5-6 November 2011 – Saturday and Sunday

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Ray Boas

Hard to believe this trip is nearing to an end.  On Saturday the 5th following the 9:30 Mass I walked around the newest part of the city.  The city has developed surrounding the grounds and buildings of the Sanctuary and is modern having been mainly built in the last 20 years.  The religious shops have some of the most beautiful items I have seen, and Cathy would have enjoyed them so much.  The main season here is 13 May to 13 October, but crowds do arrive for a weekend vacation retreat, and it was nice to see so many here.

Monastery of Batalha

Following lunch most of us hopped on a small bus (with windows intact) for an optional tour Corinne arranged to Batalha, Alcobaca, and Nazare (a seaside resort town).  It was nice to get out into the countryside.  The Monastery of  Batalha was begun two years after the Battle of Aljubarrota on 14 August 1385.  The victor of the battle, who was to become King Dom John I, vowed to the Virgin Mary that he would build a monastery in her honor should he win the war. Back on the bus for a short ride to the Monastery Church of Alcobaca with origins

Looking into a Cloister at the Alcobaca Monestery

to 1151.  This monastery too has its origins to a vow made to the Virgin Mary by the first King of Portugal during his conquest of Santarem from the Moors.  He also hoped to gain Papal recognition to aid the consolidation and independence of Portugal

At one time 900 monks lived and worked here.  The church itself is open to the public, but I also paid to tour the inner cloisters, dormitory, various rooms and the “great” kitchen.  A massive chimney supported by early cast iron pillars dominated the center of the kitchen, and along one wall were massive sinks fed by a stream for food preparation.  Looking up the chimney was spectacular, so much that I forgot to take photos, but the images are impressed in my mind.  .  From what I quickly saw of the town it is worthy of a future visit.

We then headed over to the seaside resort town of Nazare.  We first went to the old town, Sitio, which is more than 300 feet above sea level looking down to the town and Atlantic Ocean.  A popular legend has a knight, Dom Faus Roupinho, in 1182 chasing a deer on horseback to the edge of the cliff.  The deer fell to its death, but knowing that a sacred stature of Mary was in a small cave nearby he invoked Our Lady’s protection and was saved.  A chapel was built over the cave, and in 1377 the king ordered a church to be built.  I visited the cliffs, and the little chapel and the church.  In the church I bought a wonderful hand painted folk art plaque for 5 Euros of the chapel which will fit in nicely with a religious grouping I have on a wall on my porch at home.  The sun was starting to set, and we got back on the bus (still with all its windows) and headed down to seaside for shopping.   As you know, nothing is sadder than an empty resort (well maybe a religious shrine without throngs of pilgrims).  I went out on the empty beach to follow the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean, and when I head back I notice a funicular railway going from the town up to the Sitio.  I had to walk over to see the station which had been modernized with a new car, but there was not enough time for me to traverse up and back.  I continued walking the small quiet streets past empty or closed restaurants.  A shop with sports car caps (remember I bought one in England a year ago, and in Ireland in May) was on the corner, I went in and explored the styles and purchased a great cap with ear flaps that come down (my first of this type) to wear in colder weather in “Black Beauty.”  A new collection? I now have three such caps.

Looking down from Sitio (old town on the cliff) to Nazare

Sunday was a slower paced day with Mass, breakfast, and then I walked around and purchased a nice book on Fatima and the locales we visited on Saturday.  At lunch Corinne told me she talked with a fellow in town about a car rental for me, and also about renting a van for 8 to tour us to some local caves and then to the medieval village of Obidos.  I went to discuss more with him after lunch, the price went up again, and he said to check back later.  I browsed around town and visited the interesting Museu de Arte Sacra E. Ethnologia with fascinating religious artifacts.  My next stop was back to the fellow trying to arrange the van, and the price had gone up again.  I said to email me once he figured things out.  Most of us then went to the Vespers service in the Basilica, and on the way back to the Casa I told Corinne that the price was creeping up.  We agreed to forget the idea, and the fellow really was trying to be accommodating, but was out of his league.  But then she remembered in past years getting a van through the Casa.  A phone call made, and the price for 8 is now 130 Euros instead of the 240 Euros and climbing rate.  We booked the van and driver.  So hopefully the van will arrive, and on my last full day eight of us will have an interesting tour that I can report to you on my “final full day, and trip home” which may get posted when I get home (or maybe from the Azores).  Have to wait because remember the adventure David and family and I had getting home from Italy?  So, bye for now, as always, RAY

 

Sun setting over the Atlantic

 

Posted in 2011-e - Fatima - (Nov) | 4 Comments

Fatima, Portugal Continued – 3-4 November 2011

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Ray Boas

The Basilica - Feels as if you are in St. Peter's Square, but on a smaller scale.

Where to begin?  For a peaceful, contemplative trip there is still so much to share, or at least write down because, as I have mentioned, to do so is to “live it twice.”

I don’t know how much of the history and background of Fatima to write about, so I will give a basic idea (and then some links) so you will have an understanding of what I am seeing and appreciating.  (here is a great link that I just found that details it all simply) In the Spring and Autumn of 1916 the Angel of Peace appeared to three little Shepherds, and in the Summer the Angel of Portugal spoke to them.  This was preliminary to their first visit at the Cova da Iria by Mary on May 13, 1917, at which time she told them she would appear on the 13th at Noon for the next five months.  Mary revealed to the eldest, Lucia, the “three secrets of Fatima” which foretold major events to come during the 20thcentury including: the end of World War I, the beginning of World War II, and the assassination attempt on a Pope, and later the Consecration of Russia leading to the end of the Cold War, the Russians leaving Poland and the tearing

Our Lady of Fatima on the Altar in the Basilica

down of the Berlin Wall.  This is almost 50 years of history in a few lines, so please read more.  In history there have been many Apparitions and Miracles, but what I find fascinating with Our Lady appearing in Fatima in 1917 is that it is within our recent history and memory with photographs of the Pilgrims experiencing the dancing of the Sun on October 13, 1917, eyewitness accounts in newspapers and books, and future events occurring as told by Mary to Lucia and the children.

At 9:30 we had Mass at the Capelinha, the enclosure at the site of the Apparitions of Mary.  Then we toured the Basilica seeing the tombs of Francisco and Jacinta and now that of Lucia.  I forgot to mention yesterday that the city is recently build, mainly in the past 20 years, and construction continues of hotels in anticipation of the 100th anniversary in 2017.  But with the downturn of the economy there are vacancies and unfinished projects everywhere.  Corinne said she has never seen so few people here.  Then we went to a little known spot, a picture museum in the basement of a home in a residential area run by a religious order.  Here is the whole Fatima experience documented in photographs up to the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta in 2000 with Lucia in attendance at age 93.  I purchased four books for just over 8 Euros. 

