Happy Trails through Boston and New York

Our tours of Boston and New York were (insert appropriate adjective here, because I am out of them). 

In Boston, we toured by one of our favorite choices, walking tours. We chose a Historical Society centered in the heart of Boston at the Boston Commons. The young woman who was our tour guide captured what I love seeing in teachers actually. She was passionate about what she was "teaching". She shared with us many intimate stories that captured real experiences in extraordinary times. Her character she represented, for example, was a playwright who wrote plays about women suffrage (not a favorite topic of the day, but how visionary!). We went through all of historic Boston with her. A highpoint was the graveyard in which Paul Revere and Patrick Henry were buried to name two. It was just amazing to be in a city where those early founders were willing to risk everything to bring about our country. Had they failed they would have been tried and executed as traitors, not only affecting themselves but their families. Amazing, truly. 

On to New York! We chose an RV campground that allowed for easy access to the city. Liberty Harbor RV Park. The Park was nothing to write home about, so won't describe it here:) what it did have going for it was incredible access to the city! A short ferry trip put us right at the heart of World Trade Center, which was in the Battery Park Section of Lower Manhatten. We were very impressed with this area, maybe in part because of its easy access! That said, this is where we went on an incredible bike ride along the Hudson River Park ( miles of bike and pedestrian paths) We rode this trail along the waterfront until we literally could not ride any further. We turned around and came back. As is our habit, when we got hungry we turned to "OK, Google now" we needed a restaurant that would accept Bailey, our dog. We ended up walking up several blocks to 8th Avenue on which we found "Pounds and Ounces". Good food and good beer. This actually captured many of our experiences. We didn't really focus on the "have to see tourist attractions". Rather we went for the experience and just let our feet carry us where they would. We explored neighborhoods.

Another huge find was that our first day, when looking for a Bailey friendly experience we found Z leisure and travel, Art and Susan Zuckerman. They have a radio show every Monday. They do tours all over New York, they teach classes as adjunct faculty. They were open when I called and took us on a private tour of the city...because they liked us because we were "dog people". Six hours, 100 dollars. Amazing. They were full of information. Took us to Brooklyn Promenade and again all kinds of places that no one else would know about. 

Finally we went to the Theatre. We took the subway to downtown New York to go to dinner at Cara Mia's, a fantastic neighborhood Italian restaurant that offered personalized dishes. Steve had clam/fish linguini. I had sea bass with grilled vegetables. We then went to Eugene Oneill theatre to see "Book of Mormon" an irreverent musical that is sure to offend and entertain everyone. 

On to Washington, DC! 

Historical tour in Boston New York

Brooklyn Promenade with our tour guides and their two golden retrievers

Lunch with our tour guides at "The Tavern" in Gramercy Neighborhood. O Henry wrote here.

Central Park

Central Park

We went on the New York Water Taxi that allowed for awesome close up views of Lady Liberty. 

A mural created by school children. This was a centerpiece, a poem written from a frame of reference of the Statue of Liberty. Captured everything.

Our closing night

Blueberries and Lobster at Treasure Island!

We so enjoyed our time with Bonnie and David Freeman as their guests at Treasure Island.
In this case, the pictures speak a thousand words... because mere words would not even begin to capture our magical weekend. The island has no cars with a daily routine of walking the perimeter of the island in about half an hour. There are 75 "camps" on the island, which consist of simple cabins to more elaborate affairs. Bonnie and David's is a cozy two bedroom cabin with wood floors and panelling. Everything opens to the gorgeous view of Square Pond. It seems that in Maine, what we consider lakes are labeled ponds because they have vegetation? At any rate, this is a lake! We spent our time walking, swimming, kayaking, boating, berry picking and eating the delicious meals Bonnie prepared for us! We came away with great memories, deepening friendship and recipes!:)

Bar Harbor

Well, in this case the pictures need to tell the story of our stay here. We just had the most awesome time here. So picturesque.

The history here is very interesting, with the first European landing here being Samuel de Champlain credited with naming the Island as the Mount Desert Mountains meaning (nothing but rock) because he saw Cadillac Mount's south ridge. French and English proceeded to fight over the area, decimating the Native American population of Maine. Eventually England won the day, giving the French the option to pledge allegiance to the King or leave. Those last left, the Acadians came to be known as the Cajuns and settled in Louisiana. Interesting hmmm? 

