3
Time was running out, so we hit the road again, heading south east towards New York, crossing the border again into the US shortly after leaving Mike and Chris’s place. Got to wonder about the border guards, they just cannot bear to be wrong. A large sign directs cars, busses, and RV’s one way, and commercial vehicles to another set of gates. We drove slowly down to the RV gate, and the guard came out with his hand up stooping us. We were told we were a commercial vehicle, and to use the other gate. After explaining we were an RV, he saw the sign on the door with our website on it, and said, “You have a website, that makes you a commercial vehicle, go to the other gates.” Not wanting to be searched or start an argument, we reversed against the flow of cars and RV’s behind us, and went over to the truck gates, where we were told we were in the wrong line, and should be in the RV line. We explained why we were there, and the guy shook his head and processed us anyway. I think the mental midget that sent us away the first time had done this before. A fairly quiet drive across New York State to Sayre, just over the border into Pennsylvania, and we spent the night in a Walmart carpark.
Time was running out, so we hit the road again, heading south east towards New York, crossing the border again into the US shortly after leaving Mike and Chris’s place. Got to wonder about the border guards, they just cannot bear to be wrong. A large sign directs cars, busses, and RV’s one way, and commercial vehicles to another set of gates. We drove slowly down to the RV gate, and the guard came out with his hand up stooping us. We were told we were a commercial vehicle, and to use the other gate. After explaining we were an RV, he saw the sign on the door with our website on it, and said, “You have a website, that makes you a commercial vehicle, go to the other gates.” Not wanting to be searched or start an argument, we reversed against the flow of cars and RV’s behind us, and went over to the truck gates, where we were told we were in the wrong line, and should be in the RV line. We explained why we were there, and the guy shook his head and processed us anyway. I think the mental midget that sent us away the first time had done this before. A fairly quiet drive across New York State to Sayre, just over the border into Pennsylvania, and we spent the night in a Walmart carpark.
4
From there across to Binghampton, then down to Blairstown, in New Jersey, where we spent the night parked outside Rudy Hesse’s place. Rudy is another biker who we had been talking to on Facebook, and he gave us a tour of the area in the afternoon, including an old derelict ice store on the edge of a lake nearby. Apparently when the lake froze over in winter, they would cut blocks of ice from the lake, then store them in large brick storerooms covered with straw until the next summer, when they would be sold to the nearby businesses that needed them. Rudy had a couple of friends call over that night, and together with his housemate, we partyied into the small hours, another huge night.
From there across to Binghampton, then down to Blairstown, in New Jersey, where we spent the night parked outside Rudy Hesse’s place. Rudy is another biker who we had been talking to on Facebook, and he gave us a tour of the area in the afternoon, including an old derelict ice store on the edge of a lake nearby. Apparently when the lake froze over in winter, they would cut blocks of ice from the lake, then store them in large brick storerooms covered with straw until the next summer, when they would be sold to the nearby businesses that needed them. Rudy had a couple of friends call over that night, and together with his housemate, we partyied into the small hours, another huge night.
With Rudy in Blairstown
5
Our plan was to drive over to Gettysburg, but we had a rethink on the road, and changed our minds, deciding on Philadelphia instead. We would get to Gettysburg later if time permitted. We stayed on the New Jersey side of the border nearly all the way down, and made sure we filled up with diesel before crossing back into Pennsylvania, New Jersey fuel is about 35-40 cents a gallon cheaper! Apparently there has been a tax increase across the border. After hitting Philly, we found a library to get some internet and catch up with a few things and do some research. Library closed at 9.00 pm, then when we left we copped a fireworks show on the way to our Walmart car park home for the night.
Our plan was to drive over to Gettysburg, but we had a rethink on the road, and changed our minds, deciding on Philadelphia instead. We would get to Gettysburg later if time permitted. We stayed on the New Jersey side of the border nearly all the way down, and made sure we filled up with diesel before crossing back into Pennsylvania, New Jersey fuel is about 35-40 cents a gallon cheaper! Apparently there has been a tax increase across the border. After hitting Philly, we found a library to get some internet and catch up with a few things and do some research. Library closed at 9.00 pm, then when we left we copped a fireworks show on the way to our Walmart car park home for the night.