Corinne explaining the images in the Photo Museum

Following lunch we saw a film about the lives of the children and their experiences, afterwards I walked to the village of Aljustrel to see the homes of the seers.  Beautifully restored in 2000, built in 1888, is the home of Jacinta and Francisco who were born there,

This year I have shown you views from my windows in Ireland, Italy, Canada, and now here is the view of the Basilica from my window.

and Francisco died there from the Flu Influenza of 1918.  Nearby is cousin Lucia’s home built in 1885 and restored in 1987.  Part of the experience is seeing where and how these simple peasant children lived.  Back for dinner at 7:30 – Cod, second night in a row with fish.

Friday – November 4th — We had an appointment for an English tour of the exhibition, “Fatima Light and Peace” at the museum of the Sanctuary of Fatima.  Shown here are 1,000s of items offered from around the world to Our Lady of Fatima, all of great beautify and many of significant historical, artistic and monetary value (move over Fort Knox).  I think the highpoint is the crown used to adorn the Stature of Our Lady of the 13th of each month from May to October.  It was offered on the October 13, 1942.  In 2000, at the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta, Pope John Paul II took the attempted assassins bullet that almost killed him on May 13, 1981, and placed it into a hole that had been left inside the crown when made.  It fit perfectly!  Do you believe yet?  Following Mass many of us went to a new museum , Vida de Cristo (the Life of Christ).  I am not a wax museum person, but found this exhibit wonderfully done and of special help to me is the guide booklet we were given. It details the 33 scenes shown with narrative text in combination with the related Gospel.  I will admit I am not as familiar with Bible stories as I should be, however, this booklet is extremely well done, and I will have to share it.  I took pictures of the scenes and will sometime have to develop a page narrating them.

 

After lunch we all headed back to Aljustrel along the original old path through olive groves, and along the path are the stations of the cross.  In the fields are two important places which I did not visit yesterday.  We saw Valinhos, where Mary appeared to the children on 19 August 1917 because they had been imprisoned on the 13th by the local Administrator who hoped to get the secrets from them, or get them to admit to lying.  Further along is Loca do Cabeco where the Angel of Peace appeared in 1916, and on the third apparition there gave them communion. 

The Angel Giving Communion to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta

We then headed on to the village, but with most folks tired of walking, they headed back

Parish Church of Fatima

tothe hotel, but I along with a couple others continued on foot to the original parish Church of Fatima where the three children were all baptized.  Across the street the cemetery was an amazing sight to see with all the unique graves decorated with live flowers following All Souls Day. 

 A 40 minute walk back to town, and that was the end of the day before dinner.  Yes, fi sh again – third night in a row – Wreckfish.  Scary sounding isn’t it?  Well I googled Wreckfish, and my findings did not engender enthusiasm, BUT, if you ever see it on a menu, go for it.  Like a salmon steak, and it was good.

I brought only three books with me to read this trip, I am getting smarter.  However, I think I will stop carrying books because I spend my time (and get so much enjoyment from) revisiting my day and thoughts putting them down here.  Part of the process is reading what I bought and also researching on line to learn more (and find some links for you).  My “blog” posts take hours to do, but I love it.  Thanks for bearing with me, yours, RAY

Posted in 2011-e - Fatima - (Nov) | 5 Comments

Fatima, Portugal — 1-2 November 2011

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Ray Boas

It has been a fast three weeks since I got back from the Rideau Canal in Canada, and I was so busy in town I never really told you I was going again.  So, here I am, “live from Fatima, Portugal.”  Hopefully I can post this story later.  There is WI-FI in the public areas, secured, and I asked the desk manager for the password shortly after we arrived close to 4 PM, and she said, “I will give it to you at dinner,” which is at 7:30.  Confused, but I waited and at 7:20 I asked for it, and she again said, “at dinner.”  Then at dinner she disappeared and I could not find her.  About 8 she brought our passports back (overseas hotels usually check them when you register), and then I asked again. “Didn’t I give you your passport?”, she replied.  I finally realized she thought I said passport, and now she gave me the password.  Logged in, and it appears their modem is not working.  Well, just found a nearby hotel with access using my I Pod Touch, so will finish what I can do here, and meander out with laptop to post. 

Did not get through last night, but posting now on Thursday since the hotel got fixed and I am in touch with the world.

Monday October 31st I had no book business so I was able to start my packing check off list early and consider every item carefully. With this year’s travel experience I can now easily pack for up to 10 days in my carry-on and still have room for my laptop, but I am still carrying it separately and easily in a soft briefcase from Cathy’s LOTUS days.  On Tuesday, November 1st, I slowly double checked everything again and headed out of town at noon heading for David’s.  He lives close to Logan so my car has lived in his drive often recently when he takes me to the airport.  I arrived at 4, and to my pleasant surprise number two son, Gary, was at David’s.  Gary has a conference there later in the week, but had no power at home so headed early to David’s on Sunday.  We had a nice visit catching up on his recent doings and changes before Mari and Alex arrived and then David got home.

Awhile after dinner Gary took me to the airport.  I arrived at 9 for my 11:15 PM flight.  Once checking in I joined up with the group I am with.  I saw this pilgrimage in our church bulletin run by Corinne who has run religious pilgrimages for decades, and Cathy and I really enjoyed her bus trips to Canada (yes, we actually were surprised that we enjoyed a bus journeys).  Flight was uneventful with an hour plus stop-over in the Azores, and we arrived in Lisbon at Noon, and by 1 PM were aboard a beautiful new bus, complete with fresh rug and leather smell, for the about 1 ½ hour trip to Fatima.  I point out “beautiful new bus” for a reason.

 

Inside the Church of the Holy Miracle - Gold door at the top opens during Mass to show the host relic.

Half way we made a stop at Santarem for Mass at a 13th century church celebrating a double miracle with a relic that could be venerated.  From memory, the story goes something like this.    A woman, distraught over her unfaithful husband asked the town’s witch how to end the problem with sorcery.  The sorceress told her to bring her a consecrated host.  At Mass the woman feigned eating the host, wrapped it in cloth and headed to the sorceress.  On the way the host began to bleed profusely.  Scared she went home instead, hid it in a dresser, and later than night as the chest began to glow brightly she and her husband prayed, and their marriage saved.  The host in the cloth was then placed in the Church of St. Stephen (now the Church of the Holy Miracle).  Years later, miraculously, the bloody host became encased in a crystal and the cloth reappeared in a glass container.  Today the encased host is in a monstrance high above the altar and pilgrims can

The Blood Stained Host Relic - How can you not have Faith?

climb stairs up behind the altar into a small museum, and then up a tight narrow flight of stairs to venerate the relic, albeit through a sheet of plexiglass.  This was a very special treat and meaningful beginning.

