7/25

Wheels up in Toronto 10 am. Ed did most of the driving. We got home at 2 pm. Had to drive down 8 Mile the last leg of the trip. 2946 total motor coach miles. Good to be home. I started laundry and then laid down for a three hour nap…vacations are hard on us. The picture is the U. S. side of the border at the St. Clair River; Lake Huron in the distance. Both flags flying…God bless America.

7/24/09

We left the fabulous home and hospitality of Barry and Gita after a terrific breakfast of fresh, warm bagels and fruit. We pulled off their curb at 10:30 am and headed down the 401 to Toronto. Traffic in Toronto was just the worst ever and it took us 8 hours. The boys were definitely ready for their bloody Mary’s when we arrived. We had some more fine dining prepared by our chef Toni. I prefer to be the “dish dog”; not as much pressure. The Toronto West KOA is nice but a litter farther off the beaten path than we anticipated. It’s been a wonderful trip and God willing we’ll be home tomorrow.

7/23
John and I went down to the falls near our hotel and walked out onto the suspension bridge for a better view. Ed and Toni slept in as they both knew they’d never get on that bridge. Heading on to Montreal today to the home of Gita and Barry Lackman. They’re friends of John and Toni’s from camping in Florida. We arrived at 3 pm and were greeted on the street corner by Barry and Gita on bikes and Barry rode ahead to escort us to their home. We parked on the street and they provided the water and electric hook-ups. We got into their car and traveled downtown Montreal for dinner on Boulevard Saint Laurent at The Main Deli. This was the best corned beef I’ve ever tasted and the bread was to die for. We walked around the old part of the city and down to the pier. We stopped to see the street performers and ships. It was another perfect day. What gracious, warm and welcoming people.

7/22
We used the local bus system to get into town and yes, we did do it all; from the Funiculaire (cable car) to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine. We had chocolate chip croissants, hot chocolate in a soup bowl and an espresso at the Petit Cochon Dingue. John was practicing his best French when the waitress asked if he wanted that to eat in or carry-out; in perfect English. We went up the Funiculaire inside the walls to the Château Frontenac. We stopped in for morning vespers at Notre-Dame de Québec Basillica-Cathedral. This is the oldest parish in North America. It was built on this site in 1647. We also stopped in Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur (sanctuary) built in 1910. Not to be outdone by the Catholics, we stopped at the Chalmers-Wesley United Church (Presbyterian and Methodist) built in 1853. Last on what ended up being a church tour was the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Toni sniffed out a bakery/deli and we bought a couple of baguettes, cheese and salami. We took them over to a cove by the Frontenac and had a tailgate. We walked back down through town. We headed out by car to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine. John and Toni had heard a lot about this shrine from an Aunt and Uncle and it was definitely worth the nearly hour drive. When we walked in they were playing Ave Maria. Beautiful shrine and on the way we stopped at the 272’ high Montmorency Falls; 1 ½ times that of Niagara. We stopped back at the motor home for a quick nap and then went back downtown on the bus for dinner. We decided on Italian; Spag & tini. Very generous portions and excellent view of the St. Lawrence on the terrace. In for the night and heading to Montreal tomorrow.

7/21
We left the Sunset View Campgrounds at 9 am and got into the KOA, Quebec City at 2:15 local time. Toni and I did quite well in Walmart considering everything is in French. We laid in some supplies and cooked in. John, Toni and I took the bus into the city this evening. It is beautiful and really takes you back in time. Stunning flower boxes on the shop fronts and brick streets. Outdoor restaurants and cafes; very old world. It's hard to stand here and believe we're still in North America. We’ll all go back tomorrow and spend the day doing all the touristy things.

7/20/09
We were out the door by 8 a.m….very early morning for this crowd. They dropped me off downtown and I went to the oldest church in Canada; St. Paul’s, 1749. Beautiful old wood structure. I then walked over to City Hall before heading up to the Citadel; and I do mean up. It’s the highest point in Halifax. The view from there was awesome. Citadel Hill has served as the site of four different forts. The current fort took over 28 years to complete. This Citadel, finished in 1856, was intended to deter an overland assault on the city and dockyard. During two world wars the Citadel served as a sentinel on the home front and a symbol for those departing for overseas. In 1952 the Citadel was declared a national historic site, signaling the end of its proud military career. Down the hill was a lot easier and I met up with the rest of the group to view the parade of ships.
Our viewing stand was the deck behind Eric’s offices on the harbor. It started with sprays from the fireboats, followed by the Bluenose II. What we saw was magnificent with all the sails unfurled. We had to get on the road for a 5 ½ hour drive so we didn’t see it all but it was quite a site as we were leaving Halifax. We pulled into Sunset View campgrounds, Hawkshaw at 8:30 pm and fixed a quick pasta dinner. We shucked clean the 4 lobsters Eric gave us and had them as a side…3 tails left.

