Down by the Sea

I had forgotten to mention one detail of our jaunt through West Virginia. We had a choice at one point of taking the interstate or a winding backroad and Gene opted for the latter, wanting more charm than speed. Well we got it. And when we got most of the way down that road were faced with a one lane tunnel under another road. It was an arch where the vertical clearence at the sides of the arch was 9'9". OOPS! the camper is taller than that, but Gene could not remember if it was just taller in the middle where the ac sticks up or all over AND even if we could squeezze through, it would mean inching and this road was heavily traveled. So once again the discretion over valor deal and so we back tracked and saw that scenic road again.

Yesterday, we went to the coast to see Connecticut's version of beach. There are houses all along the beach, occasionally a public access between two houses, but more often, a private beach for the residents of the subdivision. All along our journey we saw quaint towns with amazingly old houses in varying degree of charming. See the photos posted here. We shopped one antique mall and Gene got a lot of teasing, for he, who distains shopping, was the last one out and the only one who bought something.....a book about flying.

Most of the roads here are twisty turny things that would be about one and a half lane compared to most Georgia streets and trees and mailboxes jut into that space. The people zip along at a good clip, generally towards the middle and then hit the brakes and dive for the side when another car appears. This part is not charming to me.

We stopped at an Orchard store which had a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables and some gourmet foods of other types, like baked goods, pre-cooked entries, and cheese. The abundance of upscale markets is mind boggling. Whatever exotic ingredient you might want would be easily located here.

While we were gone Michael cooked a prime rib and made a salad. Jane roasted the butter and sugar corn we purchased at the market and we had a feast. Jane topped it with zucchini bread, topped with raspberries and doused with a sauce of Grand Marnier, sugar and water. This was truly to die for and the good news is that we have enough to have it again tonight.

Today I accompanied Jane to her exercise class which was what I would imagine Curves must be like as they go around on a circuit from machine to machine, but there is an instructor telling them what to do and how many. I read a book most of the time, but got to meet several of her friends. We had a delightful lunch and are headed off to an upscale and unique grocery named Stew Leonard's. I believe they have a website, google them. Gene wants to buy pistachio nuts out of a barrel there, he says he will buy 100 pounds of them, but I think not! This started four years ago when the four of us did the Adarondacks together. Gene and Roy had a bag of those in the front floorboard and ate them everyday...alas, before the trip was over the nuts ran out and I thought they would expire! Every Christmas since then, a bag of Stew Leonard's pistachios arrives at our house.