Friday, May 26, 2017, Middletown (Newport), RI
Day 15

Another rainy, cold day which leads us to indoor activities such as mansion hopping. First up is the Breakers, the “summer cottage” of Cornelius Vanderbilt, II. A massive 138,000 square feet of ornate beauty with a great hall 2 ½ stories tall. The most amazing thing to me is it was built in only 2 years with completion in 1895. Unfortunately for Cornelius, he had a stoke in 1896 and died in 1899 so his enjoyment of the Breakers was short. Next was brother William Vanderbilt’s Marble House with nearly every surface of marble, over 500,000 cubic feet of it. For lunch we headed to Long Wharf for lobster rolls virtually right off the boat at the Lobster Shack. The wharf was cold, windy and wet so we had our delicious lunch in the car. The afternoon was spent at the Chateau-Sur-Mer and the Elms, two more mansions preserved by the Preservation Society of Newport County. The conspicuous consumption of these mansions is beyond belief. And people think there is a wide gap today between the haves and the have nots! The “Gilded Age” (1865-1914) came to an end with the passage of the income tax in 1913. I guess that’s one good that came from this otherwise insidious tax.  There are mansions just about everywhere even with about 20 demolished prior to preservation efforts.

Thursday, May 25, 2017, Middletown (Newport), RI
Day 14

Another rainy day and after an hour and 15 minutes, we arrived at Meadowlark RV Park in Middletown, RI. An afternoon visit to the Newport Winery for a tasting. Then a drive along the Ocean Drive to view the Castle Hill Lighthouse. A most unimpressive lighthouse not worth the stop. On the way back we drove by Fort Adams and viewed it from the outside as it was closed by the time we got there. Not to be disappointed, our next stop was the Newport Storm Brewery. Sampled 4 beers and bought a six pack.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Old Mystic, CT
Day 13

It turns out that one of the sites we wanted to see in Groton was open after all, just not on Tuesday. So we drove back the 8 miles to the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum, Home of the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear powered submarine. Commissioned in 1954, the Nautilus was the first vessel to cross the North Pole in 1958. The audio guided tour was pretty cool. Our tour was interrupted by an announcement which drew us up onto the deck to watch a Navy sub being escorted down the river to begin its mission in open waters.  The adjacent museum informed us of everything one ever wanted to know about submarines. There is even a replica of the “Turtle” which roamed the waters during the Revolutionary War. Next was a stop at Holmberg Orchards for some goodies including strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Then a walk around downtown Mystic again, this time with a stop for latte. We even got to experience the drawbridge in action. Walked by Mystic Pizza but alas, no Julia Roberts sighting. The weather was perfect, slightly cool, and made for a very enjoyable day.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017, Old Mystic, CT
Day 12

Waterford, CT, was a good spot to visit the sites we had planned in East Haddam and Groton. Turns out everything we planned on visiting which were “opened daily” meant only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Onward to Mystic and we checked into the Seaport RV Resort and Campground. After lunch, we visited Mystic and walked around the town including the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, a part of US1. Opened in 1920, the drawbridge works with 2 concrete counterweights each weighing 230 tons. One cannot cross the bridge without walking underneath the counterweights. Fortunately, we made it across and back without being squashed. Next was a walk along a part of Mystic Seaport by several houses dating from about 1830's to 1860's. Then a walk around the shops of Olde Mystic Village. Back to the coach for dinner and the campground laundry. Turns out that Liberty Harbor is not the only RV park without sewer at each site. According to my books, it appears that none of the campgrounds in Connecticut have sewer hookups. Since we can’t use our washer without one, for the first time, we used a campground’s laundry and found it much faster as we can do 2 loads at a time and the dryer works much better than ours.

Monday, May 22, 2017, Waterford, CT
Day 11

Departed Jersey City with the pleasure of unhooking and dumping in the rain. In fact it rained all day. We decided not to take the George Washington Bridge which requires a drive through NYC and instead take the Tappan Zee Bridge further north. To get there we entered the Palisades International Parkway. We were already committed to the entry when we see a sign stating cars only, no trucks. A quick Google search shows no underpasses before the next service plaza. We stop at the service plaza and speak to the manager who assures us there is no problem for us to continue as there are no low clearances. We go on our way only to find several stone arch bridges for us to pass under. Good thing the there were 2 lanes going our way because we only fit in the middle of the 2 lanes after coming to a very slow speed. After about 4 times, we decided to exit the parkway. We did avoid the NYC traffic and made good time until we hit Connecticut. I-95 was a complete crawl, even in the middle of the day. We arrived at the Waterford, CT, Walmart after over 4 hours to journey the 156 miles from Jersey City. On the plus side, the Walmart had plenty of room and a good spot for us away from the activity and I actually got some legal work done.

