NC to NH: The Pursuit of Volunteerism

17. September 2009 by admin.

Hi. I plan to blog each day, if I can, about our annual trip back to New Hampshire to ‘man’ the Information Tent at the New Hampshire Highland Games which are held
Sept. 17-19 at Loon Mountain Ski Area in Lincoln, NH. My husband, Richard, has the distinction of being the longest continuous volunteer. We believe he started back in 1982. September 16 at 4 a.m.: Up and finish the packing, then cook eggs and the last of the maple sausage for Rich, son Eric and myself. The cat, Blaze, senses something is going on.  Eric has never slept over before, and why are all these bags clogging up the foyer? By 5 a.m., Eric’s Sonata is packed. My laptop and I are happily ensconced in the back seat, and we are on our way. Packed to the gills with bags, maps, and a cooler of food and drink, we start our trip here in Raleigh, North Carolina and head north.  Don’t forget the music! We listened to the local station long enough to hear it was going to be a beautiful day. Already a warm 72 degrees, we wondered if we would be dressed appropriately for New England. Rich says he forgot to grab a coat. Wonderful. I had packed enough gloves for all as we froze our fingers last year. We end up going through our CDs. Trace Adkins joined Bon Jovi and Seven Nations. (Love those bagpipes) 

Rich was amazed how close we live to Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Manassas. I feel another road trip coming on. Later.  Right now, New Hampshire and the Highland games are calling. We stop for coffee and a rest room break in Thornburg, VA. ($7.60) and then again at 10:15 at a lovely rest area south of Baltimore. Purple pansies in September. Cheery. I have worked on my manuscript in progress and add another 1700 words as I edit. Stopped for gas in Newark, Delaware ($36.07) While Rich pumped and paid, and I made bologna sandwiches in the back seat, Eric raced over to the Wendy’s restaurant where he used the facilities, felt guilty, so bought French fries. He ate half of the single order then passed them to me. I am in Heaven.  We raced over the Delaware Memorial Bridge into cloud-covered New Jersey. Made a small wave towards the north from where Dad’s relatives hail. Most have since retired to sunny Florida. I still keep in touch with several cousins and their children (Hi, Nancy! Hi, Christine!) Now it is raining as we stroll along the narrow New Jersey Turnpike heading towards New York City. Some bumper to bumper in construction zones, but not bad. Rich has made it clear we better not be traveling through NYC. NOT his favorite place. Been through often enough when he started dating me, a native of Huntington, Long Island. We shall see what Ginny the GPS says. South of Albany, NY is our destination and we arrive a little past 3 p.m after about 10 hours and 609 miles. About 200 more to go. Tomorrow. Decided not to think of tomorrow. Checked into the Best Western in West Coxsackie (about $187 for 2 rooms) and swam in the heated pool then relaxed in the hot tub. Little girls wearing float tubes in the pool, not another soul in OUR hot tub!  Dinner out at the Ambrosia Diner in nearby Catskill, NY. Just in time for the senior citizen specials (don’t ask…please) Great food and tons of it. Eric could not finish the largest piece of red salmon I’ve ever seen! Chicken Cordon Blue and Crabmeat stuffed chicken for the ‘old folks’. ($55 including salad or soup, fries, rice or baked, teas or soda. And dessert)Back to our rooms by 7 p.m. with a chance for Rich to read today’s paper as we figure out why the flags are all at half-mast. I check on my e-mails, post this on my blog, and plan for tomorrow. Lots to do!Good-night, Nancy Lee Badger

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