What do you mean? There’s more to the US East Coast than NYC '07 TR? Homeward bound

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


There She Blows!

I’d already indulged the inner Chemistry geek in me earlier in Toronto. Now it was time to indulge the inner Zoology geek in me.

It was definitely time to go seek out some wildlife…..and I was hunting me some blubber!
Afterall, we were in the Bay of Maine, one of the largest spots for whale watching in the world.
I contemplated taking a trip out of Boston and in the end, we ran out of time.


One reason we ended up in Kennebunkport and not Ogunquit was the presence of a boat charter in the port…

…and pricing wasn’t that bad either. From memory, the trip cost us about $35 per adult.


I dosed up on seasickness pills, which I managed to get at the chemist in Kennebunkport.

We headed on out…

….past our resort.

You can figure out where our room was located as we sailed past that pier! We definitely lucked out on our resort and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a place to stay.

It didn’t take long to head out to the sea on the Kennebunk river.

I remember it being freezing and it definitely rained on us….but this was the perfect spot for me (rain or no rain) and my land-locked legs and stomach. I was real glad to have taken those seasick pills that day!

We spent a bit of time trying to find whales and dolphins. In the end, we found 2 humpbacks…and the trip was well worth it!

 

[Snickals]

Am loving reading your updates

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Wow, love the latest update. How wonderful to see those whales and the town looks so quaint and lovely.

 

[franandaj]

What a cool little town! And the lobster dinners sound fantastic! We'll have to add that to our list.

 

[skier_pete]

I was wondering if you'd end up on a whale watch! A very New England thing to do. Smart move on the seasick pills too! Last one my wife and I were on, we got really sick. It's tough when the boat stops and rides the swells, even on a calm day.

My dad and Step-mom go to Olgunquit (I can never spell it right) all the time. They have the most beautiful beach, but the water can be really frigid. For us, if we're going to drive 9 hours to go to a beach, I'll drive 10 and go to Virginia Beach, or I'd rather drive 14 and go to Myrtle Beach. (Or screw it, let's just fly!)

 

[Lulu83]

The view from your hotel room is amazing, wow!

I think it's great that you leave some days unplanned, you always discover things/places you never thought about visiting until you arrive at your destination..

 

[skiingfast]

Sounds like some good eating. If only they had sun there too.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

PIO, you didn't bother with Ottawa on your trip to Canada. Is that because there isn't anything overly exciting to see there? I mean I'm sure there are things to see there, but was there nothing particularly that you needed to see so hence skipped it? Or was it time issues?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Am loving reading your updates

Thanks!
Nice to have the feedback.

Wow, love the latest update. How wonderful to see those whales and the town looks so quaint and lovely.

We loved this holiday....it was just filled with different experiences all round.

What a cool little town! And the lobster dinners sound fantastic! We'll have to add that to our list.

The lobster dinners were fabulous. I would go back tomorrow just to have more.

I was wondering if you'd end up on a whale watch! A very New England thing to do. Smart move on the seasick pills too! Last one my wife and I were on, we got really sick. It's tough when the boat stops and rides the swells, even on a calm day.

My dad and Step-mom go to Olgunquit (I can never spell it right) all the time. They have the most beautiful beach, but the water can be really frigid. For us, if we're going to drive 9 hours to go to a beach, I'll drive 10 and go to Virginia Beach, or I'd rather drive 14 and go to Myrtle Beach. (Or screw it, let's just fly!)

I get seasick just looking at waves. There was no way I was going on that boat without drugs! And there was no way I was NOT going all that way and missing out on one of the biggest whale migration coastlines in the world.

The view from your hotel room is amazing, wow!

I think it's great that you leave some days unplanned, you always discover things/places you never thought about visiting until you arrive at your destination..

Before we had DS, we only ever travelled with the first 2 nights accommodation booked. DH and I prefer travelling without any schedule or destination in mind. That's just us.

Sounds like some good eating. If only they had sun there too.

We didn't do too badly that holiday. But you're right...now that I think about it, the three days we had overcast, cold and rain were in Maine.

PIO, you didn't bother with Ottawa on your trip to Canada. Is that because there isn't anything overly exciting to see there? I mean I'm sure there are things to see there, but was there nothing particularly that you needed to see so hence skipped it? Or was it time issues?

We didn't have time to squeeze in Ottawa. We would have loved to done so but between DH's work and a music colloquiem we were heading to in Sacramento, we had a lot that we wanted to see and just not enough time.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Oh okay, just wondered what the reasoning was and figured it was a time issue.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Back to Boston – On the Road Again

I’ve been staring at the pictures for the better part of I don’t know how long now. Suffice to say, I’m having one of my Swiss Cheese Hole moments for this leg of the trip. So, I’m taking a leaf out of Queenie’s TR and am just going to put the pictures down with a little commentary on the side as we go along.

Having experienced the sea/beach side of New England, I’m not quite sure why we decided to head back to Boston along the beach side again. DH and I rarely like to double-back as we prefer to see what is over the next horizon; rather than going back to the previous one. Despite the obvious re-tracing of our steps, we did find different experiences to enjoy.

Nubble Lighthouse

I guess we stopped by the Nubble Lighthouse to take a look at a typical New England sea scene. It is very pretty and if I had heaps of time next time, I’d be tempted to drive up the coast chasing the lighthouses before heading inland for a leaf-peeping drive.

It must be a pretty lonely existence as the Nubble lighthouse keeper….

..particularly when you consider how you would need to get back to the mainland.…

…and with only the seagulls for the occasional company.

New Hampshire

Despite the overcast outlook in Maine, we headed south into New Hampshire….

….where we stopped for our shoes to enjoy the beach..

…whilst the feet went for a run in the Atlantic Ocean.

I guess it’s something that I always like to do whenever I get to the Atlantic; irrespective of which direction I approach it from.


We also stopped somewhere for lunch. It seemed a rather sad little seaside resort that probably had it’s heyday in the 70’s. I remember that we had a lobster lunch…and we didn’t use the CLAW to catch it.

I think it cost Ten dollars for 3 turns.


Fisherman's Memorial

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why we headed into Gloucester to see the Fisherman’s Memorial…

Despite appearances to the contrary, there are no pointers as to why we ended up here.

I have a vague suspicion that I might have been Bewitched at the time. I do recall seeing an episode where Darren ended up as the statue.

We seemed to have been stuck in traffic for a while….

The good news about this day is that I do clearly recall that we ended up back in Boston and had dinner in North Beach…

…at a restaurant called Lucia’s. We also picked up more cannoli from Mike’s Pastry and hightailed across to a hotel near the airport.



Three United Staff and 60 minutes for check-in


When I booked this trip, we had decided to fly back to the West Coast from Boston. At the time, United only had 2 flights from Boston to LA. One at 6.30 am in the morning, arriving late afternoon; and the other in the afternoon; arriving after midnight.

We chose the early morning flight despite the fact that we would need to be at the airport by 5 am. The hotel provided a free shuttle and was within 10 minutes of the airport. The hotel was not cheap….none of the airport hotels were and I think we paid more for the hotel in Boston than we paid for the hotel in NYC.

My dislike of United service stems from this particular morning. We’d arrived at 5 am (after having woken up at 4 am) with our international tickets and tried to self-check ourselves in. The machines did not like our booking number; nor did it like our tickets; nor did it like our passports. We were directed, by a United staff who had come to help us and also failed to check us in by the machines, to the staff behind the counter.

Massive.QUEUE.

When we got to the counter, it turns out we had been directed to the wrong queue and were re-directed to another counter…with yet another massive queue.

My DH, who is normally a placid soul, absolutely chucked a tanty at this point. We had less than 5 minutes before the check-in closed and he steadfastly refused to budge and continued to complain until a supervisor came round.

The supervisor, realizing that we had seconds to spare, checked us all in and the check-in was only closed after we were processed.

We then had less than 25 minutes to get to the gate, which was right at the other end. Our flight left 10 minutes late because of us. DH did not calm down until we were over the Rockies…and to this day, my mum and DS still remember that morning with horror as none of them had ever seen DH so riled up.

The thing is…that first United staff member who came to help us at the machines….well, she didn’t know what she was doing because when I finally found someone more knowledgeable at LAX…turns out that those machines could check international passengers through…as they still do today! DH was on the right path towards figuring it out except he was told that it couldn’t be done by her!

 

[franandaj]

It doesn't take much to freak me out when it comes to air travel, and that experience would have definitely had me going! Glad you made your plane and everything.

I noticed that in the claw pictures all the lobsters stayed very clear of the center of the tank.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Man, I can't imagine your DH having a fit

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Those lighthouse images are just picture perfect. How wonderful.

As for the flight issues, my blood started to boil just reading your story. Good for your husband for demanding they give you the proper service. How frustrating for you all.

 

[queenie82]

Being a travelling circus of luggage I've actually always found check in staff at United fine actually....go figure...
Helps having everything weighed within an inch of its life before arrival
We've had fights with some United staff...but check in has always been ok.

It's QANTAS that I will NEVER EVER EVR fly unless I absolutely have to....I've done a lot of flying but never have I felt so angry...


Back on topic
Love the photos. Who knew Boston had this stuff???? I stayed firmly in the town I didn't even go visit the USS Constitution...I went to the AMAZING!!!! Art Gallery instead.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It doesn't take much to freak me out when it comes to air travel, and that experience would have definitely had me going! Glad you made your plane and everything.

I noticed that in the claw pictures all the lobsters stayed very clear of the center of the tank.

Yeah....funny that! Wonder where they learnt to do that???

Man, I can't imagine your DH having a fit

Believe it or Not! My very gentle and placid DH actually did me proud that day!

Those lighthouse images are just picture perfect. How wonderful.

As for the flight issues, my blood started to boil just reading your story. Good for your husband for demanding they give you the proper service. How frustrating for you all.

Between DH, my mum and myself, it was a UNITED front all the way...for a long time coming proper service!

Being a travelling circus of luggage I've actually always found check in staff at United fine actually....go figure...
Helps having everything weighed within an inch of its life before arrival
We've had fights with some United staff...but check in has always been ok.

It's QANTAS that I will NEVER EVER EVR fly unless I absolutely have to....I've done a lot of flying but never have I felt so angry...


Back on topic
Love the photos. Who knew Boston had this stuff???? I stayed firmly in the town I didn't even go visit the USS Constitution...I went to the AMAZING!!!! Art Gallery instead.

Yes...the Art Gallery.....impossible to do with my then DS7. That was not the face of happy on the Boston Trail. We would have had a meltdown to rival Japan if we'd gone indoors instead.




Next up is 2 days at Disneyland. I've been looking at the pictures and I've come to the conclusion that DH was awfully lazy with photo taking at DL. There's hardly anything there worth talking about! ......hardly any....but I'll try and work on an update this weekend.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Disneyland – When you wish upon a Star


Back in 2007, the Candy Cane Inn was the #1 place to stay when at Anaheim.

It is most definitely more a motel than a hotel; and in between a Value and Moderate at WDW. For my family, it was perfect for the 3 nights that we were staying in the area. It was clean, provided a continental breakfast as part of the room tariff and it was close to DLR.

We arrived from Boston, picked up our car hire and made our way to CCI. After checking in and freshening up, we headed on south towards San Diego and spent the night catching up with family there…..

….leaving us with 2 full days to spend in Disneyland.

Back in 2007, the Nemo ride had newly opened. In fact, I think it had been opened for less than 2 months when we hit the park.

The first morning was an early entry morning for Disneyland; so by the time we made it to the submarines, the queue was already past the 3-hour wait time and pretty much stayed at that point all day. There was no way we were spending that amount of time in any queue so we decided to try again the next day.


DS was still in his love of any transport phase so we got on board the monorail….in the days when you were still allowed to ride in the front with the driver; should you ask the CM nicely.

We got on a number of rides after that…and looking at the photo trail, all the visitors must have been in queue at Nemo as it seems like we managed to walk from one end of the park to the other and get on the big rides and the various lands without too much issue.

And all this….before the first Jedi Training Academy of the day!

DS was definitely having a ball…..

…turned out he was one of the first kids to get selected for the Academy.

The Academy training was pretty rigorous…because DS was out fighting Darth Maul in no time…..and winning!

Darth Vader put in an appearance…..

…..but those Storm Troopers didn’t seem to be scared by his presence at all and they didn’t work any harder!

So, this group of new Academy graduates held back the Empire and saved the day for us visitors.

(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)

Keeping well clear of Nemo, we walked into Fantasyland via the castle…

….and headed into Toontown.

Yup! No question about it…DS was having a blast.

The picture trail shows that it was Parade time and we must have headed back towards the Hub to watch it. Given how much walking we’d already done, I sure didn’t plan out my day well, did I?

…..because, after the parade….look at where we ended back!!

Sure looks like DH stopped taking pictures for the rest of the afternoon….either that or we must have spent a lot of time inside rides and he didn’t bother with the camera…..

I know we pretty much did all the rides EXCEPT for Nemo and any that were closed for rehab in this one day. My mother remembers the same thing.

The next set of pictures are at night.

The fireworks were a fantastic way to finish off the day and we were all happy to head back to CCI for the night. And the best part was that we still had another Disney day ahead of us!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Loving the latest update. I think it is amazing how much you accomplished on one day. wow.

I am LOVE LOVE loving the floats in the parade, so much cuter than the floats i saw.

 

[Mum from oz]

Just caught up on it all!! New York looks fantastic. It is definitely on my must do list. I also loved the story of the micro brewery. I want you to know I am taking notes on all these trips for future reference.

Boston looks very interesting historic. I don't know if the kids would love it though. The east coast looks like a place I would like to explore one day, especially for those lobster dinners which look delish!

I love looking at Disney photos. The ones of Disneyland bring back some very recent fond memories.

I love your trip reports!