We left the campground about 9:30 this morning. Ambivalence is the word for the morning. It is always exciting to be going someplace new and unknown. But it is particularly hard to be leaving this National Park. It was a bucket list item that certainly has not disappointed. In fact, it surpassed all expectations that I had. We hope a part of us stays. Stays in the memories of the people we met and interacted with.
Jim and Monica ended up driving out of the park and on to parts of New Hampshire and Vermont so we were not able to reconnect with them other than by phone. But we have many more roads to travel, as do they, and who knows if we might meet up again. I know that the people we met will remain a part of us as we recall their connections. An award winning artist, a competent and interesting waiter, and a shuttle bus driver and her coworkers as they drove their last night around the island and said farewells and wishes for a great winter respite and reunion in 2020. All we are experiencing now is what we worked 5 decades to make happen. Blessed!
Four hours later we have pulled into our campsite in Jefferson, New Hampshire.
Here they are getting ready for a storm that is expected to roll in tonight. Rain and high winds. It will be an interesting night and perhaps not a lot of sleep.