Re: Hoping to connect with old friends -- Franconia College Forum

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Date Posted: 13:15:17 01/30/14 Thu
Author: Robert
Author Host/IP: 71.230.22.72
Subject: Re: Hoping to connect with old friends
In reply to: Howie 's message, "Re: Hoping to connect with old friends" on 23:04:49 01/29/14 Wed

Hi Bill, Craige & Howe,

As we communicate I am able to match faces to names of some FC students and remember events.

I do remember Francis. Back then he was known to me as "Franny". I met him through Bill and Francis and I became friends. He graduated with us in 1973. At our graduation he played the bag pipes and was dressed the part. My mother and father were very impressed with his preformance as were all of us.

They were but two of the many family and old friends from my home town of Haverhill, MA that came see the first of the "Croston Clan" to earn a college degree. All of them were amazed by the warm reception my fellow students and faculty showed them at our little college in the heart of the White Mountains.

Back in the summer of 1992, I drove my little yellow and silver Lotus Super Seven from Philly to the North Counrty. Note: I built the Seven from band new Caterham component parts in my garage in 1987. My former girl friend and I went up I-87 to Glen Falls. I remembered that Francis lived in Ticonderoga and almost drove up there to see if he was around. But it was getting late and my girlfriend was restless from the long drive in an open sports car. I pushed on to find a B&B across the boarder in Vermont. The next day we drove to Franconia, visited the old campus site and next headed for Berlin, checked into a motel for the night.

It was the 4th of July and we found that the nice folks of Berlin were celerbrating in grand style taht night, with firworks, beer and food stands. We were quick to join, we ate, got drunk and I got lucky!.

The next morning I desided to test the Seven and my driving ability by tackling the Mount Washington Auto Road. So far we had not put up the top on the Seven, non did I want to on the Mt. Wash. Auto Road. So, in Berlin I bought two sets of full rain gear. We were a sight: A man and a woman dawned in bright yellow rain gear that matched the yellow nose and fenders of a tiny silver sports car with a large sky blue water proof bag straped to the rear mounted spare tire. The bag was filled with most of our gear looked like a folded parachette. Note: the boot of the Seven only has enough room for an Awol bag and a 6-pack. As we ascended the mountain there was a light rain which cleared the further up we drove. The veiw was spectacular as was the sear drop off. We made it to top with great relief. Keep in mind that the Seven has no doors and you sit a mear 6 inches off the ground. After lunch at the top we drove down and headed for my brother's home in North Hampton, NH.

I hope to have fully rebuilt the Seven by this summer and drive it to the North Country once again. Maybe this time I'll get visit with my old friend Francis and other FC folks in the area.

I also remember Howie, Your right, our paths never really crossed for some unknown reason. That said, if I am not mistaken you offten wore a long US Army overcoat and had black curly hair and a full beard. I believe you were in charge of the FC radio station, WOMB! One of the station DJs was a black student named Eric Williams. He and I stayed in touch for many years up to about 1990. At that time he was a freelance video newsman in New York City.

It is always hard to stay in touch with friends when you move around the county as many times as I did. From the time of my graduating from FC until today I lived and worked in nine different States around the country. I have visited most of the lower 48 and ten different countries.

During the last few years, like many of us I've become more rooted. However, I do drive my Ford Ranger up to New England at least once a year to visit family.

About once a year I take one long train trip. I stopped flying after 9/11/2001. Last year I took a train to my first Indy 500 and visited Chicago. In 2011, I traveled by train from Philadephia to Toronto on Amtrak, then on Via Rail across Canada to Vancouver, high speed ferry to Seattle and then down the west coast to Sacramento. Heading home I took Amtrak trough the Rockies to Chicago, then to Washington DC and finnaly back to Philly on the Accala. The trip lasted three weeks, I visit many interesting places, made new friends and hooked-up with old friends. I had a really great time. Total cost for everything around $3,500.00. I only travel first class on trains these days because a private room, shower and meals are included, its so much more civilized.

Looking forward to getting together.

Robert

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