Philly Family Sept 24 - 26

I had almost forgotten to check in with Uncle Bob about our being in the area and was so excited when a plan to connect came together.  We left from Ann and Trav’s house early knowing that our Philly destination would be a long day.  Little did we know!  As was our routine, we planned on stopping midway to stretch our legs and I started looking for a hike along the way.  Enjoying the changing colors as we drove, the distance passed quickly. 

I chose a hike just off the highway and we turned in to realize there was no parking for us.  In making the about face, Rob missed my frantic antics and yelling and took off the bumper (and made some adjustments to the quarter panel …) of another car!!!  Oh my.  We dealt with that and headed back out. 

Somehow, the day got longer quickly.  The next hike – and the next – were more no-goes.  Now with three missed attempts (one with a special memory) and the hour getting later, we were both getting irritable and frankly, sick of being on the road.  We pulled off the road to grab some lunch and found a better hike than we suspected along with a nice spot to enjoy a lunch outside. 

Now later than we had hoped, traffic was picking up and the roads were getting smaller.  We finally made it to just outside our destination and called Bob to get us in the final leg.  Bob lives on my cousin Mary’s property which sits on a beautiful riverfront.  The tricky part was the low arched rock bridge in our way!  Bob and cousin Julie showed up to escort us – DOWN THE BIKE PATH!!! 

After some convincing a by then very irritable Rob, we did in fact drive our monster on a bike path and down to the property – much to the chagrin of several bikers on the path!   We were both instantly thankful we hadn’t given up!  We were set up in the yard in minutes in a wonderfully scenic and peaceful location. 

It was so fun to reconnect with Bob, Mary and Julie and Rob and Mary’s husband, Tom, got along instantly!  It wasn’t long before beers were open and the grill was lit.  Mary’s daughters made appearances and we spent the night eating, drinking and catching up on the 15 years since we last saw each other! 

The next morning, Mary, Tom and Bob joined us for coffee in the rig.  Tom and Mary are talking about trying the RV adventure and that added plenty to talk about!  Mary headed off to work and the guys moved up to the deck as the morning disappeared.  Before long, it was time for us to get on the road – OR NOT!  We opted for taking everyone out for lunch!

With the rest of the day at our disposal, we all got our own “stuff” handled before Mary made it home and I made dinner for us all.  We enjoyed another great meal together before heading to the lower deck and the projection TV for the Eagles vs Packers game – quite the faceoff considering we were in Philly but hailed from Wisconsin! 

Mary didn’t have to work the next day and we had a leisurely morning with conversation still at a fevered pitch.  We still hadn’t come close to catching all the way up!  It was particularly special for me to be with Bob.  Bob has a lot of similar traits as my father who has been gone for 18 years now and also is strikingly like his late father who remained a witty character until his last days at 99 years old! 

Being that we weren’t in a hurry to get on the road, Tom treated us to a river tour on their pontoon boat.  We piled in and wandered the waterway for an hour soaking up the sunshine and enjoying being together.  Needing to get on the road, we shared a lunch of leftovers while making promises to be in touch before another 15 years passed!  And as quick as it came together, we were back on the bike path feeling much richer for the special time we had and headed for points toward home.

NY Fun with Family! Sept 19 - 24

How do I begin to recap 5 amazing days in New York city with my son and his family?  We left Charleston in July with our new and only grandchild just having turned one.  Madison is such a delight – as any new grandparents can easily relate to!  With our son Matt’s birthday falling late September, we thought it might be a great way to reconnect in the midst of our journey so we planned a NYC rendezvous.

The logistics seemed to be working.  With our great neighbor/friends Ann and Trav graciously allowing us to leave the RV in their care and BEYOND graciously escorting us to New Haven to catch the train, we found ourselves comfortably seated on the Metro North train and headed into the city.  The other BIG logistical factor was lodging in NYC with four adults and an energy-filled toddler!  Enter my sister, Joan, who lives in the East Village and – whether out of total selflessness or for self-preservation – gave us total run of her place for our visit! 

We arrived at Joan’s office where she would be camping out during our visit and helped her ready it for her stay before we all headed to our new digs for the next few days.  Matt, Danyelle and Madison’s plane was delayed and they didn’t arrive until after 10 that night.  In the meantime we did some preparation and enjoyed a picnic with her son, Carmelo, and an outdoor Springstein cover band concert in the neighborhood park.

