Witch Coast

October 16-18, 2019

Winter Island Park, Salem, Massachusetts

Day 124-126

All the meats we have been eating the last few days have been from that fabulous vending machine butcher Applewood Meats. Today we have their chorizo with cocoa nibs along with fresh eggs for breakfast. The sausage was good, more interesting actually. I think I would have been happier with Italian sausage, less complicated for the first meal of the day.

Alfie checked all of the air in the tires again and helped me get off the levelers. He let me keep the boards, which I really appreciate. Sarah left and headed back to Belmont. Jill and I left and took the back roads to Salem, MA, only stopping for gas and a beach break at Rye Beach in Maine. It’s a lovely drive that I have not been on in a long time. Huge, stately mansions are separated from the beach by a small road.

Looking for lunch, we finally ate in Salisbury Beach, MA. Most places are now closed for the season, so finding a place was hard. We see a mailman, so Jill (once a mail person herself, during summer break) asks him; they always know who’s open. He sends us down the street to the Seaglass Restaurant. I must say, my lobster salad was excellent and had 5 ounces of claw meat, plus house made potato chips and pickle. I really wanted clams, but I was very happy with the salad. We really lucked out on parking. After October 15th, it’s free; otherwise there is a 3-hour maximum and you have to pay. I took three spaces. The streets were empty.

We took Route 1A the rest of the way to Salem. Very lovely drive – for both foliage and homes. We arrived at camp at 5 pm. Winter Island is connected to Salem by a causeway. It has a lighthouse, beach and RV camping. There are sites on a small hill, protected from the wind, and some on the water at a small marina. We have the protected spot, which later comes in handy. The park is about 50% occupied and is winding down for the season.

After unhitching, we go downtown to get a bite to eat and walk around a little bit; or in my case, hobble. Downtown was festive and busier than I expected. Rain and winds are starting to pick-up. A Nor’easter is coming...

Day 2 - We wake up to no power and it’s cold! Thankfully, we have heat and can cook too. I made coffee and breakfast, then ventured out to see if camp had power. No. But there is a little beach nearby that is dog friendly (after September 30th). We stop by the store/ranger station and saw a boat that got thrown on its side (glad we didn’t take the water view) and a baby Airstream. Too early to knock on the door to say hello, maybe later. After that, we collected our laundry and ventured off to Marblehead. There was a lot of laundry.

I called Mass DOT. I can’t take the trailer thru Boston tunnels. I am going to the Cape tomorrow and was hoping to cut thru downtown Boston; looks like I need to go I95 instead.

We drove around Marblehead the rest of the afternoon then realized it was getting late and we need to rush. I have an Airstream Customer Council video meeting at 3 pm, and we are going to my aunt Vickie’s house for dinner in Reading. I drop off my sister at the library near them and work out of my truck for the next few hours.

We have a really nice dinner with my aunt, Cousin Tory, her sister Pam and husband JC. Plus their 3 dogs and Sparky, it was a full house. JC had hip surgery, so I got a lot of great advice from him.

It was still early, but dark, so we ventured over to Marblehead again. This time driving thru small, quaint streets along the water. One colonial home after the other, almost on top of each other. All different colors, mostly historical. The moon, peaking thru the streets, is captivating, but sadly my phone can't take night pictures! The rain has stopped, the streets are quiet and its only about 8:30 pm. We stumble upon Great Neck, and island connected thru a causeway. Gorgeous houses, some old, mostly newer, with amazing views of the town. It’s now 9:30 pm, I am now exhausted and head back to camp.