Our 25 th Anniversary Trip Written by: Ron Huffman 2014

Transcription

1 Our 25 th Anniversary Trip Written by: Ron Huffman 2014 In November of 2012 Cindy and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. For some reason she put up with me for that long and I m blessed for it. We love to travel together and Hawaii seems to be the place that a lot of couples spend their 25th. But as we talked we decided that time in an airport surrounded by strangers and hours on a plane wasn t what we wanted. You see as we travel we tend to miss a turn here and there and it always opens opportunities to see something off the beaten path. We wanted to celebrate twenty five years of life s experiences while adding more to them, flying over the country side in a noisy plane wasn t right for this trip. We had the time set aside to take our time. The plan was to spend some time in every state in the northeast that we hadn t visited yet and a few we had. Now as I said our anniversary was in November and for some reason Maine at that time of year just wasn t going to work for her. So we planned for the summer of Using the internet we went on line and requested your typical tourist info packages. It worked great, most arrived while we were gone. The one thing Cindy wanted on this trip was fresh lobster right off the boat (on her bucket list) so we decided to make our way to Maine by the way of a few stops. So when the time came to leave we loaded a small cooler with lunch meat, cheese, grapes and drinks and away we went. Day one was a travel day, our first stop was in Ohio for a picnic at a rest park then on to Pennsylvania to rest for the night. This trip was going to be different than those in the past. We made reservations for the first two nights and that was it. We really had no set plans on where we were going or how long we where going to stay from day to day after the first two nights. Cindy was great, she would look at the map while we traveled and find places to visit for me, for her and both of us. Once we decided on a general location we would make a reservation then, must have worked OK. We never had to sleep in the car. When we got up on day two we drove to the nuclear power plant at Susquehanna, the plant was closed to tours on the day we visited but we were invited to spend some time in the Information Center (this was a me place). Our next stop was to be Ricketts Glenn State Park, someone had told Cindy about it at work so we added it to the list. On our way we passed through Benton PA and decided to stop. A nice little town with a waterfall and park as you enter from the South on 487. We stopped and walked down by the water for awhile and looked at the artwork. Within a few blocks we found the Old Filling Station Restaurant, it looked to be an old home that has been converted to a restaurant and bar. The waitress said that the building used to be a doctors office years ago and was never a gas station. The food was good and the staff very nice and attentive. After lunch we got back on the road and headed to Ricketts Glenn State park. On our route was Shickshinny PA, as we turned on to West Union Street I spotted this large old house sitting up on a hill overlooking the street. Here was another photo

2 opportunity, we made a short detour around the block and stopped across from the Shickshinny Fire Department. After a few pictures we were back on the road again. We arrived at Ricketts Glenn and parked the car. Cindy and I enjoy camping and hiking trails so this was going to be fun. We started our walk on the eastern trail that has eight separate water falls that range from 15 to 60 feet in height. As we followed the trail Cindy found some ferns that she really liked. She has several at home that she planted years ago. Continuing down the trail we came to the first waterfall, then the next and the next. We had never been somewhere with as many on a single stream. We kept following them until we came to where the two streams merged. The two upper streams merge into one larger stream and feed three more water falls down stream. It was time to go back up. Just a little information that we didn t have, start on the west side first. There are places that are pretty steep and it would be a nicer climb down than up. Of course we choose the easy side first and then the mountain climb to finish the day. With that said the ten waterfalls on the west side range from 11 to 94 feet and were gorgeous. The day ended in Hartford Connecticut where we had a room to stay the night.

3 On day three we drove to the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut. Cindy loves to read and I do when I can find the time. Sam Clemens wrote the stories that most of us remember from our childhood, this was an opportunity to learn a little about the man and his life outside of his books. We signed up and took the tour. After the tour we walked around the house (taking pictures) and then had a picnic in the shade. On our way I missed a turn and here we are again, a sight we wouldn t have seen otherwise. There was this old white church (dedicated on November 27, 1794) that just needed me to stop and take a few pictures, the First Church of Christ Congregational in East Haddam, CT just had that classic Church look. It just a few minutes of our day to add some more memories to our trip. A little bit of a hidden secret, Gillette Castle sits on top a ridge overlooking the Connecticut River. The castle was built to Mr. Gillette s specifications and with a lot of his ideas that stemmed from the theater. William Gillette's is most famous for his playing of "Sherlock Holmes" and resurrecting the character as we know it today. Well worth the time, we took the tour and really enjoyed Mr. Gillette s home and the view of the river. After the Castle tour we drove to Rhode Island and ate at Paddy s Beach Club and then found our hotel for some rest. We got up on day four and drove to Newport to spend some time at Easton's Beach for awhile. We had planned for beach time so we had loaded our folding chairs before we left home. At the beach we unloaded the chairs and sat back and watched the waves for awhile. After few hours sitting in the sun and walking on the beach we went down the street and ate at Flo's Clam Shack.

