Quebec City…another squirrel to chase

We left Massachusetts and headed further north.  This time we stopped at the Great Pond Outdoor Recreation Center northeast of Bangor, Maine.  This is a Navy-sponsored camp on the edge of a beautiful lake called Great Pond (go figure).  It has 18 RV sites, several tent sites, 6 yurts and around 10 cabins for rent.  It’s definitely off the beaten path but worth the drive.

Great Pond Maine

Wildflower patch

We arrived, spent one night, then put the rig into overflow and jumped into the car to chase our latest “squirrel”.  Our destination: Quebec City, Canada and the last 2012 North American performance of “The Wall” by Roger Waters.  As long as we were heading up, we decided to make it a long weekend and stayed Thursday through Monday morning.

Quebec is a study in language immersion.  It’s a very, very French province - in fact, the official governmental language of the province is French.  We were definitely at a disadvantage since neither of us speaks the language.  However, between learning a few vital words, sil vous plait, merci beaucoup, pardon moi, toilette and seeking out those with some English, we managed pretty well. 

We arrived in Quebec City after a pleasant drive through some beautiful farm country and checked into the ALT Hotel.  Friday morning we were up and on the move in our usual brisk fashion - we wandered out around nine.   At the last minute we had decided to carry along the bicycles - we hopped on them and headed down the road toward Vieux Quebec, aka, Old Town.  This is the original part of the city and looks and feels like an old European town.   

Before we got that far we had to ride by the Plaines d’Abraham, site of the concert.  Les Plaines d’Abraham was the battlefield where the future of Canada was decided and France lost control to the British.  In 1906 it was dedicated as one of the largest urban parks in North America. 

Les Plaines d'Abraham

We joined quite a few other people in watching the crews setting up for the concert.  According to what Heinz had been reading, the tour travels with around 180 permanent crewmembers and hires an additional 150 locals at each concert site.  Watching everyone scurry around like ants, it was easy to believe.  Heinz also scoped out all the possible seating areas to determine what would be our best place to be on Saturday night.

Prepping the stage

Building the wall

Now what in the world is that?

After choosing just the right spot, along with a back-up plan if the first area filled up too fast, we were back on the bikes and heading for Old Town.  There we checked out the Terrasse Dufferin.  This is a boardwalk that runs along the edge of the Citadel and is well equipped with benches, kiosks, street-performers, and shady spots to cool off.  It offers unbelievable views of the St. Lawrence River, the Laurentian Mountains, and Ile d'Orleans.  According to the guidebooks, the municipal authorities install an ice slide for toboggans on the terrace during the winter for public use.  

St. Lawrence River from the Terrasse Dufferin

Biking the Terrasse Dufferin

After a great pasta lunch (packing in those carbs for the ride back to the hotel), we were off along the bicycle path that runs along the riverbank for miles.  The next morning we were up early, packed a lunch/dinner and were in line for the concert by 11:30.  Since the gates didn't open until 6:00 we had a few hours to kill.  We managed the time by taking turns walking around the district, listening to music, reading, chatting with a few people around us who spoke English, and even napping for a few minutes here and there.  By the time the gates opened there were 75,000 waiting to enter the concert area.

The crowds begin to gather...12:00

and gather...2:00

and gather...5:00

How do I describe the concert? Amazing seems like such a lame word but it was truly AMAZING.  Here is an excerpt from a review of the concert:  "A white-brick wall, which is both an ideal video screen in concert and the central metaphor of the rock opera Roger Waters wrote for the 1979 album by Pink Floyd (with additional music by the band’s guitarist, David Gilmour), spanned the stadium (800 feet long at the Quebec show) and towered 40 feet high."  In order to get a quick feel of what the concert was like check out this link.  If you are a true Pink Floyd fan you can check these two links to see some fan's recording on you-tube of the entire Quebec concert, Part I and Part II.  As Heinz says, it was so fantastic that he could have walked right in and watched it again the next day.

After the concert we ended up walking back the four miles to our hotel as the buses weren't running along the Grand Allee due to the crowds.  We did actually see two buses, but as we were less than a mile from our warm bed by that time it just didn't seem worth the effort to speed up and get to the bus stop in time.  

