Joe's Roadtrip

Greetings from Lubec, Maine – the easternmost town in the whole country.  I had heard about this place from my friend Frances, and though I didn’t have intentions of visiting, it was right along the coast and I figured it would be worth a visit.  And since I arrived after 9PM and over 300 miles of driving today, I decided to find some place to stay.  Thanks to 3G on the phone, I found the Peacock House Bed & Breakfast, and the kind owner Sue checked me in after normal hours.

Where to begin?  In my last post, I described the time I spent with Lynn and my other relatives.  The following morning (Tuesday) I accidentally slept in, but it turned out to be OK.  Lynn didn’t need to kick me out, and I didn’t necessarily have to be anywhere (story of this trip).  So I got caught up on my website posts, tallied the latest expenses, and took care of some laundry (thanks, Lynn).

Lynn has some nice plants in front of her house

Around 4PM or so, we headed to the Barrington, RI area to visit my great aunt Vivian (Viv was the wife of my great uncle Omer, one of the three brothers previously mentioned).  At 88 years old, she is the oldest remaining relative on this side, as far as I know, and still lives in a house that was owned by my great grandmother’s family (Pere’s).  If I met Aunt Viv before, it was when I was little, so I had no memory of it – but she treated me like someone she’s known forever.  We enjoyed some drinks and snacks outdoors, and I learned some more family history in the process.  Another great visit with a relative.  My only regret with this whole stay in Rhode Island is that I haven’t spent more time with these people in the past.

Great Aunt Vivian and me

I said my goodbyes to Lynn and Aunt Viv, and got in the car to start the journey north towards Maine.  I had debated stopping in Boston (never been before) and checking out some of the historic sites, but wasn’t drawn to it enough to fight traffic in a big city.

Grabbed this shot with my phone

I was pretty thrilled to be in Maine.  As I texted some friends, here I was 4,000+ miles since starting the trip, in a state I’ve heard so much about but had never seen.In the visitor center parking lot, I saw a car propped up on a jack but nobody was around it.  Since it looked like my old Neon (just red instead of green), I gave it a look over. Someone apparently got a flat and got towed to the stop and hadn’t been back yet. I emphasized a little bit with the owner, knowing some of the issues you could get with that kind of car (though I had wonderful luck on my last roadtrip).Wonder if this car owner was on a roadtrip of their own?

I drove my way to a rest stop not far from Millnocket, Maine.  It was too bad the sky was overcast.  I was thinking out in the Maine wilderness, with little city light interference, I bet the night viewing is spectacular.  Oh well.  Slept at the rest stop and got up around 5AM to start the trek to Baxter State Park.  Unfortunately, the sky was overcast still, and rain was coming down periodically.

Cool painting on the way to the park

By the time I made it to the park, the rain was pretty steady and my chances of hiking near Mount Katahdin looked dim.  I don’t mind a little rain, but it seemed by the time I would make it back to the car after a hike, I’d be soaked, and I have little room in the car for wet items.  But I still got to enjoy the park via the “Tote Road”, the unpaved main road that winds through the park.  On this road, the max speed limit at any point is 20 mph, and you have to watch for cars as the road is barely wide enough to fit two across.

Baxter State Park is pretty amazing, in both size and history.  Percival Baxter, a former governor of Maine, bought up large areas of land over a period of time, and then donated them to the state.  He was a big fan of the outdoors, and wanted the area to be enjoyed by residents and guests alike, but recreation would be a secondary consideration behind keeping the land protected from industry (like paper).  In the push to turn the land into a state park he once said:

Maine is famous for its twenty-five hundred miles of seacoast, with its countless islands; for its myriad lakes and ponds; and for its forests and rivers. But Mount Katahdin Park will be the state’s crowning glory, a worthy memorial to commemorate the end of the first and the beginning of the second century of Maine’s statehood. This park will prove a blessing to those who follow us, and they will see that we built for them more wisely than our forefathers did for us.

Indeed, all I had heard about Maine was it’s rich coastline.  But after getting a chance to drive 42 miles through Baxter State Park, I really gained an appreciation for what Governor Baxter had said about this land.  Here are some photos from my drive through:

Tote Road

Doubletop looms in the distance

Well I'd hope the fire danger is low here, Smoky. It's been raining all day

It took several hours to get through the park between driving at 20mph and stopping for naps/photos.  By the time I made it out, it was still raining and the car was quite a mess.

A little bit dirty, but managed the unpaved road well

I continued on some state highways, with some stops in some old towns, and made my way towards the eastern portion of Maine along Highway 1.  At one point I reached a junction where Highway 11 went North and South.  I pulled over, and texted my friend Kelly.  “Which way?” I asked.  She said “left”.  Left was South, and left I went.

A lake in Maine

View of St. Croix Island International Historic Site (along US/Canadian border). The island was a site of an early French settlement

Originally I had made plans to go visit Nova Scotia, but it would be quite a haul to get to Halifax, and it would limit my time at Acadia National Park, so I decided against it.