Sunday, May 21, 2017, Jersey City, NJ
Day 10

Another cool day. Lunch at Negril Village (Jamaican cuisine) where the shrimp and grits were good but no Barracuda Bob’s.  The afternoon at the playground joined by Beth allowed the grandkids to expend their energy without tiring out the grandparents too much.

Saturday, May 20, 2017, Jersey City, NJ
Day 9

After 2 days of record high temps in the 90's, we awaken to temps in the 50's.  High today in upper 60's.  Spent the day with kids and grandkids and a visit to the Central Park Zoo. Dinner out at Rasa, Malaysian cuisine. A very tiring but enjoyable day.

Friday, May 19, 2017, Jersey City, NJ
Day 8

Rosemary and I spend the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art but break for lunch with Beth and Avery at Bluestone Lane Café. The Met is a truly great museum. There is a section on American art and architecture which actually has an actual Frank Lloyd Wright house inside it. Dinner with all the local family including Beth, Joachim and Avery.

Thursday, May 18, 2017, Jersey City, NJ

Day 7

Arrived at Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, our home base for visiting the grandchildren in NYC.  Rosemary finally holds our granddaughter for the first time! 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017, New Castle, DE 

Day 6

3 hour drive to Fairfax, VA, for lunch with our dear friend, Marie-Claude. Then 3.5 hours of horrendous traffic. I must remember to never complain about Tampa traffic ever again.  Spent the night at Walmart in New Castle, DE.  

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, Williamsburg, VA

Day 5

A 3 mile hike through the woods at Greensprings Interpretive Trail during which we had 3 deer sightings. Lunch at Zoes Kitchen and then visited the Shirley Plantation, the oldest active plantation in Virginia and the oldest family owned business in North America dating to 1613. The present buildings’ construction began in 1723. The “Great House” is presently occupied by the 12th generation of the family. Among the past family members born on the plantation was the Alice Hill Carter, mother of Robert E. Lee who also spent time there.

Monday, May 15, 2017, Williamsburg, VA

Day 4

A walk along the York River and lunch at Water Street Grill in Yorktown. Afternoon was spent at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The museum is brand new and only open a couple months and well worth the visit.  Dinner at the Kings Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg where I had Mrs. Vobe's Tavern Dinner washed down with Old Stitch, an English brown ale made by AleWerks Brewing Company, a local brewer.

Sunday, May 14, 2017, Williamsburg, VA
Day 3

150 miles to American Heritage RV Park.  Visit with Rob & Carol who brought in dinner from Richmond’s Buz and Ned’s BBQ. Second best ribs ever. (Best ever is Salt Lick near Austin, TX). Great friends allowing me to take the leftovers.

Saturday, May 13, 2017, Rocky Mount, NC
Day 2

Slept late. Quietest Walmart ever! Two days out of Tampa’s 90 degrees and we had to run the heater last night as the morning temp was low 50's. Hit the road at 11:10.  Travel day--365 miles to Rocky Mount Walmart.

Friday, May 12, 2017, Savannah, GA

Day 1

After an easy 325 mile drive we arrived at the Walmart Supercenter on Abercorn Street in Savannah. Although we could have gone much farther north in one day, this was a planned stop - for dinner once again at Barracuda Bob’s for the best shrimp & grits I have ever experienced. After dinner we walked along the river front which was bustling with excitement at about dusk. For those who read the Tampa Bay Times, on page 3A today was a story of the Cosco Development container ship arriving Thursday in Savannah, the largest container ship ever to visit ports on the east coast, longer than the Statue of Liberty, Washington Monument and Big Ben combined. Well lo and behold the Cosco was departing Savannah as we walked along the river. It was Yuuge! Barely fit under the Savannah suspension bridge. A good day to begin our trip.