Day Eighteen

Got up early and went for a jog at 6.50am along the coast. Was already very warm. Think it was the heat that affected my performance not all the ice cream and pancakes.

Got back and sat in front of the air conditioner. Eventually cooled down and had a shower. Went out at 8.30am to make sure we made our appointment at 9am.

Got on a boat, had some buttered toast for breakfast and sat trying to work out why my legs felt like lead. Travelled for an hour and a half out to sea, about 18 miles into the North Atlantic. When we got there it immediately paid dividends.

Saw lots of whales. They were very big. Majestic as well. We spent a good hour watching them feed.

Whale Tail

Then travelled all the way back to port. When back on land we headed to the Fisherman's Memorial. It is a statue dedicated to all those from Gloucester who have been lost at sea over the last 300 years.
It includes these six names.

Crew of the Andrea Gail 

You may recognise them from the film 'The Perfect Storm'. One of the reasons we chose to come here. We then travelled a few minutes up the coast for another reason, a house on Tregony Bow.

The Webb House

I had been in this house some 14 years ago when my aunt and uncle rented it when my cousin got married. Recognised it instantly when we got to it. We headed into Rockport to have a late lunch, but could find nowhere to park, which I seem to remember being a problem last time too. Instead we headed back to Gloucester and went to Charlie's Place again. Still very good.

Next went back to the Inn to relax. Fell asleep. We went out again late in the evening to pick up some food and went back to our room to eat. A bit tired now.

Last day with the car tomorrow. In twenty four hours it will be gone. Will miss it. Has been a good friend.

Moose watch - low

Whale watch - high

States visited - 13

Day Seventeen

Got up fairly early this morning as we had a fair bit of driving to do. Had breakfast in the hotel. Wasn't great. Left at 9.15am and headed south.

Drove for three hours east to the coast of Maine. Stopped here for a few minutes to see something that I have wanted to see for years.

I ran clear to the ocean

Carried on travelling south. Stopped for supplies. Sat eating lunch by river.

Carried on driving as we had another three and a half hours to go. Crossed the border back into New Hampshire and then into Massachusetts. Arrived in Gloucester and checked into the Gloucester Inn by the Sea.

www.gloucesterinnbythesea.com

It is very nice. The view of the ocean is stunning.

Got straight into the swimming pool and relaxed after spending so long in the car. Was ace.

Headed out for dinner at Charlie's Place. Was brilliant. Ann had a lobster roll and I could tell by the look on her face that it was up there with the greatest food she's ever had.

We then went for a night time drive around Gloucester. Got lost. Trouble is there are a lot of one way streets, most of which aren't signposted very well. Tried my best to drive up the wrong way everywhere.

Eventually made it back. Now typing this and contemplating getting up very early to have a run because, frankly, it would be rude not to run at sunrise in this beautiful place.

Sorry it's so short, but not much happened today. There will be more to report tomorrow as we are heading out for a 9am start. Hopefully tomorrow's pictures will be awesome.

States visited - 13

Day Sixteen

Today was all about the fridge magnet. Nothing else, just the magnet.

Had breakfast about 9am but didn't check out until 11am. Had a relaxing morning, Ann skyping and me sitting.

Headed north, travelled through New Hampshire. Happened across a couple more bridges.

Another one!

Stopped for fuel. In the garage were the fattest Harley Davidson riders I have ever seen. Hells Angelly Bellies. One woman could have sat on five bikes and still spilled over.

Crossed the border into Maine.

Stopped to eat lunch by a small lake. It was very nice.

Lunch View

Scared off some ducks.

Duck Off

Carried on with the journey and it wasn't long before we arrived at our destination. Now to the fridge magnet. We have it on our fridge and Ann has no idea how she got it but she has had it maybe eighteen years or so. We always comment on it and why we have it on the fridge, so when we were planning the trip and knew we were going to Maine we thought why not. So as we pulled up in the car park, there it was, the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel.

Got a magnet that looks like this

We checked in and thought about a trip on the chairlift up the mountain but decided against it. There really isn't much to do here in the summer as it is a ski resort, but we came purely because of the magnet, so next time we see it we can say 'Been there'.

