Sunday, October 30, 2016

Our Canadian Adventure - Le Dernier Chapitre

Driving through a river valley in New Hampshire on a bright, sunny day
After four years, four trucks, and three different trailers, we are now truly RV'ers.  We have  spent the night in a Walmart parking lot!  When we bought our first travel trailer, I stated that I was never overnighting at Walmart.  Family and friends touted the advantages, but I stood firm...until July 2nd of this year, when not only did we spend the night but we were happy to do so.

Our last day in Canada was July 1 - Canada Day - which we spent in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.  The next morning we crossed the border back into Maine.  There was only one small hiccup.  When the  border patrol agent asked "What did you buy in Canada?" Mike answered "nothing."  Technically, that was true.  He hadn't bought anything that we were bringing back into the States, but his answer, obviously, raised a red flag.   When the agent asked the same question for the third time, he added "I'll bet if I looked in your trailer I would find something."  Belatedly, I chimed in with the items I had purchased:  earrings, books, a few other souvenirs.  Over to the inspection area we went, unlocked the door, and opened the living room slide so the agent could have a look.  He glanced briefly in the bedroom (that slide was still closed) and the bathroom, then opened the refrigerator.  Satisfied that we were both harmless and boring, he welcomed us  back to the United States and let us go.  Mike learned that morning that buying "stuff" is the Americans' passion, and if you don't come back with something to show for your travels, you are automatically a suspicious character.  As for me, I'm just doing my duty as the consummate consumer and maintaining the American stereotype.

The bucolic drive through Maine and New Hampshire was lovely.  We had made all our reservations by February - and quite frankly, had been surprised that we were able to get a one-night reservation on a holiday weekend - so we felt secure about our overnight lodging.  We arrived at a lovely campground (which shall remain unnamed) festooned with American flags and urns of flowers celebrating Independence Day.  It was a charming place - until we were given our assigned site.  The "pull-through" site had a sprawling pine tree at one end.  Mike decided he could try to back in, even though that would have meant straddling a two-foot-deep ravine in the center of the site.  As we were surveying the situation, it became evident that not only was there a tree and a ditch, but the space would be a least four feet too short.  So as the sun got lower and lower over the White Mountains, we began calling every RV park in a 40 mile radius, looking for a site for one night, on the Saturday of a three-day holiday weekend.  As you might imagine, we had no luck.

And that is how we ended up happily parked in a Walmart parking lot.  The store manager told us we were most welcome to stay overnight.  We joined another fifth wheel, two class C motor homes, a class A from Florida, a vintage Airstream, and, later, were joined by three restored Volkswagen Vanagon campers from Montreal and a pick-up truck camper for our first "Camp Wally" experience.
Two of the three Volkswagen campers that spent the night on the Walmart
parking lot in New Hampshire.  The third one, which is behind the blue one,
was painted with 1960's-era flowers and peace symbols
That might have been the end of the story - but not quite.  While Mike and Sophie were getting to know our new neighbors, I decided to hike across the parking lot, over a little grassy knoll, and across a street to pick up sandwiches from Panera Bread.  I was approached in the Panera parking lot by a policeman in uniform who identified himself and inquired if I was okay.  I assured him that I was fine.  He then asked if I had been in a car accident.  Thinking to myself that I must be looking pretty disheveled, I explained we were in an RV at Walmart.  He commented that he noticed that my glasses were missing one lens, and asked if anyone had been "mean" to me.  Only then did I remember that I was wearing my glasses which, indeed, had only one lens. (I had had cataract surgery on one eye before the trip; the other eye was scheduled for surgery when we returned, but until it was done, I still very much needed a lens to see out of that eye.)  I assured the officer I was fine and offered a short explanation of the contributing circumstances that made me appear disorientated and pathetic-looking.  I appreciate how observant the police officer was and how kindly he treated me and told myself that someday, this would be a humorous anecdote around a campfire.  With sandwiches in hand, I went back to our little Walmart campground.

