We've arrived in Nova Scotia

We've had a great trip up from Camden. On Wednesday we visited the Gardners (Trish and Lou) in Belfast. The Gardners are Dataw neighbors, but like so many Datawinians, they move north for the summer. The Gardners have been restoring a turn of the century sea captain's house overlooking the harbor. Trish is having a new studio built out which will provide commanding views of the town and harbor. After cocktails Mom, Dad, the Kings and Gardners dined at the local Lobster Pound. Dad said the lobsters were to die for! On Friday we drove up to a camp site outside of Bar Harbor. The highlight of the day for Mom and Dad was a two hour tour on Captain John's lobster boat-"Lulu." Captain John is an expert on all things lobster and we learned about lobster anatomy (did you know that a lobster has three pairs of claws), lobster fishing, and lobster moulting. Captain John hauled up some lobsters from his traps to demonstrate various aspects of the yummy crustacean. The world record lobster...40 pounds, probably 120 years old! Who knew?

On Friday, the Kings and Bells toured Acadia national forest, including a view from the top of Cadillac Mountain; the highest spot on the east coast at 1530 feet. Last night Dad cooked up some barbecue chicken and then today we took off for Nova Scotia. We arrived about 2:00 PM this PM.It was actually 3:00 PM since we lose an hour this far east.

The weather has been absolutely spectacular. Imagine 55 degrees at night; and today the temp hovered in the mid sixties. Tonight it's going to drop back into the fifties, so we all plan to suit up in our woolies.

Tomorrow, it's off to Halifax (two nights)

Lots to Report

We've had a fantastic five days in New England. We're now in Camden, Maine after a great weekend with friends in Hummarock, Mass south of Boston. First, let me report that the temperature has been in the 60s at night and the 70s during the day here in Maine. What a relief.

Our stay with the Doyles in Hummarock was highlighted by great runs on the beach. Mom and Dad partied like crazy Friday and Saturday night with the Corrys, Doyles, and Kammermans, all old friends from our Norwalk days. Sunday night Mom and Dad feasted at the Bridgewaye Inn near the Doyles, Dad said the lobster was "spectacular."

On Monday we left for Portland, Maine and had a nice lunch with Dad's niece, Maggie Jackson, their kids Alexander and Acy, and hubby, Chris.

Next stop was Freeport, Maine, where we shopped at the flagship retail complex of L.L. Bean. This place is amazing...five different mega-stores featuring the full line of Bean sportswear, camping gear, canoe and other water gear. Mom bought me a snazzy new Bean dog collar, with the black lab profile, I believe the artist's name is Steve Hunek; he does all the dog graphics. We "boondocked" in the Bean parking lot that night after a great Italian dinner. Boondocking is where you're on your own, with no power or water hook-up. I stayed home with Becky and Enzo, the Kings' two dogs. Oh yes, we're now hooked up with Linda and Dick King (Dataw buddies) on our trek to Nova Scotia.

Our next stop during the day on Tuesday was Rockland, Maine, where Mom and Dad toured the Andrew Wyeth collection. All three Wyeths are featured at the museum...what a treat! Mom and Dad had lunch at a local cafe famous for their lobster club sandwich which beat Bobby Flay's version in a "throwdown." Delecious!

Then we joined the Kings outside of Camden, Maine at a state park camp ground. Then things got crazy. We first went over to Jim and Cathy Kinsella's beautiful home in Camden, where we parked the dogs. Jim and Cathy have a home on Dataw. Mom and Dad boarded their boat for a great tour around the local Camden waters. We then returned for drinks with the Hascombs (Steven and Loi), also part time Dataw residents. The Hascomb home is right on Penobscot Bay with spectacular views. Meanwhile, I had escaped the Kinsella home; desparately needing a potty break. I opened one door by pushing up on the handle, and then opened a screen door. Mom and Dad found me out in the drive way. The other dogs didn't make it out. Needless to say, Mom and Dad were relieved that I stuck around. Where's the trust? Then Mom and Dad joined the Kinsellas for dinner at a cafe overlooking Camden harbor...they say it was fantastic!

So now it's Wednesday mroning and we leave for Belfast later this morning! I just finished a long hike with Becky and Enzo; and I'm bushed...on to Belfast!

