Page 40 - Newsletter_Spring_2022

Welcome back, Molly! trails. They loved their visit to The motorhome is very cozy from November to March.
Paula checked in with the area and thought Houlton and warm to sleep in and we Another requirement was
members of the 70’s Chicks was quite charming. My job as can make a cuppa any time snow-chains, so we bought
to see if anyone had news a tour guide was successful. we like. the cheapest plastic version
to report. The response was Paula Woodworth, ’70 Rep Initially travelling along the on Amazon, just to be able
that they could share how Spanish coast has been a to show them, but we have
many days they had spent in Editor’s note: Another strange experience with a no intension of ever getting
quarantine and how many interesting adventure of Bill combination of a particularly ourselves in a situation where
Covid exposures they had. Tardy’s cold November -the coldest we would need some real
Also, they could report on Dear Friends, since 1951! -and empty ones.
the different masks they seaside resorts which felt like The Alhambra was amazing!
used for different occasions. In November, Renate and I ghost towns, which started Even though we had to show
Apparently, Covid has not headed off to Spain in the to make us feel depressed. our IDs and Covid certificates
affected the humor of this motorhome. All that driving The campsites that are open five times during the visit.
group. Hopefully, one day down to Spain was hard seem quite neglected and We went on a guided tour
soon we will be able to gather work for me, as the excellent run-down adding to that -just the four of us, a younger
again for a meal. We have all and supportive co-driver forlorn feeling. After a few couple from Singapore and
missed our dinners. and Renate as the main of those days we changed us- with an Austrian former
commander of the wheel. directions and headed for PHD student who was truly
Paula Woodworth had a visit We did not even drive that
from college friends in the much each day and it was the mountains. We were knowledgeable and made it
Fall. She reports: My UMO still exhausting. We never rewarded with magnificent interesting; the views were
friends Steve and Carolyn used the toll roads as they are scenery, bright blue skies, and amazing, but we were so cold.
Edwards came to the County expensive, 100-120 euros one a nice and friendly campsite, Thus, next day back to the
back in September. They way just through France. Thus, run by Brits and Renate has coast around Almeria with
grew up in Southern Maine we took the small roads with been enjoying wonderful endless hours sunshine and
and have lived in Alabama umpteen roundabouts and hikes. Here is the snake in this wonderful temperatures. It is
for many years. They were traffic lights, through pretty paradise: It is freezing! While interesting that everyone you
on an RV trip North to visit villages and towns. We got it’s started to warm up at the meet talks on Facebook about
family and friends and had to see beautiful countryside, coast, we have a max of 7, 8 sunshine and temperatures
never been to Aroostook which is Renate’s absolute degrees Celsius with fierce so much, comparing various
County. The pressure was delight, but driving a manual, chill winds. Even though we places. Quite an obsession for
on to show off Houlton or ‘sticks’ as it is called in the travelled all the way to Spain many people, it seems, except
and the surrounding area. States, felt like arduous work for warmth, it felt like the me.
They camped at the KOA for her. I was planning to dig right decision. Surrounding Renate got herself upset over
campground, and I was deep into my pockets and herself with beauty has been the neglected wild dogs that
impressed with the facilities toll- motorway it on the way one of Renate’s aims when hang out at overnight parking
there as were they. On their back through France. starting our new retirement areas and motorway rest
first night here, we had a life and that is what we got in stops, desperately looking
delicious dinner at the Vault Renate was so surprised at Pinosa. for a loving home or any
and caught up on life. On how beautiful France was Well, 2 days later we could home. One wonderful place
Saturday we started the day from Lyon going south. She not stand the cold and wind we stayed at the sea was full
with brunch at the Co-op had never been interested anymore and headed straight of Germans with often two
where they got to meet my in France but was enthralled back to the coast where it was huge dogs each and that little
coffee friends. We shopped by the beauty of Occitanie lovely! 20 degrees, long, long lonely fellow, who did not
at the Community Market and felt called to come back beach, lunchtime Paella in the understand why nobody gave
and around Downtown. and explore more, maybe sun, that is the life…. him a bowl of food, too, or
Then I drove them all next year. That would mean Then we got brave enough took him in at night, like those
around Houlton, Littleton working on the little French again to face the chilly but big fellows. Renate bought
and Hodgdon to see the she had left from her school beautiful mountains and some dog food, so in future at
farms, potato harvest, Amish day headed for Granada. Well, least she can do some feeding
communities, and other We have been staying in we had strong snowfall on of those sad creatures. She is
interesting sights. Of course, a variety of places, from a the way, our first experience her mother’s daughter!
we had to stop at Houlton side road outside Renate’s in the moho and we were Let us talk toilets. In France
Farms Dairy. On Sunday we relatives near Munich to the grateful for having spent and Northern Spain, we
drove to the Matagamon gate most wonderful parking £800 the day before we experienced the bring your
into Baxter and explored the area in the French Alps with left on All-season tyres; the own loo paper in many places
Northern end of the park and magnificent views to run minimum tires required when while here in Andalusia -and
did some hiking on a few down shabby campgrounds. driving on the continent

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