In 1985 I went on a road trip with a friend from Winter Haven, Florida to San Diego, California. It wasn’t a straight shot across the southern border of the country, but rather an arch that included a stop in Kansas City, MO to visit my family. After leaving KC, we headed across the plains of Kansas and Colorado and then south though four corners and into Arizona. On the way we stopped at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. It was March and there was snow in the canyon. It was truly a remarkable site. Unfortunately, my camera had been stolen about a month before so I wasn’t able to take any pictures. Janet had never been to the Grand Canyon so I thought it would be great to be able to share this adventure, and have something to show for it.

We booked a guided tour for the day. The bus was originally scheduled to leave at 6:30 AM but was delayed until 8:00. This meant we didn’t have to get up as early, but also meant that we would be getting back to the hotel later than planned. Our guide for the day was a standup comedian who provided commentary and laughs throughout the trip. The excursion included a stop at a local pancake house for breakfast and a box lunch at the canyon. The whole operation really reminded me of the excursions we book on a cruise.

After breakfast we made a quick stop at Hoover Dam to take pictures. Everyone was pretty shocked at how low the water level has gotten due to years of drought and increased demand. The dam itself is very impressive and we enjoyed walking out on the bridge to take the pictures.

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The Western Rim of the canyon is about a three hour drive from Las Vegas. To get there you travel through reservation land and desert. There’s certainly not much to see out the windows and our guide had difficulty providing narration without constantly repeating himself.

We finally made it to the canyon and proceeded to our first of two stops, Guano Point which derived it’s name from the fact that they used to collect bat dung there for making cosmetics. Here we enjoyed our box lunches and got some great pictures. This area of the canyon isn’t as wide as what I had seen at the Southern Rim back in 85, but it is still quite amazing. In our safe and sanitized world, it’s hard to believe that an attraction like this doesn’t include safety rails. However, this area is pretty natural. Our guide said about a dozen people fall each year due to getting too close to the rim. We decided not to be one of those statistics and kept a healthy distance from the edge.

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Our second stop was at Eagle Point, so named for the rock formation that resembles an eagle. This area is the more developed of the two as it also includes a glass bottom bridge that allows for visitors to walk out over the edge and peer straight down a few thousand feet. This would have been an additional $25 fee for each of us, however neither of us are that fond of vertigo so took a pass. Instead we explored the Native American housing exhibit and the authentic tribal dancing demonstration.

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I would be totally remiss if I did not explain this next picture as our guide must have described this feature at least 20 times totaling nearly and hour of monologue on the bus. Above the canyon are mountains that appear painted with reddish colored hues. On one of these mountains appears to be the image of a young girl. She has a pony tail and is facing a horse and kissing it’s forehead. The horse’s head can be seen facing her. To me, the horse looks like Gumby’s horse Pokey. If you cannot see this image of a girl and a horse, I know a comedian from Michigan who would be happy to point it out to you.

Our trip to the Grand Canyon was complete so we boarded our bus and headed back. There are great things about guided tours and there are not so great things about guided tours. The great part is that you get on the bus and everything is taken care of from beginning to end. The not so great part is that you might be subjected to watching Chevy Chase’s Las Vegas vacation during the return trip. I suppose it was better than listening to the comedian explain the horse and the girl again.

This year marks our 35th wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long, but here we are. In March I decided we needed to do something special. Since our cruises had been cancelled, we haven’t done many big leisure trips. I did some searching on Expedia and found some great deals for Las Vegas and thought that might be a great alternative to our ship based vacations. We decided to stay at the Bellagio for its location and the overall the theme of the place. Call us snobs, but we loved the palatial look and feel to the place. Our room was on the 19th floor and pretty much in the center of the tower overlooking the fountains. I found a TV channel that played the music so we were able to have our own private show every day.

Our first day was spent exploring the Bellagio and the nearby resorts. One of the coolest features of this resort is the conservatory. From what I read, the floral displays are changed four times a year to coincide with the seasons. These displays looked like rose parade floats and were amazing. I was fortunate to get there early in the morning as I was waiting for the gym to open. There weren’t many people so I got some great pictures. Janet joined me later for breakfast and we explored the remainder of the property including the magnificent pool area and the shops.

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From the Bellagio we headed across the street via a sky bridge to Caesar’s Palace. I have to stop right here and say that I have always loved Greek and Roman antiquity. As a kid, I used to read every book on Greek mythology and watched every sword and sandal movie that I could find. Walking into Caesar’s Palace was as if ancient Rome had electricity. My favorite area was the Forum Shops. The whole area was themed as if you were in the forum at Rome with statues and fountains and shops all done in Roman architecture. Probably the most interesting thing was the spiral escalators that wound past colossal figures of Roman goddesses. The whole place took my breath away. We were there early in the morning so we got to enjoy the whole experience without a lot of crowds.

Back in 2019 we were able to go to Italy and see the real Venice. Having that background made visiting the Venetian quite a treat. I was really in awe at how beautifully this hotel had recreated some of the most famous landmarks of that fabled city. From the bridge of sighs to the gondoliers, every detail was so faithfully reproduced. One of the only differences was that it was so much cleaner than the original. We both decided that if we weren’t staying at the Bellagio we would have really enjoyed this resort.

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Las Vegas is really hot, and the temperatures were over 100 even during the morning hours. The heat was starting to get to Janet so we decided to cut our site seeing short for a bit and take a break. Before doing so, we had to stop at the CVS and get a 12 pack of water. This turned out to be one of the smartest moves of the week as that 12 pack cost about $3.50 whereas a bottle of water in a resort cost $5 each.

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Later that afternoon we ventured across the street for a couple of more resort tours. The first was the Cosmopolitan. One of the newer resorts, it was built after the themed resort era had ended. I like the themes, so I wasn’t so enthralled with it. Planet Hollywood was little more than a big mall. Paris Las Vegas seemed more interesting on the outside than on the inside. There were beautiful reproductions of the Arc di Triomphe, the Opera House, and the The Eiffel Tower, but the inside just didn’t seem to impress me as did Caesar’s and the Venetian. Maybe I was expecting Versailles, or maybe my senses were just overwhelmed, but I was a little disappointed. We didn’t go to the top of the Eiffel Tower because our room was just across the street and nearly as high up. It didn’t seem worth $25 a piece to get a view that we could see from our room.

When I made the reservations in March, I really wanted to do something special for our anniversary dinner. Knowing that Janet has always enjoyed the Food Channel, I wanted to find a restaurant that featured a celebrity chef. There were a few right in our general area to choose from, but when I saw that Giada De Laurentiis’ restaurant was pretty much across the street, I knew that was the one. We were seated in an area that was actually quite empty. For awhile I didn’t know if anyone would serve us. Our server eventually introduced himself, but still seemed stiff and inconvenienced. After bringing us water I told him it was our 35th anniversary. Almost miraculously his demeanor changed and the rest of the evening was filled with warmth and generosity that was in character with the establishment’s namesake. Our dinner was everything we hoped for and topped off with a wonderful anniversary sorbet.