Rockin in Newburgh, NY

The Newburgh KOA camp ground is the best so far. There's a lake where I terrorized the ducks, a dog park where Mom put me through circus like frolics, and lots of wooded trails for hiking.

We traveled about 260 miles in 5 hours (lots of pit stops, you know me :)) and arrived here around 2:00 PM. Mom cooked up a lovely shrimp and sausage repast, but I stuck to my Eukaneuba (the best) Today we're off to visit our dear friends, Nancy and Richard Doyle in Hummarock, Mass. Our other long time buddies, Jim and Maureen Coory and John and Leslie Kemmerman are also up for the reunion. Mom and Dad are playing golf on Saturday, but I can't wait to romp in the Atlantic Ocean, my greatest pleasure by far. Will send in a dispatch whenever we can connect, probably not until we reach Camden, ME next week...Bye Bye

The Battle of Gettysburg

We traveled for about six hours from Max Meadows, Va to Gettysburg, PA home of the infamous Battle of Gettysburg. We’re staying in an RV Park right next to the battlefield, so it was easy to get over to the visitor’s center and museum. I hung out in the RV while Mom and Dad took the tour today. I’ll let Dad describe the tour experience.






The Gettysburg Battlefield is truly one of the most impressive national monuments in the country. Everywhere you look there is a monument to one of the many state regiments that fought in the three day battle. Here’s a quick synopsis of the “event.”
The Confederate Army moved north from Virginia and Maryland into Pennsylvania in an attempt to position for an attack on Washington or Philadelphia. General Robert E Lee picked Gettysburg because of the 11 roads that converged on the town. Roads provided support for troop movement and supplies. The Union army spotted Lee’s plan and sent several regiments to Gettysburg; the first shot of the battle occurred on July 1, 1863. For the first two days, there were several horrendous battles back and forth. At one point the confederates had the advantage, but the deciding factor was how the union army commanded the high ground on “Little Round Top,” a ridge that stretches North/South on the southern side of the town of Gettysburg. A confederate attack that was supposed to commence early on the second day didn’t actually start until 4:00 PM on July 2ndcontrary to Lee’s command. A second wave that was to start simultaneously didn’t commence until 8:00 PM that evening. The battle turned out to be a set back for the confederates. One grisely story we learned was about the Alabama regiment that marched across the Blue Ridge mountains in stifling heat with 40 pounds on their backs, wearing heavy wool uniforms and no shoes. By the time they arrived after a twenty-four mile forced march they had to immediately go into battle to confront the Union regiments amassed on the high ground along Little and Big Round Top ridges. On the third day, Lee received erroneous reports of the Union strength at the center of the union line along the ridge. Based on this false intelligence he ordered a frontal assault on the union lines. Colonel George Pickett lead the famous charge up the hill into the teeth of more than 150 artillery and 20,000 union troops. The confederates were completely exposed for over a mile in open field. The union army fired “canister” rounds, small lead balls that could penetrate four soldier bodies at a range of 500 yards.One horrific fact is that the union artillery shot their own men in the back which then mowed down the rebel soldiers in front.(Talk about "friendly fire!") Needless to say the Confedrates were obliterated, losing over 5,000 troops in a few hours. All told, the battle of Gettysburg resulted in 51,000 casualties, one of the bloodiest battles in American history. Gripping!

Tomorrow off to Newburgh, NY

Down on the farm at Ft Chiswell

Heehaw, here we are at Ft Chiswell RV park in Max Meadows, PA. Now this is definitely farm country, given the rolling pasture lands, barns, and numerous creatures that look like huge dogs; Dad tells me they're cows. We're actually deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains with the Aiderondack range in the distance; pretty actually.

Yesterday was a fairly simple ride of about 6 hours. I spent the day asleep between Mom and Dad; boring actually. Dad tells me we drove about 370 miles, over a six hour period; we arrived around 6:00 PM. Mom cooked up some polish sausage and sour kraut; I had my normal cup of Eukaneuba (sp?) Yum.



We're off to Gettysburg, PA this morning. The weather is lovely here in the mountains, it's now about 65 degrees; really nice. I'll post some pics of Ft Chiswell tomorrow. Later!

