Dayton and Home

So we spent the night in Dayton and ate dinner at a TGI Friday's.....back to boring ol' regular life....

We visited the Air Force Museum in Dayton on Monday morning. Looked at all the WWII war birds and then went to peek at the bird dog they have hanging by the Viet Nam era airplanes. They have a new section now for rockets....it was pretty interesting. I think I must have been tired or something - just couldn't get too revved up about the airplanes.....

I wanted to go home. It was time. We got back in the car and headed west. We still had 600 miles to go and I was anxious to put those miles behind us. I listened to my iPod for a bit - first time since Phil arrived in Maine last Friday. First song was All That We Let In by the Indigo Girls. Second one was A Song For You by Leon Russell.....

Dust in our eyes our own boots kicked up
Heartsick we nursed along the way we picked up
You may not see it when it's sticking to your skin
But we're better off for all that we let in

I love those lyrics...

Let's see...I was gone from home for 26 days. I traveled over 4600 miles through 22 states. I spent time with one of my oldest and most precious friends, Mena. I witnessed the marriage of her oldest son - I've known him since he was a tiny baby. I spent time with some of my newest friends - people I met on an internet forum and have gotten to know pretty well, I'd say. I say that because when I finally met them face to face, there were no surprises - just really good people and people I want to see again.

Driving home, I looked over there at my partner...the guy who lets me be the free spirit I so need to be. I'll never forget what my friend Lois Brown said to her son, "Kid! I wake up in the morning and go to work at my shoe store downtown. And when I look out of that window at Main Street I see heaven!"

I want to be that happy all the days of my life...

So Phil...thank you for letting me take this trip. I'm sure you didn't understand why I needed to take it - maybe you even wondered if it would take me away from you forever...but you've always been so good at allowing me just enough freedom to be me. Thank you. Thank you.

Visiting all those places I lived as a child...maybe I was checking to see if there was something I left behind. But, you know what? There wasn't. All of those things I lived through - in all of those places - they were just bringing me here to this place. I love my life. I have a great life.

So Phil, for you:

I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for my life - you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
We were alone and I was singing this song for you -Leon Russell

Saturday - Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania

Saturday morning, Jim H. came down from Wolcott VT and met us for breakfast. Jim is a Purple Board member who missed our fly-in for lobster chowder because he was driving home from Pittsburgh PA that day. We had a great visit. Thanks, Jim, for making the trip. We enjoyed it very much!

We drove from Montpelier down through Rutland, Vermont and over to Lake George, NY then down through Albany and over to Syracuse. We visited the house I used to live in as a child in Camillus, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. I was surprised and pleased to find our old neighborhood was in remarkably good shape 35 years later….it was good to see it all.

From there we drove south to Skaneateles, New York….it is one of the more beautiful places on this planet. I would move there in a heart beat. We even visited the Skaneateles Aerodrome….great grass runway!!!

From there we went south to Danville, Pennsylvania. Phil wanted to see another of my childhood homes….on Old Berwick Road in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It has taken a beating over the past 35 years and looked very, very different from when I lived there.
We poked around Bloomsburg for a little bit then headed out I-80 toward Dayton.

Mom, those pictures at the top are of downtown Bloomsburg and there is one of the former Dixie's Starlight Gardens....memories.....they're so great.

Time to Leave Biddeford

We made plans to meet our brother-in-law’s sister for lunch in Freeport on Friday. We had a lot of cleaning and packing to do before we left….so we got an early start with laundry and cleaning. Phil fixed the loose screen on the upstairs window of the house we were renting and repaired the sliding glass door I had been unable to lock the entire time I was there. He’s funny – loves to fix that stuff…….

We stuffed our car full of stuff…..I don’t know where it all came from……really! Lunch with Lee was delightful. Lee lives in Brunswick and also has a house on China Lake up near Augusta, Maine. She is a photographer and a maverick like me – I love her dearly.

