Summer 2014

The highlight of the summer was our second family reunion at Solveig's Orchard in Sister Bay Wisconsin owned by my in-laws Bob and Sarah Larsen.  This year we occupied all five cotttages and in addition my granddaughter Katherine and I stayed in "the big house".  The large property is ideal for young children to explore.  Green Bay beaches are a few blocks away.  Some of the adults did Kite board sailing on the Lake Michigan shore.  Potluck meals, evening campfires, face painting, and just relaxing were appreciated by all 20 of us.  Coming from as far away as Hawaii, New York, and Colorado as well as Wisconsin and Illinois, the children meshed remarkably well.  Below is the kid bunch ranging in age 3 months to 8 years!

Lost Year

What happened to the Old Lady on the Road?  Did she stop travelling?  Heaven forbid! She kept writing the blog in her head but didn't seem to get anything entered into the website.  Perhaps it was all the diversions that living in Chicago presented with a life full of culture as being part of the Saints ushering group provided.  Being vice president of our new residents association as well as running a computer support group added to the distractions in 2014.  Then Google changed its Blog format and the computer caught the "blue screen of death" to add to the frustration of getting further behind!

A quick review of 2014 which began with the Rose Parade in Pasadena California.  I joined my Roadtrek friend Susan who had driven from Florida to be part of a Fantasy RV tour "6 Day Rose Parade Rally"". A huge tent was our gathering area where we also were served meals.  The tour included working on a float, visiting floats under construction (hard to believe they would be ready in time) attending a performance of parade bands as well as other local sites.  We camped in a parking lot next to the Santa Anita Race Track and could observe the horses training and had one day at the races where I actually won some money.  If I hadn't been so cautious in my bet, it would have been a lot more.  A fantastic start to 2015 and one of my best birthday celebrations

Final Miles

The trip west to Illinois went surprisingly well. Even before leaving home I debated the route I would take back. Preferring not to backtrack, my preference was to go a more southern route from Cape Cod, though my concern was traffic around Connecticut and New York. It proved unfounded and I found myself in good time crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York, going across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania stopping shortly after 5 at a Comfort Inn Suites which was also nicer than expected and very reasonable in cost. I saw a Panera within walking distance though not a very pedestrian friendly route. The hotel is adjacent to a center with among other stores, Walmart and Lowe’s. So across their parking lots, down an embankment, across a street and up a hill to the outlot stores to get dinner. It was a good meal and fortunately a safe walk back in the twilight. The next night was Exit 34 in Ohio. I had traffic gridlock several times with an unbelievable number of trucks. Not many food options and none within walking so I tried Pizza Hut. Wednesday I gained an hour of time and used it to watch a locking procedure on the Illinois River with upbound and downbound barges. This was near my destination of Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois where I was to meet Roadtrek friend, Susan, who would stay in the campground while I was in the 1930’s section of the lodge. We had a great visit sitting outside her Trek before goingover to the lodge for dinner. Finally on Thursday I headed into Chicago area, stopping at friend Ginny’s to catch up on each other’s travels before finally arriving home about 3 p.m. I feel blessed with the opportunity to again have had a safe and most enjoyable trip. It whets my appetite for more! Here are photos though not sure it will be in order. Hiking with sister Karen NH, Lobster ME, Ferry to Vineyard, Painted Ladies Oak Bluff on Vineyard, Lunch stop Dennis MA , Beach Art and Life Station Race Point, Cape Cod, Biking Nantucket

Nantucket Cycling

The last two days on the island of Nantucket have been full and vigorous Saturday we headed out shortly after breakfast on our bicycles taking the Cliff road bike route which began close to our B and B. we were told this route was hilly but we found it quite doable. Winds were light and the bike path protected from vehicular traffic was closer to town than indicated by our map. We went past houses and hiking areas. The path met the Madeket road path which led us to the beach. THis area was to be the site of one of the many weddings on the island this weekend. Reports of the numbers of weddings were from 12 to 60 depending on who was speaking. We toured the beach area before going to a local eatery Millie's which had been recommended. We were not very hungry but shared a delicious scrambled egg burrito and the best sticky bun I'd ever had. A local Nantucket cranberry juice added to the tasty meal. Soon after we headed back to town staying on the Madaket Path until reaching cobblestone streets. From there we mostly walked the bikes back to the B and B. our ride was about 13 miles. After parking the pikes and changing clothes we headed into town to catch the historical society house tour that left from the Whaling Museum at 2:15. Our knowledgable guide provided us with information on a number of the buildings and toured us through 3 very interesting ones from 3 periods of Nantucket's history. The guide recommended the book "in the heart of thE sea" which we both purchased from a local bookstore. Some other shopping proceeded a fantastic salmon dinner at the Center St. bistro. From there we headed to the Anteneum for a free concert. It was a very local event featuring a girls band as the opener and an acoustic group Woodford Line joined by a great guitarist Dennis Fancher. Sunday our ride was along the Milestone ride bike path to the sivas onset beach area known for the Rose covered cottages and the Sankaty lighthouse. Our ride was about 20 miles and I only had a problem with one hill and that was partly due to increased wind on the return trip. I took lots of photos. Judys camera has stopped working and my IPhone is our only documentation. We had wonderful sandwiches at a small eatery after visiting the lighthouse. The return ride seemed shorter despite the wind. We toured the marina area on our return. Very few boats were at the docks or on the moorings. It was quite different 18 years ago when we moored there on Partnership. Some final shopping followed by a concert of Italian music at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House by a wonderful trio and singer John Murrell. Our dinner at the Easy St Cafe was very good. The town is very quiet on Sunday with many having left and restaurants closed. We felt sad to have it end for us too as we'll be off on the early ferry in the morning. It has really been a fantastic opportunity.

