New Hampshire

June 14, 2006


Standing, Kari, Marne,Ben, James & Kathy. Front,Jeff, Sophie, Megan.

There are many great things about taking time to travel around the country and one of our favorites is the opportunity to see not only cool and interesting places, but to see them through the eyes of locals. That is why visiting our many friends who are scattered about the country. Of the few downsides to living in Key West, having friends move away for whatever reason is a fact of life in such a transient community. The cost of living, better opportunities, and a fear of hurricanes are a few of the reasons that so many of our friends have departed. The good news is that it opens up all sorts of opportunities to visit people when you are taking a cross country jaunt. A side trip to Seabrook, New Hampshire was brought on in part to see just such friends. It worked out perfectly since it coincided with Kari’s wish to see some of her former Colorado Springs friends who had recently moved to Exetor, New Hampshire. So Kari & the kids, Kathy & I all took a nice day trip to New Hampshire. We drove to Exetor to visit with Marne Dohrman & her kids Ben & Megan. Sadly her husband Ross was at work and unable to go to Memories Farm for ice cream or to come to Hampton Beach where the kids built sand castles and captured crabs. After a great afternoon at the beach we headed just down the beach to Seabrook to have dinner at the Round Rock restaurant owned by the family of my good friend and former Key West roommate, Peter O’Keefe. We had a fantastic meal and Kathy ate her first New England lobsters of the trip. We then went to Peter’s home and met his wife Lisa & son Ethan and caught up, having not seen each other for 7 years. Seabrook is important in Kilroy legacy as 30 years ago Kathy's mother Mary camped out in protest of the building of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant which sadly today looms large over the Seabrook landscape.

Lisa, Peter & Ethan O'Keefe

It was a wonderful one day getaway. Today Kari & the kids are on their way back to Colorado Springs. It has been a great visit with them. We did all sorts of fun stuff together this week, from camping out in the yard, swimming in the river, going to the beach, going out to eat in Scituate at T.K. O’Malley’s and visiting with the Nelson family, to spending time just hanging out with Grandpa watching old home movies. We will be seeing them again in Colorado in August. Now we have to figure out where to go next. There is still a lot to see around the Boston area, and using Marshfield as a base has proven to be both useful and fun. On the other hand the open road is calling.
Scott, Kathy, Kari, Cheryl, Sophie, James & Jacob.
Sophie, India & Kathy swim in the South River, Marshfield.