Dinner with the Buonos

As we were leaving yesterday, we got a shot of the Buono family. From left are Will, Bill, Caycee (Kacie?) and Marla Jennings Buono.

We had a terrific visit, and look forward to seeing them on our next visit in the area.

Running around Jersey

We got in around 3 or so yesterday afternoon, then hooked up with our old neighborhood friends, the Van Praaghs and Helen Wexler, and went out to dinner. Today, we're going down to Bordentown to go to lunch and then tonight we are meeting up with a young lady that lived with us her senior year in high school, Marie Ondy, and her daughter down in East Windsor at the Americana Diner, our old stomping grounds. Then, were up as early as we can tomorrow, since Cooper is about to wet himself to get home. Every time we get within 700 miles of home with a grandson, they want to drive straight home. Never mind they never want to do more than 300 miles any other time. We'll see how we do.

Because of all the schedule changes, we didn't get to do any of the extra baseball games I had scheduled.

Also, we called out to Dallas, Tx and spoke to McClain's and they will take our motor home in for leak repairs, so now we are adding that new trip on the schedule. We'll head out there as soon as I get a green light from my eye operations.

Think what we'll do is leave the motor home at McClains until it is completely fixed, and maybe visit with Sherry and Fred and maybe run over to Arkansas and see the Waschkas perhaps in the car while the motor home is being fixed.

Might stay out all of August and a lot of September, then come by Florida for a little bit before we head out for the October trip to Beaufort and Ohio.

On down to Edison, NJ

After a wonderful dinner and yumy breakfast this morning at IHOP meeting up with and reminiscing with Marla Jennings Buono and her family, we ambled on down the Interstates to Edison NJ, to the Fairfield Inn. We take the opportunity to come off the road ever so often, and especially in the metro NYC area, since there are basically no camping facilities around, and those that are are in excess of $50 a night for not much. We get a nice room, get to swim, get free breakfast, and plenty good tv, so life is good. Buster has to spend the night in the motor home, but he survives with no issues.

Tonight, we are scheduled to have dinner at Charlie Brown's in East Windsor, which is the restaurant where we seem to always go when we're in town. Tonight, we're being joined by Helen Wexler and the Van Praghs, former neighbors and good buds.

It was terrific to see the Buonos, and to reflect on how well they are doing, and living the good life. Marla is a guidance counselor at a private school, and her husband Bill recently came off the road as a self-employed trucker and is managing a chain fast lube location and doing very well. They have two beautiful children, and live in a very pleasant section of Wallingford, Conn. We will for sure include them in future visits to the area.

Home soon, may stop over at Hershey from here to say hey to the Kingstons for a night, then one stop on the way home, be home either Saturday or Sunday, it looks like.

Photos from the visit with the Buonos and tonight posted later.

Off to Wallingford, Conn. in the morning

Decided to start heading home tomorrow, a day earlier from Maine, and we've cancelled or modified all of the planned return trip. Tomorrow, we're heading about 3 hours down the road to Wallingford, Conn. to visit with Marla Jennings Buono, who was a neighbor kid across the street from us in New Jersey back in the mid-1980's. Marla was one of our daughter Tracy's big buddies back in the day. Planning on meeting her for lunch, then not sure what we'll do beyond that for the rest of the day. We're booked into the Fairfield Inn at Edison NJ for Wed and Thursday night, where we hope to catch up with Tracy and Cooper's "other" grandfather, then we are heading home, a week early.

Visit to Perkins Cove- Perfect Weather!

The weather is finally cooperating just as we are about to leave! We headed down to Perkins Cove, Maine this afternoon, which is one of the more picturesqe places in Maine there is, we reckon. Lots of expensive seaside homes, and shops and eateries-

Here's Bette and Cooper next to the lighthouse at the head of the cove that enters Ogonquit actually. As you can see, the weather was perfect. The temperature was about 75 degrees with a light breeze.

Cooper on the rocks- I would love to come back to this area in October some time-

Flo's Hot Dogs

This morning at 11 we headed on down US 1 towards York and stopped at Flo's Hot Dogs, which has been selling just hot dogs for 50 years here at the beach. It's quite a story, the original Flo was quite a character, and you have certain protocols you have to follow when you order, when you enter the place, and when you eat. There are no tables inside, and you line up and place your order. The dogs are steamed, and the regular order has Flo's secret sauce on them, which is hard to describe. No way do you get a "regular" dog, with catsup, mustard, and such! The dogs were delicious, and we got two special 50th anniversary T shirts to boot. We will definetly add Flo's to our must-dos when we come up again. Thanks to the Hebbards for the tip!

Downtown BeanTown

Here's a beautiful bridge that we went over on the way out. I think its part of the big "BigDig" tunnel project that they did.

A view out the bus window of downtown. I know the big building on the right is the Hancock Center, not sure what the tall building on the left is.

A view here of some of the typical brownstone type of residential apartments of which there were hundreds on the way out of town.