You know, we have been here in Bangor for "coming up on" two weeks now; and the longer we stay the more impressed we are with the people and the friendly atmosphere of the city. We interact with a lot of people .... laundry, pharmacy, grocery, restaurants, hotel, truck repair shop, and of course the hospital. We have yet to encounter a single "sullen" or unhappy countenance. It's remarkable! Vera and I were traversing the tunnel connector between the hospital and the hotel in the evening on a weekend .... and we encountered a maintenance man who was so friendly and happy, that we just couldn't believe it.
We thought about it a lot, and have decided that living in a beautiful, refreshing climate, ... a nice pleasant town with no traffic problems .... just makes for happier people. I've been reading the local paper every day, and am amazed at the low crime rate. Well, for one thing, Bangor is on the northern edge of the populated portion of Maine. Everything in the north central part of the state is ...... well .... un-populated.... or very low population. If you look at a map, there just aren't many roads thru it. I guess this is about our second most favorite place we've visited.... too bad about their winters.
The fall colors are rapidly overtaking our location. The weather has been high of mid 60's and low in low 50's. I guess this has contributed to the explosion of color..... it is really wonderful. I think seeing them change from one spot is more interesting than traveling into them.
Anyway, I can't send pictures until we get back into our motorhome, and we don't know when that will be yet.
Later, Marilyn
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Moose tracks and Whoopie Pies
Here in Bangor, Maine .... for one week now: Vera is out of the hospital; but our motorhome is in (the hospital).... (Freightliner repair shop). We are actually at the moment .... homeless ... sort of. When Vera was released from the hospital we checked in to the adjacent hotel (it is connected to the hospital and gives a good discount to hospital patients who need an "interim stop". We did, because with the motorhome being in the shop during the day; it means we six souls (3 two legged and 3 tail waggers) have to spend the day in the car either doing chores (laundry), shopping (dangerous) or sight-seeing. Vera wasn't up to any of those, so we chose the hotel.
The repair shop always will let you spend the night in the coach in their parking lot (which we were doing when we had to call 911 for Vera); but the hassle of playing musical vehicles (with the dogs) at 7 am is not really a lot of fun.
Today is the fifth day the repair shop has had the coach; .... but they feel like they have (finally)identified the cause; and by the end of today will have fixed it. It was potentially a very dangerous problem: the engine sometimes would cut out at very low speeds .... usually when I was coasting to a stop. But the last time it did it; I was starting a turn into a driveway ....... you just canNOT steer a 28,000 lb. vehicle without power steering ..... trust me.
Anyway, then they had the usual obstacles ..... had to order the parts (twice); couldn't access the top of the diesel engine without moving the carpet, flooring and bed out of the way in the back of the coach. Diesels are harder to access and work on.... but when it works right, it is a wonderful machine! Especially in the mountains!
Well, now to the moose story. You know how I've mentioned here that we would really like to see a moose in the wild? And that we went 'moose hunting' starting back in Wyoming and Montana last year? Well, all the way across Vermont, New Hampshire and into Maine we saw roadside signs warning about moose crossings ..... sometimes it would be very specific: "frequent moose crossings next 1/4 mile, early mornings and evenings". We thought about just pulling off and sitting there however long it took to see one crossing.
But jump to the present: here we are in a hospital/hotel along the Penobscot River here in almost downtown Bangor, Maine ..... and Sunday morning near downtown Bangor .... moose were spotted by the river !! .... wonder if we could send the dogs out to track them down?
There is a wonderful park just across the road from the hospital/hotel. It includes the whole side of a mountain (hill) overlooking the river ..... and has massive green areas, as well as trails thru pine forests, as well as a two-tiered waterfall and huge fountain. This is the typical picnic location for the dog's breakfast and dinner. Charlie and I usually take them there two or three times a day.
Today we went to a nearby sandwich shop to get sandwiches to take back to the hotel ..... and found the largest selection of 'whoopie pies' I have ever seen. Any flavor cake you can imagine; any flavor of filling you can imagine. I've been noticing them everywhere there is a cash register (just about) and people seem to buy them by the sackfulls. Turns out it is a regional tradition here, and has been named the offical "Maine Treat". A local lady started in 1994 making them in her kitchen ..... etc, etc, .... now her bakeries make 10,000 daily and they are distributed throughout New England. Very good, very fresh .... calls them "Wicked Whoopies".
