Year-end activities

In every school, in our experience, the end of school means activities to which parents and grandparents are invited (summoned). Gramma, Becca and Papa were fortunate enough to attend two of of granddaughters' culminating events. Both schools had strict routines for visitors, including signing in and out, and wearing badges. Here is Becca wearing hers at Kailyn's South Londonderry School

The second graders had an "Idol Competition". It was very well organized. We understand it has been such a success, it has become a tradition. The kids were divided into duets or trios, who memorized original lyrics to familiar children tunes. There were costumes. Kaitlyn is in her puppy outfit. There were judges who "critiqued" each performance.

And every child, including Kaitlyn here, received a prize. Good fun.

Bethany attends Londonderry Middle School. Here she is with her math teacher, about whom Bethany wrote and illustrated her fantasy novelette, as her year end project.

The cafeteria was full of year end projects reflecting a variety of middle school courses

We were happy to read Bethany's work. She has been interested in creating stories  for many years. She showed us some of her early work when we visited the Hammaris when they were in Monterey.

Repair side trip

Here is an apparently insignificant photo. These are the steps into Bigfoot. They are very important. The floor inside is high. So we need them to get our home. The steps are pretty nifty when they work. They automatically extend when we stop and open the door. We usually take them for granted.

When it's time to roll, the steps retract, automatically. It would be dangerous to drive with the steps down.

BUT, when the steps won't come down or won't go up, it is a significant problem. We have had trouble with the steps over the years. Since the underside of the steps and the electric motor that operate it are exposed to elements, like rain, they are vulnerable.

So during the last part of the roadtrip here, the steps acted up. And when we got parked here in Derry the steps were stuck up. We have a little step ladder that we use for this. But we needed a more permanent solution. 

We made an appointment at Camping World, 311 Daniel Webster Hwy in Nashua, NH.  It required a side trip. For Chris, here was our route:

From Hidden Valley RV Park in Derry we took Damren Road to left on Hampstead Rd to right on Main Street though downtown Derry. Then we got on I 93 south to I 495 south. Bye n bye we were on Daniel Webster, with our destination on our right.

Fortunately, the steps just needed, cleaning, lubricating and minor adjustment. Here's hoping that they stay fixed.

Meg's Concert

Have you ever heard of "Carmina Burana"? We hadn't. But that was the program of Meg's Manchester Choral Society.  From the program notes we learned that the title translates "songs of Beuren". It was  written by Carl Orff in 1937 in "poetic" Latin and "Middle High German". It is described as a "scenic cantata" with words, music and dance. 

It was held at Bedford High School, Bedford NH. This afternoon, Gramma used two maps and verbal directions from Meg to get us here. Always a good day when we don't get lost in the NH woods.

Their theater was a nice high school facility

Here is a wide shot of the stage at the end of the performance. The audience was standing to applaud all of the chorus, dancers and musicians.

Meg is part of the chorus. She is in the back row with a lighting halo. She has a white flower in her hair. See her?

After the performance, Meg was greeted by Malia and Jessie.

Gramma and Papa were very happy to see talented Meg in this energetic production. She worked hard to learn the lyrics written in those obscure languages. She has a beautiful voice. 

Here's the whole cheering crew. Becca took this and the two preceding photos. She has a good eye for composition, doesn't she?

It was a nice Sunday. It was sunny and mild. We attended the Derry Ward this morning, then attended Meg's successful concert in the afternoon. 

Hidden Valley

Here we are in the Hidden Valley RV Park,  Derry, New Hampshire

I'd describe it more like "hidden forest". We've been in parks we like better, but this one has up sides. In this spot we get satellite reception--an amenity appreciated by the Auswanderers. We also get pretty good reception for our phones and computers. But most importantly, we are just a few minutes from Meg and her girls. Unless we get lost. 

But we're doing better getting our bearings. All of these roads are two lanes darting this way then that. 

And every time you look in the mirror there seems to be an impatient car. Does anyone remember how the moonshiners drove those back roads in "The Dukes of Hazard"? Like that.