6-9
After doing a walking tour around the city area, and hearing a lot about Benjamin Franklin, there wasn’t a lot we wanted to see in Philly except the Rocky statue, so after we found that we headed for New York, intending to stay a few days. I Overlander showed a couple of places to park on the streets, and we found one to stay in for the night. It wasn’t the best neighbourhood, down near the water on Red Hook, in Brooklyn, but we had an uneventful night. Driving around New York is a nightmare, you never get over 20 mph, and every red light is out to get you. After the first night, we had planned to drop me off at an aquarium, and Lyn was going to drive over and do a graffiti walking tour, but progress was that slow that neither of us would have been on time, so we turned around and went to Lyn’s graffiti tour. Parks are almost impossible to find during the day, so I moved around where I could until Lyn was finished, then we headed out of the Manhattan area to find a park. Luckily we stumbled across one near 139th St in Harlem, so that was Izzy’s home for 3 days. In the mornings we would catch a subway train into Times Square, and go from there to what ever we were seeing that day. Lyn had found some passes on line that gave you 10 different attractions for $159 each, so that worked out we got things for roughly half price. We did the Staten Island ferry, (that was free), three hop on hop off bus tours, a couple of walking tours, the Empire State building, the One World Trade Centre, the 9-11 museum, and a meal deal. It was full on, and when we got back to the truck each night it was around 10.30, and we both had aching legs. Still, we had seen a lot of New York, so it was worth it.
After doing a walking tour around the city area, and hearing a lot about Benjamin Franklin, there wasn’t a lot we wanted to see in Philly except the Rocky statue, so after we found that we headed for New York, intending to stay a few days. I Overlander showed a couple of places to park on the streets, and we found one to stay in for the night. It wasn’t the best neighbourhood, down near the water on Red Hook, in Brooklyn, but we had an uneventful night. Driving around New York is a nightmare, you never get over 20 mph, and every red light is out to get you. After the first night, we had planned to drop me off at an aquarium, and Lyn was going to drive over and do a graffiti walking tour, but progress was that slow that neither of us would have been on time, so we turned around and went to Lyn’s graffiti tour. Parks are almost impossible to find during the day, so I moved around where I could until Lyn was finished, then we headed out of the Manhattan area to find a park. Luckily we stumbled across one near 139th St in Harlem, so that was Izzy’s home for 3 days. In the mornings we would catch a subway train into Times Square, and go from there to what ever we were seeing that day. Lyn had found some passes on line that gave you 10 different attractions for $159 each, so that worked out we got things for roughly half price. We did the Staten Island ferry, (that was free), three hop on hop off bus tours, a couple of walking tours, the Empire State building, the One World Trade Centre, the 9-11 museum, and a meal deal. It was full on, and when we got back to the truck each night it was around 10.30, and we both had aching legs. Still, we had seen a lot of New York, so it was worth it.
Some of the artwork on the graffiti tour was just amazing, the tree looks like bricks have been taken out but intact they have just been painted over
At the top of the Empire State Building
You see all sorts of things in Times Square.........
With my mate Bruce, we caught up for a coffee while we were in town
The site of the 9-11 disaster, this is the base of one of the towers, the museum, which is incredible, is next door
The "Flat Iron Building"
10
After a stroll around Central Park, and visiting the John Lennon memorial, we caught a bus back to Harlem, then walked back to the truck, leaving around 4.00 pm for Connecticut. We had arranged to catch up with Peter and Natalie, a couple we had met on the cruise who lived at Cape Cod, so were of to visit them. The plan was just to get out of New York and find a spot for the night, then get to Cape Cod on the 11th, so we made it to Millford, and parked in a Walmart car park for the night. I must admit it was good to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind.
After a stroll around Central Park, and visiting the John Lennon memorial, we caught a bus back to Harlem, then walked back to the truck, leaving around 4.00 pm for Connecticut. We had arranged to catch up with Peter and Natalie, a couple we had met on the cruise who lived at Cape Cod, so were of to visit them. The plan was just to get out of New York and find a spot for the night, then get to Cape Cod on the 11th, so we made it to Millford, and parked in a Walmart car park for the night. I must admit it was good to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind.
Lyn at the John Lennon memorial in Central Park
11-12
The drive to Peter and Natalie’s was easy, although our Garmin had totally given up, it had been playing up for a few days, but now would just drop out and the screen would go blank, so all navigation now was on the phone. Sad to think that a few years ago we didn’t have any option but a paper map, now we rely on electronics all the time. Anyway, we arrived, and it was a treat to catch up with them again. Peter and Natalie graciously gave us a tour of the area the following day, and we finished up the same as the night before, having a few too many wines and talking well into the night. Going to have to cut down on the socialising I think! The weather was sort of kind, blue skies, but very windy and cool.
The drive to Peter and Natalie’s was easy, although our Garmin had totally given up, it had been playing up for a few days, but now would just drop out and the screen would go blank, so all navigation now was on the phone. Sad to think that a few years ago we didn’t have any option but a paper map, now we rely on electronics all the time. Anyway, we arrived, and it was a treat to catch up with them again. Peter and Natalie graciously gave us a tour of the area the following day, and we finished up the same as the night before, having a few too many wines and talking well into the night. Going to have to cut down on the socialising I think! The weather was sort of kind, blue skies, but very windy and cool.