More later, Marilyn
The repair shop always will let you spend the night in the coach in their parking lot (which we were doing when we had to call 911 for Vera); but the hassle of playing musical vehicles (with the dogs) at 7 am is not really a lot of fun.
Today is the fifth day the repair shop has had the coach; .... but they feel like they have (finally)identified the cause; and by the end of today will have fixed it. It was potentially a very dangerous problem: the engine sometimes would cut out at very low speeds .... usually when I was coasting to a stop. But the last time it did it; I was starting a turn into a driveway ....... you just canNOT steer a 28,000 lb. vehicle without power steering ..... trust me.
Anyway, then they had the usual obstacles ..... had to order the parts (twice); couldn't access the top of the diesel engine without moving the carpet, flooring and bed out of the way in the back of the coach. Diesels are harder to access and work on.... but when it works right, it is a wonderful machine! Especially in the mountains!
Well, now to the moose story. You know how I've mentioned here that we would really like to see a moose in the wild? And that we went 'moose hunting' starting back in Wyoming and Montana last year? Well, all the way across Vermont, New Hampshire and into Maine we saw roadside signs warning about moose crossings ..... sometimes it would be very specific: "frequent moose crossings next 1/4 mile, early mornings and evenings". We thought about just pulling off and sitting there however long it took to see one crossing.
But jump to the present: here we are in a hospital/hotel along the Penobscot River here in almost downtown Bangor, Maine ..... and Sunday morning near downtown Bangor .... moose were spotted by the river !! .... wonder if we could send the dogs out to track them down?
There is a wonderful park just across the road from the hospital/hotel. It includes the whole side of a mountain (hill) overlooking the river ..... and has massive green areas, as well as trails thru pine forests, as well as a two-tiered waterfall and huge fountain. This is the typical picnic location for the dog's breakfast and dinner. Charlie and I usually take them there two or three times a day.
Today we went to a nearby sandwich shop to get sandwiches to take back to the hotel ..... and found the largest selection of 'whoopie pies' I have ever seen. Any flavor cake you can imagine; any flavor of filling you can imagine. I've been noticing them everywhere there is a cash register (just about) and people seem to buy them by the sackfulls. Turns out it is a regional tradition here, and has been named the offical "Maine Treat". A local lady started in 1994 making them in her kitchen ..... etc, etc, .... now her bakeries make 10,000 daily and they are distributed throughout New England. Very good, very fresh .... calls them "Wicked Whoopies".
More later, Marilyn
Friday, September 21, 2012
Bangor, Maine
We have driven across thru Vermont, New Hampshire and into the interior of Maine ..... still looking for moose. I have seen a tourist advertisement for guided moose tours ..... we may have to check it out.
But the big news is Vera is in the hospital here with severe blood pressure problems. She got to take an ambulance ride night before last when her blood pressure soared to 229 over "100 something". So today they did a heart cath. and pronounced her free of any artery obstructions.... so now they can focus on medication issues. We'll be here at least a week; more if necessary.
We are very fortunate to be here in a city with a very good medical center. We have been very impressed with all the care she has been given.
So the fall colors here are reported to be about 10 percent toward peak. Already very beautiful.
More later, Marilyn
But the big news is Vera is in the hospital here with severe blood pressure problems. She got to take an ambulance ride night before last when her blood pressure soared to 229 over "100 something". So today they did a heart cath. and pronounced her free of any artery obstructions.... so now they can focus on medication issues. We'll be here at least a week; more if necessary.
We are very fortunate to be here in a city with a very good medical center. We have been very impressed with all the care she has been given.
So the fall colors here are reported to be about 10 percent toward peak. Already very beautiful.
More later, Marilyn
Thursday, September 13, 2012
chocolate
We found the Champlain Chocolate Factory .... took the tour ... tasted the goods .... ummmm!
Also went to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory (Vera and Charlie went; I dog sat). They didn't buy anything; but said it was interesting. The bears are stuffed with recycled shredded plastic now .. who would have figured.
Lake Champlain is beautiful at sunset.
here we were in Endicott, New York
The "Southern Tier" of New York State:
More later, Marilyn
Also went to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory (Vera and Charlie went; I dog sat). They didn't buy anything; but said it was interesting. The bears are stuffed with recycled shredded plastic now .. who would have figured.
