Columbus Day and a Road Trip to Maine

It's been beautiful here in the Ocean State. The past week or so has seen fall-like temps and rapidly changing colors, at least in our neighborhood.

So, we didn't need much prodding to take a road trip to see more autumn color and spend some time with family in the bargain. With Columbus Day being a major holiday here in New England - even though Columbus never technically came to New England -- I had Monday off. Susie and I took off Friday afternoon for Orono, Maine, up to the North woods to see her sister Joyce and her husband Carl.

The day was fine, sky clear-blue and traffic light as we pulled out of downtown Providence onto I-95 and headed north. Less than 5 hours later we were pulling into the driveway on Cromwell Street. before we knew it, wine was opened, potatoes in the oven and marinated chicken on the grill.

It was a quiet weekend spent relaxing with family in the Maine North Woods. Aside from being with Susie's sister and her husband, the highlight was a trip to Mt Hope cemetery in Bangor on a gorgeous fall afternoon:

We left Sunday to stay ahead of Monday traffic returning to the banality of city life. A quick stop at one of the many outlets in Kittery, Maine, just a mile or so short of the New Hampshire border -- plates was the objective, safely fulfilled thank you very much -- and we were soon back on I-95 heading south for Providence and home.