Mystic Seaport, Fredericksburg, Savannah

We got an early start and were excited about our trip to Mystic Seaport. We were also very excited to find RV parking. The girls wanted to see the role players and mom wanted to go on the sailboat and explore the village. We arrived in couldn't find role players and finally found the boat rental place that said they only rented on the weekends. We were slightly perturbed when we also found out that there were only real players on the weekends. We managed to save the visit in explored the very ship of the Morgan. We left Mystic and headed to Fredericksburg stopping at the black----, A diner, drive-in and dives. We arrived very late in Fredericksburg at the KOA.
We got an early start for Fredericksburg and went straight to the Fredericksburg battleground. Colbie had fun doing her Junior Ranger book and also got a Junior Ranger centennial book so she could get a badge and a patch. We explored the site walking the sunken Road in feeling the bullet holes in the innis house. We left the battlefield and went downtown to a red sun rising tavern where they had role players depicting life if you came to stay in there tavern. It was very interesting but we had to sneak our pictures. We tried to go to a restaurant that was closing early and okay food but as we looked around and realized Fredericksburg is not the nicest city. We decided to head out of town to stonewall Jackson shrine that was actually very interesting. They had the actual bedframe he died in and the quilt at the end of his bed. Things got a little complicated again when we called to check in with our RV park and they would not let us come in late. After many phone calls we finally decided we had to make it all the way to Savannah. We drove until two or three in the morning but it turned out better to be in Savannah when we woke up so we could head straight to the city.
We got an early start in Savannah and went straight to the shopping on Broughton Street. Kate spade, Victoria's Secret, the Paris market, etc. Every time we tried to turn towards the water and go see the waving girl we found more shops. We finally made it to the waving girl and waited on the boat to wave to. We hopped on the trolley and went to The Devenport house, the Candy kitchen, and ate pizza at Vinnie Van go-go's. After pizza, we went to Savannah slow ride for our 6 o'clock ride. They had to move us to the booze and ghost tour cruise from the historical one because there were not enough people. We weren't really sure about it but hopped on our seats ready to pedal and when the girl turned up the music really loud and squealed out of the garage, we knew we were in for a fun time! We were singing and peddling and soon drinking as it was a pub crawl complete with drinking games and ghost stories. If someone took a picture of us or started dancing to our music we all had to drink. Also, when we came to a stop we had to drink. Our tour guide was a lot of fun and the girls had a blast. It's a short four hours to home and has been a great trip!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:N US Highway 441,Ocala,United States

Newport Mansion

We had another early start today, not as early as yesterday but we were still running a bit late. We had to return the car and drive an hour into Newport to see the Newport mansions of Rhode Island. We knew that parking was it going to be easy but it was near impossible. We ended up about a mile away from our 10:30 servants life tour at the Elms. The girls already in the head and barely made the tour. Kevin miss most of it getting things together and paying for parking but he didn't seem to mind. Dimensions were so amazing words would not do them justice. The servants live tour was great and read and dad about 10 minutes before it ended. We took a self-guided tour of the Elms and realized there was no way we were going to see five mansions before 5:00. We walked very quickly to the biggest and most impressive one, the breakers so that we didn't miss that. We zipped through the self-guided tour of the Breakers and had 45 minutes to make it down to marble house which was about a mile away. We started out on foot since the RV was not really Moveable and made it with plenty of time. The marble house was also unique in that the whole thing was made of marble. We finished the tour and walked along the beach Cliff want to see the images from the water. They were so huge and the attention to detail is beyond words. We had promised Kayla a trip to Alex and Ani but were too far away to walk so dad came and picked us up in the RV. He dropped us off down at the wharf and called a little bit later and said he was in the motorcoach parking at the Breakers and couldn't come back downtown. After an Uber fail, we hailed a cab and went to find dad. Everyone was hungry so we decided to park in the grocery store parking lot and try dinner. Dinner was great and we have now found our campground for the night. Tomorrow we continue to head south to Fredericksburg with a stop off at Mystic Seaport.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Bradford Ave,Portsmouth,United States