It certainly was chilly with the combination of driving near the water and the steady rain, and as I made my way towards Lubec I had to be careful as there was a little fog on the roads.  But even with the cold, damp weather, I would consider this an outstanding day.  I covered a lot of ground, saw some beautiful places in Maine, and wound up staying in a bed and breakfast that was once a home built before the start of the Civil War (built in 1860).

Sue says breakfast is at 8:30, and there she said I’ll learn more about some nearby attractions (and one in Canada).  She said they are must-sees.  Looking forward to it.

joe

Location: Riverside, RI  

Miles Driven: 168  

Total Miles: 4,040  

4000 miles.  All right!  

Left Ya-Wen’s place around 8AM as she headed off to work.  Thanks again, Ya-Wen.  I didn’t think I’d have any home to stay in while I was in Connecticut, and turns out I had a home to stay in along with a good friend to visit.  Ya-Wen and I were in grad school together, and though we’ve seen each other here and there since graduation, it still had been a couple of years since we’ve met up.  

The previous night in NYC, I had come across a Forbes article linked from MSN.com that highlighted some scenic drives across the country.  I had recognized a couple – the Overseas Highway going along the Florida Keys, the Pacific Coast Highway, and others.  One of the drives mentioned that I didn’t recognize was the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut.  Luckily, that parkway was just north of me and ran parallel to I-95 for a stretch, so I figured I could drive the Merritt Parkway for at least a little while and then link up with I-95 towards Rhode Island.  I’m glad I came across that article – the drive along that road was very enjoyable.  

Driving along the Merritt Parkway

Around New Haven the Merritt Parkway turned North, so I got back onto I-95.  

The destination was Riverside, Rhode Island, where my cousin (Mom’s side) Lynn lives.  I hadn’t seen Lynn and my other cousins from Rhode Island since my grandma’s funeral back in the late 80s, so I was looking forward to meeting up with everybody and learning more about the family (the Sevigny’s) from here.  

Lynn was very welcoming from the start, as she grabbed some snacks and had me come sit out by the pool.  My gregarious cousin Eddie came by, as well, and I began to make the connections of how everybody was related.  The common reference was my Grandma, Aldora, who was Eddie and Lynn’s aunt.  Lynn kindly drew up a quick family tree for my reference:  

Note the Curtin children near the bottom left

 My grandma Aldora (we called her “Memere” when we were kids) was the one girl out of four children born to my great-grandparents (EJ and Olivine Sevigny), immigrants from Canada.  I couldn’t recall seeing a visual representation of how the family was broken out, so this helped a lot in figuring out how everybody was related.  

Enjoyed hearing a few stories about “Auntie Aldora” and her brothers (Paul, Albert “Minno’, and Omer) before Eddie had to head out, though we planned to meet up later in the day with more family members.  Lynn had to attend a jewelry show in nearby Bristol, as she did a lot of artwork for the restaurant that was hosting the show.  Here’s the cover of the invitation she designed:  

Pretty cool, eh?   

So although the jewelry show (I had no idea necklaces could cost upwards of $3,000) wasn’t something I’d normally seek out on my own, I’m glad we went as the restaurant was right along the water.  I spent some time walking up and down the main drag in Bristol, and near the water.  There’s a lot of history in this town – you’ll see homes built in the late 1700s, and I learned from a police officer that Bristol hosts the longest-running parade in the U.S. on the Fourth of July (first mention of it goes back to 1777).  In fact, the lane divider markers on the parade route are painted red/white/blue year-round, as opposed to the traditional solid yellow.  

As the sun was coming down, Lynn and I headed out and she drove me by some of the buildings my great grandfather and great uncles had built.  I had no idea how much the family had contributed to the development of places like Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island.  Houses they all had built decades ago still stand and are being used to this day.  

Nearby lived another cousin, Paul, who everybody says really has the gift the great uncles had for building.  Got to visit with him for a little bit, and it was good to finally put a face to the name.  

Lynn and Paul

 We returned to Lynn’s where cousin Eddie, his wife Sandra, his son EJ, along with our cousin Mike came to meet up with this wandering relative of their’s from NY.  This had to be one of the top experiences of the trip as I heard first-hand stories about my grandma and her family, and about the raw ability and drive of people who lacked little formal education (my great-grandfather EJ had a 6th grade education), and really made themselves into something.  EJ became a Rhode Island representative for over 20 years and was very politically connected, evidenced by him managing to get Paul, Omer, and Albert a brief return home (all away serving during WWII) to attend their sister Aldora’s wedding.  And although the brothers did not attend any kind of architectual school, they became experts at designing and building.  And I would be remiss not to mention the funny stories showing their idiosyncracies, their tempers, and their humor (like when Uncle Omer knocked Eddie down with the rounded edge of a backhoe).  Thanks to Mike, Eddie, and Lynn for sharing all of that with me – stories I had never heard, and may not have heard anytime soon without this gathering.  

Eddie, Lynn, Mike, and EJ

All the cousins together

What a great visit.  

joe

Allan and Linda

In total there were 12 of us together, and we all were able to joke around again as if I have never left the place.  These were some of the folks I started a career with, and I was lucky to have that chance to work with them in those early days of my brief four-year corporate experience.

