Circling Autumn

One of my most cherished traditions since I’ve moved back to New En gland was taking a full day driving around to enjoy the spectacular autumnal foliage. I hadn’t realized that, in my nearly three decade absence, it has become an entire industry, unfortunately labeled “leaf peeping” where hordes of the unwashed non-New Englanders descend on us. While hesitant to contribute to the masses, I’ve come to enjoy the day for an additional reason. It gives my Favorite Panamanian and I a day to spend with just each other. While, at times, that can be a recipe for conflagration, we usually figure out a way to enjoy each other’s company (almost as if we’ve been married for over four decades). We used to take the Columbus Day (yep, still going to call it that) holiday for our journey but since neither of us work anymore, it can be any day, hopefully a day like yesterday.

The Intrepid Travelers Setting Out

We’d missed out on the tradition last year because we were on that trip to Portugal/Spain/France. Since yesterday’s forecast was great, we hit the road and were immediately rewarded with some great color. Some of the best colors we saw were within twenty minutes of home. We took the usual back roads, eschewing the interstates, so we could also enjoy New England towns, which always serves as a welcome reminder that I’ve come home (that never gets old). Our wandering took us to our usual lunch place, the Golden Eagle, perched on a hairpin turn on Route 20 with remarkable views of the hills of Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York. They’ve instituted a buffet style meal which was awesome, allowing me to have steak tips, turkey, ribs, and chicken (all the basic food groups).

Crossing the Mighty Connecticut River

With My Date

Outside the Golden Eagle

The Golden Eagle

I told my wife that I had a surprise for her after lunch as we headed north into Vermont. Last weekend during the intense action surrounding my pub crawl recon, the Keene Friend’s lady mentioned that he had taken her to the Vermont Country Store and suggested my Favorite Panamanian would enjoy a trip there.  That was the surprise, a new shopping experience, I would max out on hero points. To get there we followed a picturesque road through Vermont, although it looked as though a lot of the leaves had already fallen. We stopped off at the Hogback Mountain overlook to say hi to Mom and for my wife to get her annual guilty pleasure of the fudge they serve there.

Stopped Off in Sherburn Falls
No Cosby Sightings

Wife Loves the Bridge of Flowers

This Town was Used for First Season of Dexter Resurrection
White House was his Store

From Other Side

Bridge of Flowers

She was dozing off a little as we made our way to the store, but was wide awake when we pulled into the parking lot (shopping does that for her). I could tell from the look on her face that I had scored the hoped-for hero points (you know I’m going to need them at some point). I gave full credit to Keene Friend’s lady. I brought my kindle out and parked in a rocker on the front porch and told her to take as long as she wanted while I read. When the sun sank below the mountain ridge it became a little too brisk, so I moved into the car for next hour. It was just getting dark when she finally emerged, tired but brimming with excitement at her purchases.

Saying hi to Mom at Hogback
Old Friend Mt Monadnock in the Distance

Surprise Spring

Happy Wife with Hero Husband

Our route home took us through Keene, which is the first time I can remember passing through the town without stopping (except for gas). Keene Friend was out with the hero lady and the Cantankerous Friend on his annual South Carolina sojourn, so therefore unavailable. I’d already imposed on others for the recon, so we just kept driving, completing a huge loop through Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. A great day, spent with a very appreciative Favorite Panamanian.

Wife Took a Million Photos During Our Travels Yesterday
Here are Some of the Best, Enjoy

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RECURRING CHARACTERS:

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete – my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course