October 28, 2012

10/19/2012

After getting back to Hanscom AFB from our cruise, we spent the next day washing clothes and doing some commissary shopping in preparation for our run down to Ft. Dix/McGuire/Lakehurst Joint Base, NJ.

On Tuesday the 16th, we hooked up around 8:30 AM and headed south.  Traffic was as expected, a mess in the Boston area.  After getting through all of that and getting on the Mass Turnpike things smoothed out somewhat.  Still, you really have to be on your toes and stay alert driving in New England, especially in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  I really believe there is a driving school here somewhere that teaches these folks to drive like idiots.

While we were on our cruise we didn't see much fall colors in the forests.  However, on the way down from Boston the colors were really beautiful.  Joyce took some really nice pictures.

 This one was taken at McGuire AFB, NJ.

We arrived at McGuire AFB around 3:30 PM, got hooked up in our site and then headed to the Club for some much needed refreshments.  Pudgy's, the Club's sports bar and grill was open and had chicken wings for .25 cents each.  A one-time good deal!

On Wednesday we drove down to Atlantic City, spending the day walking on the beach, relaxing on the boardwalk and of course, making our donations to the Atlantic City Welfare Fund.

 Lookie what I found!

 There it is...my money!  LOL!

While watching the unusually large waves and the surfers riding them, I struck up a conversation with a couple from New York City.  Barry: "Where are y'all from?"  Guy:  "NYC.  We're just listening to the waves.  Is this the Atlantic?"  I think some folks in NYC are very sheltered.

10/21/2012

Yesterday we hooked up our home and headed south to Andrews AFB, MD just outside of Washington, D.C.  The drive down was only 180 miles but with all the traffic and crazy drivers we both were a little stressed.  Went to The Club (that's what it's actually called) to unwind.  We'll start our sight seeing today.

10/28/2012

On the 22nd we started our tour of DC with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.  While standing in line to get our trolly tour tickets, a gentleman walked up to me and handed us a pair of tickets that he didn't use.  That saved us a couple of bucks.

The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns is something every American should see at least once in their lives.

View from Arlington House.

We signed up for The Old Town Trolly 2-day tour package, a hop-on/hop-off tour and are very glad we did.  Trying to see everything in DC buy walking in impossible if you just have a few days as we did.  Thanks Chuck for the advice!

What did we see in addition to Arlington?  Well, we did manage to visit several attractions in the city but in just six short days there was not nearly enough time to see everything.  Here are the highlights:
 The Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, WWII, Korea, Martin Luther King and Vietnam Wall Memorials.
 The National Archives.
 The Smithsonian American History and Air & Space Museums.
 The White House (the President didn't come down and invite us to breakfast but we did get to see his dog,    Bo).
 The Capital
 National Botanical Gardens
 The Air Force Memorial
 Crime & Punishment Museum

One of Laura Bush's dresses at the Museum of American History

 Botanical Gardens

These were made with plant leaves.

The United States Air Force Memorial.

In addition to the Old Town Trolly Tour, we got tickets at Andrews MWR to do the Gray Line Night tour.  Although this bus tour took us back to many of the same places that we saw during the day, it was really beautiful to see all of them again under the lights.

Here are some recommendations if your planning a tour of Washington:
1.  If you want to see the White House, the Capital and the Supreme Court, write your member of Congress early.  He of she is the only person that can get you tickets for them.  Make sure you tell them your dates available and do not include travel dates.
2.  Parking in DC is very, very expensive.  Study the Metro train/bus system and use it!
3.  Take a hop-on/hop-off trolly tour.
4.  Get a good map of Washington showing the location of the Metro Stations and attractions.  You can buy them on line and in book stores before you get to DC.
5.  Make a prioritized list of the things you want to see.  Remember, to see everything in the city and area would take you a couple of weeks or more.

I think that's enough for now.  We'll write again soon.

Barry & Joyce

October 15, 2012

10/05/2012

Our stay at Naval Weapons Station Earle went well.  I got the oil and fuel filter changed in the truck for $25 plus materials; a really good deal..  We also did some shopping for cruise clothes.  Well, more like a lot of shopping!

On Sunday the 30th we hooked up, said goodbye to Earle, jumped on I-95 (NJ Turnpike) and headed north.  The traffic was fairly light and the driving was easy.  I had decided to just stay on 95 all the way up, risking the run over the George Washington Bridge in New York City.  Since it was a Sunday, traffic in that area was not a problem but the highway certainly was.  The road surface was very rough on the bridge with a lot of potholes on the Bronx side.  Oh, and did I mention the bridge toll?  How does $32 sound?  Yep, and that didn't count what we spent the other toll cost us in PA and NJ.  All in all, we spent almost $100 in fees after leaving Gettysburg!

After driving through NYC, we needed a break so I was glad for planning a stop in Old Mystic, CT for one night.  After pulling into the Seaport RV Park and getting unhooked, we drove into Mystic Seaport for dinner.  We chose the S&P Oyster Company, where  we found the food good, but a tad on the pricey side.

After supper we walked around town for a while, enjoying the church bells playing and admiring the beautiful architecture.

10/14/2012

As you can see, it's been quite a while since I last wrote anything.  I'll try to catch you up on what has been happening in our lives.

After leaving Old Mystic we headed up I-95, arriving at Hanscom AFB, MA, located just north-east of Boston.  During the first week here we had planned to do a lot of sight-seeing in the Boston area but the weather didn't cooperate.  We had a lot of rain accompanied with some very cool temperatures so we pretty much did a lot of indoor things.

 Preparing for our Boston Harbor Cruise.

 The green dome building is the exact place where the Boston Tea Party took place.

The U.S.S. Constitution, "Old Iron Sides".

 Paul Revere's home.

 Old North Church.  "One if by land, two if by sea".

On Sunday we boarded Royal Caribbean's Jewell of the Seas in Boston for a cruise to the Canadian Maritime's and New England.  Jewell is beautiful ship and our favorite on that we have been on so far.  On this cruise we were joined by Joyce's family: Judy Sculatti, her mother; brother Frank Sculatti and his wife Joann; Jean

After cruising for two days we arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Here we took a tour around the local area which included the small fishing village of Peggy's Cove, the Fairview Lawn Cemetery where 129 Titanic victims are buried, the Public Gardens and the Citadel.

All spiffed up. 

 Joyce won a trip to Portofino's for us.

 Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.

 Fairview Cemetery

 "And the band played on". 

This gentleman was one of the band member's that continued to play music until the end.

 This lady was the one that played the harmonica to calm her children.

 The number represents the order of removal from the sea.

 Honoring the Titanic victims.

Captain MacDonald then took use to St. John, New Brunswick.  We had not booked a tour here so all of us just walked around the town.

Our next stop was Bar Harbor, Maine.  Joyce, Jean, Frank and Joann hired a taxi to take them to Acaida National Park and I just chilled on the ship.  Cold and rainy day.

After an over night cruise we arrived in Portland, ME.  Not much happening here but we did take a bus ride around the city and then out to Freeport to check out the fall foliage.  Unfortunately, we missed most of the fall colors this year but some of the trees looked nice.

Joyce and I had a lobster lunch at the Portland Lobster Company.  Great food!

 This guy was once owned by George Lucas.  It's now in the possession of his ex-wife.

We're back at Hanscom AFB.  We'll be leaving here on Tuesday and heading down to Joint Base Fort Dix/McGuire, NJ.

More to follow.

Barry & Joyce