Day 13: We awoke to thunderstorms with lightning and buckets of rain, so a perfect day to trudge down to Bar Harbor and stand shivering while waiting for a table at Jeannie's Breakfast....so worth the damp wait! I am now addicted to Boston Baked Beans and eggs, with ham, oatmeal bread, strawberry and rhubarb jam, and buttermilk pancakes with blueberry sauce.....You know, the guy who said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day had it totally right....you don't need to eat for about 8 hours after a "Maine Breakfast." John wouldn't know this since he had a sensible Blueberry pancakes and eggs breakfast. Next time I am sure he will know better. With full tummies to sustain us we went into the wilds of Wayne, Maine to hunt up my ancestors who were ... read more

Hello to our Fellow Travelers, It's so nice to have your comments on the blog and on emails to keep us company. Today was a quieter day, and in Vermont and New Hampshire that is partlly because everything that one would want to take a side trip to see is closed on Sunday. So, we left Bulington to take a turn on Highway 2--a two lane highway from Vermont to Gorham, New Hampshire. We are in a lovely court motel, but upstairs, overlooking Mt. Washington in the White Mountains. John decided that he wanted to stay upstairs before he had been travelling for 11 days and carrying our luggage almost single handedly...my arm does not hurt quite as much, but lets me know if I am using it...at all. We are under cloudy skies and low ... read more

Day 9: Toronto to Montreal, Canada Bon Soir Mes Amies! It was a long grueling day of travelling....8 hours to cross (with stops) from Toronto to our hotel in Montreal. We have only been in Montreal for about 3 hours and we are in love with it! Just to give you an idea of why we love this city, we had to park our car about a block from the hotel (the garage will only accommodate very, very small cars) and were standing on a corner trying to align ourselves with the map that the kind hotel receptionist had given us when a man walked up and asked if he could help. Along with his wife, they got us rearranged and in the right direction to go to a very nice restaurant for dinner. To top ... read more

Day 7: Indiana to Cleveland, Ohio Peace, Joy and Love Brothers and Sisters, We had a groovy afternoon at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and despite a few flashbacks we again survived the 60's. I even noticed a few admiring glances at my faux lizard skin jeans....I choose to think they were admiring, anyway, and not "OMG! did you see what that old bat was wearing?" (By the way, this is Max writing and not John doing a complete fashion statement turnaround.) And yes! we are finally making headway towards the east coast. In fact, leaving Indiana, we are heading to ever more uncharted-except for the GPS- territory. FOODIE ALERT! On the way out of Indiana (which was by the way ever so much prettier than the way going into Indiana) into Ohio, I ... read more

Hello from Niles, Michigan, the home of John's Famous Uncle Tom (actually 1st cousin once removed) and Doris. We travelled here after leaving our posh digs in Chicago on the 16th floor of the Kimpton Palomar Hotel which, by the way, had one of the best whirlpool tubs in the world! A brrrrrrisk walk through Chicago along fashionista Michigan Avenue where one cannot help but feel like a ragamuffin while learning why they call it "The Windy City." Down to the river we go, winding our way (read that lost) and marveling at the architecture. We found ourselves at the Wrigley Building where I almost gave myself whiplash by staring up...fabulous! Everywhere we go, folks are talking about the weird weather: an extremely hot and dry summer followed by this hurricane-like cold and blasts of wind. ... read more