After an uneventful (thank goodness) night on the parking lot, we "broke camp" shortly after sunrise on Sunday morning and headed to New York and a week of fun activities and fireworks with more FROG friends at Lake George, Buffalo and the surrounding area, and, as a fitting finale to our wonderful Canadian adventure, visits to both the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls.
A foggy Sunday morning on the road in New Hampshire
Looking out over the Merrimack River Valley in New Hampshire with
early morning fog hanging above the river
Magic Forest Family Fun Park.  Uncle Sam proudly displays Old Glory
for Independence Day, but apparently Santa decided to photo-bomb him
Magic Forest Family Fun Park, Lake George, across the street from our
campground.  We pulled in here to wait until our site was ready.  Our truck
and trailer can be seen behind Mighty Mouse and Dumbo
At an elevation of 2,030 feet, Prospect Mountain offers a panoramic
view of Lake George
Another view from Prospect Mountain.  The furthest mountain range that
you can see in the distance is in Maine
Lake George Village at the foot of Prospect Mountain
With our friends Dave and Lori, waiting for the bus from the summit back
down to the parking lot, some 500 feet lower on the mountain
The Sagamore Hotel.  The original hotel was opened in 1883 by Myron O. Brown.
100 years later, in 1993, Philadelphia builder and real estate developer
Norman Wolgin purchased the hotel and completely restored it.
The rear of the hotel, taken from the area of the outdoor pool.  The hotel
is located on an island, accessible by a causeway.
Lobby of the Sagamore.  The hotel was named after "the Sagamore", an American
Indian character in James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans.
The Sagamore Hotel at Bolton Landing has been featured on the TODAY
show as one of the top 10 most haunted hotels in the United States.
A Lake George Marine Patrol boat overtakes the excursion boat The Morgan,
a replica of a 19th century steam vessel, owned by the Sagamore Hotel.  
Sunbathers around the pool deck of the Sagamore Hotel on the 4th of July.
One of the many small islands on Lake George, seen from the
rear lawn of the Sagamore Hotel.
The excursion boat Adirondac makes her way down Lake George.
There are scores of small islands on the lake.  Some are privately owned, but
many are part of the New York State Park system and offer primitive camping.
This is a fairly recent reproduction of a barrel-back Chris Craft from the 1940's.
It still evokes images of a time when "yachting" was only for the wealthy.
Mike and Sophie watch a boat pass through a set of locks on the famous Erie Canal.
Having cleared the locks, this trawler, home-ported in Austin, Texas,
continues west on the Erie Canal.  Before we sold Horizon Dancer, our
last boat, Mike talked about making a trip like this. 
This old church in Saratoga Springs, NY is being renovated and converted to
a cultural arts center.  I love the old iron work on the doors.
Darwin and Isabelle Martin commissioned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design
both their Buffalo mansion and country home, Graycliff, on Lake Erie. 

Wright designed the home with transparent glass walls in the center section,
allowing one to see through the house to the lake beyond, giving  the
appearance of being outside in nature.

Back  yard and rear elevation of the house.  When the Martins held parties, they
were often held outdoors, and they would have an orchestra playing on the balcony.

Wright designed this sunken garden.  After the Martins passed and the house
changed ownership, it was filled in.  It has now been restored as part of the
on-going restoration of Graycliff. 
Rear elevation of  Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in
Lackawanna, NY.  The front is even more imposing, but this view gives
a good perspective on how big the church actually is.
When the Basilica was built, Father Nelson Baker, who had done
so much for children, was depicted on the church, surrounded by
children.  Fr. Baker was chagrined and embarrassed by the attention.

Interior of the Basilica.  Angles are everywhere in the church,
including this one, holding the font of Holy Water.

Interior of the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory

The marble work is stunning,  Craftsmen were brought in
from Italy to work on the Basilica. The first Mass was
held in the church on Christmas of 1925.

Father Baker's many charitable works included establishment of a school, an
orphanage and a home for unwed mothers, all housed in these decidedly
military-looking buildings situated in the blocks around the church.

For more information about Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica
and the work and legacy of Reverend Nelson Baker, go to www.ourladyofvictory.org


The cantilever observation deck on the US side of Niagara Falls, directly
over the pier for the Maid of the Mist excursion boat.  The spray is from
the American Falls.
American Falls, taken from the Canadian side
The excursion boat Hornblower, passing in front of Horseshoe Falls. The
flow of water over the edge of the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls,
(combined) is in excess of six million cubic feet per minute.
Aboard the sightseeing boat Maid of the Mist.  Ponchos are a must!
Cave of the Winds on the US side.  You are almost directly below a
section of the American Falls, and you will get wet.

The Hornblower, which operates from the Canadian side, makes her
way past the American Falls.

Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side.  Horseshoe Falls drops about
188 feet (57 meters) to the river below.
The Skylon Tower, on the Canadian side features an
observation deck, revolving restaurant and exterior elevators.
Horseshoe Falls, lit with laser lights at night, from the
Canadian side.
On our last night with Dave and Lori, we had dinner at
Elements on the Falls,overlooking Horseshoe Falls.
We had a memorable trip through Canada and the Eastern United States
but Sophie said she was tired after six weeks on the road.

Sometimes it's the journey, as much as it is the destination, that lends itself to some fun (and funny) Road Stories.






We wish you a Happy Halloween!

(Photo taken at a farm on Augusta Bottom Road, just
north of the Missouri River at Washington, MO)














No comments:

Post a Comment