June 23, Massachusetts

I have several short trips coming up in the next few months. My sister's fiance owns a vacation house in Maine not far from Portland and Old Orchard Beach. I am visiting there for about 4 days in 3 weeks. (And plotting another solo short trip - stay tuned!)

Short trip to Maine; my brother and I switch cat-caring duties when one of us is gone. I know and fullly admit mine are a lot more work - he only has one. I have four, all of which are long haired (2 males, 2 females). Lovely to look at and snuggle up with and have in your lap. Not so much to clean up after!

Having never been away from them as long as I was on my trip to Canada, I did not realize how much the kittles (and therir fuzz) actually affect my household and daily routine. First thing that came onto my radar when I got home was wiping down the counters (they still need to be sanitized with Clorox). I have vacuumed twice. Had to change the sheets as they were coated with cat fuzz (after brushing them thoroughly with a de-fuzzing brush before washing!).

I have been more cognizant of their fuzzz and messes since my return. Did not realize how much I actually do really pick up during the day and absentmindedly clean up the cat fur as I go along. Being long-haired they constantly generate these  "poofs"... little puffs of cat fuzz that will (and do) end up in the corners unless you keep after them. They build up very quickly, and generally I keep up with them as I go without thinking.

Given enough time I think the kittles would replicate themselves. Given the amount of fur and fuzz I have cleaned up, vacuumed, washed, etc. in the past 6 days I do not think it impossible!

And I totally and absolutely love them. Would not trade them for the world :)

I have done 2 loads of laudry, and have 1 more to go. My physical limitations mean I have to take it slowly. Not only with the laundry but with the cleaning, etc.

I am good. Better than good! I cannot stop the excellent trip and experience I had in Canada from looping in my head. That is a very good thing :)

Next week is busy for me. I am a member of the town Cultural Council and have things I need to do with that, appointments. Etc.

Will post again next week :)

June 20 - Massachusetts

Some final thoughts from my trip and the excellent experience and opportunity I had. I edited last night's "Part 2" post, so if you have read it, please re-read it. Much added.

A few people were concerned about me traveling alone (OK, more than just a few). Apparently I was one of the very few who was not concerned.

I needed that journey - in more ways than one.

Traveling solo is an incredible opportunity for not only learning, but self-discovery and growth. One is never too old for that :) 

One of the best joys of travel is the "happy accident" - a wrong turn, the random roadside sign you did not know about. It can lead to the most beautiful scenic outlook. The most eclectic cafe with great coffee and danish. The best sandwich shops. The most obscure little museums or local shops. I love happy accidents!

I had more than a few, due to random roadside signs and construction detours. I saw and discovered many things I may not have otherwise. I am one who firmly believes everthing happens for a reason. Countless on this trip!

It was absolutely and truly a once-in-a-lifetime thing. The experiences I had, the people I met - I am out of superlatives.

I have several short trips coming up this summer, so stay tuned. The blog may not always be about travel, but I refuse (and promise) there will be no politics etc. discussed here!

Check back every couple of weeks :)  I am already plotting the bones of my next really big trip in my head. When I have it nailed down I will make it public. Even my siblings do not know.

The Defiant Traveler continues on! 

June 19, Part 2 - Random Comments

I had the most awesome, amazing time, I really did. I realize I keep using those words, but there is no other way to describe my trip to the Maritime Provinces. It was so interesting and I learned so much, not only from the museums and stops I made, but also from talking with the people I met who live there. When you stop and talk and listen, there is a great deal to hear.

Canada's history is just as fascinating as the United States's. Our countries share many of the same Native people and their history as well; 'way back then there were no boundaries.

On the one hand I wish I had more time, say a month!, to visit. There is so very much to do and see up there. I tried to pick and choose wisely. I would like to say I did, I saw so much. I would not mind making a return trip in the next few years.

On the other hand, it is really good to be back home. That "Welcome to Massachusetts" sign stuffed my right foot a little harder into the gas pedal :) See my kitties, get unpacked. Wonder what the heck happened here in 10 days that made the counters and rugs such a mess (I guess that would be the cat fuzz I was not here to keep up with!). Tomorrow I will begin cleaning. Yay :)

I truly did learn a lot in the 10 days I was gone, and not just historically and scientifically. I needed to go by myself. To a place I had picked and really wanted to see. I also think I wanted to prove something to my siblings (and please, neither of you take this incorrectly): that I was capable, AM capable, of doing something like this on my own. I survived, and very well (I was well-prepared). I drove over 3,000 miles by myself, and survived. A few bumps here and there, but nothing serious. I did not get sick, I did not get hurt, etc.

