TRIP to the East Coast Part 2

We are currently in western South Carolina visiting Leon's mom and family. I must say we are not used to the humidity. My apologies to those blogger buddies who live here or anywhere in the Southeast...I don't envy you. Everything here looks so moist and moldy. Many of the deciduous trees look bare as if they are dying off and the very dark green oak trees seem to shed dead leaves all year giving the countryside an unappealing look. The Kudzu vine is, however, green and lush as it devours the trees upon which it grows.

Leon and I, and Benni too from what I can discern, are more than ready to return home. Yes, New Mexico is home. For all its shortcomings (lack of water and rain, every food smothered in green chili, ubiquitous juniper trees dotting the otherwise barren landscapes, the Italian bread void, and the intense, unrelenting sun), I think it suits us well.

I've noticed the stark difference in general friendliness of people in the East vs. those in New Mexico. I can say that I've become a friendlier person since living there and my overall mood has improved a great deal. I attribute it to the sunshine unobscured by dense forests or tall buildings.

Anyhow, that's where I'm at today as we prepare to head West tomorrow.

Having returned to some of our old haunts in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut, I am left with a weird feeling of having died and gone to New Mexico. Perhaps it is, as some say, the Land of Entrapment...going back East this time was both enjoyable and disappointing.

The weather at the Cape (Provincetown) was not ideal as we had several rainy, cloudy days. And the darn Achilles tendonitis (or more precisely, tendonosis) was like a constant thorn. It's going on 10 months now and physical therapy only gave me partial relief.

In a nutshell, walking the beach was excruciating...and I had to make it to "Boys Beach" (now "Boys Island" at high tide due to the re-configuration of the coastline after winter storms) which was over a mile from the parking lot. Call me a glutton for punishment, a masochist, a fool, but that is the gay beach and it is, to me, like Capistrano to a swallow.

And if I thought P-town was going to the wealthy two years ago, it has certainly gone over the chasm now. The "early bird specials" are few and run about $19+. Dinner for two, with beverage, no alcohol, with tax and tip will run a minimum of $56. Friends of ours were eating out every night...the Lobster Pot, Front Street, Ciro and Sal's to the tune of $70 to $80 or more for two.

Sadly out of reach for the common aging hippie or young gay person or anyone retired on a small income (me). Thankfully we had saved and as always go "cheap" at the campground and making most of our own meals. Even the Littleneck clams I bought for my homemade linguini and clam sauce were 50 cents each. I made it for myself when Leon went to dine with the Yankee Chapter of Lambda Car Club.

Anyhow, here are some photos. Not the greatest, but... (Having difficulty uploading and other technical issues, so in no particular order)

Despite the Weather, the Province Lands and National Seashore
 is Still My Favorite Place

Lots of Tacky or Sometimes Cleaver T-shirts

Shops in Early Morning

The Harbor and Town Beach

The Eastern Desert - Pines Instead of Junipers

At Race Point

Funky Street Art

Leon and Benni in the Background

Grey Mood on a Cloudy Day

Pilgrim Monument

Herring Cove After Winter Storms

Boys' Beach Becomes Boys' Island
When the Tide Breaches the Beach Cut

Watching the Instructional Video for the 18th Time
Before Getting Our Oversand Pass
"The Bird, Bird, Bird....Bird is the Word"

Driving Over Sand Road

Horse Farm Near the Campground

This Old Map Showing the Oversand Routes
Has Been in the Ranger Station
for as Long as I Can Remember

Driving Out to the Beach

Being barefoot on the sands of the National Seashore with the sea water splashing a salty spray is still my idea of heaven.

 At Provincetown's McMillan Wharf

The Infamous "Dick Dock" at the BoatSlip Inn

Beach Rose

Last Night's Dinner at the Canteen

Connecticut

Benni Got Together With His Old Girlfriend Katija

Goodspeed Opera 

A few photos of Gillette Castle in Haddam Connecticut and the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry

Connecticut River

Connecticut River Ferry - the 2nd Oldest
Continuously Operating Ferry in Connecticut

....and Daversa Family Reunion along with some of our friends at Pagliacci's Restaurant:

Uncle Chet at 96

Benni Settled in for the Ride Home