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Our first day was completed by the beautiful fountain show outside our room and the lights of the city on display. Not so much New England, but great to be a tourist again!

With the exception of a few trips to Kansas City, we haven’t been able to travel much, even within our beloved New England. If fact, I was only able to write six entries throughout the year of the pandemic. Most of those trips had to be carefully planned and weren’t conducive to spontaneous tourism. Fortunately, Janet and I both have been vaccinated and are ready to start getting our lives back to normal. It was Sunday morning and I asked Janet if she’d rather go to Mystic, CT or Portland, ME. Since Mystic was about 30-45 minutes farther we chose Portland. It didn’t hurt that our travel buddies all said we need to see Portland as it’s one of their favorite New England towns.

Our first site to see was Old Orchard beach. I didn’t take any pictures, but it’s a really cool place with amusement park rides and lots of boardwalk activities. I know that throughout the summer they have regular fireworks displays as well. It seemed to me to be Maine’s equivalent of Hampton Beach in New Hampshire.

From there we drove up Highway 1 to the Portland Head light house. This is probably the most famous of the Maine lighthouses and pictures of it can be found in any gift shop in Maine. I was very surprised when we drove up to it as it looks much bigger in pictures. Though the tower is over 90′ the elevation of the road is higher so you end up looking down on it as you arrive. We took advantage of one of the many walking paths to enjoy the sea air on such a beautiful day!

After seeing the lighthouse we drove into Portland. Though it’s the largest city in Maine, it pales in comparison to cities like Boston or most of the other cities in the Northeast. With a population just under 100K it seems large enough to have some city amenities, but small enough to feel like a cozy hometown. We spent most of our time in the old town area by the sea port. The red brick buildings and cobblestone streets reminded me of the old city in Montreal or even parts of Boston. Because of the pandemic, most restaurants still offer lots of outdoor dining. I hope this practice doesn’t end any time soon. Some restaurants like the one in the picture use flowers and lighting to create a very inviting atmosphere. We chose a French bistro and enjoyed crepes. We walked around some more enjoying the shops and the sites, and then headed home.

Life has been hard this past year. Traveling to see new things was very difficult. Even the local adventures were hard to arrange. Thankfully it looks as though life is returning to normal. Today we went to the beach for the first time in two years!! We have a trip to New Jersey planned for next week to finally see our daughter and son-in-law after a year and a half. In June we’re going to Las Vegas to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. All I have to say is, look out New England, these residential tourists are back!!!

Thanksgiving during the pandemic was a quiet affair. We eschewed efforts to see family or friends and dined instead on Janet’s rendering of Julia Child’s Coq Au Vin recipe and mashed potatoes. It was as delicious as it sounds. In past years, we’ve always tried to drive to New Jersey to see Autumn and Jim, but even that had effort needed to be postponed due to quarantine restrictions effect on our jobs. It was sad, knowing this was to be the first year since living in New England that we would not make our annual pilgrimage to see the NYC department store windows. But I consider myself a true adventurer and decided not to let the virus hinder me from venturing out of the apartment and taking in some of the beauty of New England.

Covered bridges are abundant throughout the northeast. Vermont has more than one hundred. We met a couple in October that took an entire week to see all of them. New Hampshire has about a quarter that many. For years I thought it would be neat to take some time and see some of them, and it just so happened Black Friday was a perfect day to begin this New England adventure. I did some research and found that while many are scattered throughout the state, there are some clusters that make it easy to see many bridges in a short amount of time. I chose the cluster just south of Keene in the southwestern corner of the state as a place for our mini getaway.

Our first bridge was called the Ashuelot Covered bridge. Many of the bridges span the Ashuelot river and I suppose this one was named for the river. I was surprised to find that these bridges are all operational and allow for one lane traffic. As the sign says, there’s a $5 fine for driving faster than you can walk, so I took it pretty slow.

The GPS showed an alternate route to the second bridge, the Coombs bridge, that took us through a lot of backwoods areas. It kind of set the tone for the rustic look of the bridge. Janet commented that she liked it better because it looked more natural.

Venturing on we found the Slate Covered Bridge, the Denman Thompson Covered Bridge, the Sawyer’s Crossing Covered Bridge, and finally the Carleton Covered bridge. We both agreed that the Denman Thompson was our favorite of the day with its red paint and green roof.

These bridges appear to be maintained with pride as all were in excellent working order, nicely painted, and labeled with its own shingle. We have about 20 more throughout the state to see, but we’re happy to save those sites for another day. Meanwhile, we’re back to work and keeping ourselves socially distant.

Oh how I’ve missed getting out and seeing New England!! With the COVID-19 precautions we’ve not been traveling much this year. After going to see the kids in July I had to work from home for two weeks. With school starting back, that’s just not a possibility any more. Fortunately, we are still able to travel within the 5 state region. Columbus Day weekend is always a good time to getaway. Janet was more than ready when I suggested a weekend retreat to upstate Vermont.

My goal was to see Stowe. I’ve read about it for years, and know this was the home of the Von Trapp family made famous in the musical, The Sound of Music. Lodging around Stowe, however, was hard to come by so I found a wonderful bed and breakfast a few miles away in the town of Barre. Janet got a good laugh of me as I pronounced it like bar when in fact it sounds like berry.

We arrived on Saturday afternoon too early to check in so we puttered down the road to Montpelier, the state capital. I’ve been to many state capitals but I don’t think I’ve seen one so nondescript as Montpelier. While the town is charming you would never know it was the seat of state government save for the state house itself. Though Concord NH has an equally small statehouse, it also boasts a whole complex of state department buildings. No such complex appeared to exist in Montpelier. Nor were there any fast food or chain restaurants to be found either. Not that that’s always a bad thing, but it did seem odd. People in Vermont have taken the virus seriously and most if not all wore masks even while walking the shop laden sidewalks.

After checking in, our hostess recommended a great little gastropub within walking distance. It wasn’t too difficult to see why the road was called church street as we passed about a half dozen on the way to the restaurant. Before returning to the inn we set out to walk to the drugstore, but quickly realized it would start raining before we were able to get back. We retrieved our car and proceeded to the CVS where it commenced to rain. Not just rain, it stormed the entire evening. Good call!

