA’s own Mike Miller. He had a wonderful speaking manner in front of a captivated audience and covered every tool you might need for any little FIY emergency you might encounter. Many people were writing down everything he said! We dropped by the Fiber Arts building where people come and set up machines and work on their own personal projects throughout the day. Not many were there, but their works-in-progress were all sitting out on display. At 1:00 we went to the Maine Derby Tea Party – equipped with teacups and pearls! It was a beautifully staged event with waiters serving tea and a beautiful assortment of scones and biscuits and muffins on the tables. The highlight as a fashion show with costumes spanning a timeline from the roaring twenties flapper to the rocking 50’s poodle skirts! Carol and Randy came over for an impromptu cook-out; they had been wanting to see a Blackstone grill in use. They had ham steaks, we had tenderloin, and Tom did potatoes, onions, peppers, corn on the griddle and Carol and Randy added potato salad and slaw. It was a nice evening to sit out, but Carol and I went in early to prepare for our all-day trip tomorrow.
Friday, July 22, 2022 We were up at 6:00, hooked up and dumped by 7:15. (Gary was already at the dump and gave us important tips for success!) We then drove back to the campsite and got in line for the caravan: Suzie/John, Sue, and Tom/Ella. We were only 70 miles from the Fairgrounds, and our target-time for arrival was 9:30! Suzie driving the lead rig, drove us through small towns and beautiful country scenery. Fryeburg Fairgrounds was efficiently taken over by the Airstream Club machine, and parkers greeted NOVA as a group and parked us all together -- in the further-most field from all the events! As other NOVA Airstreams arrived, they were led in and lined up with the NOVA contingent. We are way out in the “Trackside North” field, and the Airstreams are nicely angle parked on grass with electric and water hook-ups. Some attention must have been given in planning to the angle of the sun, as it turned out a very nice arrangement for our awnings – considering we were in a field with no shade. That was important as the temperature climbed to 90 degrees by 4:00. We were in place and unhooked by 11:00, and spent some time getting situated and having lunch. At 1:00 we went to the Agricultural Exhibition Building to claim our Welcome Bag that held our rally gifts, pins, plaque and Fryeburg information. This excursion discovered that we were a long walk away from all the buildings that held the main events – a long way in very hot weather. We walked all the way down, did our business, and then were able to pick up a golf cart shuttle to get back. HOT ruled the afternoon! I took refuge inside where the temperature/air conditioner worked hard and only got down to 84 degrees! Outside, Tom retreated under the shades of the awning with a few other brave men. At 4:00 I ventured out to watch the parade of Vintage Airstreams around the fairgrounds and at 6:00 we had supper in the Airstream – BBQ Ribs and Roosevelt beans from the freezer! It did cool off finally, but we were so tired from an early start this morning, we each chose a movie on our Ipads and hit the trailer for good at 8:30. Saturday, July 23 When Tom stepped out of the trailer this morning it was 70 degrees with the temperature climbing by the minute! He cooked eggs and bacon for breakfast and at 9:30 we headed off to the central hub of buildings where events were taking place – we took the truck. The vendors were open and Tom stopped for a quick talk with the Pro-Pride man. At 10:00 we headed to the location of the Opening Ceremony, to grab pre-ceremony pictures of NOVA President Randy with the NOVA flag. The building was large and spacious and breezy with lots of large doors open and fans running. We got seats on the aisle, near the front, and settled in for the show. The ceremony is always very impressive and it truly raises a sense of Airstream/WBCCI pride. The concert band played John Phillips Susa in the background while the flags marched in, and did a special performance for the march of each of the armed service flags. We were back at the Silvermine in time for a noon lunch, and took a little ride in the truck to view the town. I was able to rest from the heat in the trailer . . . if a fan was blowing right on me! The sun is relentless, there is no shade in sight, and the air-conditioner can’t keep up during the heat of the afternoon! Tonight was a dinner sponsored by the rally, and tickets were issued for three different dining times. . . we were at 5:15. The meal was pasta, meatballs and red marinara sauce, salad, and rolls/butter. It was good, but the dining area must have been in the 90’s – with not a bit of air stirring. We ate what we could in 12 minutes flat, and headed for the fresh outdoors – where the temperature was still in low 90’s --- but a bit breezier. We drove back to the Silvermine where we found that the temperature had dropped inside quite a bit. As it continued to cool, people ventured outside to gather for an after-dinner happy hour.
