Day 1 - Preparations and Minneapolis to Hartford

Buffing Preparations

I have been preparing for this trip on and off for two months. I have plotted companies on my DeLorme Street Atlas USA for every fire station in or near where we intended to travel including the entire areas of Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA (and everything in between) for the first night; Worcester and the ENTIRE Boston Area for days two and three; and all of the areas south of Boston all the way down to Newport, RI (including the entire Providence area and all of Cape Cod) for the seven day stay in Newport, RI.

I bought street maps and plotted all the stations for all the major cities and their suburbs of the following: Hartford, Springfield, Boston, Providence, Cape Cod, Fall River, Brockton and Newport. I also printed DeLorme maps of many of the other areas we travel through showing station and company locations.

I typed my own station location lists for each metro area (including all the major suburbs) and the areas we may travel through. These are for quick reference when trying to locate stations during our travels. The lists include station address, engine company numbers, ladder numbers, squad numbers and battalion chief numbers and whether the departments are paid or paid-call/volunteer. The same information is plotted on the street maps and the DeLorme Street Atlas USA map.

I printed frequency lists for each metro area and then programmed them all into the trunktracker using the "Trunkstar" computer program. Once the frequencies were all loaded into the computer program, I downloaded them with a patch cord from the computer to my trunktracker. Believe me, it is a lot easier typing the information into a computer program than it is entering it all by buttons on the front of a scanner. I have five banks of the turnktracker loaded with 50 channels each for the areas we travel through. I'll admit I had to make some tough decisions on what all to include (and not include).

Much of the information was gleamed from the internet. I went to fire department websites for all the departments included (there must be 2500 or more companies plotted in the DeLorme map program). I found some great scanner frequency sites that provided all the information I needed for the frequencies of the cities we would travel near.

To say the least, I hope I am prepared fire-wise for almost anything that can occur in our travels. For me, half the fun of the trip is in doing the preparatory work before I even leave. It helps me get acquainted with all the areas so that I have some idea of what to expect before I get there.

Tuesday, November 5, 2002

Today Karyle and I embarked on a new adventure to the east coast which includes a seven day stay at a gorgeous timeshare in Newport, RI. We were scheduled to fly Delta Airlines to Hartford, CT with a stop to transfer planes in Cincinatti. You are probably wondering why we flew this route. It is because we found a $135.00 roundtrip fare on the internet.

We were scheduled to depart MSP at 10:45am, but stormy weather forced the plane inbound from Cincinatti to fly around it. The plane finally arrived and we departed about 25 minutes late. As soon as we got over Cedar Avenue we lost visibility in the clouds. The flight (on a ComAir RJ 50 passenger jet- which was full b/t/w) was nice and we arrived about a half hour late in Cincinatti. It was raining when we landed in Cincinatti.

We rode a shuttle bus between terminals and had enough time to catch a light snack in the terminal before boarding a Delta MD-80 for the trip to Hartford. We arrived in Hartford/Springfield (BDL) airport at 4:45 (ten minutes ahead of schedule as we had a 170mph tail wind). It was already dark as we pulled up to the gate and the temp was about 46.

After picking up our luggage, we rode a shuttle to the car rental agency. We got our Ford Taurus and headed towards Enfield, CT through an airport construction detour (what else is new) and found our way to I-91 (I dang near missed the turn).

We only had about a 10 minutes drive until we reached our motel in Enfield. We chose that area as it was near the airport and in-was nearly midway between Hartford, CT and Sparingfield, MA. When we arrived at the motel I unpacked the trunktracker and was able to hear radio traffic from Hartford (sometimes a little broken) and Springfield (loud and clear). It sounded like Springfield companies were just clearing a working fire.

Hartford FD has 12 stations with 11 engines, five trucks and one tactical engine. Hartford has a number of rather large suburban departments including Avon (4 Sta's), Bloomfield (3), East Hartford (6), East Windsor (2), Enfield (2), Farmington (4), Glastonbury (4), Manchester (7), New Britain (6), Newington (4), Rocky Hill (3), Simsbury (7), South Windsor (3), West Hartford (5), Wethersfield (3), and Windsor (4). There are even more suburbs that are not included above.

The Springfield, MA FD has 10 stations with 12 engines and five ladder trucks. To the north lies Chicopee (6 sta's) and Holyoke (5), to the west West Springfield (4), Westfield (2) and Agawam (3), and to the south Longmeadow (1) and East Longmeadow (1). Springfield was very busy (mostly with medicals) and I heard them test radios (similar to St. Paul) at least twice.

I kept the scanner on with an earplug in overnite and awoke to a few alarms but didn't hear any working fires. It started raining in Enfield around midnight.

Day 2 - Hartford to Boston

Thursday, November 7, 2002

I heard one overnite fire in Boston. The times listed are my times and not official times. At 0020 hours Box 6183 was struck for a fire at 226 Lexington Street in East Boston. Units were assigned Channel 2 for their operations. Car 1 (District Chief 1) was the first to arrive (from Engine 5's house a few blocks away) and reported smoke showing. I assume Engine 5 laid into the front as a short time later Car 1 ordered Engine 56 to lay a line to the rear. The following are events as I recorded them:

• 0020 Box 6183 struck for 226 Lexington Street
• 0022 Car 1 arrives and reports "smoke showing"
• 0024 Car 1 orders Engine 56 to lay a line in the rear.
• 0028 Ladder 1 reporting they were in East Boston (filling in)
• 0029 Car 1 orderes Engine 9 pump to "fill your line"
• 0029 Engine 21 reporting they were in East Boston (fill in company)
• 0030 Car 1 reported they had a 3-1/2 story frame with fire on the 2nd floor, 2 lines run
• 0033 Car 1 reported a knockdown with companies overhauling and checking for extensions

East Boston is on a peninsula across the harbor from downtown Boston and has but three stations (Engine 5 and Car 1, Engine 9 and Ladder 2, and Engine 56 and Ladder 21).. It is separated by water from both downtown and the Charlestown section, which lies north of the Charles River from mainland Boston (and has only two stations). Winthrop and Revere are connected to East Boston and lie to the east and north. The largest area of East Boston is taken up by Logan International Airport.

It was cold and windy when we started for Faneiul Hall (a unique shopping area with all kinds of specialty shops and small restaurants) in the historic downtown Boston area. There were still some sporadic drops of rain falling in the area when we departed our motel around 0900 hours. Karyle wanted a roll so we looked for a bakery in the area. We drove by Briantree FD Headquarters (only about two blocks west of us). Both engines and the truck were in, but it was raining. I got a station picture from the car. We didn't find a bakery, but we did find a Seven-Eleven store and Karyle got her roll. Sure enough, a block later is a Dunkin Donut shop. Oh well.

We headed towards Highway 3, which eventually joins I-93 and goes into downtown Boston. We navigated the rotary (dang I have a hard time figuring out where I'm at in those darn things) and got onto Highway 3. Just as we did, Quincy dispatched an engine, truck and battalion chief to a reported accident on southbound highway 3 at exit 10. Soon we heard sirens and saw the Quincy chief trying to make his way along the freeway frontage road next to us. Drivers here are not what I would consider "accommodating". It's more like "it's your problem man".