Google fall leaves and you’ll probably find pictures of Vermont somewhere. The server at the restaurant said that the peak week in Barre had come the week before. I was a little bummed as we made our way to Stowe on Sunday morning. My fears were allayed as we drove into town and beheld some amazing sites. Stowe is pretty much a village that is surrounded by ski resorts and outdoor activities. It is so picturesque. We parked and walked through the shops admiring the typical touristy stores and galleries. Janet’s father had preached in a church about 10 miles north of Stowe so we took an awesome Sunday drive through some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen to see if we could job some old memories. While we didn’t find the church, the drive was simply amazing. There is no way my camera can do justice, but I had to stop more than once to take some pictures.

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On the way back we bypassed the town and drove up to the Von Trapp family lodge. It’s a very popular place and offers wonderful scenic views of the surrounding mountains. We didn’t stay to go inside, but were content with a quick drive by and a selfie by the sign.

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While at the B & B I researched all the tourist pamphlets available. The one that caught my eye detailed activities to do in the Mad River Valley which lies just south of Woodbury, home to Ben and Jerry’s. The town of Waitsfield prides itself on being an artists community with visual and performing arts venues. Being somewhat artsy we thought this might be fun. Again, the vistas were amazing and the gentle Mad River made it even prettier. In Waitsfield we found an awesome blown glass shop where we selected a cute pumpkin for our shelves. The downtown had not only a selection of shops and galleries, but also a working covered bridge. I learned later that there are about 100 covered bridges scattered throughout Vermont. Maybe someday we’ll do a tour. After a nice lunch we took the scenic route back to Barre and were rewarded with much more autumn eye candy.

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Our room did not come equipped with a television so we had to find the Chiefs/Raiders game on the community set downstairs. As we sat on the couch sporting our KC Chiefs masks, we found it incredibly surreal that another guest joined us who was an Oakland Raider fan, complete with a Raiders shirt. Who’d have thought to find rival fans in Barre, Vermont?

I bought a new car in August so this was our first outing with my Kia Telluride. It performed well and was extremely comfortable. Janet especially loved the built in GPS on the 10″ screen. Hopefully, this car will see as much of New England as my last two vehicles.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

The pandemic has really limited our travel this year. We cancelled our trip to Missouri in April, and our Alaskan cruise that we had scheduled for July was also cancelled. However, we needed to see our granddaughters so when travel restrictions lightened we booked a trip to Kansas City for the beginning of August.

Overjoyed is an understated word to describe the elation these two munchkins expressed as we approached the door. Amelia, the youngest, had been thinking we would arrive two whole days before our flight. It took Facetime calls to Grammy to convince her otherwise. Elizabeth was equally excited to share all her new dance moves and how prepared she is to enter Kindergarten.

The silver lining of the pandemic was that we could really only spend time with people in the bubble of our family. That gave us lots of time to play, watch movies, and dine from everyone’s favorite take out restaurants. Our son Erik and his wife Amanda have a wonderful home that is filled with love and happiness.

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Of course our family bubble included my my brother Dave, his wife Jen and their daughters Devyn and Gracyn. Having just moved to a new house they were extremely excited to show it off. It’s simply gorgeous!

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Usually we stay with them, but since they’d just moved we chose to stay in a hotel. This was the scariest part of the trip. While giving lip service to the pandemic, they didn’t adhere to most of the guidelines. Because of that we confined ourselves to our room and to the homes of our family members.

No trip to Missouri would be complete without paying a call on my mother. Fortunately, she takes the situation seriously. Our stay was limited to her porch and fully masked! I’m glad she’s attentive to recommendations of medical advice!

Our visit was over too soon. The girls were very disappointed we needed to leave. But my job was already encroaching on our family time. In this time of remote work, we can perform our duties from just about any place on the globe.

Both our trips to KC and back to Boston were quite different than what we’d experienced in the past. Airports were virtually empty, our flights were less than half full, and all health guidelines were strictly enforced.

It’s obvious we live in a different time right now. I was required to quarantine myself for 14 days upon returning which meant I was forced to work from home once again. Knowing this, I doubt we will do much more travel out of New England until the crisis passes. Until such time it appears I will have to content myself with local adventures right here in New England. However, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be restricted to.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Janet and I had planned to go on an Alaskan Cruise from July 3rd to July 10th.  After that, we were going to rent a car and drive from Vancouver, B.C. to Portland, OR and visit old friends.  Needless to say, the cruise was cancelled and our summer was left pretty empty except for a trip to KC to see the family in early August. Our friends, Dillard, Laurie, Pam, and Mike came to the rescue with an idea to travel north to the White Mountains for an extended weekend.  Having nothing else to do, we enthusiastically said yes!

Our first destination was to take the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington.  Mount Washington is certainly not as spectacular as one of the peaks we would have seen in the Pacific Northwest, but it does have its claims to fame.  Known for having recorded the fasted wind speed felt by man, this mountain stands above the others in the range at 6,228 ft. Hikers make the journey to the summit in about 3-4 hours. There is a road that cars can take as well. Our journey was on the first Cog Railway to be built. An engine powers a large cog that than anchors into slots between the rails. The cog locks at every click preventing the engine and the coach from ever free falling down the mountain. The engine pushes the coach up the mountain and then eases it back down, always staying down mountain of the car.  We were socially distanced in our seats and prepared for spectacular views.  Unfortunately the cloud cover prevented us from seeing very far after we reached the tree line.  Still, it was fun to be at the top. We spent an hour wandering around with the other guests and posing for pictures. After the hour we dutifully lined up at the purple coach so as to be not put on stand by for the return trip.  As we approached the bottom of the mountain we noticed the clouds had broken for a short period of time. Maybe stand by would have been the right thing to do!

The White Mountains are striped with mountain rivers and water falls. Views like this can be had by the mile. Our guide on the Cog Rail had mentioned seeing some spectacular falls down the road. Turns out we missed those falls, but these were beautiful too.  After the sight seeing we were all getting kind of hangry so we made our way to Littleton and checked in to the hotel. Fortunately, a 99 Restaurant was within walking distance. We enjoyed an outdoor meal and picked up some essentials at the neighboring grocery store. The hotel was equipped with an indoor pool and hot tub that we put to good use.

The next day was rainy so we rescheduled our plans to see the Flume Gorge of Franconia Notch till Saturday and went into town to explore.  Littleton is a vibrant little mountain town with antique stores, restaurants, and other curiosities. An old mill on the river has been converted into a brewery and restaurant and a covered bridge expands the walking trail along the waterway.

The clouds cleared up nicely by dinner. We found a beautiful place to eat called the Adair Country Inn and Restaurant. Our table was outside in the gardens making for perfect ambiance to a wonderful meal. There are few things better in life than to enjoy a meal with friends in beautiful surroundings.

