We always pack too much and yet manage to leave behind something that will be missed once we are too far away to go back for it! Ray says we have no room for ‘it’ whatever it is, and this time he is absolutely right! We are full to the gunnels!
On the road May19th. First stop Spotsylvania and Front Royal, VA, a part of the Civil War that we had not yet covered: Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, Bloody Angle,and Spotsylvania Courthouse. The sign marks the Bloody Angle where Southern soldiers stepped on the bodies of their comrades in a vane attempt to break the Union lines. The original ditches dug by Union soldiers are seen on the right.
Next into WVA for Harpers Ferry, where it all began. The small building behind Ray is a reconstruction of John Brown’s stand against US soldiers!
Once again we are amazed at the ability of humans to sacrifice their lives for a cause they believe in so strongly!
Catching up with nieces and nephews. Although the weather has not been completely cooperative, we were able to get together with Ricky, Tanja, and Lamarr and some of their children for an afternoon of good food and good story-telling! How is it possible that they are old enough to be grandparents or have children with multiple college degrees? All these kiddos are very accomplished and we are very proud of them!
Saratoga Springs, NY and a few days of great weather. Our friends Marsha & Red Davis had been visiting with their son and his family just before we arrived in the Saratoga area for a visit with Kyla, Marsha & Red’s sparkling granddaughter. Although Craig was on a business trip, we were able to meet Kyla and her mom Heather for lunch.
Druther’s Brewery is a great place to eat, and Kyla’s favorite because they have ‘the best Macaroni and cheese.’ Kyla is a good student and a hockey goalie and was anticipating the end of the school year, the Penguins in the Stanley Cup, and the loss of a front tooth! (Update: all 3 happened!) Our visit was delightful! History buffs should visit Saratoga Springs, one of the original places where the rich and famous spent their leisure time.
No better way to spend Memorial Day than with friends in a small Vermont town. The short drive to Dorset, VT, brought us to the quintessential New England small town. We spent 5 days with Pete & Jane Johnson, who had moved from Trace to be ‘back-home’ with their daughter, Amanda and her 2 children, Emily and Nate.
We had great meals and great conversations at the terrific Cape-style house they call home; ate at the Dorset Inn before attending a performance of August: Osage County at the Dorset Playhouse (one of the best small theater experiences we’ve ever had); toured Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln’s Vermont retirement home; and experienced a Memorial Day service in which all the names of Dorset VT residents who had died in service to our country were read. Think about the fact that they can name each and every one.
Pete & Jane’s grandchildren Emily and Nate attend the same school, Burr and Burton, where Pete graduated from high school. Emily is a graduate this year and will head to Chicago for college after a bridge year of study in Slovakia. Currently she is interested in International Relations and film-making. We viewed some of Emily’s film projects and were very impressed. Nate will be busy this coming school year for among his many talents he is an accomplished singer and a member of the wrestling team.
What a surprise we had one morning. Ray looked out the window and said “Look who’s here!” It was just like our Newfoundland trip; Lalia’s sister Lynne and her husband Reubin had driven 3 hours from Massachusetts to have breakfast with us. (My Dad would be proud….spur of the moment adventures hold a long tradition in our family.) With Pete & Jane we went to H.N. Williams General Store for breakfast and the Farmer’s Market then gave L&R the quick tour of Dorset and the surrounding towns. Memories like these are irreplaceable gifts.
June 1st we headed north. Compton, Quebec was our first Canadian stop. From there we walked around Sherbrooke to see their murals.
From Levis, QC we toured Old Quebec City on a cold, drizzly day.
After days of cold rain and RV repairs, we stopped for one night in Dalhousie, NB at Inch Arran Campground, on June 10th what a delightful place. If you want to see a Google Album of additional pictures up to this point check out https://goo.gl/photos/bCCdGL97joFBJopY7
We had made many plans of moving The Black Pearl to various spots on the Western end of PEI. The weather convinced us to put down near Summerside along Malpeque Bay and take the car around the North Cape Coastal Drive. As you can see, the weather was changeable but sometimes that makes the pictures even better.
June 17th, our last day parked on Crystal Beach took us to Cavendish and the north Central part of The Island. We woke to a beautiful sunny, yet windy day, perfect for touring.
Let’s hope the sun stays with us!
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