Monday, May 26, 2008

And I thought Mom's was the boondocks

On Saturday I headed out in the car for another art studio tour. After visiting the first two places I drove in an unfamiliar direction to get to Brookline, a tiny town I'd never heard of before. All these places are on a tour map, however the directions are from the south and I was coming from the north. I drove through one teeny place and saw a fantastic ruins which I didn't stop to photograph. I felt anxious. Very few people were on the road. An occasional pickup with a gun in the back window kinda thing. Towns I passed through had a gas station and that was about it. I had hoped to interact with people as I've been so darn isolated.
I drove and drove and drove. Finally I arrived at the turn onto Route 30. Take a left the potter I had visited earlier told me. Ok. The road signs were made of wood. The road turned to dirt. Oh my god. I turned around and drove back to another road which had a arrow saying Brookline. It was paved. Then it turned to dirt. On and on and on. One ramshackle house every mile or so. This road has to go somewhere I said but I was getting angry. I was further into the isolated boondocks than ever.
Finally, I saw a person. "Does this road get to Brookline anytime soon?" I asked. "Yep, four miles or so and you hit pavement. I don't know where you're going...." Neither did I. Now, none of this would be upsetting to me if my intent had been to get away from it all, get away from people and just see the countryside. Really, it's hard to believe but I felt like I might have a nervous breakdown. Part of that may have been it was lunchtime and my blood sugar was low. I hadn't brought any food with me.
Finally, I hit the paved road. I drove past the above round schoolhouse. I visited a felter who had maybe ten felted animals. Bless her. I visited a potter who had a very cool shop in an old barn and I bought two bowls. By now I was starving but again, there are no stores out here. Nothing. Nada. "I want to get to P.(read civilization) I told the potter and he gave me directions. I didn't really care if I saw another yellow open studio sign or not. Give me food.
I passed through this village. Now, you would think with a courthouse here they'd have a jiffy mart kind of place. Not that I could find. Only a country store selling candy and such like. And a restaurant which I didn't want to spend the money for. The temptation to assuage my hunger with candy was great but I resisted. I knew it would only make me ill in the long run.
Nevertheless this was a pretty cool common. Every building was white with black shutters. And look at this old Thunderbird.
Well, at least I was on paved roads. I drove and drove and drove until I reached a covered bridge which led to an east-west cuthrough to the area I wanted to arrive in. I drove over TWO covered bridges during this excursion, neither of which had a stopping area where I could get out and take a picture. Or maybe my mood prevented me from trying.
At last. I arrived at this barbecue place that has been here for 38 years. My brother had told me about it. Isn't it wild? I had barbecued chicken breast. And then I drove on to a really great thrift store where I heard Erma Franklin sing an old Janis Joplin song. Only the grey haired people in the store recognized it.
Two pots I purchased.

24 comments:

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

All roads lead to somewhere even if it is to nowhere. :) Sounds like you had quite the adventure yesterday. At least your brother knew of a couple places. The BBQ place looked like fun and you got two cool bowls and a visit to a thrift store you've never been to.
Guess the moral of the story is, never leave home with out some food with you. :)
Thanks for sharing this adventure with us.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

PS. How long did this trip take you?

Andrea and Kim said...

Oh Suki, well, the best thing I can say right now is that it is a good thing you were alone. LOL I live in a family with everyone (except me) being hypoglycemic, so I have had to deal with that kind of low blood sugar from the other end. But nothing is worse than dealing with a little child who has no idea what is going on and the thoughts of food turns their stomach.

It is amazing the sights you were able to see...love those NE covered bridges, too. And the round schoolhouse...now how would you have liked to learn there? Well, the lack of windows would have been an issue, but a cool round space would be fun.

Love, love, love your pots...aren't potters fabulous? Now that is one medium I find difficult...especially with the wheel bits.

Thank you, Suki, it is always lovely to go on your adventures with you. Have a beautiful day in the not so deep boondocks. :)

sukipoet said...

Cris, I have to admit I guess I had fun. I was gone for 4 hours. That's due to the back roads part which takes twice as long as a regular road. I know I should bring a sandwich along and often do but I thought there would be a little place to stop and eat.

Thanks Kim. I didnt notice no windows. Maybe there was a window on another side. It was fun in the long run.

Katiejane said...

Suki, what an adventure you had! I can only imagine how you must have felt out there on those country roads by yourself. I'm a pretty good navigator and if I have a map, I can go just about anywhere and not get lost or panicky. You done good, girl.

I love the blue schoolbus BBQ stop. How fun! And your pots/bowls are terriffic.

We visited the very southern border of Vermont the year we lived in Mass. It is so pretty there. We thought about moving there and driving to Boston to work, but the blizzard of '78 changed our minds. We transferred out of state shortly after that. Still, it's a lovely place.

So glad you could come on my nature walk with me.

marianne said...

