Hard work fun

Hiked to top of humpback rock near Waynesboro, va on blue ridge parkway. Last time I was here was 40+ years ago. Last time I remembered the view.  This time I'll remember the climb.

Escape from new England; clouds over land.

We drove in Rhode island, Connecticut, new York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania today. Heavy traffic most of the way. Crossed the Hudson River on the Tappan Zee bridge (new york city skyline in the distance) and the new York state thruway.  Shortly thereafter we picked up a piece of metal in the left rear tire. Got up a ramp to safety.  Very lucky. Changed the tire. Half hour later we were on our way - to open spaces visible from the highway. Mass tpk and NY thruway very intimate.

Below - last images of new England.  We missed the mills in Rhode island, but did stop for a stroll across the Boston commons, atop the subterranean parking garage there.

Boston commons 1630: "this looks like a good place for a wading pool."

Boston commons now.

Nyet doggie

the reversing falls in St John, NB are just downstream of the huge Moosehead brewery. Downtown is old, with green squares and fantastic brick and stone facades marching down the hill to the harbor.  Cargo ships lay at anchor on the horizon in the bay of fundy. They leapt to prominence in the slanting rays of evening sun.

Crossed into Maine, the USA, at Calais. Border guards looking for fruits and hard liquor. "What's the weather like in Oklahoma? Be sure to visit east bay."

Visited East Bay (the easternmost city in the country. And St Andrews (lighthouse pictured on distant spit below). We followed low tide along the coastal drive.

Spectacular suspension bridge over the Penobscot Narrows.  Wish I could tell you where.

Belfast, Me. Lobster on the wharf just like you always knew it could be.

We stopped in Portland for lunch today at a diner on the wharf. Found a very old Unitarian Church and relaxed in their gardens.

Next stop shb to take cross sound ferry to orient point, long island and stay on south shore, but we couldn't find lodging that didn't say nyet doggie. So it's the I-95 corridor for us. Boston tomorrow.

PEI - shingles to spuds

Wood shingles meet asphalt on the streets of Charlottetown.  Most siding shingles are painted, and it is easy to imagine Vincent van Gogh staying under one of these roofs. 

The shingle at Argyle beach just after low tide.

With a nod to David Hockney, the north coast view on the east part of the island scenic drive.

Sailboat, dead man's pool, Charlottetown, PEI

We walked out on this beach at low tide. Later, walking in town, I discovered that my sandal straps had turned to sandpaper. Ouch.

Very steep metal steps down to the beach. Nice facilities in the provincial park (shown here) which was set off from the neighbors by white posts and cable.

Coming home from the beach we were happy to see the local Lions club selling fresh cooked lobsters at roadside. Add some fresh green beans and voila. Dinner.

Bam Burger gets our vote for best in town.  The restaurant was filled with bags of new pei spuds waiting to be french fried.

Beaches PEI

First stop - Tea Hill beach on the south shore. Tide was out. Way out. Very nice but no toilets. Fetched the dog out on the flats.

If you are ever in the mood to build a villa on the hill overlooking fields and the deep blue . . .

Next stop, Singing Sands. The sand squeaks, the surf pounds, and there are beach bums everywhere. (Nice ones) You can jump off the bridge between the piers and let the swells carry you into the lagoon. Never seen anything like this.good beach showers.

Then, back to the north shore. See the crowds? Campground here. No lifeguard. (Take your dog on the beach)

Pink lemonade PEI

Our neighbor; up the block from our vrbo in Charlottetown.  The special tuesday was pink lemonade for 25 cents. No charge for bubbles.

Victoria park is a few blocks away.  There is a boardwalk next to the sea. Beauty lies in all directions. Though the heat may be setting records, no one will complain about the summer because winter lasted till June.

We came a long way to find a prettier place than charlevoix, MI.

New Brunswick has no ball of twine . . .

At 1282 feet, the world's longest covered bridge is located in hartland, NB, over the St Johns river. Its just 20 miles or so down river  from the french fry capital of the world (looks like fields of green plants with white blossoms surrounding a trucking concern) and an hour upstream from grand falls, NB.

This bridge was just upstream from the covered bridge. I found it to be the more attractive.

One small peek at the grand falls. There is a zip line across these falls, which in spring carry 90% of Niagara's volume.

And lastly, at Baie Verte, the pottery and art of Ghita Levan. We are bringing some home with us.