The next four + days were a combination of total chaos and FUN!  Most mornings were spent finding the best bagel place in the area.  We tried Bagel Boss, David’s and Tompkins Square Bagels – who won the overall best breakfast sandwich designation.  Then it was coffee and we found Le Café by Union Square which became our go-to morning destination for talented baristas, amazing lattes and wonderful staff. 

Aside from the morning food and beverage routine, every day was different.  The first found us in endless wander mode putting miles and miles behind us and finding everything from the Italian Festival to some of Matt’s favorite shopping spots.  Midday, Matt and Danyelle scored reservations at a private club and they had a great night out with fun stories to tell and pictures to share while we blissfully played Papa and Lala!

Day two brought the morning routine and then we took off with Madi while they went exploring.  We were able to get pics of Madison on Madison Ave and we introduced her to a custard at the infamous Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.   We met back up with the kids to all head to the Brooklyn Brewery for a tour and ended up with quite a subway headache after repeated attempts to board our large party on one train after another during the late afternoon rush! 

With our plans thwarted, we attempted to find a replacement beer and wandered further until feet and tempers were worn!!!  Needing to regroup, Rob and I had a beer at a Zum Schneider before we learned the kids didn’t have their keys and we headed back their way.  Meeting back up on the street, Rob and Matt headed out to further “recover” while Danyelle and I stopped at a nearby restaurant and ordered up a Greek feast for dinner.

We took the food back to StuyTown to find the guys had taken BOTH sets of keys and neither were paying attention to their phones!  We made the best of it and set up an amazing picnic in the park.  Joni helped arrange for us to get back into the place (thanks, Melodee!) and we were well into Madi’s bath time when the guys wandered in.  We finished our VERY long day with our feet up and everyone back on track!

The next morning, I snuck out early to rendezvous for coffee with Joni, meeting at one of our favorite  After, we hiked back to StuyTown where the daily breakfast routine was happening.  While everyone got ready for the day, Rob and I headed to TKTS to get surprise tickets for Matt and D to a parody of The Office. 

spots, Lucid Café, to enjoy their amazing hot scones.

We were to meet back up at the Central Park Zoo so Rob and I headed there on foot from Times Square.  We all but arrived there when we realized timing was going to be tight and changed plans yet again and turned around to meet everyone for burgers right back in Times Square!  New York is great for exercise! 

The kids went to the show and we stayed busy.  Rob installed a faucet for Joni and Madi and I tested her office for kid-proofing!  The show was over and we met back up at Follia where we were able to connect with our niece Tifannie who lives in the East Village too.  Still full from midday burgers and spent with over 11 miles logged for the day, we sent the kids out for the night while we happily stayed put!

Our final full day was upon us and it was Matt’s birthday!  After another morning of routine and random wandering, we gathered for lunch at Joni’s fav Indian haunt, Saravanaah, for masala dosas and talis.  If you haven’t ever experienced a dosa, I suggest a detour to 26^th and Lex for the REAL  DEAL!  As if we hadn’t indulged enough, we further gorged ourselves with amazing coconut ice cream just around the corner at Van Lleewan.  The birthday was shaping up nicely! 

Just a few blocks away at 29th, Kalustyan’s is a fun experience.  Filled with everything from a full case of authentic halva to a selection of bitters near an aisle long to every dried fruit and I swear any tea you could dream up!  Matt and Danyelle even found some Happy Birthday tea, fitting for the occasion! 

Making up for our missed brewery tour over the subway mishap, we sent the guys off to Brooklyn for a specialty tour later that afternoon.  While they were gone, Danyelle and I went to the famous bakery, Veniero’s, for birthday “supplies”.   We had a fun night celebrating being together and Matt’s birthday with Carmelo and Matt keeping us all entertained.

The final morning arrived.  Carmelo was gone early for school and Joni was at her office and already into a full day.  We each busied ourselves packing and putting things back in order before heading out for the final bagel breakfast together.   We returned to grab our bags and say our goodbyes and before we knew it, we were back on the train with a truckload of great memories and ready to face the final chapters of our journey ahead.

A Change of Scenery Sept 15 - 19

Mom was off to Boston and we had a day to wander before our next “reservation”.  We broke camp early and headed off to another state park – Wells.  As always, we really didn’t know what to expect and were so thrilled when we drove in the crazy-to-maneuver campground and found a site directly on the waterfront!  With a gentle breeze, an amazing view and a full day ahead, we RELAXED!