I turned 6 years old yesterday

Well, I'm a venerable 6 years old as of yesterday, July 10th. To celebrate, we had a party with all my buddies out at Oak Island next to Dataw Island. Oak Island is basically about 100 or so acres of forest with trails winding through to a huge dock that stretches out to Jenkins Creek. Each day, we have what our owners call the "dog walk, one at 9:00 AM in the morning and then again at 4:00 PM. The walk gives us a chance to play, run, and basically drive our owners crazy by all sorts of aberrant behavior like rolling in deer poop, cavorting in muddy culverts and my favorite, eating grass. Dad doesn't like the grass eating because it disrupts my innards and results in (ahem!) unlady like poopies!

So yesterday we had a most excellent birthday party as we have done over the last several years; this has become an island favorite with the dog walkers and my buddies. Here's the whole gang out on the dock where we did some major butt sniffing, and had a really neat treat, "Dogsters," an icecream concoction for dogs; Dad says it smells like swamp mung!

In attendance were our main gang, Becky and Enzo, Rainbow, Jenny, Blue, Cocoa, Milly, Molly, Brutus, and Dixie. (Tucker was traveling)

We leave next Monday on the first leg of our sojourne, July 19th, so be sure to check in on my excellent adventure as it unfolds.

Trip Plan

(If you're new to my blog, go to the last entry at the end of this thread for an intro)


Well, I did some figuring for the excellent adventure. Mom and Dad will need some help planning this hummer so I put paw to computer and came up with the following:

Total miles: 4,875

Total gallons of gas: 488 (Yikes!)

Total number of days (July 19 to Sept 1) 43

Number of stops: 26 (several are multiple nights)

Here are the stops (and dates) along the way:

7/19 Max Meadows VA
7/20 Gettysburg, PA
7/22 Plattekill, NY
7/23 Humarock, MA (with the Doyles)
7/26 Freeport, ME
7/27 Camden, ME
7/28 Belfast, ME
7/29 Trenton, ME
7/31 Nappan, NS
8/1 Halifax, NS
8/3 Lunenberg, NS
8/5 Digby, NS
8/7 Truro, NS
8/9 Louisbourg, NS
8/10 Baddeck, NS
8/11 Ingonish Beach, NS
8/13 Port Hood, NS
8/15 Pictou, NS
8/16 Prince Edward Island
8/19 Bangor, ME
8/20 Bristol, ME
8/22 Quechee, VY
8/24 Lake George, NY
8/27 Stroudsburg, PA
8/28 Cherry Hill, MD
8/29 Chapel Hill, NC
9/1 Return to Dataw Island

Can't wait for all those northern smells, I understand bear are quite aromatic; as is the muskrat, maybe I'll encounter a whale on the beach. I'll have lots of stories to tell so check in regularly after July 19th!

By the way I have a birthday on July 10, I'll be 6 yrs old, so that's 36 in dog years; my prime I believe! I'll post some photos of my b-day party that Mom is hosting on Oak Island for all my pals. I expect at least ten buddies to attend. The picture above is from last year's party. Later!

Jasmine

Jasmine describes the adventure ahead

So Mom and Dad have planned this excellent adventure to Nova Scotia in the new RV. Mom and Dad call it Carillon III (after our last two boats), but I call it "condo on wheels." We leave on July 19 and our first stop is an RV park right over the border in Virginia. Mom says we're going there to be near Rt 80 which goes up the Shennandoah Valley into Pennsylvania. Our next stop is Gettysburg where Mom and Dad plan a tour of the famous battlefield. This is where a nutcase named George Picket led a Confederate force into a highly fortified Union battalion on top of several hills. Needless to say Picket's charge ranks up there with George Custer's last stand at Little Big Horn. What is it about the name George that tends to screw things up? I recall a more recent George that did just that!

From Gettysburg, our next stop is Newburg, New York, in the Hudson Valley.I think we're just doing one night and then on to the Doyles in Hummarock, Mass. Can't wait to run the beach at Hummarock.

We're meeting the Kings (Linda and Dick) along with my two buddies Enzo and Becky. They're traveling in the their RV and will meet up with us in Camden, Maine.

So check in on my BLOG to hear all about my excellent adventure to Nova Scotia. I plan lots of pictures, stories, and wild tales all from a dog's point of view!