Rhode Island

To complete visiting the 48 contiguous US states, we stopped in Rhode Island for dinner — our rule is that a state counts as being visited if we do something in the state, not just drive through. And with the tiny Connecticut and Rhode Island states, they’re too small to actually stay in each, so dinner and driving around Newport will suffice.

“Discover Beautiful Rhode Island”:

Discover Beautiful Rhode Island

A duck and ducklings crossing the highway:

Duck and ducklings crossing the highway

Coast Guard House:

Coast Guard House

Sculpture:

Sculpture

Major marine layer:

Major marine layer

We wanted seafood to celebrate this milestone, so we stopped for dinner at JB’s on the Water, and sat outside:

JB's on the Water

Menu:

JB's on the Water

Ahi tuna nachos appetizer:

Ahi tuna nachos appetizer

Split fish and chips and BLT (which we were unable to finish):

Split fish and chips and BLT

Major marine layer:

Major marine layer

Driving through Newport, Rhode Island:

Newport

Gilded Age mansions:

Gilded Age mansions

An exciting milestone!

Travel from Trenton, Maine to Foxboro, Massachusetts

We drove our coach 324 miles, about six hours of driving, from Trenton, Maine to Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading southwest — the start of our westward journey, which will culminate in reaching our Washington home base in September:

Map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

The 360° camera magnetically mounted on the rear of the truck, for a different angle:

360° camera on truck

I-395 West:

I-395 West

Rest area:

Rest area

I-295:

I-295

Toll plaza:

Toll plaza

Service plaza:

Service plaza

Look familiar? Same one we visited on the previous travel day:

Service plaza

Popeyes and Dunkin for lunch this time:

Popeyes and Dunkin for lunch

Back to the coach:

Back to the coach

Exit to I-95:

Exit to I-95

Toll plaza:

Toll plaza

I-95 and Maine Turnpike:

I-95 amd Maine Turnpike

“Welcome to New Hampshire”:

Welcome to New Hampshire

Fuel stop:

Fuel stop

Toll plaza:

Toll plaza

“Massachusetts Welcomes You”:

Massachusetts Welcomes You

Exit to I-495 South:

Exit to I-495 South

Interesting food trailer:

Interesting food trailer

Exit signs are now mile-based, but have old sequential exit numbers too:

Exit signs are now mile-based, but have old sequential exit numbers too

Arriving at Nomandy Farms Campground:

Arriving at Nomandy Farms Campground

Check in lanes:

Nomandy Farms Campground

Office:

Nomandy Farms Campground

Security gate:

Nomandy Farms Campground

Our site:

Nomandy Farms Campground

Sugar Bakery

We walked across the road from the campground to Sugar Bakery to pick up some lunch and snacks.

They are cash only — something their website doesn’t mention. They would have made at least twice as much from us if they accepted credit cards. They do have an ATM inside, but that’s even more hassle. With modern technology, there’s no excuse to not accept credit cards and tap payments.

Sugar Bakery

Pastries for lunch and moon pies:

Sugar Bakery

Momo’s Cheesecakes

We stopped by Momo’s Cheesecakes in Ellsworth, Maine to buy some cheesecake slices.

This isn’t your typical shop: it’s like an extra-fancy farm stand, where you self-serve whole or slices of cheesecakes and other goodies, and pay via cash boxes or Venmo. An excellent idea!

Momo's Cheesecakes

Our selections:

Momo's Cheesecakes

Tasty cheesecakes, too.

Archie’s Lobster

We ate at Archie’s Lobster in Bass Harbor, Maine.

Archie's Lobster

Nice scenery, but not quite as tasty as the little lobster pound by the campground.

Gateway Lunt’s Lobster Pound

We wandered across the road from our campground on arrival day to Gateway Lunt’s Lobster Pound to have some seafood for dinner. When in Maine…. Always nice not to have to cook on a travel day!

Gateway Lunt's Lobster Pound