Lake Champlain is beautiful at sunset.
here we were in Endicott, New York
The "Southern Tier" of New York State:
More later, Marilyn
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Vermont
We love Vermont! It is just really refreshing ..... of course that is at least partly due to the season. Fall is in the air and there are a few leaves starting to do their thing.
We are in Burlington, VT ..... just at the bottom end of Lake Champlain. It is a beautiful lake, and the mountains on both sides are really lovely... they appear blue most of the time (or lavender in the sunset). Burlington's downtown and college and university areas are built on the hills just above the lake. I'll bet in the winter getting to class or work is a trick.
Guess what... no geese here. The dogs are sooo disappointed; they keep sniffing the ground and looking. Our campground is adjacent to the beach .. has a beautiful park along the shore.
We'll be here another couple of days.
Later, Marilyn
We are in Burlington, VT ..... just at the bottom end of Lake Champlain. It is a beautiful lake, and the mountains on both sides are really lovely... they appear blue most of the time (or lavender in the sunset). Burlington's downtown and college and university areas are built on the hills just above the lake. I'll bet in the winter getting to class or work is a trick.
Guess what... no geese here. The dogs are sooo disappointed; they keep sniffing the ground and looking. Our campground is adjacent to the beach .. has a beautiful park along the shore.
We'll be here another couple of days.
Later, Marilyn
Monday, September 10, 2012
goose poop
The scourge of north country campgrounds !!! Yes, I know, we are here on their turf (just a mile or two from the Canadian border) ..... but these Canadian geese really have an attitude... They just poop wherever they please! The obvious problem with this is that you have to be careful where you walk. The not so obvious (to most people), is that dogs love goose poop !!!! ... well, at least our dogs do. This makes walking the dogs a really unpleasant occurrence. We are anxious to move on in the morning.
But the most interesting news is: for the second year straight ..... we have traveled north until we found fall !!!! As we drove north thru Syracuse, NY this morning, and up to the Saint Lawrence Seaway ..... we encountered two distinct "cold fronts". This afternoon's high was 57, and tonite is gonna be low 40's. You'd think we would have anticipated this a little more..... but here we are in our tee shirts and summer shorts/slacks. Tomorrow we will play 'beverly hillbillies' in the parking lot and dig out our winter clothes from the storage bins underneath the motorhome.
Today as we traveled thru upstate New York, I was again aware of evidences of the long ago glacial activities across this 'north country'. Once we left the rolling hills and climbed up on the plains along the seaway, there is a lot of rock to be seen on the surface of the land .... most of which is smooth and rounded over. I crossed one river that had 'beaches' of solid, gently sloping rock all along both sides... very little topsoil. Interesting.
We had lunch today with Vera's younger sister Donna. Enjoyed seeing her 'new' home, and the nice little town of Gouverneur.
Our main objective for the next month and a half, is to explore New England and experience the color. What a blessed life !!!
Later, Marilyn
But the most interesting news is: for the second year straight ..... we have traveled north until we found fall !!!! As we drove north thru Syracuse, NY this morning, and up to the Saint Lawrence Seaway ..... we encountered two distinct "cold fronts". This afternoon's high was 57, and tonite is gonna be low 40's. You'd think we would have anticipated this a little more..... but here we are in our tee shirts and summer shorts/slacks. Tomorrow we will play 'beverly hillbillies' in the parking lot and dig out our winter clothes from the storage bins underneath the motorhome.
Today as we traveled thru upstate New York, I was again aware of evidences of the long ago glacial activities across this 'north country'. Once we left the rolling hills and climbed up on the plains along the seaway, there is a lot of rock to be seen on the surface of the land .... most of which is smooth and rounded over. I crossed one river that had 'beaches' of solid, gently sloping rock all along both sides... very little topsoil. Interesting.
We had lunch today with Vera's younger sister Donna. Enjoyed seeing her 'new' home, and the nice little town of Gouverneur.
Our main objective for the next month and a half, is to explore New England and experience the color. What a blessed life !!!
Later, Marilyn
Saturday, September 8, 2012
stillllllllll here
Leaving tomorrow ! Maybe.
This is a beautiful place and I really love this area ........ and, I'm ready to move on.
Vera's brother-in-law is now out of the hospital and Vera feels comfortable leaving.
First stop .... Syracuse!
Later, Marilyn
This is a beautiful place and I really love this area ........ and, I'm ready to move on.
Vera's brother-in-law is now out of the hospital and Vera feels comfortable leaving.
First stop .... Syracuse!
Later, Marilyn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)