Oct 15, 2012 - Providence, Rhode Island

I would not have thought of Providence, Rhode Island, as much of a tourist destination, but we certainly found enough to keep up pleasantly occupied all day. First stop was Scialo Bros.’ Italian bakery in the Federal Hill neighborhood. One of the owners was our host for the tour. After we snacked on cake and coffee, she showed us their rebuilt brick ovens and the crusty bread that came out of them. She had Joy pour liquid into a pie crust ready for the oven to demonstrate why they don’t fill the crusts with liquid and then scoot them into...

Aug 30, 2012 - Lunch With Diane And Jim

Diane , Jim and I met for lunch in the Federal Hill section of Providence. It is halfway from their spot in Massachusetts and my spot in Rhode Island. We talked for hours - thank goodness we had a very courteous and patient waitress. We left a very large tip! On the way home I stopped at two malls but wasn't very successful in my quest for a new dress. I have resigned myself to the fact that the new shiny synthetic fabric that just about everything is being made from lately does not fit well or feel good on my body. Mary, Tom, and Ellen...

Jun 19, 2012 - Home

I drove around Montreal, Quebec for awhile but I think Boston and Providence have more charm! Then on to Vermont for the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory tour! I decided I was close enough to home to do a bit more driving and arrived just before 10 PM. Whew!

May 18, 2012 - On my way!

Left Friday 5/18/12 for New London, CT and saw The Avengers movie in 3D (which was awesome, btw) with Brothers Rob and John. I spent the night on Rob's couch and after breakfast headed out. RT 85 to 11 to 2 to 91 to the Mohawk Trail (RT 2 in MA). Very picturesque. Quaint country villages, lots of Victorian architecture and a few mill towns. I took the Mohawk Trail to Albany, NY (RT 2 in NY is a bit like Little Appalachia)and from there I took RT 20 which I should be able to follow to Chicago.

Aug 22, 2011 - From Boston to Providence RI

Day 10: Left Boston this morning to head to Rhode Island. The Harborside hotel was lovely but they are short on service. There is no valet, no porter, no service. We checked out and I went to the parking garage down the street to get the truck. Julie stayed with our bags since she does the slugging. Once I got to the parking payment booth I requested the hotel rate which is discounted. I was advised that the hotel should have stamped my parking ticket to receive the rate. I had to repark, walk back to the hotel, get the stamp, return to the...

Sep 28, 2010 - 2nd day-Providence, RI

I have arrived in Providence after about a 2 hour drive up highway I-95. It was a 103 miles. The weather here is beautiful in the upper 70's. It should get to be 82 degrees as a high today. This is the capital of Rhode Island, founded in 1901. Can you believe it has more than 20% of the country's national landmarks! I visited the campuses of two major schools: Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Providence is on the Providence River. It has an inlet of water where there is this amazing water sculpture called...

Jul 7, 2010 - Blackstone River Valley, RI

We decided to brave the heat today, so we set out to visit the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, which took us to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Did you ever try to visit a place without stopping at their visitor center? We did on several occasions, and actually missed some of the high points in that specific area. So our first stop was at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. We were glad that we stopped there because we were pleasantly surprised to be asked to place a red pin on their visitor map…we were the first visitors...

Apr 27, 2010 - All packed and ready

I'm all packed and ready to leave. The limo picks me up at 4am tomorrow morning, which is 4pm in China. Major jet lag! This is my first international trip since my around-the-world trip two years ago. I'm more than a little excited to be on the road again. On this trip, I'll have a few electronic entertainment luxuries: my laptop, my new iPad, and two iPods. I'll need them, it's a 14 hour flight!

Jan 22, 2010 - Planning

On the road again! Much has happened since my last journal entry (May 2008). A month after that entry, I met Kathy. We got engaged in October 2009. About a year after that journal entry, I moved to Phase III of Retirement On The Installment Plan (see "Personal Profile" on my Journal Home Page). I'm now semi-retired, working only a few days a month. I haven't been stuck at home. I've been skiing in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I've been hiking in New Mexico, Utah, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island....

Sep 24, 2008 - Day 32

The statue atop the dome of the Rhode Island capitol is called Independent Man. The Wikipedia Encyclopedia gives the following description: "Independent Man represents freedom and independence and alludes to the independent spirit which led Roger Williams to settle and establish Providence and later Rhode Island." Rhode Island's capitol was huge in comparison to the state's size and other capitols we have visited. I call it the little dog complex - present yourself bigger and more powerful than you really are.

Jul 21, 2008 - Providence, RI

On Sunday we drove into and around the Providence area, which, since it was Sunday, was pretty much abandoned. We walked through Brown University which we found to be very quiet and small (there are only 6,000 students enrolled during a typical school year) with a few nice green spaces. Much of the campus appeared to be undergoing a renovation. Today was a slow news day. On Monday we drove back into Providence to tour the state capitol. Prior to 1904, Rhode Island alternated its capitol site between Providence in the winter, Newport in the...

Oct 26, 2007 - Providence and Newport, RI

We arrived at our campground near Providence, RI with a surprise. Before checking in, I was standing on the opposite side of the Subaru from Bill, and noticed he had a horrified look on his face. I thought, "Oh great, what happened now." The rear side window was completely shattered. We didn't hit anything, so it must have been a rock from a passing truck. It was very strange, but I've heard of other people towing their cars having similar problems. At least it wasn't raining. The campground was totally deserted, except for one other...