The evening event was a “glow walk” where everyone opens their airstream blinds, turns on their indoor and outdoor lights, and walks around admiring the effect. We walked with a few of our NOVA buds, and Pippa enjoyed the walk now that it was dark and cool. By 9:30 we were in the Airstream and ready for cool-down showers . . . and a book. Tuesday, July 19 Well established for the next three days, we ate breakfast while looking at a map and making a tour plan of the area. First on my list – the L.L. Bean Flagship store, just five miles away. The store opened at 9:00 and we were there by 9:15. It is big -- with hallways, staircases additions and annexes all attached to the main building. Tom and I each got a button-down shirt. We walked the “Freeport Village Station” and surrounding streets enjoying the distinct little shops with ocean-side/Main themes. There are lots of parking lots in Freeport, and parking is all free! We found the Bow Street market and stocked up on a few things we didn’t really need and headed back to the camper for a light lunch. With Pippa on board, we headed out again for a little driving tour of the area and the town of Brunswick. We found Bowdoin College and a statute of Lawrence Chamberlain -- a professor of rhetoric who joined the Civil War in a Maine unit. We also stopped at a pet store that advertised “Meowijuana” – Pippa didn’t get any – and shopped a few more stores. Route 123 headed south along a “neck” of land for 10 miles to the final stop where the road meets the sea a Harpswell. We were never very far from the coast, although it was well-hidden as we twisted through the small settlements on the tree lined road. When we reached the southern-most “Potts Point” the sea scene was spread out in front of us with views of the different “necks” that project out into the ocean. A sign said Harpswell was a “working” town – and it sure looked picturesque with beautiful coastal, Maine homes. Our thoughts turned to lobster again, and we made another trip to the Harraseeket Lobster Pond – two large lobsters (1 ½ pounds each) for $27.00. We also bought a watermelon to slice up and share with friends! John and Suzie had also bought lobster, and we were able to coordinate a sit-down time of 7:45! Corn, watermelon, and wild rice added to the menu! In the evening there was a group pow-wow to talk about riding on the Intercoastal mail boat! Leaving at noon, it is a 3-hour trip, and weaves through the little Islands to deliver mail – you can take what-ever-you-want for eats and drinks. Tom and I opted out. Wednesday, July 20 I slept late, but by 9:30 we were on our way to explore. We located the Pet Pantry that we had failed to find yesterday, and found it a very comprehensive pet store. Just 20 miles away Bath was a nice little shopping/eating/touring town, and we walked those streets up and down all the way to the waterfront, and back up to the Main Street on top. The drive from Bath out along the “neck” was freshly paved . . . most of the way. When it ended – it was abruptly dirt road, and in another ½ miles it was just OVER; barely a place to turn around! We got the message that people were planning another lobster cook for the evening, so we stopped at our source and got three lobsters – 2 to eat tonight, and one to cook and use to make lobster salad for future lobster rolls. It is always tricky to plan a “lobster drop” among people camped in different campsites! John stood in the middle of the road and signaled the drop into the boiling water – and 15 minutes later we were all around the table eating! Today was the “first day of corn” in the area, (so said the lady at the farm stand) and we all enjoyed corn with the same butter we used for the lobster! It was hard to tell what was best -- the lobster or the corn! This iThursday, July 21 Only 45 miles away from Augusta, we set out for a visit at 8:30 for the Capital city. Route 24, a 2-lane road following the Kennebec River, took us through small towns with a Maine flavor. The State Capital building rose up unexpectedly – not really in the middle of a downtown. The population of Augusta is just 18,000, and the Capital building is downsized, too! To our great surprise, dogs were welcome in the Capital Building and we got to tour the inside with Pippa Joy! She made friends with all the officers on duty both on the way in, and the way out! The Capital building is not fancy, and not even very pretty. There are some really nice elements (marble, staircases, brass railing, historical paintings, portraits of past dignitaries) but nothing that was a stand-out. This is not to say it is not a grand building for the affairs of state because it certainly is. In fact, it was much like the little towns we had been through – it was just an everyday working building! And, on this mid-week day, it was not at all busy! Tom tried for a circle-route back to Freeport for a different view – but some road closures confounded that. At the sweet little town of Richmond we saw a small, hometown restaurant with shaded outdoor seating. We ordered a crab roll and a lobster roll and split them. They were good, but the lobster was not the quality that we have been eating! In Freeport we did a run of the LLBean outlet store – I scored a shirt. A kitchen-gadget outlet was very interesting, but I have repeatedly sworn I am NOT going to fill every nook and cranny of the Airstream with gadgets! We also stopped at the Market to a few items we needed. Back at the camper we put the awning up and all outdoor stuff away as a storm was predicted to come through. We cleaned the inside of the trailer, took showers, and gave Pippa a bath. There was a brief meeting called by John where plans were made for morning dumping and lining-up to caravan to . . . . Fryeburg and the International Rally!