As we approached the accident our lane slowed down also. As we passed the accident t in the other lane we saw six cars involved in a rear-ender and then saw a Milton engine followed by a rescue and a minute later Quincy Ladder 5 (an old Maxim "F" tiller). A couple of private ambulances then raced by and then we saw the Quincy chief still trying to navigate the bridge over the freeway to get in the southbound lane. What a mess. Glad we weren't going south.

Traffic was terrible on I-93. It probably is everyday. It was a slow go all the way into downtown Boston. Our exit (#21) was missing in action. We never did see it, but there is so much construction ongoing in downtown Boston it is amazing anybody can get to where they are headed. It took us a good half hour to get to Faneuil Hall. From where we were, it was almost impossible because of construction and one-way streets to get there. We drove by the quarters of BFD Eng10, the Tower Company and HM1 twice but the doors were closed and there was absolutely no place to park (let alone stop to even get a station photo). There is also major construction in front of the station.

We asked a number of pedestrians how to get to our destination and most were of no help. A couple that helped us directed us the wrong way up a one way street (don't worry, I didn't follow those directions). We eventually got there after driving about 30 blocks just to get the six blocks to our destination. Parking was rather expensive to say the least.

We walked through much of the indoor shopping areas and briefly went by the outdoor shops (it was still cold and windy). Not long after we arrived, the clouds began breaking up and low and behold the sun was shining brightly. In a short time there were no clouds in sight. We stopped for a snack at one of the many dozen of food vendors. We walked through historic Faneuil Hall, which still (after all these years) serves as a public meeting space on its second floor (shops are on the main floor).

We parked in a ramp for just over an hour and it cost $12.00. We saw signs on ramps for "Earlybird Specials," all day for $23.00. What a deal! After getting out of the parking ramp we promptly got lost trying to get to Boston Common (the oldest park in the US). We finally found the place after coming across BFD Engine 8 ( new Pierce Enforcer) on a strange, winding side street I still don't think we know the name of. As it was still cold and windy we didn't get out to walk in the park.

We drove by "Cheers" on the way out to Fenway Park . I got a photo of BFD Engine 33 and Truck 15 quarters before we took a wrong turn and ended up on Storrow Drive along the Charles River. This drive reminds me of Shepard Road in St. Paul as there is very limited access. After going way by the Fenway, we ended up in the Allston section of Boston (Brookline sits between these two sections of the city).

I got a station photo of Brookline Engine 5 and Truck 1. We finally found Fenway Park and took some photos. Then, somehow we ended back up on Storrow Drive headed out of town again. This time we got off in Cambridge after traversing the River Street bridge. We decided to find THE "Longfellow House" as long as we were close by. We went by Cambridge Engine 6 and proceeded to get lost again trying to find the Longfellow House. We ended up somehow way off target at Cambridge Station 8( which is closed while it is undergoing refurbishing).

After much map reading using a magnifying glass and a few more directions from pedestrians we were still lost and decided to head back. I turned on a side street, which turned out to be a culdesac. We got back to the roadway we had just turned off onto and guess what was sitting directly in front of us - yes siree, the Longfellow House. We got photos and then decided to take Memorial Drive (along the Charles River) to the Charlestown section of Boston.

We stopped briefly in a couple no parking zones and each took some photos across the Charles River into the Back Bay section and downtown Boston. At the second no parking zone we got out and took our pictures and just as we got in a park police car pulled up and turned on its lights. Luckily, he saw I was leaving and just blocked the lane of traffic so I could get back out (whew!).

After almost getting lost again, we finally found the USS Constitution. As it was approaching rush hour (and it was still cold and windy) we didn't take the tour. We quickly went up to Bunker Hill and got a picture of the memorial there before heading back into downtown Boston. Somehow we ended up going by BFD Engine 32 and Truck 9 (way north of Bunker Hill- downtown is south).

Somehow we found our way back downtown and went by Engine 8 and Truck 1 and for the third time Engine 10, the Tower Company and HazMat 1 quarters. We headed to South Boston driving by the Fire Museum (which was closed). We headed out to Pleasure Bay and Fort Independence at Castle Island. We got some scenic pictures from the historic fort which overlooks Boston Harbor and Logan International Airport.

It was almost rush hour and time to head back down I-93 and Route 3 to Braintree. We went by BFD Engine 2 and Truck 19 and headed along Columbia Road (along Dorchester Bay) and found the freeway. We got back around 1600 hours and were very, very happy to find our motel without getting lost.

If anybody had tried to follow us today, I guarantee they would have given it up. Such traffic, so much construction, so many one way streets- all I can say is UFDAH. I'll have to admit I have never found it more difficult to get around anywhere than in Boston today. While it was very frustrating at times, I think we made the most of the day- even though I think we both feel a bit dizzy. Braintree Engine 4 and Ladder 2 responded past our motel just after we returned.

That's all for today.

North downtown Boston near Charles River Dam  

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Day 3 - Boston to Newport

Friday, November 8, 2002

It was very cold and windy here overnite. Temperatures got down into the 20's and wind gusts were up to 30 mph. It was not a nice night to do any walking- and we didn't. We froze just waking across the parking lot to the Bickfords Restaurant for dinner. I turned the heat on in the motel room for the first time.

Weymouth had a small working fire in the kitchen of one unit of a senior citizens building. The IC asked Engine 1 to be the RIT team and he also ordered a medic unit for standby. Units were not on the scene very long and I doubt there were actually lines laid. It did draw a couple extra chiefs from home however.

We checked out of the motel at 0900 hours and headed by Braintree Station 1 (two blocks from the motel) before hitting the freeway for our journey to Newport, RI. Luckily, Engines 1 and 4 and Ladder 2 were out- but all parked close together. I got the best shots I could.

We found our way to Highway 28, which is a very nice three-lane freeway going south from the Boston area through much wooded area before connecting up with Brockton (and Fall River further down the road before ending just short of Newport). Most of the freeway was in dense wooded areas leaving the Boston area. The fall colors were at their peak on our journey down highway 28 was gorgeous. Karyle even noted that it looked like they shinned the leaves (the colors were so radiant).

We got off the freeway and traveled into Brockton, driving by Stations 1, 4 and 5. I'd always wanted to see Brockton as I traded photos in the 60's with a buff from there and he had some interesting shots of spectacular 6-story factory fires. I was told then that Brockton was the shoe capitol of the USA. A firefighter added that it was also the coat capitol of the USA (I did note a huge 6-story Berman Buckskin Factory as we drove through the town). There were a lot of large vacant lots in and near downtown Brockton (many probably from huge fires). I got a few rig photos of Engine 5 and Ladder at Station 5. Brockton has six fire stations with six engines, four trucks and a heavy rescue.

Then we made our way back to the freeway and headed towards Fall River. We got off the freeway there and I was amazed at how nice the north end of that city looked. Fall River is a very industrial town situated along the banks of the Taunton River. There are some breathtaking views from the hills of Fall River overlooking the river. I ended up driving into a parking lot in the rear of a very nice senior citizens complex to get some interesting views of the river with the fall colors on the banks of Somerset on the far side.

We went by Fall River Stations 12 and 7 (both very old). In fact, the Station 7 we visited was built in 1873 and must have been replaced as the doorways were so narrow a chiefs car could barely fit. The station also had a police substation, which I believe also is closed. Fall River has six stations with eight engines and three ladders. We ate a small lunch near downtown Fall River.