Back on the bus to Fatima arriving a short time later into the city that has built up around the Cove da Iria.    The bus begins to pull into our hotel between ornate stone pillars, and Ray says to himself, “his angle of attack does not look good.”  But for a moment the bus was going to clear by inches, but then the slope of the drive tilted angling the top of the bus toward the pillar.  Not having even the time to yell out STOP, I threw myself across my seat towards the aisle covering my head and eyes with my hands as the pillar entered the window at my seat.  In case you are wondering, double pane glass on “beautiful new busses” does not splinter like window glass

Glass on my seat fell from my back when I got back up.

– it breaks into millions of tiny fragments that get into your shoes, sport coat, hair, brief case, etc.  But no harm done to me, but in trying to correct his error the driver wiped out another window.  I hope he still has a job, because he was concerned if I was alright.

Check in easy, rooms very nice, and I unpacked, put things away, and showered and shaved. Before dinner we took a walk a few blocks and around the corner and Corinne showed us the Basilica and other points of interest.  I expected an open field and pasture just as it was when the children tended their sheep there when Mary appeared. The surprising thing to me is that the area (of course) is all built up and no longer a pasture where Mary appeared, but the spot is marked with a stature of her, and surrounding that is an open chapel where we will have Mass in the morning.  Corinne is a wealth of knowledge about the history both past and present of Fatima (and religious sites and world religion) including 2000 when she was here with the Pope and Lucia when before a crowd of a millions her cousins were Beatified.

Well it is now Thursday evening here, and even though I have had another full and fascinating day I want to post this (hopefully when I go downstairs the WI-FI is still working) I really want to relate to you the importance of Fatima and what I am seeing, so maybe I will combine the next two days.  Thanks for reading along so far.  As always, yours, RAY

My Seat On the Left - Not a good day for the bus driver !

Posted in 2011-e - Fatima - (Nov) | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Random Thoughts and THE RED LION INN – 19 and 20 October 2011

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Ray Boas

I have missed the opportunity to write since my last shunpiking post, so I have been jotting down thoughts to share, but now I am also “on the road” and have that to share.  So this post is not only “miscellaneous musings”, but also “day (or maybe two) trips.”

Currently I am sitting in my favorite spot by the fire in the lobby of The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.  This seat has been a significant part of my life for the past 15 years, a tradition first started with Cathy on Valentine’s Day in 1996.  From this seat I could hear her coming down the stairs before seeing her all “decked out” for dinner or breakfast.

From my spot – note the staircase always in my view.

I have also held down this Victorian sofa for a number of hours while she shopped, and I have read many a book here and watched people come and go in the lobby.  But before I get to this week’s sojourn let me share my disjointed rambling thoughts of the past week.

Actually business has been so far off I look forward to writing – remember “to write about something is to live it twice.”  And I have many writing projects in mind (have for years) besides my annual “keepsake booklet” that I prepare for our guests attending A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  I don’t know if you have ever seen Dove chocolates that come individually wrapped with a saying or quotation inside.  The first one I opened after losing Cathy said, “It is alright to do nothing!” – powerful.  This past week I found two more powerhouses that I want to share:  “The more you praise and celebrate life, the more there is in life to celebrate;” and, “Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Recently I have been involved with several projects.  Something I had thought about for years the Kaspers and I talked about in the spring.  We started meeting in September to discuss the idea, and in keeping with a plaque I have had on my desk for decades, “The best way to get something done is to begin,”  the first issue of THE WALPOLE CLARION was published the beginning of this month.  For a long time there had been no single source of information of what was going on in town, no place for all organizations to tell what is coming up.  A central feature is a 6 week calendar which as a centerfold has been designed to easily be hung on your icebox.  The response has been very favorable, and my work on this worthwhile endeavor will help keep me occupied.

The response last weekend was also great for our Haunted Corn Maze, that as a member of The Walpole Players I am involved with.  In fact, I occupied all last week building a 10 foot square witch’s house, and with Bill P’s help built a great coffin – well you need one in a haunted cemetery, and one never knows what may be inside.  The corn maze is Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but Friday it poured.  So, what to do said Ray, “I know it is dinner at Rowell’s Inn.”  Here is what I posted on their Facebook page.

It is now Thursday afternoon, and I am back enjoying the front porch of The Red Lion Inn, and back to writing.

A trip to the inn was “on my list” to try to squeeze into October, hopefully in Black Beauty.  Today would have been the perfect day to cruise here in her, but yesterday was beastly rain plus I needed the van to pick up 25 cartons of books from the widow of one of our favorite Connecticut customers. She had been asking me to get George’s books, and I had been dragging my feet to make the 3 hour trip, but we finally planned on yesterday and my thought was to return home spending two nights in Stockbridge.  Carol lost her husband in a similar circumstance as I lost Cathy.  Although dating in high school, they recently had reconnected and had been married only 3 ½ months.  When “googling” to reconfirm directions to her home her Facebook page popped up.  She had listed her Dad and brother’s names. WOW my Dad was good friends with her Dad, both antique car buffs, and I remember playing with her brother at car events 5 decades ago.  I emailed her what I found.  When I arrived we shared the similarities of our loses, remembered some car events and chatted away for over 3 hours.  Just one more “small world” story.  I got on the road at 3:30 with George’s books loaded up and headed back roads through New Preston past my old shop, around Lake Waramaug over to US Route 7.  I have not travelled from New Preston to Canaan, Ct. on the Massachusetts border in the nine years since we moved.  If you have not heard it before, US Route 7 is my favorite road, and the absolute best part which I have loved since I first discovered it in 1962 is the stretch from Cornwall Bridge to West Cornwall along the Housatonic River.  I hate change, and this stretch of road has not changed.  In fact, very little has changed on Route 7 from Kent, CT to Sheffield, Mass, and even from Sheffield through Great Barrington into Stockbridge I can probably point out the few salient changes of the last 4 plus decades.  Just to give you a flavor of what I mean, visit my Somethings Never Change page on my website.  Yes I need to update it and anxiously await being able to park Black Beauty in the same spot.  Guess it will now be 2012 before that happens, but it will.

I arrived at The Red Lion Inn at 5:30 Wednesday, got settled, dressed for dinner and

Don’t tell Simon he is not “in charge” of The Red Lion Inn

staked out my favorite spot in front of the fire.  A relaxing evening, nothing planned, but did decide that I would take a short drive today Thursday.  Following breakfast and spending more time in the lobby I headed out shortly before 11AM to head up NY Route 22 to US20 to visit the various Lebanon areas and down NY 66 to the Chatham towns and villages.  These are great TR3A roads with fantastic vistas, and immaculate farms, estates and rolling countryside. The main town of Chatham is a delight, and I highly recommend a sojourn through this countryside.

Dan’s Diner — Road Trip, Scott, meet you there!!!

I travelled back to NY 22 via NY 203 passing Dan’s Diner in Spencertown. If I had not still been full from last night’s dinner and breakfast this morning I would have warmed a stool – next time!

My plan today was to get to the National Shrine of the Devine Mercy for Mass at 2PM.  Usually I plan my trips to Stockbridge to attend Mass and then go down the hill to check into the Inn, but since I was still travelling yesterday I wanted to go today to continue this part of my tradition in visiting here.  Cathy and I had often visited the shrine, but never at the right time to attend Mass.