Sunday, July 17 The front end of this 7-week trip was cut short when a totaled vehicle kept us close to home. I am sure the 16-year-old boy (who did not speak English!) that rear-ended our son Caleb had no idea of the difficulty that we encountered finding Caleb a comparable accessible van with hand controls . . . much less a rental car! Caleb and Tom navigated their way through the process and jumped through all the insurance hoops. Friday, 23 days after the accident, Caleb’s replacement minivan was outfitted with hand controls, and financial settlement was completed . . . and today we headed out. Think of all the gas money we saved by staying home an extra few weeks! The delay means that we are making a 2-day beeline to meet up with our NOVA peeps where we will gather for a grand entrance into the 2022 International Airstream Rally. Our NOVA group is going to be well-represented with over 22 Airstreams/44 people joining almost 1000 other Airstreams. All week long, on FB Airstream Addicts, I have been reading reports of Airstreamers in the process of converging on Fryeburg, Main. Somebody posted a great picture of this WBCCI supply truck on its way!!! Last night Caleb and Halie came over for dinner to bid us a 5-week good-bye. This morning we were up at 6:30, and off at 7:30 – in time to get a picture before the rain began – with 595 miles to travel to Matamoras, PA. Pippa Joy is outfitted with a new car seat harness, and we feel good knowing that she is riding safe! The drive seemed unusually long and tedious, but at 3:00 Tom retreated to the Toronto Indy Car race broadcast, and I had a session with my current audio book. This occupied us until the last 10 miles, and we arrived at the Tri-State RV Park at 5:45. We plugged into a gravel parking-lot style site and didn’t bother to unhook. While walking Pippa I met another couple on their way to International . . . she writes children's books and makes earrings! The camp-site wasn't very nice, but the Delaware River was nearby with a pretty walking path. Monday, July 18 With only 350 miles to drive today, knowing we were going to be joining our NOVA peeps, we were on our way by 7:30. . . in the rain. The refrain for the drive was TRAFFIC! Lots of traffic. We were in the center lane when a car passed us in the left lane, faltered, skidded, hit the center median wall, circled 180 degrees and came to a stop – as we sailed past! Tom and I had the same thought half-way through the sequence: “How far will the car recoil into our lane when it hits?” Tom slowed considerably and kept our rig under control, and the car didn’t bounce very much! At 1:00 we entered the State of Maine – our 6th State for the day: Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. With just one more hour to drive we stopped at the Maine Visitor center on Interstate 95 to pick up some pamphlets on Freeport. At 2:30 we landed at Wolf’s Neck campground where other NOVA peeps had been congregating the last few days: John/Suzie, Gary, Sue & Friends, Steve/Tam, and Mike/MJ. We checked in at the front officer and then filed right in at the end of the NOVA line, set up, greeted a few . . . and took off to find LOBSTER! We found a Lobster Pond and bought two “large” live lobsters. Back at the campground we enjoyed a sit-session (in light rain) with everyone under their wonderful compound made of two clam-shell screen units, connected by a rain-proof runway. We sat until, knowing that lobster was waiting for us, we couldn’t stand it anymore . . . and excused ourselves to go cook the lobster! With three more days to spend in Freeport, there is plenty more to do . . . check back!