Been watching Harry Potter film marathon that is on TV. Ordered room service for tea. May have got too much.

Hey Presto

The amazing thing was the curly fries were exactly like the ones you get at Dawlish Warren. Lovely they were. We sat and ate looking out the window overlooking the mountains.

Have seen an advert for the Fiat 500 which involves lots of them driving into the sea. Carried the on screen instruction - 'Fictional -Do not attempt at home' - Really?
Now it is thundering like normal.

Moose watch - Low

States visited - 12

Day Fifteen

No-one ever thought it would happen, but today, alas, it did. It is a sad day, but one that, hopefully, will be forgotten soon enough. But we'll get to that tragic event later.

Set out for an hour drive this morning across to Mount Washington, the highest point in New England. You have three ways to get to the top. You can take the rack and pinion railway, hike or drive up yourself. We had discussed it the night before and made a decision. The railway costs $64 each and takes an hour each way. Quite expensive. Hiking. Nope. Driving is an eight mile route and would cost the two of us $35. We decided we would drive.

We arrived at the toll booth, paid our fee and read the instructions on how best not to die on the way up or down.  Set the car into L as per instructions which gives it a lower gear ratio than the Drive setting. And off we went. First mile or two passed fairly quickly. Tarmac road, quite wide. Gradually the road got steeper, narrower, foggier and changed to gravel. The edge of the road tended to be the edge of the hill and there wasn't any barrier. Tried to drive up the middle. Passing cars got interesting. Ann's grip of the seat increased with each mile. We stopped at one point to allow the engine to cool, as it got fairly warm. Then finally reached the top after about half an hour.

Fully worth the drive though.

Top

Stunning!

Saw the place where the strongest wind ever recorded on Earth blew. The building that the observers were in is still there and it is chained down.

Gusty

Expensive Train

We stayed up the top a while before deciding to head back down. Offered Ann the chance to drive back down. She declined. Meanwhile the cloud had closed in so it was slightly worse coming back down.

The accompanying CD we got told us on the way down that the record for driving up is under seven minutes. Obviously done by a professional in a proper car and with no traffic coming down.

Once we reached the bottom we headed to the nearest town and parked up at Moose Meadow Mini Golf.

Got our putter and ball each and off we went.

Final Score

Knightley - 53
Roffe - 51

As I said earlier, a complete tragedy. Moving on swiftly.

Bought lunch in Subway. Drove back towards Mt Washington and parked next to a river to eat. I clambered down some rocks to take a picture or two.

Summit in the clouds

We then headed back. Went to a town about twenty miles from our hotel. Thought about going on the Hobo Railroad but it was just closing when we got there. Decided instead to play the Hobo mini golf course next door. Just about to get out to play when a combination of flying ants and imminant rain changed our mind. Took ages deciding what to do next as it was too early to eat and there is nothing to do in the rain. Eventually decided to go to a supermarket get loads of food and head back and spend an evening in our room.

Have done just that and a thoroughly good evening it has been.

Bed soon ready for another change of location tomorrow.

Moose Watch today was low.

States visited - Eleven

Day Fourteen

We didn't have far to travel today so we didn't rush this morning. Had breakfast in the inn. Homemade waffles with maple syrup. Decent.

Packed up and hit the road. There was another covered bridge nearby so we went to see it. Started on the journey. Decided to turn off the main road on to a gravel track. Ann asked me if I knew where we were going. I said 'No, just thought it would be different'. In actual fact I was lying. Knowing how much she wanted to see more covered bridges I found a place on our way which had four of them.

Eventually we got to them. Ann took lots of photos.

A house bridge

Stopped for fuel and supplies then headed due east. Went through a very heavy rain shower

Crossed the border into New Hampshire. Saw signs for Moose. Didn't see any. Would like chocolate if we get the choice. Saw another bridge. It was much bigger.

