Category: Cross Country

Started the day with Mindy and Ralph at Sagamore Hill, former family farm of Teddy Roosevelt and now a National Historic Site. After a delicious picnic lunch, Mindy and Ralph, who are graciously babysitting Addie for me, dropped me off at the train station in Hicksville on Long Island.
Two trains and a short walk from Penn Station to Grand Central later, I arrived at my cousin Mia’s house in Pleasantville where I get to spend a couple of wonderful days with Mia, her mom Eileen, her two children, and her stepfather.
Even with Addie taking a break under Mindy and Ralph’s excellent care, the adventure continues! (Sorry, Eileen, I didn’t bring Addie with me!)
Sagamore Hill.

 

With Mindy and Ralph.

 

Sagamore Hill.

 

Teddy Roosevelt’s “little” farmhouse.

 

Sagamore Hill.

 

The beach at Sagamore.

 

With Mindy at Sagamore’s beach.

 

Sagamore beach.

 

Which train station is this?

 

With Mia.

Fantastic day hanging out with three fabulous friends!
Following a mellow morning – laundry, computer puttering, tending to Addie – I headed over to my friend Laurie’s house. Laurie and I met during our year at Hebrew University. It was great to catch up over lunch and walking in Wantagh Park and around Moss Lake.
Returned to Mindy and Ralph’s house to relax before dinner. Mindy, Ralph, and I met at Brandeis, and Mindy and I attended Hebrew University together and, during our Winter Break, traveled to Greece, Yugoslavia, and Romania. Spending time with Mindy and Ralph is always a treat!
Wantagh Park lighthouse.

 

Can you see it? Jones Beach lighthouse!

 

Last night, the torrential rainstorm. Today, cool cloud formations!

 

Homes across the harbor.

 

With Laurie.

 

Kind of a waterfall at Moss Lake.

 

Moss Lake.

 

Mindy and Ralph.

 

I don’t normally post food pics, however, this acorn squash bowl filled with brussel sprouts, almonds, and cranberries and topped with grilled salmon impressed both my vision and taste buds!

 

After dinner while walking to the car, I danced to the music of this fun band.

Started today with yummy breakfast with Susie and Steve and ended it with yummy dinner with Mindy and Ralph! In between, I drove to New London, CT, took the ferry to Orient Point, NY, stopped at the beach on Long Island’s north shore, and drove to Plainview. Catching up with long time friends? FABULOUS!

A bit windy, eh?!

 

View of New London from the ferry.

 

Lighthouse Point, New London, CT.

 

Those clouds are a-coming… Heavy rain movin on in.

 

Orient Point Lighthouse.

 

The ferry has arrived!

 

Gorgeous blue beach water.

 

Curled up on the couch catching up.

Part 3 of 3: Marble House: The Cliff Walk and the Breakers were not enough for Susie and me! We next wandered over to the Marble House, built by yet another Vanderbilt with too much money and not enough to do! Seriously, though, his wife Alva fought for women’s suffrage – after forcing her daughter to marry the Duke of Marlborough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 of 3: The Breakers: Following our Cliff Walk and nondescript lunch, Steve returned to work (meaning home office with the dogs!) while Susie and I toured the summer “cottage” of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the grandfather of Gloria Vanderbilt, great-grandfather of Anderson Cooper, and great-great-grandfather of Wyatt Cooper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 1 of 3: The Cliff Walk: Susie, her husband Steve, and I ventured onto the Cliff Walk which hugs the shoreline behind Newport’s “summer cottages,” affording us an exquisite view of the backyards of the Gilded Age’s rich and famous. About two miles into the 4.5 miles trek, Susie put on her chauffeur’s hat, so she could get the car and meet Steve and me at the end of the trail.

The Cliff Walk

 

Ochre Court, now part of Salve Regina University.

 

Vinland Estate, also now part of SRU.

 

The Breakers: see part 2!

 

Beechwood, previously owned by the Astors and now owned by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. He bought it in 2010 for $10.5 million.

 

Pretty beach :-).

 

Rough Point, built by Frederick Vanderbilt and purchased by Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress.

 

I don’t remember the name of this cottage!

 

Lands’s End, the former home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton.

 

The Waves, through various family relationships, connected to Pell of Pell Grant fame.

