O, Give Me a Home, Where the Buffalo Roam - Bison NOT Buffalo

So, just a little recap. We left Pennsylvania heading northwest. Said hello and goodbye to West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, finally coming to rest in St. Cloud, Minnesota for a couple of nights. Minnesota was a must stop as I longed to see the state that gave the gift of David Willems to this world. Additionally, in the city of Blue Earth resides a 55.5 foot statue of the Jolly Green Giant.

St. Cloud is a lovely town and we spent some time at two gardens along the Mississippi, the Munsinger Gardens and the Clemens Gardens. Spectacular!

We also spent a day exploring Minneapolis, first by bike, then by car and a little on foot.  We biked a small section of the Chain of Lakes around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. We drove through some interesting and ethnically diverse neighborhoods and walked along a bridge to view the only natural waterfall along the Mississippi River. Lovely areas.

Our time in North Dakota flew by in a haze of all things Theodore Roosevelt. Well, there was a little New York Yankee history involved, too. Yankees, as in New York City baseball team?  Valid question, my friends. Let me help you. Roger Maris, known for 61 in '61, half of the M & M so famous in New York legend, was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota. So, naturally, that is home to the Roger Maris Museum, located in the lovely West Acres Shopping Center. 

Yes, for those of you near and dear to me, I voluntarily entered a shopping mall. No coercion necessary. It was a neat little area with windows displaying various artifacts of Mr. Maris and a small (six seats) theater running a loop about his life. It was wonderful. One hour was sufficient time to spend and leave knowing quite a bit more about a favorite player from my youth. For those of you who do not understand the M & M reference, it is NOT about a chocolate candy coated in a hard, colorful substance. It IS a reference to two Yankee greats, Mantle and Maris. So much valuable information for the day you say, "I'll take the history of baseball for $200, Alex."

 

The 61st home run ball

 

Our other stop was at a full service gas station, where I met a native Fargoian (?). We were watching a couple of helpful, eager younger clerks try to fill our propane tanks and while the entertainment value was exceptional (how many college students does it take to safely fill propane tanks?), we began chatting. He seemed quite surprised, but pleased, we chose North Dakota as a vacation destination. I did confess that while visiting the Roger Maris Museum and Theodore Roosevelt National Park were a big reason we were chose his home state, I was also checking on a theory of a friend of a friend, to wit, that North Dakota is a training facility for the CIA. Seems any one queried as to knowing someone from North Dakota replied in the negative. So, I assured my pal, Karen Henning, I would check it out. He merely smiled and nodded and mentioned a few autumn activities should be scheduled while we were in the area, but offered no other things to see in Fargo. He did not deny the theory of the CIA training facility. Interesting... Oh, the answer to the riddle is two college students plus the manager of the rest stop. The manager to do the actual filling of the tanks and attempting to show them how this task is done, the students to explain that is exactly how they tried but failed, hoping for a better grade I guess.

 

Our home base in North Dakota was the city of Dickinson, one of the larger cities in the western part of the state. The downtown was a few blocks of uninteresting buildings, but did have a marvelous statue of a young Theodore Roosevelt.

 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park was a wonderful experience. It is rugged and wild and beautiful and divided into two sections, North and South. Our first visit was to the South Park and we took the scenic drive to get the feel for the area. We saw bison (not buffalo), a pronghorn (not an antelope), feral horses (not wild horses) and prairie dogs (big, fat, bold prairie dogs). The weekend we arrived was the Dakota Nights: Astronomy Festival. There were lectures and telescopes and power point presentations that made our hearts soar. John and I both learned a lot about some of the constellations and how they were named, the Northern lights and the planet Mercury.

