Coos Canyon Campround, Bryon, Maine

 The whole reason for making this trip was to attend a family reunion in Byron at the home of David's, niece's son Craig. Usually when in the area we stay ay Cupsuptic Campground in Oquossoc about 35 miles away. This trip they were completely booked for the whole summer and there were no other options, but Coos Canyon. The campground, as we found out, is split into 2 sections, the upper and lower. The upper is on the same side of the road next to Coos Canyon and the Swift River. The lower is across and down the road a block or so. The site itself was very rustic with just enough room to back in our MH and park the car in front. It had a nice sitting area near the river with a large fire pit, and picnic table.

We did enjoy sitting out (except for the mosquitos) with the kitties. 

David's son Greg came up from Atlanta and stayed with us in the MH. It was a nice time except for having to drive to Rumford to have cell phone and internet access. We had some nice breakfasts in the mornings.

The family reunion was on Sunday and the turnout was much more than expected. David saw his sister of course, his friend Norman that he went high school with. His cousin Tish was there, his BIL's brother and sister, Roland, and Mary. His nephews David and Danny that live in California and Indiana. Some of their children. His great niece and her 3 kids. His children, Alan, Greg, Glynda and Ryan and their spouses and kids. They were also relatives and friends of his great nephew since they were also having a gender reveal for their first baby (a boy). There were so many we didn't meet all of them. Julie should be sending a picture of the Surette clan in one picture.

                                                                                Glynda

                             Ryan and his 2 kids, Emma and Trevor first time eating Maine red hotdogs.

Mark, Michelle, Mary Roland and other paying a card game call SKAT. Michelle (David's niece) had no idea how to play and no money to bet with. She said, "watch this, I'm going to see how long it takes for them to kick me out of the game". She went over and said, "I want to play". Mary, (her 85 yr old) great Aunt in blue said. "Do you know how to play?". Michelle" No, and I don't have any money". Her BIL Mark, "said I'll give you the money". They let her play. Michelle was laughing the whole time. Mary couldn't recognize who anyone was, but she remembered how to play SKAT and you could hear her booming voice above everyone. She hasn't changed in years. She was a champion cornhole player and once started a food fight in a restaurant when Glynda threw a dinner roll at her. She is a riot.

This is Donna riding by with her dog Finnegan, She's the one having a baby and she is super nice as well as her husband Craig. They have an absolutely gorgeous house and property along the Swift River.

 It was just amazing how all the kids got along, even though they didn't know each other.

They spent a great time down on the river swimming and playing. They had a terrific time.

It was a perfect family reunion. Glyda, Michelle and Julie organized it and Craig hosted it on his big, beautiful property.

North Hampton, NH

 We headed out of the Newburgh, NY campground for New Hampshire. We had about 260 miles to travel so we thought we would get gas nearby instead of taking a chance with the high prices in Connecticut. We found an easily accessible gas station a few miles down the road for $5.01/gallon. It was a good thing we weren't on empty. I didn't realize it, but we were very close to West Point and to Hyde Park, NY. Too bad, we didn't have enough time to sight see.

We crossed the Hudson River north of NYC and by Brewster, NY. Every time I think of Brewster, NY, I think of the TV show That Girl. That's where the character Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) was from. Anyway, on thru Connecticut, Massachusetts and into New Hampshire. We were staying at the Sea Coast campground on US1 about 10 miles into New Hampshire. It was also about 10 miles from Maine too.

As soon as we checked in, we looked for a place to eat. It was about 3 in the afternoon, and we had only eaten a donut all day, so we were starving. There was a seafood restaurant just a few minutes away, Al's Seafood, so away we went.

Al's was an odd place. You placed your order at the window and went inside to eat. We both ordered a cup of clam chowder and the fried haddock and fries' basket. It was a smaller portion than the dinner portion, but the meal game to   $47.00 without tip. Thanks Biden. We noticed all of the prices were quite high here. A lobster roll with 6 oz of lobster is $30-$32. Yikes.

                                                 

 

I must say, the food was perfect. Great clam chowder and the fish and fries were excellent.

The campground we were in was very nice. They have a lot of rules, but it's clean and quiet and very comfortable. We sat outside with the kitties for a while and I pushed Finnegan all around the campground. And then Bentley.

                                         It was a pretty campground, with flowers planted all around.

                                   Finny was a little nervous, but he did fine. After he gets back, he lays in the                                                                             doorway looking out at everything like he wanted to come                                                                                           back out again.

                                         The next day was pretty quiet. More kitty strolls around the park, a trip to the grocery for more bottled water for the kitty fountain. We did see a L L Bean Outlet about half a mile away. I have stopped ordering from LL Bean due to their support for BLM, but I did check out the outlet store and found some of the flip flops I wear all the time. I wear them summer, winter, spring and fall. They have very thick foam support and keep my foot and ankle from hurting when I am standing all day. I broke my foot and ankle about 17 years ago and re-injured it Jan 21, so I need something comfortable to stand on.

                                                        

The next day we went to Kittery, Maine to the outlet malls, over the old draw bridge. We only bought 2 T shirts. Again, it was about 2:30 and we hadn't eaten so we had lunch at the Weathervane Restaurant. We ate there when Ryan was little, so that's how long it's been since we were in this area. 

David ordered a cup of clam chowder, and the Admiral platter and I ordered clam strips and small, sweet Maine shrimp. I had a few bites of his clam chowder. It was excellent and the food was too.

Definitely a great place to get good seafood.

Can you say-----a lot of food? This was my clam strips, shrimp and fries. 

The next day, I did some laundry. I couldn't believe the amount for the wash at the campground. $3,50 to wash 1 load and $2.00 to dry. Thank goodness I only had 2 loads. Just sheets and towels.

I noticed a fabric and yarn shop just a few blocks from the campground. David opted to stay home while I went to the shop. It was a very small shop, and they didn't have a lot of fabrics, but what they had was very nice and things you don't usually see in every quilt ship. They also had some nice clothinf fabrics and they were a Bernina dealer. I found a few fat quarters of peach to go with my other peaches and a gorgeous new fabric that had just come in with teal, orange, and peach flowers. I also needed a new knitting needle, a 40-inch size 6. The one I am using is horrible. Luckily, they had one that had just come in. 

Went back to the campground and we cleaned out David's car, put the clean sheets on the bed and relaxed. About 4pm, I wanted ice cream, so we took a ride over to the beach on A1A for ice cream along the boardwalk. Wow, you see everything there. It looked pretty seedy, but the beach was beautiful.

  

On the way home we drove along the coast and the lovely mansions and houses overlooking the water. Some looked very historic.

It was such a beautiful drive, but a little difficult to take pictures while we were moving.

Later, we went to a nearby wood fired oven pizza place for dinner. The pizza was good, but not great.

Tomorrow, we are headed to Coos Canyon Campground in Byron, Maine.

In New York

Out last night in New Holland campground, a stray (we think) kitty came up to our MH. He/she was so cute and of course David fed him/her. So, the next morning he/she was back looking for breakfast, so breakfast it was. He/she didn't want us to touch him/her but did come right up the steps to the MH. 

We decided to drive the NH and car separately to Shady Maple to hook up the car. They have a huge parking lot and plenty of room. While we were there we decided to go shopping before hitting the road. We hadn't eaten, so we bought something for breakfast and a Zook's Chicken Pot Pie for dinner. They had a new little coffee window on the outside of Shady Maple that sold Twin Valley Coffee and lots of flavors and varieties, like a Starbucks. There were about 5 teenage girls in line for lattes all sporting chemistry caffeine design tattoos. They were so proud of them. Wait until they are 70 still looking at those awful tattoos. They are going to wonder, "What was I thinking?" Coffee in hand, David and I hit the road for New York.

 I just love the fields of corn here. In another month the corn will be quite tall. They recycle their own manure at these Amish farms, so there's no reason to purchase fertilizer.

  Nickie usually rides at my feet on the passenger side but decided today he wanted some lap time with Daddy.

 We have only stayed in the State of NY once before and that was in Niagra Falls. This time we are staying outside Newburg, NY. Whenever we travel to Maine, we always cross the Hudson in Newburg to avoid NYC. There is NO WAY we are driving a motorhome, towing a car, thru NYC. Newburg is north and a bit out of our way, but worth it.

 This campground is very woodsy and nice. It is pretty busy since school is out and there are lots of families camping.

                                                      This is the long, long road into the campground. It's beautiful here.

                                                       The road our campsite in on. Very nice.

                                               We had a nice pull-thru campsite. No need to unhook the car.

Well, I guess if you're a campground in NY you need a giant-sized Statue of Liberty outside the office--just so you know where you are.

Lots of things for kids to do here. I'm not so sure about the algae floating on the top of the ponds though.

 I took a little walk around the campground before going back to let Bentey sit outside for a few minutes. He loves sitting outside in his stroller. 

                                       

                                           Next, we head for New Hampshire, near the coast.

Wonderful Weekend With Friends

On Saturday, our longtime friends Madonna and Jim made a 2.5 hr. drive up from Rockville, MD to visit with us. We rarely get to see them, but they try to come here when we are in town to catch up on things and for Madonna to do some shopping in the area. I'm sure Jim was tired, as he just got back from NC after moving his 97 yr. old mother into an Assisted Living facility. That's a major undertaking right there.

Madonna and I met in the 1980s-1990s when we both worked for Salick Health Care. I was in West Palm Beach at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at JFK, first as a Certified Medical Dosimetrist and then as the Admirative Director of the Cancer Center. Madonna lived in Miami and was the Chief Dietician for Salick Health Care, South Florida Division. She over saw the other Dieticians at the various Salick Cancer Centers and would come to ours to meet with our Dietician Lesley). We met and discovered that we both liked to knit, and I think were the only ones we knew that liked to knit and we have had a lifelong friendship ever since. We have gone to knitting conventions together and I have visited her in Rockville. She retired from Health care after she and Jim moved to PA and then to MD. Jim works for the US Dept of Education in as an IT Specialist and since they have no children, they travel often. It's always fun to catch up on what they are doing and where they are going next. They just got home from Scotland where they took a trip on the Royal Scotsman Train. Next, they will be going to an Estate outside London for a wedding. Madonna has always been very active since she moved to Rockville. She was a docent at Washington Cathedral, at the Library of Congress, a volunteer at the White House (during Obama and Trump Administrations) and now volunteers with the Smithsonian. She stays plenty busy.

She came up to visit and we visited in the motorhome for a while. I put the cats away in the bedroom because Madonna is allergic and at least 2 of ours would be all over her. Then we went to lunch at the New Holland Family Restaurant. I can't believe I didn't get a bunch of pictures of our day. The lunch was good, and their menu was huge. It was definitely a local restaurant and away from the tourist area. We had a great time catching up. Next, we went to Burkholder fabric in Denver, PA. It's a great fabric shop and we both bought something there. After that we headed for Zincks Outlet. I had discovered it the other day and wanted to bring Madonna there, since I didn't think she knew about it. She was absolutely blown away. She bought several fabrics for some charity bears she will be making. The prices there were incredible and there was room after room after room of all kinds of fabrics.

After that we went back to the campground and said our goodbyes.

 What a wonderful time. They both love this area too.

Sunday was a quiet day in New Holland. The stores and restaurants are closed here and in the surrounding Amish communities. We had a nice breakfast that David cooked on the Blackstone.

We sat outside with Bentley since the weather was perfect and enjoyed the day. There were squirrels and chipmunks to entertain us.

We also went to the laundry room and did some laundry. At 5pm we decided to go to Ronks for dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. That area has an outlet mail and chain restaurants and those are always open on Sunday due to the tourists over there.

Sunday is the day the Amish go to church. They don't have a church building, but each family takes turns hosting church at their house. They also spend the day socializing with each other. There were tons of buggies on the road today. We passed several areas where you could see groups of Amish in the yards having their get together or playing ball. Also, couples of teenagers on buggy rides together courting.

                                                        Our windshield was obviously very dirty.

        It was so cute to see the little kids hanging out of the back of the buggies.

I was trying to take pictures of the beautiful farms on the way back to the campground and these 2 little boys were having a great time riding skateboards down the side of the road.

Back at the campground, we sat out with the boys. Bentley in the stroller, Finny in his bag and Nickie in my lap. They all enjoyed it.

When we put them inside, they all stayed on the steps, looking out to watch us while we packed up the stroller and chairs. We are leaving Monday for Newburg, NY for 1 night.

This is a beautiful campground and area. We wish we were staying longer.