Our next destination was to a Sam's Club in nearby Seekonk, about 8 miles west of Fall River on I-195. The views on the I-195 bridge over the Taunton River were spectacular in both directions (I wish we could have stopped to take photos). We picked up some food at Sam's Club and then deadheaded back to Fall River to continue down Highway 28.

After passing through Fall River (the last city in MA) we crossed into Tiverton, RI, the last mainland stop before crossing the river onto the island which contain the cities of Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport, RI. The freeway ends at the south edge of Portsmouth and the driving becomes a pretty good 35mph drive through Middletown and then a very labored (25 mph) drive through the very congested City of Newport.

Newport is very old and the downtown area has very narrow one-way streets (some with farmer style parking). It is loaded with specialty shops- and I mean loaded. You won't find a Mc Donald's or Burger King here. Newport does have all kinds of fancy linen-tablecloth restaurants- tons of em.

We found our way through the maze of narrow streets to the time share which is on land with a large yacht club (they are plentiful around this area). Our two-bedroom unit faces the water on one side and the rows of small shops on Thames Street on the other. We have decks on both sides of the building. The master bedroom has a very large whirlpool tub in it. The living room faces Narragansett Bay and has a large fireplace. The kitchen has everything but a stove (zoning laws don't permit ovens and or stoves in buildings built along the riverfront here).

After unpacking the car and checking out the unit, we headed for a little tour of the city. We headed south on Thames and found drove out on the point near Fort Adams State Park. There one can look back east over Newport Harbor to the hilly city of Newport on its banks. Looking north you see the spectacularly high and long Claiborne Pell Toll Bridge which towers over the Narragansett Bay waters that bring ships up to Providence Harbor. Extremely large ocean-going cruise and cargo vessels use the harbor. The bridge connects Newport with Jamestown, RI (another island). A smaller bridge connects Jamestown to the mainland of Rhode Island.

Then we headed down to Ocean Bay Drive along the Atlantic Ocean and southern coast of Newport. There are a number of huge mansions along the coast. Karyle and I both wondered who the people were that live there as they obviously have way too much money. The gated edifices are unbelievable in size and expense. Many are constructed of cut stone and put the Clampett's Mansion in Beverly Hills to shame.

We were then further surprised as we turned back north towards town up Bellevue Avenue which turned out to be the home of hundreds of more spectacular gated mansions, many available for tours. As we left the ritzy area of town we found a super market and picked up a few more items before returning to out the time-share.

Luckily, I am able to pick up Providence area fire departments in the time-share. Providence is about 32 miles from downtown Newport. As the crow flies, it is probably more like 22 miles directly up Narragansett Bay.

That's all for now.

Day 4 - Newport

Saturday, November 9, 2002

Karyle slept in while I went to visit the three Newport Stations around 0800 hours. I went to shower and guess what- NO hot water! I called the front desk and they said they'd send up a maintenance man. He showed up, couldn't figure out the problem and a second maintenance man joined him. After about a half hour of checking, they decided that the hot water heater was shot.

It was now 0900 and I still hadn't showered. I can't leave without a shower. I decided to rough it and took a cold shower and shaved with cold water too. It was a bit brisk to say the least. I left around 0930 hour and went to Newport Station 5 which houses Engine 5 and Engine 6 (serves as the hose rig for Engine 5 and has only one man assigned to it). I got pictures of both of their rigs.

I proceeded to NFD Headquarters (Station 1) and caught Engine 2 just pulling into the parking lot. Engine 1, Ladder 1, and Rescue 1 (Paramedic unit) run out of Station 1 which faces north (an afternoon shot for sure). A firefighter told me that the aerial would be out tomorrow most of the day for "rotation" so I decided to wait until then to try and get photos.

I drove to Station 2, on the south end of the island. I passed an old Station 6 on the way that is now a restaurant. Next time in the area I'll get a photo. Station 2 is in a newer area of the city and has a very large new station and a very old Maxim tractor trailer aerial (1968 rear and 1974 "F" front end). It only has two firefighters assigned, but one of the paramedics crosses over to become the third man responding and the other paramedic drives the medic rig to the fire and becomes the fourth man. I got a station photo and a shot of "Engine 4," (an older Ford C/E One pumper) which is not in service but can be manned and/or taken to remote areas on the island where it can be used as a tanker.

I returned to the time-share around 1030 hours and Karyle said they were still looking for a replacement hot water heater. We decided to head out anyway (they could replace it without our help). Providence became our destination as Newport is overrun with tourists on the weekends. Many license plates here are from New York and New Jersey.

We headed over the Claiborne Tell Toll Bridge ($2.00) to Jamestown where we wind around and then catch the Jamestown Bridge (its free) over the water to the mainland. The large fancy homes and follaige here are quite a sight, especially from the bridges. It took us about a half hour or so to get up into the Providence area. I dropped Karyle off at the Roger Williams Zoo. I told her to call me when she was ready to go and I'd pick her up.

I headed to nearby PFD Station 13, which has the only PFD engine to have a foam monitor on the front end. They were just setting down to lunch, so I told them I'd stop back. I headed for nearby Station 10 which was vacant, so I got a station photo. Just as I was leaving, a full assignment was sent to the 100 block of Broad Street. Engines 3-7-8, Ladders 1-5 (fromSta 10) and the Special Hazards unit (Heavy Rescue) were assigned with Battalion 2. I wasn't that far away and headed in that direction.

Providence is almost as hard to get around as Boston is - but not quite. There is no grid, just streets going every which way and branching left or right constantly. It can be hard to even stay on the same street there is so much bending (and especially so as there are no signs on the street you are traveling on- they only have cross street signs here). I kept working my way towards where I thought the run was and heard something said about a smoke smell on an upper floor. All of the sudden, I heard an electronic siren and here comes Engine 8, turning left just in front of me.

The run was only a couple blocks away and as Engine 8 pulled over I found a legal spot to park a half block away and went back to get photos of Engine 8 and Ladder 5 on the side street (as I thought they'd be the first to go return). Just after I got their photos they picked up and returned (as did Engine 7, which I missed). Engine3 and Ladder 1 were in the driveway of the complex and it was almost impossible to get their photos.

It sounded like companies were just starting to pick up so I waited and asked the engineers (or whatever they call them here) if they could stop at the end of the lot as they were leaving so I could get photos. They very kindly stopped for me and then sped off. One of the firefighters told me they had just moved into their new headquarters a month ago (a little early as the mayor wanted the complex open before he starting serving his time in jail. Engines 1 and 3, Tower 1 and the Special Hazards unit occupy the new complex.

I looked for the new station, but got lost on one way streets that didn't go the right way. I gave up but found the State Capitol and got some nice photos from that area. Downtown Providence is very impressive. There has been a considerable amount of new construction and park work done on the canals that run through that area. The whole area surrounding downtown is gorgeous. I have never seen so many churches with impressive steeples in my life. With the fall colors near their peak, the hills on the north of downtown were most impressive. I took a number of photos.

I wasn't sure how much time Karyle was going to take at the zoo, so after I left the downtown Capitol area I headed to Station 12, the northernmost station on the city's west side. The Ladder was out for repairs, but a very nice firefighter pulled out the Engine for photos. I headed from there to Station 15 through some horrendous slow moving traffic. The posted speed limit in Providence is 25 mph in most places and many drive slower than that (for a minute I thought I was in St. Petersburgh, Florida).