 

One of many majestic views of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

 

Our first hike proved much shorter than we had planned. Let me first give you some background. There are a great many warnings posted about the bison. This is their home, they were here first and they are not docile. They have a live and let live attitude unless you annoy them. Seems they annoy easily and when annoyed will charge the offender. And as large and cumbersome as they appear, they run really, really fast and have very sharp, pointy horns. So, imagine my surprise, when hiking through some tall grass, the log I had spotted from afar a while back, stood up and glared at us. (I am sure he was glaring, I was that close). I turned to John to suggested that we change course, but once he saw the lack of color in my face and glanced over my shoulder he was far ahead of me. Turns out that humans who fear having an obituary read, "gored and trampled by a bison, not buffalo" can move pretty darn quickly.

 

This is not the one we saw, but a neighbor of his

 

The North Park entrance is fifty miles north of the south park and a bit more rustic. The lone Park Ranger seemed happy to see us. I think the rangers in this park are the Maytag Repairmen of the National Parks system. It is a lonely job. The views of the North Dakota Badlands were amazing. But, what is really fascinating was the topography of the area. Lots of rugged hiking trails available and we chose an exceptionally pretty one with not much grazing area. Though, truth be told, I was hyper-vigilant for logs with horns.

 

Hiking trail North Park

 

Another area of interest is The Enchanted Highway. Technically it is a county road about thirty-three miles in length. What makes it enchanting are the scrap metal sculptures that appear along the route. Gary Greff is the artist who conceived and executed this idea and began work in 1989. I wish I could post pictures of all eight that we saw because they are a sight to behold. The artists goal is to ensure the survival of small towns, like Regent, ND, where the road ends.

 

Fisherman's Delight

 

Grasshoppers in the Field

 

As I wrap up this missive, John mentioned I should BRIEFLY say something about the oil industry. In the last five years the area we were in has seen a rise in population due to the drilling for oil that has created many jobs. North Dakota is concerned with drilling safely and protecting the beauty of the land. It appears they are doing a bang up job. Along with the oil industry, other areas of commerce are bustling as well. We drove through a fifteen mile construction zone along a soon to be no longer two lane road that caused John to comment, "I didn't know there was this much construction equipment in the entire country, let alone North Dakota." So, if you are job hunting, may I suggest Dickinson, North Dakota. Burger King and Walmart start their employees at $15.00 per hour.

 

 

Lots of Water

I pen (?) this from the beautiful state of North Dakota! However, before I begin waxing eloquent on the beauty of this least visited state in the Union, I need to share the beauty of the trip here.

First stop, Green Lake State Park outside of Syracuse, New York. As a card-carrying, born in the City of New York Citizen, I must confess I did not know much about this region of the state. This park had two meromictic lakes. Yep, this is your trivia for Jeopardy. Meromictic means that these lakes have no mixing of top and bottom waters which means that they are really pretty! A turquoise that will make you stop in wonder. Okay, it has a more scientific meaning but you have Wikipedia access. The main reason to stop was to visit some friends, Val and Emil. Here's a helpful hint when chatting with me at a party. If you say, " you should drop by", chances are I will. The good news is I now have a traveling home so no need to ready the guest room. This is really a warning to California and Northwest friends. Next year we will be in your hood, stopping by.

Pretty, right?

 

From there we headed to the Finger Lakes. WOW!!! Waterfalls and gorges galore! And a Wine Trail. So many small vineyards and tasting rooms. Our accommodations were on Seneca Lake in a state park that once was a Naval Training Facility then an Air Force Training Facility. So in addition to beautiful walking and biking trails, we were able to visit the museum and learn a bit of history. Since we had only a few days, we selected the top tourist sites. Watkins Glen State Park is a must see. You can walk behind a waterfall!

 Seneca Lake

 

One of many incredible views at Watkins Glen

 

We also hiked Enfield Glen in Robert H. Treman State Park. This is a wild and rugged area but well worth the effort. There is also a swimming area under one of the waterfalls. Luckily, after the hike, diving into the cold water was no problem for me.



