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Montreal, QUEBEC to Brunswick, MAINE
By John | July 20, 2009
Isn’t it truly amazing that as we go through life, just occasionally – so very occasionally, the answer can be found to vexing questions that have plagued us for more decades than many would be prepared to admit to?
In my case, it has been the origins of the ear-muff. For years, I’ve wanted to know who invented it and I’ve dearly wanted to shake the hand of the man (or woman) who brought us this useful piece of winter headgear. As of yesterday afternoon while Tom Walling and I sat outside GIFFARDS ICE CREAM PARLOUR in Farmington, Maine – the answer to the ear-muff issue was revealed to me by Tom with disconcerting clarity. In fact, I’m not sure what surprised me most of all. Was it the ‘catering’ size dollop of vanilla and chocolate chip that slowly dribbled through my fingers – or was it the startlingly frank revelation by Tom of the ear-muff’s origin that held my attention the most?
Even now, almost 24 hours later, I can’t say I’m absolutely sure – perhaps 50/50 – but if ear muff origins have troubled you as they have troubled me – including sleepless nights and visits to therapists included, I can now reveal the name of the ear-muff inventor was no less a person than one Chester Greenwood. In fact, if you should ever visit Giffard’s emporium of frozen milk (and other goodies) and sit facing the road with the neighbouring gas station on your left, you can actually see Chester’s former home!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, wow!
The property’s not entirely hidden behind the trees but it does have a curious Dordogne style turret on one end of the house – and that’s where the old devil lived. Who knows, maybe he used the turret for critical ‘field trials’ before going into production with it?  I must say that my eventual return to “uncle jack” were with euphoric footsteps as at long last, I’d found the answer to one of my dreams.
 So why is John waxing so lyrical about this, you may ask? Put it down to the fact that we did quite a number of miles yesterday and both “uncle jack” and I endured some of the worst road surfaces in the early part of the trip that the Drive this far has uncovered. Ergo, perhaps a ’state of shock’ is more likely to be the answer – and that is why the chocolate chip restored a sense of proprtion to my shattered senses?
Left Montreal at about 09.30 and the plan was to meet Tom at Derby Line (the Visitor Centre) on the interstate just on the US side of the frontier. Getting past the frontier was a relief in itself because the last 20 odd miles (sorry, 35 odd kilometres) of the trip through Canada was utterly appalling. Winter weather, heavy trucks and possibly lack of funds have created a road that defies description in terms of broken black-top, potholes and collapsed verges. “uncle jack” tried this at varying speeds and we eventually settled on 55-80 which the GPS told me was just over 60mph – 103km/h in new money. For the unaware, 55-80 is “uncle jack’s” speedo needle not being able to settle on a particular true speed, so he’s chosen to give himself (and me) a choice!
But past the frontier, we progressively passed through some utterly glorious countryside of Vermont, New Hampshire – and finally into Maine itself. Stopped for occasional pix of the Presidential Mountains (including Mt. Washington) and concluded the photographic odyssey with a few pix of the lake which (Tom says – and I entirely believe him) was the inspiration for that delightful film starring Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn called “On Golden Ponds.” Taking in all this local history and past happenings was getting close to overload when Tom gave me another priceless snippet. “See that house over there, on the far shore? That was the very first ‘fat farm’ where Elizabeth Arden – of cosmetics fame – made her name!”
Anyway, after a truly delightful and memorable day of stupendous views – and many miles, we all arrived at Tom’s home where Wendy had prepared a delicious and most welcome meal. Valuable conversation throughout the meal – and then bed, during which time my subconscious mind wanted to explore the history banks of why the British motor industry moved from Whitworth to BSF and later, UNF. This is another of the issues that trouble me 
Hope you enjoyed the pix of the last shot of Canada, a view of The Presidential Mountains – and the “On Golden Pond” lake. I’d wanted to put them in the middle and at the end of this post but somehow, the website editor had other ideas! Sorry.
Note from Tim Buja – editing the code under the website moved these pictures to where I think John wanted to place them. Thanks to all who have uploaded their photos to Flickr. If you haven’t seen them yet, go to the Triumph TransAmerica group page at:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/triumphtransamerica/
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