Newport Rhode Island to Hudson Bay, New York

Hi Dears: We left Newport Rhode Island nearly a week ago. The city park we stayed at, Melville Pond, just five miles outside of Newport, was an amazing retreat.

And ... it was located on Sullivan Drive!

We had a huge grassy field to ourselves, along with a few hundred acres of ponds and hiking trails, butting up to the Naragannset Bay.

Norma (with her dog Midge), one of the rangers, a former bus driver, even gave me

lessons driving my rig. Had the whole park to ourselves. It was great. I am not there yet, but feel more confident.

The Newport mansions and Ocean Drive were incredible. Newport was certainly the playground for the New England wealthy. We toured many mansions. The Vanderbuilt mansion, the Breakers, was by far the finest. Many towns we have visited have a cliff walk along the amazing homes and hotels that line the ocean. Newport’s is the best … so far. Ocean Drive reminds me of Pebble Beach’s 17 mile drive – amazing ocean, parks butting up to the coast and great mansions one after the next (underlining not intended ... it does what it wants).

Vanderbilt Mansion, named the Breakers

Ocean view from Vanderbilt Mansion.

Carolina at the Vanderbilt.

Newport Beach cliffs.

Cliff Walk

Pagoda on the cliff walk.

A Newport street lined with mansions.

A gateway on Cliff Walk.

Newport City Hall.

40 stairs to the ocean, Cliff Walk.

Another huge old mansion.

A gazebo on Cliff Walk.

We left Newport and have been living on a peninsula in the middle of the Hudson River for many days now – only a half hour north of Manhattan, but worlds away. Incredible park called Crotan Point, 500 acres of amazing trees all fronted by the Hudson River. Totally amazing park.

Autumn leaves are that gorgeous light orange, just as they are about to Fall.

We drove ten miles through historic, quaint old villages -- Sleepy Hollow (the town Washington Irving wrote about), Mount Pleasant, Tarreytown, Ossining -- with tiny little streets in this huge rig to get here! All of these villages line the East bank of the Hudson. We toured the Rockefeller mansion and walked the streets of these Hudson River towns. Very charming!

A castle in Tarrytown.

The lighthouse at Sleepy Hollow.

Old cathedral in Ossining.

A home in Sleepy Hollow.

Incredible church in Ossining.

Rockefeller Estate.

Village of Sleepy Hollow.

Another ancient church.

And, today we shall finagle the fleet through the ten miles of these tiny village streets on our way to the amazing Tappan Z Bridge, which connects at Tarrytown! The Bridge is amazing -- three miles across the Hudson. I am filled with adventure anticipating our trip. We have timed it for Sunday morning so these little village streets will be easier to maneuver and so this amazing NY bridge will be a sleepy Sunday bridge instead of a zoo of NY cars.

We are headed just outside of Philadelphia to see the amazing gardens that are part of the city, and, of course, its history. The weather is with us, a week of full sun ahead, 50s and 60s.

What an amazing life this is, more incredible than I ever could have imagined – especially so now that I have healed. I want to share my medical story with you. I’ve always enjoyed the very finest of health, but about 8 months ago I started having the most debilitating headaches, almost all the time. After many months, they turned into neck aches. I went to nine doctors, had every conceivable test, had prescriptions for a drugstore of meds. It was hell. But, I was persistent. I refused to accept that ‘You’re just getting older, aches and pains are part of it”, “migraines can start anytime. They just come out of the blue.”

I researched the internet endlessly and found the answer – I had forward head syndrome. My whole life my feet moved faster than my head, my head was carrying my body … and the neck just isn’t made to support a forward head, which is basically a 30 pound bowling ball on a skinny neck. And, as we all know, I’ve been a workaholic hunched over the computer for way too many hours for nearly 25 years.

I did exercises to strengthen my neck muscles, straighten my posture, got a biofeedback T-shirt that buzzed me when my head stuck out, got an ergonomically correct office chair, positioned my computer and me at the right level. And, after a month and a half of this, I am completely well. Back to myself, no headaches, no neck aches, but a head over my ears! We’re all getting older but we don’t have to accept that that as we age illness, pain and debilitation have occur. They don’t. We are meant to be strong and healthy and can be until the day we die. Anyway … just wanted to share my story with you … and my joy that I am well.

