We woke up, after a massive sleep, to a light rain refreshing the landscape in tiny Bainbridge, NY. We had a relaxed and restorative stay at the Bainbridge, getting a bit road weary at this point of the journey having accumulated some 4,689 kms of highway time. We stumbled into a huge breakfast, as we have with each one of the B&B stays, that should have been enough grub to get us back 😂. We also stumbled into a very diverse morning discussion… I believe it may be the nature of the B&B, allowing time to have a more in-depth understanding of others. Topics shared were broad, from Olympics to Covid, Health Care to Taxation, the Military to Rural vs Urban 🇺🇸… but indeed each became very focused. It was all incredibly real, an “inside” glimpse at some of the thoughts that are driving change and the philosophical views of how “We the People” is understood differently. We shared little in common… but I think it essential to core freedoms that we can at least have that discussion… if that stops I believe all may be lost.
Today was to be yet another travel day with very little arranged in terms of attraction. The route, if possible, would be to make it through the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and into Maine. If all goes to plan… we hope to visit the Porter-Sala household this evening. Nicely, the bulk of the route is new road for us. Time to explore… and we hit the ground running on wet roads at about 9:30 AM!
Thought I’d take a moment to talk tolls. It was once the case that wherever fees were being levied on US highways you passed a booth, that either collected or handed you a ticket to redeem when leaving. When there was a booth payment was easy. However, with the electronic age being well upon us, tolls are automated for EZPass holders and many of the states have replaced booths with cameras. This adds several layers of complication. Once you are on the highway / ramp, one is committed to the freeway. When we realized the difficulty we tried to call a number… that didn’t work. Upon research, there isn’t consensus, at least in what I’ve read online, as to whether Canadians can purchase/use EZPass. Ontario does have an agreement for mail payment with NY state I believe. However, I’m not entirely sure that NS would share any plate information with whichever state authority would be looking. In short, we always try to do the right thing… but on this trip found ourselves in several toll situations where it was impossible for us to do so. I guess we’ll see if anything comes in the mail 🤷♂️🤷♀️.
In the end… Thursday proved to be a long haul! We navigated from interstate to rural highways, on hills and flat stretches, in rain, fog, cloud and sun. We, thankfully, drove our way into better weather in New Hampshire and by supper time found ourselves in need of sustenance. I did the Google search thing again, and picked a highly rated “Sandwich and Salad” eatery just off Old Orchard Beach near Biddeford. We parked out front, walked right up to the counter with no wait, and were served wraps and a salad at the Red Door Market & Deli. I was pleased with everything… from taste to cost. The food, rest and quiet got us back on the road for the last leg of the day… Appleton, Me.
Our friends, Than and Stephenie, have been a life line on our myriad of trips stateside over the years. We stop, catch up on the families, relax, share a meal, talk to the wee hours. Their kids have become friends with ours, beyond our watch, and we love how they follow and inquire about each other on social media. The nest here in Appleton will no doubt find itself empty soon… but we always treasure our stops full of story and learning. Thanks for taking in two weary travellers! ❤️