We waited at one intersection for four light changes. The streets are so narrow here that most cars making left turns totally block the street. I finally made it to Station 15 and got a station photo just as Karyle called me. She said she was done- already. I told her it would take me almost a half hour to get back from where I was. Station 14 was on the way back and I got a station photo. I eventually found Broad Street, but then mistakenly veered off in the wrong street and had to find my way back again. The only way I knew I was on the wrong street is when I looked at the map the cemetery was on the drivers side instead on the passenger side.

I finally got back to Karyle around 1330 hours and we went by Station 13, where a very pleasant young firefighter pulled out Engine 13 for a photo. I asked him about a good place to eat, as we were both getting hungry. He told us about a place across the canal on Wickenden Street. We headed there. As we passed over the canal we were afforded a very nice view of the impressive Providence skyline.

The people in that area reminded me of the Uptown area of Minneapolis. The streets are very narrow and lined with small shops in old buildings. We ate at a quaint little old sandwich shop that served its tuna sandwiches on what Karyle called Lefse. We still don't know what kind of bread it was, but it was interesting in that the tuna was heated with bacon on it. I noticed one thing unusual in each shop along both sides of the street. They all had pull box fire alarms (like you see in school hallways) on the premises, usually near the front door.

From there we headed into downtown Providence and the Capitol area so Karyle could see what she had missed earlier. We spent quite a bit of time there admiring the view and watching people along the canals (some in small paddle boats). We met some very nice elderly people that formerly lived in Providence and were returning after many years away. They were very impressed with all the new buildings and shopping areas. One of them told us that where there is now a large lagoon, park area and shops used to be a railroad station.

Just as we were leaving Engine 7 and Ladder 4 (just across the canal from us) got a run. We could see them turning out from the hill on the other side. We headed in that direction but couldn't find the street the run was on and as it was getting late in the afternoon, started the drive back to Newport.

The sun was just setting as we drove over the toll bridge to the island. Newport Engine 1 was out back, but it was too dark for photos (it gets light here at 0600 and dark around 0430 hours). We walked into our unit and tried the water- it was HOT. Halleluiah!

We definitely plan a return trip to Providence. We were both very impressed with the northern end near the state capitol. There is a huge new Providence Mall that has hundreds of shops in it and all kinds of specialty shops and restaurants near the canals.

By the way- on the Channel 10 news in Providence they did a long look at the City of Cranston (suburb of Providence) and said that the city is broke. It is supposedly only the second city to do so (behind East St. Louis, IL). They said the police and fire pension investment funds had been doing so bad that the city kept using up reserves to pay off the loses.

That's all for now.

Day 5 - Newport

Sunday, November 10, 2002

It stayed fairly warm overnite here, but it was very muggy and slightly foggy. The low overnite was around 50. When we arrived back in Newport last evening we no longer could monitor Providence and the departments in that area. I didn't hear anything from that area until after I awoke in the morning.

Today was forecast to be 70 degrees in the Providence area. We ate breakfast out on the deck of Karyle's unit overlooking the harbor. We hit the road around 0930 hours headed towards Providence and the Providence Center Mall (north of downtown near the capitol).

We stopped at Newport Station 1 as we were leaving. Ladder 1 was out with the aerial ladder raised up. Luckily, they soon lowered it. I started to get my photos from the street when a guy in a fancy convertible pulls up alongside me and shows me a camera about the size of a cigarette pack, but only about ¼ inch thick. He told me a friend of his had just invented it. He slid the case sideways and took a photo of Ladder 1 also- and then sped off. I figured the guy that invented that little camera probably resides in one of the huge mansions on the island here.

We traveled across the two huge bridges (the Newport bridge is two miles long by the way) and looped around on Highway 138 until it met the Highway 4 cutoff (which leads directly to I-95). We got off I-95 near the new Providence Public Safety Building and we wound our way around their many one way streets to get there. Eventually we found a way to get there. The new station houses Engines 1-3, Tower 1, Special Hazards 1 and an assortment of specialized vehicles. When we arrived all the companies were gone, but a number of chiefs vehicles and specialized rigs were parked inside. I got a station photo only. This is the only Providence Station I've seen without the traditional red colored apparatus doors (see PFD Sta 9).

Just as I was getting back into the car we heard a siren which sounded like a fire engine a short distance away. I drove around a small area south of where I had parked and didn't see anything. We headed for the Providence Center and I saw a glimpse of something red on a side street a few blocks to the left. We found Engine 3 and Ladder 1 parked near a shopping area with no one around the vehicles. I got a few shots (again). The companies may have been grocery shopping.

We headed (again) for the Providence Center. Again, we were forced to drive this way and that because of the one-way streets, but eventually we overcame them and found the place. We arrived around 1015 hours (what we assumed would be their opening time). We found out that 10:00 am is their normal opening time- Monday through Saturday only! On Sundays, most stores open at noon. Nordstrom's was open at 10:00.

We walked around a couple floors of the mall and took some interesting photos from the top floor overlooking downtown on the southeast side and a huge new housing development on the northwest. The mall was built right over railroad tracks and two canals that merge under the mall. The architecture is rather intriguing to say the least.

As I was nearly out of slide film, we waiting until the Ritz Photo store opened. I checked their supply of slide film and found one roll of 36 exposure Kodak Elite for $9.00- uuuufffdah! I bought the roll, as I had been unable to find slide film out here at either Wall Mart or K-Mart stores (who used to both carry the Fuji Slide Film I've been using).

We left the center shortly thereafter and headed to Providence Station 7 (with Ladder 4). I got a station photo only as the companies were out. We then drove by PFD Station 9 (with Ladder 8) and got a station shot. We ended up going through that strange little area that we had lunch at yesterday. I asked Karyle if she wanted to stop at that shop again and ask what kind of bread that was yesterday. She declined.

We stopped near a bridge over a wide canal and I took some photos of downtown Providence from the southeast. It was sure hot here today. All I brought along were long sleeve shirts and 70 was a little warm for that today.

We decided to take a slow journey south along the Providence Harbor. We drove by PFD Station 13 just after they responded on a medical run. The south side of Providence seems to be the most financially depressed area of the city from what we have seen.

We stopped at Cranston Station 1 and I got photos of Engine 1 and Ladder 1. Engine 1 is rather unusual as it has 70s E One body with a 90s Sutphen four-door cab. I met a nice firefighter there who said he was assigned to the medic rig. He said that it is not unusual for them to respond to five or six runs daily in south Providence. He told me that Providence does not have enough medic rigs. He said Cranston Medic 1 had over 5000 runs last year and most of Providence Medics are over 6000. (B/T/W- Cranston had 10 stations a little over 10 years ago). The City of Cranston is on the verge of total bankruptcy. Manpower has definitely suffered. The engines run with three firefighters and the ladder trucks have only two firefighters. Cranston has six stations, with six engines and three ladders.

Our next stop was Warwick Station 2 which houses Engines 2 & 7, and Ladder 2. Just as we pulled up to the station, Engine 2 and Medic 2 responded on a medical run. I entered the station through the open bay doors, but could not find anyone around. I got a station photo and a fairly good indoor shot of Ladder 2 and poor shot of a new ALF engine.

