I took a cab to Portland Airport (PDX) at 4:30AM. After checking my large suitcase, I got a breakfast sandwich, and cheese trio box and vanilla madeleines to go at Starbucks. I flew United Airlines to Providence, RI (PVD), changing planes in Chicago. I arrived at 5:15PM. I took a Lyft to Quality Inn in Middletown, RI. I saw the final supermoon of 2023 on the way.
I stayed in my room at the Comfort Inn all day on
Friday, resting and watching "Below Deck" on Bravo Channel. Captain Lee Rosbach starred on "Below
Deck" for ten seasons between 2013 and 2023. He was the "epitome of an authentic
reality star." He was injured in
season 8 when he slipped on the wet marble shower floor and fell. He had back surgery in 2021, resulting in
nerve damage.
The next morning I took a cab to the Holiday Inn Express
to join the Road Scholar group. I hosted
a Geocaching Event at 3:00PM at Chili's Grill & Bar. I had a Bacon, Avocado and Chicken
sandwich. I had a good turnout for my
Event. I gave a small goodie bag to each
cacher that signed the Log Sheet. I
picked up my Road Scholar packet back at the hotel. We had a buffet dinner at 6:15 followed by
Group Introductions and Program Orientation with our Group Leader, Linda
Culpepper.
On Sunday, Oct 1, we had breakfast at the hotel. We visited the Matunuck Oyster Farm in
Wakefield, RI. We traveled next to
Newport, RI where we had a tour by step on guide - a local historian. I had delicious lunch on my own at Brick
Alley Pub. We traveled to the Greenvale
Vineyards. Tour and tasting at the vineyard.
We had dinner at Johnny's Restaurant.
Following breakfast on Monday, Oct 2, we departed
for Boston Public Market. We had brief
talks from five of the food vendors and enjoyed a sampling of their delicious
products. I got two nearby Virtuals: The
New England Holocaust Memorial and Cradle of Liberty (Faneuil Hall). Afterwards we headed north to Ogunquit,
Maine. Upon arrival the RS group went
out in a lobster boat. Choppy water. Instead
I had a dish of ice cream in the dining room.
We stopped briefly at 1879 Cape Neddick Lighthouse (Nubble Light) in
York. We then checked into The Anchorage
Inn in York, ME. We had dinner at a Sun &
Surf Restaurant overlooking the water. I got a
comfortable chair for my room.
After breakfast on Tuesday Oct. 3, we drove a short
distance into Portland, ME. We met a
local historian who joined us on the motor coach and took us on a narrated city
tour. I took a taxi to the The Director John
Ford statue - a Virtual. I had lunch on
the patio at a nearby Japanese restaurant, Yosaku. We made a short drive to the Urban Farm
Fermentory & Fruit Brewing Company where we had a tasting. We had a traditional lobster dinner at Foster's Clambakes with New England
clam chowder, whole lobster and corn on the cob at a local restaurant. I used a sharp knife to cut the corn off the
cob.
Following breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 4, we headed
west to Vermont. I found a Traditional
Cache when we stopped for a break in New Hampshire. I found a Quechee Gorge Earth Cache
"Vermont's Little Grand Canyon."
We had lunch at the Public House.
We visited Billings Farm and Museum.
We arrived mid-afternoon at Middlebury, VT where we checked into the
Middlebury Inn. Geocacher Kit Lane picked
me up and we went to Fire and Ice Restaurant for my Geocaching Event. I met her
several years ago while Geocaching at the Grand Canyon. I gave small goodie
bags to each geocacher who signed the Log sheet. I had a good turnout. Back at the hotel I watched
"Survivor" and "Amazing Race."
After breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 5, we departed for
Champlain Orchards near Lake Champlain.
I saw a Blue Heron on the way to the orchards. We learned about the various varieties of
apples grown in New England. I liked
their Mac & Maple Semi-Sweet Hard Cider. We had Brunch at the famous
Waybury Inn. The Waybury Inn was used as
a location for exterior shots on the Bob Newhart television series. We went to the Williams Maple Farm in
Cornwall, VT to learn the techniques in creating maple syrup. We had the traditional Sugar on Snow. Next we went to the Lincoln Peak Vineyard
where we enjoyed tasting their Vermont wines grown in the Champlain Valley. Farewell dinner was served in the Middlebury Inn this
evening.
Following breakfast on Friday, Oct 6, we departed
for TF Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. The Group Leader ran the video "Julie and
Julia." We made a quick stop on the way. We arrived at the airport about 2:00PM. I checked my large suitcase with Delta
Airlines. I went to the Escape Lounge
until it was time to board the flights to Charlottesville, VA. I arrived about 11:00 where I was met by
Lorraine. Long day!
Saturday Oct. 7, I had a light breakfast with toast,
and eggs from Lorraine's chickens. We
drove to Lynchburg where I had Afternoon Tea and Lorraine had Scotch Eggs at
Ploughcroft Tea Room. We found the
Virtual "Wave to the Indian" about 5:15PM. We watched a movie on television that
evening.
Sunday, Oct. 8, I had a light breakfast with toast,
and eggs from Lorraine's chickens. We
went to a Cardinal Point Winery in Afton, VA where we had a delicious luncheon
that Lorraine had prepared along with the CP wine. We had a brief chat with the
women seated near us. We watched a movie on television that evening.
Monday, Oct. 9, Lorraine took me to the Amtrak
Station. The 8:55AM Amtrak train 176 departed at 9:58 1 hr, 3 mins late as the train
track was damaged. I traveled Business
Class (8F) to Alexandria, VA, where I was met by my eldest son. We went Geocaching in Virginia. We had Egg Salad Sandwiches from Safeway for
lunch. We found three Traditional
Caches, two Multi Caches and one Mystery Cache.
We attended Mondays in Manassas Geocaching Event that evening. I had Mac & Cheese with Broccoli. I checked into the Comfort Inn (Rm 723) in
Alexandria West.
Tuesday, Oct. 10, I had breakfast early at the hotel. My son picked me up at 8:00AM. We had lunch at McDonald's Restaurant in
Richmond. We found five Traditional
Caches, one Mystery Cache, two Earthcaches, and three Virtuals in Virginia. We attended a Geocaching Event that evening
in Occoquan, Virginia.
Wednesday, Oct. 11, I had an early breakfast at the
hotel. My son picked me up at 8:00AM. We had lunch at Chick-fil-A about 11:45. And ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery about
4:15. We went to our third Event of the week in Sterling, VA. We found two Traditional Caches, two Earthcaches, two Virtuals, one Letterbox and one Mystery Cache. Back at the hotel I watched
"Survivor" and "Amazing Race."
Thursday, Oct. 12, I had an early breakfast at the
hotel. My son picked me up at 8:00AM. We geocached in Delaware and Maryland. We had
lunch at McDonalds at 1:15PM. My son had
planned to take the Whitehaven Ferry however it was out of service till the end
of this year. It was shut down for
rehabilitation and overhaul work. Late
afternoon I got a Cheese & Fruit Box and Madelines Cookies at Starbucks to
have a light dinner back at the hotel.
We found two Traditional Caches, one Earthcache, a Virtual, and a Mystery Cache.
Friday, Oct. 13, I had an early breakfast at the
hotel. My son picked me up at 7:00AM to
take me to National Airport. I went to
the United Airlines Lounge until time for my flight. I left DCA at 10:30, arriving PDX at 3:10 via
Chicago (ORD). I had 7F Bulkhead seats for both flights. My daughter picked me up about 4:15. I was locked out of the house until my son
arrived about 6:30. It was a fun trip
however I am glad to be home!