After a few days, we packed up the Jauchmobile and headed Southwest to fulfill an oft talked about destination, Fallingwater, perhaps Frank Lloyd Wrights most famous design. Because John's nickname is Mapman, he plotted a course that used back roads the entire trip. Our goal is to see as much of the USA as possible, and while the Interstates are wonderful, two lane roads through small towns can be so scenic, as was this drive.

 

Fallingwater is located in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Another WOW!!! What a beautiful area this is. An outdoor adventurers dream. Lots of hiking, biking, kayaking and white water rafting happening here. We indulged in some biking one day along a picturesque trail, but day one was all about the home Mr. Wright designed in the 1930's that hangs over a 30 foot waterfall. It did not disappoint. There are many interesting facts about the construction and design that give you insight into our famous architect. The fact that the Kaufmans', who hired Mr. Wright to design their summer home, were surprised by the location, speaks volumes about the man. 

 

A view from the site the owners thought the house should be built







 

 

You could dangle your feet in the water while drinking your morning coffee

 

 

A view from the bike path

 

After three full days, it was time to say good bye and turn the Jauchmobile towards the Northwest and the final leg of our journey.

 

Bye for now

The Adventure Continues

It is hard to believe that we are midway through September and the last weeks of our travels for this year. John and I have been feeling really blessed. The Jauchmobile has taken us through some awe inspiring scenery and reminds us that we live in a beautiful country with a variety of landscapes filled with wonderful people. Sometimes we can let perceived differences taint our beliefs about others and this trip reassures me that there are many wonderful people in this world.

So, to condense our last few weeks in Maine, we visited Campobello International Park and got to drive through the town of Lubec, ME which is the eastern most town in the United States. Just trying to help you out with some trivia next time you chose geography for $200 while playing Jeopardy. Did you catch the "International Park" reference because it is unique. The island is part of New Brunswick, Canada and is administered jointly by the Canadians and the US. I know, you are going to rock at Trivial Pursuit. Put this park on your bucket list.

View from Campobello International Park(taken from one of many hiking trails)

 

While Downeast we visited quite a few small towns and villages and loved them all. But, alas it was time to move south. We set up in the Greater Portland Casco Bay region and embarked on our mission to see as much as we could. Freeport is home to LL Bean and a lot of outlet shops. We did stop by and stroll one morning because I heard about a giant boot.

 

Brunswick is a lovely city that holds a major art show every August and we were able to enjoy the work of artists from around the country. This city boasts that it has the widest Maine Street in America (please note the spelling). It was wide and on that street we were able to enjoy the sounds of Erica Brown and the Bluegrass Connection. Please go to Youtube and listen to anything they play after you finish this missive. And, as an added bonus, we had maybe the greatest gelato EVER (Jessica Bryant you must visit). Harriet Beecher Stowe lived and wrote here while her husband was a professor at Bowdion University.

 

We headed to Portland on a Sunday morning and fell in love with this city. A funky downtown with unique shops and restaurants on Casco Bay. We strolled and passed a donut shop that makes their product using mashed potatoes as a base. Please note: REAL mashed potatoes not powder. I was tempted, but am normally not a fan of the donut. So, we passed it by, but, as we wandered, we saw a group of people eating the donuts. I inquired as to the level of deliciousness and we turned around and went back and each had one. John, a bacon cheddar and me a chocolate salted caramel and my, oh my, ever so wonderful! Lite and filling at the same time. Today, as I write this I am smiling as I remember this sublime experience. A second visit to Portland saw us on a ferry ride through some of the islands of Casco Bay. Glorious!

 

In his perusing of maps, John found a lovely walking trail off the beaten path, Potts Point.

 

The area of Kennebunkport was a great day trip. Cute little downtown and a beautiful drive along the water where we stopped to see St. Ann's Church.  

 

Looking out from the church is a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean. There is an outdoor Service every Sunday in the warmer months.

 

The time was spent exploring beaches, small towns and hiking and biking. One of the trails we biked had this lovely rest stop.

