New York to Connecticut to Massachusets to New Hampshire to Maine in TWO DAYS

We left Long Island (and our beautiful Brynnie) at 9 AM. Bob refused to follow the bitch (not me, our GPS lady), who at every turn insisted on sending us on the Long Island Expressway (aka the Long island distressway, the longest parking lot in the US, and the expressway that took the life of Harry Chapin). Bob got us through and across the bridges and over the waterways, without us hitting too much traffic (or New Jersey). Instead, we drove through the beautiful state of Connecticut. I was not aware of the beauty nor the waterways (rivers and ocean) in the great state of Connecticut. We passed through some beautiful little towns and during our excursions on secondary roads, we passed by some very beautiful (and expensive--million-dollar) New England homes.
On our way, remember that Bob was driving, Bob saw an Osprey nest (with babies) on top of a telephone pole.This was one of the many pullovers Bob wanted to make that we couldn't because some car or truck or a bunch of cars and trucks were up our butts!
So, our destination was Mystic Seaport, a village of replica buildings from a whaling village, on Long Island Sound. It was quite picturesque, even though it was a bit gloomy (see picture above) and drizzling. The first thing we did was drop a lot of money in the maritime gift shop (books, house goods, and a pair of pirate pajamas for our beautiful Ana). Then we went into Mystic Seaport, where they were also, coincidentally, restoring the Charles W. Morgan, a whaling ship built in the 1800's. I say coincidentally, because the Charles W. Morgan was the very ship that Bob is building a wooden replica of and we happened to bring it with us to Maine.

 This is the shipyyard. There were many educational exhibits which told about the shipbuilding industry and how wooden ships were built. I was fascinated (no snickering--I really was).

This is a replica of the Charles W. Morgan, built in 1840 in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
And below is our happy Bob, coming up from the below  (lower deck).

 Another view of the coveted homes.

 One of the buildings in Mystic Seaport.

 Across the Long Island Sound--look at those homes. I want one of those.

Mystic Seaport village.

Then we drove through Massachusetts, some secondary roads and some primary roads. It was lovely. We finally landed in northern Massachusetts and bedded down in a Comfort Inn in Marlborough, Massachusetts. We ate dinner at a mall near the hotel, and I, of course, bought a pair of cute crocs (for 20 dollars)

Today, we left at 8:30 AM and headed for the coastal tip of New Hampshire. I never knew there were so many miles of beach in New Hampshire. The state beaches are beautiful and well-maintained. The beach towns have stores for surfers, oenophiles, coffee drinkers, ice cream eaters, hot dog to steak, lobster, and clam lovers. Very quaint and a little bit of the gaudy, but well-maintained.
The beaches are beautiful and we passed one after another on highway 1. Along with that, the stunning houses we passed flabbergasted us and caused even more pullovers for pictures and gawking.

 one of New Hampshire's state beaches

 Anyone who knows seagulls knows how ironic the above picture is (enlarge it so you can see the sign on the trash container below the seagull).

 This shows the state beach with the gorgeous houses across the street.

More beach houses across the street from one of New Hampshire's state beaches.

 a "typical" home

another "typical" home

Those of you who know me, know my affinity for MGs and Austin Healey Sprites. Lo and behold, we round one of the corners on a twisty turny road in New Hampshire and look what I find (and I could've paid for two of these on the spot).

 I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

We drove mostly back roads today because there was just so much to see (Rte. 9 and Rte. 1). We went through New Hampshire and made a stop at Portsmouth (the Main St. pics above) for some coffee and gawking. It is a beautiful New England town with old buildings, brick and wood, and very few chain stores. Here is only some of what we saw (this was before getting a parking ticket for $10 because we were at a 15-minute meter and we didn't know that we couldn't pay for a second 15 minutes).

We were finally in Maine--Kittery to be exact. We took Route 9 and 1 mostly and went through Saco, Wells, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport--stopping at outlets in Kittery (where there was a buy one get one half off sale--so Bob and I bought a pair of Sketchers). I also went into a Crate and Barrel outlet and wished we had brought a huge trailer with us. The prices were great.
Onward through back streets (because of some detours) past gorgeous homes (MANY for sale--something I think Maine folks do during summers, when the weather is at its best and the dumb tourists come through town--although it could be the high cost of oil heat).

This is York Beach, Maine

This is a house with a little studio right on the stream running through the property

Here was part of what we saw during a hike through the Rachel Carson Refuge, where we saw a turkey, a chipmunk, swimming (not begging) Canadian geese, a swallowtail butterfly and LOTS of poison ivy. I was bitten only 5 times by mosquitos. It was a beautiful refuge named after a conservation pioneer.

See the turkey (again, first spotted by eagle-eye Bob).

A wrong turn in Maine netted us this view (but no chowder).

Tonight, we are in Scarborough, ME. We went to a dinner at a place called Anjon's and I wish I had taken pictures. Who would've thought that we could get as delicious an Italian dinner in Maine as we can get in New York? I had a veal dish with mushrooms, scallions, fontina cheese in a lemony sauce with angel hair pasta; Bob had veal saltimboca with angel hair pasta. We had stuffed bread for an appetizer (we hadn't eaten all day) and for dessert I had creme brule which was wonderful and Bob had spumoni with Claret sauce. Ooh la la! I mean, Mama Mia. Now, I must sleep for we will get up early and spend some time in Portland, Maine. One more night in a motel and we will then be at our summer home on Rays Point Road, on the water outside of Milbridge, Maine.
Sweet dreams from Scarsborough, Maine!

Comfort Inn, Scarborough Maine.