7/19/09
This morning we went to Peggy’s Cove. The lighthouse sits on granite rocks sculpted by the ice age. As you can see, it was foggy this morning but burned off for the rest of our drive. We ran into a couple from North Carolina that we met in the campgrounds at Bar Harbor and they're at our same campgrounds here in Halifax...camping is a small world. We stopped for a cup of chowder and then traveled to Chester. We shopped in the oldest gift shop in Nova Scotia. Very fine shop with highly polished old plank floors. Back for a nap before heading to Eric’s for dinner with him and the Matt Handyside’s.

7/18/09

Today Ed and John toured the Russian vessel Kruzenshtern. It was a German 4 mast barque seized by the Russians after WWII. It’s the 2nd largest sailing ship in the world at 376’. They also went aboard the Sagres. A barque out of Lisbon, Portugal. It’s a training ship built in 1937, manned by members of the Portuguese Naval Academy. Toni and I went to the most amazing Farmer’s Market held weekly in the historic Keith’s Brewery building. John and I toured the Eagle, a three mast barque acquired by the U. S. from the Germans after WWII. It is a Coast Guard training vessel operated by 6 Officers and a crew of 49. I walked up to the Province House; Canada’s oldest seat of government. The Nova Scotia legislature has met there since 1819. We met up with the Matt Handyside’s and their boys. They were boarding the Theodore Too, a life size version of the world famous television character. We had lunch with them after their cruise and plan to have dinner with them tomorrow evening at Eric’s

7/17/09
Ships, ships, and more ships; 40 in all on beautiful Halifax harbor. We were on The Bounty used to film Mutiny on the Bounty and Pirates of the Caribbean. I was on this ship in 1967 in St. Petersburg, Fl. Courtesy of Eric Thomson, we had a fabulous lobster lunch at his home and passes for touring all the ships. We went on several today and will do the rest tomorrow.

7/16/09
On our way today to Nova Scotia today we stopped in Alma, home of the highest tides in the world but we were there at low tide. Ed bake shop cheated on Mike by getting a sticky bun at Kelly’s Bake Shop. Finally arrived in Halifax around 4 pm; 1557 miles. Looking forward to a nice seafood dinner this evening. We’ve been having hoines groins (leftovers) for a few days since the 3lb. lobster dinner. Tomorrow we go into town to see the tall ships. We have passes to go on them courtesy of our friends the Handysides.

7/15/09
Left the campgrounds at Bar Harbor at 8:30 am. Left the WalMart at 9:30 am. We came through Cherryfield, the Blueberry capitol of the world…go figure. We bought gas at $2.39. We have a tide chart for the Bay of Fundy. Ed said he once had a pi chart and John said he had an eye chart. High tide tonight @ 6:30 pm; 37.7’. Lowtide at 1:30 pm tomorrow; 9.2’. 100 billion tons of water come in each day. The tides rise and fall the height of a four-story building twice daily. We came through the Fundy National Park (Fundi Coastal Road) and out of Alma on 915…a very scenic drive. We did see a moose and I was so excited I missed the camera shot. Got in around 6:30 pm to Hopewell Cape, Ponderosa Pines campground. We had a bite to eat and went to the Hopewell Rocks. Beautiful scenic shoreline.

7/14/09
This morning we went to Acadia National Park. We walked around Cadillac Mountain. Toni had a slight panic attack at that height. It was a spectacular view. Sunrise here is the earliest in the United States. That would be about 4:30 am. I’d like to come back up here in the morning but I don’t think I have a driver. One regret…I didn’t take the video camera. Too spectacular of a view to take in a snapshot. We stopped and had a tail-gate. There’s never a lack of food when traveling with the Genitti’s. Went back out in the early evening after dinner (pork roast). A person can only take so much butter and seafood. We went to Southwest Harbor; home to a Coast Guard station. Another lovely little town. I don’t see a lot of people with shopping bags. Doesn’t appear that tourism is down but not sure people are buying things. Came back to the campgrounds and took a walk. It was too cloudy tonight to see the sunset.