Inside the Shrine

View from my rocker on the porch. Yes, I heard two “city slickers” argue whether the pumpkin was real or not.

Shortly after 3PM I was on the porch at the Inn typing away and then reading.  When it got chilly I moved back to my spot (guess everyone knows to not sit there when I am here) to continue reading.  Soon two ladies who were at Mass came in and we had a very nice talk (they commented on what I was reading).  By 6:30 I went to my room to change for dinner at 7, and then back to my spot.  I cannot tell you the pleasure I derive from my visits here.

But what was I reading today?  Yesterday when I was visiting with Carol she told me that in George’s journey he was coming closer to God and the idea of death.  He had read Don Piper’s 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, and in gaining comfort from it began giving it to others.  Carol gave me a copy of the shorter version ENCOURAGEMENT FROM 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN.  Once I started, I finished it before dinner.  Carol, I have marked my copy up focusing in on the powerful statements.  Piper was pronounced dead, arrived in Heaven, but returned. His feelings and observations in one statement bring “comfort to those who grieve” and that comfort comes from knowing that your loved one is happy in Heaven.  He had a hard time putting things into words, so I will not even try to paraphrase – just read the book.  ‘Till next time, as always, yours, RAY

Posted in Day (or maybe two) Trips, Miscellaneous Musings, The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, Massachusetts | Tagged , | 3 Comments

7 and 8 October Travelling Home – Posted 12 October 2011

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Ray Boas

On Friday morning, October 7th, we had an interesting lecture by another Parks Canada representative on the archaeology of the First Nation sites in the Thousand Island National Park.  In our lifetime, and actually in about the last 30 years we have gone from using the term Indians to Native Americans and now in Canada, First Nations, although I have seen some reference on this trip to the term First Nations in the US too, I believe it was at Fort Stanwix. The lecture concluded at 11 so it did not make sense to wait for lunch at Noon, but instead get on the road and do some shunpiking.  Many people had planned on leaving without lunch, and had gotten box lunches, and very nicely the clerk at the desk offered to have one made up for me right away.  So off I headed, sadly, around 11:30.

Now I ended up back in typical “Ray mode” running hard on Friday and Saturday, but not in a rush, stopping to see and do what caught my eye. Now, get your maps out. I wanted to shunpike along the St. Lawrence River avoiding the main highway 401, and I meandered over back roads down to Ivy Lea on the 1000 Islands Parkway, Route 2.  This is the way to experience the river because it felt that I was never more than a stones’ throw away from it.  And with the US just a tad further, no wonder the Canadians were concerned about an attack by US militia.  I pulled into the little village of Ivy Lea and saw a 1000 Island River Cruise, parked and went to the ticket office.  The parking lot was just about empty including the space for tour busses.  My timing is usually good, but I had missed a boat by a half hour and the next one was in 1 ½ hours.  No problem, I will go on my next trip to the area.  So East I headed on the parkway getting a great view of the many islands which are in great predominance in this part of the river.  I next saw a sign for Rockport, so went down the little road to that port.  Beautiful Victorian houses, a dock and restaurant, a ticket booth for the Rockport Cruise Line and at least ten tour busses and half of Japan.  I inquired and the next cruise was in a half hour at 1 PM, but I was warned that the ship carrying 200 was almost full.  Thinking a moment I said to myself, “I am here, have the time, and had best experience it.”  So I got my ticket, went back to get my box lunch, and got in line eating my lunch.

It was time to board, and up the gangplank I went with 250 of my new Japanese friends with their 350 cameras all scrambling for a place on the boat for 200.  Having gotten in line early, I managed to get a seat by the window near a public address speaker before I got crunched in.  I did hear some commentary, repeated in about 5 languages, but inaudible due to the drone of chatter around me. The canned tape was timed so the commentary in

The shortest International Bridge in the World. Canada on the left, USA on the right.

the last language ended before you even approached the described site, at least I knew to some degree what I was seeing. Definitely not Road Scholar class, but I can now say I have cruised for an hour among the islands on the St. Lawrence, and have seen Boldt Castle, but this was not the way I want to enjoy things.  Next time I will look for a small boat, or maybe just go to the Boldt Castle from New York. 

Travelling up the shoreline parkway I arrived at Brockville which is a delightful town, clean, well kept and old looking and worthy of another visit.  Soon I came to Fort Wellingtonin Prescott which was built for the War of 1812, but closed for the season – well, next time on an upcoming War of 1812 holiday.  And in a short

Battle of the Windmill - 1838.

distance I arrived at a sign directing me down a dead end to the site of the Battle of the Windmill in 1838.   Here I read the plaques posted, but the windmill (converted to a lighthouse) was closed.  What I read supplemented and cemented what I had heard in the various lectures about this period of Canadian history, but I still need to learn more.

I crossed the Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge back to New York,  and then travelled through NY flat farming land to Colton soon entering the mountains.  There was not much color to the leaves I was either late, early, or as it appears this was a bad weather year effecting the colors.  The first town I encountered, Tupper Lake, is not to “write home about.” The Town of Tupper Lake appears to be a used 1960s town.  Of interest, however, were the Tourist Cabins featuring HEAT IN ROOMS – no HBO or WI-FI yet mentioned on the sign.

Fogarty's B&B - Saranac Lake, NY

I finally arrived at Saranac Lake at 6 pm, where I had a reservation at Fogarty’s B&B, a historic cure cottage built in 1910, overlooking Lake Flower and a short walk around the tip of the lake into town, which I did.  Saranac Lake is my kind of town with basically untouched great late 19th early 20th century architecture. I had diner in town, and after I read my brochures to develop plans for Saturday quickly deciding to come home via Plattsburgh, New York.

Union Depot, Saranac Lake -- Here I go again with my window reflections, or were the tracks inside the station?

Saturday morning breakfast at the B&B was most enjoyable, and I spent two hours visiting

My view from the breakfast table at Jack and Emily Fogarty's home.

with the other 8 vacationers around the breakfast table.  Once I left the B&B, I first stopped at the Union Depot which was built in 1904, but it was closed so I headed over to The Saranac Laboratory founded by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau who came to the area in 1873 seriously ill with tuberculosis. His health improved in the area, and 7 years later he founded the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium to treat those with TB.  His lab was the first ever built in the US exclusively for the study of tuberculosis.  Again my good timing as the museum is only open by appointment.  The director, Amy Catania, who was inside interviewing an older former resident, saw me walk up to the locked door, and came to invite me in.  I enjoyed the interesting exhibits and photographs in the essentially original laboratory.  It was because of Trudeau’s work in the area that Saranac Lake became world renowned as a health cure area, and many people came to be cured, including Robert Louis Stevenson.

