Tuesday, September 11, 2012

From Andover to Tucson Day 1

1. Family-kab Mom, Kathie, Stephen, MG, and Brother C; 8-21-2012

All journeys start with “Good-byes.” When the movers were done loading our stuff on their truck Kathryn and I finished sweeping the floors. We ate our lunch on the back porch one last time, then loaded up the car with the cats and our luggage and hit the road. We drove to two hours south to Connecticut where we dropped the pets and our luggage off at a nearby hotel, then headed to Colchester to spend my last night in new England with my family. As usual, we gathered at Mom’s house for pizza. three of my four siblings were able to be there. It was a rather quiet night. I think everyone was holding their emotions in. No one wanted to make a big deal of the finality of the situation, so we just chit-chatted and ate. then Kathryn and I said good-bye and got in the car. I let her drive back to the hotel. I was spent. In the morning I counted birds in the hotel parking lot while I walked the dog. I saw 9 species in Glastonbury, CT before we got on the road.

2. Tappan zee-kab We decided to take the Route 84 across Connecticut to the Tappan Zee Bridge. We found out later it was a good thing we did for the George Washington Bridge in NYC had a major back-up in the afternoon on that day.

3. houses on the hill-kab It was a pretty drive and I could not believe all the houses built into the hillside on the other side of the Hudson River!

4. NJ road-kab With blue skies and the open road before us we began our journey of Birding Our Way Home. With 115 miles behind us, we only had 2600 more to go! Come back tomorrow to see where we stopped next! (Yes, there will be birds!)

Birds seen in Glastonbury at the hotel 8-22-12:

  1. Rock Pigeon
  2. Mourning Dove
  3. Blue Jay
  4. Gray Catbird
  5. Northern Mockingbird
  6. European Starling
  7. House Finch
  8. American Goldfinch
  9. House sparrow

14 comments:

  1. Kathie, are you moving back to Tucson? I haven't been on your blog in a little while, and I hope this does not mean any sadness has occurred in your life in the past couple of months. I would love to have you here as a blogger friend and "neighbor," though. Let me know!

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    1. Marie, I am already here! I am still unpacking boxes and setting up my "nest." Hopefully it will calm down soon. It all happened so fast and I have had little time to blog or visit blogs. I wanted to come and visit you and tell you but its just been so crazy and I have been a little bit sad. If you scroll back through my blog you can read about it all. Thank you for the warm welcome back.

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  2. The joy of a new adventure and the sadness of all the goodbyes. So glad that there were two of you driving and birdwatching. Lovely country to be driving through .
    My daughter just returned from Maine and managed the drive from Boston to Haystack in Maine and back again without having to consult a map. She really feels at hove in the New England states.

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    1. Arija, yes, it is all bittersweet! I am so sorry I missed out on meeting your daughter. I have "liked" her page on facebook as see her posts every now and then. I am glad she feels at home there. New England is a lovely place to visit.

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  3. Hi Kathie

    As someone whose family is basically all in central Canada I can identify as bit with what you are experiencing. Technology can help a bit with staying connected but it can still be tough.

    All the best.
    Guy

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    1. Guy, yes, technology does help. Thank you for your kind and comforting words.

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  4. That's a long drive, how did you have time to do any birding?

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    1. Gillian, we MADE time! Plus, we also watched birds out the windows and in the parking lots of our hotels!

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  5. Hi there stranger!! It has been so crazy this week that I am behind in everything:) Love the family shot. I'd say unpack a box a day:) Talk to you soon. Chris

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    1. Chris, I can unpack a box a day later, right now I am trying to unpack as many as I can before the moving company returns to pick up all the empties! I am just tired of the craziness and the mess! it was nice to take a break and go birding last Sunday. Here's hoping we can do it again this week!

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  6. You really didn't say goodbye, just until we meet again.

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  7. oh boy, you have a long drive ahead of you.
    it's good you can take your time...and enjoy all the sights... scenery...AND birds along the way!!

    it must be hard to say all those goodbyes...and move on...but you'll have some NEW adventures along the way and waiting for you in Tuscon!!

    i'm so far behind...in my reading...i hadn't even known you were moving. i remember you mentioning it a while back...but now the time is here!! good luck!! have a great weekend! travel safe!

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    1. Laura, thank you! and the long drive is over. I am already here!

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.