The generosity of this group was something beyond touching.  Not only did they get me a nice card that everyone signed, but after the card came a box wrapped in an outdoors/wildlife theme.  I was blown away with what was inside.  For one, knowing that I would be encountering all kinds of bugs on this trip and next year’s adventures overseas, they got me a couple mosquito nets for the head, and then a big one for sleeping under.

West Nile and Malaria be damned

Also inside the box were a number of gift cards.  Several Exxon gas cards (because there are Exxon stations in Alaska, as they researched), a gift card for Dick’s, and a VISA gift card.  Unreal.  Such a thoughtful group of people…I haven’t seen most of these guys in about two years, and here they are with all these amazing gifts to help me along in my travels.  I was speechless.  Add this to the fact that all of them took time out to have lunch with this wandering fool.  What a wonderful group.

With hugs and heartfelt words of encouragement, we parted ways. As many have said earlier, I am indeed “rich.” A big thank you to my friends in Owego.

Met up with some friends to play some ball while was in town.  It certainly wasn’t pretty, as I was about 1 for 28 on the night, but still a great time.  With my group of friends, we have some competitive games, but it’s still all in fun.

Chico, Dan, and Dan

The three Dans. Congrats to the Dan on the left, as he is getting married next week.

Don showing his Celtic Pride

Ended the night with a nice time at Moon Star chinese restaurant, followed with some sitting in some cushy chairs at a local lounge bar.  The fun night ended, and I returned to my woefully unpacked state of a bedroom.

The following morning I dropped off my car for some maintenance work at Mike Shara’s in Endwell.  Mike’s shop has taken care of my family’s cars for years, and we’ve only been treated with friendliness and professionalism from day one (quite a bonus when the shop is just down the street, too).  I requested an oil change, and also asked they take an overall look at the car to see if anything might be needed before this journey expands further across the country.

After dropping off the car, I met up with friends Tony and Katie, along with their son Anthony, for breakfast.  Tony’s family and my own have known each other for years, but I didn’t really get to know Tony until we both started working around the same time in 2006 in Owego. Since that time I’ve gotten to know him and his wife well, and then not long after, their little guy.  And Anthony’s vocabulary has grown exponetionally since I last visited with them.  I was impressed.  What an enjoyable time eating with this family.

Little Tony

After a delicious breakfast of stuffed french toast (gotta be careful, I’ve been eating far too well in this stay at home), I said my goodbyes and headed back home for some more organizing.  I’m happy to know that my car will be less full when I hit the road on Saturday, as I’ll only have roadtrip-specific items in there (as opposed to items I’m also moving home).  However, getting all of that together properly has been a slight challenge.

I was informed by Rick at Shara’s that the car was in good shape, though he advised me that in about 15K miles, it’s recommended that I replace my spark plugs.  I figured since I’d be out West somewhere by the time I reached that point, I might as well take care of that now, and they went ahead and did the work.  Thanks again to the kind folks at Shara’s for helping take care of the Mazda.  On my last trip in 2005, they helped make sure my Neon was in tip-top shape (as tip-top a shape you can get a Neon to be), and I had no issues that whole trip.  I have even more confidence now with my newer Mazda, along with the good luck touch that comes from the guys at Shara’s.

Thanks to my friend Melissa, we had a dinner outing planned that night at Sakura (sushi) in Endicott.  Before that, I went to check out her new place and her boyfriend Ed’s new place as well, both within walking distance of my home.  An added bonus was getting to meet their dog, Niko, whose fun misadventures can be read here.  Niko is a well-behaved Shiba Inu dog who is very smart.  He even knows some unique ways to greet people:

Had the chance to walk with Niko, Melissa, and Ed.  Niko was so well behaved on a pretty decent walk for a little animal.  What a good dog.

Happy Family: Niko, Melissa, and Ed

Before we knew it, it was time to meet everybody for some sushi.  Just another great time sharing good food with some old friends.  Thanks, everybody, for coming out.  Looking forward to the fall when I’ll be back for some more good times.

Lyndsay and Raul. Raul is another buddy I've had since the Kindergarten days. Have fun on the honeymoon, you two.

Tonia and Me. Don't let Tonia's small stature fool you - she is a force to be reckoned with in dodgeball

Team Sushi

Later that night I met up with my buddies Brian and Giacomo, and we enjoyed some good conversation as Game 7 of the NBA Finals played in the background (lucky break this year, Lakers).  Giacomo is a guy I originally met when I spent three weeks working in the UK back in 2007.  His father, Gianni, was my host at the job site and quite possibly one of the kindest, most gregarious people you’d ever meet.  I still remember one of his many unique quotes:

“Variety is the spice of life.  What is the secret of your success, Joe?

Tabasco sauce.”

Gianni has a positive spirit that is hard to top, and his son Giacomo embodies that spirit, also.  Giac ended up moving to the U.S. not long after I met him in the UK, and we’ve since had several fun times hanging out, despite my usually fleeting presence in the area.

There's Giac "taking the pi$$"

I’ve been blessed to know some amazing people, be they from New York, other states, and even other countries.  Friday is my last full day in the area before the roadtrip continues.  I’m glad I’ve been here these past several days to reconnect with everybody.

joe