ECS Days 26-28

August 19

Today, we drove across Maine into New Hampshire. Here are some interesting sights and signs:

• “Chapter 11 Outlet” (sadly, it was closed down: in Chapter 11?)
• “Canadian Chains” (we think they’re the good ones)
• Several Christmas Wreath companies
• Lots of lumber trucks on Highway 2
• Assembly of God Church called “Living Waters” which is also a “Cooling Center”
• Worst stretch of highway right in front of the Maine DOT Office
• EVERY small town has a Chinese restaurant (even in Mexico, ME)
• Statues of Paul Bunyon and Babe, the Blue Ox in Rumford (sorry, missed photo op)
• “Gordie Howe’s Restaurant” in Hanover, ME (can’t find evidence he played there)
• BIG compounds of farm house, shed and barn all joined together
• Into New Hampshire, MANY “Moose Crossing” signs; in fact, moose statues and signs and names and souvenirs in Gorham, but nary a moose

We decided we would ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway, something we’ve talked about before. It was a GREAT trip. We had sun at the bottom AND at the top, along with no winds, apparently very unusual for Mount Washington.

Here are shots from the bottom:

…from the journey up:

(fake, but very realistic)

(do you see Jay Leno here? We did)

(old deaths and newer)

…and at the top:

There were scores of Orthodox Jewish families at the top. Large families. When it was time for prayers, I caught this amazing shot of the men davening:

Then we headed down:

Later, we got a shot of the Mount Washington Hotel with its namesake in the background:

But it couldn’t hold a candle to our $18 site at the National Forest Sugarloaf II campground (site 29):

August 20

More driving and some interesting sights and signs:

• “Finnegan’s Fine Firs”
• a Fallout Shelter in Littleton, NH
• a sign for “The American Society of Dowsers” in Danville, VT
• “Grand Army of the Republic” highway: a nobly named and very picturesque road across Vermont
• a cattle drive:

• LOTS of Border Patrol vehicles

We decided to return to the Robert Moses State Park in New York (site 224, $27.50) and have a shorter drive tomorrow. After dinner, I took a walk around the campground. It’s very near us in Ontario and offers a lot including boating, beaches and biking (which we did a lot of here in June):

Here’s the view from my chair (can you see the river in the background?):

August 21

Not much to say. David drove, we got home in the early afternoon, unpacked some cold beer and relaxed. Unloading and laundry can wait!

Another beautiful trip! And we love our new View. Even Mandy had fun (we think). As usual, I’m already planning the next journey.