7/13/09
We pulled out of Wells Beach at 7:45 am to hook the car back up to the motor home. We stopped in Stockton at a closed restaurant to have lunch…in the motor home. Ed drove the first 147 miles. We came through some nice towns and so far Camden is our favorite. We got into the KOA at Bar Harbor at 12:30. We went into the town of Bar Harbor and walked around and just sat on the wall of the harbor watching the ships coming in. It truly looks like confetti as our friend Jane explained the number of lobster buoys. We drove into the Acadia National Park visitor center on our way out of town to get a couple of maps for tomorrow’s drive. Lobster at the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound tonight. John’s ordering a 3 pounder each for him and Ed. Line of the day: I asked what kind of Indians were in Maine and John answered….New Delhi.

Day in Kennebunk Port

7/12/09
Got up early…what a surprise. Toni spotted a great little bread store on our walk this morning and we came back later and bought some for sandwiches. Today we drove through the Village of York…another great little town. Then we headed north to Kennebunk Port or Bennekunk Port as some one on the trip called it. We drove along the shore line past the Bush’s compound or the Republican Shrine as our friend Marty referred to it. Quite surprised how close to the road and visible it is. We stopped at St. Ann’s Episcopal and said a little prayer of thanks on this Sunday morning. Back down to Well’s Beach for a little R & R after a stop at the grocery store. Had dinner this evening at Jake’s. Great local place. John shared some of his favorite Genitti employees stories…Kreitzberg, Poirier, etc. Finished the evening with a cup of coffee at the McDonald’s right next door to our motor home and then John gave us a lesson on his Kindle…I see one of those in Ed’s future.

Maine trip 7/11/09

7/11/09
Walked 1 mile this morning around the campsite. Breakfast at the Senior Center…blueberry pancakes, sausage and a flea market all at the same time. Headed up the coast. First stop, Freport, home of L. L. Bean. Outlets galore. On to Jane’s in Georgetown. Beautiful home and better hospitality. Met her daughter Jill and grandkids. We went to the Five Islands Seafood for lunch with them. Toni had the twins…2 lobsters. Great spot right on the Sheepscot River. On to Booth Bay and what a beautiful little town. Had an ice cream and walked around the bay. Back home for snacks and relaxation.

7/10/09

7/10/09

Daylight at 4:30 am…thought I had slept in. Got up about an hour later and took a much needed shower at the bath house. Folded up the bed and got things in order. Toni got up and we had a bite to eat before taking a nice walk to the Ocean. It’s about a mile. The guys picked us up and we headed to Ogunquin. Sweet little town and had a nice trail along the harbor. Got back in the car and went to the Nubble Lighthouse. Most photographed lighthouse in the country we were told. Definitely worth the drive. Back to York at the Fisherman’s Catch for lunch. Ed tried the lobster sandwich and I had the haddock. Both came with the clam chowder….excellent. As I’m writing, Toni is cleaning out her bedroom closet, John and Ed are napping

7/9/09
Left at 9 am after taking a walk up to the registration desk. Stopped at a Walmart to pick- up a few groceries. On the road again. Stopped for lunch and gas. Fixed awesome sandwiches on Ciabatta bread, chips and dip. Visited with friends of John and Tone’s in Ludlow, NY. Really nice people. They use to own a car wash and that is where we met. Afternoon snack was cheese and crackers. Got in to York, ME around 7 pm. Beautiful place *****. Traveled 367 miles today. Toni asked how does the trolley go…John answered toot, toot; Ed answered clang, clang, clang.

Maine Trip

7/8/09
Headed out from home about 7:45 am. Starting odometer reading 28,562. Slow going to Sarnia but got over the bridge without a hitch. Fixed lunch on the road while we were held up for about :45 going back into the U.S. at Buffalo. Arrived at Vernona, NY 493 miles at 5 pm…”should have gone through Niagara Falls.” Tony was opening something and Ed could hear the paper rattling “sounds like a snack.” We stayed tonight in The Villages at Turning Stone. We took the shuttle over to Turning Stone Casino and had a really nice buffet dinner. Tony was lucky of course…