Thomas Cole, started painting in this area in 1844 as were others. Their paintings caught the attention of many on the East Coast. The first group who came to visit would stay with the farmers. In time, hotels were built. These hotels were too primitive for the wealthy visitors who began to build "cottages" which we would consider anything but... Some of those "cottage summer visitors" were: The Astors, JP Morgan, PUlitzer, Rockefeller, Vanderbuilt. The reason for the name "cottage", is because in Maine a house used over the summer only was and is considered a cottage. This changed the economy of the area, with the residents working for the wealthy to maintain their lifestyle. The Southwest Harbor, though, retained its agriculture economy. One wealthy cottager proved to be the visionary who provided for Acadia Park today. George Dorr, in the early 1900s turned his wealth and connections towards setting aside land for future generations. He worked tirelessly, devoting his own fortune and networking/fundraising to get his wealthy network to donate money and land. By end of his life he was living in a caretaker house, with 2000 dollars left of his 40 million dollar estate. All of that money went to the park. President Wilson named the area Sieru de Monts National Monument, protecting the area until it could be brought to Congress to be named a national park. This happened in 1919. Door became the first Superintendent of the Park. His friend, John D. Rockefeller, Jur, started summering on the Island in 1908. He was instrumental in the further accessibility of the park and its beauty. He donated 11,000 acres and built the carriage roads. Amazing that we had these individuals who had the foresight to protect what we enjoy today. 

On another note, if you visit the area, there are many many choices for staying from the modest to the expensive. If you camp, I highly recommend Bar Harbor Campground. This park was well organized, clean, reasonable, with great walk ways and views of the Atlantic Ocean. The park accomodates tents, dry camping, water and electric, or full service. I was very impressed with how well kept the park is. There is a beautiful swimming pool and daily free buses that take you anywhere you could imagine going. I also recommend Ocean Kayaking and going on the Oli Trolley. It was on the Trolley that we learned about the history of the area. She also told us to ride the Carriage Road at Eagle Lake, following the trail counter clockwise as it wasn't so hilly and had shorter length inclines. I was VERY GRATEFUL for that advice! Below are some highlights from our visit.

Flowers were beautiful all around Bar Harbor, Maine

Kayaking on the Atlantic Ocean

We had a good group. Two hours, 6.5 miles. Visited a few islands and crossed two channels. Saw a porpoise and a seal.

We had lobster every day. All the restaurants we tried were good. As our guide said, the competition is fierce. If the restaurant can't cook lobster in a variety of ways they don't make it. 

Throughout the Bar Harbor Village, there was plaques explaining the history of the area. 

Jordon Pond Hike. 3 miles, half of which were covered with these planks to protect the bogs. 

The granite rock had a nice pink hue, just beautiful and used in many buildings and walk ways. 

An example, a rock bridge

Jordan Pond

Carriage Roads in Acadia Park built by John Rockefeller, one of the philanthropists responsible for this gem. The carriage roads make for great biking. We went on a 10 mile ride. 

Montreal! A locavore/foodie's paradise

Montreal is such an interesting and diverse metropolis. We had the good fortune to be able to visit the city with friends who live here. Veronica works with National Urban Alliance. We are working on a project (starting a dual immersion program) in Buffalo, New York. At the beginning of our day, we headed to the local market. A BEAUTIFUL market with a wealth of fresh produce, farm raised poultry, beef, etc., BREAD! CHEESES! I swear, if I spoke the language (although I negotiated just fine) I would have come home with more than I could have possibly stored in our 5th wheel. As it is, Steve is wondering how we are going to eat all the fresh vegies, fruits, breads and cheeses I did manage to buy. We better get back to a National Park and HIKING! At the end of the day, I had to bring Steve there and of course, I had to get MORE! A fresh mango, tomatoes, bread and CHEESE: brie, rodelle and another that I have no idea what it is as it is represented by the number 1608, but Veronica recommended it so I bought it. 

Montreal is a locavore/foodie paradise. Veronica and I bought fresh bread, pastries, yogurt and berries for breakfast. They live in Pointe St. Charles, one of the oldest neighborhoods that captures the industrial history of the city. It is interesting that they have taken key buildings and converted them into upscale condos/lofts. This has meant the gentrification of the area, now a very desirable part of the city in which to live. Another thing they did was completely clean up Lachine Canal, which up until 2000 was a polluted and ignored water way. They cleaned it all up, put in bike paths and running paths, and historical points of interest. My understanding is the area has completely changed. 

During the day, we first went to Mount Royal Park, a metropolitan park in the center of the Island of Montreal. There is a Belvedere (beautiful view) at the height of the park. The pictures below are of the city from that vista. The churches in the city were just beautiful, breath-taking really. Just one example of the beautiful and historical architecture. 

We next headed to Old Port, the historical Old Montréal. In this area are a series of buildings and churches dating back to the mid 1600s. Beautiful cobbled streets, intricate and intimate buildings, giving one the feel of the vibrancy of a European city. I found it very interesting how very much I could understand in written French, with appropriate visual cues. I enjoyed reading information at the various points of interest, then seeing how well I understood what was being explained. We had lunch at a cafe that captured both Québec food and ambiance. It was very entertaining and of course, delicious. Everyone walks or rides bikes. Veronica and Jim can get everywhere from their loft by foot or by bike, and that is exactly what they do. We walked all around Old Port, then Veronica and I walked back to the loft. It was a beautiful invitation to a unique city which will long be remembered. 