Of course I needed to hike so I picked the trails we’d follow and we headed out.  About a mile in, Rob realized his hat was missing.  Being bald (by choice of course!), we HAD to find it and did an about face almost all the way back to the start!  Oh well, an extra mile.  The hike was nothing special but was some good exercise and a nice break.  We spent the evening enjoying our site and a great crackling campfire and an exquisite grilled tuna dinner by the waterfront.

The next day opened another new chapter to our journey with our arrival at Ann and Trav’s lovely home in New Hartford, CT.  Our first approach was to a wrong address and we found ourselves on a seriously steep incline (noted by Rob as getting less than 1 mile per gallon on our climb!) before finding yet another wild turn around and an equally steep descent!  Minutes later, however, we arrived at our destination for the next chapter and (after of an even more harrowing mid-driveway about face) we got settled!

The hospitality of friends and family along the way has been beyond comprehension and this was no different.  Ann and Trav who hail from CT, live across the street from us through winters at home in Charleston.  Trav was traveling when we arrived so we spent the next couple days getting to know Ann better.   

From the first moment, Ann was the consummate hostess!  Offering every possible assistance from showers to laundry and more, we had everything we could possibly need at our disposal.  Over the days we spent together we enjoyed numerous cozy meals, fun game nights, Rob’s guitar serenades and a wonderful fire in the fireplace to warm celebrate the increasingly cold nights.  She even took on a Scrabble game with us two crazy competitors! 

It was especially fun to take Ann out in her own surroundings and share our love of hiking with her.  We first tried the Sessions Woods area where we had a great hike to a beaver pond and a waterfall.  A surprise benefit was the exceptional nature center at the trailhead with an impressive selection of stuffed animals and birds as well as quite the array of educational displays.

The next day we hiked up Jones Mountain, a nearby destination Ann had been wanting to explore.  It was a treat of a hike, not too long but with enough challenge to make for a great exercise opportunity.  Donated to the area by the Jones family, it featured an old carriage path complete with lovely stone bridges and house foundations to explore.  Being that the Jones Mountain hike was not too long, Rob and I treated ourselves to a second hike that afternoon in another wonderful state park nearby. 

As if hosting us and our monster mobile housing unit wasn’t enough, Ann and Trav graciously allowed us to leave the rig with them while we took a trip to NYC for a few days.  Ann drove us to New Haven to catch our train while Trav was right there upon our return and we had our final night with all of us in attendance.

With Trav’s return, we had a chance to catch up on our recent adventures as I cooked up a meal of jambalaya.   The laughs increased as did the empty bottles of wine and we made good use of the time together and our final night in Connecticut.   Closing the visit the next morning, we said our goodbyes thankful for a chance to have strengthened a neighborly friendship so far from home.

Making Memories with Mom Sept 10 - 14 (warning - it's a long one!)

My mom is a force.  At 84 years young, she doesn’t turn down any chance at adventure – of course she never has!  I’m certain my travel bug comes from her.  When I left for college just after my dad left us behind for his “new life”, my mom packed up she and my sister and spent 18 months going entirely around the world.  She still works her own business leading a positive aging program she developed and is determined to continue to change lives every day.

Adventures with my mom are some of my favorite times.  We’ve traveled to Italy, the horn of South America and the Mediterranean together.  Inviting her for an RV trip paled in comparison but was momentous in its own right.  She arrived her spunky self, ready to go and we got right on the road.

I was determined to give her a cross section of our life on the road and tried to find good representations of our experiences along the way.  First stop was all I could find in a short-ish drive from Bangor.  It promised a small private campground on a beautiful lake. 

Hmm – first impressions weren’t that great.  The office was closed and we had to wait for someone to come check us in.  It was post season so all of the activities on the website had been stalled until spring and, to top it off, they gave us a campsite that was just plain unattractive! 

Being a world traveler and a positive person, my mom made the best of the situation and we set up our chairs and got ready to set the campfire for the night.  The campfire was much anticipated because coming from 90+ degree New Orleans, the dropping temps in Maine were Mom’s biggest challenge!

That’s when it rained.  Hard.  And unpredicted or expected!  Us spent from our hike and Mom spent from travel, we mixed a few drinks and got cozy inside ignoring both the less than impressive location and the weather surprise.  We played a few rounds of cards and Rob stayed busy in his usual style keeping us all entertained with his busybody antics!