June 6, Sunday A week ago today was the Indy 500 – there is no blog! Tom had a very bad URI that put him under for 2 weeks, and left him weak for another week! I got it just before our annual trip to the race track, and I was too sick to go. Tom went with Micah, Caleb and Halie – and that is all I’m going to say about that! We are both still feeling the aftermath of what-ever-it-was that we had, but nothing bad enough to keep us from our rendezvous with a nine-day trip to Tennessee and Kentucky! In fact, we were so anxious to go that we woke up this morning and decided to leave a day early! As always, Pippa Joy was ready for a road trip! In preparation this morning, I made a cherry/rhubarb pie, Tom mowed the lawn, and we ate a quick lunch and left at 11:30. Our destination was East Fork State Park in Cincinnati where we usually manage to spend time with Micah. But Micah headed out this morning for a speaking engagement in Las Vegas and was not available for a visit! We skipped right past the turn-off to his house in Amelia, and 6 miles later landed at East Fork State where there were plenty of last-minute open spots on a Sunday night. Campsite #91 was at the very end of a loop and at 2:30 (as we arrived) the sun was already behind the trees in our site. With shade (at 85 degrees) we were able to open all the windows and let the fresh air blow through. Tom jumped in a chair for the INDY race on Belle Isle, a road course in Detroit, and I tuned into an audio book. Pippa took the cue and settled down for an afternoon nap. Immediately after the race, we headed out for a little shopping excursion to Jungle Jim’s! We didn’t need anything – it is always fun to look and we found lots of stuff to buy! Back by 7:00, we cooked Kielbasa, onions and peppers with corn on the cob and watermelon. . . . strawberry/rhubarb pie for dessert! An evening walk was in order for all of us, and by 8:30 we were all settled in camp chairs and enjoying the nice evening. June 6, Monday We were on the road by 8:00 with beautiful driving weather and only 315 miles to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain’s National Park. We think it has been several years since we have stayed at Cades Cove; as usually we have been staying at Elkmont or Smokemont. Cades Cove is on the “quiet side” of the Smokies, but in the past few years it has not been that peaceful. There are often traffic jams the last few miles to drive the 11-mile Cades Cove loop road, and the cars around the cove are often bumper to bumper. Campsite B23 was perfect with a full cement pad and plenty of shade all day . . . no hook-ups. It is infinitely nicer than the commercial campgrounds 12 miles away in Townsend. We were set up by 2:30, and proceeded to enjoy the afternoon hanging in the campsite, with a few walks around the campground. A couple in an Airstream a row over strolled by and remembered us from the “Wake Up Downtown” rally in Logan, OH three weekends ago . . . small world! Supper was chicken and home-style potatoes/onions (washed down with our favorite Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill!) -- followed by a drive around the Cades Cove loop road! The traffic was light, the temperature was perfect, the mountains were blue/grey and everything else was bright green! As always, we counted deer with an end-count of 26; some were up close and many were out in the fields. At the half-way point it started to sprinkle lightly. Night comes on earlier in the deep woods, and by the time we were back at the Silvermine at 8:30 it was almost dark in the campsite. June 7, Tuesday It rained all night – mostly lightly, but with a few periods of strong wind and thunder; the wind blew high above the tree canopy and we could hear it – but not feel it! All the windows were wide open making sleeping a delight. Tom delayed breakfast until I got up at 8:00, and then made eggs and hash. We drove into Townsend, shopped a few stores and then came back to the campsite for a light lunch. While I listened to a book Tom went on an hour excursion around the picnic area and horse stables. Halfway around the loop road is the “Old Cades Cove Road” which goes over Rich Mountain to Townsend. It is a narrow, one-way, unpaved, winding, mountain road for the first 10 miles out of the cove, and then turns into two-way with a sprinkling of homes and cabins leading down into Townsend. It is always an adventure to take this back road! The little Church down in the valley is a favorite photo-op from the top of Rich Mountain and is a popular postcard in the area. Dinner was steak and fried potatoes, followed by a part-way drive around the cove. Tom wanted to gauge the distance for a hike he had planned: from the campsite, to the entrance of the cove, across Spark’s Lane, out the cove exit, and back to the campground . . . 4.2 miles. June 8, Wednesday First on the agenda this morning – showers. Second on the agenda – sausage/egg sandwiches. These two events got us prepped for a drive into Maryville to see siblings. Sister Beccie is selling her mountain-top home and moving into a villa in the Shandondale retirement community in Maryville. To suit her needs some walls needed to be added . . . and some removed. She is several weeks from moving in, and we were glad to have a preview of her home as the work is nearing completion. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of her new home . . . or sister Beccie! Brother Richard had bunion surgery a few weeks ago and is only allowed to have his foot in the down/dangle position for 15 minutes every hour. His apartment in the downtown Maryville Broadway Towers is small and wonderfully suits his needs. We took Subway lunch in to eat with him in his apartment and had a nice visit. Again – I forgot to take pictures! Heading back to the mountains it was raining, but stopped shortly after we arrived; the afternoon was partially sunny and a nice 74 degrees. There was no drive around the Cades Cove loop road in the evening as it was closed for bicycle use only on Wednesday. But, we did enjoy a walk, a campfire, and a close encounter with a Woodpecker. We lazed away the afternoon doing plenty of not much! Tom made wonderful “smash burgers” for dinner. I listened to a book, and Tom watched a movie on his Ipad. June 9, Thursday I didn’t wake up until 8:00 – and Tom was gone! He walked to the exit-end of the Cades Cove loop road and walked it wrong way (to face traffic) back to Sparks Lane – then cut across to the other side of the loop and hiked out to the entrance – 4.8 miles! By 8:30 I was in the truck heading for the loop road hoping to meet up with him; as I went past the parking lot to the camp store I heard his familiar shout-out: “HEY!” I missed the whole walk, but did get a picture of him as he finished his walk. Our jaunt for the day was back through Townsend to drive the east end of the Foothills Parkway that was completed a few years ago. It is a beautiful drive high up above and paralleling Wear’s Valley, before coming back down about five miles before Pigeon Forge. This is only the third time we have driven it, although the drive through Pigeon Forge and then on to Gatlinburg was very familiar! It was lightly raining in Gatlinburg, and we went to our favorite outdoor supply store – Tom carried Pippa in her little basket, and only one person in the store noticed her. As seems to be the trend lately – we bought nothing! We were back at the campsite in time for hot grilled corned beef sandwiches and another lazy afternoon and evening with perfect weather, and Pippa got a good combing! June 10, Friday Tom enjoyed his walk in the Cove so much, that he repeated it again – this time getting pictures. He saw some lovely mist filling in the low spots of the valley, followed by some mist rising above the Cove trees . . . and finally flawless mountains in a pure-blue sky. He also was greeted by an owl who swooped in and landed in a nearby tree. Back from his hike at 8:15, I was up (just) and we had pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Our final outing in the Smokeys was one we have wanted to do for many years. At the back-end/half-way point of the Cades Cove loop road is the Parson’s Branch Road – a gravel, one-lane, road that goes across the mountains to Chilhowee Lake. We have wanted to do it for many years, but hesitated because of road/rain conditions and the fact that the road is closed in the winter. We were surprised to see several other cars/jeeps/motorcycles on the road – we always pulled over wherever possible for them to pass us; we wanted to take our time! The road was mostly smooth gravel, with occasional rough ruts. There were many places that water came up over the road, but it was always very manageable. I suppose that in times of heavy rains those passages would have been a bit tricky. The first 3 miles of the drive was two-way traffic, and the last 8 miles was one-way and very narrow. At the rate of 10 mph it was slow going. We saw lots of lovely, thick forest and rushing streams. We went so slowly that I spotted a long, skinny black snake and was able to stop for a picture! The road brought us out smack-dab in the middle of the infamous and most notorious part of the “Tail of the Dragon.” From Chilhowee Lake to Fontana Dam, this road is home to thrill-seeker motorcyclists because of the “318 tight curves in 11 miles.” Several photography businesses set up tents on the tight twists and photograph motorcycles, sports-cars, and any-other vehicle as they bend into the curves -- you can stop and pay for on-line access to your picture! We usually note the Harley/Hog type motorcycles on this road, but today there seemed to be an equal number of smaller-sized bikes. When we hit Chilhowee Lake we found the Foothills Parkway closed for paving, and took the long way back into Maryville, through Walland and Townsend, and back along Laurel River to Cades Cove. All of this was accomplished by 2:00! Several years ago we saw a beautiful show of synchronous fireflies in Cades Dave in mid-June. It was a bit early for the display, but we took our chairs up and set them at the edge of the campground and waited for dark . . . just in case! We saw some winking and blinking, but no obvious synchronized display. June 11, Saturday With