Leaving Maine was bittersweet. So onward and downward we went to New York State, but not before seeing one last work of art.

 

 

Me and the BFI - The Big Freeport Indian (although rumor has it the locals have a different word for the letter f)

 

A New Home

As I write this, it occurs to me that on these travels John and I have the opportunity to become citizens of different states. Today I am a Mainer. Yes, indeedee, me and Jessica Fletcher have a common bond, we are Mainers. Truth be told, I am still unable to master the dialect. However, I love listening to my fellow Mainers speak. One important fact about these lovely people is that unless born here you will ALWAYS be a "not from here". Doesn't matter if you arrived here days after birth, still a "not from here".

Our last days in Rhode Island were fun. We visited Newport one more time and toured a few more summer cottages and the downtown area. Trinity Episcopal Church was established in 1698. The current building was completed in 1726. When we entered this historic church a voice called to us, "Join our tour. It is just beginning." Alas, it was not God calling to us. We joined two other people for a tour. As it happens, our guide was not really a tour guide but a parishioner and organist. Her knowledge and love of her church and the community, present and past, was evident in her tour.

Trinity Episcopal Church Newport, RI

Our last day in the Smallest State we did my favorite thing to do in the summer (and John's least favorite). Beach Day!!!!! I will say that the beach we chose was fantastic. Misquamicut State Beach is a gorgeous beach. The waves were rocking the day we went and there were some restrictions due to rip tides but all this just made it more fun. Plus, when you pay to park they hand you a receipt and a garbage bag (biodegradable). It was an incredibly clean beach. The people watching was enjoyable, but thanks to my Jersey beach pals, I knew all about the aggressive gulls hovering menacingly. But the poor dads next to us were not as prepared. They foolishly thought they only had to wrangle two four year old girls. When the giant gull grabbed a baggy filled with goldfish (edible crackers not pretend koi) the one dad went to grab it back and the bird strode away. The dad gave chase, but the bird was not about to relinquish his bounty. Lesson learned.

Next day, we headed the Jauchmobile northeast. The drive was for the most part lovely. I will say that as we drive the highways and byways of this beautiful country we encounter some interesting drivers. Massachusetts, my question is whatsupwithyou??  Have you no manners?? Rude, rude, rude drivers. And you know what happens because of rude drivers, accidents and injuries. This is my soap box for this blog, but friends, let us all drive politely. Let people merge, don't accelerate to block them from entering a roadway. And when entering a busy highway hang up the dang phone. I could go on, but you get my point. Large vehicles, like the semis and the Jauchmobile, need lots of room to stop. The end of rant. Meanwhile, back on vacation...

Our first stop in Maine was in the lovely hamlet of Holden, just outside of Bangor. Our plan was to spend time in the Downeast Region and the Maine Highlands Region. And, perhaps the best part of this trip was that the Robertsons of Brooklyn joined our merry band of adventurers. So began our exploration of Acadia National Park.

Acadia National Park is quite unique. It is the first National Park on the east coast and much of the land has been donated. It is magnificent! Rugged and lush with beautiful vistas. We spent days exploring the area, on land and sea.

 

 

Jen, Doyle and I had the opportunity to take a sea kayak tour one morning. John and Olive hung out at home while we headed into Bar Harbor to meet up with our outfitter. It was a great way to enjoy the area.

 

 

A high point of the water adventure was the opportunity to see a "baby eagle" near its nest. He was a few months old and HUGE and entirely black in color. He had not gotten his white feathers yet. Creepy and eerie all at once. A few days later we got to see a full grown bald eagle fly past us in the distance. Wow! After Doyle left, we decided to take the mail boat out to Isle au Haut. Approximately half the island is part of Acadia. In retrospect we would have chosen a different way to spend the day. It was scenic enough, but we renamed it Mosquito/Biting Fly Island. These insects drew blood and nothing could stop them. Insect repellent? They scoffed at us and chomped away. John and I were grateful for Jen. They loved her best!

