2013 Vacation Day 15: Saturday...and heading home

Well, another vacation draws to an end. We have been very fortunate that the weather for the most part has been excellent. The big storm predicted to follow the afternoon event did not happen. It must have gone around us. This morning the sky is overcast, but the clouds were high and the sense of rain is not really that strong. We got things squared away, hitched up and pulled out around 9:00. Had some rain on the way home, but nothing crazy.

Covered a lot of are on this trip, saw a lot of scenery and got in some good visits with relatives. Overall, a nice vacation.

2013 Vacation Day 14: Friday...serious R & R

Pounded down the rain again last night, with heavy thunder and lightning, as a big storm rolled right over the Adirondacks. It made for quite a light show in the trailer, with the sound of the rain on the roof, soon followed by the thunderous roar. Although we are very cozy inside, you cannot help but feel for the campers on the ground in tents...storms like this can make for a miserable time.

2013 Vacation Day 13: Thursday...a 4 state marathon drive

Huge thunderstorm last night, with tons of rain, and with lightning that was more sheet than bolts. The entire sky would ignite like a flashbulb, followed by a series of loud thunder cracks that would shudder all around. It was quite impressive. This went on for a few hours until the storm front moved through. It was all clear when we got up, which was a relief considering the big drive we had today.

2013 Vacation Day 12: Wednesday...relaxing and exploring

Serious chillin' this morning, as it is one of the few mornings where the plan is actually no plan. Worked a little on the blog, a nice shower to freshen up, then we headed into Bar Harbour.

2013 Vacation Day 11: Tuesday...taking a shortcut

Up and out early to catch the ferry. We stayed hitched up last night, which greatly reduces the time to get going. Gassed up before reaching the terminal, and even though we arrived an hour early as requested, there were already a huge number of vehicles lined up waiting to load.

2013 Vacation Day 10: Monday...cross country tour

Today we made our way to Digby, as the plan is to get close to Digby so that Tuesday morning we can make an early trip to the ferry to St John, which leaves at 8:00am, but starts to load vehicles at 7:00am. Our day's route was to drive the secondary roads to Mahone Bay, then Lunenberg and across the centre of the province to the Fundy Bay side.

2013 vacation Day 9: Sunday...a family BBQ

In the morning headed into local town Tantallon to pick up a few items for the BBQ. We took the shore road and the views were much better than a few days ago when the bay was socked in with fog.

2013 Vacation Day 8: Saturday...a blissful St Margaret's Bay day

Over to Don & Lynn's new home, which is right on the bay. Great views of the water, and they have a big dock extending out over the water. They had a lovely lunch for us on their deck, then we headed out in their boat for a tour of the bay.

2013 Vacation Day 7: Friday...and then there were millions

Today we headed to the Annapolis valley, around Windsor to be specific, to visit another of Dale's aunts, Bernice and her family. Dale's cousin Brian was there when we arrived and offered to drive us around all the area to visit all her cousins.

2013 Vacation Day 6: Thursday

Poked around in the morning, then went for a shower. Although older and a little tired, the comfort station was clean and fully functional. Went to Upper Tantallon to visit Joan & Gordie, who are Dale's aunt and uncle. Also visited Lynn & Murray, Lynn is Dale's cousin. Nice visit, they have beautiful new homes on tranquil wooded properties and to our surprise they had a lovely lunch prepared, with freshly made homemade bread. Then we headed into Halifax to see Betty & Bubby, Dale's other aunt and uncle in their new place, a lot of family have moved since we were last down.  

Headed back to the camp site, as Dale's cousin Don and his wife Lynn were coming for dinner. Dale saw Don and Lynn a couple of years ago, but I have not seen Don for over 20 years, a long time, but we picked up right where we left off. Had a great visit and lots of laughs. 

2013 Vacation Day 5: Wednesday...welcome to Sardinia.

Packed up and on the road around 10:00. Not our normal early start, but we have settled into vacation mindset and have been poking along somewhat. Nice drive down to Nova Scotia, as it will be mostly 4 lane all the way, but not the crazy 401 type of drive. Very scenic, as the highway winds up and over the country side, offering some great vistas.

2013 Vacation Day 4: Tuesday

Headed downtown this morning to wander around a bit. Very old historic centre of town, and it is interesting to see the older architecture. In the afternoon we went over to Dale's Aunt & Uncle for another visit. Don and I headed back downtown to the City Market to pick up some fish for dinner. I also wanted to get some of the amazing smoked salmon they also sell. We had some of this last time we were here and it is possibly the best I've ever had. They have a dry version as well as a more moist, slightly oily type. The flavour from the oily version is very intense. I bought a bunch of it to take home, I have a pasta recipe that it would be perfect in. We then headed for a bit of a road tour, out around an area called Red Head. This is past the huge Irving refinery, a massive complex capable of producing 300,000 barrels of fuel a day. It is quite the complex.  The road we traveled follows the shoreline, and over the years, the sea has eroded the shoreline so much that it some places the houses have fallen into the water, or had to be torn down a their demise by erosion was imminent.

Dinner consisted of the haddock fish cakes we purchased at the market, as well as baked beans and fried eggs. A classic Maritime meal, and very tasty. Back at the site, it has gotten cooler in the evenings, but no rain has happened, which they have been calling for all week. Tomorrow we head to our next site at Hubbards Beach in Nova Scotia.   

2013 Vacation Day 3: Monday

Relaxed in the morning, read the paper, then a nice shower at the comfort station. This is a well maintained campsite, most likely because it is part of a large municipal park, and certainly a showcase of what a park can be in the heart of a city. There was a beehive of activity first thing this morning, lots of workers getting things sorted after a busy weekend. The showers and washrooms are spotless, as is the whole park.

Drove out to Dale's cousin Heather's cottage, on the St John river. Part of the drive is an interesting cable ferry across the river. Large ferries that use a cable that runs from shore to shore, to drag themselves back and forth. An interesting concept for short distances like this one. Makes for a relatively peaceful trip, as there is no drone of big diesels humming below deck. Nice afternoon chatting while overlooking the water.

2013 Vacation Day 2: Sunday

Up and out relatively early. We first headed to...you guessed it, a Walmart. Dale has a difficult time with the bench seating foam firmness in the Alto, which at night converts to the bed. Her back generally aches in the morning. We purchased a good memory foam topper for the bed at home, and this solved the problem there, but the Alto presents a whole other issue on how to make the bed more comfy.

2013 Trip 5: Vacation: Maritimes, July 2013

Day 1: Saturday

On the road a little after 6:30am, which is actually pretty good. Heading down East for 2 weeks. We headed to Sherbrooke QC, then crossed into Maine at Woburn.

2013 Trip 4: Pissin down rain...but who cares?

Rollins Pond NY - June 2013

Friday:
Off to what could be our favorite park. Two State Parks, side by each on separate lakes, nestled deep in the Adirondacks. What could be not to like?

2013 Trip 3: Serious chillin'

Murphy's Point P.P. - June 2013

Friday:
On the road right after work. Short drive, about the same distance as Silver Lake, except you head south at Perth. Lots of campers this weekend and there was a line up at the registration booth.