Joanne & Wes

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We are a couple traveling in a 34" Holiday Vacationer Motor Home. Wes is a GE pensioner who still consults with the company. Joanne is a Public Relations specialist who runs her own "boutique" agency. This is the sixth year that we have been keeping a travel blog. In the winter, we travel to and through Florida. We plan our route to include places of interest going to and fro and have included Williamsburg, Baltimore, Washinton DC, St. Augustine, Savannah, Charlestown, Myrtle Beach, Florida's Pan Handle, New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Lexington, Pittsburgh and Gettysburg. Our recent travels close to home have included an RV tour to Herkimer (home of the Herkimer Diamond Mines), Lechworth State Park (NY Fingerlakes Region), and Gettysburg. We have also traveled to New York City and Montreal several times during the past few years. A highlight was the June Jazz Fest in Montreal a few years back. Skiing and visiting family in Vermont and on Long Island, an annual boat camping trip on the islands of Lake George. We've visited Nevis in the West Indies several times; the most recent being in January 2012 with a side trip to Canouan in the Grenadine Islands. We've also visited Ireland, Tuscany, Paris, Normandy, and Germany. Our latest trips to Europe were two river boat cruise on the fabulous Uniworld line. The trip from Paris to Normandy in Sept/Oct. 09 was exceptional. The trip on the Rhine and the Main from Cologne to Prague was interrupted due to illness. We had travel insurance and have learned mucho about how to (or not) recoup losses when the flight involves using frequent flier mileage incentives. We used Empress Travel on Upper Union St., Schenectady. Our RV - nicknamed "The Schooner" is located at Mohawk Marine in Alplaus, Schenectady County, NY on the banks of the beautiful Mohawk River in the summertime where it serves as my office. Winter travel to Florida typically has started with a road trip in the fall and ends with a trip home via a different route at Easter. We fly back and forth a few times during the winter; as we both still have work related responsibilities and like to take at least one ski day at Killington or Pico with our grandchildren. Thanks to technology, Joanne can service her clients while on the road; and Wes has morning conference calls with his GE clients. The RV has served as a fully equipped office since April 2005. The recent addition of a little Jeep, nick named "The Dingy" has made our RV trips even more fun. It connects to a tow bar called a Blue Ox, and trails right along behind us. One caution we observe is "don't back up!" You can find Joanne McMahon DeVoe and Wes DeVoe on Facebook!



Travel Blog Posts


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April 26th 2012

We got as rural as it gets in nearby Montgomery County cruising the countryside that has become home for many Amish people. Then, we got about as urban as it gets at the Albany Symphony Vanguard Showhouse; this year a set of condos in the heart of New York’s capital city. First the road trip with my sister and other relatives which took us to Fultonville in upstate New York's Town of Glenn in Montgomery County. It's about an hour's drive, westward from Ballston Lake. It's beautiful and rural. The day wasn't picture perfect; but I can just imagine the vistas on a clear day. We did see wildflowers, white and red trillium (commonly named "wake robin") in profusion and many Amish farms, distinct for their outdoor water pumps and that no wires lead to the ... read more



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April 24th 2012

The Hudson River School Artist and one of America's most important painters, Frederick Church, fashioned Olana in the style of a Moorish castle. Church's family home (and studio) is situated high atop a mountain along the Hudson River between Germantown and the City of Hudson, NY. Our visit to Olana was in the late fall of 2011, but things don't change at Olana. In fact, the housewares, art, books, and souveniers from Frederick Church and family's significant voyages abroad are virtually intact - just as they were when they lived there. The property is part of the New York State Park's system. The paintings, sculpture and furnishings Frederic and Isabel Church acquired over the course of their lives was described by a 19th century guest as, "a museum of fine arts rich in bronzes, paintings, sculptures ... read more



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April 23rd 2012

We always enjoy a culinary experience at the Casola Dining Room of Schenectady County Community College. Following the school calendar, an internationally themed, gourmet menu is served each week days. The dining room is open for lunch $16 and dinner $22. Bring your own bottle of wine for a corkage fee of $3. Reservations sell out quickly; they are taken from 10am 2 weeks prior to the desired date by calling 381-1391. Monday was German night and we joined with two other couples to savor this hearty cuisine. SCCC has one of the top culinary departments in the east. For our meal, it was students who checked our coats, showed us to our table, opened the wine (we provided it and a small corkage fee was charged), took our orders, prepped and cooked the food, served ... read more



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April 23rd 2012

La Moda Lisa, one of our favorite Capital Region consignment shops, invited us for a motor coach trip to New York with a Flea Market Theme. The company was great my sister, Zita; my aunt Ellen; and my cousin Patti. The price was amazing $25 for the round trip on a comfy bus with games (I won a prize), movies (The Bridesmaid and The Help), snacks, and a $10 gift certificate for La Moda Lisa. The rainy, windy weather did not deter us and just goes to show "rain or shine...we'll have a good time!" The description of several flea markets and our new find, “Eataly,” a fun foodie market place follow after the "jump." We found a small Artsy Vintage Flea Market in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn near the Skylight One Flea Market (surprising ... read more