There appear to be many inn and restaurant establishments throughout the White Mountains. The following morning we enjoyed breakfast at one of the more popular of these venues, the Woodstock Inn. Also connected to a brewery, it is not uncommon to see half hour waits at any time during the day. The food is certainly worth the wait, though. The three egg omelette menu included a Kitchen Sink Womlette, which is an omelette waffle combo with everything in the pantry including the kitchen sink. I didn’t have that, but was tempted. After breakfast we explored the little hamlet of Woodstock and found the typical tourist shops one expects at a vacation hot spot.

Shortly after Janet arrived in 2014, we made a trip to the Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch. I wrote about that adventure in Be careful what you suggest-August 2014.  I love the Flume Gorge. It is one of nature’s miraculous water made wonders, much like Watkins Glen in upstate New York or Johnson’s Shut-Ins in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. The park has done an outstanding job of providing a way for visitors to enjoy this treasure during the pandemic.

All trails are timed for the amount of people and only travel one way. At any other time the trail would only be one way at the actual flume gorge making the trip up and back fairly easy as it doubled back on itself. The one way path is more of the scenic route. Six years ago, I was younger and a bit more in shape. Today’s journey was a little taxing, but the sites were amazing.

The woods in this area are almost mythic. The moss and ferns create a fairy tale quality. And the trees growing from rocks seem almost magical.

Our trip ended back at the visitors center where we eagerly bought more water and ice cream!  I thought it cute that the park takes social distancing seriously!

After some relaxing time in the pool we attempted to go back to the Woodstock Inn for dinner, but as mentioned before, the wait was extremely long. As the hour was already getting late, our stomachs made the decision to eat at a less popular Greek restaurant across the street. Dinner with friends is great no matter the cuisine.

Our adventure came to a close the next morning as we shared one more meal together. Occasionally I’ve dispensed travel advice in this blog. Today’s lesson is that one should find some travel buddies.  Family is great, but friends open up a totally different aspect of traveling. We’ve had the privilege of sharing many excursions with this group and look forward to many more. One part of our conversation this weekend included how diverse the tiny state of New Hampshire is. You can be in city, at the beach, at the lake, or in the mountains all in a couple of hours time. Maybe that’s why it feels easy to live in New England like a tourist.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

The COVID-19 trend in Massachusetts is going down.  The Governor has done a great job dealing with the crisis and people of Massachusetts are able to move forward in their reopening plans. We drove down to Boston on the 4th of July and up the coast just to get out once more. It was almost eerie to see how few people were on the streets in this city that would normally see epic crowds for this holiday. We didn’t get out of the car so I didn’t take any pictures.

This week we decided to make another journey into Massachusetts to revisit some more of Janet’s childhood memories. Our trek led us to the infamous Camp Pineshore in Westminster, MA.  I say infamous because I’ve heard countless stories of summers spent by the Sheppard clan in the little red cabin with no hot water.

Camp Pineshore is a Lutheran camp on the shores of Wyman’s pond.  Lakes and ponds in New England are very similar, but are mostly differentiated by their depth, rather than by their size.  In my part of the country, it would have been a lake! We entered the campground and I could tell by Janet’s animated way of speaking we had just crossed a time barrier that brought back a flood of memories. The camp hasn’t changed much in the 40 years since the family stayed there. It’s very easy to see the allure of getting away from it all for a nice three week stay.

Westminster is only a few miles west of Fitchburg, where Janet’s parents grew up.  Though only a one time memory for her, we visited a restaurant that her parents frequented many times, and it’s not hard to see why. The Old Mill Restaurant was built as a saw mill in 1761 and is a local favorite. Our menu was scaled back from its traditional fare because of the pandemic, but we were able to enjoy some traditional favorites like pot pie and pot roast. The grounds are just amazing. It’s worth visiting just to walk around.

Once again, we’re finding ways to safely travel. New England is filled with these little gems that sometimes bring back memories for Janet, and most times provide rich new experiences for me.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

It’s been almost four months since we traveled out of the state. Our adventures have mainly consisted of walking across the parking lot to the grocery store and working from home. Regulations have relaxed, though, and residents in northern New England can travel between the three states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine without testing. Knowing this, we decided to venture over to Maine to enjoy some time out of the apartment. Four years ago we visited the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME. That visit was in October when the trees were in full color. Though the fall blooms were beautiful, we thought it would be nice to see the gardens in the summer in all their splendor.  I made our reservations and took two days vacation to make it a reality.

The journey up the main coast is a beautiful drive. Maine is pretty much covered in trees except where roads and towns have been constructed.  As soon as possible we veered off the interstate in order to enjoy the beauty of the woods and small towns that dot the coastline.  Because of COVID-19, reservations are required for specific times to enter the park. We arrived in Boothbay a little early so we filled the time driving around the sail boat filled harbor. These coastal towns have a beauty you won’t see anywhere else.

Since our last trip, the botanical gardens has gone through a major construction project resulting in a brand new entrance and expanded grounds. Beautiful bridges have been constructed over ponds and streams to lead you to the old entrance.

Once inside we were immediately overwhelmed by the swath of colors  and sounds of this botanical wonder. One of the first gardens is dedicated to all the senses. Sounds of frogs and insects match the splash of fountains. Fragrances from the flowers and trees permeate the air as you stroll the winding pathway. The colors of the flowers dazzle the eyes, and many plants are available to touch and observe their texture. A section of the garden is dedicated to herbs used to tantalize the taste buds. Each part of the park has its own unique characteristics, but I think I like this one best.

The main area has about half a dozen dedicated gardens including a rose arbor and a children’s garden. The children’s garden pays homage to some of Maine’s famous children’s authors including E.B. White, who wrote Charlotte’s Web and Robert McCloskey, who wrote Blueberries for Sal. Other literary works are also referenced including a small patch owned by Farmer McGregor!

The main portion of the park is surrounded by acres and acres of woodlands that are accessible by well kept trails. The incline to the river is fairly steep but the pathways switchback on themselves making travel accessible even for those of us middle aged wanderers who tire easily.  The trails themselves are gardens that include rock sculptures and plants. A meditation garden is located at the bottom of the hill and visitors are rewarded with a peaceful place to rest.

We finished our visit to the  Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens and headed back down the coast to our night time destination, Ogunquit. I’ve written about Ogunquit many times before. I love this little town just south of its more famous neighbor, Kennebunkport. Whether walking the marginal way, visiting the shops and restaurants, or seeing a show at the playhouse, we’ve always enjoyed our visits.

One thing we had yet to do was to spend the night.  Fortunately, I was able to book a room in a small hotel right in town, but also on the water. We found most people to be observing the safety precautions including the stores and restaurants. The eatery we chose had set up plastic dividers between each of its outdoor dining tables. While Janet enjoyed a lobster roll, I chose the lobster flatbread special of the day and was not disappointed.