I am stronger than I was when I left; hard to explain. Spiritually and mentally. Possibly physically. Give you the verdict on that at the end of next week! (And except for all these @#$% stairs up to the second floor of my Victorian apartment. 20 total. They kill me.)

I met a TON of interesting people, and spoke at length with so many. The hotel staff, the bar tenders, the guy at AJs in Saint John (he sticks out in my mind for some reason), the museum guides, people at the gift shops, people I met while I was eating or having coffee trying to warm up, people at the gas stations. Random, local, and so very friendly. When I was driving on the back roads of Nova Scotia I drove by a woman on a bicycle headed in the opposite direction. She waved at me!

Yeah, it was like that the entire time. Very refreshing and gives one pause to think.

While I was perusing books at the gift shop at the Cap-Egmont bottle houses, a fellow asked me where I was from in Massachusetts (the lady at the counter where I bought my ticket asked where I was from). Turned out he had grown up in Framingham; not far from here. We had a short conversation; he is retired and now lives in Florida. Small world!

The night I stayed in Bangor, I did not only speak with the couple from New Brunswick. A few hours later I went outside for a last smoke before bed. There was a small group of bikers a bit down, and when they came back into the hotel they stopped and spoke with me for a bit (apparently I looked very tired that night, as one of them commented on it!). Turned out they had driven up all the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia that day. On bikes. Their trip was a lot longer than mine!

The following morning, around 6, I sat outside in my PJs and robe and coffee to have a smoke in what I thought was a very obscure corner of the building where I thought no one would notice my appearance or eclectic attire. Two women from Canada came by, power walking around the hotel building, stopped for a moment and chatted for a bit.That is the way it was my entire vacation :)

The people I met and ran into randomly, just as much as the scenery, the museums I saw and trips I took, really really made the trip.

The Maritime Provinces are absolutely and totally gorgeous. No camera could ever captrue their true beauty. The greens up there (from my artist's perspective) are off the color chart!!! I could spend the rest of my life trying to capture them.

The blues of the Bay of Fundy, up close and in the distance. The way the water of the Atlantic and the Bays and Straits meet each other and the coast in their mixture of steel-gray and roaring white is so totally powerful and overwhelming. There are no words that can ever, ever possibly describe it. It literally blows you back.

That absolute sheer force of nature is one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring sights I have ever experienced. I contemplated it while driving, and decided it is definitely one of the most powerful things I have seen on this planet.

It ties for #1 spot with the mountains.

Road grime. It is a very real thing! You do not do much, just drive, get out of the car once in awhile and take pictures (granted a lot of time in the rain on this trip!). But you feel/get gritty just from the traveling. I showered my way across Canada as much as I drove it :) Thank you, housekeeping people, for keeping me in fresh towels!

Pros and cons of traveling so far (a bit over 3,000 miles) solo.

Con: No one to share the driving or help reading the maps. Having to read the directions periodically from pieces of paper, without reading glasses, while driving! Digging out money for tolls while downshifting.
Pro: If you want to stop suddenly for a picture or decide to change the route depending on your whim, your stomach (snack! lunch!), the weather, or an interesting sightseeing sign, no one's opinion but your own counts!

Pro: Settling into the hotel room exactly the way you want.

Pro: Eating exactly where you want, when you want.
Con: Sometimes trying to find the right place that suits your mood.

Con: Canadian taxes!! I know I have mentioned it several times, but realize this. They are hefty, and the taxes aply to everything. Cup of cofee? $1.50 plus tax. Bottle of water? $2.00 plus tax. Gas $29-$32 to refill from 1/4 tank - plus tax (and I have a small gas tank in the 'Stang; about 13 gallons). Taxes vary by Province. New Brunswick was the lowest at 13%, PEI was 14%, and Nova Scotia was 15%. Remember.... That is on everything. Food, clothing, fresh produce, etc. Makes Massachusetts's 6.5% tax (on some things) seem minor in comparison.

Con: Canadian gas prices. Average where I was traveling was about $1.05/$1.07 per litre (plus tax). 'Nuff said.

Pro: Being able to change your itinerary to suit your whim, the weather, or your mood :) At the last minute if you want.

Pro: Being able to stop and see all the weird and quirky museums, lighthouses and other attractions you want to see without having to worry about someone else's opinion.

Con: Not being able to get close enough to the edge of the sea, or some of the lighthouses. I realize the lighthouses are still in operation, and understand they do not want you to fall off the edge of some of the cliffs. They put up some very sturdy barriers and stern signs! But really? I am not likely to fall off the edge of a cliff (well except in some spots where it was terribly windy), and I wanted to be able to get so much closer to some of the lighthouses and the edge of the sea. I was so very, very tempted in a few spots to hike over the barrier to get a closer picture :) Probably would have resulted in a hefty fine (with taxes).

