3 PM

Driving over the Piscataqua River into the State of New Hampshire!!!


First Exit in New Hampshire, but still 70 more miles to go until destination!!!

In New Hampshire, the "Live Free or Die" State, Interstate 95 is a toll-road, at the entry booth I pay $1.50 and 16 miles later I'm in Maine. Here again I have to pay toll, $2.00 gets me where I need to get, I leave I-95 and take I-295 North to get to Portland. The drive today was 217 miles and now I park in front of Tina Pond's house. She told me that she bought a house almost 2 years ago and now I get to see it. It is in South Portland, at the end of a small road that ends at the water. Beautiful setting and yet quite a convenient location. The next reunion of the Great Mother Conference has formed yesterday, when Elaine Stanton, flew in from the Bay Area, Jean D'Amico drove in from the outskirts of Boston and Trey Moore made his trip from Austin, Texas. Today Sharon Moreno landed in Portland from Fredericksburg Texas and me just now. The greeting-committee consist of Sharon and Trey. Elaine and Jean already drove off further north to get to the "real" place. What fun to see Sharon here in the far North-East of the US. It wasn't that long ago when I played with her on her turf.
A quick tour of Tina's house, gives me a good impression, a great house, warm feeling and full of interesting instruments. Tina is full of music, there is a Grand Piano, Accordions of various sizes, a Upright Bass, Guitars, Drums, Shackers, spoons, knifes, more spoons and a whole assortment of forks, ohh I'm sorry I got lost around her kitchen. But serious it is a almost complete orchestra. She plays in a local Tango Band. I remember 2 years ago, when I visit her in Portland, I got to see her play her accordion in public, with that band, there also was a Tango dance lesson and I got a good taste of it, a lot of fun.
Now its time to do some moving around. The 3 of us decided to go to town. And the town we're talking about is Portland. Tina's instructions over the phone guide us over a long bridge out of South Portland and in no time we're walking around in the cute downtown in search for a beer.

I guess we found the "right" alley with a proper watering-hole...

A toast to our little reunion at the Porthole, a good dive on an old pier!!!

Then Tina is finally joining us, lets order more and eat too...

Tina has to play the piano, of corse!!!

Now we know where we are...

Reflection of the Lobster Company in a puddle of water!!!

Of corse by the time we get back home I wasn't in a better condition. Tina, being a doctor as profession subscribed me Alka Seltzer Cold Medicine and off to bed I go.

In the morning I feel considerable better, is it really that Alka Seltzer stuff??? I have to believe it and on we all go. More guests have arrived during the night at Tina's house, Hansel and Grettel flew in from New Zealand and Tine will give them a ride to their summer home in Belfast, Maine. In the meantime we all get to know each other and exchange stories of our lives while Trey is preparing a most delicious omelet for all of us, what a treat.

Breakfast at Tina's...

Hansel, Grettel, Sharon, on the left side, Trey at the head of the table, then me and Tina!!!


Packing my shit once more, including Trey and his belongings, stuffed into the Honda and off we go. North to Camp Kieve, near Nobleboro, Maine. 133 Miles further north from Tina's house. Arriving there just in time to meet a few "wild people" of this years Great Mother Conference, then make myself a sandwich for lunch and take a crazy 3 o'clock picture...

My first feeding at Camp Kieve, by boB Henning, my partner in growling...