New England Watcher Fest 2012 Date Poll

Post by **Rigel** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:54 am

I'm going to try my best, and I really think I can, but I had some bills come up recently that might impede me... Once people start talking hotels to stay at, I'll be able to look at it more thoroughly.

I really enjoyed the Albuquerque one, and I'd love to see everyone again!

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:16 pm

i need to win the lottery...

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:59 am

Well here's a thought. One of my long term friends from the cape has offered up his own house and his gran's house (one they normally rent to tourists) for FREE to us in October. Gran's house has four bedrooms and two bathrooms AND it's free. The rooms all have double beds and are FREE so that would house a dozen and his house would house two more. It would pretty much mean me renting a van and taking you all to the cape and NOT staying in Boston but the cape is gorgeous. Just wanted to put that out there.

Post by **sgt.null** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:29 am

Cameraman Jenn wrote:Well here's a thought. One of my long term friends from the cape has offered up his own house and his gran's house (one they normally rent to tourists) for FREE to us in October. Gran's house has four bedrooms and two bathrooms AND it's free. The rooms all have double beds and are FREE so that would house a dozen and his house would house two more. It would pretty much mean me renting a van and taking you all to the cape and NOT staying in Boston but the cape is gorgeous. Just wanted to put that out there.

free housing may allow me to show up. (fingers crossed)

Post by **aliantha** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 12:28 pm

That sounds like a great idea, Jenn. What a wonderful friend you have!

Post by **wayfriend** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:08 pm

That's really great, Jenn. I don't see how anyone can turn down room and board. Can you tell us the town? I'm curious.

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:11 pm

North Falmouth, Wayfriend. Gran's house is literally a block off of I think, Silver Beach. Paul's house is in Falmouth itself. I've only been there once, right after he bought it and that was almost fifteen years ago. We would probably want to rent two vans so we could all get around easier. Paul also worked for Best Western for many years as a landscape designer and he still gets massive discounts so he offered to help us find a bargain in Boston if we opt not to stay on the cape. Keep in mind that the Cape will be in the off season so not a lot going on where as Boston will have a lot more to offer us as tourists. Then again, if we opt for the Cape we could do a day on Martha's Vineyard and you all might be able to recognize places from scenes in the movie Jaws...

Another downside to staying on the Cape is that it's about an hour and forty five minutes of a drive to the airport so we would need to carefully coordinate arrivals and departures.

It was kinda freakish timing. I was about to post that I was going to look at Boston hotels online and inquire via email about group rates for the October dates when my phone rang and it was Paul and he almost immediately started in on me about when I was going to come visit.

Post by **wayfriend** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:38 pm

Ok, I see. "Uppa Cape", as we call it.

That's actually a bit better for getting out to the rest of New England, should we want to. (I didn't want to be all poo on your great news, but the first thing that occurred to me is that staying on the Cape would be restrictive for lots of kinds of activities.) Although Falmouth is about as remote as you can get and be Uppa.

In October accomodations on the Cape should be abundant and cheap.

I'm more of a Mid Cape guy myself. But in terms of attractions, I've never been to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and that's open in October at least for the exhibits. Also there're convenient ferry's to Martha's Vineyard, should you want to do that.

Southeastern Mass and Rhode Island are short jaunts from Falmouth. King Richard's Faire is open until October 21, so we just squeak in there.

Then again, there's always going deeper into the Cape. I'm not ruling that out. But the Cape is very summer-oriented, so we'd need to look for what's still open.

Post by **aliantha** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:44 pm

To be honest, I'd be more concerned about "not much to do there" if we didn't tend to just sit around and hang out at fests.

Plus it might be nice on the beach in the fall. Brisk, but nice.

Nine-hour drive from my house to Falmouth, whee doggies. lorin, any interest on carpooling from Lawn Guyland for the last part of that?

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:47 pm

Hey! If you go to google satellite and type in 253 old meetinghouse road east falmouth you can see the house I grew up in....

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:37 pm

Double posting... Yes, we do tend to just hang out a lot. And it's not like there isn't ANYTHING to do. You guys can all party with me and my friends from my youth.