We left Freeport and headed west on 302….over to New Hampshire. The trees were on fire with red and orange and yellow – every direction you looked the view was just magnificent. I didn’t take pictures of it….there was just no way to capture the beauty of the scenery. You just had to be there. Our day ended in Montpelier VT where there was no room at the inn….seriously. It was parent’s weekend at the college there and all the hotels were booked. We finally found a room at the “no tell motel”….thus the pictures you see on this post….it was a scary place (think Bates Motel)….Phil was so disgusted with it he put on his jammies and went to bed as soon as we got in. I had wine and Rolo’s for dinner….

The bed was one of those squeaky ones with creepy sheets…..it was a very long night for me with Mr. Wiggly wiggling there next to me all night long.

Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday -- More Beautiful Days

I don’t think we could have asked for more beautiful weather! Indian Summer came to Maine when Phil arrived and we enjoyed the warm sunshine and crisp cool air every day we were there. We drove south about ten miles to Kennebunkport Tuesday and walked through a few of the shops. We had lunch at Allison’s – very good….then went home to spend more time on the beach. Don’t worry, by Tuesday I had Phil looking for sea glass….he found some nice pieces, too!

On Wednesday morning we headed north up to Portland Head Light – probably the most famous lighthouse on the east coast. From there we drove into Portland and spent some time walking through their waterfront shopping district. We had lobster stew at an outdoor seafood restaurant right on the wharf.

All of a sudden it was Thursday…..our last full day in Maine! I don’t know how the time got by us so quickly! We spent that last day taking a long walk all the way up Fortune’s Rock Beach and back. We drove into Kennebunkport for dinner….then headed back to the house to begin packing for our journey home.

Monday – Alone at Last in Maine

Phil and I were alone at last after a very busy – but very fun – weekend. Monday morning we woke up and decided it would be a good day to drive up to Freeport. Phil needed a new piece of luggage and we thought L.L. Bean may have just what we needed. Of course they did….and we even had it monogrammed. We ate lunch at Buck’s Naked BBQ restaurant and it was really good! Thanks, Mark, for the recommendation. When we got home we took a walk on the beach and looked for sea glass. Phil told me if I spent too much time looking for sea glass I would miss the beautiful view…..

After the Lobster Chowder Feast

Most of the Purple People flew home Saturday afternoon after the feast. I made sure everyone had a bag of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies in their airplane before they left. That left Andy, Laurie and Christopher and Mark and Terri with us for the evening and overnight. We decided more lobsters were just what we needed and I made one more trip to the lobster pound. We cooked up lobster, corn pudding and salad and opened a bottle of sparkling wine. It was delicious and we had a great time visiting.

Sunday morning shortly after breakfast Andy and Laurie hit the road with Christo looking forward to a nap during the ride back home. Andy was a wonderful help on Saturday hauling people back and forth to and from the airport. I would have been in a world of hurt had he not driven his van up for the weekend. Thank you so much Andy for all of your great help.

After Laurie and Andy left, Mark and Terri and Phil and I took a walk on the beach. It was a beautiful day – warm and sunny. We decided to drive up to Yarmouth and go to lunch with Mark and Terri’s daughter, Tricia. She had recently moved to Maine to go to work for Cole-Hahn at their corporate headquarters. We enjoyed meeting Tricia. I owe her a spinach artichoke dip recipe…..gotta remember to send that off to her…..

Late that afternoon we watched Mark and Terri depart from BiddefordAirport headed for home at Goodspeed Airport near Clinton CT. We had a great time with Mark and Terri. Well, except for the fact that Phil sang the Oscar Mayer bologna song all day Monday and it was all Mark’s fault.

First Annual Purple Lobster Chowder Feast

After days of peace and quiet - Friday found me in a panic to get a whole lot of things done. First of all, Phil was scheduled to arrive at Manchester NH on a Southwest flight at 6:40 in the evening. The number of people coming to visit for lunch on Saturday had increased to 18 - and I had lots of chowder making to do...

I spent the morning grocery shopping and making a trip to the lobster pound. I came home and cooked up a triple batch of lobster chowder...glad I made all those cookies in advance.

My friend, Av Shiloh, from Philadelphia called me Thursday evening and asked if he and his family were still welcome for the weekend festivities. Of course they were! I even had room Friday night to let them stay with us. Av and family were flying up in Av's Comanche and he insisted on stopping at Manchester to pick up Phil - saving me a 3 hour round trip to get him. They called me when they were ready to depart Manchester for Biddeford Airport and I got in the car and drove down. I was waiting out there at a tiny little airport in the dark...all of a sudden I saw the runway lights come on (runway lights can be activated by an airplane's radio - for those non-aviators out there) so I knew Av was near. Pretty soon I saw his airplane enter the downwind leg and I watched from the ramp as he touched down. Hugs all around...Av brought his wife Irena and his twin sons Andre and Alex. We went to Olive Garden for a late dinner then came back to the house and crashed.

Saturday morning was BEAUTIFUL - it was going to be a great day! I anxiously awaited the arrival of Andy and Laurie and Christopher - they were driving up from Boston...the rest of the guests were due to arrive around 11 am at the airport in Biddeford...so there was much to do to be ready for lunch. What a great day we had! The first group in were Dave and Linda, Bob and Steve, and Jamie and Lisa. We got to see Bob do one of those fabulous landings we all do when we know half the world is watching... ; )) Nice one, Bob!!!! Shortly after we got back and started eating chowder, Mark and Terri called to tell us they had arrived. Poor Andy had to go all the way back to the airport to fetch them and Adamb arrived in the meantime...

We had a fabulous time sitting on the deck in the sunshine visiting...

Our first annual Purple Board Lobster Chowder feast was a big success!! Thank you so much everyone for making the effort!!! Phil and I enjoyed every one of you...

(Back row, left to right: Irena, Av, Terri, Mark, Adam, Bob, Phil, Linda, Dave, Jamie, Lisa
Front row, left to right: Steve, Andy, Kim, Alex, Andre - Missing: Laurie and Christopher)

Thursday - Last Day Alone

Wednesday was a cold and rainy day. I spent all morning and part of the afternoon baking cookies for my company this weekend. After that I took a nap then ventured out to the grocery store to buy some brown rice to eat with my asparagus...

Today the weather man promised sunshine. I woke up to rain, but by noon the sun was shining so I decided I better walk to the far end of the beach for the first time since I've been here. The clouds were looking somewhat ominous at that end, but I wasn't too afraid. I couldn't believe how messy the beach was - covered with sea weed and odds and ends...it has never been like this any time I've been here before and I can only imagine the tropical storm brought lots of crap to shore with the rain and wind. Perhaps it is because of the time of year...I've not ever been here quite this late in the season. So that, combined with me taking my walk while the tide was high and wearing only flip flops for the 6 mile round trip, made for a long walk on partially eroded beach. The water is COLD, but I took off my shoes and walked near the water line anyway. Much easier walking down there...

It started to rain as I reached the far end and I turned around and walked as fast as I could the other direction to try to outrun it. That wasn't working, so I sat up on the covered porch of a vacant beach house and watched the surf...I was the only person on the beach today. I saw only one other person working on a house. When the rain eased a bit, I started walking again, this time closer to the sea wall side of the beach - until I came upon the decaying body of a dead seal....ICKY!!! Sorry, no picture of that. I went back to the water after that...it felt cleaner down there.

Made it back safe and sound and now the sun is shining brightly again. Chilly wind today, too. It is definitely autumn in New England! No sea glass out there either...but I may have been walking too fast to see it. I'll go back to the rocky part of the beach this afternoon at low tide and look for more sea glass...

Tuesday - Flying with Andy

On Tuesday, Andy R. flew up to Biddeford and picked me up at the airport! It was my first flight in a low wing airplane (other than old warbird trainers and the P-51). It was pretty fun. Andy was exactly as competent a pilot as I imagined he'd be - very relaxed in the airplane - very smooth - no surprises.

We flew up the coast to see the area where I'm staying from the air, then farther north almost to Brunswick and back down to Sanford for lunch at the Cockpit Cafe. I think I may have talked Andy's ear off...I haven't been around people for a few days and I found I had a lot to say.



Thanks, Andy, for a great day in the air. Looking forward to this weekend with all of the PB people!

The Sun Comes Out!!!!

