Southbound

We left NYC and spent the night in a lovely Sam’s Club parking lot (landscaped just for us, complete with picnic table).  We’ve decided Sam’s is the best (free) overnight, since they’re not open all night and tend to be somewhat removed from night traffic and activity.
Stephen and Pam (m/v Tide’s In) were in Washington, DC, so we stopped by for a quick visit.  We hadn’t seen them since we returned from the Bahamas in June, so it was fun to catch up and enjoy an evening on Tide’s In.  It was originally billed as happy hour, but as usual we turned it into happy hourS.  But what fun!  We didn’t tour Washington since we’d been there just a couple of years before (and our feet were still sore from stomping all over NYC).

Pam was so excited to see us that she squeezed Stephen's head

We left DC and traveled to Hampton, VA because Bob and Stephanie (m/v September Song) and Joe and Julia (m/v Sea Pearl) were there.  we were able to stay in the Enterprise parking lot near the docks (it’s hard to dock a Tioga), so we were near the boats and able to play.  We hadn’t seen those kids since spring when we left the Bahamas.

Bob about to cry because he's seeing Jay after all this time.....drove Steph to drink

those kids!

our marina slip

been a long time!

Nice visit!  Time to go further south.  Rusty and Nancy were in New Bern, NC, having spent time there after returning from the Bahamas.  They were there for hurricane Irene, but thankfully had no damage.  We parked in yet another parking lot beside a marina and enjoyed a visit and dinner on Summer Wind then a quick tour and lunch in New Bern the following day.

New Bern ahead

so that's where they've been!!

Monday we bade Rusty and Nancy farewell and traveled to Seabrook Island, SC to visit Jeff and Dot, long-time friends from both work and play.  Even though their neighborhood is gated and highly restricted, we were able to park the RV right in their driveway (don’t even ask about the looks we got from passersby).  We enjoyed dinner at their home and took a tour of the newly renovated (with Jeff at the helm) club facilities.

beautiful Ravenell Bridge in Charleston

idyllic back yard in Sea Brook

Jeff and Dot

We left Seabrook and headed for home.  We’d had such a great time seeing new places and old friends, lots of memories and photos, but Tennessee looked pretty good too!!

we're back!

Start spreading the news…

New York!  Other than a quick drive-by years ago, this was our first visit to one of the most exciting cities in the US.  We stayed at Liberty Landing in New Jersey and rode the metro everywhere from there.  The RV park was unusual, being mostly a paved lot with electrical towers and a teeny section for “camping” (a 50x50’ walled section with tiny plots of grass outlined with sidewalks…not exactly back to nature).  But it was very convenient to the public transportation and all we needed was a place to crawl exhaustedly up the two steps of the RV to sleep before walking another 50 miles the next day.

that puppy in front looks just a bit different from the rest...

he's a foster pig!

ah, the big city

these people were obviously captured and forced into the public eye

where did all these PEOPLE come from???

no time to shop

Central Park dude

site of John Lennon's demise

memorial in Central Park

just as we arrived at this carousel, Rocky Top started to play!!

Grand Central Station

this street is named after our granddaughter

this is a big screen, and we're totally touristy in the middle left (Jay with camera and me waving)

We called Joe (m/v Sea Pearl) for advice on sightseeing in NYC, since he spent many years there in law enforcement and security.  He passed on good advice for must-sees (and good vantage points from which to see them) and also gave us the name of a local friend who could advise us.  Oddly, both men always mentioned “and a place to have a cocktail” in every suggested venue.  Even though it’s impossible to see and do everything, we sure gave it a try!  Since we were in NYC in September of 2011, the tenth anniversary of the Twin Tower tragedy, security was very tight, with about 1 police officer for every 5 tourists near the memorial.  There was also a UN meeting taking place in town, so security was tight there as well.

