Monthly Archives: May 2011

Casinos and Vineyards . . .

I got up about 11 am, finally feeling pretty much normal again, enough so that I got back on some little jobs around the coach that I had been putting off. Then, about 2:30 we all headed out to run some errands.

After our ill-fated visit to the Speedco in Kingman last week, Nick wanted to check out the one up in North Las Vegas. Turns out they don’t have a problem with RV’ers like the one in Kingman. Nick’s still thinking about whether or not we’ll head up there on our way out of Las Vegas next week.

We also checked out the Elk’s Lodge in the area that we had heard had RV parking. It did have hookups, but probably was not a place you’d want to spend much time.

Next we headed down I-15 so Nick could check out a couple of high-end RV Parks and drop off copies of the Gypsy Journal.

But in the middle of that, Jan and Terry discovered a nearby World Market that they just had to check out, coming out with large bags of stuff.

We finally got back to the Thousand Trails RV Resort about 5:30, staying just long enough to drop off our shopping results, and then heading back out to the Boulder Station Casino right down the road to have their buffet for dinner.

It was really good, as usual, but the real problem afterwards when Jan turned a $20 buffet dinner into a $40 dinner after she dropped $20 in the slots.

But it was fun, anyway.

We finally got home about 8 after a busy day.

I’ve reposted our visit to Martha’s Vineyard in 2009.

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Thought for the Day:

"Never Forget, even for an instant, that the one and only reason anybody has for taking your gun away is to make you weaker than he is, so he can do something to you that you wouldn’t allow him to do if you were equipped to prevent it. This goes for burglars, muggers, and rapists, and even more so for policemen, bureaucrats, and politicians." — Alexander Hope

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Martha’s Vineyard…

Originally posted on August 5, 2009

Today we took the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard to check out this famous island.

MV Island Home

We sailed on the MV Island Home, a ferry that can carry up to 76 vehicles, including semi tractor trailers and big RV’s. But we didn’t take our rig, or our truck over. We just took ourselves.

The Island Home can also carry up to 1200 passengers, although we were probably only about half full. The trip takes about 45 minutes and was very comfortable. We even had a breakfast sandwich and coffee during the trip.

Our port on Martha’s Vineyard is called Vineyard Haven, and is one the two large ports on the island, the other being Oak Bluffs where a ferry also docks.

Vineyard Haven

Vineyard Haven Port

Getting off the ship we saw an Island Sightseeing bus so decided to jump on. Our tour lasted almost 3 hours and took us all around the island.

Our guide pointed out the many houses of the rich and famous. Ted Danson, Michael J. Fox, Doris Day, Diane Sawyer, and many others.

Our first stop was at a Aquinnah Indian area at Gay Head Cliffs. There were several small restaurants, gift shops, a lighthouse, and most importantly, restrooms.

Aquinnah

GayHead Lighthouse

The Gay Head Cliffs are one of the many beautiful areas on Martha’s Vineyard, and supposedly, one of the best beaches.

Gay Head Cliffs

We didn’t get to visit the cliff area, but here’s a pretty pic from the Internet.

Moving on down the road, we passed The Field Gallery, an outside art gallery with some very strange art work.

Field Gallery

We ended our tour at Oak Bluffs, the other harbor on the Island.

Oak Bluffs Harbor

The town is very quaint, with many cute little houses left over from a 19th century Methodists camp meeting area.

Oak Bluffs Houses

These houses originally cost $400.00, but now can go for over $400,000.

After a VERY good meal of Mexican food at a place called Zapotec,

Zapotec

we checked out the Flying Horses arcade.

Flying Horses

As the sign says, it houses the America’s oldest carousel.

Carousel

It was built in 1876 and spent the first 20 years of its life at Coney Island in New York. Then in 1896 it was moved here to Oak Bluffs where it’s been ever since.

While we were waiting for the VTA bus to take us back to Vineyard Haven and our ferry home, I caught a shot of this beautiful stay-rigged schooner sailing offshore.

Schooner

It’s amazing to think that ships like this once sailed around the world.

We got back to our rig about 6:30 pm, tired, but having really enjoyed our day.

Tomorrow, a whale watching boat trip, we hope…

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Slowly but Surely . . .

I’m feeling better. Still not 100%, maybe 85%,

After getting up about 10 am and fixing coffee, I was pretty much exhausted. So I just did the Internet thing on and off until about 12:45 when we all headed out to meet Tom and Barb Westerfield at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch.

As usual we spent longer talking than we did eating, so it was after 3pm before we were back on the road.

Nick wanted to drop off some Gypsy Journals at some of the RV parks in the area. Then, after a quick detour to Lowe’s (snicker, snicker) we headed home.

Later, about 8:30 we all headed out again to cruise the Strip and eat a late supper at the Blueberry Hill Restaurant.

So now I’m exhausted and I’m going to bed.

I’ve reposted more of our visit to Massachusetts in August of 2009.

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Thought for the Day:

Madness does not always howl. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "Hey, is there room in your head for one more?"

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America’s Hometown…

Originally posted on August 13, 2009

Today was our day to tour Plymouth, which calls itself ”America’s Hometown”, which I guess is true since it was America’s first town.

After making the 40 mile trip, we first decided to have breakfast at the All American Diner in downtown Plymouth, and it was excellent!

Leaving the diner we drove down and parked along the waterfront.

Plymouth Harbor

The first thing we came upon was the Plymouth Rock monument.

Plymouth Rock Sign

Plymouth Rock Building

Plymouth Rock

It’s amazing to stand over the Rock and imagine almost 400 years ago the Pilgrims landing here.

Next we walked a few blocks away to the where the Mayflower II is docked. Built in England in 1956 from the original plans, it made the voyage to America in 1957 and was given to the Plimouth Plantation group for display here.

Mayflower II

And then of course we had to hit the gift shops. Here’s Jan modeling the latest in holiday attire.

Turkey Hat

Heading home we stopped off at Target for more ‘stuff’ and then made the drive home.

The park we’re staying in is really nice, probably the nicest one we’ve ever stayed in.

Normandy 1

Normandy 2

Normandy 3

And the landscaping and flowers are really something.

Flower 1

Flower 2

Flower 3

Today is our last full day in Massachusetts. Tomorrow we head north to Saint Johnsburg, VT for a few days at Moose River Lodge.

As it stands now we should be in Nova Scotia within the next two weeks. We’ll see.

More tomorrow from Vermont…

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