Category: USA travel

Two important graduations!

Two of our five grand daughters graduated this year – the COVID Class! They both invited us to their parties – so we could not miss them.

First was Siobhan Kathleen (named for her Grammie) who lives in Wenham MA and will be attending University of Alabama this fall for their nursing programs. She finished high school at Hamilton Wenham HS near the top of her class – she’s an A student, a rower and all around wonderful person. She’s the daughter of our third son Duncan, and we’ve watched her grow into a lovely and kind human being.

Rick, Siobhan & me partying.
Grampie being silly.
The graduate 2021

We drive to Virginia from NH over two days for the next graduation party. It was crazy but for the kids – it’s what we do.

Next was Rachael – the second daughter of our oldest son Chris. She graduated as valedictorian and will be attending William and Mary University in Williamsburg MD this fall. We couldn’t be prouder of her and all she has accomplished. She loves to cook and designed the menu for the graduation party which was wonderful. We wish her so much success in her next adventure.

We added older sis Katie to pic.
Family celebrating and food designed by Rachael

A visit to the Berkshires and my sister’s home in Easthampton.

We visited Northampton and it’s sister Hamptons in Western Massachusetts for ten days between the Foxboro visit and our month long stay in Hampton Falls NH. My youngest sister lives in Easthampton and we had not seen her in two years. This area is the edge of the Berkshires – Mount Tom greets you as you enter the valley.

Beautiful green hills and mountains – we are not in flat Florida anymore. We have stayed in this RV Park before and it is pleasant with big sites and convenient to the small cities and local farms

View from 6th tee at Wycoft Country Club

We had a wet and cold Memorial Day weekend but enjoyed several dinners together with family. Galaxy Restaurant in Northampton is a favorite spot and it did not disappoint. The food there is lovely so don’t miss it. We ventured to a new place – The Glendale Grille – good all American food – yummy meatloaf and fun pleasant servers. We entertained them as much as they did us. It’s one Route 66 in Easthampton – where the road west begins.

Where the supper meets the road…

Spent a day poking around Northampton and ate lunch at the French pastry place – Patisserie Lenox. Definitely not calorie free but delightful. Bought a few gifts while there and enjoyed just being out and about with the girls.

Galaxy

We golfed twice and it was fun but hard cause the course was very hilly and different from our Florida courses. It’s good to try new places and is the source of a few laughs and stories. One day we saw a big fat woodchuck on one of the tees. We waited our turn.

Wycoff golf path view
House at Overlook Farm Market
Another red barn
And another……

Next stop – Wakada Campground in Hampton Falls NH …

Quick visit to Old Ironsides

Charlestown is still the home berth of old Ironsides or the USS Constitution. We ventured into Boston for a retirement ceremony for one of her former captains and a dear friend. It was a beautiful warm spring day – fitting for a special ceremony.

Sand sculptures contest at Hampton Beach

  • The first place winner
  • Long view
  • Beautiful
  • Looking from other end
  • Men
  • Highlight the Lifeguards
  • Sculptors choice winner
  • Up closer
  • Sweet fourth place
  • Edens snake
  • My favorite – 2nd prize
  • Hmmmmm
  • Sunburst
  • Magical third place

Hampton NH for a month

We have rented a site at Wakada Campground in Hampton Falls from June 5 to July 6. We have graduation parties while we are here and lots more friends and family to see and hug

Massachusetts – home visit

We arrived in Foxborough at Normandy Farms Campground after a five day drive from Mount Pleasant.

We stopped twice for two days after our drives around Washington and New York. Those drives were long and stressful days and you need a day or two to recover. But it was cold at both the South Philadelphia and Newburgh NY KOAs. We picked them as locations to stop not as great places to stay. Both are small and compact – the NY one is very tightly wound through trees and woods – it’s not a big rig friendly park. We would not stop there again but honestly there are few alternatives near NYC. It’s probably better to make it into Connecticut where there are a few more parks.

This is our first time at Normandy Farms Campground and it’s beautiful and well staffed. Everyone is very friendly and eager to help.

We are enjoying this RV campground more than we expected and we understand why it is one of the top ten in USA. It’s location offers access to The Cape as well as Boston. As long as one avoids commuter travel times. And we are here as spring takes hold and the crabapples, lilacs, azaleas, and dogwoods are all bursting with blooms. The landscaping at this park is superior to any we’ve seen. We drove around the park one day to check out all the sites as well as the cabins, yurts and glam tent spaces. Areas for children abound – baseball and soccer fields as well as basketball courts and tennis not to mention wonderful playgrounds for the younger set.

We see why many people make Normandy Farms their summer hot spot. The farm itself was founded in mid 1700s and campground established in 1971 – this tear is their 50th anniversary. A Christmas tree farm is still part of the property.

So yes we would recommend this campground whole heartedly. And we will make it our “go to” stop in Massachusetts whenever we visit family and friends here.

Where are we going

We are headed to Massachusetts for my grand daughter’s high school graduation, a retirement ceremony for a dear friend and to see & HUG our family and friends who we have missed during our COVID year.

We’ll spend two months in NE and then stop in Vermont & New York followed by a turn south to Maryland , DC, VA Beach, North Myrtle Beach, coastal GA and finally ending in Eastpoint FL before heading home to Winter Haven by Sept 15th.

We will wave as we drive by.

Chain of Lakes Boat trip

  • Off we go
  • First link to new lake
  • Cool place for a house
  • Gardens
  • Lake view
  • Connecting canal
  • House & boat house
  • The Esther Williams pool
  • Nesting!
  • Birdies nesting in trees
  • Biggest Rooster ever
  • A hexagon shaped Lanai with pool
  • Pretty house and big too.
  • Thru rooster canal.
  • Water ski show at Legoland – we saw for free.
Traveling by boat thru eight of the 16 lakes connected by canals in Winter Haven was an unexpected joy. We went with friends Sophia and Mike and had a great time. If you visit our area – do a boat tour – see birds and wild life as well as big fancy homes.

Nesting osprey, blue herons, ibis and egrets were a lovely addition and unexpected. It was such fun traveling quietly thru backyards and canals enjoying a beautiful day.

Hidden in top tree are Ibis and below are Blue Herons.

Visit to the Dali Museum – “Van Gogh Alive”

Surrounded by his art, his words and inspirational music- this was a three dimensional feast for the senses. Projecting the art on huge wall panels surrounding the audience submerges one in the color, techniques, and emotion behind Van Gogh’s visual creations. It’s a wonderful way to learn his life story and appreciate his contribution to the Impressionist Age.
Truly a stunning display of art work that is both delightful and terribly sad at the same time. Learning about the stages of his life and his spiral towards his death was a great experience. Watching the changes in his use of color and the application of the brushstrokes, one could feel his loneliness, desire for love and overwhelming need for recognition.
The Dali Museum is a special place created to accept a collection of work by Salvatore Dali after the donor’s home city declined the gift.

I first visited it several years ago for an exhibit of Frida Khalid. I knew little about Dali’s work but my introduction that day was delightful. Contrasting Dali’s work with the Frida exhibit was remarkable and made me appreciate his contribution as well as hers.
If you visit St Petersburg put this lovely place on your list of must do’s.
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