Way is right, Woodshole is pretty cool although I've been there a bajillion times considering my Dad worked there for evah. Way and I both suggested a run to the Vineyard which would be fun. If we coordinated flights to leave from Logan at night we could do a day in Boston and people could take the T to the airport from wherever we are in the city rather than driving everyone back and forth to the airport all day long. Also, if we do rent a couple vans we could have a lot more freedom and not be obligated to all do the same things.

Post by **wayfriend** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:38 pm

aliantha wrote:Plus it might be nice on the beach in the fall. Brisk, but nice.

You know there's a lot to be said for a cool quiet beach, a blanket, a little fire, a glass of wine, some tinny music on a cheap portable stereo ...

aliantha wrote:Nine-hour drive from my house to Falmouth, whee doggies. lorin, any interest on carpooling from Lawn Guyland for the last part of that?

Take the Long Island/Falmouth Ferry!

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:00 pm

Also, having a regular house to use as home base gives us the ability to cook meals in since the kitchen is fully equipped. That would cut down on a LOT of restaurant expenses we would have otherwise. Of course I will insist that we go to Woodshole and have authentic NE style chowder and a beer at the Leeside which is the local fisherman bar or was back in the day. We would be sure to run into some Quint like guys.

We could even have a real clam bake at the beach, old school where we dig a fire pit, light the logs up and get them to the deep red coal stage, chuck in a bunch of wet seaweed and then dump the clams on top and cover it with more seaweed and sand to cook. The beach by Paul's Gran's house is pretty small and the neighborhood is all summer homes so we would more than likely have the beach all to ourselves. Oh, and by the way, even though I keep calling it Gran's house, Gran has been deceased for a long time so she won't be joining us.

Post by **aliantha** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:01 pm

Google is being unhelpful for ferry info. I'm finding ferries to New London, Block Island and Martha's Vineyard, but not to Falmouth. Got a link, anybody?

Post by **wayfriend** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:56 pm

I apologize if there's not a ferry from long island to falmouth. I thought I saw something about one. But google can fool you sometimes.

According to the United States Ferry Map, there's a ferry from Orient Point on Long Island to New London, CT. If you're looking to cut off the loop on your drive, that's the best bet.

www.howderfamily.com/travel/united_stat ... y_map.html

But no way to get to Falmouth from Long I. Even if you do Montauk to Block Island to Jerusalem RI, you have to then drive to North Kingston, then ferry to Martha's Vinyard, then drive to Oak Bluffs, then ferry to Falmouth.

Maybe if you have a thing for ferries ...

Post by **aliantha** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:59 pm

I saw that one from Orient Point to New London. And yeah, Google kept teasing me about a Montauk-to-Falmouth ferry, but every time I checked the link it was Montauk to somewhere else. Or Falmouth to Boston or something.

I dunno, maybe lorin has the inside skinny. She used to take a ferry to work from her old place.

EDITED to add: Jenn, you had me at "free lodging".

Post by **wayfriend** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:42 pm

I have actually never been to a clam bake. That would be fun, Jenn.

Post by **Cameraman Jenn** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:10 am

WHAAAT???? You call yourself a new englander and you have never been to an actual beachside CLAMBAKE??? OH the SHAME, Wayfriend. THE SHAME!!!! Ok, so we have some time to decide on taking Paul up on his generous offer. We need to figure out head counts too because if we are more than fifteen including myself we will need to find extra places or bring some air mattresses to Gran's house. I figure if we are less than fourteen I'll stay at Gran's too. If not, I'll be at Paul's house. That counts for two per bed plus one on each of two couches. Not sure how you all feel about privacy and/or rooming with potential strangers. But like Way said, additional places would probably be cheap and I'm sure Paul has contact with the neighbors at Gran's house and they would probably be willing to rent out for super cheap since it will be the offseason and all and it's pretty much unexpected money. So, I'll let you guys figure it out, take polls whatever you need to do. How does that sound?

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:29 am

i have never been to a clambake either...

Post by **wayfriend** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:56 pm

Oh, I am ashamed, Jenn. I need someone caring and gentle to help me with my first time.

Is there a timeframe in which your friend Paul needs to hear from us yes or no?

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New England Watcher Fest 2012 Date Poll

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