July 12, 2014 Northfield, New Hampshire "caboose yard"

We delayed our departure by one day so that we could get all our pesky details handled.  Picking up meds at two different drugstores in two different towns, plus having the truck serviced in a third town.  We started out early and were finished with the truck stuff by 10:30 a.m.;  for lunch we wandered down to a town named Tilton, which merged straight into a town named Northfield.  And there they were!  Cabooses!  (Click here to see them rolling on the rails.)  Don't you ever wonder where they went?  Well:  they are gathered here and there around the country (like this) and they are either for sale or individually owned.  You want one to restore and maybe live in?  Buy one!  We stomped around this place for quite a while.  There were at least 15-20 cabooses, plus several other train cars - a pullman, a club car, a box car.  Lucky thing that I am not rich or I would have my own caboose!

Signage on the building.

The orange/grey Western Pacific is living quarters for the folks
who are working on restoring the one behind it.  See the lady on the ladder?

Check out the name on this old Bar Car....

A pullman.  Now, be honest:  wouldn't you like to have your very own?

July 11, 2014 Last day at Newfound Lake, New Hampshire

On our last day with kinfolk at Newfound Lake, we all had breakfast at a gas station/cafe near our campground; afterward, they opted to come inspect our camper.  While at the cafe, the kids got some gummy worms....  Need I say more?  The results are below.  Silly!  Next, we all met down at the beach for one last swim and float.  Suddenly, (how does time speed up like that?) it was time to get cleaned up and head out to a farewell dinner with Rus and Anne and Dave and Jane Homer.  We went over to the Squam Lake area to Walter's Basin Restaurant and Pub, and had a very fine meal.  The movie On Golden Pond was filmed at Squam Lake, so there are lots of references to the movie in the area.  It felt a bit sad, knowing they were leaving and so were we....

Silly Anna!

Silly Kyle and silly Anna!

L-R:  Jane Homer, Anne Nykvist, Dave Homer, Rus Nykvist, and Nannie & Bubba.

July 10, 2014 Afternoon visit to the Sulptured Rocks

This afternoon we drove to the Sculptured Rocks, where the Cockermouth River tumbles down to the lake.  Never fails to amaze me how water can carve and sculpt such things as huge pieces of granite.  Just like the lake, this water was cool but not freezing-cold, so wading was the order of the day for some of us, while others were swimming and diving!  We took the kids up to the "gentler" part of the rocky river, but the main area of the sculptured rocks was a dangerous and deep gorge.  No clue about the American flag hanging backward from the bridge.

Looking upstream.  Bubba in shadows on left.

Strangely carved rocks.

Anna JUMPS!

Anna SPLASHES IN!

Rob with back to camera; Kyle downstream looking at rocks; Kristen and Anna on the rock.

Upstream view of main gorge.  See the people swimming here?  Looks dangerous to me.

Downstream view of gorge.  One wrong step and end up with a cracked cranium!

July 10, 2014 Morning Boat Ride on the Lake

This morning arrangements had been made (thank you, Anne!) for everyone to be on a two-hour boat ride around Newfound Lake.  There was a narrator who shared fascinating tidbits about the lake and the history of the area.  The boat was a big pontoon boat with a nice cover for shade.  Kids and grownups alike loved it!

Avery, Anna, Kaylen, and Kyle

Great-nephew Kyle is having a Good Time.

The Levangies:  Kyle, Rob, Kristen, and Anna.

"Our" beach as viewed from the water.

Kyle and Anna

Intrepid passengers...

They told us that young men have been known to dive and jump from the rock point on the island...

An area of the shore called "the ledges" and also the location of the deepest part of the lake (183 ft.)

(at Camp Berea, an all-male Christian summer camp)
First you get someone to jump on the shore-end of the big balloon-y thing, and then.....

then the person sitting on the lake-end of the balloon-y thing goes flying up and into the lake.

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.

Group photo of all the passengers, except one little girl...

July 9, 2014 Newfound Lake, New Hampshire

We are here at Newfound Lake in New Hampshire, visiting with my brother and his family.  They have spent 2 weeks here at the lake every summer for 30+ years.  This year the timing of our travels put us at the lake with them, and my goodness!  What a lovely place!  The photos don't do it justice.  The lake is clear and cool, but not freezing cold - very refreshing.  Spending time with my family is priceless, and there is lots of laughter and foolishness....  

The lake at sunset.

Sister-in-law Anne and niece Kristen.

Rainbow view from the deck of their condo.

Bubba and Kristen.

Bubba and I, being silly.

Grampy and I....  (that would be brother Rus)

Anne doing what she loves.

Floating family!

July 5, 2014 Purcellville, Virginia

Today we drove a little east of Winchester to visit with my cousin Gil and his wife Carrie.  Last time we saw Gil was in 1998, and we had never met Carrie before.  They have a beautiful home in a rural area.  They have a huge 110-lb. dog named Valcor who is a great big teddy bear and we became fast friends.  Carrie has a wonderful herb garden in the back, and a spectacular perennial flower garden in the front.  After a fine lunch of BLT sandwiches, we hopped in Carrie's VW beetle for a tour around the area, including a winery and a couple of nearby towns.  What fun!  Next thing we knew, we were being served up a delicious dinner of salmon and heirloom tomato salad and mashed taters.  And all the while we were talking and catching up and doing a lot of laughing.  So happy we managed to get together!  Hope to do it again - next time maybe we will "show" them New Orleans!

Valcor heard me say "bacon" .....

Grapes

Us

Bubba and Gil

Carrie and Nannie

Carrie's amazing yellow Beetle.

July 4, 2014 Stephens City, Virginia (south of Winchester)

Here is what small-town July 4th looks like.  The local park is full of families, there are various inflatable kiddie "rides", there are the usual food options, and there is a DJ playing music.  There were an awful lot of people here for this event - parking was insane and it sure took a long time to get out of there....  We brought our blanket and after walking around a bit we settled down and listened to the music and then the sun finally set, and then....  BOOM!

July 3, 2014 Stormy Weather....

Today we had a nice easy drive from Wytheville, VA up to Winchester - or so we thought!  Little did we know that there was something exciting up ahead...  a big ol' bad storm!  We drove thru hail which scared the dickens out of us (think:  important stuff made of plastic on top of camper) but we escaped with no visible damage.  There were some big winds which also had us a bit nervous, but we just got pushed around a bit, no biggie.  All this took place one town away from our destination and it seemed to take FOREVER to get here!  But we are now all set up and ready for 3 whole days of NOT traveling!  And after today the weather is supposed to be wonderful.

(p.s. I have an awesome video of the hail hitting the truck but alas, I don't know how to make it load on this blog site....)

Ominous clouds gathering on the mountain.

Guess which way we are headed?

Starting to look bad.

Temp outside dropped to 64!!!

July 2, 2014 Wytheville, Virginia

We are once again on our Summer Trip;  left home on June 30 and have been driving ever since, seeking escape from the Summer Heat!  We under-estimated yesterday's drive and ended up going 445 miles - 9 hours of driving... whew!  Tonight we are finally in the Blue Ridge Mountains at 2000+ elevation and STILL it is 85 out there at 7 p.m.  We have been lucky all three nights and haven't had to unhitch, which is a hassle for just an overnight.

Our ultimate destination is Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada.  If they end up having a heat wave while we are there with temps over 80, I will be most unhappy.... !

Tomorrow we will settle in Winchester, Virginia for 4 nights for the July 4 holiday weekend.  I have a cousin who lives near Winchester  and we are both looking forward to a little visit.  I am sorry we don't have any pictures for you yet, but stay tuned!