our five days in Cades Cove completed, we hooked up and headed out by 9:00, with only 225 miles to travel. Carr Lake State Park appears to be in a depressed part of Kentucky. We went through numerous little towns strung out along the road and merging into each other, as if none of them could make it on their own. The State Park was also a bit run-down; many cars and vehicles parked the campsites giving a very crowded feel. The sign said “beach closed,” but there were people swimming. The lake, however was beautiful, long, and deep. We sat in the shade at the back of the camper, then cooked dinner inside the trailer (hot dogs and Cincinnati chili), watched some TV, and enjoyed the inside amenities of the Silvermine. June 12, Sunday We delayed leaving the park as we were less than 80 miles from our destination. Tom fixed a “PaPa Joe” breakfast of pork steak, eggs, and toast. By noon we were on our way, and by 2:00 we were firmly set up in the Middle Fork Campground of the Natural Bridge State Resort Park! Natural Bridge State Resort Park is adjacent to the Daniel Boone National Forest, which DB first passed through in 1767. There are over 200 arches of various sizes nearby, and the most famous is the Natural Bridge. The Red River Gorge recreation area is also in the immediate area. Tom listened to the Indy-Car race in the early afternoon; our campsite was down in a hollow and he had to hold his phone over his head to get reception . . . and he kept drifting off to sleep! After the race we went on a driving tour, to check out locations and hiking trails and to investigate things to do tomorrow. Our first stop was the Hemlock Lodge and Restaurant. On a late Sunday afternoon it was not busy, but the restaurant would be serving at 4:00; the menu showed a nice variety at very reasonable prices. The all-you-can-eat fish dinner was tempting, until Tom found that it was catfish! Leaving from the Lodge are several trails and at some point, most of the trails link up: Balance Rock, Battleship Rock, Rock Garden, Sand Gap, Henson’s Arch, Lakeside, Low Gap, Whittington, and Hood’s Branch trails – a total of 22 miles in the park. Every year about 40 people fall from the cliffs and 2 die from their injuries. On the way back to our campsite we passed La Cabana Mexican Restaurant and decided to return to it for supper after cleaning up a bit! It had the indoor restaurant, but also had a cantina that was open to the outside via a garage door. For a pull-over restaurant on the side of a mountain road – it was very good. They even had some “shots” that were $50 and up. . . we settled for a picture of the bottles! June 13, Monday Today – the heat wave began! It rained for a short time just before dawn, and that brought in the humidity. The temperature quickly went up, and knowing that it was going to reach the 90’s today, we headed out at 9:30 for Natural Bridge. There are several ways to hike to the Natural Bridge – but all of them are UP! Another way to do it is to take the Skylift (really just ski-lift chairs) to the top, and hike down. I voted for option #3 -- a round-trip ticket on the Skylift! The ride up was never very far off the ground, and just sported a close-up view of the green mountainside. At the top there is a nice view back down in the valley, and a trail that leads out to the Natural Bridge. This sandstone arch is 65’ tall and 78’ long. From the top distant ridge tops and lush green valleys can be viewed – it is collectively called “Kentucky’s Land of the Arches.” The walk across the bridge is mostly flat, level and wide. At the end there are some sandstone steps cut into the rock causing careful negotiation approaching the end viewing point. There was also a trail with steep carved steps heading down to a view of the bridge from underneath. I started to go down with Tom, until we came to the “fat-man’s-squeeze” tunnel cut through the tall rock cliff. I quit – Tom went on. I got to see the pictures! The trip back across the Bridge was by now crowded with a lot more people, and we heard some say that by afternoon it would be shoulder to shoulder. We walked past the Skylift landing to a trail leading in the opposite direction for a view of the Bridge across the valley, then back down the skylift. We went back to the Silvermine and Pippa for lunch and a rest. At 2:00 we left for the driving tour of the Red River Gorge Geological Area. From our campsite, it mapped out as a 30-mile loop road trip following KY Route 15 to Route 77 and back to 15 and our campsite. The spectacular entry point of the Gorge is the Nada Tunnel – a 900’ tunnel built by logging railroad during the early 1900s. It is a one-way section of this two-way road and is only 12-foot-wide and 13 feet high. After making sure that nobody was attempting to drive from the other end – we turned on our headlights and carefully negotiated the tunnel in awe of its rough-hewn appearance. The tunnel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Back at the campsite we planned our last evening/meal for this trip. It was 93 degrees outside with high humidity, but Tom sat out with the help of a fan. I stayed inside, where the temperature had climbed to a respectable 77 degrees (set for 70 degrees!) and worked on my blog and read a book. Our last meal was steaks, hashbrowns, and Mexican street corn! I also took a shower to celebrate my last night sleeping in the Silvermine. June 14, Tuesday
