From Maine to Massachusetts

Where to start!

1. The Boston State House at the top of Beacon Hill

2. Our Duck Boat!

3. Our head Duck who was very funny

4. Out on the Charles River--from land to river!

5. The Boston skyline

6. Maine barn and weather vanes

7. Judi birdwatching?

8. No, Judi and Lee looking at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport

9. The most famous restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine. CLOSED!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!

10. To lessen the disappointment of the Clam Shack. Dinner in the North End, Boston!

Well, here we are in Boston. A drive down the Maine coast had to include a stop in Kennebunkport. Were only going to be there a little bit but the time got away from us and what a charming place. We almost cried when we found the Clam Shack closed. Recommendations from everyone, on every restaurant list you can find, and our mouths were watering. Oh well, the Gotta Go Girls always rally and we had lunch at another wonderful place. Oh well.

Since we were really running behind time couldn't make a stop in New Hampshire to see some old friends and pushed on to Wellsley, a Boston suburb, to see Susan and Bob Weedon. Encountered traffic like Los Angeles but we were not deterred. Susan gave us choices of bedrooms, showed us the laundry room, and invited us to dinner in the North End. (I hope I have that right! It is very late and everyone is asleep I might ask) This is the Italian section of Boston and there must be more restaurants per square inch than any where else in the world! It was very crowded in the neighborhood and every student, young person, Boston Red Sox fan, and even the Gotta Go Girls were out partying! Dinner was superb and we can see why it is a favorite of Bob and Susan. The picture is of my dinner which was quite a surprise. I ordered the seafood ravioli and didn't listen to Bob when he said it was quite large. Ha! Under all those treasures from the sea were some huge deliscious ravioli. I soldiered on and only brought home a bit of the ravioli. Had to waddle down the street for some gelati and finally tucked into bed after midnight.

All our early rising went out the window this morning so when we finally got our touring act together Bob and Susan took us to Boston Common with directions to call when it was time for dinner. Left to our own devices we wandered through the burying ground on the Common, walked a little bit of the Freedom Trail, hopped on a bus tour, and then headed for one of Boston's most famous tourist attractions--The Duck Boat tour. What a kick that was. We boarded old WWII amphibious vehicles for a very amusing ride around the streets and rivers of Boston. Very instructive historically speaking and our leader was a driver, historian, and stand up comic. She had us laughing the entire time.

Called Susan when we got off the bus/boat and they headed downtown to meet us at Legal Seafood for dinner. Oooops, everyone else in town was at the restaurant also. Drove around looking for something to eat before 9:30 and ended up back in the "burbs" at another Legal Seafood where the dinner was superb AGAIN!!! Lee and I had schrod and it was perhaps one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had.

It is way past my bedtime so adios until I can drag myself back to the computer. Too many things to see and do inBoston. What to do? What to do? What to do?? Oh, we'll think about it tomorrow!!!!

Love, the Gotta Go Girls

Welcome to the Maine Experience

The first three pictures are from Penobscot Bay and the threatening skies. It poured on us earlier and the Green Avalon is looking much spiffier! Still some squashed Montana bugs but they may be a permanent fixture.

In one picture Judi is standing outside the restaurant where we had our first lobster rolls. Hoping to have better ones in Kennebunkport tomorrow at the Crab Shack. Haven't had so much lobster in years!!!!!

The last two pictures are from the L.L. Bean Co. in Freeport, Maine. A couple of large buildings and they are adding to the complex. Can't believe they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!! A real shopping experience.

Drove south along the coast today. Stopped at a wonderful antique store (one of zillions) and then spent quite a bit of time in Rockland at the Farnsworth Museum which features three generations of Wyeth's. It was quite an experience to see the three individual styles so close together. What a talented family.

We drove on to Freeport in the rain and fog. Had planned to visit Boothbay Harbor but it was foggy and drizzly so we stayed on the main road through lots of little towns and villages. Arrived in Freeport and are staying at a Holiday Inn Express. We're getting quite used to new facilities with quite a bit of room. Tomorrow we are heading for lunch at Kennebunkport and then on to Boston where we are staying with the Weedons in Wellsley. Will be nice to be in a house. Haven't had that experience since St. Paul, Minnesota and Debi Rechnagel.