9/11 memorial wall

interesting ceiling in our viewing spot of the 9/11 memorial

One of the must-see stops for us was Ellis Island (sadly it was too overcast to climb the Statue of Liberty so we’ll save it for another trip).  We were amazed at the size of the Island and the compound.  We learned a lot and were very moved after touring the compound and viewing the pictorial and documentary history of the massive undertaking of receiving so many thousands of refugees into the US.

well-maintained and very informative

they must be related

Lady Liberty

approaching Ellis Island on the ferry

oh so touristy on the ferry

As we meandered through the city, we were approached by a young woman who worked for the David Letterman Show.  She asked if we’d be interested in attending a taping and of course we answered in the affirmative.  Even with the reservations, attendance meant standing in line to pick up passes for the taping, then standing in line to gain entrance to the Ed Sullivan Studio.  Took up most of the afternoon, but the chances of us being on another TV show are fairly slim so we were thrilled and had a great time.  We weren’t invited to come on stage (we don’t know why either) but Jack Hanna was one of the interviewees, so at least Tennessee was represented.    No photos were allowed inside the studio, so you’ll just have to take our word for it.  There were “fluffers” in the lobby prior to the show, warming up the crowd and leading pep rallies so the audience would be jovial and receptive during the taping.  There was also a warm-up comedian immediately before taping, and the fluffers danced and clapped around in front of each audience section.  We were warned that if we weren’t a good audience, the show wouldn’t be televised and another (happier, nicer) one would air instead.  We obviously behaved, because we were able to see ourselves on the show that evening (for about 1 second, by sitting 2” in front of the screen as the audience was panned before and during the show).

they forgot to put MY name on there!

interesting picture in the lounge as we wait for the TV airing

After the show, we went to the top of the Marriott in Times Square for drinks and snacks in a rotating lounge so we could get a birds-eye view of the city on our last evening.  Unfortunately, there had been quite a bit of construction since the lounge was built, so we had the disadvantage of some a/c units, upper floors, and an overcast evening, but it was still a great view most of the time.  We ordered our drinks and the Captain saw a table with cheese, crackers, and desserts.  It was time for a snack, so he filled a plate for the table.  If you know him at all, you’ll know how his face looked when the waitress arrived with the bill for the four crackers and four pieces of cheese……$30.  Turns out they weren’t complimentary to supplement the $15 drinks!  What a great laugh for our last night (well, one of us laughed)!  Toto obviously wasn’t in Kansas!!

this is what happens to your face when you find out what that bite will cost

Just the two of us

We had a great time traveling and visiting with friends, and it seems quiet to be back down to just the two of us.  But still so much exciting stuff to do and see!
 
We (well, at least one of us) wanted to see the sights in Salem, specifically the witch museum, but the traffic and parking were prohibitive since we were in the RV.  Walking distances isn’t a problem (we’re used to that after living on the boat for so many years), but the weather was also horrible.  Soooooo, a good excuse to go back another time.

We drove through Portsmouth to check out the harbor, then continued to Newport.  We met Donn and Debbie (s/v Dawn Weathers) on our first trip in 2005, and have stayed in touch for years.  When Debbie noticed on facebook that we were heading to the upper right hand corner of the States, she sent a message inviting us to visit them.  Yay!  They live in Newport, and that was one of the places we were anxious to see.  They had to work the first morning we were there, so we went sightseeing along the Belleview millionaire’s row and did the cliff walk (in the drizzly rain) after visiting the harbors and exclaiming over the large and numerous vessels.   When Donn and Debbie finished work, we got directions to their gorgeous home and property and pulled the RV right into the driveway (have home will travel).  We were greeted by Jackson, their rescue pup from Tennessee (they have excellent taste in animals and friends), and enjoyed a lovely dinner (outdoors) in the rain at a local restaurant.  We spent the night, and had lunch (and did laundry) before departing for Norwalk, CT.  What a great visit and what fun to catch up with good friends (and Jackson)

gloomy day in Newport harbor

small home on Millionaire's Row

sweet Jackson

breakfast with Donn and Debbie

what a beautiful place!