Cape Cod beaches, really pretty
With Peter and Natalie at Cape Cod
13-14
A late start to the day, and a walk around Peter and Natalie's place, then left around lunch time, with the idea of getting to Boston and doing the sightseeing thing the following day. Chris, a guy we had met at the HU meeting in California last year lives near Boston, and offered us a place to park Izzy, so we took him up on it, and found our way to Scituate, where he is living at the moment. Nice to catch up with him again after 12 months or so. We have been calling in at the visitor’s centres when we cross the state lines to get road maps of all the different states, but I was told at one we called in at today that they are no longer printing one for Massachusetts. Bugger, they are a handy reference, and even better, they are free! Another concession to the electronic age…..From Chris’ place, we braved the Boston traffic and headed into the city to do a guided walk, which wasn’t what we expected, and while we were doing it managed to get a parking fine for being longer than our allotted time in the space. Parking in Boston is nearly as bad as New York…….
Kyle, another guy we met at the HU meeting in Virginia, had offered us a bed in an inner suburb of Boston, so we took him up on it. We also went out for dinner with him and his girlfriend, a fun night, thanks guys, really appreciate the bed for the night.
A late start to the day, and a walk around Peter and Natalie's place, then left around lunch time, with the idea of getting to Boston and doing the sightseeing thing the following day. Chris, a guy we had met at the HU meeting in California last year lives near Boston, and offered us a place to park Izzy, so we took him up on it, and found our way to Scituate, where he is living at the moment. Nice to catch up with him again after 12 months or so. We have been calling in at the visitor’s centres when we cross the state lines to get road maps of all the different states, but I was told at one we called in at today that they are no longer printing one for Massachusetts. Bugger, they are a handy reference, and even better, they are free! Another concession to the electronic age…..From Chris’ place, we braved the Boston traffic and headed into the city to do a guided walk, which wasn’t what we expected, and while we were doing it managed to get a parking fine for being longer than our allotted time in the space. Parking in Boston is nearly as bad as New York…….
Kyle, another guy we met at the HU meeting in Virginia, had offered us a bed in an inner suburb of Boston, so we took him up on it. We also went out for dinner with him and his girlfriend, a fun night, thanks guys, really appreciate the bed for the night.
The houses fronting the harbour in Scituate
The statue of Paul Revere, he was a pretty big name around Boston
Unusual building in Boston
15
From Boston we headed north, crossing the border into New Hampshire, then again into Maine, where we managed a park right on the waterfront next to a sea wall in a small town called Wells Beach. Great view out over the water, Half expecting to be moved on during the night, we didn’t get a visit from the boys in blue until the next morning, when someone had complained we had parked blocking the walking track next to the road, while I was just trying to leave as much of the narrow road as clear as possible. You just can’t please everybody! Anyway, the cop was nice about it, and we moved on as soon as we had finished our breakfast. The east coast is way harder than the west for wild camping.
From Boston we headed north, crossing the border into New Hampshire, then again into Maine, where we managed a park right on the waterfront next to a sea wall in a small town called Wells Beach. Great view out over the water, Half expecting to be moved on during the night, we didn’t get a visit from the boys in blue until the next morning, when someone had complained we had parked blocking the walking track next to the road, while I was just trying to leave as much of the narrow road as clear as possible. You just can’t please everybody! Anyway, the cop was nice about it, and we moved on as soon as we had finished our breakfast. The east coast is way harder than the west for wild camping.
The view from Izzy's door before we got moved on
Impressive lifting bridge on the way up to Maine
16
After leaving our spot on the seafront, we continued our northward trek towards Nova Scotia, going across to the island that is home to Bar Harbour. We had hoped to spend the night there, and an ap gave us the police department address, saying you could stay overnight there for a $5 fee. On enquiring, we found out that is not the case, and it is illegal to sleep in your car anywhere on the island, and it is rigidly enforced. Scratch that idea, so we drove up to Ellsworth, where we found a park in the Walmart car park for the night. We are both looking forward to Canada, where wild camping is so much easier.
After leaving our spot on the seafront, we continued our northward trek towards Nova Scotia, going across to the island that is home to Bar Harbour. We had hoped to spend the night there, and an ap gave us the police department address, saying you could stay overnight there for a $5 fee. On enquiring, we found out that is not the case, and it is illegal to sleep in your car anywhere on the island, and it is rigidly enforced. Scratch that idea, so we drove up to Ellsworth, where we found a park in the Walmart car park for the night. We are both looking forward to Canada, where wild camping is so much easier.