But yesterday going to Meg's house we only took one wrong turn. Earlier in the day Meg took us to the Auto Club to get maps. That makes all the difference to Gramma, our Old School Navigator.

Let me back up to last Thursday when we got here. The folks in the office initially assigned us to a site down in the holler. I think that's what they're called. The old guy on the golf cart led us down narrow dirt roads into a heavily wooded gulch lined by aging trailers and RV rigs, apparently permanent residents. When we got toour empty site it was clear that this wasn't going to work. We would never get satellite nor any reception down there. The electrical outlet was 50 feet away from our rig that has a 25 foot cord. That was the real deal breaker. Eventually they found us this spot on the edge of the golf course. It's quiet and gramma enjoys the squirrels and chipmunks  that she can see out her bedroom window.

The problem here is this site and most sites are reserved for the Memorial Day Weekend. So we'll need to move on the 25th. To where we're not sure.

But every day with Meg is special. She is a long way from the rest of the family. We feel grateful that we can spend some time with her and the girls. As you may know Arnie is on temporary duty in Africa for a few weeks. We were able to speak with him before he left, but it looks like we will leave before he gets home.  When Meg comes to Utah for Jennifer's wedding, she can tell us the most recent Army assignments for Arnie and the family.

Today was the nicest weather day since we arrived on the East Coast. It was sunny and mild. Gramma and Meg with Jessie went shopping at "The Mall of New Hampshire" They had fun. Becca and I had our traditional Walmart adventure to renew provisions. 

A nice day was had by all.

Fenway Park

Yesterday, 5/15/12, Megan, Gramma, Becca and Papa went on a baseball adventure. Those who follow MLB know that Boston is the home of the famous Red Sox. Megan drove us from her home in New Hampshire into the heavy traffic leading to the stadium.

Like many pro ball venues built in downtown, parking has become a premium, and a money maker for those who have parking garages. See the sign

Here are the bleachers behind home plate.

This is the 100th anniversary of this park. It is a big deal in MLB circles to think about the many baseball memories that happened here, including those made by Babe Ruth and Ted Williams

In left field is the iconic 30 foot high "Green Monster" wall. 

Yesterday, this was the Red Sox lineup

The Sox pitcher was Josh Beckett. In his last start he was booed by the volatile fans here for his poor performance. Today he pitched a shut out, so all was forgiven

David Ortiz, "Big Poppy," is a fan favorite. Today we got to see him hit a homerun. And the crowd went wild! (oops. His photo has disappeared)

The visiting team was the Seattle Mariners. Here is their lineup

The big name on the Mariners is Ichiro Suzuki. He made some spectacular catches in right field

Here is the POV Gramma had of the game. Meg was very fortunate to get us tickets to Fenway Park for any game in any seats in any weather. It was raining steadily for most of the day. Neither the players nor the crowd seemed to notice. They are usually sold out. We are grateful to Meg for making this day happen.

Mother's Day

Today, 5/13/12, was a quiet and unusual Mother's Day for us. It was spent in New Hampshire with MegPie, as Becca calls her. We spent the morning in the Derry Ward with Meg's family. Here after church, Meg, holding her little gifts for the day, hugs her Mom while Meg's Kaitlyn hugs her Mom.

Becca is very happy to spend some time with this sister.

For dinner Meg made a special Hawaiian dinner of kalua pork (on the mainland they call it "pulled pork") and rice. For desert she made a lemon cookies. All very ono.

As we left,Meg said to me "Thank you for bringing my Mom to spend Mother's Day with me"

Later in the day, all of our other children, Amanda, Ganon, Kelly and Jon called their Mom to wish her love. Mahalo to them.

Two Concerts

Our first weekend near Meg has been busy so far. Last night Gramma and Meg went to the Boston Pops Concert. This photo was taken by Gramma with her iPhone. They were in the high balcony but they report the sound was excellent. The night's music was all Gershwin. The ladies were thrilled. The downside was the traffic out of Boston. They didn't get home until after midnight.

Today was Kaitlyn's first soccer game. She was pumped.

