Prime Mercedes, Portland Maine

Unlike most mornings, we awoke late today.  I had no time to complete yesterday’s blog entry.  With no morning coffee, off we went to Prime Mercedes.  Dueling GPS units guided us and we arrived at Prime Mercedes a few minutes ahead of time.  Driving toward the service entrance, Vassili motioned us to stop, not frantically but with an air of certainty, a “You Will Stop” kind of thing.  I had planned to stop, had we driven through we would have one of a very few convertible Winnebagos

Mohammed, our service rep., expected us.  We joked about cross country travel, then focused on our Sprinter RV.  It would take about two hours for service if they didn’t find anything amiss. Prime would fill all the fluids, change the oil and oil filter, and perform a software update to address an annoying gong that sometimes triggers at start-up for no reason.  He said it’s a known problem with a software fix.   Prime also sells Sprinter RVs, specializing in the Airstream.  There were two RVs parked outside and we had to check ’em out.  The larger Airstream was locked, but the Road Trek was open.  It was well setup, but short, and even with windows on all sides it was dark inside with a full wood interior. It was priced at $87K.

Lois’ Natural Market, Scarborough NH

Heading back into the waiting lounge, I opened the door for a well dressed woman who overheard Ellen wonder where we’d find a good restaurant for breakfast or lunch.  She turned and said, “Lois’ Natural Marketplace is a great place to eat.  They’re “all natural”, but pricey.”  We thanked her, and headed across the street to Lois’ place.

Lois’ looks like a market.  The front doors open onto rows of produce and products as you would see in any typical small up-scale market.  I walked past thinking the cafe would be around back in another building.  Ellen disappeared into the shop.  Recognizing my mistake, I walked past the rows of exotic beers, organic produce, and herbal remedies to find Ellen standing at a deli counter.  Lois’ makes everything they sell at the deli pretty much from scratch.  Arrayed under glass were heaping bowls of pasta salad with spinach and goat cheese, diced beets with spices, home-made soups, baked goods like the coconut-strawberry or blueberry scones (We both said “Michele” our friend living on Whidbey Island, Washington state; she has a small business baking, yummy scones,cookies, etc…  “Hi Michele and Jerry” 🙂 ).  Hand written in chalk above the counter was their menu, a list of yummy sounding sandwiches.  We each had our morning espresso drink and sandwiches.  Ellen’s was an egg salad and mine, a ham and brie.  These were very delicious.  Usually the ham in a ham and cheese predominates.  Not so with this one.  There were thick slices of brie which dominated the ham, but in a wonderfully different way.  There was a trace of something sweet; small slices of something like date or marinated onion.

Before our sandwiches were made, The owner and Ellen chatted about travel.  I noticed Grgich Hills Chardonnay on their wine shelf and had to look over their wines.  Sitting atop a display case front and center were three bottles of Historic Series Madeira:  Baltimore Rainwater, Boston Bual, and Thomas Jefferson.  I asked Lois about the wines and she hailed their wine buyer.  The Historic Series Madeira is made in the traditional way in estufas.  What makes the Jefferson special is the blend.  This wine includes some 80 year old madiera.  Ok, I was hooked.  I thought I’d get a bottle and one or two of the unusual beers they carry.

More reading about Historic Series Madeira

Meanwhile Ellen was talking music with Lois.  Her husband plays in a rock-a-billy threesome who travel around.  I mentioned The Stray Cats as what I think of as rock-a-billy.  Lois said,, “yes, but heading more toward blue-grass. Oh well…

Our sandwiches arrived and were gobbled up with joy.  We cruised the isles one last time, then crossed back over Rt 1 to Prime.  The Beast was no longer in sight.  This time the lounge was nearly empty, the young well dress woman who told us about Lois’ was at the cashier’s counter, and there was a Smart Car sitting at the far end of the lounge, in a hall leading into the show room. Time for a test drive!

Smart Cars and Airstreams

A well dressed salesman was having an animated conversation with a customer.   Not wanting to interrupt I walked past, but the salesman stopped me to ask, “Can I help You?”.  “Yes, I would like to test drive a Smart Car, but I don’t want to interrupt your conversation.:  To which Art Starr, the salesman, said, “Oh that’s ok, I sold Andy an Airstream in August.  We’re just talking.  Let me get someone to give you a test drive.  Are you interested in buying today? ”  I said no not today, but I would like to see if I like the ride and might buy one in the future.”   “Ok”.

