Last Entry - Here I am

We made it. Pulled in around noon'ish Thursday. I took a couple pictures of the bus but Verizon doesn't seem to be able to get them over to my email. Hmmm, still having trouble changing my plan; need to call them back today. Speaking of the bus...we tried it in several different locatations here in Kev's yard and finally just drove it straight in his drive, at an angle of around 1-2%. Gives me the willies at night thinking about it rolling down the drive and into the street. Now my little rental is behind it, but, Kev says it will slow the rig down!!! Thinking seriously about moving into the kid's house...have to buy a hide-a-bed first. I'll be driving their car,so, sounds like a fair trade to me.

It's taken me a couple of days to recover from the "drive" - I was very emotional yesterday and didn't really want to get back in the rig. Now I'm making plans to get signed up at the Y tomorrow and start looking for classes or groups to get involved in around town. I bought a city map, so, should be all set.

It's been great writing this blog and sharing my adventure with all my friends and family. I've learned a lot, seen places I've never been and found out more about myself. I would recommend it to anyone but do not personally plan to repeat it. Once is enough. I'm very glad Subaru wouldn't let me tow my car and now I have to fly home, instead of driving. O darn. Please let me hear from you from time to time. I love you all. MB/Mom

Last night on the road

No pictures tonight. Just driving through heavily forested Maine and New Brunswick today. No problem crossing the border; guard didn't even ask for RV info...I could have stolen it for all she knew. They also did NOT run our SS numbers; just asked about how many plants, guns and alcohol we were taking across. Yes, we were honest. Guess we didn't look too threatening. Staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Moncton, New Brunswick tonight. Only 167 miles to go. Whew, am I ever glad. This has been a lot of fun and an experience of a lifetime, but, I'm getting tired. I need some serious YMCA time; some hard step aerobics classes. Also need some theater and popcorn time. Wonder how I'll get to both of those places. Hmmm, more to come.  MB/Mom

Bar Harbor, Maine

This picture was taken from the outside bar at the Bar Harbor Inn...a spectacular hotel that I intend to stay at the next time I'm up this way (another picture at the end). Rooms must run $200-$300/night. Crap, the KOA is costing $100/night. Coast looks a lot like Nova Scotia, only more crowded. Had a short day...drove through Hampton Beach, just up the coast from Salisbury Beach...more T-shirt stores and arcades but grand beach homes. Then up to Maine and the Acadia National Park, which we didn't see too much of. The campground is on the beach; taking our coffee to the short in the morning. Temperature is cold for this desert rat - had socks on all day and my sweatshirt before the sun set. Tomorrow we cross the border and spend our last night on the road. Might be another motel night. Later.........MB/Mom

Massachusettes

I took this one on Salisbury Beach in Mass. It sure looks better than the last time I saw this place. Our campground is just 1/2 mile inland. We walked out this morning to stick our feet in the Atlantic, then caught a bus into Newburyport (across the Merrimac River) to shop and eat (picture follows). We did a little of each. Chowder was NOT as good as the Black Dog on Martha's Vineyard - nothing is. Ordered pizza from town and watched part of a really bad movie with Geo. Clooney. Tomorrow we will go as far as Bangor, ME and spend the night in the Acadian National Park in Bar Harbor. We should pull in to Dartmouth on Thur. Later. MB/Mom

Salisbury Beach, MA

Not too much this morning as we are going to the beach and then explore. We did decide to stay here at Salisbury beach (1/2 mile from the actual beach) for an extra day to explore, eat seafood, do laundry and rest. The campground in upstate NY was glorious. In fact, upstate NY is my favorite location so far. Too bad about their winters! There is an Amish community around there and they had pies, etc in the office. Believe it or not, we did resist. I did see a horse and buggy going down the road. Woke up to a bull bellowing in the pasture across the street. Off to the beach; will write more tonight. Love to all. MB/Mom

Niagra Falls and Upstate NY

Hello from upstate New York between Utica and Albany. I took this picture from the observation tower at Niagra Falls last night in Buffalo. We took a tour that picked us up right at the campground and lasted from 5:15 to 11:00. It was definately worth it. The falls were breathtaking, absolutely unbelievable. We got SO wet...several times. The falls in front are the American falls; the mist in the back are from the Horseshoe falls on the Canadian side. The tour included a boat ride past the American falls to right in front of the Canadian. So wet we couldn't take pictures. At night the falls are lighted with colored lights. I have a lot of pics in my phone that I'll show you when I get home.
Tonight we are in Richfield Springs, NY at a KOA - got a late start due to the late night. But, sweet corn is free, as is the hayride later on tonight. Tomorrow should be outside of the Boston area. Hope all is well at home. MB