I didn't have my camera with me this morning when I visited the rocky part of the beach and the sun was shining...I will take it tomorrow. The view is spectacular in the right light.

My trips to the beach today were mostly to search for sea glass. For those of you who do not know what sea glass is, it is glass that has been tossed in the ocean and then gently placed on the shore line for you to find. Pieces that are not yet "finished" need to be tossed back into the ocean to "cook". It is hard to throw a piece of green or blue glass back in...but you must if you want to find a good piece later. Today I found a few so-so pieces and was reluctant to toss them back. Sure enough, as soon as I did, I found some great pieces...I hauled in some good sea glass today...no big pieces, but a nice variety of colors.....

Sunday - Max Goes Home

Wow. What a quick visit Max and I had here. But it was so nice - I haven't been alone with him for that much time since he was a kid and we would go to our lake house. Even then there were distractions - like his brother - or friends...this was two days of alone time and I enjoyed every minute. He loved the area - which was part of my plan. I wanted him to see New England before he makes a decision about what he will do next. He loved it here...and he loved going up to S. China to see Lee - a fellow photographer. She gave him some good advice.

I dropped him at the airport yesterday afternoon...there were actually breaks in the overcast at Manchester...the first time we saw the sun in three days. Of course, I drove right back in to the rain as I left there, but Monday promises little bitty sunshines in the hour by hour forecast starting about 2 o' clock. Looking forward to that!

At Home in Biddeford - FINALLY!!!!!!

After leaving Mark and Terri in Clinton, I drove north to meet Andy R. for lunch and then on to get Max, my son, at the airport in Manchester, NH. He is visiting me during my first weekend here in Biddeford Pool. Andy was as delightful as I thought he would be - and I am looking forward to meeting his wife and child this coming weekend when they visit Phil and me in Biddeford Pool.

The house is GREAT!!!! Max and I both fell in love with it the minute we pulled into the garage. Of course that could be because it was pouring down rain and we were just excited there WAS a garage...

Here are a few pictures of the house and Max on the beach in the fog Saturday morning:

Clinton CT and MidlifeMark

MidlifeMark is my "internet boyfriend". We became friends writing limericks on the AOPA "red" board and Phil and I met him the last time we were in Maine. When he heard I was travelling to Maine by way of Connecticut, he invited me to spend the night with him and his wife at their home in Clinton. After leaving Middletown, NY, I headed their direction. Mark called me at about 1:00 and asked where I was. We made a plan to meet north of Clinton and I followed him to his airport, Goodspeed Airport, for a short flight in Lucky Dog, his old but VERY NICE 182. He's done a great job restoring his airplane...it's beautiful. Mark, I didn't take a picture of your airplane...if you send me one, though, I will post it here...

We took a short flight down the river and then down the Connecticut coastline of Long Island Sound...

After his spectacular landing - let me put it this way, there is NO pressure whatsoever for me when I give Mark his first bird dog ride ; )...we went to his house where his beautiful wife and I drank red wine and got to know one another. She was so kind not to make me sleep on the porch seeing as I was a woman her husband picked up on the internet. They were great folks and will be joining us this next weekend in Maine...

From Middletown NY

Today was a beautiful day! I roamed around Bloomsburg and Berwick, PA most of the morning and somehow ended up at the Bloomsburg Airport sitting on the bench watching the airplanes take off and land. I decided it is the best part of Bloomsburg. I grew up across the street from that airport - little did I know what a significant part of my life aviation would become. A guy I was talking to took me into the big hangar there and showed me some airplanes - an RV6 they are working on and a beautiful J3...not a whole lot of tail draggers there, but there was a very nice Ercoupe I watched take off...

The airport is next to the Susquehanna River and I used to walk behind it when I walked from our house on Old Berwick Road to the Bloomsburg swimming pool. It was just an overgrown road back then - sort of scary even. The McGee Carpet Company had some buildings back there, too. An old outdoor stage and a kitchen building. It was called the Carpet Club...and my friend, Pam Davies, and I used to play there. We would pretend we were performers and dance on the stage. I often went there alone as a child. It was a magic place for me - a place where I could be whatever I wanted to be. Really, it breaks my heart it isn't there anymore...just a ratty piece of property there by the river now. A boat launch and a compost yard...

