And we're off! Day One, August 29 2013

    
      Up at 5am, as we had a lot to do before departure at 7.  With everything loaded, we drove to Maine Eye Center for an appointment and to pick up new glasses for both of us, and we were set to explore by 10am.  With Brattleboro VT our destination for the first three nights, we took our time getting there on this cool and overcast day.  Driving cross country from Portland into New Hampshire, we headed south to Laconia and Lake Winnipesaukee.  Passing through Wolfeboro, we spotted this unique Civil War monument, and Becky took the photo as we turned to the north.
     It was fun following the meandering local highways, and the beautiful lakes that seem to be ubiquitous throughout the area.  Though we experienced light rain on and off during the drive, it did not detract from the beauty of the scenery.
      Jim enjoyed reminiscing about his only previous trip to Lake Winnipesaukee, when he was six or seven years old and they visited with Hoboken friends whose relatives had a cottage and dock there.  One of the great benefits of RV travel is the ability to stop anywhere for lunch or walking the dogs, and we took full advantage.  Lunch was enjoyed at an overlook on the western side of the Lake, and the vista looks unchanged from 60 years ago!

Our next adventure took place to the west.  Lake Winnipesaukee connects to Lake Wynnisquam, and Becky's great-grandparents used to vacation at a cottage called "Ouimet" near Laconia.  She had visited it once in 1998 or so with her mother, so we went exploring every shore route we could locate trying to find it again.  After about an hour and a half we ran out of paved roads, so gave it up for this trip and headed off to our night in Brattleboro.
     We arrived at the KOA North Brattleboro about 5pm, and were glad to find a relative small campground (47 total spots), friendly people, and quiet!  Large spaces with lots of trees, and no major road nearby.  The dogs were thrilled to be done driving for the day, as we had traveled some 280 miles and had left 10 hours earlier.
     Becky's poison ivy was driving her nuts, and we were both exhausted.  We vegged out for the rest of the evening!