What an adventure Suki!
It all seems very beautiful, but my heart goes out to you because I feel that you are caught in a wrong place there.........
Or maybe I'm all wrong.
Lucky it all turned out well and you found food and 2 nice pots. I get real cranky when my bloodsugar is low :(
Take care dear Suki!
A warm hug from me

sixty-five said...

What a delightful post!

Unknown said...

Suki I love road-movies like this one. While reading your post, I saw everything right before my eye:) What an adventure, great pictures. I would have panicked too a little, looking for a paved road and not finding one! The bowls are beautiful.
Have a great day and thanks for your comments on my "home" pictures:)
love
Andrea

sukipoet said...

Thanks Katie Jane. I am good with maps too and I never was really lost at all. I think it was more my mood which was for a people fix and there I was miles from civilization.

Marianne, thanks for the hug. I needed that.

sixty-five thanks for dropping by and finding my adventure delightful.

Andrea, I love to drive back roads when I'm in the mood. I've been irritable for a few days now. Must mean something or other. Take care, suki

Unknown said...

Lovely photos! I really must get out and explore the countryside this summer.

Kelly said...

This sounds like a delicious day trip. Thank you for sharing!

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

I love this post. It sounds so northern New England! It's very easy to feel isolated in some of those places. Your pictures capture the essence of the area and I like the pottery, too.

sukipoet said...

SS Nick, yes despite my distress that day, I do love to drive around on the back roads. And here, there is NO traffic.

Kelly, hi again. It was a cool day trip and only once again proved that nothing happens as one imagines it will happen. Life has a different story in store.

Sandpiper, as i drove the lonely roads I couldn't help but wonder, where do they buy their groceries? It's such a different world from what I've been used to.

~Babs said...

Oh Suki,
Next adventure, please take me along! I will pack a lunch and wander around with you,,,I love it!
That schoolhouse is fabulous,,I adore old structures.

The pottery reminds me of some that's done locally (Oklahoma), that's called Frankoma Pottery. Very beautiful,,,I have a couple of small pieces, as it's gotten kind of out of my league, cost wise.
Wonderful trip for us, through your eyes, really loved it!

sukipoet said...

that sure would be a fun trip Babs. There are some interesting things up here between the miles and miles of woods. Amazing there is so much uncultivated land around when so many people are crowded in the city.

The smallest pot was made by a man from West Virginia relocated to VT. The larger one was by his apprentice.

soulbrush said...

this is so like what we see in the movies,and so different to anything british, i can see why people come over here to see our stuff and we go over there to see yours. isn't travel amazing?

Sara lechner said...

This was a wonderful art tour - everything but the starving...- I would have loved to be there. These are the things I miss so much in Austria and I loved in the States...
But of course things allways look better in neighbour's garden... and I would have liked to see that felted animals! :-)

sukipoet said...

Thanks FY. I guess I think of England being like the US in some ways. I'd be surprised if I visited, eh?

Sarah, thanks for stopping by. Well, I should have photo'd her animals. she did tell me where, fairly locally, I can get some rovings. So, I need to make a trip to that place soon. somehow I thought you lived on a somewhat rural farm.

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

and I thought I was in the boonies this weekend... were you doing the VT open studio tour? I didn't get to do that at all, bummer... hope your adventure goes better next time!

Mim said...

I love open studio tours. There is one in Peterboro that is just fantastic, wonderful artists and very few dirt roads (but it is NH). What town is that barbeque in? We are in NH alot, so I'd be interested to see how far away it is, and we were in Brookline the week before last, it's a cute little town.
Glad you got your pots, and such wonderful shots of the common.

Mim said...

I love open studio tours. There is one in Peterboro that is just fantastic, wonderful artists and very few dirt roads (but it is NH). What town is that barbeque in? We are in NH alot, so I'd be interested to see how far away it is, and we were in Brookline the week before last, it's a cute little town.
Glad you got your pots, and such wonderful shots of the common.

sukipoet said...

Natalya, yes the Vermont Open Studio Tour, which extends from one end of VT to the other. A lot of driving even if you are driving on the paved roads. But fun.

Mim. Wait wait. Peterborough. Is that the Dublin Art Tour? I love that tour which extends beyond Peterborough actually into Harrisville and Marlboro. I've been on it twice but not the Peterborough section so listen, come October we should go and meet up and do it together! that'd be fun. Be well, Suki

sixty-five said...

My Bostonian in-laws had a summer house near Peterborough; ever-practical, they sold it when we were living in Indiana and my SIL and family were in W Virgina. I am lucky that my own family has held on to the Adirondack house (land has been in the family since before the revolution). There we have a neighboring farmer who cuts the hay - reminiscent of your "sheaves". This is a beautiful, but vanishing way of life. We need to cherish it!

Mim said...

I'm up for an October Peterboro art tour! and I thought you meant Brookline, NH! Vermont is better, just about my favorite state.