Pro: No one complaining you are stopping off to the side of the road to take yet another picture of the ocean, cows, or a potato field.

Pro: No one complaining about your driving or exhibiting anxiety when you are absolutely sure your Mustang will make it around those "S" curves at xx Kmph in the rain 'cuz you know how she handles :) Added here, no one complains about the music on the car radio (or lack thereof).

The pros edge out the cons, but the biggest con is not being able to share the experience (and the driving!)

Shorter trips next month. I will post again soon. Stay tuned!

Before I forget, here are a couple of pix of the "gifts" I indulged in for myself (besides the fleece, sneaks, and a couple of T-shirts).

Sailboat for my collection

Clipper ship for my collection

Lobster trap replica because it was cool

June 19, Part 1 - Hotel Review

I stayed at 4 hotels during my journey. No they were not upscale! Places to sleep and rest my bones at night. Did all of the booking online - it is less expensive than calling the hotel directly. I tried that as an experiment and one room was a little over $80 directly via phone per night than what I booked online.

June 8, first night, I stayed at the Comfort Inn in Saint John, New Brunswick (1 night). The most awesome manager there, Jennifer, was absolutely the best! My 1st floor room was around the back of the hotel, and while I drove down there she walked down and opened the patio door so I could unload my luggage easily. She even helped me with the heavier items. I did not ask her to; she offered. She was great! Jennifer was also the one who pointed me to AJs Restaurant that evening. The room was a bit small (double beds, but I do not take up a lot of space), but very, very clean. Here is a picture taken from the outside.

Outside New Brunswick hotel

Next stop was New Glasgow for 3 nights, and it was raining when I pulled in to Travelodge Suites. The room was on the 3rd floor. The manager that night, Mary, took pity on me I think and helped me load the cart trolley and assisted me with it up to the room. I was very wet and totally exhausted. Elevator! (That was the hotel with the breakfast pancake machine :) ).

View outside Travelodge window

View outside Travelodge window

The room was a little larger than Saint John, but very clean as well. Not much of a view out the window, as you can see, but again, I only slept there :)

In Charlottetown I stayed at Canada's Best Value Inn (the more "rustic" hotel) for 4 nights. All in all, I rather liked it there, despite the poor lighting. Small wooden patio outside, and they did have an on-site restaurant. And hands down the absolute best breakfast!! Eggs, bacon, 3 kinds of cereal, 4 types of bagels, 3 types of toast, and a variety of breakfast drinks (coffee, teas, juices, milk, etc.). The managers changed frequently, but there were always 2 at the desk, nicely dressed in uniforms (and a very well-kept lobby). They were also extremely helpful with information, maps, and recomendations on local places to eat and the best way to get to downtown.

Fridge, microwave & coffee

Pic in bathroom mirror - very short!

Yes the room was small, and I think the bathroom was made for tiny people (middle pic), but it also had the largest fridge, and a mircowave. The carpet left much to be desired, but it suited well for the 4 nights.

Desk at Canada's Best Value Inn

Outside the room on PEI

 All in all, I really rather liked this room! It was actually kind of homey in a way. The housekeeper, Padma, was very nice and kept me in clean towels. I ran into her twice.




Finally in Bangor, I stayed at the Super 8 which was right off the Maine Turnpike. Only 1 night, but strangely enough it seemed luxurious compared to some of the others (except for the pillows). I think it was just the room size! It seemed huge!

Super 8 Bangor

The front desk manager who checked me in - I failed to get her name; I was exhausted and a bit painful from driving - gave me the 1st floor room closest to the exit door. Thankfully. It took me a while to unload, and also to load the car again, but I did not have far to go.

Super 8 Bangor

Super 8 Bangor

Across the parking lot was a Travelodge. The parking lines were clearly delineated, so the 2 hotels did not share parking, but it struck me as humorous (I do have an odd sense of humor). So I took a picture of that as well.

Across the parking lot

The Comfort Inn in Saint John and Travelodge in New Glasgow had the best pillows. Super 8 in Bangor had the most electrical outlets and the largest room. Canada's Best Value Inn had the best breakfast and was the most eclectic. The best manager overall in my opinion was Jennifer at Comfort Inn in Saint John.

ALL of the hotel staff I met and spoke with were very good, and had excellent customer service skills. They were helpful and polite (and cheerful!).

One more post after this with some random comments.