Next I went to the Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Cottage which contains the largest collection of RLS memorabilia and personal items.  Always in bad health, Stevenson rented part of this cottage in the winter of 1887 to 1888 to receive help from Dr. Trudeau.  It was in this cottage that the publisher S. S. McClure said he would pay for Stevenson’s longed for journey to the South Seas in exchange for articles of those adventures.

Right in this parlor, S. S. McClure offered to finance Robert Louis Stevenson's trip to the South Seas.

His last years were spent travelling there but his bad health caught up to him, and he died at the age of 44 in 1894 and is buried in Samoa.  This cottage has amazing information and artifacts on display, and most of the original furniture including the bedroom set with cigarette burns in the chest that angered the owner of the house immensely.  The many items owned by RLS are there because the people who started the Stevenson Society of America in 1915 were able to get the treasures almost first hand.  Even if you are not interested in Robert Louis Stevenson, the original cottage is worth a visit.

The most populated area of the Adirondack Park are the three adjoining towns of Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and then Lake Placid.  It is nicely built up from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid and there was sufficient traffic so I could take in all the downtown Lake Placid high-end shops and nice restaurants as I drove by, but I decided not to stop with the crowds to instead return at a less busy time to stroll and take it all in including the Olympics museum. 

Continuing on Route 86 East the next town is Wilmington, and a short distance up a mountain is North Pole, New York.  I only remember a handful of family vacations as a child, we did not take many, but one image in my mind is the frozen North Pole at North Pole, NY.  I pulled into the parking lot and went up to the ticket window.  To the attendant I said, “I remember a frozen pole in the parking lot 50 years ago (alright probably 55 years ago – I age well) where is it?”  She replied, “it has always been inside next to Santa’s

Yes, me with a shorter frozen North Pole !!!

house.”  “Could I run in and ask someone to take my picture next to it, please.”  “Well you would have to buy a ticket for $19.50.”  “I only want to run in for a minute.”  “Go ask at the office to see if they will let you,” and then she continued, “but, if you want to buy a ticket and go to the gift shop inside, and return within 30 minutes I can refund your admission.”  I bought a ticket, found the pole, asked a family there if they would take my picture (telling them why), and was back getting my refund in five minutes.  I must tell you, on this trip I have met nothing but wonderful, polite and helpful people.  So here is RAB at the North Pole, I don’t think a picture of me still exists when the pole was much taller than me (it must have melted some), and for good measure I have included a picture of me at the South Pole.

Yours truly at the South Pole during Operation Deepfreeze '74. I was the fuels officer responsible for all fuels for the US stations in Antarctica.

My final destination was Plattsburgh, NY, which I had never been too.  When I loaded the APP for the War of 1812 from the PBS website I discovered the Battle of Plattsburgh Association Museum there, and that was my destination hopefully before the 3PM closing.  But, remember, if something of interest is along the way I will stop, but nothing popped up and I reached the museum at 2PM.  The new director was more than gracious and she told me I could stay as long as I wanted, in fact a family came in at 3 and she welcomed them, and when I left later a man from Georgia arrived (I saw the plates on his car) and was also welcomed passed “closing time.”  This is the way I always ran my bookshops, and this young lady is to be commended.  This is a great, small museum of the Battle of Plattsburgh Association presenting a history of the War of 1812 in the North and particularly at Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814.   

The museum is on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base which closed in 1995, but the military installation, which has housed the Army and Navy and Air Force, goes back to the War of 1812.  Still extant are many of the 1890s buildings and layout of the Army Post of that time period. Noted military personnel stationed during their careers besides President U. S.  Grant include: Theodore Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur; George Marshall; Leonard Wood; and, Mark Clark just to name a few.  The former base on the bank of Lake Champlain is beautiful and I have been immersed in a book I bought on the history and redevelopment of the base.

I toured different sections of the town, and then had a wonderful wrap for my lunch/dinner shortly before 5PM (if you postpone lunch you can cover more ground) at Livingood’s on Margaret Street recommended by the young lady at the museum (always ask a local for a recommendation – and avoid a chain!!!).  I left at 5:30 for home and was pleasantly surprised that even with the ferry crossing Lake Champlain and a gas stop I made it home in 3 hours.  Great, it will be very easy to get back to the Plattsburgh area, and I cannot wait to do so.

Well, for someone who has nothing to do, I have been so busy once getting home that I have not yet unpacked my suitcase, and I have been working on and off on this blog post for 4 nights.  So, here it is, and thanks for reading, yours, RAY

My timing crossing Lake Champlain was not quite perfect for the sunset looking West. When on the lake you get a great feeling for both the impact of the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains.

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FINISHING UP THE RIDEAU CANAL – 5 and 6 October 2011

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Ray Boas

A even more laid back day today (the 5th) as we boarded the school bus to return to the boat at Chaffey’s Locks where we continued downstream towards Kingston, going through the lock there, then the Davis lock, and finally passing through the four locks at Jones Falls where we are staying and continuing on ending at the bucolic Upper Brewers locks.  The bus met us there and returned the group to the hotel at about 3 PM.  While onboard I simply enjoyed the scenery which in time changed from a more mountainous wooded terrain to flatlands once we left the extension of the Canadian Shield which extends even down to the Adirondacks.  I encountered the Canadian Shield  while crossing Canada on Via Rail’s The Canadian.

Locking Through the Jones Falls Lock - Hotel Kenney in background

Since that time I have been reading about what we saw and about Fort Henry that we will visit in Kingston tomorrow.  I always like to know how things are put together and why things/towns are where they are.  In a Fort Henry booklet I found at an Information Center (I stop at all information centers to collect brochures and booklets) while crossing the border, there is a statement as to why the Fort and Rideau Canal were selected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  And it is this rationale that I love learning about an area as I learn why things are what they are: Geography, Politics, and Technology.  What more needs to be said, think about it. 

So, for two hours I have enjoyed the enclosed Victorian porch, just like home, but overlooking the waterway, reading, studying, and relaxing.  This evening we have a lecture on the War of 1812, the Rebellions in Canada of the late 1830s and 1840s.  I am convinced that this trip will have me expanding my time period of research and the reach of my travels.

Writing continues on Thursday 6 October.  This Road Scholar program has not been a dizzy rush like my tour of Greece and Turkey last year, or some of the paces that I have put you through on my earlier trips this year, but instead for me it has been very educational and introduced me to another period of history that I was deficient in.  What is exceptional about the Road Scholar programs are the guides/instructors that they get.  Our leader is a retired Parks Canada historian who worked for many years on the Rideau Canal.  Our lecturer last evening, also retired from Parks Canada, was also well versed in the history and natural resources of the area, and a captivating speaker and photographer. Today at Fort Henry in Kingston (which is now closed for the season) the director give a wonderful history tour, and then we had a lecture by Brian Osborne who as a retired professor was instrumental in obtaining the UNESCO designation of World Heritage Site to the canal and the Kingston Fortifications.  Top notch individuals and all extremely professional and worthwhile.  So if you ever consider one of the Road Scholar programs, do keep this in mind.