We stopped at a Wall Mart across from the station to look for film. Nothing that they had was any good and the prices were out of the world. We proceeded down Highway 1 towards Home Town Buffet and Sam's Club. We stopped at new Warwick Station 8, near the Theodore Francis Green State Airport (Providence International). The WFD Special Hazards unit is also quartered there. Just as we pulled up it started to mist and a short time later it began raining. There was an interesting rig parked in a business next door to the fire station. It was a dark gray-blue colored WLF Hi-Ranger Snorkel with all but he snorkel removed from the rear end. I got a photo of that also.

We drove by the airport and kept driving down Highway 1. We passed Warwick Station 1 as it was pouring rain. I didn't even try to get a photo of the station. The Warwick FD has eight stations with nine engines, three ladder trucks and the special hazards unit (heavy rescue).

We found our way to the Home Town Buffet (exactly the same as Old Country Buffet) and had a nice filling meal. They offer many more food items here than they do back home. I was pleasently surprised at the food choices here. We got gas before we headed back to the unit. It was already 1500 hours and it gets dark here around 1630. Just as we got in the car from our meal, Tac-9 Radio was broadcasting a report of a third alarm somewhere in the Boston area. The transmission was pretty broken up.

[Note: Tac-9 has three radio channels members use to notify other members of working and extra alarm fires in the Massachusetts area. One channel is for west Massachusetts, one channel is for the Boston area and one channel is for the South and Cape Cod areas. I had programmed all three channels into the scanner before I left. Hopefully I'll find out where the fire was on the local news here tonight.]

We found our way back to I-95 and traveled it a short distance to the Highway 4 cutoff that takes us to Highway 138 (which brings you over two bridges- one to Jamestown and the other to Newport). Somehow, and neither one us can remember how, we ended up on southbound Highway 1. It took us a while (we couldn't figure out why we hadn't come to any bridges yet) before we realized we were heading south towards the Atlantic Ocean. We had traveled 15 miles in the wrong direction on Highway 1 (we discussed signing up for the old folks home when we got back). Somehow unknowingly, we had veered off in the wrong lane, but neither of us could remember how!

Oh well, we got to see country we had not been to before. The colors were gorgeous. We finally arrived back to our unit just after 1600 hours. We both laughed about still being capable of finding our unit without further problems.

It is supposed to be 70 again here tomorrow, but it may still be raining in the morning. We'll decide where to head when we get up in the morning and see what the weather is like. As I type this report I am still able to receive fire departments from the Providence area. The 6:00 news just reported that the three alarm was in an apartment building in Johnston, RI (just west of Providence). I know I programmed Johnston into the scanner- unless I have the wrong frequencies. I'll have to check that out. Johnston has four stations.

By the way- I just received a radio tranmission loud and clear from Taunton (38 miles away) for the first time since we arrived here. Taunton is a very old city some very old fire stations. One of their six stations is claimed to be one of the oldest in the USA still in use. Taunton is just south of Brockton on the west side of Highway 28 on the way up to Boston.

That's all for now

P.S. I should add that there are a number of other large suburban departments near Providence, RI. Besides Cranston, Warwick and Johnston (mentioned above) there are also the following: West Warwick, 3 stations; East Providence, 6 stations; Pawtucket, 5 stations; North Providence, 3 stations; Seekonk, RI, 3 stations; and a number of other departments with three stations or less.

Day 6 - Newport

Monday, November 11, 2002

When we got back to the time share last evening and I sent the Day 6 report I got an e-mail from Peter VonBergen relaying pager info on the Johnston, RI 3rd alarm fire. For some reason, I was either not monitoring (maybe when we stopped at a Target store briefly) or for some reason was unable to pick up the Johnston FD frequency.

We were only about 10 miles south of that incident when it came and like I explained in the Day 6 report were unable to hear clearly Tac-9 radios report of the fire. Oh well, it was pouring and the wind was blowing like crazy at the time. The TV video last night showed a top floor of a 3-story senior citizens residence pretty well involved with some flames through the roof. About 100 residents were displaced due to that fire. One Johnston firefighter was also injured slightly.

Last night I also got a phone call from Ron Pearson (back in the Twin Cities) to let me know that Corresponding Member George Kramlinger had seen the trip reports on our club website and was attending school in Newport. Ron gave me George's phone number and we had a very nice chat. George gave me a lot of info that I didn't have and filled me in on some of the Newport FD history and operations. George is staying on Fort Adams and has a fantastic view of the harbor and the Claiborne Tell Toll Bridge, which is spectacularly lit at night (George told me the bridge was named after a deceased senator here).

We discussed a variety of fire buffing topics and he told me he would contact a good friend he had on the Cambridge FD in case we went back up there (which we might). I should mention at this time my appreciation to EAA Member Dave Freedman for posting my reports on our internet site. If it wasn't for those postings, George and I would never have known that we were only a few miles apart.

The weather was raining off and on all night. At times it rained very hard. Radio reception from the Providence area was very broken at best. I did not hear any fires overnight, although I heard a number of alarms being transmitted in Cranston (they were very busy last evening).

When we awoke today we decided to stay put in the Newport area as there was a 60% chance of rain here, in Providence and in Boston today. We went to the office and changed our appointment for our meeting with the time-share people from Tuesday to Monday afternoon. We bought tickets to see "The Breakers," one of Newport's largest and almost unbelievable mansions.

The original "Breakers" was actually a wood and brick summer home built for the family of Cornelius Vanderbilt II (an extremely wealthy railroad magnate) and was completed in 1877. This house was destroyed by fire (while the family was present) in 1892. In planning a new summer home, Vanderbilt commissioned Richard Morris Hunt, who had designed the family home (which had "set new precedents in scale and sumptuosness" on 5th Avenue in New York City. The new "Breakers" would become supreme to all the other stately mansions on Newport Island (there were no bridges back then).

Cornelius Vanderbilt insisted that the new "Breakers" was as fireproof as possible. The steel reinforced masonry structure in sheathed in Indiana limestone. An enormous heating plant beneath the caretaker's cottage was joined together with the basement of the main house by a wide tunnel. Several hundred tons of coal could be stored at once in the underground boiler room.

We drove to the Vanderbilt "summer cottage," opened in 1895, which is a four-story mansion with 70 rooms, with 33 of those rooms set aside for resident staff and guests. In the very center of the mansion is an unbelievable two-story high 50 foot-square open "great hall" which has huge glass doors on the ocean side, which open the room up to a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean. "Spectacular" does not convey the beauty of the very delicately decorated room. It is hard to believe that it took only two years to build the entire mansion (I couldn't fathom building the great hall alone in that amount of time). There were 2,000 artisans doing the work, however. This is the only mansion in Newport that there are no known statistics of cost. It is estimated that it would have cost approximately $5,000,000.00 in 1895. My first statement to Karyle as we walked into the great has was "No one should be this rich!"

We took the one-hour guided tour ($15.00 each) and each time we walked into another room our mouths nearly dropped open at the splendor, artistry and craftsmanship. The entire mansion was originally equipped with its own fire alarm system and there was an in-house telephone system to call between rooms and to summon staff. At the time, there were no telephone systems yet connecting home to home.

Lights were mostly electric, but many had gas backups (we were told electricity at the time was undependable and at times very noisy). Each of the family bedrooms had it's own very large bathroom with both ocean water (heated and unheated) and well water (heated and unheated). Each bathroom, besides having solid marble bath tubs, also had a much smaller bathtub or "sitz bath" which could be used after riding horses for lengths of time to relieve a certain part of the body.