Nantucket

Waking To the sound of rain Friday, we packed up the cars with bikes and gear and drove through the rain to the ferry terminal in Hyannis. Our parking fees and boat reservations for us and our bicycles were prepaid but we were faced with a street full of parking attendants urging us into their lots. Fortunately we reconnoitered and found the correct and paid for lot and then unloaded bikes,Panniers and backpacks which we walked to the terminal through the ever enlarging puddles. It was a soggy start to our next Adventure on the Island of Nantucket. The crew quickly took our bikes aboard and we settled in to seats on the lower deck for the 2 hour ride. As we departed I tried to identify the Kennedy compound which we had photographed when we came into the harbor onPartnership 18 years ago. The ferry ride was fairly smooth and on time. After retrieving our bikes we walked them along cobblestone and brick streets to our B and B on N. Water. There was a bike rack and we were able to unload everything and leave in the lobby since we were 3 hours before check in. Back a few blocks to the Whaling museum where we had a wonderful tour of the galleries by an English woman who had lived on Nantucket since the 50's. the museum is much larger due to an expansion completed in 2005 and brought about when a sperm whale beached itself on Nantucket and died at the end of 1998. The skeleton is the focus of the main gallery with the room designed to allow its display from the ceiling in the position of "sounding" (going into a dive to the deep". Following a quick chowder lunch at Book of Thieves we were back in time for documentary "Nantucket" done by Ron Burns. Whaling was what put Nantucket on the map long before the revolutionary war until the Civil War. Our final event at the museum was a multi media presentation of the life on a whaling ship again very well led by a docent. This museum is well worth the price of admission and I am so happy we had the time to take advantage of the programs. We headed back to the Carlisle Inn where we have two very small rooms in what was once a ship captains home. For Nantucket the cost is reasonable. We had seen a tent theater near by and decided to attend the performance of "Boston Marriage" by David Mamet. A turn of the century setting with 3 women in amusing almost Shakespearian dialogue. Our dinner was at Queequegs outside area. our young waiter went over the bike map with us giving us ideas for our Saturday ride. He cautioned us about the drivers on the island (they don't think about bikes. Stop at every intersection, watch drIve ways). Judy had roasted mussels which she shared Yum! And short ribs and I had Osso Bucco which was good but not up to Ike's. After the play we had room for "kiddie" portions of ice cream. mine was very flavorful pumpkin spice which seemed fitting for the season

ORVing

At the beginning of our Cape Cod visit, our hosts , Jerry and Sue suggested riding in the sand with the air out of the tires. Judy and I pictured that as taking our bikes with flat tires through the sand and were not very enthusiastic. Toward the end of our stay, the idea came up again but this time we all realized there had been mis communication. It was the truck that we would be in with the tires down to 11 psi and they had a special permit ORV for off roading in the sand dunes in the Provincetown area. It was a beautiful though windy day as we drove over and through the huge dune area until selecting a waterfront site for a picnic behind our windscreen. It was an area that would be difficult to access in any other way so we had it mostly to our selves for beach combing. Later we drove through parts of Provincetown where the crowds of people seemed overwhelming after the tranquility of the beach. My last visit July 4,1995 was a fond memory but it was difficult to find familiar landmarks on this trip. For our last night we ate at a South African restaurant in Eastham Karoo. We had a delicious meal,mine a Malay Shrimp stew made with coconut milk! We had a wonderful visit with exercise, good food, and particularly renewing friendships.

Chatham Cycling

On Wednesday we headed of with our bikes in Jerry's truck to the bike trail section in the Chatham area. We rode through beautiful Cape Cod cottages some of which might be better referred to as mansions. Our path led us along beaches and harbors. I struggled again with the hills which were not exceptional but I ran out of breath 3/4 of the way up on a couple of them. Later in the day Jerry made some adjustments to my bike which hopefully will improve my shifting into lower gears. After the ride, we drove to Sesuite Harbor with an outdoor cafe along the water where I had the most spectacular lobster roll ever! It has set a high benchmark for the future. The setting was idealic with a breeze blowing the umbrellas over the picnic tables. We then did a driving tour of other areas reinforcing again had beautiful the Cape is with its Ponds, sandy beaches and marshes. We ended the day walking to a nearby beach for Sunset.