I am so filled with facts that I have a whole new understanding of Canada and our relations with our neighbor.  Before I forget, this coming Monday the 10th there will be a show on PBS on the War of 1812.  Looking at the preview last evening I note that Ken Burns and Florentine Films were involved with its production.  Canada was concerned about the US invading up into the late 1860s.  Remember it was just in 1867 that Canada finally became a country and separate from Britain. Even at the conclusion of our Civil War, Canada was still afraid that with our trained soldiers and “manifest destiny” desires that we would march North and capture these British lands.  The Saint Lawrence River was a natural border, but hard to defend in time of war, thus the Rideau Canal (and really more appropriately termed a Waterway) was a natural solution for a military route to move men and materials to the military strongpoint of Kingston at the junction of the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, and the Cataraqui River that completes the end of the Waterway.

On the porch of the Lockmaster's House - Kingston Mills Lockstation

After Brian’s lecture we boarded the bus and went to the Kingston Mills locks with our box lunches.  It was a perfect day for a picnic and an absolutely gorgeous setting.  The last set of locks before Kingston this four lock station has a combined lift of 45 feet and also served as a military base up to World War I – its location is that important.  Just below another large man-made lake to balance out the slack water route, the canals are cut into the rock with the river off to the side, and crossing over is the main railroad line first built in 1858 if I remember correctly.  A Via Rail train passed over us, and I recalled traveling on this exact track from Montreal to Toronto in August to meet The Canadian train.

 

One of the Locks at Kingston Mills with Railroad overhead

We then went downtown Kingston and had about 45 minutes to walk around on our own.  Back to my travel fast mode in which I enjoyed the architecture and walk along the shore.  I will return to Kingston.  After dinner we finished the War of 1812 DVD, and I have been finishing up the writing of this excursion.  Once I post this I will delve into reading up on my trip to Saranac Lake tomorrow once the program concludes after lunch.  I have lots of ideas of things to do, but also do not know what I will bump into along the way.  And I have three choices picked out for routes and exploration back home from Saranac Lake, so all I can say is, “stay tuned for the returned home post.”  I have so much more I enjoyed and learned, but did not include – probably enough for a dissertation if not a book. Thanks so much for sharing my journeys again.  Yesterday I had 60 page visits, almost topping my busiest day on September 26th of 63. As always, yours, RAY

Good Night Hotel Kenney - 'till next time !!!

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Rideau Canal – Ontario, Canada – 3 and 4 October 2011

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Ray Boas

I do not know where to start and what to share as there is so much. But a plaque has been on my desk for decades that reads, “The Best Way to Get Something Done is to Begin.”  And, remember, “To Write About Something is to Live it Twice.”

Yesterday (October 3rd) we headed east by bus to Smith Falls (one of the major towns on the canal) to tour the canal museum there.  In an old mill building the museum was a simple introduction, but nothing new to me since I had done much preparation into the history and building of the canal. 

Looking up the abandoned combined three locks. Wisely saved when the new lock was built.

There was plenty of time there so I ran out and took a short walk to see the abandoned three combined locks (now a water garden) and the adjoining replacement single automated lock.

What is so fascinating about the Rideau Waterway/Canal is that it is essentially as it was when completed in 1832 – a 175 plus living history working museum which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.  Of the 202 kilometers it covers connecting Ottawa with Kingston on Lake Ontario only 16.2 kilometers were actually cut where necessary to connect the lakes and rivers, usually with locks to circumvent falls and rapids.  The locks go up from Ottawa to Upper Rideau Lake summit (the highest elevation of the waterway) at which point the locks step the waterway back down to Lake Ontario – fascinating.

We then bussed a short distance in town to Park Canada’s maintenance yard for the canal. Our group guide is a retired Park Canada employee who spent maybe 20 years associated with the canal, and she had arranged a visit to the Gate Shop where the gates for the locks are made – a place no one gets to see.  Up until maybe the 1960s gates were still made on site but now are made in this one facility. 

Looking in at the Gate Show showing a set just finished. Never seen sight.

Some great “fast facts” follow.  Originally the gates were made of oak found on site, but now Douglas Pine is used brought in from Oregon or Western Canada.  The gates are still made of wood instead of steel (used in the three new automated gates) to retain the historicalness of the canal. It can take from 3 to 4 months to make a set (all by hand) and they are built with a slight curve to deflect the pressure of the water to the outer edges. Gates made today last 10-12 years, but the oak lasted much longer.  In the 1980s the pine was pressure treated after cut and fitted, and some of those gates are still in service and looking good.  Environmentally pressure treated wood is now a no-no.  When the canal shuts down in the winter the locks are drained and coffer dams installed to keep water, and ice, away from the gates.  Well, I found this all interesting, including the niches cut into the stones for planking to be installed for the coffer dams.  Hard to imagine that everything was engineered so long ago and is still utilized

Pair of gates ready to be installed. Note curvature for deflection of water, and pivot pin at base of gate.

without need for improvement.  One last detail I learned later.  The wood in the gates is deteriorating faster now also because the rings in the wood are larger.  The trees are growing faster and healthier (possibly from specialized tree farming to maximize profits), and since there is less compression within the wood the interior spaces are quicker to rot.  Alright, one additional unrelated “fast fact” – how do you survey in a thick and dense and thus dark virgin forest when you cannot see 10 to 15 paces in front of you?  You survey at night sending your assistance out holding candles to shoot your survey lines to!

Following lunch back at Hotel Kenney we had a tour of the Jones Falls grounds with its four locks, original 1840s blacksmith shop, lockmaster’s blockhouse quarters, and the unique dam which could be the subject of an entire blog.  The layout is ingenious, and the main thing you have to think about in the operation of locks is basically filling and emptying a bathtub.  Our guide for the afternoon was the blacksmith.  Usually I skip blacksmith shops at restored villages, but this young man was especially knowledgeable in all areas of the site, and I was part of a captive audience.  Learned more than ever before about blacksmithing.  Do you know why

Canal Smithy at work

it is always dark in a blacksmith shop?  The smithy has to see the hot metal, and if it was light and sunny inside he could not see his “red hot” work.  Also the layout of the blacksmith shops on the canal is not what you usually see.  No large doors or wide open spaces because no work was done on horses or wagons.  Now, make sure you remember what I tell you for your next cocktail party conversation, you will thank me!  I just could go on and on, but the education I am getting will help when I tour England’s canals on my own rented narrow boat (hint Scott, Betty and Rich !!!)

Today, Tuesday I think, we bussed to Poonamalie Lock just this side of Smith Falls to tour back towards the Hotel, but stopping at Chaffey’s Locks where we will begin the second day of our trip.  We first passed through the Narrows Lock Number 35 where we got off before our boat locked through. The young lockmaster was passionate about his work and shared so much about the various operations as I will show below.  We later transited the Newboro lock before tying up for the day at Chaffeys Lock.  Such fun, and the journey continues tomorrow.

