October 20th - On the way home

Having finished all our opportunities in Massachusetts with Mom and Susan, we set out in the morning to return to our little camper in New Jersey.  On the road out, we came across a huge flock of wild turkeys.  We stopped for a few pics.

We stopped again in Stamford, CT for baked goods at Cogs, and breakfast a a different diner.  This diner wasn't very good, but the back window where we sat had a great view of a small, serene lake surrounded by fall foliage with ducks and geese swimming in it.

After that, we drove down near Tarrytown to a walking path built on an old rail line.  We walked a bit a engaged in finding four or five geocaches.  One was up on some rocks that provided a bit of a challenge to get to though it wasn't hidden very well.  Another was in a magnetic key box stuck on the outside of an iron train bridge over a highway. That was all a lot of fun and exercise.

Ever since two years ago, when we first crossed the Tappan Zee bridge, I've wanted to go down to where there is a small park and viewing area.  This time we went there.  They are working on constructing a new bridge alongside of the Tappan Zee in order to replace it.  It was amazing being down by the shore of the Hudson River at it's widest point.

From here, after a full day, we headed home to the Fla-Net Campground.

Early morning confrontation

Benjamin Franklin's nominee for the National Bird.

Like the twilight in the road up ahead

They don't see just where we're goin'

All the secrets in the universe whisper in our ears

All the years come and go, take us up, always up

We may never pass this way again

Nest. Hawk or Eagle?

Wonderful old train bridge

Tarrytown, NY

Viewing park at Tappan Zee on the Hudson River

Tappan Zee Bridge wit the new NY Bridge being constructed to it's north

"Boo!!"

Natural Beauty

GEOCACHING
The caches we found were a lot of fun.  Some up on rocks, some hidden in rocks, in trees, and on the train bridge.

"Found it!"

"Piece of cake"

Cache in upper corner of the bridge could only be seen from the road below

Signing the log

Putting it back.

Return to Mass. Stamford, Stafford Springs and monkeys riding horses

There was to be a family gathering in Worchester.  So we had to return to the area after working a few days.  We left early in the morning and drove up.  On the way, that fact we hadn't had breakfast caught up with us and Laurie picked a random exit to take in search of eggs and potatoes.

We found a small diner to have breakfast, We had driven past it looking for a second choice, and had to turn around in a parking lot across the street to get back.  A fiberglass cat statue caught her eye.  Always a sucker for a cute picture, we pulled over and got out.  The Cat was dress up as a 50s beatnik.  We took pictures and were overcome by the smell of fresh baked bread.

We located to culprit, a small store in the strip mall called Cobs.  An Australian chain, we went inside and bought some great scones and samples of their breads. Then we crossed the street and had breakfast.

leaving the restaurant, we realized there were more statues across the street and took the opportunity to take a few more pictures.

On our way,we passed through the town of Stafford Springs with a lovely old church and a fountain in the town center.

Next stop, Worchester, MA.

Beatniks

First frost I've seen this year

Monkeying and horsesing around simultaneously.

Church in Stafford Springs

Downtown Stafford Springs

October 10th Adventure in Massachusetts - Part two Trip to Mystic, CT

We took a trip with Laurie's mom and sister headed to the Mystic seaport museum.  As I have always maintained, it is possible to find some of the coolest things when you are just driving that you might otherwise never have known about.  This is one of them.

Passing through a town in Connecticut, we crossed a bridge.  The bridge is adorned with large thread spools with 11 foot green frogs sitting atop them.  ???  We stopped, I took a few pictures and we continued on.  We also passed through the town on the way home and I got pictures of the town itself.  Windham is actually four different communities linked by the "Thread Crossing" bridge.  The town calls itself Frog City.  I was compelled to research this and find out what this was all about.

In the 1700s, the community here had a thriving economy based on thread mills along the Williamantic River.  One night, in 1754, the residents were awoken to an unidentified clamor outside the town.  Panic ensued.  Some thought it was Judgement day, some thought they were being attacked.  A few said they thought they had heard their names being called during the night.  Men took to the streets with shotguns, but firing into the night did nothing.  In the morning, citizens checking out the area, were surprised to find scores of dead bull frogs.  You see, there was this drought happening and the Williamantic had dried to a small pond.  Bullfrogs had discovered this water, and rushed in.  That night the townsfolk had heard untold armies of bullfrogs fighting over the access.

In 2000, when a previous bridge was to be closed, the city built the new bridge and instilled it with the towns legacy of thread mills and frog invasion.

http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/br-frog.html

Thread City Bridge crossing the Wiliamantic River where it all happened in1754

11 foot frog surveys traffic

Downtown Windham

Art store

sidewalk decor in Windham