I found myself missing my condo this morning. Not ready to come home since there is still too much to see and do, but I did have a little jab of homesickness. Judi says she is looking for property in Maine and Lee said she is moving to Vermont or South Dakota, but I think they are kidding.

Off to bed. Nighty night. Love, The Gotta Go Girls

On the Road for One Month!

Greetings from Bangor Maine. The top pictures were all taken this evening in Bar Harbor, ME where we had dinner. Notice the lobster. It was fabulous!

The other three pictures are from Canterbury, New Hampshire and the Shaker Village.

We celebrated our one month anniversay of being on the road by getting ready to hang a right turn and head south. We have run out of country. But before we left New Hampshire we visited the Quaker Village where we spent over 4 hours. We took two tours both of which were led by a young man who was not a Shaker but had lived there as a child because his father was an employee of the community. The history of the Shakers is fascinating with a beginning inManchester, England. They have gone from a high of perhaps 3,000 members in the mid 1800's to today's population of 4 members in a community of Sabbathday Lake, Maine. Their impact on technology and the invention of gadgets which we can't live without today (the flat broom, peg boards, etc.) has been tremendous. The time there was fascinating to say nothing of the beautiful setting and day AND a wonderful lunch. The Gotta Go Girls never miss an opportunity to eat, remember!

We drove through the countryside and small back roads to Littleton, New Hampshire and checked into a 1960's style motel. Pulled our car right up to the room and headed for the dining room right off the office. We were stylin'!!

Off this morning headed for Bangor. Drove through more beautiful woods just starting to turn to red and yellow. Arrived here about 1:30, checked into a Comfort Inn and headed for Bar Harbor. The drive was great though we encountered quite a bit of traffic. The town of Bar Harbor was wall to wall people. There were two cruise ships anchored in the harbor and they had disgorged their passengers and they were all in our way. Don't they know the Gotta Go Girls like their wide open spaces, no traffic, deserted streets with all the shops open. Hmmm, wonder who didn't get the memo!!

It was early but we hadn't eaten since breakfast so we splurged on the Lobster Experience which you can see in the pictures. It was deliscious. Dinner topped off by blueberry pie with whipped cream was just what we needed for an almost perfect day. (remember all those other tourists!) Bar Harbor pretty much closes down when the cruise ships stop coming in early November. Most of the ships are out of NewYork and Boston headed for Montreal and the fall colors.

We paid our dues in the tourist shops and then headed back to Bangor. It was dark and we kept noticing flashes of light in the sky. Quite a lightning storm (we think it would be called sheet lightning) and then a short little shower. By the time we arrived in Bangor it was smelling fresh and our trusty steed, The Green Avalon, was looking much shinier.

We're off down the coast tomorrow stopping in Rockland to see some Wyeth family paintings, Boothbay Harbor for lobster rolls, and staying in Freeport tomorrow night. Since LL Bean Co. is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year it won't matter how late we get to town. There will still be time for shopping!!!! Hope we don't get rained on! We have come to expect pretty much perfect weather.

Love, The Gotta Go Girls

The Way We Were Meant to Live

Not many pictures but what we have are the best!!!

Top left--the back of house at Shelburn Farms built by one of the Vanderbilt daughters and her husband Dr. Webb

Top right--The Gotta Go Girls with Lake Champlain in the background

Bottom left--Gerry and Lee in the adirondak chairs looking out over Lake Champlain at the Adirondak Mountains!

Bottom Right--the newly mown fields in the "front yard"

Not much to report tonight but more of the same gorgeous area! We did a couple of errands this morning and then went to breakfast at Shelburne Farms which today is a working farm but no longer owned by the Vanderbilt descendants. In fact most of that money is long gone. But the house and barns have been restored and it is on the National Registry of Historical Sites. The home is gorgeous and is now an inn. We went for breakfast which was ok but the setting was one of the most beautiful we have ever been in. After our meal we wandered around the grounds which overlook Lake Champlain. Our favorite moment was when Judi took our picture sitting in the adirondak chairs looking across the lake at the mountains which are the Adirondaks.

