Lit Trip link (if the other one doesn't work)

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0j066RAF3I4NmYxNzYzN2MtNjBhYi00Yjk5LTllMGEtOTZmODYyY2VjYmUx&hl=en&authkey=CN2ZgJAN

See Ya!

Day 13

10/29/10

Alas! My travels are nearly over. I arrived yesterday in Salem and stayed the night with some of my relatives, the Parris’s. Today, my dear cousin Abigail Williams showed me around Salem and gave me some information about the city (with some added details provided by my trusty guidebook). It has a rather dark history, but very intriguing and interesting! In 1692, panic swept throught Salem (which consisted of Puritians in those days) when several young girls began to accuse thier neighbors of witchcraft, a crime punishable by back then. By the summer of next year, 19 people had been hung, and another pressed to death with stones for “dealing with the devil” or refusing to name other people as witches. Abigail recomended that I read The Crucible by Aurthur Miller. It was a vivid and engaging story, one that I shall not forget soon.
So tomarrow I spend my last day with my family, then depart the following morning for my home, just in time for my favorite holiday! To all of you readers out there... go to New England. My experiance here has been wonderful, and perhaps even life changing. This has to be the best road trip I have ever taken. And with those words, this is Vladmir Estuven, signing off.

Moose! ... or Meese?

Day 12: Maine

I saw a moose (I decided to name him Steven Tyler)! Which reminds me- Mom, don’t worry, I’m drinking plenty of fluids. After my midmorning snack, which I promise you may not have been the moose, I arrived in Portland, Maine. I spent the day walking around town and hanging around the docks. The sea here appears calm, but the local fishermen assured me that its appearance is deceiving. I hung around with them for a bit longer as they told me tales (which seem rather exaggerated) of their experiences at sea and arguing over when the worse winter was. Our conversation went on for quite some time, as they explained how a lobster trap works, where to get the best blueberries (Maine is apparently the world’s largest producer of blueberries!), the beauty of Acadia National Park, and how the local populations of moose are in decline (oops...). I had a delicious lunch of lobster while reading the classic tale, Charlotte's Web, and now I’m on the road again, planning to be in Salem by dinnertime!

LOST!

Day 11

10/27/10
Here’s some advice for any other first-time New Hampshire visitors: BRING A MAP! I unfortunately didn't know this vital piece of information, and ended up being lost for DAYS! The day after I left Vermont, I had just crossed the border into New Hampshire when it began to rain. And not just sprinkle. This was like a monsoon. Somewhere along the way, I must have missed a turn in the torrential downpour, and ended up lost on a windy unkempt road weaving through the forest under the looming shadows of the mountains. It sort of reminded me of a story I had read when I was travelling down south- "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O' Connor. I'm not particularly worried about meeting any escaped murderers though.

I was just considering turning back when I came upon a road sign saying “Acworth: 15 miles” so I pressed on. About 5 miles down the road, my car broke down. The rental agency WILL be hearing of this. Fortunately, I happen to be incredibly strong. Some even say un-humanly strong. But that’s irrelevant. I was able to push my car the last stretch of the journey, and arrived in town just as dark was falling. I found a small bed and breakfast, got a room, and fell asleep. The next morning I took the car to the local mechanic, but some part needed to be ordered from Concord and wouldn’t get there for several days. For the next 5 days, I remained in Acworth, hiking, reading, and getting to know the townspeople. Everyone there was so friendly, and I got to know many of them (especially since there’s less than 1,000 residents here). One day I was even able to take a trip into Charlestown (the nearby town) to see a movie and head out to dinner with some of the people my age that I met! The food was delicious, and I had TONS of fun! Although the movie was rather ridiculous. Something about the paranormal? It was absurd. No self respecting ghost would act that way. But I digress. This morning my car part arrived, and I woefully bid farewell to all my new found friends, promising to stay in touch. I’m back on the road again, this time headed for Maine and armed with snacks, my guidebook, and a map.

Into the Wilderness

Day 5: Vermont

Finally, after a long trip on unicycle from Connecticut I have made it to Vermont. As soon as I enter the state, I notice the unnatural beauty of it, and after calculating my location I realized I was in the center of the Green Mountain National Forest! I referenced my book The Vermont Book of Days by Michael Thurston and Rik Carlson(which is also a movie), and discovered that these beautiful mountains are actually the inspiration for Vermont’s name! The French explorer Samuel de Champlain named this area “vert mont” meaning green mountain, which is where Vermont gets its name! This area is one of five physical regions; the others include the Northeastern Highlands, the Taconic Mountains, the Champlain Lowlands, and the Vermont Piedmont. Vermont’s mountains are huge, with mountain peaks in the Green Mountains reaching 15 to 20 thousand feet (I hope to climb these later)! There is also a large amount of granite in Vermont, and I will be passing a granite quarry later on. For now, I think I shall go for a hike to see the beautiful fall leaves!

Connecticut

Day 3: Connecticut

10/19/10
Today, I will be continuing on to Connecticut. The capital of this wonderful state is Hartford; the very city I am headed to!
I stopped along the way at a restaurant for lunch. I pulled out my (as Americans say it) Net Book. It said a few things about Connecticut that I found quite interesting.
For example:

• Connecticut is known as “The Constitution State” because of a document called “The Fundamental Orders” that was supposedly part of the Federal Constitution.
• It has one of the highest economies and household incomes in the country!

This book has such interesting facts about every New England state! It told me that the bird of Connecticut is the Robin and the song is “Yankee Doodle”. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the end of this book! If you would like to help me finish this before I even finish my trip the book is Connecticut- A Bibliography of its History by Roger Parks!

To Ze Beach!

Day 2: Rhode Island

I have decided to continue my adventure to Providence, which is the capital of Rhode Island. As much as I hate to say it, I have to thank my worry-wart of a mother for the sunscreen she forced me to bring. The beaches are well, sunny. The sun and I do not work out very well... I look like Edward Cullen for about a half an hour, but after that I start to look like Hell Boy. So for this trip to the beaches of Rhode Island, sunscreen was in the beach bag. As I lay on beach (under my umbrella) I read more of Weekend Walks in Rhode Island by Ken Weber, my book that educates me on Rhode Island. As I continued to read it only became more interesting. Maybe it is because I am a foreigner, but did you know...

- More than 23,000 Rhode Islanders fought for the Union during the American Civil War that stretched from 1861 to 1865?
- Rhode Island was the last of the thirteen colonies to become a state?
- Their nick-name is “The Ocean State”… I guess that one’s a no-brainer….

Continuing in my book, I read that Rhode Island is the smallest of all the 50 states, but its population is 43rd among the states. Also even though it is known as the “Ocean State” sixty percent of its population is forestland land, and only 30% is water! Although I suppose that in comparison, it probably has more area covered in water than other states. As I read further into the book it started to fill me in on the history of Rhode Island. Rhode Island was the first of the thirteen colonies to declare its independence from Britain in May of 1776; funny thing is it was the last to sign the Constitution! Another funny thing is it has the highest density of coffee and doughnut shops in the country! Well I think I need to get out of this sun...I’m looking a little red. Perhaps I shall go visit one of those many doughnut shops...