4 Our last event on day four we took the Rhode Island Lighthouse cruise in Narragansett Bay. It was a beautiful sunny day on the water, we (I) took lots of pictures. Day five we headed for Boston, we parked north of the city and got on the subway. Apparently we were looking like a couple of out of place tourists because a nice lady walked up and asked to help us, guess what, she was from Indiana. With her help we found the right train and were on our way to see the USS Constitution docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Visiting the Constitution was on my bucket list of things to do. As a boy I built a model of the ship and it s always been my favorite tall ship. While doing a little research I discovered that visitors can purchase an American Flag on board and fly it. I decided I wanted an American flag that was sewn locally, you know American Made so I purchased one made in Muncie. As we were waiting our turn to board the ship, I took several pictures and admired the craftsmanship in her construction. As I looked at the side of the ship I wondered about all the experiences that the ship must have seen. She was built in 1794 to protect merchant ships from pirates and harassment by the British and French. Old Iron Sides got her name because it was reported that British shots just bounced off. The strength of her sides was attributed to the oak lumber used in her construction. Old Iron Sides was a great boost to the moral of the day. Once on board we were taken below deck where Cindy and I listened to the sailors describe life on board the ship. The hardships, battles and work to keep her afloat filled their days and nights. The sailors assigned to the ship answered questions and it was obvious they were very proud of their assignment. Once back on the main deck we went over to the table set up with

5 a supply of American flags. As I told the Marines that I had brought my own flag they were a little surprised, they had never had someone do that before. I didn t expect it but they let me hook my flag and pull it to the top myself. As my flag was flying Cindy was busy taking pictures. Once the flag reached the top, the Marines stepped back and saluted it. I have always had great respect and pride in the American flag, but I was surprised at just how I felt seeing my American flag blowing in the breeze high up on the main deck. As I brought the flag down I was asked how I intended to display it when I got it home, I wasn t really sure right that moment. I didn t know if I would hang it in my office or build a case for it. I decided to tri-fold it so with expert help we folded it right there on the deck of the ship. As far as I m concerned that flag will never be unfolded again. After we finished she handed me a certificate that documents that the flag was flown on the ship. Cindy and I thanked them for their help and their service and left the ship. Next we went to the USS Constitution Museum and spend some time reading and learning more of the ships history. As we were leaving I spotted some pens that had been made from wood removed from the ship. I asked if they had any wood for sale and was shown several small packages of red oak that had been removed during a refit in I bought one to keep with the flag. Once we got home I started planning and built a display case using traditional joining methods of the period and put all the pieces on display in my office. In the display, all the background images were taken on the day the flag was flown, the flag itself, the flag receipt and the inspectors tag when it was made, the small piece of the ship itself, its receipt and the documentation that came with it. And finally, the document presented to me on the deck acknowledging the flag was flown on the ship. My little piece of history connected to our nation s history. As we left the ship we walked some of the Freedom Trail in Boston, can you imagine, we walked the same streets as Ben Franklin, Paul Revere and untold numbers of other patriots. It s interesting to spend time on the East coast and see the places that had so much to do with our nation s early history. As we walked the trail we entered the Copp's Hill Burying Ground on Hull Street and were surprised to find that it was used during the battle of Bunker Hill by the British. Our next stop on the trail was the Old North Church. The church is still in use today and is the oldest standing church building in Boston. An interesting note on the church was how the lower level seating was set up. Arranged in cubes, families or organizations would buy a section for a year at a time. The seating areas to the front cost more that in the back. Sounds like flying today. Also of interest was why they were enclosed all the way to the

6 floor. The church didn t have what we would consider a good HVAC system so the closed doors on the boxed pews helped keep some of the cold out. Playing another role in our history the Old North Church was the signaling point that began the midnight ride of Paul Revere. While still on the trail we stopped and ate lunch at the Warren Tavern, imagine the history, we were eating in the same tavern that George Washington and Paul Revere ate, drank and most likely discussed the birth of our nation. Just north of Boston we visited Salem, probably the first thing that stood out for me was the bronze statue of Elizabeth Montgomery. Cindy and I had to pose for a picture with it. We didn t know it but at least one of the shows had parts of it filmed in Salem. The City even changed the witch image they used to represent Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stevens. We also visited the Salem Armory, it was the headquarters and training facility for the Second Corps of Cadets during the 1800 s. Another highlight for me as we visited Salem the walk included seeing the tall ship, Friendship of Salem. It s a replica of the Friendship that was captured by the British in the war of When we left Salem we drove north to Gloucester Massachusetts to spend time on the shore at Stage Fort Park, and yes more pictures. Cindy sat and read and I napped, took picture and just watched people, boats and seagulls. On day six we road the subway back into Boston and visited Chinatown. We got lucky, on the day we visited the community was having a street party. We walked and shopped and met a lot of nice people. After spending a little time shopping Cindy was ready to eat so we picked a restaurant and walked in. Me being me I picked something out of the norm for lunch. I am pretty sure that it was all dead but it looked like it could have swam away at any time. Our next Boston experience involved a trip to the MIT Museum, this one was for me. I started on the first floor and wound my way past exhibit after exhibit. As I said Cindy loves to read so she opened a book and waited patiently. Well for awhile, she finally came to make sure I had not been kidnapped. She worries about me. That was our last night staying outside of Boston

