09/17 - 09/21 - Fishermans Memorial State Park

Today's trip could've been another one those from hell. Southbound I-495 had a major incident. Waze listed it as an accident with a "110 minute delay." Checking tonight, I read a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle causing the delay and a helicopter was called in to remove the individual. No name or condition reported.  After receiving that delay from Waze and being 1½ miles from the King Street exit, I decided to go on auto-pilot and let my GPS take me wherever.  After a few miles of residential streets and country roads, there I was ready to enter Interstate I-295 and go on my merry way. That route took me around Providence. I lost about a half hour getting to that King Street exit. 

Another beautiful State campground. Site #52, it turns out,
is the same site I occupied during last year's visit.

This is another one of those stops that brings back great memories. Those new to reading my blogs can get my first impressions reading THE BLOG I WROTE LAST YEAR.  In it, you'll read about last year's hurricane threat, Jose, the State Park campground, my visit with Sara and get a glimpse of my old Winnie with the lost decals of all the places visited. 

An overcast sky and no shade, rain is expected around 2 am
and continue all day tomorrow.

And, Yup, another big one. He just finished chatting with the couple
across the way who have something about the size of a large rodent.
Oh, and a stroller should the dear get tired of walking.

Weather was the biggie my second day here, Tuesday. Remnants of Florence were forecast to drench the mid-Atlantic and New England coast and the "Flash Flood" warnings were out in abundance.  It finally materialized around 3 in the afternoon. With a strong tropical breeze, the temps remained in the 70's.

Just a sprinkle before bed Monday.
I expected a lot in the overnight hours.

Tuesday afternoon, drenched.

By the time Sara came by to pick me up for dinner, things greatly improved and it turned out to be a great evening.

Leaving the campground for dinner.

Sunset on the way to dinner in East Greenwich, RI

Tuesday night's dinner was at Kan Asian Bistro & Hibachi Grill.  I found their website difficult to navigate but the menu page gives you the 'flavor' of the large restaurant.

A large and expansive...

...restaurant with just two sushi chefs
on a Tuesday night.

Plush seating and banquettes all around 

Sara's meal.

Although menu choices were extensive,
I enjoyed the Sweet Heart Roll: Shrimp tempura, avocado.
Outside: Spicy crab, tempura flakes

Sara and Poppa Charlie (yeah, that's water; already
finished my Chard. Sorry, Dina)

Wednesday brought mostly cloudy skies and 11-15 mph breezes along with a fresh ocean scent. Today, we're visiting THE CORNER CAFE in Newport, RI for lunch. The trip took us over the Jamestown-Verrazano and the Claiborne/Pell Newport Bridges.  Their opening web page states: "Owners Jamey Simoes and Mary Odonohoe bring a wide variety of influences to the Corner Café. Irish, Portuguese and West Coast influences as well as standard American fare can be found in one of the most diverse Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and gourmet pizza menus on the East Coast. Come see why the Corner Café is consistently ranked as one of the top restaurants in Newport". Sounds like a healthy adventure awaits. 

  

I had Mary's Multi Stacker: Sliced smoked turkey, avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, Swiss cheese and pesto mayo on toasted multigrain with roasted garlic & herb cream cheese. Sara's Avocado Toast was huge and tasty: Thick-cut multigrain topped w/mashed avocado seasoned with salt and black pepper, goat cheese and diced sun-dried tomato.

After lunch, a tour of the beautiful area around Newport. 

 Click this link for the history of The White Horse Tavern...

...built in 1652 and restored in 1952, it's recognized
as the oldest tavern in the US.

The Seaman's Church Institute.
Founded in 1919, the institute's mission is to provide men and
women of the sea and persons refereed from the community
a safe haven in which they may find comfort, recreation and benefit.

The front gates to the Breakers

The Breakers from the rear facing the ocean. Vanderbuilt's
summer cottage completed in 1892 after fire destroyed the mansion.

As of 2017, 450,000 visitors a year tour the property.

The ocean side view from the Cliff Walk. For the fascinating
history of the The Breakers, visit the website.

Across the road is the private residence, the Anglesea Mansion. 

Built in 1880, view the breathtaking video clip HERE

The gazebo is just above the Cliff Walk

It is a 3.5-mile public access walkway that borders the shore line

My beautiful and wonderful guide and chauffeur, Sara.
Easton Bay in background.

On the other side of Easton Bay, more spectacular homes.

Wednesday night we tried to have Italian at Trattora Roman but alas, at 6:15 pm on a Wednesdays night when you would think the tourists have vacated the area we were faced with a 45 minutes wait. Hunger kicked in and we would up at Pasquale's Pizzeria.  And a good choice it was.

Marguarita

Vegetarian w/no cheese

A Nutella Pizza

A great $40.00 wine that I found
on line for $13.49.