Moments later Art introduced Jerry Lynde and keys in hand off we went to find a turbo-charged 2016 Smart Car with a manual transmission,  Knowing it’s a two seat model, Ellen chose not to take part.  All of the small cars I’ve driven feel like a sardine can with wheels; they do not feel like cars.  The Smart Car is different.  It does drive and handle surprisingly well.  It is nimble.  Fast is not a word to couple with “Smart Car”.  Even with a turbo it cranks out an anemic 100 hp. That’s fine with me.  As a four down tow vehicle, the Smart Car seems perfect.  I liked it!  Unfortunately it was the 2016/manual transmission/turbo model which is their top of the line and makes buying an inexpensive 2010 model less likely.

The Beast was parked right in front when we walked back.  Best of all it had been WASHED! Gone was the dried on salt from our drive on the Kancamagus Highway.  Jerry and I were talking in the hallway when Art walked up to ask how I liked it, followed by Ellen who asked if she could see inside the Airstream out front.  Art said, “sure I’ll get the keys”  Jerry and I parted and Andy walked up to discuss RVing, living, tow vehicles, and share experiences.  Then Art came back with the keys and said, “Ok, let’s do this”.  With Ellen in tow, he headed outside as I said, “Take my wife, Please!”.  We all had a chuckle.  I really did not want to see inside the Airstream.  I was absolutely sure it was gorgeously appointed and priced accordingly.  Andy and I continued our conversation and eventually Ellen and Art came back.  Kidding I said, “I can see we’ll return to CA with a new RV.  We can just swap our stuff over and continue on.”  We joked about it for a while, but it was clear to all that we were not interested in buying, just in comparing our Winnie with the Airstream.  Ellen was impressed with the leather and marine quality wood interior.  It was beautiful.  Art pulled out a brochure to show us another model’s layout.  We all said our goodbyes.

AllStays and our Winnie Saleswoman

As we were starting off, Andy came out to ask what we use to research campsites.  we told him about our experience with AllStays.  That I loaded six campground applications on my iPhone before we left and that after a week AllStays was the clear winner.  We rarely used any of the others.  Then Ellen asked if Andy would like to see inside The Beast.  She explained how Li’l Beast got his name.  Ellen, in Winnebago sales gal mode, was in her element.  Art climbed in and liked the sense of space we have in The Beast.  His, being a Mercedes Airstream, has a much posher interior.  Ours has much more living space.  There are trade-offs, pluses and minuses, and points of no compromise in everything, RVs are no different.  The $160,000 price tag for the Airstream is a show-stopper for me (for now,, Ellen liked it…  )

Prime Mercedes, Scarborough New Hampshire (again)

Time flew, our two hour appointment had come and gone without our being aware of time passing.  As service experiences go, this was one for the record books: Great people and a job well done.

Steamer Shack Winnipesaukee, CLOSED

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

We started heading south, me thinking we’d head to Hampton Beach, when Ellen blurted, “But we haven’t seen a moose!”  We have not.   And she added, “you wanted to see Winnipesaukee.”  True.  We adjusted our plans and headed to Laconia, New Hampshire.  On the way we stopped to locate a campground close to Gunstock Mountain.

We drove all the way to the Gunstock Ski area without finding the campground.  The views on the way up the mountain were well worth the drive.  The Gunstock Mountain Zip Line is open on the weekends, another score!  Awe Shucks, we’ll have to dally around Lake Winnipesaukee for a few days?

Our first sight of Lake Winnipesaukee was from a bridge over the very southern part of the lake.  There was a turnout a half mile further up and we stopped to soak in the beauty.  The sky was overcast; with the sun poking through time to time.  Ellen headed off along the lake as I took some long shots across the lake.

A bit later I saw her standing on a pier with two other couples lost in conversation.  After taking a short walk further up the lake, I went back to meet Pat and Bob and Pauline and Bob, P2B2.   Pat and Bob moved to the bay area from Massachusetts 26 years ago and had moved back to New Hampshire a few months ago.  We chatted about the East Coast and West Coast and I joked that we could wind up moving here.  The trouble is, this is not really a joke for me.  I really like the lakes, forests, rolling hills, and (short) mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.  I could learn to hibernate in the winter.  (Ellen Here; “don’t think that is going to happen, but  I love visiting during autumn 🙂 )

Lake Winnipesaukee is breathtaking.  It is huge with a vast number of inlets and bays and a favorite place for people from large cities in Massachusetts to vacation and own vacation homes.

Laconia, the Landmark Inn, O’s, and Steamers

We drove on to Laconia, which was a bit of a disappointment for us.  It could be that we didn’t find “happening Laconia”.  It felt like a depressed town with very little life.  We had trouble finding parking.  Our first choice was excellent, but as we walked toward town we passed a “No Parking Cars will be Towed at Owner’s Expense” sign.  My first thought was, “Sure, tow a 6 Ton RV!”  My second was more rational, geez we could be towed and we’re parking behind an urgent care facility.  We moved The Beast.