The sound of the ocean waves is magical. Our hotel included a deck on which to sit and enjoy the views of the beach and the surf. I woke up early the next day and was blessed with a magnificent sunrise.

As I’ve written before, the Marginal Way is a one-mile walking path that travels along the shoreline behind the hotels and houses. To finish our adventure we enjoyed a morning stroll admiring the beauty of the coastline.

It certainly was a pleasure to be able to leave the apartment after such a long time in confinement. Fortunately, New England has many places that are open for visiting. Though we take the pandemic seriously, it is great to be able to gradually resume living in New England like a tourist!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

Most of the time I try to recount my adventures within a short time of the expedition. I was ready to write this shortly after our return from our cruise during the February break. However, world events interceded and I haven’t had much motivation to write, until now.  Three months have passed and we are quarantined, working from home, and only occasionally venturing out of our apartment. Our adventures have grounded to a halt, but my writing needs to continue.

When we boarded the Anthem of the Seas at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ, COVID-19 was a virus that was pretty much contained to China. Before embarking we were asked if we had any sickness in the past few weeks, or had traveled to Asia. Since the answer was no, we were allowed to get on the ship and continue with our journey. Thus began our  fourth cruising adventure, a roller coaster ride with amazing highs, and disappointing lows.

During our cruise in 2019, we had hoped to book a cruise in the southern Caribbean aboard the Freedom of the Seas for 2020. Unfortunately that ship was scheduled for dry dock and refurbishment for February 2020. Instead, we opted to sail out of New York City aboard the Anthem of the Seas. I’ve always wanted to sail out of NYC, so this really looked to be a chance of a lifetime.  Anthem is part of the Quantum class of ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Just behind the Oasis class, these ships are the fleet’s second largest vessels and pack a lot of amenities not found on the smaller ships. Sailing from NYC meant that we could drive to the port as opposed to flying. Sunday morning is a fantastic day to drive through the northeastern megalopolis and we were able to arrive at our scheduled boarding time of 11:00 with no problem. The weather for our departure was surprisingly warm for NYC in February. With temperatures hovering in the high 40’s and low 50’s, we felt extremely blessed.

The New York skyline is always impressive, but our view for lunch was truly spectacular.  With the Statue of Liberty in the foreground we had an unobstructed view from Jersey City to Brooklyn. One of my favorite parts of cruising is seeing the ship sail away from the port. This trip had an added bonus in that we sailed under the Verrazano-Narrows bridge. I wasn’t the only person enthralled by this event as there were hundreds of us braving the cold to steal pictures as we passed beneath the span.

Away from the city, we began our voyage to a warmer clime! The ship in itself is a technological wonder. A lounge/theater called 270 is poised at the stern of the ship. Robotic displays, moving stages, and aerial rigging are all used by seasoned performers in front of a 270 degree panorama of screens that replace the ships windows. The ship also boasts a music hall for live bands, and the traditional ship theater. As is our custom, we also attended the art auction and purchased a piece by one of our favorite artists.  Though we love the piece, our experience with the art auction wasn’t as enjoyable as in previous cruises.  The auctioneers have always been pushy, but this crew seemed more so than others and left a bad taste in our mouths. Don’t know how much art we’ll be buying on future cruises.

The upper pool decks are mostly enclosed to accommodate the colder climates. Only the main pool remains uncovered, but there are two other pool areas to enjoy including our favorite, the adults only solarium. Unfortunately it’s also the favorite of most travelers without children, making it very difficult to find two lounge chairs in close proximity. My only picture of the solarium is at night when the place literally glows in the dark.

Besides the pool decks there is also an enclosed area called the SeaPlex. This is an amazing multi-use area that transforms from basketball to roller skating and even bumper cars. Pods jut out from the second level providing spaces for ping pong and Xbox games. While we didn’t participate in the SeaPlex activities, we did attend a silent dance party in the 270 lounge. Here, everyone wears headphones and chooses the music they want to dance to. The surreal experience was to take your headphones off and watch the crowd dance, laugh, or possibly sing with no music or talking.  It was great fun!!

Most of our trip was at sea, but the cruise did include three ports of call. The first port was Cape Canaveral, Florida. We had planned to meet our friends Mike and Pam to tour the space center. We were pleasantly surprised to see our other cruise buddies, Dillard and Laurie, had flown down to join us. The day was great and we had a marvelous time. So thankful to have friends to enjoy the adventure.

Our next port was Coco Kay, Royal Caribbean’s private Island. I really didn’t know if I would enjoy a day on an island owned by the cruise line, but I was pleasantly surprised. There were plenty of free activities and food. We rented some snorkels and fins for a bit of snorkeling. Despite two large ships docked at the port, I was very surprised how much room we had, and what turned out to be a great day.

Our last port was Nassau. Last year we booked the Pearl Island excursion and had such a great time we decided to book it again. The snorkeling is the most amazing part. This year I opted not to spend my time taking pictures but chose to just enjoy the fish and the reef. We met a nice family from upstate New York that we spent the day with. They appreciated our familiarity with the island, and we enjoyed the company. Unfortunately a cold font came through, and the temperature dropped into the low 60’s. That was the end of our warm weather vacation.

Back on the ship we enjoyed the Queen juke box musical, We Will Rock You and the 270 cabaret, and the bionic bar, but the highlight of this trip was the specialty restaurants.

Because we had so few ports of call, we decided to explore the culinary venues outside the main dining room. Our first experience was the Chops Grille, RCL’s signature steak house. Up till then, I never understood why anyone would pay extra for food on a cruise, but the Chops Grille blew me away. The food and the service were exquisite.  The second restaurant in our 3 meal deal was the Alice in Wonderland inspired Wunderland. This restaurant prides itself in deconstructing dishes and creating culinary delights out of your imagination. It was my favorite of the three, and I know Janet enjoyed every bite. Our third experience was Jamie Oliver’s, Jamie’s Italian. It was more casual than I expected, but the food was wonderful and I captured the most amazing sunset picture of any cruise I’ve been on.

Anthem of the Seas boasts amenities you won’t find on any other ship. The North Star is a globe attached to an arm that lifts guests 300 feet above the ocean for some spectacular views. It reminded us of the London Eye. Though the weather was cold, we still enjoyed our bird’s eye view. Another venue is the Ripcord by Ifly. This skydiving simulator is located on the back of the ship above the Flowrider surf simulator. Too cold for surfing, I chose the Ripcord. I barely made the weight limit, but was able to suit up and take my turn. It’s harder than you think, and I was amazed at how much better a 4 year old boy performed than me.