Stopped for lunch at Polly's Pancake Parlour.

pollyspancakeparlor

Food was awesome. On the table next to us was a dad with his two sons. The younger one who was about twenty spent the entire time moaning at his dad about everything. Ann and I listened in. It seems he was unhappy with his life. He kept using the phrase 'Self Fulfilling Prophecy' in his argument. It was almost like he'd heard it recently and felt the need to say it all the time. We couldn't help laughing. Eventually the scrawny little git left. We both thought he will end up on the news one day having gunned down some people.

Left and travelled the last couple of miles to the new hotel.

http://sugarhillinn.com/

Have a room in a lodge, separate from the main place. Very nice.

Would have gone out and done something but it rained all afternoon. Sat in our room instead.

Headed out for dinner at about 7pm. Ann had found a place that was open from 4pm to 8pm for dinner only on a Friday and Saturday. We drove 20 minutes to get there. Found it. It was closed. Went to Subway instead. Had the longest queue in the world. Eventually got food. Drove back to eat it.

Hopefully it doesn't rain tomorrow as we are doing outdoors stuff.

Can't believe we have been here two weeks already!

States visited - 11

Day Thirteen

Got up fairly late. Did yesterday's blog as stupid internet was now working.  Headed on into Waitsfield for a late breakfast. Ate at the Big Picture Cafe.

http://www.bigpicturetheater.info/

Drove few miles north to Watersbury to see the famous Vermont landmark which is the Ben and Jerry's factory.  Paid $4 for the factory tour. Chatted to the guide before it started about how UK flavours are different from USA ones. Also how the UK has embraced the ice cream in cinemas whereas the US only want popcorn when watching a film.

Flavours

Went on tour. Not really what you could call a tour. Watched a film for a few minutes. Looked through a window at the machines. Ate some free ice cream. More of a film/look/eat than a tour. Bought stuff from shop. Went to look at the graveyard of old flavours.

Feel the chill

RIP

Ate ice cream.

Drove back to Waitsfield to do our laundry. Went to Launderette, put stuff in wash and went away to look at other shops. Ann went in a book shop. She got asked if she needed any help. She said she was looking for James Fenimore Cooper. Assistant asked her if that was the name of a book. Now bearing in mind he lived where we were yesterday, his dad being the Cooper in Cooperstown, which is only about 100 miles away and he wrote Last of the Mohicans, you would imagine someone if a bookshop round here would know he's an author.

Went back to launderette, put stuff in dryer. Sat in the car waiting. Would have gone away but as we walked out a hobo started hanging around the place and we thought he might nick our clothes, so we stayed put.

We kept a beady eye on him until our stuff was ready then we went back to the B and B to dump everything. Thunderstorm started. This one was very close and very loud. Skyped Paul to show him.

Went out for dinner at 6.30pm back to the Big Picture Cafe. Waitress tried to steal my credit card. Then we went into its cinema to watch The Dark Knight Rises. Ann asked me what I thought of the film as we left. My answer was 'Meeehhh'. She concurred.

States visited - 10

Day Twelve

The halfway point of the trip.

Went to the adjoining restaurant for breakfast. Had to give them vouchers to show we were guests of the hotel so we could get our complimentary food. Was burnt.

Packed up and headed into the local town to find a chemist as we needed to get some medicine for Ann as she has developed a bad cough. Whilst there she took pictures of the baseball mania.

Star spangled batter

Made our way further north mostly on smaller roads. Saw lots of interesting things. Saw some Amish people in horse drawn buggies.

Went very close by to Lake George, which will for some of you bring back memories of 14 years ago.

Crossed the border into Vermont. Had lunch at a place called Middlebury.

Ann got very excited when we saw this.

The first covered bridge we have seen in Vermont.


Arrived at the Inn at the Round Barn in Waitsfield.

http://www.theroundbarn.com

Unloaded. Got told that they leave the front door unlocked as nobody is worried about people stealing stuff. Think that is because there is no-one around.

Relaxed for a while before heading out for dinner at Ake's Den.

When we got back we headed to the small games room here for a few games of pool.

Went back to room to do blog. Internet that was working perfectly earlier had now stopped working. Got very annoyed. Went to bed.