Entering the Narrows Lock. Our boat is the large one on the right. Note walkway on top of lock. Not a problem crossing them - OSHA would never allow in the states!!!

Swing Bridge for the roadway. Something else you don't see. The bridges are so well balanced that the young man gave a slight push on the lever and the bridge started moving by itself. Counter balanced perfectly except for the couple times semi-trucks (not allowed on the road) thought they could cross but caused major damage instead.

 
 
 
 
 
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1 and 2 October 2011 — Back in Canada via Rome, NY

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Ray Boas

Saturday, October 1, 2011, a rainy day all day, and chilly too.  With all the room in the van you would think I would have thrown in a winter coat too.  But it was in the 70s and 80s recently, what was I to think?  At least I knew that it was supposed to be in the 40s and 50s in Canada so I did pack a sweater and windbreaker.

Route 30 was back open across Vermont so I scooted over to Manchester, down the super slap to Bennington, and then over the new super slap (albeit smaller) that bypasses Bennington and gets you right into New York State.  Essentially a two hour drive to the Hudson River this way, deducting the time spent at an antique center.  Walked into the center, and there was a small revolving bookcase at a give-away price.  I have owned, many, many of these but always sold them in my New Jersey shop, never keeping one.  This one I will give a try on the porch back home, and if it does not work off it goes for sale at the Colony Mill at a give-away price still giving me a profit.

I made my two stops that I wanted on Saturday: the Oriskany Battlefield and Fort Stanwix in Rome once I travelled west on the New York Thruway.  I am getting more and more of an appreciation of the Mohawk Valley and river in our early history both as a main transportation route to and from the west, but also as an important pivotal point in the American Revolution and subsequent hostilities between loyalist and colonial settlers and British soldiers and Native Americans supporting both sides.  Not enough space here to get into all that history, but I

Monument on the small Oriskany Battlefield

encourage you to learn more as I will. Colonists on the way to assist colonists who were under siege at Fort Stanwix were ambushed at Oriskany by a few British and a larger number of Native Americans on the British side.  Called the bloodiest battle of the American Revolution, the battlefield is really small where the Colonists in short order caused the enemy to retreat.  In time the British also abandoned the siege on the Fort and their failure there helped lead to the defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga.

Now the reconstructed fort in Rome is fascinating.  It feel in disrepair in the 1780s and in time the City of Rome built up around and then over the fort.  Totally urban, in 1935 FDR declared the site a national monument but it was not until 1970 that urban renewal cleared the area, archaeological digs were begun, and the reconstructed fort was completed in 1978. The park guides were extremely informative, and I do recommend a visit if you are travelling past on I-90.  I really don’t need anything, but I always look at the gift/bookshops at museums.  They had some hand-blown glass candlesticks from the Jamestown National Park, and they caught my eye, and are wrapped up now in the van to join my other treasured candlesticks.

Now, not everyone is a B&Ber, and sadly my step-mother has only had bad B&B experiences, but if you travel with me you are in for B&B treats – and last night was absolutely tops.  I had emailed the one B&B listed in Rome, the owner was going to be gone but she told me to contact her friend Fred who was still awaiting the last stamp of approval before he could “officially open.”   I arrived at The Oak and Ivy B&B on North George Street, knocked at the front door, and was awe struck as I entered.  Fred has spent 3 years restoring this grand home with an early 19thcentury décor, and he has done it well.  It was 5 PM, he had tea ready and shared it with me in one of the sitting rooms. A fascinating man and we had lots of common interests.  He directed me to a fine restaurant on Delta Lake that I would never have found myself, and when I returned I sat in another sitting area outside my room and researched the history

Where I sat last night with my travel literature and laptop.

I had learned that day to reinforce what I saw, and prepared for my journey to Canada.  Cathy would have loved it here.  For the first time ever I took pictures at a B&B and am sharing two of them with you.  I even took pictures of my marble lined bathroom.  Breakfast was unbelievable and Fred even packed me off with some fresh scones.  The total fare for this splendor – $65 – yes, I told him to raise his prices. “But this is a depressed area,” he replied.

Best Breakfast - Best Dining Room - Oak and Ivy B&B, Rome, NY

Today, Sunday I headed off in more rain on back roads to Watertown, NY passing farm land, and small villages.  In Watertown I picked up I-81 to the border crossing on the Thousand Islands Bridge.  Never before have I been in this area, and again I was overwhelmed with the beauty and the vast number of small islands dotted with quaint homes.  Another trip is in now “on the list.”

I travelled down the back roads finally arriving at the Hotel Kenney at Jones Falls.  I entered the lobby, the fire was burning, it is spacious with many sitting areas (I am in front of the fire now, “ala Red Lion Inn) and checked in only to find that I was assigned to one of the out buildings on the water built in the 1970s.  “Isn’t there a room in the inn?” I inquired (no, not what you are thinking).  “Yes, but it is on the third floor, would you like to see it?”  And it is just what I like, old (but clean and tidy), crooked floors, and a view right overlooking the canal locks.  I later walked over to the Chalets – I made the right choice.   

Hotel Kenney from the last lock. My room is the two windows on the top floor just to the left of the chimney - WOW.

Our orientation was at 3:30, there are twenty people here for the program, all couples, and another fellow and myself.  The dining room is lovely, food was plentiful and good, and after dinner we watched part of a video on the War of 1812.  Something extra the group leader brought along, and another subject I know too little about (even though the video is from the Canadian view-point).

The week we will travel almost half of the Rideau Canal, and I am excited.  So, thanks again for bearing with me and “listening.”  Yours, RAY

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DAY OUT – Ray is one of the great “AMERICAN PICKERS”

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Ray Boas

I like to schedule one event for each day to help pass the time so to speak.  Today’s event was to get blood drawn for my annual physical in October.  I am healthy, not to worry, but just plan to stay that way.  It was not a “Black Beauty” day since it was raining and even pouring much of the day, and it would not have been ideal heading up to Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, Vermont in her (as you will read, it was good I had the van).  I planned my fasting to have a good 16 plus hours before getting poked, and for my reward I planned to have an omelet for a late breakfast at the Windsor Diner (in Windsor, VT),

Windsor Diner - Windsor, VT - Worth the Trip

built in 1952 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company in Massachusetts.  I have “dined” there several times, and Scott, Betty and Rich and I enjoyed dinner there in early February after cross-country skiing at Mt. Tom in Woodstock, Vermont at the Marsh Billings Rockefeller Historic National Park. 

After enjoying the diner I headed across the Covered Bridge back to New Hampshire and headed up to Lebanon, NH to do some book scouting.  I have a stop there, found a few books priced allowing me to pay for gas plus, and then I headed to the antique center at Quechee, VT.  Usually not good pickings there, but I am good at what I do, and this time I picked up 5 books that were priced allowing me a fantastic margin.  I will buy $40 books all day long when a “dealer” has priced them at $3 and $5.  Well, those were my two planned stops, but I wanted to see what was left of the Quechee Covered Bridge and Simon Pearce after Irene, so headed up Route 4 a tad.  I planned on seeing both sides of the bridge (sorry I neglected to take a camera along), and first stopped on the far side looking over to Simon Pearce.  I then headed back down Route 4 to pick up the back road to Simon Pearce.