It is hard to believe that this "cottage" was a summer home and only used eight weeks each summer by the family. There was, of course, a reduced full-time staff just to keep up the grounds and protect the property. The family traveled by boat to the summer home as bridges were not erected until much later. Ferry service from Jamestown was the main routeof travel to the island from the west until 1969 when the two-mile long Claiborne Tell Toll Bridge was opened.

Another unbelievable fact is that there were hundreds of these mansions on Newport Island that were demolished during World War II as their values had plummeted as most boats were conscripted for military service. We were told that mansions that cost $5,000.000 to build that were sold for as little as $22,000 during the World war II. What is sad is that many of these homes were demolished.

We just had time after the tour concluded to get to the meeting for time-share holders about the changing to a points system. As usual, they tried to convince Karyle to buy more time to get more value out of her vacations. The deal is that now if you turn in your designated weeks they become points, which can be used for acquiring weeks/days in timeshares/certain hotel chains, for acquiring airfare tickets, or for use on car rentals. Karyle did not buy into the program and keeps her weeks, which still may be traded.

Just for attending this "sales meeting" Karyle was given a bonus week to be used before October of 2003 at certain times in certain areas of the country. We looked over what was offered and there were not a lot of places we'd care to go during those certain times.

After the meeting we stopped back at the time share for a snack before heading out for a tour of areas of Newport we had not yet seen. We stopped at the Naval Base here as George Kramlinger had told me that they had opened a section there for observation of Veteran's Day to view two Naval destroyers that were in port. It was hard to get good photos of the destroyers as we were parked near the water and they are rather ominous in size- to say the least.

After viewing the destroyers we stopped at a shopping mall nearby looking for souvenirs (and film). We ended up eating an early dinner at a very nice restaurant in the mall. Following dinner we headed downtown for some souvenir shopping before they closed their shops around 6pm.

It rained briefly a few times today, but remained totally overcast all day. It only reached the mid 60s here in Newport, but Providence was supposed to hit 70 today, an all-time record high for this day.

Tomorrow we may head out to Cape Cod if the weather looks good when we get up. It is 102 miles from where we are to the tip of the cape. We will need to head back north to Fall River to catch I-195 which heads out towards the cape.

That's all for now.

Day 7 - Newport to Jamestown

Tuesday, November 12, 2002

We both slept in rather late this morning. I was up at 0730 and then I thought I'll just catch a few more winks- yeah, until 0840 hours! We ate breakfast in the unit and talked about what to do as they said it would be raining by afternoon. We headed back towards the "Breakers" mansion to get some video and photos from that ocean side of the area. We walked along parts of "Cliff Walk" which runs for miles along the ocean along many of the stately mansions. We took some photos, some video and watched surfers trying to take advantage of the waves (they're not as good here as they are in California).

We headed through downtown Newport and stopped at Station 1 when I saw Engine 5 and Engine 3 parked beside the station. Engine 3 has Continental name plates on three sides of the cab, which is probably a Duplex cab. It is listed as a 1978/1990 Continental. The nameplate on the back was from Greenwood Fire Apparatus. After I got a few photos we headed out to Goat Island (a small island just west of Newport connected by a small, two-block long bridge. We took some photos and video looking back towards Newport and then looking west towards Jamestown Island.

We then decided to head over to Jamestown Island and look around. There are many gorgeous homes along the water as you come over the bridge into Jamestown. Karyle videotaped the trip across the bridge. We then drove all the way around the island, which we were surprised to see, is not as populated as we thought it was There are large vacant areas in the middle of the island.

We headed back to Karyle's unit for lunch. After lunch we headed up towards Portsmouth, on the north end of the island. We stopped at the Middletown Fire Department Station on the way. All departments on this island have full time paid firefighters (3 Newport Sta's, 1 Middletown Sta, and 1 Portsmouth Station).

I asked a firefighter inside the MFD if it was OK to look around at the apparatus. He said it was fine and that the other rigs would be back soon. Sure enough, within five minutes both Engine 33, a Medic rig and Engine 36 returned. I got photos of those rigs. Engine 33 is a 1990 Duplex/Maxim, one of the last two pumpers Maxim built at Middleboro. They also have a 1990 Duplex/Maxim 100-foot rear mount aerial (they report the last aerial ladder built by Maxim at Middleboro, MA). Because the station was filled with apparatus, I was unable to get a photo of the ladder (I'll try again before we leave).

We then headed up to Portsmouth on the north end of the island. We went by their station but the doors were not open and it was just starting to pour rain. We went over the Hope Bridge into Bristol, RI. Bristol is a small city on a finger with water on three sides. It has a very old-fashioned all-volunteer fire department and operates out of five fire stations (one is paramedic rescue only).

The companies are all named and three of the stations are located very close together. The "Dreadnaught Hose 1" Station is a block east of Highway 114 with Engine 4, Ladder 1 and the Special Hazards Unit. The "Eveready Hose 2" Station with Engine 2 (built in 1881) is located just two blocks east of that. Rescue 2 & 3 Station (paramedic volunteers) is located a few blocks north and a few blocks east of Engine 2. The "Hydraulion Hose 1" Station with Engine 1 is in a fairly new station on the northeast end of town. The "Defiance Hose 1" Station, with Engine 3 and 5 is located on the northwest side of town.

I was unable to raise anybody at the Hydraulion or Defiance houses, so when we headed back through town we stopped at the Dreadnaught station, which had some chief's vehicles parked outside. I went in the unlocked side door and was met by someone in work clothes and introduced myself to him. He said he'd get one of the "probies" to show me around, as "that's what they live for." He shouted upstairs to Peter and all of a sudden these two young kids come bounding down the stairs like they're on the way to a fire. Peter and his energetic friend took me around to see the apparatus (a fairly new KME engine, a Freightliner Special Hazards unit and an older E One 100-foot rear mount aerial. The kids explained to me that Dreadnaght Engine 4 was a very hard company to get on. You have to be invited by a member and then approved by all the other members.

I asked them about the red, white and blue center lines down Highway 114 through town and they explained that it marks the July 4th Parade route. They continued that Bristol has had a July 4th Parade on that route for 214 consecutive years. They also said that if it wasn't raining out, they'd love to pull all the rigs out so I could get photos. I thanked the two exuberant youth for their help and as I left the station, the two "probies" ran back up the stairs as if they were on another run.

We headed back south on Highway 114 over the Hope Bridge back to our island. It was still raining when we went back by the Portsmouth station so I just got s station photo. By the time we returned it was starting to get dark. We decided to call it a day.

That's all for now.

Day 8 - Newport, R.I.

November 13, 2002

The other night I talked with Extra Alarm Association Corresponding Member George Kramlinger who had read on our EAATC Website that I was in Newport, RI. George is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force and has been studying at the Naval War College here since June. He called Ron Pearson after seeing my reports on the EAATC site and Ron called me up and gave me his phone number so we could talk.

Last night, we were finally able to get together for the first time here. We spent almost two hours talking about the Newport area and, of course, fire buffing. We traded information back and forth regarding the Twin Cities fire services and departments on the east coast. It didn't expect to meet any fire buffs in Newport as I had looked in Visiting Fireman for local buffs and came up with no hits. To meet another buff here in Newport was quite a surprise- especially in that the buff was an EAATC Corresponding Member.

I got an e-mail from EAATC Member Peter VonBergen last night explaining that Retired Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell (who the 1969 Newport Bridge is named after) is still alive. Sorry about the erroneous early demise of the former senator.