7 The days finally here, day 7 and fresh lobster is on the menu! We checked out and headed for Freeport Maine. Cindy and I made our first stop at the L.L. Bean flagship store and picked up a few items then it was off to docks for some fresh lobster. When we arrived at Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company Cindy smiled and I smiled for her too. We placed our order and we waited. When our food was ready I picked it up at the window and delivered it to my bride of 25 plus years. Now just a little background information, Cindy really likes lobster but she had never had a whole steamed one before. She always got just a tail everywhere we went. So when she picked it up and pulled the tail from the body, well as they say the look on her face was priceless. You see she wasn t expecting the surprise that fell out. But nothing was going to change her plans, that lobster tail had an appointment with melted butter and a fork. Mission accomplished. We finished our meal and drove south to visit the Delorme Map Headquarters at Yarmouth. At the map store is a large rotating globe called "Eartha. Eartha is the largest image of earth ever created. It s kind of like visiting the largest ball of yarn while on vacation except this one lets you see the earth as it s seen from space in full color detail. Our day was done so we headed to the hotel. I woke up on day 8 to the hotel moving, yes moving! Cindy was already up and reading her Bible when I felt the bed shake. I asked her if she felt it to and of course she did. It was about 20 minutes after 6 when we turned on the TV and there was talk of an explosion in Yarmouth, a community about 6 miles south of our hotel. The amount of force required to move the Hotel must have been massive. We were on the second floor of a fairly new building made with steel and brick. Within a few minutes we heard sirens and saw emergency service vehicles headed south. By the time we were ready to check out, the desk clerk was talking about a house that had blown up and they thought someone had died. We had to drive south to catch the interstate which was at Yarmouth. When the explosion occurred it knocked out the power in the area and we had to wait until the pumps could be reset so we could fill the car. Once we were back on the road the next target was the Vermont Country Store outside of Rockingham VT. We did OK until Gertrude (my name for my GPS) lost her mind. As we diligently followed her directions we passed Lovers Lane and then Yak road and then after more miles than it should have been she said your destination is on the left. We looked at each other and just laughed, it was an empty field in the middle of no where. So out came the maps and we plotted a new course. As I have said sometimes you get to see things that you would have missed if to didn t get a little lost once in awhile, while Gertrude had us tooling around the country side we got to see what I believe was a cold storage room with a stone entrance cut into the side of a hill and a barn being built using heavy timbers.

8 We finally made it to the Old Vermont Country Store. The first thing we did was get into our picnic supplies and eat under a big old shade tree. Before we made it into the store we did a little shopping in some tents out front. I had heard of the store but never looked into what they had. We wandered the isles for about an hour and bought some real Vermont maple syrup (which the grand babies really enjoyed), some seasonings and a couple other items and headed out again. The next planned designation was Buffalo NY to stay the night. So here we go again, driving and sharing the sights we saw a twin stone arch bridge (yes got out and took pictures) and the Big Moose Deli and Country Store in Hoosick Falls, NY. A lot of places put up a sign, maybe some items to get your attention but this place warranted pictures. Its just not everyday you see a cow, horse, bear, gnomes, pigs, chickens and an assortment of other critters on the roof of a building. It almost worked, I looked but didn t stop. We made it to our hotel in Buffalo a little late and settled in for the evening. Our last day of travel was the 9th day of the trip. We ate breakfast at the local Denney s then left Buffalo behind us as we headed towards home. Something that I was unaware of was how many vineyards there are in north western New York. We stopped at one just to ask questions and do a little sight seeing. As we were driving back to the interstate Cindy spotted a Tim Horton s donut store and said that we needed to pick some up for Pastor Steve. Apparently they are big in Canada where he is from, I called him to find out what he and Heather (his wife) liked best. They got them at church on Sunday. We made it home safe and sound after an amazing trip. In 9 days we stopped and did something in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. A couple of days it was two or more states in the same day. Sounds rushed but it really wasn t, I didn t mind the drive at all because I knew what it was all about. Lobster in Maine for the love of my life. We didn t overstay our welcome and had a great time together. Life is like a trip, sometimes it s a straight line between A and B and sometimes its not. It s all about the journey not how fast you can get there or how long you stay. As with any trip it s always better with someone you love. Cindy and I spent a lot of time traveling off the interstate system on our trip, the slower pace allowed us to enjoy the county and accomplish what the trip was about, time together. Thank you my love and I can t wait for the next 25!