From sea to shining sea

When we left North Conway, we said goodbye to Bob and JoAnn and traveled to Acadia National Park in Maine for a hike to Hadley's Point, sightseeing, a visit to Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, Bass Light, a drive up Cadillac Mountain and lunch at Thurston’s Lobster Pound before retiring for happy hour in William and Judy’s camper in Camden Hills State Park. 

neighborhood on wheels

the Cannery (smells like cat food here)

a lot of work goes on here!

we've ALL had breakfast with Grumpy!

Bob dreaming ...

oh yum

a bit chilly up here

but you can't beat the view

the washing machine

Mayberry bar and grill

Sadly, the Hunts headed south the next day, so we consoled ourselves by wandering around Bar Harbor (Bah Hahbah) admiring the town, the piers, the boats, the businesses, and the general campiness of the coastal town.

the boy does love mussels

After lobster lunches (mussels for Jay), the girls shopped while the guys pub-hopped searching for a place to watch the UT-FL game.  It appears the folks in Maine don't give a rat's behind about football, especially TN and FL, but they did find a sports bar with the game on.  Within seconds of the girls' arrival, the cable channel died....what to do?  Another couple in the bar (decked out in FL game gear) and the four of us were sad, but the owner of the restaurant/sports bar invited us upstairs to his office/great room to watch the game (he was a FL fan).  So, with lots of room, a big-screen view of the game, and pumpkin beers in BIG cups, we watched UT get stomped.  Again.  But it was loads of fun, we made some new best friends, and we loved the hospitality.  Some of these people are almost nice enough to be from Tennessee.

not everyone knew the words to "Rocky Top"

Sunday we drove to the Penobscot Observatory at Fort Knox (which is named after Rusty and Nancy's beautiful Maine Coon cat Penobscot who is now an angel) in Camden Hills State Park.  It was a breathtaking view, and even the floors of the Observatory were glass so you could see the view and the height (420 feet, 42 stories) from every angle (much to Judy's chagrin).

we need big parking lots

Penobscot Bay

long way down

close your eyes, Judy

beautiful view of the village below

On Sunday we drove the 27-mile Park Loop Road in the Acadia National Park, then stopped at Cappy's restaurant in Camden for a brief whistle-wetting session after some sightseeing in town.  There was a Shipyard Brewery distributor there for a promo.  We answered a few trivia questions for t-shirts and coozies (he really had to dumb it down for me, because I'm pretty ignorant of obscure facts about the Civil War....sorry, Lee, I meant the War of Northern Aggression).  He invited us to visit the brewery in Portland when we got there.  We visited the Rockland lighthouse and lunched at Booth Bay Harbor on Monday.  We couldn't get enough of the harbors (and lobster).

holding up yet another wall

trivia time in the pub with the Shipyard rep

Judy has a big tail

walkway to the Rockland lighthouse

ships of all sizes in the bay

the Rockland lighthouse

yard art

Tuesday we went to Portland, where we visited the brewery (of course) and had great chowder (chowdah) at Gilbert's and saw the Headlight. We were staying at Blueberry Pond campground (very remote), and called the ranger to see where we should buy lobster to cook for dinner (and also where to buy a pot large enough to steam it).  He suggested a market for the lobster, but said we didn't need a pot because the campground provided that (we were in Maine after all).  So we browsed through the huge L.L. Bean complex in Freeport before heading back for lobster. Not only did he have the pot, he set up the cooker and did the cooking!  YUM will we ever miss having lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

the brewery outside

the brewery inside

our friendly rep serving samples

the Headlight - gorgeous structure

 need just one size smaller

the BFI (no, no, it stands for FREEPORT)

what an accommodating guy

oh yes, oh yes

piggin out in the RV

the closest I got to seeing a moose

Wednesday we visited the Eastern Point Light and Ten Mile Island Light, as well as the Gloucester House before saying goodbye to William and Judy, who were heading to Cape Cod.  Gloucester has the famous statue of the seaman at the wheel, plaques memorializing those who perished at sea, and a very moving tribute and poem.  The movie Perfect Storm depicts events that occurred off the coast of Gloucester.

where are we?

don't forget to put the Captain in the trunk