Day trip to Annopolis, MD

We decided to take a break for the big city and went in to Annapolis for the day.  What a cute town, again so much history.  We roamed the streets and shops and found a great place to eat called Chick and Ruth's Delly.  They opened in the '60's and their children have kept it going.  Serving up huge burgers and pastrami sandwiches, it was a classic diner experience. 

The next day we finally started west.  We stayed in a beautifully wooded KOA in Staunton, Virginia.  Halloween is a pretty big thing here, the campground hosted haunted hay rides and trick-or-treating.  We bought candy and had a great time watching all the kids in their cute costumes.  (Don't know why but photos didn't download right, so none for Staunton?)



Colorful Annapolis neighborhood



Old buildings and store fronts

If ever in Annapolis, you HAVE to go to the "Delly"

Boys will be boys...

Even the boys get restless in the camper and have to battle it out...poor Tito always gets double teamed!

And on to Washington DC

 

We had two days of driving to get to the Capital.  Spent the nights in Deerpark, NY and Hershey, PA without doing too much, hence few photos.

 

Full moon in Deerpark, another beautiful camp ground on a small river.

Loved the Pennsylvania countryside and farms



We are staying about 30 miles outside of DC, and having to ride the Metro train into the city.  It is a pretty easy commute and cheap, taking us right into the heart of the National Mall.  We did a two day, hop on-hop off bus tour which takes you to all the major highlights.  It is well worth the cost, we have seen most all we hoped for.  The Smithsonian museums are wonderful, and free!  (Couldn't believe that one)!  Again the weather has been great, so off we were to Washington!  We went to several of the museums, memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.

Eh, Obama, atsa matta for you?

White House

Jefferson Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial, which at the time there were several WWII vets touring

 

Ron knew Larry McPherson since junior high.  They served together.  Larry did three tours in Vietnam, and was sadly killed on the third trip.  Very moving, for Ron especially, to see a name you know.  RIP

National Cathedral

Supreme Court

The Capital building, where nothing gets done!

Cape Cod drive

 

We spent a beautiful day on a drive to the tip of Cape Cod to Provincetown.  The weather has been perfect here, as you can see.  We walked the town and had another great meal at this place called the Lobster Pot.  The town was crowded due to "Women's Week", an annual gathering with entertainment, rallies and lectures, etc.  All in all, a trip well worth the drive (over 140 miles round trip)!

 

Protected marshes with lots of creatures

Light house off in the distance

Different light house, great beach

BoBos are allowed on beach, yeah!

Part of Provincetown from pier

Provincetown main drag, colorful and quaint

Woman trying to escape another lecture

Great food

Hey Ron, I think we came as far east as possible, time to turn right and head south!

Cape Cod history lessons

 

We went on to the Boston / Cape Cod KOA campground the same afternoon after shopping in Freeport (we had to)! 

 

Anyway, set off first thing in the morning to Plymouth, Mass., to start our day with some history.  We were amazed by so much historical facts and events.  You learn it in school ages ago, don't really pay attention in class or care about it then, and here we are in the middle of it.  We really started to appreciate those who have preserved our country a little more.  It is hard to imagine what the pilgrims went thru to get here and survive once they did.  We spent the morning at the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock, then walked the town a bit.

 

Mayflower II

Really cramped quarters for 102 passengers and 30 crew

Makes our motorhome look like the Taj Mahal!

Plymouth Rock

We then continued the drive east onto Cape Cod.  Really beautiful this time of year.  The trees are still changing here.  It's easy to see why to live here.  Except for winter we hear.  Drove on southward to Chatham for lunch at Barnstable Harbor.

Quaint houses right on the harbor.



Harbor view from restaurant 

On to Freeport, ME

Spent the next few nights in Durham & Freeport, Maine. We found our KOA to be one of the best family friendly campgrounds yet. There were events set up for the whole weekend. Friday when we got there, the owner cooks up homemade brick oven pizza! Didn't cook that night!  Then Saturday night was the turkey dinner fall feast.  Didn't cook that night!  After lunch out on Sunday, we were invited to join cousin Richard and his friends at their Maine lakefront cottage for a cookout including home brew.  Didn't cook that night! It was a refreshing change to go to their home with such warm hospitality.  Needless to say, the diet was a bust for the whole weekend.  It was a great time...

 

Here's Ron at the feast with all his new best friends...

Lunch Sunday at Roy's BEST burger ever! And yes, that is four patties on a sub roll!

View from lake front home, I want one!

 

Great cottage, handed down now on its forth generation!

Fishermen offloading in South Freeport Harbor

Beautiful South Freeport Harbor

HAD to do a little shopping at LL Bean!

 

 

Went a little crazy at the Coach store, it was clearance plus 50% off for the holiday weekend!! Woohoo

 

Even Ron got in the act!

 

 

Bah Haba or as we would say in California English, Bar Harbor.

 

Bar Harbor, and the surrounding small towns, were a terrific 5 nights of eating and exploring!  Unfortunately, we couldn't go in to Acadia Park, but we got around most of the island and really enjoyed the scenery. 

 

 

Seal Harbor

Ate lunch at Northeast Harbor, cute village

Bass Harbor boat dock

Shopping in Bar Harbor

 

Sunset from our campground

Cute farm house on the Pretty Marsh harbor route

Last night, another amazing sunset

 

 

Ron's two pounder! Ate at the Chart Room in Bar Harbor

About the last two pictures. Acadia National Park is in the Bar Harbor area and was on our list to see while we were here. Unfortunately our government had a different plan. Along with all the national parks, monuments, and recreation areas such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are all closed. These gems scattered across our country belong to us. They were set aside for generation after generation to experience. our governments job is to be the custodians to preserve these areas forever. They do not own the parks, we do. it is our natural born right to be able to enjoy them. The reason or fault is not important, but this government has decided to close off all of these areas from us. Barricade the entrances, furlough the rangers, and even lock are the restrooms. The public always seems to end up on the short end of the stick. We are now in Freeport, Maine and in a few weeks  will be in  Washington, D.C. If what ever the reasons for the closers are not fixed, I guess we will  by pass the capital and miss all are of the monuments. I can probably keep writing for pages but that would be boring, so that's all I have to say about that.     ~~ Ron