Headed for New Hampshire and Boston

Tuesday June 25 & Wednesday June 26, 2013
Site #1 Exeter Elms Campground
Exeter, NH

 

 

THE EXIT

Time to leave Winhall in Vermont and head to New Hampshire and the doctor appointments.  I’m sorry to leave and would definitely return.  This has been the best campground in some time and I love the area.  Lots to see in Vermont so I hope I can wander through more of Vermont on my way south in a few months.

But I know you want to see the exit pictures, so here they are.

This is the approach when you leave.

 

A  couple of shots of the lovely West River over which we are crossing for the final time – at least for this year.

 

 

 

 

Here’s Winnona starting across  and then at the end.  David does a MASTERFUL job of keeping both her mirrors in tact. 

 

 

 

 

THE DRIVE

The trip to New Hampshire is on beautiful small roads for a while before we hit the interstates.  Many of the roads have streams right beside them.  Vermont is a lovely state.

 

 

  

 

 

THE ARRIVAL

After 143 miles of driving we arrive at Exeter Elms Campground.  I’ve booked 5 nights here just in case there is any problem at David’s Dana Farber appointment and he has to return there.  

This is another Passport America park so we can get the first 3 nights at the 50% discount - $25 a night but we have to pay full price for the other 2.   So I’m expecting for $50 a night a pretty sweet set up although I don’t know why since I also know that Passport America parks can be quite variable.

We have a pull through, perfect.   But, it’s at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.  Oh dear!

We are site #1.  The entry road comes in right in front of us and we have two main roads on either side.  The traffic never quits.  I am on the entry road taking this picture.

 

It is a FHU site and those are definitely the only frills. 

 

Lots of folks here are “seasonals” which seems to mean they have their RV permanently set up here with LOTS of STUFF and visit on week-ends and for vacations.  It’s only Tuesday.  I wonder what Friday and Saturday will be like.   The duckies don’t know what to think.  This is not the sort of view they usually have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

There are actually quite a few tent sites and I suspect they would be much more full if it weren’t for the rain.  The folks who are tenting here are having a hard time.

 

  

 

 

Some of the “seasonals” also seem to be having water problems.

 

 

There are a few things I’d like to do in the vicinity if tomorrow will take care of the doctor visits.  We’ll see. The campground is not a destination site or even one for sitting out on our patio relaxing and reading given its location.

 

 

WEDNESDAY

 

David has improved SO much over the year since his stem cell transplant that he has pity on me and takes the trip into Boston to the Dana Farber Medical Center all by himself so I don’t have to be in a car in the city.  Isn’t he swell????   While he is gone it rains the ENTIRE time in Exeter New Hampshire so I do some yoga, work on my blog post and read my current book  Temple Stream: A Rural Odyssey by Bill Roorbach.  It’s the story of the stream that runs by his home in Farmington, Maine.  I like to read books set in the area of the country where I am at the moment.   That’s about it for my day.  The following is David’s post about his day in Boston.  Oh, he left at 10am and returned at 8pm.  :-)

 

 

THE APPOINTMENTS

I left myself 2 hours for a 51 mile trek into Boston and was extremely lucky to arrive early for my first appointment at the Dana Farber Cancer Center without even getting lost. I was expecting an increased likelihood of getting lost driving in without my navigator. She took the day off – well earned. She had however kindly typed the step by step instructions for me and printed them using Large Senior font. It worked.

After burrowing down 6 layers below ground to find a spot to leave Ruby for the day, I finally emerged at registration 30 minutes early. Fast forward through registration & labs and a bit of waiting and here I am with my newest myeloma specialist – Dr. Jacob Laubach.

 

 

I liked him a a lot and would be happy to have him manage my myeloma, however he is now one of four oncologists and the fourth, so I just add him to my team and take comfort in learning that if I had come to him first, my treatment would have been exactly the same as what I had.

 

 

THE SLOW DOWN

Finally on to the Infusion center for the all important annual immunization shots.   Since my immune system was completely destroyed prior to the stem cell transplant I have had to have all my childhood immunizations again.  These were my one year shots.

Oh boy, I’m excited to have this over as I plan to go over to the Harpoon Brewery about 5 miles away to take their tour. During my wait time I learn the last tour today is at 5 PM. At 3:15 PM, this seemed like it should be no problem, however when they had not called me by 3:45 I began to worry and started asking questions about the delay. Communication issues due to lack of a medical record in their system (I am new to them) required contacting Dr. Laubach which in the end meant I MISSED THE LAST TOUR AT THE BREWERY! DAMN, I was pissed however I did know that their Beer Hall was open to 7 PM, so I could still catch some dinner there.  So after five hours in the hospital and $12 in parking charges – nothing free for patients – I’m finally on my way.

 

 

THE MODIFIED PAYOFF

 

 

 

 

No brewery tour and as it turns out, they have a menu long on beers and short on food. Actually the only edible item is a giant fresh baked pretzel with a choice of two dips. It was their Chocolate Stout that caught my attention and inspired me to seek them out – MANY thanks to my dear daughter Carrie for this discovery. ;) Unfortunately that beer is a seasonal and not currently available, so for the main course I chose their high gravity Leviathan which is an Imperial (or double) IPA. Mighty fine though expensive at $8. I ask if I get to keep the glass for that price. That is good for a laugh, although I wasn’t the one laughing. When you are only having one, it had better be good, so I bite the bullet and order.

All their beers are served in distinctive glassware – in fact each brew has its own unique glass. Here is mine with my side entrée of giant pretzel with a gouda spinach dip on the left and a garlic, olive oil and parmesan on the right.

 

 

 

The beer hall is on the second floor of what looks like it was formerly a warehouse on the Boston Harbor which can be seen out the windows of the long room. The bar runs the length of the room and has standing service on the back side that looks into the actual brewery through enormous glass walls. Notice the large collection of glassware below the bar.

 

 

On the other side of the bar are two lines of picnic tables running the length of the room with windows looking out the harbor.

 

 

 

 

Isn’t this where they had that great tea party? Now it is all about beer, Well, at least here it is.

 

 

 

 

They have lots of customers for a Wednesday evening in groups of two and larger willing to fork out good money for some home town brews. The economy shows no sign of suffering here. If you are interested in checking out some of Harpoon’s brews, you might find this link handy Harpoon Brews sorted by Ratings.

 

If you are planning a visit, the tours are $5 and include a lot of tasting – better deal than the Beer Hall me thinks. Heads up – last tour is at either 5 or 6 PM depending on the day of the week.

The mighty fine end of a great annual myeloma checkup. Still in remission, some results pending.  But it appears I’m good for now to keep traveling on down the highway.

 

 

THE END