From Bloomsburg, I traveled north to Rickett's Glen state park then wound around the Pennsylvania country side for several hours - turning north and east when the opportunity presented itself...all roads lead to other roads I've learned...some slow you down...but you eventually end up where you need to be.



I have lots of pictures and stories from today, but I am so weary from my travels posting them will have to wait until morning.

Later in the day I was driving north of Wilkes-Barre Scranton and saw a J3 flying low and slow like it had just left the runway. I turned south and found the airport - Skyhaven. I talked to some folks there who were restoring old Stinsons with radial engines...we got so busy talking about creepers, I forgot to ask what the airplanes were - and I don't have pictures of them either. There were some fine vintage airplanes at that field...what a place...

Pennsylvania - YAY!!!!!!

After driving in the "drizzle" every day since we left Kansas City, I finally woke up to sunshine and blue skies today. What a welcome sight!

Last night I left the Metzingers in Virginia and drove up old higway 15 to Frederick, MD to my hotel. It was a very black night and I could not see a thing - which disturbed me very much when I crossed the Potomac River....I like to cross rivers in the daylight so I can watch the water moving.

This morning I actually took an hour to do some laundry and "regroup"...living out of my trunk for 5 days was starting to feel a little chaotic. After I pulled it all together, I drove up to Gettysburg to meet Sixie (Rick), Tim, Gary, and a couple of others for lunch. After 14 hours of driving on flat, pine tree lined, straight freeway I looked up this morning and saw Pennsylvania mountains! WOW! What a beautiful sight. I enjoyed the whole Gettysburg experience...I arrived at the airport as Gary was landing. Tim and his friend had just taxied in as well, although I missed Tim's approach and landing. What a cute little airport that is tucked into the valley. Sixie chose a great little restaurant you all can read about here:

http://www.farnsworthhouseinn.com/tavern-gallery.html

My camera battery was dead, so I was not able to take any pictures...but others did and they are supposed to email them to me. So I will post them here when I get them. We had a nice chat over lunch about UAV's...I think another girl would have helped keep the conversation a little more "balanced"....but I learned a lot about UAV's - mostly that those guys know a whole lot about them.

I made a short trip through the Gettysburg battlefields after I left the fellows. Sixie followed me down the road - I think he was making sure I found my way - that was so nice. The sun was shining and I was remembering my dad - and how much he loved that part of the country. It is truly hallowed ground, Gettysburg, and it was an absolutely beautiful day to do exactly what I was doing. I got a little teary when the song Calling All Angels played on my iPod just as I made the turn onto the battlefield grounds...

I have a very good friend in Kansas City who is dying from metastatic colon cancer...he has put up one heck of a fight these past couple of years, but is not well now and I am so sad I haven't had the opportunity to visit him this summer as either he was away from home or I was - all summer long. I had a dream about Bob last night. He and I were going out to lunch. Bob was driving and I was feeling so good about how well he looked as he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. However, as we were sitting at lunch I began to notice he seemed to be deteriorating until it was apparent he was not feeling well at all. I called Phil this morning and asked him to please call his wife to check on him. Sure enough...he is not well. I hope he will be okay until I get home...but that is such a selfish thing for me to expect. I love you, Bob. I'm in our part of the country and I think about you every day...

So...being with my dad and Bob in spirit, driving through rural Pennsylvania in the sunshine and listening to Jane Siberry and k.d. lang singing Calling All Angels makes for a soulful kind of day...

...and every day you gaze upon the sunset
with such love and intensity
why it's...it's almost as if
if you could only crack the code
then you'd finally understand what this all means

but if you could...do you think you would
trade it in
all the pain and suffering?
ah, but then you'd miss
the beauty of the light upon this earth
and the sweetness of the leaving

calling all angels
calling all angels
walk me through this one
don't leave me alone
callin' all angels
callin' all angels
we're tryin'
we're hopin'
we're hurtin'
we're lovin'
we're cryin'
we're callin'
'cause we're not sure how this goes...... -Jane Siberry