Noni and I had one last hurrah this morning before Addie and I continued on our adventure. We kayaked on Big Sandy Pond right in back of Noni’s cottage and walked on the beach. Lovely morning – and so glad I got to spend some wonderful time with a woman I would love to be like when I grow up – active, smart, capable, warm, humorous.
After our fun yet relaxing morning, Addie and I headed over to Rhode Island. Arriving a little early, I walked around Tiverton, viewing the bay and old bridge.
Finally, we arrived at my high school friend Susie’s house. Over yummy croissants, Susie and I chatted…and chatted…and chatted. Lots to catch up on! Susie, her husband Steve, and I went out to dinner and returned to their home and two dogs – one much calmer than the other.
All in all, another fabulous day!
Last night’s harvest moon!

 

Cranberry bog on the other side of Noni’s pond. When the conditions are right, the bog is flooded.

 

Cranberries getting ready for Thanksgiving.

 

Kayaking on the pond.

 

Great view from my kayak.

 

A few lily pad flowers still blooming.

 

The beach off of West Yarmouth, Cape Cod.

 

West Yarmouth, Cape Cod.

 

Addie and I saying goodbye to Noni and her cottage.

 

Tiverton.

Nope. Not going to do it. I try to cull my photos to about ten or so each day. Ain’t happening today.
This morning, Noni dropped me off at the Hyannis bus station so I could take the bus into Boston for the day. Following an uneventful bus ride, I found myself back in the city I loved as a college student. What to do? I strode over to the Freedom Trail and explored the historical sights, buildings, and cemeteries. The first time I did this was in 1978! The city, cleaner and livelier than when I first meandered its streets, enraptured me yet again.
So happy to be roaming the streets of Boston!

 

Park Street Church.

 

Benjamin Franklin’s tomb in the Granary Burying Grounds.

 

I think it’s the King’s Chapel. I like the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ banners.

 

Boston Latin School site.

 

Memorial to Boston’s Irish.

 

Old South Meeting House.

 

Faneuil Hall.

 

Paul Revere Home.

 

Beacon Hill.

 

Paul Revere Mall.

 

I love the composition of the windows and flower boxes.

 

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground.

 

Civil War Monument (I think).

 

Bunker Hill Monument.

 

Holocaust/Shoah Memorial.

 

Boston Commons.

 

Make Way for Ducklings.

 

Boston Public Garden.

 

Hancock Tower reflecting Trinity Church. During my senior year, I volunteered weekly for The Samaritans, a suicide hotline located in the basement of the Hancock Tower. I remember vividly chatting with lonely and scared people who mainly needed someone to listen to and acknowledge them.

Another amazing day! Early – for me! – this morning, Noni and I took the ferry from Hyannis to Martha’s Vineyard. After renting a car for the day, we explored the island, including three lighthouses, lots of shops, exquisite homes, and breathtaking ocean views. Although there were quite a few tourists, most properly wearing masks indoors (although some wearing chin straps more than masks), I can see how absolutely crazy MV must be during the height of summer! We picked a great day – delightful weather and not an overabundance of people.

Geese enjoying MV almost as much as we did.

 

Kite surfers!

 

Edgartown – we loved this tree!

 

Edgartown lighthouse, built in 1875.

 

Most of the villages on MV have cute shopping districts like this one.

 

Menemsha beach where we sat on the wall and ate our lobster rolls for lunch.

 

Swordfish Harpooner sculpture in Menemsha.

 

Gay Head Cliffs and Gat Head Lighthouse – Aquinnah. The cliffs are a national landmark; fossil bones of whales, camels, and wild horses have been found in the cliff layers. This lighthouse, built in 1856, is the only working lighthouse on MV.

 

Gay Head Lighthouse.

 

East Chop Lighthouse, built in 1878, Oak Bluffs.

 

Oak Bluffs Harbor.

My SLO friend and fellow Roadtrek owner, who taught me so much about Addie!, Noni invited me to join her on Cape Cod where she’s vacationing for the month in a cottage by a pond.
What a wonderful day we had! First, we found a fun arts and crafts fair in the Village of Sandwich. Next, we explored the Heritage Museum and Garden. Then, we ambled on a boardwalk over dunes and a marsh. Dinner? Home grilled swordfish and corn with salad. Yum yum!
Noni’s backyard pond.

 

Garden pathway.

 

I love this tree-of-many-trunks!

 

Mushrooms, anyone? Gorgeous orange color!

 

So many types of hydrangeas!

 

Carousel from 1908!

 

Sprinkled all over – lego sculptures of birds and insects!

 

Okay, it’s not a waterfall… However, the fountain and pond delighted me!

 

Intriguing tree!