It poured here last night- for hours. When we awoke this morning it was still coming down pretty good. We each looked out the windows of our bedrooms and rolled over and went back to sleep. It was windy outside and only about 46 degrees.

We had a late breakfast in the unit (not out on the deck) and lounged around until around noon. Then we headed for "The Elms," the former mansion of coal magnate Edward J Berwind. The original "Elms" was a Victorian cottage on the same sight, and was purchased in 1888 by Berwind. In 1899 he commissioned today's much grander mansion, a close replica of the chateau d'Asnieres near Paris, France built for the marquis d'Argenson in 1750.

We paid the $10.00 fee to tour the mansion and were each handed headphones and a small unit (about the size of a cell phone) that plays a guided tour (with music) of the facility. There are also a number of options available that go more in depth on family members, parties, artwork, and history. It was the first time I have taken a tour with one of these devices. We had a little trouble at first coordinating when to push the buttons to move to the next room so Karyle and I were hearing and doing the same thing at the same time.

It was a most interesting tour. It would seem that these early mansion owners were on a competition of one up-man-ship when they built their summer palaces here. It was interesting to hear that the house was occupied by his wife for the eight weeks in summer and that Edward J. Berwind normally only spent weekends there during this eight week period of time. This house was also nearly demolished in 1962, when the Preservation Society of Newport County raised the money to purchase it. The sculptures and artwork were obtained the world over. This tour was $10.00 per person.

We stopped back at the unit briefly before heading to the Grand Newport Casino on the north end of the tourist area. We were looking for a nice buffet like you see in many of the casinos back home. The Newport Casino only had video gambling machines and a small restaurant. The place was so full of smoke that we left in short order.

We headed back to the nice restaurant we had eaten ate a few nights before. After that we went shopping for a few food items we needed back at the unit. It was still raining and the wind was still blowing. After dropping off the food items we went to do a little souvenir shopping in one of the many shopping districts here. We were the first sale of the day at one of the stores (which had been open since 10:00). I felt sorry for the sales girl- talk about a boring job.

We ended up back at the unit just as it was getting dark. We viewed the CD-Rom I had purchased at the "Elms Mansion" earlier in the day. The CD had many of the mansions that could be toured and offered a narrative, music and views of many of the rooms in 360-degree video. I thought it was well worth the $19.95 price.

I have been able to monitor the Providence area the last 24 hours even though it is a little broken from time to time. I have not heard any working fires- the rains here may have put many of them out. Pawtucket had a small basement fire in a house early this morning according to Providence channel 10.

During the day today, I heard Providence firefighters notifying dispatchers a number of times that they were going to test box number so and so at location so and so. Dispatchers would tell them to proceed with the test. I assume these are the small pull boxes that I saw in most of the establishments we were in while shopping and looking for places to eat the other day.

I didn't take any fire-related photos today. We drove by Newport Headquarters a number of times today and didn't see any rigs outside. I am still missing photos of Newport Engine 1 and Ladder 2, but I am sending the rest today. I'll try sometime tomorrow to get those rigs.

Our plans are to travel to the Cape Cod area tomorrow. It is supposed to be about 58 and sunny. We'll take that!

That's all for now.

Day 9 - Newport, R.I.

Thursday, November 14, 2002

I was able to monitor Providence area departments throughout the night. I did not hear any working fires (I slept pretty soundly). There was a surprise awaiting us when we awoke this morning- the sun! We quickly got our things together and by 0900 hours we were on our way to Cap Cod.

We drove by Newport Stations 2 and 1 hoping to get the old Maxim tractor-trailer aerial (Ladder 2) and Engine 1. We struck out at Station 2, but Engine 1 was parked outside at Station 1. I finally got its pix. We then headed to Goat Island, where there is a remote control camera atop the Hyatt Hotel that can be operated on the internet. I had called John Gust at Hiawatha Golf and asked him to get on the internet site for this camera and zoom in on the bridge.

When we approached the bridge, I called back again to let the golf course know we were coming into their image. John Gust was able to follow us over the bridge, where we got out of the car and waved at the folks back home. It sounded like they got a big kick out of it at the golf course.

We headed up Highway 138 through Middletown and Portsmouth and then caught Highway 24 into Fall River where we got on I-195 for most of the way to the Cape. We drove through New Bedford, which looked very industrial (they have 8 stations with 7 engines, 3 trucks and a heavy rescue). I wish we had time to stop as it looked like a rather interesting town.

We ended up oh Highway 25 for a few miles when I-195 ended and soon caught Highway 6, which starts out as a two lane freeway and then goes down to a one lane limited access road (with no passing). We passed through Borne, Sandwich and Barnstable before getting off near Hyannis.

We found the Hyannis FD without much trouble. Their Heavy Rescue was parked outdoors and a firefighter pulled out their aerial tower (the last Grumman tower KME built they said). Hyannis has one very large station in service. They operate four shifts with approximately 12 firefighters on-duty per shift. A very nice firefighter helped us plot the Kennedy compound on the map for us. He also told us that they had a second station that was in operation during President Kennedy's tenure. That station is now closed and used for storage only. The department used to standby each time the Presidential Helicopter came in for a landing at Hyannisport.

We stopped at a local Mickey D's for a snack on the way. We eventually found the Kennedy Compound and got a few pix. It is an interesting group of homes all tucked together down near the waters edge in Hyannisport. Apparently we were either too early for lunch or too late for breakfast as no one invited us in.

Dejected, we found Highway 28 and headed east out the cape. I got station pix at Yarmouth Stations 3 and 1 (volunteer), Dennis Station 2 (volunteer) and Harwich Station 1. As Highway 28 was only 40 mph with many stops and 25mph zones, we decided to go back up to Highway 6 to make better time. We got off Highway 6 when the limited access area (50mph) ends in Orleans. We stopped at the Orleans FD (yellow apparatus with white striping). A very accommodating firefighter pulled out all their first-line rigs so I could get photos before they got a run. From what I'm told they have a very good mutual aid plan in effect in Barnstable County.

It was almost 1330 hours and we were still about an hour from Provincetown (tip of the Cape). We decided we wouldn't attempt to get all the way out to Provincetown. Instead we drove down by the water in Orleans. We were both surprised and disappointed at the limited public access along the ocean and bays on Cape Cod. There are very few roads that you can travel and get very near the water. Most main roads are a good distance from the water.

We got back on Highway 6 and drove through Brewster, Harwich and Dennis before getting off in Yarmouth. We went north to Highway 6A, which we found out was a very winding narrow road with almost no sightlines of the water. When we got in Barnstable we found a road that brought us down to a parking lot on Barnstable Harbor. To be honest, we were very disappointed with the view there also.

We found out way back to Highway 6 and got off again when we reached Sandwich. We stopped at Sandwich Station 1 and I got photos of their aerial tower and Engine thanks to a very cordial firefighter there. The department builds its own woods firefighting units out of military surplus four by fours (there are a lot of woodsy areas on Cape Cod- way more than I ever thought there would be).

I asked the firefighter how they came up with the county numbering system and he couldn't give me an answer (the Sandwich Engine is Engine 451 and the Truck is Ladder 450). I was amazed at how far many of the fire stations were apart on The Cape. Some cities, like Brewster, only have one station to cover approximately 24 square miles (even though there is a lot of water and woods that makes for some very long runs).