Number 5 on the Jaguars had a good time at the game, so we hear. Gramma's late night partying made it hard for us to get up in time to attend the game.

Becca meets "LT", their high energy, high maintenance dog. Meg and LT went to doggie training. She is able to control him pretty well with doggie treats and a strong leash.

The second concert of the weekend was at Londonderry Middle School.

Bethany plays the viola. She is in the back row, in front of the folks standing.

Here is a better look at our viola artist with her instrument. Their concert was fun.

Driving in New Hampshire is a challenge. The roads are serpentine, like the paving forces threw down the roads from above as if they emptied a sack of snakes.  Most roads are heavily lined with trees, which on the positive side are very forest fragrant. Like John Denver's song they 'fill up our senses'.  The trees crowd the roads. You almost sense the dense forests yearn for the chance to take back the land usurped by the asphalt reptiles.
 Meg has loaned us their extra GPS to help us find our way. So now the driver has three opinions, this GPS, the little GPS on Gramma's iPhone, and Gramma's opinion. So far all three opinions seem to be  different.

Tomorrow is church, which (supposedly) is near this RV park

Derry

Today, 5/10/12, we concluded our last leg of the first half of this trip. We have traveled 3604 miles in 37 days. I'm not sure how many photos the three of us have taken with our two cameras and Gramma's iPhone, but the 'memory cards' in our minds are full with images of this land, choice above all others. Today we passed through eastern New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and much of the day our route was lined by trees full with spring leaves. Gramma wrote "The leaves are small and delicate.  When the morning sun lights up the leaves they seem to glow."

This morning we left our park in Glenville NY first on I 890 melding onto I 90 E. The New York "Thruway" gave way to "Masspike" as we crossed state lines.

We looked for I 495 to take us north.

We got a kick out of the little pilgrim hat icon on the Masspike signs

From the I 495 we took I 93 into New Hampshire where we took Exit 4 taking us into Derry.

We drove through the town of Derry. At first we got a little lost. We got turned around and went past the round about, which they call a rotary. We took the E Derry Rd to  right on Damren. That little street took us to tonight's destination " Hidden Valley RV & Golf Park". After a few set up hiccups, we finally got  settled. We are all exhausted.

But, we've been on the phone with Meg several times and we have plans to see her tomorrow. We are excited

The Village of Fonda

Today, 5/9/12, the morning found us deep in the forest of New York 

We left the Arrowhead park.

A few miles west on the I 90 we came to the Village of Fonda

This vintage building was our destination. Among other offices, it houses "The Montgomery County Dept. of History and Archives".

Mom's fellow family history buddy, Sondra Brown, said this was the place to search for the Mohawk ancestors.

This map represents the early boundaries of this area

Gramma dug in and worked all day. Becca and I offered support, went for lunch and played a couple of games on the iPad.

Tomorrow is the last leg of the journey to Meg's. We have a reservation at an RV park in Derry, NH. Becca has been anxious for this day since we left Mesa.

Glenville, New York

Yesterday, 5/8/12, we departed the very nice park, "The Villages at Turning Stone". Our village was very well empty. All of the weekend families had left.

OK Chris, we continue our map detail for you on our "bog": It was raining as left Verona, NY and it rained all day. We went a short way on SR-365 then back onto I 90 E. The rain was light but steady. Of all of the inclement weather, rain is our favorite to drive in. We just go slowly. We exited at Thruway Exit 26 then went 1 mi. west on I-890 to  left on SR-5, w 300 ft to left on Van Buren Ln, then 01 mi. to Pump House Rd to our destination, Arrowhead Marina and RV Park in Glenville NY. Here we are below, again the lone RV in a park. This park doesn't officially open until 5/15.

The manager made an exception for Gramma because we need to go to a special family history library near here. Many of Gramma's ancestors (and yours) came from this area.

They gave us a premium "water front" site near this Mohawk River.

Becca and I walked over to have a look, even though rain continued to fall. It's hard to see in this photo, but the water is moving fast, so we didn't get too close.

Here is the little map they gave us. We are in site #156.