Happiness is Indiana in My Rear View Mirror

If the condition of Indiana highways wasn't bad enough, the endless construction that brings all lanes to a screeching halt puts the icing on the cake. Plus, at least 500 tractor trailers passed me today on I-70. We decided to not even stop for lunch in the state. The countryside is gorgeous - verdent green "farmer's fields", corn fields that go on forever...but, the hazy humid days sure brought back memories. I like humidity at 10% or below. Tonight is MOTEL NIGHT and we are at the Days Inn in Delaware, Ohio (picture follows.) Tomorrow we will end in Buffalo, NY which is just 20 miles from Niagra Falls. We plan to see the falls either tomorrow or Sat. and then head for Mass. for some good seafood.

50% Humidity and NOT a Dry Heat

Hello family and friends. Now in Effingham, IL...100 miles east of St. Louis. Very hot, humid and steamy. Campground tonight is next to a small lake - nice, with lots of very tall trees and probably clouds of mosquitoes. We have the air on. Got through St. Louis - missed the 'metro by-pass' and ended up right downtown going 17,000 MPH with trucks on either side through construction zones. Judy did catch the arch as I was earning my handle (White Knuckles). That big gulp from Circle K tasted real good after that ride. Tomorrow my old stomping grounds in Ohio and New York the day after. We will be seeing Niagra Falls since it will be just 20 miles out of the way. Oh yea, tomorrow is MOTEL NIGHT,

Day 4, the March Through Oklahoma

Good evening from Joplin, Missouri! Had an uneventful day, which is a good thing. Very hot and humid here but no tornados. Negotiated both OK City and Tulsa; earned my nickname of White Knuckles today! We have finally left the desert behind and are now in the land of trees. Had Subway for dinner and swam in the KOA pool for a while. Will now have fried cherry pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Don't ask, it's some local treat. The picture I'm attaching tonight is of a large (1.5 inch) beetle bug that got sucked into the bus and landed on my feet. I did some major stomping, got off the interstate and pitched him out. Thanks Kev for the idea to photograph roadkill. Enjoy.

Days 2 and 3

Hello everyone! Sorry I didn't write yesterday  but no access. Finally got to Albuquerque without any other incident, bought 4 new tires (not gonna go through this again), ate pasta and green chile, drank Margaritas and then hit the road today. No other incidents today; now in Shamrock, Texas. Other picture on this day is the Route 66 diner in Santa Rosa, NM. Hot here in Shamrock; have the AC on and watching the Lincoln Lawyer. Headed through Oklahoma tomorrow to Joplin, MO. Saw the largest cross in the Western hemisphere, the Cadilac Ranch and the Big Texan steakhouse - home of the 72 oz steak. Yikes. Later..............MB

Day 1

Day one...not as exciting as the first day of the shake down cruise, but definately more exciting than I had planned. I was making great time, singing to the oldies, even thinking of driving on into Albuquerque and not stopping in Socorro when, BAM...one of the back tires blew. What is this? What's with this RV and tires? I guess the shiester really was one. Anyway, another 2 hours sitting on interstate 25 just south of Truth and Consequences, New Mexico waiting on the road service to bring a new tire. Plan for tomorrow - get 3 more new tires (bus has 6 in all, 4 in back and 2 in front; the left front tire blew on the shake down cruise) when I get to Albuquerque. So, I'm safe in Motel 6 with my chardonney, my laptop and a hot shower. What more could I ask for? Probably to have Denney's (right next door) include a fork with the salad I ordered take out. Good night for now. Hopefully tomorrow will not include a blown tire. MB

T minus 1, Getting Ready

Hello everyone. Decided to create a blog to capture my mother of all roadtrips, from Tucson, Arizona to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I retired May 31 after 24 years with the VA (most of you know this). I then bought a 26' class C motorhome with plans to drive to Nova Scotia to visit my youngest son, Kevin, and his family. This blog will allow me to share the journey with family and friends. I think I have figured out how to upload pictures, which will also be included. I leave town day after tomorrow. Sure wish these butterflies would go away. More later.