Mystic, CT KOA

Woohoo.....another sticker!

We found ourselves meeting up with our Florida/Canadian friends, Carole and Serge at the Mystic KOA in North Stonington, CT. We had booked a premium site and it is one of the nicer sites at which we have ever stayed. We had a large cement patio, pretty Adirondack furniture and a glider.

The ride from Massachusetts turned out to be the worst weather we have ever traveled in the motor home. George did a great job getting us to the KOA safely and George was so happy I had booked a pull-through site. I can't imagine what it would have been like if he had to unhook and back into a site.

The weather cleared for a bit and George was able to hook up quickly before the skies changed and we experienced another deluge.

  

Fortunately for us, the skies cleared before dinner and we enjoyed what remained of the day. Carole prepared dinner for our first night in Connecticut. It was a French Canadian meal called, Racklett. A Racklett is similar to a small hibachi stove on top, with a lower level that had a broiler to toast bread and melt cheese or it could warm onions on top of cheese on top of bread with a slice of prime rib or shrimp or sausage or chicken. You get the point. It was a full spread. Carole constantly amazes me with her culinary talents and that night was no exception. She makes the most difficult tasks look so simple that I almost believed even I could do the same......Hahaha..yes, I said ALMOST.

Once we had cleared the table and sat to chat for awhile, Carole disappeared inside her 5th Wheel and came out with a HUGE bowl of custard that had Vanilla Wafers, whipped cream and raspberries on top. She has prepared this for us before, so we knew we would be leaving stuffed to the gills.

Early the next day (for us) we headed out to see the mansions in Newport, RI. The only one we chose to visit out of about eight "tourable" ones was the Vanderbilt "Summer Cottage." Words cannot describe the opulence and grandeur of the home and it blew my mind to imagine living a life that would afford me such luxury.

A few photos of the splendor or gaudiness (depending upon your tastes) follows:

Serge and Carole outside The Breakers, the Vanderbilt's "Summer Cottage."

Ready to start the self-guided tour.

Entry hall

Grotto below the Grand Staircase

Ornate ceiling in the Grand Hall

Music Room

Fireplace in Cornelius'  master bedroom.

Sitting area in master bedroom

Beautiful coffered ceiling

Close up of gold leaf, open pine cone in each coffered section of the Library.

Close up of railing of Grand Staircase

Youngest child, Gladys', bedroom.

Gladys' dresser

Older daughter, Gertrude's bedroom.

Wife, Alice 's bedroom

Pantry in kitchen

Every copper pot imaginable in the detached kitchen

Bank of stoves and ovens

Interesting doorway to Butler's Pantry

China Room - two levels. This room contained a locked safe for the silverware

If a clearer day, you would have seen the "breakers."

End of tour.

I didn't include the 40 or so other photos I had taken of the mansion/cottage, because I believe you really needed to be there in person to appreciate the true and utter beauty.

Deep thought for the day:  The sayings go..."beauty is in the eye of the beholder"...."the nicest things come in small packages" and..."less is more"....unless you are a Vanderbilt.  ~vc