So Many Friends-So Few Days

States So Close-You CAN Get There from Here

Our trip to Vermont from Littleton, MA started out on the Mohawk Trail. Small Massachusetts towns like Erving have changed little, except perhaps the color of the depot. 

Our campsite in Boston Minuteman Park
Littleton, MA

Mohawk Trail, Erving, MA

Erving, MA Depot

Ooops!

As we left the Mohawk Trail and headed North, we stopped to get fuel in western Massachusetts and Ray came too close to a cement bollard and scratched the driver’s side of the RV and Ford. (Please do not tell our friend Fred Berman!💥🚙)  After driving an RV for over 20 years Ray was extremely unhappy about the "too close" call, however, both vehicles are drivable so our trip continues.

We've Been Here Before

Our next stop was at the Dorset RV Park in Dorset, VT.  We’ve been to this area a few times and enjoy visiting with friends and family.  We had dinner at Jane and Pete Johnson’s home and met Pete’s brother and his wife. Wonderful conversation and a delicious dinner. 

On Saturday Pete and Jane took us to the Farmer’s Market in Rutland and then that night we had dinner at a very special restaurant called the Barrow House Inn & Restaurant with Jane and Pete and their neighbors Bob and Tim. Really wonderful food and again conversations and storytelling, some great stories!

As with many New England towns, Rutland 
has seen young families moving back

Friends we met at Carolina Trace, Pete & Jane Johnson
 Now from Danby, VT

On Sunday we went to the Dorset farmer’s market which we really liked and were able to get some new VT potatoes, fresh bread, and veggies. 

Dorset Farmers Market is very busy on Sunday,
busier and better booths than much
bigger Rutland.

We also visited with Ray’s Aunt Peggy who lives in Fair Haven, near the VT and NY border.  We had a wonderful visit and did a lot of catching up and reminiscing.  As with many small towns, young folks are discovering the charm of small towns. They bring energy and new ideas, and new money to these towns. Great way to end our time in VT.

Fair Haven has made many upgrades to its center
since we last visited, pre-pandemic!

Flamingoes in Fair Haven

More organized Flamingoes in Fair Haven

On to New Hampshire

Our next stop, Bristol, NH, is where we met up with more friends.  We met Doug and Cheri in Florida at Fisherman's Cove this past winter and planned to visit them at Newfound Lake RV Park and Campground in NH.  

We had site 35 and Doug and Cheri, site 3

We had a relaxing week and enjoyed our time with them.  One day the four of us drove to Orford, NH to visit more friends from Florida: Steve & Shirley and Cheryl & Jason who are all friends we’ve met over the past 2-3 years.  We had a wonderful afternoon with a great fire and perfectly cooked burgers and hot dogs.  The rain mostly held off so we sat outside and laughed ourselves crazy.  Great afternoon.

Tucker knows how to enjoy life

Cheri, Shirley and Cheryl
and neighbors

The chief pyromaniac, Jason (on the left)
keeps a close eye on the fire

Steve tends the wood pile

While in Bristol we were able to meet with Nancy Dahm, who used to work with Lalia in publishing. We had not seen Nancy in many years so it was nice to catch up. Nancy's home on Little Lake Sunapee is a year-round home we have visited over the years and truly appreciate the years of planning and updates/redesign she has put into creating a home her family and friends enjoy.

On to Maine

From Bristol NH we drove to Steep Falls, Maine to spend a few days with Linda and Dave Fernald, more friends we met first in Florida.  Lalia and I keep telling ourselves that we are so blessed to have so many friends and so many new friends we’ve met in our RV travels and in our winter home in Florida.  

We parked the RV in Linda and Dave’s driveway (also known as the Fernald Campground) and had the best time being with them.  We sat outside every night and talked until dark.  Great fun! 

We sat under the yellow umbrella each night 

We also toured the local area including Naples, on Long Lake, a part of Maine that loves its tourists! 

A new walkway that includes historical information
about Naples and Long Lake

One morning we went to breakfast in the local general store and had wonderful omelets and coffee.  Ray and Dave went back a second time and Ray got to meet some of the locals who gather at this general store every morning for breakfast.  Great time for sure.

Repairs Needed

We did notice that somewhere along our route we managed to lose our tailpipe extension on the RV, so Dave and Ray went to the local CarQuest and ordered a new pipe.  Dave had all the tools needed, and with Ray diligently watching, Dave replaced the tailpipe. 

Linda and Dave are great hosts and we look forward to visiting with them again.  It was a wonderful 3 days.  Our next stop is in Scarborough, Maine and the rest of our trip to Maine will be in the next blog update.