Our cruising adventure came to a close as we once again sailed beneath the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge and docked at Cape Liberty just in time to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the New York City skyline.  Though we learned that we never want to sail out of New York in February again, we also know that cruising is in our blood. It’s been three months since that cruise and our cruise to Alaska has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus. But, we have a cruise booked for next February in the southern Caribbean and hope it remains on schedule. Our adventures have been stalled for now, but soon enough we hope to return to seeing the world. Until then, we’re living in New England like a quarantined tourist!!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

New Hampshire has a minor league hockey team and a minor league baseball team. Other than that, there are no stadium events that draw crowds here in the Granite State. The one exception is every four years during the presidential election campaigns.  From early in the summer right up to the day of the primary, campaign buses can be viewed on the highways, candidates greet voters in diners, and rallies are held in even the smallest of New Hampshire Towns. Some of my friends remember candidates coming to people’s homes for coffee groups. I wrote about my last primary adventure in 2015 when I got to see Hillary Clinton less than four feet in front of me. This year I put it off till the last minute, but in a way that’s a good thing.  In the week prior to the primary there are dozens of events, and many of them were close to my job or my home.

On Thursday I went to the Elizabeth Warren rally in Derry. Since I work in Derry, I chose not to go home. This put me at the head of the line and I was able to score a spot right at the foot of the stage. Like my Hillary Clinton experience, Elizabeth was right in front of me. The reason I go on about being that position is that when you are in close proximity, you see the candidates as real flesh and blood people. You see the age in their hands, or the fatigue in their eyes.  That may sound weird, but I like to know that people I see on television, read about in the newspapers, or see on the Internet are human beings like me.

On Sunday, Pete Buttigieg was scheduled to have a rally here in Salem at the high school. I signed up and made my way to the venue to be utterly blown away by the size of the line. Needless to say, I didn’t have a front row spot, but rather stood in the back by the press cameras.  There are always lots of reporters at these events trying to gauge the attitude of the voters. One spoke to me for quite awhile about how I felt about Bernie Sanders.  Finally, Pete took the stage as a real live human being. I stayed for his stump speech but left for the questions. I really didn’t want to get stuck in the parking lot traffic.

On my way home, I passed the middle school and noticed a ton of Amy Klobuchar  signs. I didn’t know if there was an event, but thought I’d check it out anyway. As it turned out she was speaking at 7:30 so I got in the line and attended my 3rd rally of the week. I was close to the front and again stayed only for the speech.  All three candidates echoed the talking points I’d heard before, but it’s still neat to see it in person.

If I really wanted to, I could have attended the president’s or Bernie Sander’s rallies,  in Manchester on Monday, but I felt I’d had enough.

New Hampshirites take their politics seriously. As the first primary in the nation, residents get that rare opportunity to see many candidates in a small area.  I’m glad I can take advantage of this unique opportunity here in New England. Oh, and Yes, I voted!!

 

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

I keep a spreadsheet of all the stage productions I’ve seen over the years. I know that’s geeky, but hey you already know that. It started with a column of Broadway shows, but I expanded it to every theatrical show (play, musical, or opera) I’ve seen or been a part of, which includes Broadway, West End, Touring, Equity, Collegiate, Community theater, Agape Players, and High School. I’m up to 155 shows.  While that may sound impressive, I have some theater friends that leave me in the dust.

This week I added a new column to my spreadsheet, the out of town tryout. Boston is one of those cities that Broadway producers like to mount shows before bringing them to NYC. It’s not a touring show, because it hasn’t yet played on the Great White Way. It’s not just an equity production either, because it is headed for Broadway with basically the same cast. Boston has hosted many of these shows through the years including recent favorites, Waitress and Moulin Rouge. This week we saw Neil Simon’s  Plaza Suite starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

Mark and Maria joined us for dinner at our favorite French restaurant, LaVoille. We haven’t seen them since Halloween so it was good to get caught up. The play was fantastic. Each of the three acts are short vignettes telling the stories of three different middle aged couples. Though a comedy, Simon tugs at some emotional heartstrings as well engaging in hilarious slapstick.  Matthew and Sarah have great chemistry. It’s a shame they don’t perform together more often.

Janet and I stayed overnight in the city at the Park Plaza hotel. In the morning, I volunteered to get the car since it was quite cold. My walk took me through the Boston Public Garden where I was able to glimpse a rare site of an empty park.  The sky was beautiful and the city was quiet. It was a perfect end to a perfect adventure!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

For most people, the name Michael Jordan conjures images of a fantastic basketball player.  For Janet and myself, Michael is a dear friend who sang at our wedding.  In fact, Michael sang at many weddings of our friends from long long ago. We all belonged to a Christian music and drama troupe called the Agape Players. From 1969 to 1985, hundreds of college aged young people traveled  in motor homes and coach buses singing and acting nightly in churches throughout the country. Michael was one of the longest serving members of the group. I’m exceptionally pleased to call him a friend as I only toured in the last four years.

We’ve been texting and calling for the past few years, and I thought it time we get back together for a visit. Little did I know that flying to New York from Denver would be one of the least expensive options.  New York’s a great place because there’s so much to see.

As always, I attempt to try new things every time I repeat a visit. I’ve been to a lot of Broadway shows, but never tried Broadway Roulette. You pay in advance for discounted  tickets, then on the day of the show, they spin the wheel to determine what you’ll see. You can eliminate up to 4 shows from the spin, and you’re guaranteed not to see a show that you’ve won in the past. For our spin, we won tickets to Chicago. I’d already seen it on tour, but not on Broadway so I was pleased. Michael had only seen the movie, so he was excited. Michael is also a vegan, so I booked a great Thai restaurant that Janet and I have eaten at.

 

Michael had indicated he’d like to see the High Line. I’ve been wanting to see it for quite some time, so on Sunday we headed over to Chelsea to do just that. The High Line is a park built on an old elevated railway that begins in Chelsea above the Food Network studios and ends at the new Hudson Yards West development. Incredible pieces of art and murals line the corridor, and new buildings with amazing architecture are being built to take advantage of the area.

Exiting the High Line, we wandered through the new Hudson Yards West development, and then down 34th street past Madison Square Garden/Penn Station, Macy’s and the Empire State Building to 5th Ave. Like all tour guides, I shared a lot of totally useless information. The Christmas windows are gone, but 5th Ave still has magic. I love finding little things, or not so little things like this hippo in a tutu. We stopped in St. Patrick’s for an organ/choir concert. Then we cut through Rockefeller Center and made our way back to Times Square. As much as the crowds bother me, it’s always fun to take a friend and let them gawk. Our last stop before heading back to the hotel was at the World Trade Center. Michael hadn’t been there since the memorial was built so I was glad to take him.

We stayed in Brooklyn because he flew into JFK. It did make it easier to get to the airport. Our room was on the 12th floor which provided amazing views.  Michael chose the dinner spot, Juniors. It’s a popular Brooklyn eatery that boasted hundreds of high profile visitors, as evidenced by the pictures that papered the walls.