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April 21st 2012

The little boys (Jack 8 and Casey 10) are lively and fun to be with. We had a few days with them while their parents were otherwise occupied. Glens Falls is a little more than half way between Rutland, Vermont and Ballston Lake, New York so Chris (their father) met us at Frank's Pizza Shop near the Lake George outlet malls (Routes 9 and 149) to make the exchange. No shopping this day! Instead we headed south on Rt. 9 toward Glens Falls to Fun Spot. Fun Spot is well named. The boys drove mini cars (Wes had to be with Jack as he hasn't yet met the requisite height 54"). They played in a very cool indoor gym and we signed them up for a few rounds of the highlight of the experience - laser ... read more



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March 27th 2012

Duncan’s Family Camp Ground in Lothian, Maryland, proved to be a convenient place to camp while we explored Annapolis. March is still “pre-season” and while Duncan’s is open year round, the campground staff was hustling to get things in shape! Enough said about the campground! We drove through some beautiful farm land, and were at the Anapolis Visitor’s center (free parking in the adjacent garage) in less than 30 minutes. We met up with Squire Harvey, a Bronx transplant of a certain age, who guided us through the interesting narrow streets, chatting smartly about the history and architecture of Annapolis. We ogled the Governor’s Mansion, legislative chambers (each with a Tiffany skylight) in the stately State House, viewed a painting of George Washington resigning his commission, and saw the room where it all happened. Wending our ... read more



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March 8th 2012

Miami's South Beach draws in the rich, famous and trendy AND rowdy college spring breakers. Nightlife abounds, but South Beach is also a historic district, a people-watching haven and a beach-lover's dreiam. We hauled down from Jensen Beach for a day trip with friends. South Beach didn't disappoint. We hopped on a double decker, open air bus for an hour plus tour which took us through the South Beach Art Deco area and parts of Miami. The live narration was well informed about the history and architecture of the area. The story of how the Art Deco hotels were saved by Barbara Capitman and a group of activists is legendary. We walked on Ocean Drive passing through touisty sidewalk cafes loaded with spring breakers to famed Joe's a little too late for lunch; but nibbled great ... read more



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March 8th 2012

A highlight of our trip across Florida from Sarasota on the west coast (Gulf of Mexico) to Jensen Beach on the east coast (Atlantic Ocean) was a sunset sail with three other couples from home on Treasure Coast Sailing Adventures’ Schooner "Lily." We packed some snacks, wine and beer and felt that the $30 booking fee was a bargain as we set sail for a unique experience. The Lily departs from the downtown Stuart Riverwalk Pier. The Lily is a traditional wooden sailing vessel, a schooner rig with a scow hull. According to the brochure she is a double masted sailing barge--a flat bottomed boat with a blunt bow. This ship was actually a working boat; a piece of the north east cargo history! She transported primarily lumber between Martha’s vineyard and Maine. Owners Captain Fred ... read more



Longboat Key & More

Published: February 25th 2012North America » United States » Florida » Sarasota » Longboat Key
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February 23rd 2012

The drive from Lido Key through Longboat Key on the way to Anna Maria Island is beautiful. These are very high end homes, clubs and condo units. Finally, thanks to those touristy maps surrounded by ads, we found not one, not two, but three water-side watering holes. The Dry Dock looked great; but we are saving it for another day. The directional hint for this on is that it is "behind the BP station!" Further along, almost to the Anna Maria Bridge, we headed east on Broadway and slipped right past our destination, signage seems to be a problem on Longboat and "Mar-Vista" is virtually "signless." The nice folks at Moore's Stone Crab (at the bay end of Broadway) were most gracious in directing us to their neighboring competitor. After a brief wait, we were bekoned ... read more



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February 22nd 2012

Sarasota area has quite an Amish population. We've noticed them, men with their distinctive beards and straw hats; women in their simple dresses and headpieces, riding three wheeler bikes around town. The area boasts five "Amish restaurants." Of our choices, Der Dutchman, Dutch Haus, Dutch Oven, and Sugar & Spice; we choose Yoder’s. It's located in an area of town where many Amish and Mennonites reside. While Wes held our place in a considerable line of prospective diners, I explored the "Dutch Village" that the Yoder family has created adjacent to the restaurant. The gift shop disappointed, my expectation -was authentic needle work and hand woven baskets. In hokey reality, the inventory was hokey and cutesy with imported "country" items one can buy anywhere. On our way home, I noticed some quilt and wood working shops ... read more






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