The morning dawned cold but dry.   We had fun travels toward the second chosen campground.  First stop was a craft barn, a favorite “to do” for my Mom.  With crafts from local housewives, it was loaded with lots of goodies to pick through and enjoy.  Next stop was Camden, ME promising a good brewery.  We never found the brewery but did find a nice waterfront walk and more shops to poke through.

Upon arrival, the second night’s campground felt very similar to the previous night!  With high hopes of really special experiences, I was feeling pretty down.  We had another blah site in a blah area in a blah campground.  Ugh.  Repeat night one . . . stay positive!  We set up camp, put up our chairs and planned for the fire.  GUESS WHAT.  Really.  0% in the forecast.  RAIN!!!!

Well, the reason for picking the campground in the first place was that they cooked lobster pounds right there.  With our campsite turning to mud in our field location, we forged out in good spirits to make up for the circumstances.  Lobster has a way of curing pretty much any ill and in this case was no exception. 

With a fun collection of well-versed employees to guide the way, we chose two good sized lobsters and brought our own sides and drinks to make it a meal.  We dug in and dug deeper, finding all the little special places with more of the delicate treasured food with the help of the staff.  Phew – a good meal and a few drinks topped with a shared ice cream rescued the day!

With no reason not to get on the road early, day 3 took us further down the coast headed for a night with Mom’s friends of 40 years plus.  With our plan to generally stay clear of any major cities, we poked around in a couple towns on the way.  I was excited to find a nice hike on our way where Mom and I could manage to enjoy some of the beauty of the state without a rocky trail.  Yet more rain tried to change our plan but we put up our hoods and had a wonderful walk.

Next stop on the itinerary, Freeport and the Maine Brewing Company.  Being that it was just striking noon when we arrived, we ordered a wood fired pizza to accompany our chosen selections of beer.   Mean Old Tom Stout was a hit - DELISH!  Thanks to our son Jacob for the recommendation!

We arrived at Marilyn and Joe’s in the early afternoon after another stop at “just one more” brewery.   With Mom fully distracted by good friends, Rob and I hopped on the bikes and headed for a nature preserve not far away for a great hike
including some time on a beautiful beach.

Mom had a great night with her friends.  We reconnected in the morning planning a bit of hiking for all around the neighborhood before we took on helping Marilyn spruce up their front yard.A simple question to Rob of how to prune a plant turned into an all-out flowerbed cleanup!   With Mom and Joe looking on, Marilyn, Rob and I got down and outright dirty!  We were treated to a delicious sandwich buffet by Marilyn before we hit the road again. 

Having already had lunch, there was no excuse not to enjoy a cider along the way!   North Country Hard Cider made a delicious variety of unique ciders of which we tried six!  Our favorite was the Fire Starter with cinnamon and habanero to keep it interesting!

Tonight’s destination was another Boondockers Welcome location.  This one promising wonderful hosts in a small town right on the train tracks, I thought Mom might like to see how this setup worked.  Not wanting to arrive too early, we took the back roads and happened into a small town with a trio of breweries on the one corner in town! 

Not offering any dark beers in two, we wandered to the newer guy on the block – EP – Empty Pint.  What a nice owner.  And the bartender was a near replica of our own beer loving son, Jacob.  We enjoyed a nice toasted coconut porter and some great, lively conversation before saving ourselves from a big parking ticket and heading for our camp for the night.

Oh my.  The location was Newton Junction which I suspect originated from the train stop there.  And yes, our designated spot was RIGHT next to the tracks!  We pulled into a gravel spot in an industrial site where our hosts ran their commercial sign installation business.  There was really no town and nowhere to go – and THIS is where I brought my mom!

But wait!  Our hosts, Bev and Axel, didn’t disappoint.  Waving us in as we pulled up, Bev had one of those smiles that can light up a room!   Lovely from minute one, they offered power, water and even sewer hookup and made us feel welcome and at home.  Axel was quick to show Rob around their thriving business and Bev showed Mom and I to a small (VERY small) trail at the back of the property. 

We gathered for drinks as the trains whipped by.  As the sun began to sink, it got seriously cold outside!  Forgetting about dinner, we talked as the sun disappeared, a fire was lit and other boondockers joined in for toasting marshmallows.  Mom got colder and colder as Rob drank more and more and I broke up the fun to take us inside.   Rob was beyond being willing to eat and Mom was too cold to do anything but huddle under blankets!  We called it a day and spent the night trying to stay warm!