We obviously slept in the next morning as we didn't get to bed until after 0300.  But once we got up, Heinz took me out for a proper Quebec breakfast: eggs, bangers (mild sausage), bacon, maple crepes, toast, fruit, and cretons.  And what, you are probably asking, what in the world is cretons?  That's ok, we asked too and our waitress didn't have a clue what it was made of.  So I looked it up.  According to Wikipedia (which we all know is a stellar source), it is pork butt mixed with onions and spices and simmered gently over low heat, stirred often to prevent scorching until all the liquid is cooked off and the mixture is thick. It is then allowed to cool, stirred again to incorporate all the rendered fat, and transferred to a large clean container or individual containers, covered tightly and refrigerated for several hours or overnight until firm. Pig marrow is also often added in order to form a gelatin that allows it to congeal.  It is then used as a spread on toast for breakfast.  DOESN'T THAT JUST SOUND GREAT?  Actually, it wasn't all that bad, just pretty un-flavorful.

Ah, we just don't bounce back the next morning like we did at 18, or 32, or 45, or 50!

After breakfast we headed out for more exploration of the town.  We were pretty tired and didn't stay out long.  But, what a place.  We would love to come back and explore some more.

Old Town side street

Unisex public toilets took some getting used to - yes, both sexes use it simultaneously.

Mural on Old Town building

Hotel Frontenac

Cite Plaza

We tried to catch the changing of the guards at the Citadele, but thunderstorms canceled it.

We have heard quite a few horror stories now of searches at the international border, but the most we've had going into Canada is: "any tobacco, alcohol, or firearms? No, then have a wonderful stay." and on the way back into the U.S.: "Buy anything in Canada? No, welcome home."  Took all of 5 minutes...

Border station, returning to the U.S.

Well, my battery is about out of juice, so more on our return to Maine and our journey back into Canada, this time we're exploring New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.  So hang in there.

Our friends of the day hung out and enjoyed the concert with us.

Still out there on the road

Hmmm, over a month since I posted any news about our travels.  I have a really good excuse!  Honest, I do!  I've been really, really... lazy!  Hey, it's summer, it's that lazy time of year.

After Tash and Ryan's wedding we hung out in New Jersey/Pennsylvania for another couple of weeks to do some sightseeing and play with "the kids".  We took in Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ at the recommendation of Tash with the added incentive of a gift certificate to the award-winning restaurant Rats located on the premises.   Grounds for Sculpture is a year-round 42 acre outdoor sculpture garden located on the former location of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds.  It has been open to the public since 1992 and has a collection of over 240 outdoor sculptures along with three exhibition buildings built in the 1920s that house special exhibits.  The Grounds are a great destination whether you're an art enthusiast or a plant lover, the park is also a beautifully designed arboretum that comes complete with resident peacocks.

Sagg Portal, 2004, stainless steel, by Hans Van de Bovenkamp

Aah, who's real and who's not?  

Were You Invited?, 2001, cast bronze and aluminum, painted, by Seward Johnson

Dorian, 1986, stainless steel, by Bruce Beasley

Rats Restaurant

As I mentioned, we were the grateful recipients of a gift certificate courtesy of Tash and Ryan to the restaurant and decided on lunch.  I have told more than one person that this meal was definitely one of the top ten meals we've had since we hit the road.  All ingredients were from local farms, super fresh, and cooked to perfection. I'm not much of a fan of daiquiris but I was intrigued by the description of the fresh raspberry daiquiri and had to try one.  Boy, was I a happy sipper!  Fresh, light, and just the slightest tinge of tanginess from the raspberries that were crushed into the rum.  Heinz opted for the smoked salmon tartine followed by seared trout, while I ventured forth with traditional onion soup made with local gruyere, followed by short ribs cipollini with onion confit.  We both were full, but decided to go for "totally stuffed" and chose desserts, strawberry rhubarb tart and goat cheese panna cotta.  I still drool thinking of that meal!

