So...a little update. Turns out that the adventure was so much fun, we ended up wanting our very own Alto. Renting it for a vacation was a great opportunity to really experience the Alto first hand. We placed an order when we got back and waited for delivery. On Nov 7th, we met our sales rep Pierre in Hudson, and it became our...
Now how do we get it into the garage?
Kneeling Alto
One of the first things we had to resolve was the issue of getting the Alto into a garage for the winter. As we ordered the optional 13' wheels, we were a little concerned that this would raise the overall height of the trailer enough that it would...
2009 Vacation Day 15 - Lost in Longueil...AGAIN!
So this is the last day of the Been There Dumped That blog. All posts earlier than this one chronicle our first trip in the Alto... a 2 week excursion to Cape Cod, in a rented Alto. All posts after this one are under a new blog called Route Alto 80... which is where you are now. 80 is the production number of our very own Alto.
What to hell is with...
2009 Vacation Day 14 - Odd...Very Odd
Off to the top of Lake Champlain today. We want to be very close to Montreal for a short drive tomorrow. Once again hopped the freeway as the scenic route originally planned would have been really slow. Really not much in this area at all...but there is a campsite. So we pull into the little office/store and there is no one around. Peeked in the windows...not...
2009 Vacation Day 13 - Are We in Niagara Falls?
Big drive today...from the very tiny NH coast line to the very large Lake George. Given the distance, we had to hit the freeways...our normal scenic route would have taken us all day. One thing I have noticed is that travel time while towing a trailer is about double. Although I am doing the speed limit or slightly below...it all just seems to take...
2009 Vacation Day 12 - Walking the Beach
Not a cloud in the sky when we woke...tons of sun, but it was a little cool to start. Wanted to check out the shower facilities. They are housed in a complex near the beach...we had heard from other campers that the showers were only cold water...no biggie...it's the summer...how cold could the water be? Nice and clean, individual little shower rooms...all...
2009 Vacation Day 11 - Shoparama?
Hit the road relatively early...need to use the freeways to skirt around Boston. Was planning to use 495, but discovered through conversations over the weekend, the 95 will be much shorter and is not the "urban" freeway we assumed it was. We did not want to get into an congested city traffic type situation. On the 95, you could think you were anywhere...pretty...
2009 Vacation Day 10 - Exploring
Little cool this morning...fired up the heat pump to put a little warm air in the place and suck some of the humidity out. All the comforts of home in this thing...even the kitchen sink.
Went to a brunch at Mimi & Peter's then did some exploring of Chatham...which really means wandering around looking at shops and people. Rained hard again most...
2009 Vacation Day 9 - Two By Two
Have I mentioned yet that it is raining? Real rain...not a drizzle, not scattered showers, not a "chance" of rain, not "it's just spitting"...but real serious rain...loud rain, pounding is the word I would use. Pissing down rain is also good, but just does not really capture how much is coming down. Oh, did I mention it was this way ALL day. I don't...
2009 Vacation Day 7 - PTown
Took a run up to Provincetown...figured with Obama doing the Martha's Vineyard gig, things would be a little extra slow getting over there. We were only about 45 minutes so we decided to head there for the day. PTown is right at the very end of Cape Cod. Over many years it has become a mecca for the gay community...a summer haven for many...permanent...
2009 Vacation Day 6 - Gin Soaked Rants
OK...rants go first...we have all been driving along when we spot a car towing a travel trailer about to make a turn in the direction we are going...now admit it...your first thought is...Shit, I gonna be stuck behind that damn trailer my entire drive, I'm not gonna make "good time" because of this stupid family and their damn travel trailer...what...
2009 Vacation Day 5 - Up in the Trees
Great weather here...nice change. We discovered a treetop walk at an outdoor museum in Worcester...about 45 minutes from here. Decided to check it out. In Worcester we saw this neat art park, lots of interesting permanent installations....
2009 Vacation Day 4 - The Dreaded Dumping Station...
Today was the day...the dreaded, much anticipated emptying of the tanks. Have given this some thought along the way, and picked a few brains to get any salient experience I should not be lacking. Not to get too detailed, but the expression "fill your boots" is somehow appropriate...and from a physics point of view, makes sens...
2009 Vacation Day 3 - Amazing Site
So we pulled out today and headed for Newport NH. Got all hitched up again, with the help of super keener John...he eats this stuff up. Lots of good pointers also...especially for Dale on how not to get run over when helping with trailer guiding. Dale seemed to be all ears....
2009 Vacation Day 2 - Settling In...Checking Out
Great sleep. We bought a 4 cup coffee maker before we left...who can do without a cup of joe in the morning???...and some amazing Peruvian beans from Bridgehead...the aroma is outrageous...literally cannot keep it in the trailer as we would already be wired for sound even before our first cup. Just kinda poked around a bit...rustled up a bite to eat...
2009 Vacation Day 1 - Lost in Longueuil...
So we get away a little later than expected, totally not taking into account the usual Montreal traffic. Work our way into downtown on the 20...then totally blow by the Jacques Cartier bridge while looking in amazement at the giant clock on the Molson building. Finally get on to the bridge, after an extended tour of the neighbourhood, then proceed...