With only 300 miles to travel we were home by early afternoon. As always . . . it was good to be home . . . and good to be looking ahead to another trip. Wed May 18, 2022 This rally has been a long time in the making. Brad Briggs, former NOVA President, has gone on to be President of the Region 4 Airstream Club. Way back when he had an idea of a “street rally” in mind for the annual Region 4 rally, and after several years of preparation, he has pulled it off! The town that is opening their streets to a line-up of Airstreams is Wooster, Ohio. It is a lovely little town with lots to see and do and much to offer our rallying Airstreamers. Here is the logo and the theme of the rally. We left at noon in a drizzle for the 2 ½ hour drive straight across US Route 30 to Wooster. One little Airdog Pippa watched excitedly as we loaded the finishing touches in the Silvermine; she planted herself by the truck so that we wouldn’t forget to pack her! At 2:00 we got a call from John and Suize that they were getting off Interstate 71 onto Route 30 for the last 25 miles into Wooster. We were coming along on route 30 and timed our arrival at the I-71/Route 30 intersection to link up with them; we caravanned those last miles together. The Wayne County Fairgrounds was our landing point for one night. At arrival we were greeted and quickly parked . . . electricity for those that wanted. We did not bother to unhook as there were a variety of food trucks on site for a convenient dinner. . . and later for a funnel cake dessert! Suzie and I had a little job to complete when we first arrived. Part of the money-raising scheme of the rally is that each Unit contributes a basket. NOVA’s basket was the popular Airstream cooler offered by Pottery Barn. I had been able to negotiate a sweet discount with the company, and NOVA members raised the money to pay for it . . . and filled it with a variety of beverages! Suzie and I had to decorate and load the cooler and prepare it to hand for the fund-raiser. We spent time walking the fairgrounds – there were a lot of Airstreams to check out and a lot of people out milling around. Sprinkles began so we pulled out our awning for a dry space to sit, eat, and visit. At 8:00 there was a meeting to explain how parking would take place on the Wooster city streets in the morning – I sent Tom to that, and I settled down in the Silvermine for the evening. Thursday May 19 Awake at 7:00 we prepared for the trek to the town at 8:00. In a large parking lot, the Airstreams gathered in orderly lines – much like loading on a ferry boat! Once in line, the whole process slowed down to a sit-and-wait for the next 2 ½ hours as we waited for our turn to head downtown. No problem as this created time for a mix-and-mingle session! At 10:30 we were town-bound as we followed the line-up onto the streets of Wooster. Our final location was smack dab in the middle of town, surrounded by restaurants and stores! Many other NOVA friends pulled in around us. Tom and I snuck off to the Mexican restaurant across the street for lunch, and then returned to putting the finishing touches on our homestead. At 3:00 we hustled down to the Best Western Hotel (rally headquarters) for check in. Suzie and I had the added task of signing up people for our pine needle coiling class, and we all had to sign up for tours and events hosted by the rally. The baskets for the money-making raffle were on display in the lobby. With a quick turn-around we walked Pippa and settled her in the camper while we headed back to the hotel for the catered dinner and evening entertainment. Dinner, with choice of beef or chicken, amazing roasted potatoes and a crisp and light green salad was marvelous. We changed room for an Opening Ceremony and Wooster officials welcoming us .It was a very warm welcome and we could tell they were enjoying this event as much as we were. Then was the moment when the unit baskets were raffled off – our Pottery Barn Airstream cooler won the bragging rights for the 1st-best basket! As organizer of the NOVA basket, I got my picture taken with the basket winner. The evening entertainment was our very own Dave Powers – from the Columbus area and recent performer at our Mark Wahlberg rally! As always, he was brilliant. Click on the link below to hear Dave doing . . . . Louis Armstrong! www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oL5usWGThA&t=19s We walked the four blocks back to the Silvermine -- and it was so nice seeing all those Airstreams lining the street. Friday, May 20, 2022 Tom is still a bit sick with a heavy cold, and last night I felt like I was coming down with it. Nyquil got me through the night, and a large cup of coffee revved me up for the morning. It was raining lightly, but nice to sit outside under the awning. At 9:00 I left for the Hotel Royal Room, where Suzie and I were to