Nickerson State Park 2011-9th family camping reunion

If you've read last years blog, you read all about Nickerson State Park. I'm here again with my family for our camping reunion and loving it. the cape is one of those lovable places.

today my niece , nephew and the two kids and I went for a bike trail ride, 11 mile from our campsite to the end. passing through cranberry bogs, Lakes, canopies of scrub oaks, so cool,. It feels so good to live outdoors, camping. I am sure Native Americans looked askance at the early settlers who lived in wooden boxes and swept their floor , spending hours being clean. here we play for most of the day and squeeze some work in. the play can be swimming in the crystal clear ponds, canoeing or kayaking. or it could be going to the National sea shore. I love to go at around 5 pm when the sun looses its strength. I do yoga on the beach, or take long walks. sometimes, i put my face in the water and taste the salty brine.
dear friends,I miss you all. but every summer I must leave Hotlanta and seek out the coolness of New England. I have also decided to seek the warmth of Florida or Latin america this winter when the Georgia temp drips to the low twenties.
So I purchased a 1991 Toyota Dolphin in Rhode Island. It was a huge leap of faith as I know little of truck campers. Mine has a V6 engine, a one ton chasseand only 47K. It has all the amenities of an RV but is only 21.5 feet long. So why did I buy it. cause I love camping out of doors. now that I am semi retired, I can travel somewhere and stay put, living comfortably in the camper. I have looked into being a camp host. One can get free camping and even a monthly salary. I am thinking of Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo
http://www.floridastateparks.org/pennekamp/this winter or Anastasia State Park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia/default.cfm . I feel privileged that I can retire and travel, even buy an RV.
I also met Paula this summer at Nickerson. She was a camp host so I got lots of info about it and will sign up for 3-4 weeks next year as camp host, but only if I can be in Area 4, the best part of the campground.
I know there will come a time when my Mom needs me and I will have to stay put with her but that will also be a privilege and I will alter my nomadic lifestyle.
the photo is part of my family that camped together at Nickerson State Park. the second one is of the Atlantic Ocean at night.

Maine and Jeremy's place

Matt was born in 1973 when Dustin and I lived in Gouldsboro, Me. we were there for 4 years at his place on the Pond rd. It was a camp that he remodeled. it had no electricity then, only well water but it was a place where you had time to think, read, meditate and work hard. I went back and revisited the house this summer. it looked the same really with the addition of some chickens. the new owners have a generator for their electricity. hard to believe but the Federal rural electrification act expired in the sixties so in 2011 this house on a main rd. has none, too expensive to pay for.
I stayed at Jeremy's place. How to describe it. down a long rd, a once elegant hotel on the shores of Frenchmans Bay is now old but still kind of elegant. It was good to see Jeremy again, a friend for 40 years. he is still here, working for the Democrats, keeping up his place, involved in town politics and playing some great Blues guitar. He loved my cooking and I loved being there, like coming home. I also got to visit with two friends from yesteryear.
Highlights were riding my bike around Schoodic Peninsula, kayaking in front of Jeremys, collecting mussels and falling in the mud, and visiting old, dear friends. I will be back
again.
The first photo was taken while bicycling around Schoodic Peninsula and the second is the view in front of Jeremy's place

Visiting Home Tree Domes in Henniker, NH

visiting home tree domes

went to visit John at Home tree domes in Henniker, NH.
http://hometreedomes.com/

the community has an interesting way of securing their food supply. they make a two hour trip weekly to Trader Joes in Boston to dumpster dive. not really as TJ graciously puts the food out in plastic bags which they surreptitiously grab a 1 am and load into their vans. it get sorted out that morning and put into appropriate storage.

the domes have all the creature comforts. half the residents sleep in mobile homes and use the kitchen and bathroom and sitting area in the domes. lovely in the summer. harder in the winter. wish I was more cold tolerant as I would love to visit in the winter and cross country ski

the residents somewhat share a political view of freedom, liberty and justice for all. Many belong to the Free State Project

http://freestateproject.org/

I have wonderful memories of the Yakov family and swimming and boating in the Contoocook River which is very close to the Domes.

looking forward to seeing more of lovely NH.