 

Shhh…don’t tell Addie I’m driving another vehicle.

 

When Noni was here earlier in the week, the high tide covered this marsh.

 

Boardwalk adventure.

En route to visit my friend Noni in Yarmouth on Cape Cod, I returned to Brandeis where I spent my freshman, sophomore, and senior collegiate years. (For my junior year, I was in Israel at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.) I felt strange walking around campus. So much has changed in the nearly forty years since I attended Brandeis – duh! And…the campus felt somewhat similar to Cal Poly! The same mishmash of architecture, same ongoing construction, same students wandering around… I felt both out of place and familiar…

Brandeis’ seal – the Hebrew word is Emmett (truth). I was bummed the bookstore didn’t have any baby clothes with this seal for my honorary grandson, Emmett. (I’ll need to check online!)

 

Reitman, my freshman dorm. I was in a two-room triple; most others were in doubles. I remember looking out of my window and seeing snow for the first time. I also remember sitting in this quad on the first warm Spring day – when the temperature made it to 50°!

 

The steps up to Rabb Hall where I had several classes. Oddly, the steps didn’t seem so steep today.

 

Usdan which used to be the student center and now holds offices. Starting at the end of my freshman year, I started working as an office aide for The Waltham Group, the student organization that arranges volunteering opportunities for students. The Waltham Group continues to be very active on campus.

 

The round classroom where I had several classes, including Death and Dying with Morrie Schwartz, made famous in Mitch Album’s book, Tuesday’s with Morrie.

 

My sophomore year was my hardest academic year since I wanted to study in Israel for a year and needed to complete a bunch of difficult required classes before studying abroad. That year, I closed down Gerstenzang Library most nights. This was the library for studying; Goldfarb Library was more for socializing.

 

Statue of Justice Louis D. Brandeis, first Jewish Supreme Court Justice.

 

When I was a senior, we had about three reported rapes on campus. A friend and I, both connected with The Waltham Group, approached Pres. Bernstein for his approval to create an escort service so women would not have to walk alone on campus at night. He gave us his approval, and the program was hugely successful.

 

Ridgewood, my sophomore dorm.

 

The Jewish chapel. Brandeis has three chapels (Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant), all situated around a pond so that none ever casts a shadow over either of the other chapels. From my reading, I see that in the past 40 years Brandeis has added space for Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains.

For the past several years on Yom Kippur, I have chosen to go on a reflective beach walk rather than fasting and sitting in shul, where I would focus on my hunger rather than my prayers.
Today for Yom Kippur, I toured Portland’s four lighthouses and used them as a prompt for my reflections, some of which I’m including in today’s post.
Lighthouses provide a warning about nearby dangers. If one sees a lighthouse, one can choose to heed its warning and steer clear – or take a chance and go toward possible danger.
We all have a lighthouse within – and can choose to heed its signal or ignore and take a chance.
My road trip adventure allows me to see my internal as well as external lighthouses. What dangers lie ahead? What do I want to avoid? What risks am I willing to accept? Where do I want to go? How do I navigate my future?
G’mar chatima tovah!
Two Lights Lighthouse

 

Portland Head Light

 

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

 

Bug Light

My Maine Adventure with Joel concluded today. Nice, though, he found a highly rated lobster roll food truck near the airport, so we enjoyed one last lobster meal before parting until I return to SLO. 
Addie and I, sans Joel, drove through Rockland and the Portland Trader Joe’s on our way to our campground. MAJOR thunderstorm just as I arrived at the campground! Fortunately, it subsided when I dumped my black & gray tanks and filled my fresh water tanks.
One last lobster meal before our Maine Adventure concludes.

 

Smiling as I reflect on my Maine Adventure with Joel and contemplating the next phase of my journey.

 

Restaurant parklets dot the cityscape of many towns I’ve visited, including Rockland.

 

Rockland.

 

Lobster buoy sculpture in Rockland.

Today, Joel and I took the ferry to Schoodik Peninsula and biked the loop around the splendid scenery – trees, rocks, water. Green, brown, gray, blue…multicolored delight! I seldom ride a bike and surprised myself by relatively easily completing the ride.
After returning to Bay Harbor, we picked up the popovers we ordered in the morning before ferrying to Schoodik. Yum yum!
Dinner presented a bit of a challenge. With only a few restaurants open, we could neither get seated nor order takeout. Plan B: I made dinner in Addie, Joel made a campfire, and we enjoyed s’mores for dessert.