The morning called for anything hot and fresh and I baked up some muffins, took some to our hosts and we headed out early.  Thinking we could salvage all of our missed calls, we headed into Salem to have an adventurous day of sightseeing before our final night together.  We drove 40 minutes out of our way, made it to town, fueled up with propane … and never could find a way to maneuver through traffic and park!  FAIL!!!!

Almost despondent by now (but still laughing at our misfortune) we gave up and drove back inland to Harold Parker State Park where my sister and her good friend would come in the evening and take Mom into Boston for the next couple days. 

From the minute we settled into our site, all of the craziness of the previous four days disappeared.  The park was quiet   Our site was private and cozy.  The day was cloudy but warm enough.  We took walks and sat watching the rain come down for a quick shower before cooking up a storm, setting a table, preparing a campfire and waiting for our guests to arrive.
and lush.

Joni and Sarah found us just as the sun fully set and we had a wonderful reunion with great laughs, great food, a perfect fire and wine!  It was so fun to eat dinner by candlelight next to the crackling fire.  And before we knew it, they were driving away with Mom tucked in the back seat.  I couldn’t help but feel as I reflected on our time together that our final night wouldn’t have felt so perfect if our previous nights hadn’t been as odd.  Somehow our crazy adventure was exactly what it needed to be. 

The Acadia Adventure Sept 7 - 10

We crossed the border and crossed paths with the hurricane at the same time.   We were the only vehicle at the border in the driving rain and we had an uneventful crossing.  Just like that, our Canadian chapter was over and we were headed toward home.

We had visited Acadia National Park years ago with friends and were excited to return.  It was next on the itinerary but we had miles to cover and weather to contend with first!   We battled the wind and rain, made a wet grocery stop and even made a wrong turn resulting in getting STUCK – but, no matter, we persevered and made it to our intended destination for the day just outside of the park.

After a day of little activity, eating, drinking and movies, the weather cleared promising much better  We arrived early at Acadia, a large, sprawling park covering several parcels of land over 3 different areas.  We parked at the visitor center, got our bearings and hopped the park shuttle for some great hiking.
fortune for the days ahead!

Being the weekend, the park was crowded as were the hikes so we picked one less than the popular Cadillac Mountain and headed for the Champlain and Gorham Mountain trails.  The hike was great to start with but especially after a rain day!  With challenging sections and spectacular views, we enjoyed every step.

The next order of business was to get to the campground near an hour’s drive to the other side of the park.  Fighting more crazy roads and traffic, it felt good to arrive at our site in the blissfully peaceful campground.  We enjoyed a great meal and a walk during the sunset before a crackling fire soothed us into a great night’s sleep.

The next day required a campsite change and we had to wait until our next site was open so we took our time before heading out.  Being way out at the Seawall campground meant that less than frequent shuttlebus took a good hour to get to “park central”.  Having decided to shuttle instead of driving all the way back in, we were limited in how much time we had to spend and chose to go into Bar Harbor and see what diversions we could find.


The day was spent wandering the area, hiking across the sand bar and around the island across the way to a great view of the harbor, doing a little shopping and – of course – making a stop at the local brewery!  We had fun with our bartender, Forest, and enjoyed a few beers and an amazingly large and tasty plate of nachos with some crazy Asian fusion spicy sauce on top. 

As if that wasn’t enough, we topped that off with some ice cream from the local shop.  With flavors like Coriander Lemon Curd and Chinese Five Spice, we couldn’t pass it up!  Lightly exercised and overly indulged, we hopped the shuttle back to the Seawall Campground. 

The next day dawned cool and beautiful and we got up early to enjoy a final hike before picking up my Mom in Bangor early afternoon.  The Acadia Mountain trail was right off the drive out of the park and we arrived early enough to get a coveted parking spot!   We chose a double mountain trail – Acadia and St. Saveur – a reasonable yet challenging goal for the day.

We wasted no time and got right on the trail.  It was an aggressive uphill climb and quickly turned into a rocky ascent climbing boulder over boulder to the summit.  The day was perfect and the views were plentiful.  Knowing we had limited time, we headed back down the mountain which proved to be challenging (but fun!) as well. 

When we got to the bottom it was near time to get on the road.  We assessed our position, what we had yet to do before the airport and decided the what we had to do could wait!  We headed away from the turn back to the road and headed up the second peak!  Acadia is just such a magical place.  Beautiful hikes with all levels of difficulty from easy strolls to vertical ladder climbs and views that can’t be topped. 