On the Mailboat





 

So, while in the Downeast Region we decided to check out Bangor. Because we got out of the car twice and factoring lights and work crews and detours, we spent maybe half an hour. Yeah, not much happening in Bangor. But, it was not a total waste of time.

 

Giant Paul Bunyan Statue

 That is Olive and yours truly at the base of that large piece of art(?).

 

Maine is famous for blueberries, so of course we had to head out to a farm and pick blueberries. Jen's research lead us to Nancy Place Homestead. On the web site, they suggest you call ahead. The gentleman on the phone gave us directions, that went something like this. Take a right at the market and continue on that road until you pass a conservation area and then down a steep hill you'll see a sign to pick berries and just past that pull into the drive, but go slow past our neighbor's house (his driveway)... Now, it would have helped if we had some mileage to judge this and the question arose, frequently, is this the steep hill? as there are many. And perhaps the conservation area could have a sign so as not to be confused with the many, many miles we drove past wooded, undeveloped areas. Just a suggestion. We did find the farm and what a joy it is! Definitely a high point of the trip. Lovely self sustaining farm owned by a lovely family. After picking blueberries (yummy) the two younger daughters and dad gave us a tour. We met the animals and walked through the gardens and even got to taste freshly picked tomato and green beans (double Yummy).

 

 

Picking blueberries and eating a few

 

Of course, part of the agenda involved eating lobster. Interesting fact about lobster is that back in the early years of statehood it was considered a lesser food. So much so that it was fed to inmates. Eventually, it became a food for the more financially successful. Now, it is a relatively inexpensive food here. There are literally restaurants and cafes and food trucks galore selling lobsters in a variety of preparations.

 

 

Cooking our lobsters

 

 Maine has a larger coastline than California with approximately 3,478 miles of shoreline. It is also larger than all the other New England states combined. So much to see. So much to do. So many miles to explore. I'll keep you posted.





Big fun in the Littlest State

Sunday, a day of rest. We are taking a day to enjoy the sound of rain hitting the roof accompanied by kids laughing as they ride their bikes downhill in the rain. So, this begins the countdown to our departure from Whispering Pines Campground. Wednesday is D-day (not a WWII reenactment, D as in departure).

Rhode Island has several scenic bike paths so John and I chose Blackstone River Path and away we went for 20 miles or so. It was a lovely 20ish miles along a tree lined path along the River.

 

Me and Rosie (my bike)

 

John and I thoroughly enjoyed our day, including a quick visit to a little museum along the path. It was the home of a mill owner and contained a lot of interesting information about the rise and fall of the mills in this region.

Halfway point of the ride

View along the route

 

 Our next adventure had us heading to Point Judith to board the Block Island Ferry. The ride to the Island is just under one hour. Block Island is a place I have always wanted to visit and it did not disappoint. It is not as developed and crowded as other more famous beach areas in New England.

Approaching the island

 

 Mohegan Bluffs

 

We brought our bikes and immediately headed up an incredibly steep hill to see the South Light House. From there we continued upward (into the wind) to Mohegan Bluffs. There are steps from the top of the Bluffs to the beach below, 150 of them. I, of course, had to head down. John, the smart one, stayed on top to enjoy the view. Next we headed to a conservation area for a short hike. The rest of the day was spent biking up hill into the wind (according to my Sweetheart) except for one exciting curvy downhill blast to head back towards the downtown. We had a delicious lunch at The Three Yellow Kittens, established 1876, which has a rustic outdoor area that served great food with a nice beach view.

 

How to top that you are wondering? How about a day in Newport, touring some of the "cottages" from the gilded age. We arrived into Newport early in the morning and took Ocean Drive for about ten miles. What a fabulous drive this is! Breath-taking views of the water and some lovely estates. Since it was early we continued into Middletown and along some gorgeous beaches there, then back to downtown Newport to get some tourist info.