Alas, a weekend is a very short time, and all things must come to an end. I love reconnecting with old friends and sharing the changes in our lives. Michael is an amazing man. I cherish our friendship, and the time we shared.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

I’m sure that the name Seth Rudetsky isn’t the topic of conversation in most circles. However, to avid Broadway fans, Seth is a legend. Seth has played pit piano for more than a dozen shows, and performed in even more concerts and special productions. I first learned of him through his Sirius Radio Broadway show. Last summer I noticed he was hosting a series of concerts with Broadway stars, Jessie Mueller, Cheyenne Jackson, and Kelly O’Hara right here in Boston. Occasionally we’ve bought tickets to a series of concerts or shows, and have rarely been disappointed. This series was hosted by the Emerson Colonial theater in Boston. Newly refurbished, this historic theater has been the venue for many out of town Broadway tryouts. It’s smaller than the neighboring opera house, so the events seem more intimate.

Jessie Mueller was our first outing and she was incredible. Having seen her in Beautiful, The Carol King Story, and Carousel we were very familiar with her voice and energy. I call it a soiree because they sit and chat, then sing, then sit and chat, then sing, and everyone has a great time.

I loved that she felt comfortable enough to take her shoes off and get comfortable.

Though we’d not seen Cheyenne Jackson live, we’ve known of his work on stage and television for many years. Recently he performed the stunning duet, Lily’s Eyes from A Secret Garden with our other favorite male soloist, Ramin Karimloo. We’ve played the YouTube video a few dozen times to say the least. Cheyenne and Seth have an incredible chemistry, and the air was filled with continuous laughter and applause.

The third and final evening featured Kelly O’Hara, one of Broadway’s premier divas. We narrowly missed seeing Kelly in Nice Work If You Can Get It seven years ago, but our wait was worth it. This Tony award winning artist has appeared in many major shows, and is a regular performer for the Kennedy Center honors and other prestigious events.

Though I’ve always proudly worn the Broadway geek badge, I believe my influence has rubbed off on my wife. She’s ready for another series if Seth comes back to Boston. She knows the stars, and the shows. It’s great we can share this activity, and it’s so much easier when you’re as close to the action as we are here in New England.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

A few years ago I wrote a pretty scathing review about Boston’s display of Christmas decorations. In that post I compared Bean Town to my home town of Kansas City, and the Big Apple itself. Since then, I’ve developed a kinder, gentler tone to my new home. Yes, there are the same trees lit in the Boston Commons. But this year there seemed to be more, or maybe I just saw them from a different angle.

As I meandered through town, I also noticed the beautifully lit stars that draped the corridors.

In my previous post, I did note the old world charm that only exists in Boston. As we walked Newberry street to a favorite French restaurant, we were reminded that Boston is decorated in ways that other cities just can’t match.

While I can’t say that the displays are what I’m used to in KC or NYC, Boston has its charm. I look forward to exploring more of the city during this magical time of the year.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I love living in New England. But, there’s still a lot of family in the Kansas City area.  For the last six years we’ve flown back to Kansas City at least once a year. We haven’t been back since last Christmas, so it’s time to fly! Flying on Christmas day is actually a great day to travel. Though I do feel sorry for those that work, the airports and car rental agencies are definitely less crowded. Janet & I try to book the early morning non-stop so that we can still have most of the day with family.

Erik & Amanda planned a small family celebration with her parents and us. What a joy to see the two munchkins opening their presents and claiming it was just what they always wanted. Though she couldn’t be there, Auntie Autumn won the day with the bubble blowing lawn mower!  Auntie Autumn could also be felt in Elizabeth’s collection of Polly Pocket dolls, a toy Autumn loved as a child. Our day included an unexpected surprise by Amanda’s brother, Ethan, and his wife, Donnaven. The weather was beautifully mild, and we even spent time outside enjoying the sun.

Since becoming grandparents, we have never had the opportunity to fulfill our duties as babysitters until this week. Our presence provided Erik & Amanda the opportunity to have lunch and see the Star Wars movie. Needless to say Grammy and Papa were thrilled to fill in!  Oh the fun we had playing games, watching movies, and redecorating the house. If we lived closer, I’m sure this would be an activity we engaged in on a routine basis.

The following day Amanda was ill so we invited Erik to bring the girls over to Jen and Dave’s. At bed time, Papa was able to revive his skills of putting a little one to bed.  However, as I began to sing Jesus Loves the Little Children, Amelia blurted out “no Bible! Daniel Tiger!”  I suppressed a laugh and admitted I didn’t know the song she wanted. To my relief, she fell asleep within a minute or two.

For the second year in a row, we took mother out to see Christmas lights and enjoy a dinner out. We followed suit by going out with Dave and Jen again and having a fantastic evening of sibling fun.

This year we were able to be in town for a Kansas City Chiefs game. Janet & I had gone shopping to get new Chiefs gear to take home, as well as a few bottles of BBQ sauce. We proudly cheered our team on to victory in hopes it was one more win closer to a Super Bowl berth.

We seem to have hit on a nice compromise to see family at the holidays. This was a great way to round out the decade, with the promise of wonderful years in the future. Happy Holidays!!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

In 2013, we started a tradition of going to New York and walking 5th Ave to see the department store windows. This year marks our 7th annual window walk. As one might guess, we’ve become pros at this. The trip is always combined with a day with our daughter and son-in-law in central NJ.  We wanted to catch a Broadway show while in town, but thought of trying something different from my normal habit of buying tickets on line and paying a $50 service fee per ticket.

 

We headed down early to hit box offices as they opened to see what might be had. Fortune was in our favor as our first stop, “Wicked,” had excellent seats at a price we were wiling to pay.

With tickets in hand, we proceeded down 52nd St. to Rockefeller Center, and then to Saks 5th Ave. As Lord and Taylor is now closed, this makes the walk a little shorter than previous years.

Saks’ displays were tied into Disney’s release of Frozen 2, and were highlighted by decorations on the facade of the building.

Bergdorff Goodman’s windows were true to form with avant garde fashion designs. They’re always interesting, but take some time to figure them out. This year’s displays were created with a view from above.

Barney’s closed this year too, so we headed up 59th St. to Bloomingdale’s. Unlike Bergdorff Goodman, Bloomingdales is hit or miss for us. We’ve seen amazing windows some years, and others not so much. This was a not so much year.

From Bloomingdales, we get on the subway and take the Yellow line back to Herald Square and Macy’s. Macy’s usually has some fun, family friendly windows. This year was no exception.