We made it to the St. Saveur peak keeping a steady pace the whole way.  Having pushed it the whole way, I was starting to feel spent!  We couldn’t justify another delay so the climax of the trail, the Valley Peak loop, was sacrificed for timeliness!  Now it really was time to hit the road and we practically jogged our way back down the mountain!

My mom was arriving for her inaugural “life in an RV” adventure in a short time and we left Acadia National Park in the rear-view mirror.  With our second visit there just as memorable as the first, we surely expect it not to be our last.

A Gold Medal Visit Sept 5-7

We had been coordinating a rendezvous since our departure with neither one of us completely sure we could make it happen.  Pat was my dragonboat coach in 2010 when we came back victors in numerous categories and I have the 9 medals (7 gold I believe) to prove it still hanging.  Oh, and she and I look the same … to the point that we would even confuse ourselves for the other in photos!  We haven’t seen each other since!

We left Fundy in the morning with Hurricane Dorian battering Charleston, our home.  So far we’d been so fortunate – lots of rain and wind but no flooding!  The big moment would be at the day’s high tide yet to come.  Feeling encouraged but tentative, we got on the road to St. John and the city market there. 

The drive was beautiful.  Driving through the balance of Fundy National Park, we got to the easy drive on the highway and straight into St. John and a visit to the City Market.  We wandered and had lunch and got back on the road planning to arrive in St. Andrews for a dragonboat practice Pat was coaching that afternoon.   

That’s when news arrived . . . WE DIDN’T FLOOD!   Really - MIRACULOUS!!!  With a significant flood history at our property and a storm perfect for a repeat performance, we were pretty distressed about what we were in for.  Giddy with gratitude and relief, we arrived in beautiful St. Andrews and parked at the nearby Algonquin Hotel to walk to Katy’s Cove.   

Pat and friend and fellow paddler, Sherrie, arrived not long after and the “sistas from other mistas” were reunited!  We met some of the paddlers from the newly formed club, a lively and enthusiastic group.  As the boat sitting on dry ground, practice was canceled due to the low water and we headed up to Pat’s place “on the mountain”. 

WOW!  What an amazing property!  An artist and a hearty athlete, Pat’s house was perfect for her persona - strong and beautiful.  The view was unlike any I’ve ever seen, high on a hill over a wide stretch of water.  We spent the evening over food and wine catching up on near 10 years of history and getting to know Sherrie who we knew was an instant friend.

We set the alarm for before sunrise and bundled up to watch the show.  Still thankful for our fortune at home, we welcomed the day as nature showed its glorious and gentle side with a spectacular sunrise.  We eased into the day with coffee and morning chores before heading over to Ministers Island for a hike.

Using a large sandbar only accessible around low tide, Ministers Island was the summer home of the “force behind the Canadian Pacific Railway”, Sir William Van Horne.  Pat dropped Sherrie in town and then dropped us to wander this large island with all of the stately amenities due royalty.  We took every minute we had to wander before needing to be back across the sandbar.

That evening the dragonboat team had a wildlife watching cruise fundraiser we were excited to be a part of.   With a little time before we needed to go, Pat took Sherrie and I for a walk up the mountain on a magical seldom-used trail with thick mosses covering the forest floor.  Back from our excursion, we headed for the fun night ahead.

The newly formed St. Andrews Dragonboat Club was a fun and diverse group of people.  42 of us climbed aboard and off we went with high expectations and a fully stocked bar!  The St. Andrews area of New Brunswick is so beautiful and being on the water was a special treat.  We had fun getting to know some new faces, enjoying homemade appetizers and local music and even sighting a few whales along the way! 

If all of that wasn’t enough, the price of admission included a wonderful BBQ dinner made by members of the team.  Held in the local yacht club’s tiny waterfront headquarters, we enjoyed the cozy setting and ate (and drank?!) too much before calling it a night and heading back up the mountain.

The next morning dawned dark and stormy with Hurricane Dorian finding its way all the way up the coast to pay us a visit!  We huddled inside near a crackling fire watching the building storm over the cove.  Trading pictures and recipes as well as my homemade granola for Pat’s  
homemade banana bread, it was time to say goodbye.

With our previous relationship being coach and team member, our visit together had transformed us into friends - and we had Sherrie to add to the list too!  Hoping our paths wouldn’t take another ten years to cross, we waved goodbye as we headed down the mountain to the adventure ahead.