Could have sat there all day but it was time to get on down the road. The drive through Vermont south to Concord, New Hampshire was beautiful, or so they tell me. I made them promise to wake me up when we crossed the state line and they did and I promptly went back to sleep. The green Avalon is like a gentle cradle in the back seat! They also swear they saw a couple of signs that said "Bear Crossing" but I can't vouch for that. I better stay awake tomorrow!

We are heading for Northern NH tomorrow after a stop at Cantebury Center which is the site of a Shaker community. Should be interesting and then on to Maine. Talked to Susan Hall Weedon tonight and will see her in Wellsley/Boston on Friday. We have been on the road a month tomorrow! Can't believe it!

Love, The Gotta Go Girls

Picture Perfect Vermont

Will be downloading pictures all night!!!

From the bottom up which is sort of chronological:

1. Judi at a Bennington covered bridge.

2. Hand vases at the Bennington Museum

3. Glassware, pressed and cut

4. Antique Bennington Pottery

5. Fall color just beginning

6. Vermont Country Store! What a kick!

7. Manchester Vermont marble sidewalks

8. Bennington Old First Church

9. Quilt Lady Jane (?) pattern

10. Jerry Seinfeld's e-bay collection

11. Vermont Governor's e-bay collection

12. Gerry-Carousel self-portrait

13. Judi and Lee--Ride 'em cowboy!

14. Early 1900's carousel

15. Chandelier made of pingpong balls

16. New quilts made by Vermont quilters

17. Quilter Rosie Lee Tompkins

18. Close-up Amish hand quilting

19. Gerry and some Amish quilts

20. The Ticonderoga

21. The Lighthouse

22. Columbus (A circus parade figure) hitting Gerry on the head

23. 19th century whirligig

24. Grandma Moses painting

25. Shaker inspired dairy barn for 60 cows

26. Glass canes (Go figure!)

27. Lila Vanderbilt Webb and her son

28. Shaker boxes

29. Shaker chairs

30. Shaker furniture exhibit

Well, now that you have gone to sleep looking at pictures from our trip...... Choosing just 30 images from the last 2 days has taken me a couple of hours!!!! We have seen sooooooo much it is hard to pick and choose what to share. Truly one of those "You had to be there " moments.

The highlights of the last couple of days...We left Schnectady very early as we knew we had a long day planned. Little did we know how long! The drive into Vermont was brief but we made a couple of stops and finally arrived at the Bennington Museum with its wonderful collection of Grandma Moses pictures. As well as the Grandma Moses exhibit there was the Bennington flag which flew to commemorate the Revolutionary Battle of Bennington, wonderful exhibits of pressed glass, antique pottery which the area was famous for, a beautiful 1800 pieced and appliqued quilt, the author of the quilt book giving a three day class on making this gorgeous quilt, farm implements, furniture, and all the other wonderful old stuff we love.

After visiting the beautiful Old First Church where they were getting ready for a wedding, we drove around and found three covered bridges that are still very much a part of the road system today. Headed out of town for Weston and the Vermont Country Store. It was a beautiful drive through the Green Mountains and what a shopping experience! Walnettos, toys I haven't seen in years, long underwear, Evening in Paris perfume, etc, etc, etc! I hadn't seen the catalog but it is a favorite of Lee and Judi.

Tore ourselves away from there and headed north to Burlington. Glad we had a reservation or we might have been sleeping in the car. There was a big roadster car show going on and the place was jumping! We fell in to bed! We had decided that we would stay another night in Burlington so were a bit liesurely this morning.

Today we arrived at opening time for the Shelburne Museum. It was an awesome place and I would refer you to www.shelburnefarms .org for the quilts, buildings, artifacts, food, early American art, weather vanes, it was endless!!!! We planned to stay 4 hours and it ended up 6!

Which brings up another issue. This is fun communicating with everyone every night but it is getting to be too big a job! Will have to skip a night here and there so don't think we have plunged off the road into a ravine or been kidnapped by aliens.

Tomorrow we aren't leaving until we have had breakfast at Shelburne Farm overlooking Lake Champlaine . It is an old estate and very elegant. Will have to get out something sort of nice to wear! On to laundry, packing, route choosing, oh and don't forget sleeping!!!!!

Nighty night from the Gotta Go Girls