teach a class in basket coiling. Our students began arriving at 9:30, and had a few little preparatory choices to make – color of thread and flamingo or airstream wooden base. By 10:00 we had our 12 pupils sitting around tables and ready for instruction. Suzie and I tag-teamed talking and demonstrating to get everyone started, and then just floated around helping as needed. Two hours got most of our students well on the way to coiling a basket, and ready to stop to finish it on their own. Suzie and I donated the supplies for the rally cause and our little endeavor brought in $190 for the rally!. While we were teaching, the rain stopped! For lunch Tom and I tried the other restaurant across the street – the Spoon. That chef knew how to do grilled sandwiches so they were buttery-crisp on the outside and melted and warm on the inside. Afternoon had some down time to sit outside, under the shade of the awning – on the street. It was breezy, but also a bit humid. At 4:00 Tom went on the distillery tour, and I remained . . . on the street. An occasional townie would stroll by and want a tour inside the airstream – which is one of the benefits for Wooster in hosting us for this street rally! A NOVA happy hour was hosted by John and Suzie, and NOVA gathered with beverages, DORA drinks, and snacks. It was a surprisingly good gathering, and Tom got a lot of small-group pictures, and we even managed to gather in front of Couger’s Globetrotter for a large-group picture. Saturday, May 21 Today was a big day for both Airstreamers . . . and Woosterites! A major commitment of the rally is to raise money for charity – in this case, the Wayne Center for the Arts. Airstreams participated in a “theme your 'stream” contest, decorating to the theme rally of “Cultivating on the MOO-ve.” If there was one thing that this rally demonstrated, it was the ability to cultivate good will and new friendships. Tom and I had a hodge-podge of decorations revolving around a “cow” theme. I made banners with Wooster/Cow sayings, and also made a paper-pieced hanging of cows! We had Tom’s boyhood wagon, and my Murray tractor from the 1950’s along with a few other little farm memorabilia! I also made a DORA milk can. The kicker was a costume that Tom donned to create the live cow character of . . . . “Wooster, the Party Cow.” Tom suffered that costume for 2 hours in high heat and humidity, and was well received as he walked down the city streets, performing capers, waylaying adults, greeting children and passing out key chains and squirty cows favors. We had invited Halie and Caleb to join us for an overnight in Wooster – in the Best Western Motel where all the inside rally events took place. They arrived in time for the 2-hour contest and to enjoy a bit of the town of Wooster. Both had to have their picture taken with Wooster! As the contest was over at 4:00, the radar was showing that a very large cell of weather would be moving in with pouring rain and high winds, and maybe hail. Everyone up and down the street hustled to put in the awnings and secure outdoor equipment. The big benefit was that it was cooling off by the minute – and we were all ready for that! Tom couldn’t wait to peel out of that costume and get a shower and I was right behind him! We walked to the hotel and picked up Caleb and Halie, and then went on beyond to Muddy’s restaurant. We were seated at 5:00, but our meal didn't arrive until over an hour later. Meanwhile, we saw other NOVA groups trickle in! We made it back to the hotel in time for the final raffle drawings, the presentation of money raised to the Wayne Center for the Arts ($2,603) and the awarding of the trophy for the "theme your 'stream" contest! Yes! Old Wooster the cow won the trophy and was proud to have been a part of the whole event. The last event of the evening was the band Aftermath – 60’s Experience! It was to have been outside in the streets with the townspeople being invited to share the fun with us. But, the weather concluded that it should take place inside, and the room capacity limited it to our rally people. This band was great at transporting all of us back to the 60’s, and I would venture to say that 95% of the people were singing along with the band on almost every song. Caleb and Halie retired to their hotel room and Tom and I walked back to our place on the street. The rally was essentially done – except for debarking in the morning. In a street rally like this it is always a wait, and each person has to wait for the person in front to leave. We were, however, able to drive up truck up by our Airstream and have everything packed in place while waiting to hook up and leave. Timing was good and we were able to catch up to Caleb and Halie on Route 30 to share some of the drive home. By now I knew that I had caught the sickness that Tom had been dealing with for the last 10 days – a pretty major old-time cold. Time will tell how much it brings me down! We have a 3-day turn-around to unpack and prepare for the Indianapolis 500.
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Archives
October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |