SATURDAY 10.12.19 MASSACHUSETTS

#%$@&(&^ Massachusetts!

First things first, We extended our stay here! Two more days so that we have plenty of time to do and see.

That said,,,,,,  The visit to this state is not going as planned. At all.

We got on the road to Salem and we were just sailing along at a steady 59 mph up I-95. It isn't raining, the wind isn't as bad as expected and we brought jackets along if we felt we needed them. And umbrella's. We brought umbrellas. You know, just in case.

We're moving right along, we're singin' with the radio, all is right with our world.

And then.

And then up ahead it we saw it. Hundreds and hundreds of tail lights. And they weren't moving. Gridlock. We could see the on ramp traffic stopped and overpass traffic stopped. This isn't good I thought to myself. Actually, I didn't really think that but it sounded better than typing out what I was really saying to myself!

I looked at the GPS and sure enough that dreaded red line was there. The deepest red I've ever seen on this GPS. We decided to stay with it and see what happens. It wasn't too long and we started moving. Slow, but moving. At one point it seemed like half the people got off at the same exit. We're speeding up I-95 like greased lightning now. Well, 40 mph.

We make it into Salem and following signs for the Welcome Center. and we realize, there is NO WHERE to park. Every single lot had a full sign. Now what? We're practically back into gridlock again and some driver's have no problem cutting in front of you whether you like it or not.

Then the rain started. Not hard, not even a steady drizzle. That real fine, mist like rain.

We give up. We can take a hint. We aren't meant to see Salem or Boston. I am incredibly disappointed but it is what it is. We're leaving tomorrow morning.

And then I remembered we had extended our stay, Two more nights. $52 worth of extended days. This Queen of Cheap is not a happy camper. I may, or may not have, called the office, told a fib and gotten our $52 refunded.

Massachusetts, we're outta here.

THURSDAY 10.10.19 CONNECTICUT to MASSACHUSETTS

Moving day. 

The first thing we noticed when we walked out of the trailer today was the color. How much more vibrant and bright the fall colors were.

We are enjoying the autumn foliage so much that we just sorta stood there, not saying anything, just taking it all in. 

Yep, we sure are enjoying this.

Today's trip was an easy one. It was cloudy but not raining and only 106 miles to Bedford, Mass. where we'll spend the next few days. At first I thought it might be just a two night'er because the campground fees are outrageous. I called several places and hearing $70 to $90 a night was not unheard of. Ones that were less expensive, but still so in our view, were all booked. No way, that ain't happening! So I looked up Elks Lodges to see who had RV spaces. I found two but they were both full already. What to do? What to do? The Internet is my friend. I pulled up Military Fam Camps in Mass and BINGO! there was the answer to our dilemma. Hanscomb Air Force Base was 1/2 hour away from both Boston and Salem, the reason we were going to Massachusetts....AND....they had room for us at only $26 a night! Color us happy campers!

By noon we were all set up an ready to do something. It was decided that we would run into Salem, get the lay of the land, find out where parking is and see if there is a sightseeing trolley. I am so looking forward to visiting Salem,,,,,IN OCTOBER! We've heard the downtown section is all decked out for Halloween. We've already decided that we are going to take one of the evening tours, A Ghost Walk. I've got goosebumps already.

So the GPS is set for Salem and we're off! We make our way to the I-95 ramp and we STOP! Oh Em Gee, a rolling parking lot moving at an astounding 3 miles an hour! What the .......? We have no choice but to keep going. S L O W L Y ! What is going on here??? Where is this traffic coming from? Then I remembered where we were. What month it was. That it was a 3 day weekend. And that I had read a half a million people will visit Salem this month. I think they are all here THIS WEEKEND! It took us a half hour to go just under 6 miles on a 55mph Interstate! Oh this was not going to work! We got off on the next exit and headed back to Bedford,,,,if in fact we ever got out of Bedford!

So we went to the base, checked out the BX and made a trip to the Commissary.

Tomorrow will be a better day.