  

Easton Beach, Newport, RI (me and my Brown Hoodie that fits perfectly, Doyle)

 

The Cliff Walk

 

The Breakers

 

View from the terrace of The Breakers

 All I can say about the mansion tour is TAKE IT! We toured three of these summer homes: The Breakers, Marble House and Rosecliff. Each one unique and full of history. The audio tour gives you information on everything. How the buildings came to be, who designed and decorated, stories of those who lived and worked there. 

 

Other days we explored the Hope Valley, seeing lovely towns and visiting farms and getting fresh delicious produce. The sweet corn is amazing!! WHO KNEW??? Rhode Island, for its tiny size, has a lot of wonderful things to see and do.

 

Yesterday, we left Rhode Island and headed to Mystic, CT. A little more history was in order.  

 

 

 

Mystic Seaport is a maritime museum that I went to many times as a child. My Dad LOVED this place. I remember multiple trips, always on gray rainy days, learning the history of shipping in the United States. Forty years has elapsed since last I was here and it has grown but not lost its charm. It was wonderful sharing this place with my husband. It was especially fun to do it on a bright sunny day. However, midafternoon gray clouds began rolling in and by the time we left it was raining. Probably my Dad letting me know he was pleased. 



It's Been Awhile

Hello Pals! It is hard to believe we are more than halfway through the month of July. So much has transpired since last I wrote...where to begin? Oh, I know, we are NOT in Michigan! Before I pick up where we are now, I should recap the month of June into the first part of July. To put it succinctly, it was mostly a working vacation. But still a lot of fun. Fun: Thomas and Jackie's wedding, brunch the day after the big event, Catherine's graduation party, dinner and lunches with a host of pals, a few bike rides and walks in nature, an afternoon at the beach along Lake Erie, fireworks at the Graves' home that included delicious food, a week in Chicago with Sarah and her amazing group of young men and women from St. Paul on the Lake (along with some incredible adults, Dave and Brian). That takes care of June.

Our Fabulous Team in CHI

Working hard and learning a new skill with Mr. Calcaterra

A farewell performance especially for us

 

June 30th we arrived in New York, put the Jauchmobile into storage, and spent the next two weeks with The Robertsons of Brooklyn. So much fun, so much good and healthy food, so many Olive Nubbin kisses.

Olive in her favorite environment

 

Several days were spent at Casa Clemenza helping Mara get ready to reopen the Beach House after the damage done during Super Storm Sandy. The Fourth of July was splendid. Jen and Doyle hosted a wonderful BBQ and many friends came with tasty treats. We headed up to the roof at sunset, which was magnificent, and then enjoyed the fireworks with the skyline of Manhattan as the backdrop. There was time spent at beaches and wonderful meals with friends. Then we said adios to the city that never sleeps mid-July and headed to our next destination. Hint: it is the state with the longest name yet the smallest land mass. If you said The State of Rhode Island - Providence Plantation you guessed correctly! If you are asking why Rhode Island, the answer is: why not? We are at a lovely camp ground, Whispering Pines, in the Hope Valley. The area is piney and hilly and lovely. The people who run it are obviously fans of the movie "Dirty Dancing" as the list of activities available are mind boggling. Bingo, movies, choo choo train rides for the little ones (we wave as they go past us in their engineer caps) and so much more. Tonight is the Sock Hop. We have begun exploring the state. Yesterday we spent the day in the city of Providence. 

 The Providence River

 

 Entrance to the State Capital

 

 Historic Home(one of many) along Benefit Street

 

 Plaque on home pictured above





We hit the Swan Point Cemetery where H.P. Lovecraft is buried, Rhode Island School of Design, a little bit of Brown University, Federal Hill (Providence's Little Italy, little as in teeny-tiny) in addition to the sites pictured above. Today we do our nature thing with a long bike ride and picnic. Who knows, there may be a Sock Hop in our future. Until next time...