The people were warm and friendly, probably amused at my attempts to communicate, or rather indulgent. Many were bilingual and helpful. They quickly sensed the lack of my proficiency, switching languages to communicate with me.  The flag of Montreal, The Montreal Coat of Arms (designed in 1833), captures the original ethnic diversity represented in the city. A fleur-de-lis for the French, a rose for the English, a shamrock for the Irish and a thistle for the Scottish. The motto for the coat of arms is "Concordia Salus"- Salvation through harmony. 

Pointe St. Charles

Lachine Canal

The City of Montreal from the Belvedere in Mount Royal Park

Another view of the city

The Chalet on the Belvedere

Québec lunch experience in Old Port

Our lovely and generous hosts: Jim and Veronica McDermott. 

Oh, how I loved this market! Atwater Market

La Formage...literally a cheese market. Fabulous!

Moving Across the Country

 It has been interesting moving across the United States. We stayed in Minnesota, passed through Wisconsin, then into Michigan. Green, green, green with woods and lakes everywhere!

In Minnesota we stayed at Leech Lake, an Army Corp of Engineer campground. This particular camp is all run by a group of devoted volunteers who just love this campground. The lake itself is huge, but it had a really nice channel perfect for kayaking leading to the larger lake. This was our only respite from the hungry mosquitoes who found Steve to be a gourmet meal. From there we drove through Wisconsin on our way to Michigan. This was a long nine hour day. It was worth the drive though because we found a true jewel in our camping experience so far, Van Riper State Park.

All the public campgrounds have been beautiful and clean! By far, our favorite so far has been Van Riper State Park. We decided to break our pattern and stay here an extra day! Our site looks out on to an open field that has different playground stations for the kids. There are multiple big old fashioned swing sets and a slide, plus the regular climbing active multiple use playground. I love the swingsets though as they harken back to a bygone era. I should have taken a picture of them but you can see their outline in the beach photo below. The park is named after a well beloved figure, Dr. Paul Van Riper. He practiced medicine from the early 1900s until his retirement at the age of 92. He mainly served mining families. He also was active in local affairs. He helped the township provide for The Children's Swim Beach, later Champion Swim Beach, that eventually became Van Riper State Park, named in his honor. The park is truly a beautiful park, camping included.

Travelling in the 5th wheel has been just fine so far. I've stopped for a few groceries, but our staples are still holding strong. Mainly I haven't been able to pass up farmer's markets!:)

Tomorrow we head into Canada! A totally new adventure!

Leech Lake view from our back window

Kayaking on the Chanel of Leech lake

All throughout Leech Lake

Sunset, Lake Michigamme

Marquette on Lake Superior

Children's swim beach at Van Riper State Park

Lunch in Marquette

Some North Dakota Observations

August 3 ( I have lost track of what day it is, so I'm giving that up!)
 We are about to leave North Dakota. Graham's Island was by far the nicest State Park we stayed in. I'm really thinking that State Parks are first choice for our go to overnight stays. After all, it is the State putting their best welcoming foot forward. I also look for bodies of water:) We have settled into to a two day pattern. Drive one day, stay two nights, drive again. This allows us to enjoy the journey along the way and get to learn about each State as we go through.
Williston, is an Oil Drilling Boom Town. I was wondering if we were going to see the oil drilling outfits from our Lewis and Clark State Park site but we didn't. There were Oil drilling sites everywhere there. It has greatly increased the population of that city making 6th largest city in the State now. Can't say it changed the city for the better as far as aesthetics go. Big industrial oil yards everywhere through town. It had the feel of an industrial town. Steve looked up the pay, 22.00 dollars an hour for teachers. For oil workers average mean salary was 78,000. For some reason they are having a hard time finding teachers. Ya think? 19 open positions unfilled. It is also the highest average rent for the whole state.. Average rent tops New York City and Los Angeles, average rent is 2394.00 a month for a 700 square foot one bedroom apartment. We saw hotel rooms advertising at 1000 a month. Hmmm.
The park itself was pretty and well organized. The hosts there were super nice and let me know that if we intended to stay at Graham's Island we had better make reservations. We promptly did.
This park reminds me of Fort Stevens in Oregon. 181 sites. I can't believe how spacious and private the sites are. AND GREEN GRASS! Mosquitoes were a slight problem, but not too bad. Our site was a triple, but I'm here to tell you all the sites were very spacious, allowing for large swaths of grassy area.
Campers are similar everywhere. People were playing bean bag games, riding their bikes, barbecuing, walking their dogs. Just a slice of America.
Tomorrow, we head into Minnesota. First stop is Leech Lake, yes Leech Lake:) Happy trails!

On our "hiking trail" about two hours. I don't know if this is

prairie grass or just natural grasses but in the three

State Parks we were in, this is how they created the 

trails

This is called an "ice house". It sits right on the ground

We thought they made a mistake giving this to us for 20.00

a night! It was a triple but they don't distinguish

by designation, just by amount of RVs (I guess)

Different view.