And, finally, for my "last supper" on Thursday, a trip to the Chop House Grill, where Sara works. I've been wanting to make this visit ever since I knew Sara worked part time while attending classes at URI. As this is a working night for Sara, I'll finish off my week long stay with a final good bye before seeing her again in a couple of weeks when she visits home for the weekend.

The Chop House Grill is a happening place with a lively
crowd and a great staff including my waitress, Sara.
Leo, the manager, went to Lakeland High and wrestled for
Panas. Another waiter was from Peekskill.

An 8 oz filet mignon with Bearnaise sauce on the
side, truffle mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus
and a very smooth Super Tuscan. My perfect meal. 

When Sara's shift was over she joined me and had
seared tuna and a seaweed salad....

...while I pondered dessert. It was a tie but I
was smart and went with the healthier choice.

The Grilled Banana Split.

And so another wonderful adventure comes to an end. For the next week, I'll be at CPP with only friends, Trish and Craig as neighbors. Wednesday they too will join my other friends, Vicki/George and Kathy/Ray as they make their individual way back down south...all to Florida. Check out Vicki's interesting blog as she encounters the aftermath of Florence and visits family in North Carolina. She writes that she left "October 20th" but actually meant to write "September 20th."

My final trip for the 2018 season will be to Cape May with the Hudson Islanders. I'm looking forward to that but not the events that follow like winterizing Winnie, watching the days get shorter and shorter, darker and darker, leaves changing colors before covering green grass with their fall colors.  But, if all goes well, there's a winter adventure already in the books. See you soon. Stay safe, healthy and warm.

09/07 - 09/08 & 09/15 - 09/17 Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA

Ha! More like 6 hours; I left at 10:15 a.m. and stopped once to refuel.

Yessiree, this was a long haul. It was the same route I took when I traveled to Foxboro, MA and Normandy Farms for the Hudson Islander's rally. Only the Saco KOA was another 2 hours further northeast. Tomorrow, to complete my journey, I'll have just a 2+ hour, 120 mile trip. The drive was uneventful, light to moderate Saturday traffic. The diesel refueling was expensive; $2.539/gal in Connecticut and the weather very conducive for a comfortable drive with temps remaining about 70° all the way. I'll need another fuel stop tomorrow; Averaging 15 mpg, I can go about 260-270 miles on a tank, which I think is very good.

This campground, as usual for a KOA, is clean, well-maintained and well staffed with young, friendly staff. Here's what they have to say for themselves:

"We are situated less than four miles from Old Orchard Beach, Maine and close to the beautiful harbor front city of Portland and the quaint towns of Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Wells and York. Near our campground, among the fresh Maine air, tall pines and colorful flowers, you will find lighthouses, beaches, whale watching, amusement and water parks, fishing, biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and of course, shopping! We have a site and something for everyone, so come join us!"

I've decided to combine this blog with the two day stay when I return this way on Saturday. 9/16, I'll be going to Fishermans State Park in Narragansett, RI on my way home and see my granddaughter, Sara. I'll add more then. The map of the campground shows my site, #66, right at the beginning of the campground and near the registration building.

Site 66 is right near the office at the beginning of the campsites. I believe it's
KOA policy to accommodate over-nighters and/or emergency, last minute folks
in this manner. This site, however, had the utilities on the wrong side of the RV,
the "front side" of the rig. No matter, I just need the electricity and my power
cord was long enough to reach.

Greetings. It's Saturday, 9/16, and I'm here just for the two overnights before I travel to Narragansett, RI. I'm now on site 11. 

 

The site is perfect. No need to extend the awning as the surrounding trees provide all day shade. What's wrong with this site (as is the case so many times for RVers) are the neighbors. In the cabin behind me there's two families sharing and one of the younger girls communicates by screaming. To get attention, to express anything, she screams such a high pitched scream you'd think death was imminent...constantly. Never heard a special needs child with that dysfunctional affliction or syndrome. Mother's constant yelling and screaming probably doesn't help the situation. Then there's my "pet peeve", dogs (pun intended). Granted every RVer as at least one; some, four. I also understand their need to have one. But every now and again...and those times are getting more frequent it seems...you get one that barks. Okay, even barking is all right. Hell, they can't talk and I'm not talking about the "woof, woof", "arf, arf" kind. Rather, its the vicious, pre-attack snarling bark at another dog being walked past the site.  It's a very disconcerting sound/feeling to know that if that dog ever got loose there would be a dog fight and damage was about to be inflicted on dog and/or owner. This rant isn't the result of a one-time occurrence, of course.

Anyway, the weather is perfect. Just now getting overcast but temps are in the 70's, very unusual for this time of the year in Maine I'm told.