September 17-20 Narragansett, Rhode Island

September 17-20, 2017

The trip actually took an even 3 hours via I-95 with noticeably more traffic heading north. A passing vehicle along the way was a treat.

Saw its approach in my side view mirror. Picked up the
camera, pointed it out the side window and shot
without looking.

Off it went into the distance...and I was going at 70 mph!

As mentioned on my FB page, this campground really WOWed me.  I was favorably impressed and look forward to returning for a longer stay. Registration at the front office was handled by two ladies and went smoothly and with smiles. There were many in line in the small cramped office but I was on my way in no time. My site #52 at the end of the row was  blacktopped, level and spacious. A check of my levels required no back and forth search; once parked, I was level. Many sites have trees/shade from old trees, mine did not. As it turns out, none is needed as the skies there were cloudless, sunny and 80° when I arrived to set up then shortly thereafter turned overcast and chilly. 

The utility stanchion was a modern combination of 20/30/50 amp service each with their own circuit breaker on another part of the panel. This State park was well planned, laid out and neatly maintained. I'm close enough to Galilee Escape Road to hear traffic but it quickly goes unnoticed. With the camping fee at $38.00/night, it's no wonder many RVers choose the State Parks as their preferred destinations when traveling. 

The purpose and highlight of this stopover on my final trip home was to see granddaughter, Sara, who's working on her Master's at URI and lives about five minutes away. With only a three day stay and her schedule of work, classes and Papa, getting together will be difficult. We, therefore, will have dinner at Shogun's Sunday night, lunch at Kabuki Monday afternoon and that'll be it.

At Shogun:

Sara...

...and the Old Man

Our treats for this evening.

On our back to the campground, we stopped at Sara's apartment and I got to see Burleigh.

Adorable

Wednesday, Sara had to be at work by 3:00 pm, so we squeezed in lunch beforehand at Kabuki. While I was waiting for her at my campsite I noticed something in the road behind my RV. A closer look showed it to be a caterpillar the size of my pinky finger.

As with a previous video clip, if you cannot make the above video play, then click on this link HERE for the YouTube version I uploaded.  It's the larvae of the Cecropia Moth, the biggest moth in North America.

I took the caterpillar off the road and placed it in a box with some grass and left hoping to study it closer when I returned from lunch. When I returned...gone. It managed to crawl out of the box and continue its journey to pupate and emerge as the beautiful creature above. 

At Kabuki:

Found Kabuki to be more informal, cozy and relaxing

One happy lady; don't know if it's the beer or me.

My appetizer: 2 coconut shrimp. (One went home)

Sushi Pizza sliced and placed upon each other rather than leaving
them in the round.

And the rarely seen (as a house wine), my
favorite, Lindemann's Chardonnay.

Tuesday morning, Sara will join me for breakfast at the campsite before heading out to class and then to work once again. This will be our last get together before I head back to Croton's RV Park to empty the contents of Winnie and winterize.

Some views of the campground. I stood in one spot and turned 360° and snapped my surrounding area:

Meanwhile, back in reality, I see that my Wednesday trip home will be full of fun and excitement. The region's guest, Jose, will attempt to wreak havoc on this usually fortunate area of the northeast in terms of visiting hurricanes that make land fall (5 years since Sandy in October). The coastal regions will experience the worse with high tides, high winds, high surfs, flooding and beach erosion. Wednesday I'll be on I-95 headed for Croton, so that may be a blog unto itself.

This may be my last blog of the current 'travel season' unless Jose gives me something to write about. I still have to arrive at CPP and winterize and I'm planning next year's itinerary, so we shall see.  Thanks for coming along for the ride; it isn't over yet but if it is, I'll see you for the next trip whenever, wherever.

September 16 - Strafford, NH

September 16, 2017

My overnight here at the Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA will be one for the books...or a blog entry. Two different GPSs offered two different routes to get here; the lack of any signage indicating I was nearing a campground didn't help. I finally found the place and was impressed with the layout and the number of folks lakeside enjoying the 80° sunny weather. 

Once on my site and taking a quick look around, I saw most sites were filled; something I'd expect for a weekend. Campers were sitting around their sites in large groups and I knew that these folks were local and frequent visitors here probably booked for the season or at least extended stays. It was like Croton on a larger scale but with an atmosphere that would please my fellow Croton RVers. I'll try to get more photos tomorrow before I leave. There are old-timers in their Class A's and young families in their fifth wheels. You could tell the playground was near by the constant and deafening screams of the kids trying to out-scream each other. Fortunately, that's died down and, in the dark, the common site is the campfire.

Site 8, as you can see from the map above, is a corner site and the people traffic is heavy as are the golf carts, pickups and people walking dogs. Every male who passes is carrying a beer or two. Kids by the dozen are racing on their bikes up and down the hill that is labeled "Campground Road." Older boys are carrying fishing rods as they pass by to go down to the lake. The road is very busy; something I don't get to see very often, if at all. This setting is a "people-watcher's" gold mine and so I, being one, took advantage and set up my laptop on the picnic table outside to finish "My Stay in Maine" blog and get it posted. As usual, folks passing by take a long look at my Winnie and some even commented on "a good looking rig."

As it got darker the people traffic slowed way down and no sooner had I finished and posted, when, in the dark, I heard, "Hello...hello." I saw no one due to the bright LED in my awning and not knowing anyone surely didn't think someone was talking to me. But, that was not the case. Veronica from across the road, in the big Allegro was being careful not to trip over the many exposed roots of the tree at the end of my site. Her left swollen leg was in a soft cast from ankle to knee. Indeed, she was coming to visit me. She introduced herself and admired my RV. She's recently widowed and thinking about downsizing. Well, for the next 45 minutes (yes, I timed it), she was non-stop telling me about her life, kids, grand kids, both husbands, where she lives, how she travels; she one of ten children so I heard about the life and death of each of the parents and all about her siblings. I learned where each of her grandchildren live and go to school, the talents they possess, the accomplishments of those children and their parents from their birth to their current career position. I have never hard anyone squeeze as much information about everyone in one's family as I did in those forty-five minutes. In addition to the family I now know so well, I was told of her group of seasonal friends across the way.  The younger among the group maintain, repair and setup the Class A for 'Ronica." I could go on but you get the idea. No matter. Not only wasn't I going anywhere but I think I fulfilled a need and I'm okay with that.

Sunday I take off for Fisherman's Memorial State Park in Rhode Island for three nights (my next blog) during which time I hope to have granddaughter Sara stop by to pick me up to enjoy sushi together in Narraganset. Here's a 180° look at the lake as I left:

Notice the lush greenery that was is beginning to turn.

Winnie ready to rock and roll for the three hour trip to RI

September 11-16 Belfast Maine

September 10 - 2017

As a stopping off spot for an overnight, this campground fit the bill. This
shot of the surrounding areas shows the tree density that provided ample
shade and that "woodsy" feel.

Fortunately, this time of the year the need for shade wasn't a necessity.

The proximity of the campground to Boston, just 30
miles northwest, is a big plus for the "tourists."

September 11-16, 2017

I left Littleton, MA at 9:30am, stopped for fuel and a 15 minute lunch and
arrived at Moorings Oceanfront campground in Belfast at 1:30 pm so that
wasn't so bad.

They've made many improvements here at the campground like 
adding sites by more efficiently using existing space, leveling
all the sites, providing sewers, 20/30/50 amp service, 
cable TV and free Wi-Fi.

Being here last year and knowing about the pending renovations,
I immediately booked site #1 for this year. That's Penobscot Bay just
over the knoll.

From the new site map, you can see where one of the best seats
in the house are located.

My cousin, John and wife, Barbara, along with their friend Joe, picked me up and we traveled a few miles into Searsport, ME. We dined at The Angler's Seafood Restaurant.  Click on the link and read their extensive menu. You don't leave hungry from this place. I had the haddock dinner and most of it is in my frig to be enjoyed during the week.

I thought the 3-day stay at the Catskill Adventure Resort provided us with great weather...even with the short spell of drizzly rain but yesterday and today have far exceeded the word "perfect" for this location and this time of the year. Cloudless skies, temps steady in mid-seventies during the day and dipping to the upper fifties and forecast to last throughout the week. A very nice way to end my "season." Actually with two stops after leaving here Saturday, I really have ten days remaining. 

I strapped my awning down on both ends anticipating either the sea-breeze (daytime coming in from the bay ) or the land-breeze (nighttime going from land to the bay ) to wreak havoc and damage but so far all is calm including the lake-like calm of the bay.  I've really lucked out this week.

 I've started a new epic fantasy series by Michael J. Sullivan. The first is The Age of Myth and is shaping up to be his usual exciting best. 

More views

Time for a walk. My neighbor and the old timer,
Gus, the dog, cautiously manages the steps...

...and is another example of RVers and their pets. I hope his poop bag
is in his pocket. There is no limit to size or number that travel in
RV's....large or small.

Gus awaits his master as he prepares the stool or the ramp
he needs to climb up into the back of the Jeep with help. I'm told he takes
Gus to the local dog park where he's fearful of the little ones that try to
play with him.

While reading my book, I glanced over to see my neighbor relaxing
with Gus. Couldn't help noticing that the dog's head was about
twice the size of master's. Amazing.

MD and Bob from Vermont enjoying their new 'toy hauler' and deck overlooking
the Bay.

Looking north toward the entrance.

Wednesday night John & Barb stopped by for a stuffed shells dinner with salad, fresh bread I made in a crock pot and fresh peach cobbler Barb made. A pre-dinner Scrabble game and wine saw John (the scorekeeper) beating me by a point...just sayin'.

John's 83 point "heelings" jumped into the lead very early
in the game. I debated whether he should stay for dinner.

Chardonnay for Barb, Cabernet for John and me.

My evening ended with an almost as good as a
"Jack-Campfire;" in the nearby Bay, the sound of a
soft, warning gong of a buoy.

If you can't see the video above, try clicking on my YouTube page HERE

Thursday noon, we enjoyed lunch at the Front Street Pub/Harbour Walk Restaurant, side by side with doorway between offering two different dining atmospheres. Food? Delicious.

Very casual, eh?

Friday evening's dinner was at John & Barb's home in Northport, about 15 minutes away. BBQed beef tips, baked potato, their home grown green beans, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms followed by Barb's home made apple pie and a dollop of coconut vanilla ice cream for dessert.

My last day's breakfast in Belfast put a wonderful finishing touch to my annual visit with my cousin John and Barbara. We visited Hoots in Northport.  Click on the link for the local review including photos of the insides. J&B have been gracious hosts with a thorough knowledge of the area and by providing me transportation to the many terrific restaurants in this area...free of the summer tourists.

Hoots. Despite the heavy fog earlier in the morning, breakfast outside at that table on
the right was very pleasant as the mist gave way to sunshine.

Farewell, Cuz. See you next September.