We mutually agreed that Saks 5th Ave seemed to have our favorite window displays this year. After a very crowded lunch at Shake Shack, we made our way down 6th Ave to Bryant Park where we window shopped at the dozens of kiosks.

Our tickets were for the matinee, and we were delighted to find we were in the 8th row close to the center. For a theatre fan like me, it doesn’t get much better!

We’d told our garage attendant we’d be back close to 6:00, so we ventured back to Saks to see their light show. Along the way we experienced Christmas at night in NYC. It really is a magical place to be during the holidays.

Another successful sightseeing adventure in the books, we headed out of the city for a great day with Autumn and Jim. We shopped with them for a new television, and enjoyed the Mandalorian on a bigger screen.  Life is wicked good here in New England. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!!

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Most states have annual technology conferences. In Missouri, I used to go to MoreNet at the Lake of the Ozarks. In New Hampshire we have the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference. Massachusetts has MassCue. I’ve wanted to go to MassCue for a few years and thought this would be a great time. The unique thing about MassCue is the location, Gillette stadium, home of the New England Patriots. I’m not a Patriots fan, but Gillette is a landmark in New England that deserves a visit.

I’ve only been to a couple of professional football or baseball stadiums in my life, and have always sat in seats in the open air.

Knowing the conference was at the stadium, I had to wonder where you have sessions for over 1,000 educators. Turns out, Gillette has an extensive indoor luxury suite level, perfect for conferences.  I have to say, it was fun sitting in areas that are usually reserved for corporate execs and such, learning about best practices in education technology. 

Apparently, I’m not the only one that was impressed at the location, as many attendees were seen taking selfies as well. On the second day, we caught a glimpse of the team practicing, but officials were quick to move us onward and prohibiting pictures. I love when my job allows me to mix my sight seeing passion with work.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

Bonjour!  When visiting a French speaking state such as France or Quebec, it is customary to greet each other before engaging in conversation. A couple of years ago, we made a trek to Montreal and fell in love with this beautiful city to the north. Since then, we’ve often commented that we needed to visit Quebec as well, and see the marvelously maintained old city on the St. Lawrence River. Columbus day weekend provided the perfect opportunity.

We booked a hotel across the river from Quebec in Levis, because I’m frugal, and I like free parking.  Little did I know that not only was this line of thinking cheaper on the wallet, it also provided us with an additional adventure, a ferry ride to Quebec. The ferry docked a couple hundred feet from a river cruise vessel that we had booked a four hour dinner cruise. As soon as we stepped off the boat, we knew the weekend would be magical.

Our dinner cruise was scheduled to depart at 7:00 PM, however when the Queen Mary 2 decides she needs to depart, all other boats wait their turn. The meal was awesome and we were entertained by gymnasts and aerialists throughout the trip.

The next day we ferried back to the city and began to explore the shops and the sites of the old city. Quebec is truly a unique place in North America. It has that old world charm of Europe that completely transports you across the pond. A marathon tied up many of the streets as we journeyed through town. This made crossing streets somewhat difficult, but we were able to navigate a path that allowed us to visit shops and galleries.  Not only were runners in the streets, but two cruise ships were also docked at the pier for a day of sight seeing.

The Chateau Frontenac is a 19th century railroad hotel that towers over the city and is the icon of the town. It’s beautiful to see, and it provides a great marker to keep a tourist from getting lost. After a lunch snack, we boarded a tour bus that provided us with the history of the city and some remarkable views. Our guide is truly proud of his city and showed us many of his favorite places including the Field of Abraham where a spider menacingly attacked a guard tower :-).

Before departing Sunday morning, we made a quick detour to see this magnificent waterfall, Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière.

Quebec is a beautiful place to visit. I’ve rarely seen any place so beautifully clean, and the people so friendly. I liked visiting in the peak of autumn and seeing the dazzling colors. I don’t know how soon it will be before our return, but I’m so glad we added this to our list of must see items!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

One of the things I love best about living in New England is the beautiful colors of fall. Every year I try to find some way to take in the magnificence of the glory of Autumn. This year we decided to take a Columbus Day trip to Quebec City. This would kill two birds with one stone; see the fall colors, and visit a beautifully kept French/Canadian city.

Our journey began on Saturday morning. As we traveled north on I-93 we were greatly rewarded with some of the most beautiful fall colors imaginable. Vista upon vista provided the most glorious hues and landscapes. The pictures we took do not do justice to what our eyes beheld.

As we neared the Vermont border, Janet recalled her youth, living in Danville, VT. I asked if she wanted to visit, but she thought it would be too far out of the way and she wouldn’t remember anything anyway. As we neared St. Johnsbury we saw a sign that said Danville, 5 mi. It didn’t appear as out of the way as anticipated, so we thought, what the heck, let’s give it a shot.

As we entered the town, the curtain shrouding Janet’s memories began to draw.  Immediately she identified the library.  Then she directed me to the sign pointing us to the school which we circled two or three times to recollect the memories. It was apparent that the building had been remodeled, but she was able to identify where the classrooms she attended 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade by their proximity to the field adjoining the aforementioned library.

Our next mission was to find the house the Sheppard clan resided. I knew from years of stories that this house had once been a one room school house. Peacham Road stood out in Janet’s memory so we began our search for the one time abode. At first, nothing appeared familiar. Then we entered Harvey’s Hollow and memories came flooding back. “I used to ride my back to this girl’s house.” “This is where we, that’s where we.” But still we couldn’t find the house. After 15-20 minutes of back and forth, we stopped at a site with a dilapidated garage, and the gutted basement of a house. Walking back and forth we considered this might the place. Jim and June couldn’t be reached by phone, so we called Steve. Though he was too young to remember the house, he did know that Ken and Alicia had visited in the 90’s and found the house to have been moved. This was the place. Janet began piecing the memories together and identifying the chimney, where her parents room had been, and finally where she had stayed. What a thrill to visit this prominent place in Janet’s childhood. But the best was yet to come.

Driving back into town, we had to visit the town library. In the late 60’s and early 70’s the school didn’t have a library. It was not uncommon for students to cross the field and check out books. Janet loved reading and this was the highlight of her day. Throughout her three years in Danville this was a weekly, if not daily, routine. We stopped to take a picture, and met the husband of the current librarian. We recounted her tale, and he mentioned his children and many others had also spent their lunch periods going to the library.  We journeyed inside and it was like jumping back in time. Janet remembered every detail as if it were yesterday. Her face glowed as she recalled the inception of her love of children’s literature.

Janet and I were together for 27 years before I was able to see any of her childhood residences. Earlier this year we visited Interlaken, NY where some of her best memories lay. Danville was a missing piece of the puzzle that I was excited to see. The beautiful colors of fall combined with Janet reliving some beautiful memories made for one of the best reasons to be living in New England like a tourist!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller