US Trip Part 7 October 18 - October 26

58 Tuesday October 18
We went to the coast of Maine today and drove along the water and all the little roads and lanes. There were lots of old big houses (mansions). It was a very pretty drive. Highway 1 along the coast for miles is just one big tourist area. We went all the way from Portsmouth, NH to Kennebunk, Maine. Judy and I can’t imagine being here in the summer season with the throngs of tourist. The narrow roads were plenty crowded even now in the middle of the week. The sun was shinning and there was very little wind today. We went back to NH by taking an inland road through Dover, NH. It was also nice to see the more rural aspect.

Day 59 Wednesday October 19
We left our campsite in Epsom and took 28 South to Manchester where we got some diesel. Took I-93 South into Massachusetts. Then we took I-495 South to I-90 a toll road here. Went 27 miles on the toll road to I-84 for a cost of $1.10. We continued on I-84 until about 14 miles from Danbury, CT when the power steering on the motor home went out. Got it to the side of the road ok. Whew. Called state police and insurance tow line. The tow truck was suppose to come in about an hour but did not make it for over two hours and one half hours. The traffic was horrendous and it was raining all day. We were visited three times by state police, once by a local sheriff deputy and once by a highway maintenance man. They all put out flares for us. Very nice of them. The tow truck of course had to be one of the big ones and the guys who came were not friendly. Probably because of multiple phone calls from me and Safeco insurance. They towed us to Danbury to a RV repair place. Being 7 pm they were closed so we spent the night in the parking lot. They have not as yet charged us for taking us more than 5 miles. Judy reminded me while we were waiting that we were safe and all was well.
Drove 201 miles

Day 60 Thursday October 20
We had a good night sleep in the parking lot. At 9 am they came and got the motor home. Judy and I went to find a book store, which we did. Then to McDonalds for lunch and internet. The RV repair place called and said the power steering hydraulic pump was disintegrated inside. Later in the day he showed us the parts. He also said the problem was probably caused by a plugged filter which apparently the place I had taken the motor home to had failed to take care of. Judy and I went to the Hampton Inn to spend the night. We went to a Thai restaurant for dinner.

Day 61 Friday October 21
Well we got up out of our king size bed and went down stairs at the Hampton Inn for breakfast. Checked with the RV place at 10 am and no part. We went to get Judy a hair cut then back to the Inn and checked out. Went to Friendly’s restaurant and had a bite of lunch. The motor home was ready at 2:30 with a big bill. We took off heading West on I-84. The motor home drove very well and I think the steering was going out for quite a while. We got as far a just over the Pennsylvania border and low and behold the city had put up signs at Wal-Mart that they banned overnight camping. Instead we drove to the local information center and spent the night there.
Drove 97 miles.

Day 62 Saturday October 22
We left the Information Center in Port Jarvis, PA and headed West on I-84. At Scranton, took I-81 South to Exit 124 and took hwy 61 South. In Reading, PA took hwy 222 to Lancaster. This is Amish country and boy were we surprised as the place is a zoo with lots of traffic, miles of stores, tourist traps, etc on US 30 and all the streets around. We got to the RV park called Country Acres Campground in spite of the stop and go traffic and managed to get the last space available. The lady told us October is one of the busiest of the year, partially because of the leafs turning color. After setting up the motor home and having lunch we went to three places to look at Amish made quilts. We found a couple we liked and will check them out again on Monday. Not open on Sunday, of course.
Drove 212 miles.


Day 63 Sunday October 23
We went to church this morning. St. Mary’s Catholic church was built in 1741 only a few years after the founding of the city of Lancaster, PA in 1732. It had been refurbished recently but still retained the old character. We stopped at Best Buy on the way back home to buy me a monitor for my computer. The monitor no longer lights up and Best Buy said it would cost up to several hundred dollars to fix. They of course wanted me to buy a new computer. Instead I bought a thin 18.5 inch monitor for $59 plus tax as this model was being discontinued. It is a much nicer screen to watch TV on compared to my old computer screen. Judy and I relaxed the rest of the afternoon. I boxed up some rocks and Judy messed around with her stuff.

Day 64 Monday October 24
We went on a tour of Amish country where the tour guide told us about Amish culture and Amish-Mennonite culture. Of course she made the stops at several shops. At one, the lady was describing the different types of quilts and when she brought up and blue and white one Judy and I both decided that it was the best one we had seen. So we bought it with three matching pillows. The design is called Boston commons and the pillows are dahlia stars. In a way we can’t wait to get home to try it out. We drove around seeing the scenery including a covered bridge.

Day 65 Tuesday October 25
After a leisurely morning and French toast, we head off to the Mennonite Information Center and looked around. Lots of books on the Amish and Mennonites plus lots of books on the genealogy of local families in Lancaster. Some have been here since the founding of the city in 1732. Afterwards, went to the grocery store and got a few items. We had lunch and goofed off the rest of the day, sort of. I did some checking out the motor home and lubricated a few places. Judy straighten out the motor home and did laundry. It was sunny and nice today. For dinner we went to an Amish family farm restaurant that served a typical dinner family style. It was very good.

Day 66 Wednesday October 26
We got up planning to go to Gettysburg, PA to see the civil war battlefield. When the motor home started it was not charging again. Spent quite a while trying to find someone to look at the problem. Found a guy on the West side of Lancaster. He spent some time trying to figure out why there was no voltage or just a little voltage some times to one terminal of the alternator. Well it turns out that there is a solenoid that transfers power to the voltage regulator when the ignition is turned on. This was faulty. I think this may have been the problem when the man said I had to have the alternator replaced because of a faulty regulator. On the road feeling better with a fix and low price. We arrived at Gettysburg Campground and took space 177. Judy and I made a nice dinner and now are ready for the National Park visit tomorrow.
Drove 59 miles today.

US Trip Part 6 October 7-October 17

Day 47 Friday October 7
Left Hide a Way camp and continued On I-88 to Albany then took I-87 North. We went on I-87 North to Exit 15 going East to highway 4. This took us into Vermont. Stopped at the visitor center to get a state map and a bunch of information. Once in Vermont took 22A North paralleling lake Champlain. In Vergennes, took highway 7 North to Shelburne Camp taking spot P5. Set up and then called sister Joan. Things were hectic there so decided to see them on Saturday morning. Also, I had to go to Wal-Mart to see about getting my prescriptions filled. Came home and had dinner. Judy’s ear was still bothering here so we went to a clinic and she saw a doctor who prescribed some medicine. She was such a good girl we stopped for ice cream on the way home. (Cheers

Day 48 Saturday October 8
We had to move the motor home this morning to a new place as our place had been reserved for Saturday. The place is busy because of the leaves turning. We went to Wal-Mart to get Judy’s ear medicine then went to Joan and Ron’s house. Spent the afternoon and evening there. Joan had to leave to go to Lara’s restaurant to help out for the evening. Their son Michael and kids came over and had dinner with Ron and us two. A very nice day.

Day 50 Sunday October 9
We went to Joan and Ron’s. They took us to a big yard sale in Waterbury where we spent a couple of hours on our way to Stowe. At the Trapp Family Lodge in the Stowe area, we had lunch with a pretty view of the mountains with the leafs turning. Afterwards we went to one of the gift shops. There was a big arts and crafts event in Stowe. We could not find it so we walked around town a bit. Ron then started to drive us up into mountains to Smuggler’s Notch with rock cliffs and pretty trees and we found the crafts place. Unfortunately we were too late and it was shutting down. On to the Notch which was very pretty place. We then drove back to their house for dinner, laundry and lots of talk.

Day 51 Monday October 10
Joan came over in the morning and took us to downtown Burlington and the water front of Lake Champlain. The day was beautiful, warm and sunny. Ate lunch on a sidewalk café. Judy and my sister Joan
Later in the evening, Joan and Ron, their son Michael and the two kids Elizabeth and Bud came over for dinner. We ate chicken fajitas outside with the mosquitoes. Since it was a school night Mike and the kids went home early. An enjoyable day and evening.

Day 52 Tuesday October 11
We went with Joan and Ron to Barre, VT where there is the Rock of Ages granite mine. It has been used as far back as native Americans making tools. The massive of rock is several miles wide and across and deep and is called Barre grey. We took a tour of the mine and manufacturing plant where they make grave stones and monuments of all kinds. It was a very fun trip. Wanted to look for a lunch spot in the state capital Montpelier but could not find it. Instead we ate lunch a a nice small diner and headed back to Joan and Ron’s house where we had a scrumptious pot roast dinner with potatoes and gravy.

Day 53 Wednesday October 12
Joan came over and we went rock hounding. We went to the islands in Lake Champlain. One place I could not find. The second place, on South Hero Island, was a quarry but the owner did not want us to rock hound there. We then went North on hwy 2 to the bridge between the North and South Hero . A lot of the approach was made out of material taken from the quarry we were not allowed to search in. We climbed down the back of the approach to the bridge and found the shale. After a little while we found our first pyrite “sun”. Unfortunately, the shale was very hard and did not split to release the pyrite, but we got some nice samples anyway. Ate lunch right there along the beach. We drove back towards Burlington and stopped at another place but found nothing interesting. Also, we had to get back. For dinner, Joan and Ron took us to Sonoma Station, a restaurant their daughter Lara’s partner owns. The food was very good. Went back to Joan and Ron’s and chatted.

Day 54 Thursday October 13
Judy and I went to the store to get a few things. Did some laundry and in between loads went to a few antique stores. One called Shed Antiques was the most amazing place with tons of stuff. We cleaned up the motor home. Joan and Ron came for dinner of spaghetti. We had sat around talking and had a fun time.

Day 55 Friday October 14
Left beautiful Shelburne, VT after a night of thunderstorms and rain. Headed South on I-89 into New Hampshire. At Concord, took I-93 North a few miles and headed East on US 4 to Epsom Circle. Then we went south on highway 28 a quarter of a mile to Circle 9 Family Campground taking space 117. Continued raining. We just kicked back the rest of the evening. Beautiful leafs colors going through the mountains.

Day 56 Saturday October 15
Rain and thunderstorms all night but bright and sunny in the morning. We went to Portsmouth then north on I-95 to I-295 to US1 and the city of Bath. There was the Halcyon Yarn which Judy had done business with over the internet. Big place with lots of stuff for knitters, weavers and such. After looking around and buying a few things, we went to lunch at the Kennebec Tavern along the river by the same name. We each had lobster. The whole lobster and Judy was not impressed as she was expecting just the tail. She did not like the lobster feelers in the butter. We got home a dark. PS. Forgot camera so no pictures.

Day 57 Sunday October 16
We drove into Portsmouth, NH and went to Forts Constitution and Stark. Fort Constitution started out as Fort William and Mary in 1662 when it was just a earthen works fort. It continued as a fort with modification up to WWII where it was a base to mine the Portsmouth harbor. In 1774, Revolutionary American soldiers overtook the fort from the British and took all the powder and two canons. This was two years before the declaration of independence. Fort Stark had a similar history starting with the War of 1812 to protect the harbor. There were a series of seven forts protecting the harbor. On the drive we went through area of very old well taken care of homes. We at lunch with a nice view of the harbor then off to the famous Kittery shopping outlet stores. We got a few clothes.

Day 58 Monday October 17
Today we went to Franconia Notch, New Hampshire. Just before entering the park is a figure of an indian head formed out of rocks high on the mountain. This is similar to the “Old Man of the Mountains” which was the symbol of the state of NH which collapsed in 2003. The Flume Gorge is a area where water has carved a path through granite leaving walls up to 60 feet high on each side of the narrow water channel. We took the two and a half mile hike loop trail, the first half mile through the gorge itself. It is a very pretty place. There are water falls and covered bridges too. The leafs here in Northern New Hampshire were well past their prime. The day was mostly sunny with temperature in the mid-50’s and a breeze. It was a pretty drive on I-93 going to and from the notch.

US Trip Part 5 September 25 to October 6

Day 34 Saturday September 24
Left Stoney Creek RV and continued East on I-94/90 to I-39 South into Indiana. We got diesel today and it was $3.75 a gallon. Better than the $4.05 in Washington. Stopped for the night at Hickory Hollow Campground just off I-80 and I-39 space H-10. Whew, a longer than normal day. Some rain and some wind. No construction as it was Saturday. Traffic South on I-39 was not too bad. There was a 20 mile stretch of toll road which cost $2.85.
Drove 290 miles today.

Day 35 Sunday September 25
Continued South of I-39 and then to I 74 to just before Indianapolis. We spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Rained all night. Not too bad staying there. We could not find an RV park anywhere between Indianapolis and the Ohio border.
Drove 240 miles

Day 36 Monday September 26
Continued on to Indianapolis, IN taking I-425 South following I-74. Construction again. Whew, seems like every state is ripping up their freeways. We drove into Ohio taking the southern bypass to I-75 into Kentucky. Took exit 171 and went the few blocks to Oak Creek RV park. Sun is shinning and the weather is suppose to improve over the next few days. Over the last week we have seen trees turning color, mostly maples. Nice red color. We went to Daniel’s for a visit and had a great time and a nice dinner.
Drove 150 miles

Day 37 Tuesday September 27
We spent the day goofing off around the motor home. We then went over to Daniel’s for dinner and visit. It was nice to take a little time off.

Day 38 Wednesday Sejptember 28
We went for a drive today in the northern part of Kentucky. We drove to Bone Lick state park where they found lots of mastodon, wooly mammoth, bison and other critter bones. They also found early people artifacts. Clark of Lewis and Clark worked 3 weeks there getting fossils for President Jefferson before heading West to meet with Lewis to start on their expedition West to the Pacific. There was also a small herd of bison. We then drove around just looking around. For lunch we went to a local truck stop. We went back home and made fixing for chicken rollups to take to Daniels for dinner. Nice evening with the kids.

Day 39 Thursday September 29
Judy and I went to Caesar Creek State park. There is a huge earth filled dam with a nice lake, picnic, boat launches, and playgrounds. Also, they have a area you can get fossils, mainly crinoids and brachiopods. We picked up a few. Afterwards, we went back to spend the evening with Daniel and family.


Day 40 Friday September 30
Judy and I went to the local mall so she could be a few things and I could get my prescription filled. She bought a few clothes and Wal-Mart did not have any of my medicine so I will have to wait until we get to another Wal-Mart. After shopping and eating lunch at a Subway we went over to Daniel’s to spend the night.

Day 41 Saturday October 1
We got up and left Daniel’s house to take the kids to swimming lessons. Thanh-Tu looked like he was doing well. Thanh-Nha seemed to want to be doing her own thing and not paying any attention to class. This was her first lesson. I went swimming too. Daniel took us to his laboratory to show us his transgenic frogs and his frog room. After swimming and lab tour we went out to Dewey’s Pizza for lunch. Judy, Thanh-Nha, Minh-Thanh and myself went back home to made some spring rolls for Thanh-Tu’s Montessori school get together. Daniel to Thanh-Tu to his piano lesson. At the Montessori school, table were set up outside for the potluck. Unfortunately, it was about 52 degrees and the wind was blowing so it was very cold sitting around eating. No hot coffee or tea. Judy and I left a little early and went back to the motorhome.

Day 42 Sunday October 2
Slept in really late. After lunch I washed the motor home and Goldie so they looked really nice. Judy cleaned up the inside and it looked good too. We ran to a supermarket to get a few things for dinner. Planned on making kababs but when we started found out we did not have enough sticks so I went back to the store. Daniel and family came to dinner. We ended up eating outside but had to go in for desert as it started getting cool. The kids had fun on the swings at the playground. It was our last night together on this trip.

Day 43 Monday October 3
We left Kentucky heading North on I -75 to I-275 in Ohio then East. We took exit 63 which was highway 32 a nice four lane road called “The Appalachian Road”. It wandered up and down the hills loaded with trees. Not much color yet here. We drove US 50 into West Virginia to I-77 and then North into Ohio again to exit 1. There we found a nice Wal-Mart parking lot to spend the night.
Drove 236 miles today.

Day 44 Tuesday October 4
After breakfast we drove back into West Virginia to visit the Fenton Glass Factory in Williamstown. Judy has some of their glass ware. If you have been in the house you have seen the “wheat” pattern vases she has up on the wall. They have a really nice museum with glass ware from the area as well as their own from 1880 up to the present. Unfortunately they are going out of business over 100 years. They currently are finishing glass ware they and in the ware house and are still making beads. The beads are from $25 to$45 each. Afterwards we headed back North on I-77 to I-70 East. Lots of traffic on I-70 especially trucks. We are spending the night in Campground I-70. The guy had me back up two blocks to get to our site. Whew. Almost got a meter pole.
Drove 146 miles today.

Day 45 Wednesday October 5
Left the RV park and headed East on I-70. We went on the Pennsylvania Turnpike which was I-70. The road was fairly good at the start the turned bad. Very narrow lanes and very rough and they charged $13 for about 50 miles worth. We got off that mess and headed North on I-99, a very good road through the mountains with very pretty views of the hill with the starting to turn color leaves. We then took I-80 East to exity 232, going to an RV park but seeing a Wal-Mart, stopped there for the night.
Drove 160 miles today.

Day 46 Thursday October 6
Froze last night. Left Wal-Mart parking lot and headed East again on I-80 to I-81 North. Went through Wilkes-Barre and Scranton and through the mountains. Judy was amazed at the miles of wooded hills which were starting to turn color. A very pretty drive. We went into New York state and then took I-88 East getting off at exit 23. We drove up into the hills North to Hide-a-Way camp sites taking spot 52. That is, after I took a wrong turn and a very nice local farmer personally escorted us to the site.