We found parking in the lower lot of  the Landmark Inn.  We are both hungry for a large bucket of steamed clams.  The Lobster Shack in Portland did not have them.  We passed numerous shops and shacks with signs screaming “Steamers”  near another sign saying “CLOSED”.  Ok, the concierge at the Landmark should know where we can find some steamers, right?   We asked and were told that O’s just down the road five miles was a superb local restaurant that serves steamed clams.  We also asked about parking in the lower lot and being towed.  The front desk does the towing, we’ll be OK parked there.

We Found “The Grail”

Great, we walked Laconia with waning enthusiasm then were off in search of O’s.  There were signs for Laconia’s pumpkin festival this weekend.  We’re going to stay a few days on Winnipesaukee, we might check out Laconia’s Pumpkin Festival.  It might just redeem Laconia.

The Belknap Mill,Laconia New Hampshire

We drove the five miles and found a 99 restaurant.  This was definitely NOT the place for steamers and was one step above fast food.  (Sorry 99)  By now we were not sure of the restaurant’s name; Ellen thought they said O’s. I called the Landmark and was reminded that the restaurant is “O’s”.  I then found a listing for O’s, called them, and learned that they do not serve steamed clams.   This was a bust.

The Keen Pumpkin Festival Moved

An update on Laconia and the pumpkin festival.  The Festival had been held in Keen NH for years, but it was moved this year to Laconia.  Another competing festival will be held Swanzey.  How Strange.  Here’s some background on the Pumpkin Festival.

Meredith Woods, Year Round Camping near Winnipesaukee

Somehow it fell to me to find a campground.  I found one close-by and called.  A live person answered!  I said, “Hi.  Great a live person.”  She said, “Yes” and laughed merrily.  I then said, “That probably means you are open, am I right?”  She said, “No” and chuckled.  Then she said, “but there is a year round campground not far from us.  Try Meredith Woods.”  I rang off, found Meredith Woods on AllStays, Ellen called, and we had our campground for the evening.  The GPS miss-locates the Meredith Woods Campground.  We passed it, turned around and passed it again.  I pulled off to turn around and a black jeep followed me off the road.  Great, that’ll make turning around difficult, I thought.  The jeep pulled up aside The Beast, a fellow got out and said, “You’re looking for Meredith Woods, aren’t you?”  “Yes”, I said.  He said, “It’s not located correctly on our GPS either.  It is up the road the way you were headed, just right at the blinking yellow light”.   With many thank you’s off we went.  There was a huge sign for Meredith Woods facing us as we approached the blinking light.  Coming from the other direction, the sign is hidden from view. We were “home” for the evening.

Logan welcomed us, we registered, and could back into site #219.  We have full everything tonight.  It’s worry free as compared to boondocking.  Even better, Meredith Woods is open year round and has an indoor heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, heated restrooms with showers, a rec. room with a pool table, old time jukebox, games, books, and a patio overlooking the pool.  All indoors and all heated.   The campground with its heavily wooded campsites is very appealing.

For dinner Ellen heated the pasta salad, diced beets, and scones we bought at Lois’ Natural Kitchen earlier today.  I enjoyed a Shipyard IPA or two, saving the special beers from Lois’ for later in the week.

Ellen with our Cog Moose

Our Second Issue with The Beast

The Beast has developed a hot water pressure problem.  It looks to be a valve just inside the water inlet that may have been damaged during the freeze we had in New Hampshire.  I had hoped that the light in the basement water compartment would generate enough heat to avoid freezing.  I’ll have to either swap out the diode lite for a 40 watt light, or wire in a separate light circuit.  That’s the only issue we had with sub freezing temperatures over a twelve hour period. It’s the first time I used the gray and black tank heater.  James, a repair guy, will drop by this afternoon to fix the problem if he can.  He diagnosed it over the telephone.  Apparently it is a common failure.  James comes highly recommended by Logan @ Meredith Woods.

Stairs that fail to extend is our first problem.  It appears that opening the side door and closing it before the motor has fully extended the stairs causes the problem.  With the door closed, the stairs retract as you’d expect.  Sometimes they stay retracted.  Opening or closing the door makes no difference, the stairs won’t budge.  A fellow at Camping World mentioned that this is a common failure for all RVs.  He simply tapped the stair motor with a hammer a few times and the stairs came back to life.  Since I’ve been using our trusty rubber mallet to coax the motor to life.  I never have a problem with the stairs unless we open and close the doors rapidly.