Why do I camp?

Why do I camp

I am writing from the Dolly Copp campground in the White Mountain National Forest. it is early morning and it is cool and sunny with the early light filtering through the trees. I slept well on my thermarest mattress and am ready to begin my day. I camp so that I can wake up in a place like this to enjoy the sounds and sights of nature, breathe the clean air and smile.
I am thinking of my day. yesterday I did a 4 hour hike towards the peak of Mt Washington. It was a challenge and today I feel fine, no sore knees. Today I may put my kayak into the Androskoggin River and climb more or drive on to Maine. I have no set itinerary, which is the way I like it.
I have been in New England for over a month. I have spent a lot of time with family, camped at Cape Cod, traveled to Henniker NH to visit John and did some great kayaking and swimming in the Concoocook river. then on to Burlington Vermont, the most picturesque city I have seen other than Lunenbu

rg Nova Scotia.
my last stop will be Gouldsboro Maine. I lived there for 5 years in my 20's. Matt, was born there and luckily I still have a friend who lives on the shores of Frenchmans Bay and is willing to put me up as there is no good camping in the area.
I love being out in Nature. It gives me a peaceful, tranquil feeling. I love using my body to bike, hike, swim, boat, walk. I love my lone time but I love being with people and animals as well. I am really thankful I can do this and want to continue till I can't .
Love
Susan

Costa Rica 2010

October is toward the end of the green or rainy season in Costa Rica. My friend, Ed, and I have decided to travel together to CR for 12 days . My goal is to get a good idea of what CR is like as I am thinking of living out of the US for a few months during the winter and I like CR for several reasons. It is warm but also temperate. CR has not military. Money spent on military is spent instead on education and medical care. I like that a lot. I am curious about the Quakers in Monteverde. Not a lot is written about them and I would like a personal glimpse. I have just always wanted to go beyond Mexico and this seems like the right place.

We did not do a whole lot of preparatory stuff. Tried to pack light and have a place to stay the first night, a good guide book, a one excursion trip for a few days to the Caribean.

San Jose we were told was not so great. But we found a fantastic hotel that I would recomend named Hotel Aranjuez. the rooms were nice, cheap and the breakfast was fit for royalty. I will remember these breakfasts till my dying day with pleasure. how nice to sit in a tropical garden and dine on sumptious food and cr delicasies.

we went shopping in san Jose and left our loot in the storage room at Hotel aranjuez. great idea. we also went out tango dancing. fine people and fellow dancers, talked with an expat, danced,wined and dined.
San Jose has no addresses like the rest of cr. How do you find anything. you give the taxi driver the directions like it is 150 meters east of Rococo restaurant and they find it. But if I were to live there it would be in san Jose close to one of the universities as I like to be where there is music and symphonies and dancing. It is easy to take a bus trip to the beach if you want to get away. also, all the medical facilities are in san jose which is important as we age. But CR is not cheap. the price of food is the same as it is in the US. Housing is cheaper. taxis are cheaper. But there are many Latin American countries that are much cheaper and as beautiful, but not as peaceful.
must touch on crime. the Ticos are sweet, kind an considerate. Every Tico that I met was like that. There are criminal elements as there folks who live on the fringes.

We tried to hit four different areas around the country. the caribbean where we cruised on the canals and saw amazing wildlife everywhere, especially the green back turtle babies hatching and walking ino the sea. Arenal where an active volcano and hot springs is a fantastic experience.
Monteverde where the Quakers have a meeting house and school and where a thriving cheese making factory run by quakers and associates supplies all kinds of cheeses and pork sausages to CR and Nicaragua. And lastly the pacific coast where we hiked with monkeys and raccoon like creatures and swum in the beautiful ocean.
yes, CR, I will be back but will go to Ecuador and perhaps Guatamala first.
love
susan

Hanging out at the Shawangunks with John

the Gunks
John,my ex husband lives in NY in a small town called Wallkill which is in the area of the Shawangunk Mountains, which are south of the Catskills. they are a favorite rock climbing destination.

the area is entirely lovely. A lake was a mile away for fabulous swimming and the bike riding was so fine. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

John is having house concerts in his home for folk musicians. They are top notch, fine performers. I had the pleasure of helping him and attending a concert for Magpie. John also provides dinner for his paying guests. It is a labor of love on his part as he looses money but he gets to do something really important like supporting the arts and contributing to his community.

good to see John again. He continues to be an inventor, his latest being converting a small trailer to a bike/ocean Kayak carrier.

It feels good to be friends with my wastband John, I am back again for a visit prior to returning to Atlanta. It is fall, the skies are blue, blue and it is knocked me over beautiful. I went for a swim again yesterday at Lake Tilson and looked up at the gunks and sky and marveled.

I also attended a song circle sponsored by Folk Project. It was held in Patti's home, Johns neighbor who lives in a barn converted into a house with silos and everything. talk about space, how about 1500 feet. But I got to sing my songs with and too other folks, play my guitar and it felt great to do that cause I have never really done it before. So I feel encouraged to keep learning songs and improving my guitar skills. I have done instrumental jamming but this is different as you initiate song.
I also found a welder who fabricated in steel what I needed and could not buy. It allows me to pull a trailer and carry a bike rack simultaneously.

I am leaving soon for atlanta, pulling the Apache behind me. My destination today is Shenandoah National Park where I will camp the night and hike tomorrow, perhaps even camp another day.
love
susan

the last day of a great vacation- to be continued next year

the last day of my 24 day camping experience

I have tried to reenact the month long camping experiences of my youth, when my Mom would camp at Nickerson and my Dad would come on the weekend.  this is my  last day and I thought to write whatever came to mind before returning to my Mom's house in Worcester.  My son, Matt, is there until the 17th so most of the time I will be hanging out there, swimming and boating at the green mountain club pond, cooking and helping out my mom with what needs to be done. 

This morning I spoke with my neighbor, Olga.  She and I have a great deal in common.  We both feel very much at home camping and living outdoors.  We both have well equipped camping kitchens and stay a long time.  she is russian with extended  family and friends and comes on the weekends, although her site is set up all week.  She has just offered me 5 days of camping on site 11 from august 15th to the 20th.  I will decide whether to come back or explore something new.  Let me say that his place is heaven.  on a dead end with a canopy of pine trees,  the most beautiful of lakes and the cleanest air .  It is so nice it is impossible to get a site unless one books 6 months ahead.  that is why I may take Olga up on her offer. 

Here, I go barefoot.  I don't wear glasses unless to read and don't know the time.  I am the healthiest and most physically fit that I have been for a very long time, maybe for 15 years.  I brought lots of materials to play guitar, learn spanish, and have done some of that.  Mostly, I am active biking (Nickerson has 8 miles of bike trails and connects to the Cape rail trail which has 26 miles) swimming.  I also boat a lot.  before I leave today, I will boat and swim.  I do yoga as well, especially when Ame was here to guide  me.  I think I have had the funnest and cheapest vacation.  Nickerson costs just $15.00 per night so it is very affordable and possible.  Add a few friends to split the cost and is super cheap. 

about cooking.  I cook simple stuff and eat well.  our neighbor gave s a cooler of bluefish and we ate that for several meals.  Restaurants are expensive and you have to wait for your food.  and if you are here for a long time, you just do as you do at home.   cooking is liberating.  true, you can't be too fussy. 

The National Seashore is nearby.  If you look at a map of the cape, It makes up most of the cape.  We have been several times to different beaches.  We went to Provincetown at the tip of the Cape and went to the Race Point beach.  the water is cold, but not too cold so you can't take a dip.  And the dunes have such great beauty.  and P town is an experience in itself.  we tried to ride bikes down the main street and that was a trip.

I had originally thought of this trip as mainly being alone.  my family was here for 10 days and friends for another 7 so I have only had about a week of lone time.  I like it both ways.  It is too wonderful not to share and it is also nice to have lone time as I am right now. 

I plan on driving home in late August, towing CliffIda, my Apache tent trailer.  I  decided this recently so she will have a new resting place in my basement.  but hopefully she will not rest for long.  I will outfit her and she will be ready to go.  just add food and clothing, scuba gear, climbing shoes, and away we go. 
hugs to all
Susan