It was already 1500 hours and the sun was low on the horizon. We drove in Highway 6A and caught Highway 25 to bring us back to I-195. By the time we got back into Newport, the suns blazing orange ball had disappeared on the western horizon. I wish we would've had more time to get all the way out to Provincetown- maybe next trip. The weather today was mostly sunny with highs in the low 50s. It was an interesting day, however (even though we were snubbed by the Kennedy's). Maybe we should have called first?

Tomorrow morning we check out of our unit and head back to the Hartford, CT area for the night. On Saturday afternoon we catch our return flight (with a stop in Cincinnati).

That's all for now.

Check out this web site to see all the FD's in and around the Cape Cod area- http://www.capecodfd.com/PAGES%20Main/StationsPage.htm

Day 10 - Newport, R.I. to Hartford, CT.

Friday, November 15, 2002

It was a beautiful morning as we checked out of the Newport Onshore this morning. The sun was shinning and it was already 52 when we left around 0900 hours. It was kind of sad to have to leave such a beautiful area. We both really enjoyed it, even though we had a couple rain days to contend with. There are so many picture postcard vistas in and around the Newport area. Due to the rain, we'd weren't able to get as many picturesque views of the area to show you. We did take some interesting video on a couple of days that should be interesting to see.

Our journey would take us over the Newport Toll Bridge and the Jamestown Bridge and then across Rhode Island on Highway 138. We got over the water without Karyle hyperventilating (she doesn't like tall bridges) and found our way down Highway 1 to where Highway 138 begins again. It was very slow going from there on- literally. The speed limit along Highway 138 ranges from 25-40 mph- and that's it. You go through one little town after another. The scenery was very nice with some nice homes in heavily wooded areas. But, the road winds up and down with much of it a no passing zone. We were supposed to travel 138 all the way toI-395 and then follow the 2 Freeway into Hartford.

We lost patience with Highway 138 early on. While it was a pretty drive, it actually gets very monotonous. It is hard driving with all the cross traffic and stopping. When we got near I-95, I looked at the map and decided there is no way we were going to wind our way through a bunch more little towns like we just had. Even if it was out of the way, we decided to take I-95 to Highway 9 and then head north into Hartford. I'm glad we did as we may still have been on that roadway at nightfall.

Highway 95 has many spectacular views overlooking the many streams that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Many times you can see the ocean. We followed I-95 to Highway 9, which runs along the Connecticut River for a few milesand affords some very nice views. We followed Highway 9 until we ran into I-91, which takes you directly into Hartford. As we got closer, I started hearing Hartford dispatchers sending out assignments. Calls are preceded with high and higher pitched alternating fast tones. Dispatchers give the address first and then follow up with the companies assigned.

We got off the freeway at the first exit in Hartford and stopped at HFD Station 10. The area seemed very nice with most of the homes in very good shape. Engine 15 was also in the station as their roll-up door is on the fritz. They took Engine 10 out so I could get a photo (Engine 15 is identical).

We looked for a Mickey D's or similar for a rest stop. When we couldn't find one nearby, we returned to Station 10 and sitting in front of the station is the Tac Unit (Heavy Rescue and manpower unit that runs city-wide on full assignments). We used the facilities and I got a pix of Tac 1.

Then we drove by Stations 9, 15 and 1 before stopping at the Connecticut State Capitol for some scenery photos. The park area in front of the capitol is very nice with a band shell, a large outdoor carousel (boarded up for the season), large tree lined grounds and a few nice athletic fields. We headed by the Headquarters Station, which is now only occupied by Tac-1. We headed to Station 8 and Engine 8 was just returning when we pulled up (they were using an old spare Sutphen pumper). I quicky jumped out of the car got a couple slides, but couldn't get the digital operating before they had backed into the station.

We headed to a nearby Home Town Buffet (Old Country Buffet's in MN) and had a very nice lunch. I got behind some old lady and "father time" (it seemed like he had all the time in the world anyway) between two of the food carousels and I couldn't move. I couldn't figure out why father time wasn't moving as he had his back to me. Then after the old lady moved I saw that he was eating off his plate while standing between the two carousels (Uff dah!). Apparently it was so good he couldn't wait to sit down.

Our next stop was Hartford Station 11. They pulled their Sutphen Tower (Ladder 5) out for me to get photos (it had recently been refurbished). Then they pulled out Engine 11 without my asking. They also told me that Engine 8 was getting a new Ferrara engine sometime today.

We only had four stations left to get on the north end of the city before heading to our motel in Enfield (near the airport). We drove by Stations 5, 14, 2 and 7 in a rougher looking section of town with a lot of large vacant apartment building and duplexes. I jumped out of the car and caught Engine 2 just leaving from shopping. They had a very compact Mack MR rig.

I had not intended on making it to all of the Hartford Stations, but it was very easy getting around here and the stations are fairly close together. I must thank my navigator, Karyle, for helping me (and allowing me) to visit all of Hartford's stations. Karyle seemed pretty comfortable with most of Hartford, until we got to the last four stations on the north end of downtown. She was a little up-tight as we traveled through that area of town.

Just as we were leaving Station 7, dispatchers put out a full assignment for Engines 2-14 and 5, Ladders 3-4, the Tac Unit and Battalion 2. The run was to smoke in an apartment building on Woodland Drive. I started to head back to where we had just come from and within about 30 seconds the dispatcher notified companies that workers had caused some smoke with their machinery. There went my chance to get a bunch of fire- rig photos.

We turned around and got on I-91 and headed up to Enfield, about 15 miles north of Hartford. We checked in around 1430 hours and unloaded the car. I had 3 shots of slides left and I went into a nearby mall and paid $10.00 for a 36-exposure roll of slide film- Uff Dah!

We still had an hour and a half of daylight, so we headed up towards Springfield. We ended up driving by the Basketball Half of Fame (again) and didn't stop. We kept going up I-91 past Chicoppee and took I-391 into Holyoke. What an old and interesting city that is. Talk about large commercial buildings. We drove what turned out to be "Old" Station 2 (now just used for storing reserve apparatus). As we were driving to Station 1 we happened across new Holyoke Fire Department Headquarters (about three blocks north and a block east of the old Station 2) at Commercial and Hampshire Street.

Holyoke closed both Stations 1 (Headquarters) and 2 within the past year and combined the companies into a very nice new complex with Engines 1 and Ladder 1 from Station 1 and Engine 2 from Station 2. Ladder 2 (from Station 2) has been moved to Station 5. Holyoke now operates four stations with five engines and three truck companies. We drove by Old Station 1 and got a pix there before heading back to our motel.

I was unable to get any digitals in Holyoke as my digital camera was locked up. The batteries were very warm, like it was trying to do something constantly. I was finally able to get things working after returning to the motel and puttsing around with the thing for awhile- thank goodness.

We are staying at a very nice Red Roof (where we stayed the first night we arrived) in Enfield with two shopping centers and a number of restaurants (and even a Home Town Buffet). It was an absolutely gorgeous day here today- sunny and in the low 60s. We had our windows open all day and didn't need jackets. In fact, we contemplated turning the air conditioner in the car on- in November.

We leave here tomorrow at 1:35 pm with a stop in Cincinnati. We are scheduled to arrive home at 6:45 pm at MSP. It looks like the weather should be good for the flight.

That's all for this trip. Thanks for riding along!