Martha's Vineyard

Today started very early at 5:00 AM. We had to catch the 6:30 ferry from Woods Hole into Vineyard Haven. We actually made it and everyone woke up with the cool air of the ocean winds on the ferry. I might mention we were the first one in line and only one of two cars on the boat. Their big season hasn't started yet The girls were so excited and we made it to Martha's Vineyard around 8:30 and went straight to the art diner where we got one of the last tables left before their long breakfast wait. It was awesome as usual and we started meandering our way to Aquinnah to see the Clay Cliffs and the lighthouse. We were a little early for the Lighthouse so we went down to the beach for a walk and Colbie discovered the water was very cold. The lighthouse finally opened at 11 and we climbed it and explore the area. Things got a little testy so we had a quiet drive over to Edgartown. We realized the day was going by quickly and we needed to go ride the Flying carousel with the brass rings in Oak Bluffs. We cut over to Oak Bluffs and we're really only doing it because Antoinette insisted. We were a little crazy with how many people were in Oak Bluff but there was a parking spot right in front of the carousel. We all went in and got on and the girls loved collecting the silver and brass rings. Kevin one the first one when he pulled the brass ring so of course we got a free ride. The other Kevin, Kayla, one the second one with the brass ring. They were trying to take the brass ring but the workers were on them so we only managed to come home with some silver rings. We hopped in the car and headed to Edgartown. Once again, we had a great time shopping on Edgartown and walked out to the Edgartown lighthouse after eating at among the flowers. The winds when we went out of the lighthouse door on top were really enough to blow us away!! We were about 2 1/2 hours from sunset so we got in the car and headed back to the other side of the island to Menemsha for fresh lobster off of the boat and what was promised to be a beautiful sunset. It was really getting cold so we started to bundle up. We got the fresh lobster and it might've been the best one yet. We bundled up and warm clothes and towels in huddled on the beach about an hour before sunset. A few minutes later, we were under the towels in a pile trying to stay warm. Callen insisted this was great fun and made us stay until the sun finally set to prove we could do it. We made it in a soon as the sun popped down under the horizon, we all ran to the car and turned on the heat. We headed back to Vineyard Haven for the 930 ferry in minutes to get on the 845. We stayed in her car on this one because it was too cold. It was another great trip to Martha's Vineyard.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

We started our day driving into Cape Cod to rent a car. We went ahead and checked into the RV site near Falmouth so we could take the car for the day. When Mommy got in the car, it was dirty and not acceptable. We checked into the RV park and returned to Enterprise for a new car. Happy, we drove up to a family favorite in Plymouth, Mass. Plimoth Plantation is a living history museum and the coolest is the 17th Century English Colony. The people are role players portraying the actual residents and are eager to tell about theirs lives no matter how shocking. The view was beautiful even on another drizzly day and the chickens roam free, even into the modest houses with dirt floors. Everyone was excited and Colbie was so cute leading us through with the map. We quickly went through the Wampanaug site as the Indians aren't always pleasant to visit with or look at. We hit the gift shop for tea and fudge and went to the 17th-century English Village. The girls loved talking to the role players and thinking of questions to ask them and hearing their stories. It rained off and on while we were there but we are now used to it. We found out the Mayflower was in Plymouth so we decided to go see it. It just arrived back from being refurbished on Monday and has been gone two years. It will only be here one year and then it will be gone again for more work. We want to quickly through the Mayflower and heard more stories of life on the passage. We also saw Plymouth rock but it was cold and rainy so we decided to head into Falmouth. We had a great time shopping in Falmouth and ate at a great Italian restaurant with waiters and both boys that were very easy on the eyes. As soon as we sat down, they seem to always have a reason to walk past our table. We ended the evening with a very long chat with our new friend Antoinette who gave us tips for our day tomorrow and even her phone number as she is very familiar with Martha's Vineyard. You never know what awaits you behind every corner. Dad finally came in to look for us as she was talking our ears off. Everything from Martha's Vineyard to tips on college professors and gave the girls advice. She told them no matter what their parents will always be their best friends! I agree!















I can fill a room but I can also fill a Barrell with 500...? Candles
Stronger than 10 men, longer than 10 men but 10 men can hold it upright...rope


















Cute busboy!


Antoinette


Our shopping haul
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lucky Catch

Today was another fun day as we woke up early and drove into Portland for our lucky catch lobster cruise. We had to park at in Walmart outside of town and get in Uber in as there is no parking in the city. We arrived just in time to go to the restroom and then get on the boat. The captain was very nice and went to highschool with Amanda Reed. We got suited up in our aprons and gloves and started pulling traps as we left the bay. We saw forts and also 8 lighthouses which made mommy happy happy. The girls had a great time filling the beanbags with fish and eating the traps before we threw them back out. When the captain pulled up the traps, you could see the lobsters and crabs in them. He taught us how to measure them and let everyone measure to see if we had any keepers. The girls thought he looked like Dennis Quaid. We found one lobster that was already marked as a female that had eggs so she was a breeder and safe for her whole life. When we were done we got to choose our lobsters to walk over to Portland lobster company where they would cook them for us. The girls thought it was fun to leave the boat with the wiggling lobsters and Colbie dropped hers once on the dock and once on the boardwalk. Thankfully he did not get away. The fun was over when the plates came out and it was time for lunch...they were somewhat disgusted but the lobsters were definitely the best we have ever eaten.












































- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Pinewood Rd,Plymouth,United States

Whitewater Rafting

So we woke up and got ready for our rafting trip. We were very hesitant because it was 40*... We went anyway and bought some undershirts before we got suited up in our full wetsuits and booties. The bus ride was about an hour to where we put in. We tried to be tough when we had to carry the raft ourselves down to the river but it was really heavy!!!









The rafting was really fun and there were a lot of III and IV level Rapids on the first half. The water actually warned us up as it was warmer than the air temperature!! We were fine until we stopped for lunch and then the cold sit in. We had a little campsite by the river but it took some time to get the fire started in some of us were worried about getting hypothermia (Callen). We eventually warmed up a little bit and had a great lunch. They had hot chocolate, steak, chicken, stirfry and a veggie burger for Kayla. They also had pasta salad with bread and butter. We cleaned up and got back on the river for a leisurely float down to the takeout. Even though we got to change into warm clothes back at the bus, we didn't feel like we were truly warmed up until late in the evening. We started our drive to Orchard Beach and arrived just in time for some pizza and a big trip to the candy store down by the water. We were south of Portland. The RV park was very nice so we did some laundry since most of her clothes were wet from the river.















Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Pinewood Rd,Plymouth,United States

Greenville, Maine by Moosehead Lake

We woke up and left Acadia and headed to northern Maine in the Moosehead Lake region. We were a little nervous the closer we got because we were bigger than most of the houses. We never would have thought driving here that we would find Uggs at the Trading Post and fight over delicious crepes on the street in front of the Cafe Crepe food truck.



We went to the tour place and got in the van that would take us up to the lake to look for the moose. All geared up and in our canoes, we started to paddle and saw nothing. The lake was beautiful so all was not lost. We got out of the canoes and decided to look for the moose by car. Our tour guide was very serious about finding a moose. It was almost dark when we spotted one. We decided to get out on foot and go look for her. As we were tiptoeing through the woods very quietly it was difficult to make out all of the motions the tour guide was making so we were unsure of our next move. We were supposed to follow her hand signals, not talk and only walk when she walked. We decided to get back in the car and look down the road. Finally, we saw two of the elusive Maine moose and all was well. Tomorrow we will be at Whitewater rafting in 40° weather.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Shirley,United States

Acadia-Cadillac, Jordan and Bass Light

Our second day at Acadia had a little bit later start but we learned how quickly the weather can change. Our first stop was back to the Visitor Center where we would look for a ranger that would be easy to sweet-talk into a badge and patch for Colbie even though we didn't do a Ranger lead tour. Poor cute James never saw us coming and after a short video, he went through Colbie's book page by page and was so impressed with everything she did. He also said he would not have taken a nine-year-old on the Beehive. Well, we didn't figure that would get us parents of the year but gave ourselves high fives as he swore her in as a Centennial Junior Ranger of Acadia national Park. We were back on the road and headed to check Cadillac Mountain off of our list because everyone said it is a must see. We were a bit surprised when we got to the top of the tallest mountain on the eastern coast at how cold it was there. The rain and fog were back so we quickly took our pictures, went for a quick hike and got back in the car. Next stop, Jordan pond. We were going to walk around the pond but the rain was pretty much sticking around. We arrived and got a table for the famous tea and popovers and also had lunch. Dad said he was walking to the pond anyway so feeling guilty, we got ponchos and went along. When we had our fill of Jordan pond, we got in the car to head over to the "quiet side" of Acadia National Park. We saw the most photographed bridge in Maine in Somesville and the famous Lighthouse on the coast, Bass Harbor h
Head Light. We had fun walking on the rocks once again trying to get a good shot of the lighthouse. Kayla and Kevin left a little more in the woods on the quiet side then was there before they arrived. Getting a little tired of the rain, we decided to head back into town for dinner on our last night in Bar Harbor. We had a great dinner, strolled through the town, pretended to be British and shopped a bit more. Tomorrow we head north to Moosehead Lake for sightseeing and rafting.










































- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:County Rd,Bar Harbor,United States