Short Rib Frites Riesling cipollini with watercress salad and Kennebec pommel frites (aka: ribs and French fries with salad)

Strawberry-rhubarb tart with home-made vanilla ice cream and a strip of dried rhubarb

Later that week we took in a Philadelphia Phillies game courtesy of Lockheed Martin (Tash and Ryan's employer).  It was the hottest day of the year so far in Philadelphia (90 degrees at 7 pm, game time), but we tailgated with friends and co-workers of the kids, enjoyed the game and took the chance to text insults to relatives back in Colorado (around the fact that the Phillies were winning).  But alas, in the 7th inning Philly blew a 2 run lead and wound up losing 4-2.

A great pre-game father/daughter moment

Phillies vs. the Rockies

On Father's Day we met up with Tash and Ryan again and headed off to the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.  Assembled by a neurosurgeon, Dr. Frederick Simeone, over a 50 year span, the museum houses what is considered one of the world's best collection of sports cars, including some of the rarest.  There were some truly amazing cars on display.  Even better (although we didn't get a chance to see it) once a month the museum takes some of the cars out and runs them around a track located behind the building and lets the public in to watch.

Cars of the Automotive Racing Club of America 1927-1929

1921 Vauxhall, all aluminum body, found in a barn

My favorite--1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A

1938 Peugeot Darl'mat Le Mans

Just before we left the Philadelphia area Tash and Ryan treated us yet again to tailgating and sports fun at a Philadelphia Union pro soccer game.  They played Kansas City Sporting - beating them 6-0.  At least during this game we got to gloat via text to the folks back in KC until the bitter end.  

It's all about the action!

Heads up!

Leaving Philadelphia, we dropped the RV off in New Jersey to have some maintenance done and drove the car to Kansas City for two weeks at Heinz's sister's house.  While there, we finished going through the remainder of our household goods.  Following that, we stored some boxes of "gotta keeps" in Suzi's basement, listed a few pieces on Craig's List and held a three day garage sale to off-load as much of the rest as possible.  We sold quite a bit, boxed up the leftovers and hauled them off to the local Catholic Charities.  

Sell, sell, sell.

Suzi and Heinz trying to stay cool during 99+ temperatures.

We spent the 4th of July in Kansas with an all-American celebration: steaks and salad, TV, and air conditioning!  

After the holiday we headed back east, picked up the rig and moved on to Cape Cod, MA.  We stayed at a great RV park, Bayview Campground that is celebrating their 45th year of existence this year.  We spent a few days with some old friends from California that were visiting on the Cape, did a little sightseeing in Provincetown and Chatham, checked out the Cape Cod National Seashore, and had a lot of great seafood.  

Cape Cod - right out the back of the restaurant

Cape Cod sunset

Cape Cod National Seashore

Leaving Cape Cod we did another one of our long hauls (a whole 1.5 hours) up to the Hanscom AFB FamCamp.  We've spent our time here meeting up with friends and relatives.  Over the weekend we headed up into New Hampshire for a nice visit with our oldest daughter's in-laws.  Wayne and Betsy showed us a great time with a sunset cruise around the harbor area of Portsmouth on Saturday and a trip across Lake Winnipesaukee on Wayne's whaler on Sunday.  We zipped around the lake for a bit, stopped in at the Wolfeboro Dockside Grille for a quick lunch, then headed for home and a lovely afternoon nap by all.  That night we went out for dinner and Heinz finally got himself some lobster (his fault for not ordering it sooner)!

Lighthouse in Portsmouth harbor

New Hampshire sunset

Wayne and Heinz grinning their way across the lake.

Betsy enjoying the wind in her hair.

Now don't we look like seasoned boat hands?

Just like a teenager, Wayne decided that his two-week old truck needed to be spiffed up, so made a "functional modification" during the day.  We thought it gave the truck a very manly aesthetic.

No "candy-ass poser" truck for Wayne - he's got himself a "working" truck!

Heinz had to go for the lobster twins!  One simply isn't enough when you're craving.

We headed back to Hanscom on Sunday night and finished up our time in the area with dinner with a cousin and her husband, and lunch with an old friend of Heinz's.  Now we're ready to head further north.  Next stop, Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center in Great Pond, Maine, the military FamCamp for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Our friends of the day are a little on the tinier side than usual: