Daily
Log 10.18.96 Milepost 71,326
Foxboro, Massachusetts
The leaves are still clinging to the trees in a riot of color,
and Indian summer is bathing New England in warm sunshine.
Today we're heading northwest from Foxboro on an exploration
into the area around Fitchburg.
Daily
Log 10.19.96 Milepost 71,435
Amesbury, Massachusetts We prowled the streets of Lynnfield, MA, in search of
the home of Alan & Robin Brown, friends we met early in
the Phoenix One adventure. Alas, Robin and Alan were not home,
but the time spent in the search ensured our timely arrival
at Trader Alan's 5th Wheel bar at a truck stop off Interstate
495. We enjoyed live music by the country/western band "Stampede,"
and also met Randy, a long-haul trucker from Georgia. Schedules
and weather permitting, we hope to go on a leaf-appreciation
road trip with Randy into the White Mountains of New Hampshire
today. Daily
Log 10.20.96 Milepost 71,747
Amesbury, Massachusetts We took Randy Spearman, the long-haul trucker we met yesterday,
on a 300-mile "busman's holiday" to enjoy the
last of the autumn leaves in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Randy made every attempt to spot one of the elusive moose
that innumerable road signs warned us not to hit, but they
all seemed to know that moose-hunting season began yesterday
and stayed invisible. After a look at New Hampshire's granite
mascot, "The Old Man of the Mountain," we headed
south, battling our way into an approaching Nor'easter. Gale-force
winds rocked the Phoenix and the twenty 18-wheelers parked
near us all night long. The storm hasn't let up yet, so we're
hunkering down until it blows over.
Daily
Log 10.21.96 Milepost 71,747
Amesbury, Massachusetts Yesterday was consumed by one of those unplanned layovers.
The Nor'easter that blew in from the south is entering its
thirty-first hour, and we've been enjoying the non-stop wind
and rain with a couple dozen big rigs in an unpaved truck
stop that now features some chasms deep enough to rival the
Grand Canyon. Marvin looks like a drowned rat, and we don't
look much better. Nobody who has a choice is driving, but
at last we're noticing that the winds are subsiding. We'll
be heading south towards Worcester today, rain or otherwise. Daily
Log 10.22.96 Milepost 71,836
Sutton, Massachusetts The storm headed up to Maine, and we went in the opposite
direction. We managed to dry out in Sutton, Massachusetts,
before more rain came along. We enjoyed an evening with our
friends Andrea, Tom, Ivy and Alex Martin. It included a a
baritone sax performance by Andrea and a terrific Chinese
dinner in the town of Oxford. Tomorrow we hope to visit Alex's
school before we head south. Daily
Log 10.23.96 Milepost 71,855
Sutton, Massachusetts Today we visited Northbridge Primary School in Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, where we met the students and their famous
traveling teddy bear Rosie. Rosie visited almost every state
last year-- even Alaska and Hawaii. She sent post cards back
to her school from each place she visited. We'll be keeping
in touch with our new friends at Northbridge by e-mail! Daily
Log 10.24.96 Milepost 71,972
Branford, Connecticut Last night we visited Sutton High School in Sutton, Massachusetts,
where we heard Andrea Martin perform on the baritone sax with
the jazz band. Today we woke up to find ourselves on the front
page of the Worcester Telegram-Gazette! Now we're moving south
on Interstate 95. We'll be making a stop in Darien, and after
that-- tune in tomorrow, because we won't know until then!