Well, after crossing the Gorge I saw a temporary sign routing you to Simon Peace, I was not familiar with that road.  So I did a “uie” into a parking lot to circle back.  The store there had a big sign, retiring, liquidation sale.  Cathy and I had been in the building before, but I did not recall what they had, but what the heck I have the time (starting to define myself as semi-retired) so I parked and went in.  Big space was essentially empty with some big items around the large room.  I saw some Halloween type noise makers that I knew I could make some travel money on, so set those aside – and then I saw IT. 

Now, I am busy de-accessioning my collections, and have a rule to only buy books or a “real-treasure” if it is smaller than a bread box.  You may recall my post a short time ago about my visit to the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts which is in conjunction with the 32 Degree Scottish Rite Freemasons in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.  One of the exhibition rooms I most enjoyed was called something like “curators favorites” in which members of the staff selected for display some of their favorite and unique items.  I had been enthralled with a rocking goat mounted on eccentric wheels that was used in Masonic initiations wheeling around a hoodwinked inductee.  In the corner of this shop (the owner was bringing in his treasures from home) was an example better than the museums’ – it was pricey!!!  I chatted with him telling him I knew what it was, and he was impressed.  He had bought it years, years ago from a woman who said she had gotten it from the Odd Fellows Home in Brownsville, VT.  He had it priced at what he paid for it even though right after he bought it he could have doubled his money.  Well, Frank and Mike on AMERICAN PICKERS would be proud of me (and I will contact them because this item needs to be seen on their show).  I got my checkbook to pay for my noise makers, and mentioned to the gentleman that I liked the item, but I am busy selling things I bought years ago, and prices are not what they were.  I am selling some things for less than I paid for them, but it is alright since they are paid for.  I said I was intrigued with his item, did not want to insult him, but would not think twice if I paid $GRR, to which he said how about $YRR – less than what he had paid.  I said, let’s split the difference, to which he said  “Yes”, and we shook on it.

My "Billy" The Rocking Goat

He helped me load into the van my circa 1905 De Moulin Bros. (yes I have started the research) Rollicking Mustang Goat.  And, my example far surpasses the quality of the museum piece in Lexington, and is early with real goat horns, real hide and fur, and stirrups that I do not recall seeing in Lexington.  Billy is big!!!  The fun will be to find the right home, and get some more “travel money” in the process.  But I enjoy the hunt, the search, ending up with something I never planned on, learning about it, and then placing it.  Oh, just too much fun, but I will have to wait “playing with Billy” because I really do need to get ready for Canada.

Tonight I talked with a fellow who is just finishing up his 22 room mansion in Rome, NY as a B&B, and I will stay there on my way to my canal program in Canada.  This morning I talked with the owner of a B&B in Saranac Lake, NY where I will stop upon my return.  Both places will be unique experiences, just what I enjoy and like to share, but I will wait until I am there so I can share pictures and details.

Today was another adventure, “Billy” the goat is stabled alongside “Black Beauty” and “Black Beauty” does not know what to think of her new “garage-mate.”

More coming soon, thanks, RAY

"Black Beauty" is overwhelmed with "Billy" the Goat

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MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS – 26 September 2011

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Ray Boas

Update Tuesday 27 September — WOW power of the internet.  I had 63 visits to my posts yesterday with 22 alone (over one third) to this page.  Thank you, as always, RAY

Good afternoon.  This past week has been tough because I missed writing and sharing

RAB and BLACK BEAUTY on the Ticonderoga Ferry, Fall, 2010

here.  Also I have had very little business this past week and had a hard time starting one of my many projects, but I’ve make progress at least with the planning and thinking about those projects.

I have spent some time learning about the Rideau Canal which I will soon be visiting for an informative and educational excursion.  On the way there (staying at an 1877 Hotel in Jones Falls, Ontario, Canada) I plan to stop at Fort Stanwix and the Oriskany Battlefield in the Mohawk Valley.  I first experienced this area when I took an Erie Canal trip in the fall of 2008.  So much to learn in the area I vowed to return, and this will be my first opportunity.  Having become fascinated with the French and Indian Wars and the early part of the American Revolution that was fought in the North, I am looking forward to visiting these two sites.  You may not realize that in the summer of 1777 the British planned a three-pronged attack to cut New England off from the rest of the colonies.  Burgoyne was coming down Lake Champlain (he lost at Saratoga).  General Howe was supposed to advance to Albany to meet Burgoyne, but instead went to engage Washington in Pennsylvania.  Less known was the third part of the plan with an attack coming from Lake Ontario down the Mohawk Valley to Albany.  The Battle at Oriskany was one of the bloodiest of the American Revolution, and Fort Stanwix was the site of a 21 day siege which finally saw the retreat of the British General St. Leger.

Not being sure what route I would travel to get home, I pulled out all my maps and brochures (just ordered another bundle of storage cartons for my growing collection) and kept reviewing them, and all of a sudden the right solution came to me.  Once I leave the program I will continue East along the St. Lawrence River, cross back into the States and work my way through the Northern part of the Adirondacks to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid – two places I have not yet visited.  It should be a pretty drive, and you will get the report.

One of the things I do every day is to look at the number of visits to Shunpiking with Ray, and the referrers and search engine search terms used.  I have now (in just a few months) had over 2,300 visits, and my most visits on one day was 57 on Monday, August 27th following the conclusion of my Via Rail trip across Canada on The Canadian.  My previous highest number of visits followed my return from Italy.  Today, all of a sudden, I have had 32 visits to my pages, again looking at my train trip on The Canadian.  I certainly hope that those visitors enjoyed my pages, and have learned something to help them in their travels.  If you read this far on this page, I would love it if you would leave a comment telling me what you liked, and if my comments helped.  Thanks !!!

I mentioned my projects.  I have started working on this year’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL again reviewing Dickens’ original work to see if there are any small additions or changes to make.  Tara and I talked yesterday and thought of one strong vignette that we can add.  If you have not seen our production – it is truly amazing with 12 unique scene changes in 1 hour and 20 minutes – and a powerful message is delivered as Dickens intended.  Our production benefits local area food shelves.  I also plan to carefully catalogue my Dickens and Christmas history book collection, now numbering about 50 volumes, as I begin work on the 12 page booklet that I have done each year as a history keepsake for all attendees.  And, finally, worrying about my Shunpiking this winter I am working with my collection of titles on the history of roads, and roadside Americana to armchair travel, and hopefully get some articles and books underway.

Well, time I guess to “get serious and back to work.”  Catch you soon, RAY

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