Thanks so much for sharing this adventure called life with us.

Love, The Vagabonds

Six months later ...

Hi Loves: This is the map on my coach door that tracks where we have been. Where do you think we are now? You’ll never guess.

… In the smallest state in the USA … Rhode Island! Can’t believe it’s been 6 months since my last blog. So, here’s a quick summary.

Remember ... you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

We left Savannah GA last May bound for South Carolina (where Carolina was born) and drove into the most lush paradise God has ever created … Hilton Head Island … so ... we live there now. Well … we own a piece of cement in a nice resort park and reside in our outdoor living space (yes, on the cement!) whenever possible. It’s really just like your house, about 1600 square foot foundation, just has no walls. Ha! Here’s my Lot #99 located at 133 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

The TV/Stereo is in the coach's compartment just to the right.

Tow car didn't have AC, so bought a new car. A Saturn, great for towing.

Our outdoor home amidst the humongous trees and moss.

The pond in the middle of our resort.

This is why Hilton Head is so special. Nature is first, commerce is hidden.

The lighthouse at Harbor Town, Hilton Head Island.

Many waterways throughout the island.

Typical main road in Hilton Head. There are no signs along the road.

Incredible old Oaks and moss everywhere.

Egret.

Blue Heron.

We have loads of crocodile who share the island with us. When they are on land and chase you, you just zig zag ... and lose them! I am totally fascinated by these creatures.

Green ponds all over.

And ... 50 miles of gorgeous pathways all around the island. You just ride your bike everywhere.

Hilton Head dear friends, Aliaha, Michael and pup Shalee.

Dear Friend Cappy the Clown and her super cool dog, Edison.

Cappy, Edison, Carolina and me.

Then … after several months of creating our Hilton Head family ... we bee-lined up the coast to Maine (Oh, my God, went through Manhattan) to experience the amazing wonder of the fall foliage. Incredible experience.

Maine was utterly awesome … the quaint beach towns, incredible fall foliage, to-die-for steamers and lobster, people with the greatest accents. Here’s some photos of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Camden (my favorite), Ogunquit. I think we will spend several months a year there.

Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor just south of Acadia.

Camden, my favorite town.

Camden public library grounds.

Camden, Gazebo amidst the foliage.

Camden, the harbor.

Downtown Camden.

Carolina in her s new jacket ... walking Camden streets.

Had at least one lobster roll each day. Aw me Gawd!

Lunch ...

Ogunquit ... Perkins Cove.

Ogunquit ... again.

Ogunquit Public Library.

Cliff walk, Ogunquit.

When our park in Maine closed down ... we headed south and spent ten days in a very nice park outside of Boston. I took the subway in to Boston and did the town and Harvard University in one day. Boston is such a beautiful and culturally rich town, so filled with history and centuries of architecture, bridges, water and parks. A lovely mix of everything, and those folk with the wonderful Boston accent.

Our traveling home ... in Massachusetts.

A pond at our RV resort in Massachusetts.

And ... of to downtown Boston.

On the Boston subway.

In my Boston subway attire!

Boston Commons.

Another downtown Boston park.

Fountain in Commons Park.

Beautiful Brick buildings ... and walkways.

Row houses on Beacon Hill.

Another park in the midst of the 'big' city.

Historical Architecture.

Such an old, rich city. Reminds me of San Marcos Square, Venice.

Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science) Center.

.... More ....

The first post office.

The Charles River with downtown Boston in the background.

Charles River Bridge.

Jumped on the subway again ... to Harvard Square.

Harvard University


Harvard University grounds.


Harvard University Chapel where I was so blessed to watch the incredible performance of the Harvard University Choir


Amazing Gothic Cathedral at Harvard University.

And ... before we left Mass, we visited Cape Cod ...

Then ... a couple of days ago we headed south to Newport, Rhode Island ... where we are now until they close on 10/31 ... almost have the entire park to ourselves! And ... this city park is surrounded by hiking trails that go to Naragannset Bay which is only 1/4 mile away. We will explore Newport today ...



We've been on the road nearly one year and four months now! What an incredible life. We will continue to slowly mosey back to Hilton Head as weather permits and probably arrive just in time for Thanksgiving.

Thanks for sharing it with us!

Love, Marilyn & Carolina