Days 23 - 28

So yes it has been too long since our last post, but hey we have been having a good time. Also since most of our writing has been while we have been driving, and we haven’t been driving much that also helps our cause!

I am writing this on Day 29. It has been a week since the last post so lots to catch up on. Unfortunately I am going to make this a short-ish post and summarize.

Day 23 – 25 (NYC)

While in NYC we visited some of Mayzie’s old friends, visited the Empire State building, took the ferry to Staten Island (allowing a cheap, but close, view of Lady Liberty), ate proper New York pizza, ate in Chinatown, had decent bagels, showed the kids where Mayzie grew up, visited Coney Island, flew a kite, escaped a sandstorm, visited Times Square, and faced certain death every time we drove! I even heard a story about Mayzie which I will not easily forget. Thanks Allison. ;)

The kids are driving us both nuts. I think 4 weeks should have been the max time we spent travelling. Although in retrospect for having been in the car for 5,000 ish miles they are not doing so bad I suppose. It’s probably more that Mayzie and I have had no break from them. With the exception of the nights we spent in Phoenix, we have all shared the same room/tent as well as the car and obviously meals. We need some time away from them!

Day 26

We left NY and headed to Connecticut to see Mayzie’s old friend Corie. Bloody traffic! Although I have figured out how to tame idiotic California drivers. Put them on the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway. They were more scared than I was, and realized that the road did in fact have a right lane which they were able to use. J Speed limits in NYC are more pointless than most other cities. 55 mph limit in a construction zone and I was the slowest (except the CA drivers) at 75-80! Also, we found out that in heavy traffic, Tim does not bother waiting for the restroom anymore. We have regressed to using pull-ups.

We arrived at Corie’s, did more laundry and relaxed. Who knew pizza with baked ziti on it was an actual menu item? Turns out it is – as we accidentally found out. We were also united with our pre-ordered bumper stickers, although Corie did not realize we had had them delivered to her and called up the company to complain. Luckily for us she didn’t send them back.

Day 27

Thank you Corie for your hospitality!  After leaving CT we headed through Massachusetts where we had some locals waving and commenting on the car. All were positive comments. On through to Vermont with a brief stop in New Hampshire (more positive comments), and on to the camp reunion.  We affixed the final few bumper stickers.

Do people really pick this stuff up?

Only a few people were there at the time we arrived, so we drove up to the “Lean-to’s” (sketchy drive up the hill and through the mowed meadow) and pitched the tent and set-up for the two nights of planned camping. Back down to the meeting venue and on to “Rick’s” for dinner. Here there were more “Hearts Benders” and Mayzie got re-acquainted with her fellow campers/counselors. There was even a non-camper that Mayzie recognized, but still does not know where from. What made this equally weird was this other lady recognized Mayzie too, but no idea where from either.

Since the kids were getting antsy, we left dinner early, and headed to bed.

Day 28

We left the tent, and headed to breakfast at a local bakery. After breakfast we drove into town, picked up some supplies, and headed back to camp via Mayzie’s house which her parents have in VT; in South Newfane. This was also where we lived for a short period of time.  We were also married in S. VT almost 14 years ago.

Unfortunately S. Newfane was ravaged by the floodwaters of tropical storm Irene last year. The roads and river banks were so different than what they were last time we were here. The bridge across the river to Mayzie’s house had only recently been replaced. The road to the house had been washed away so a new one had been driven. The house was, surprisingly still standing, and initially didn’t seem too damaged. However, the floor was all buckled and the whole place stunk of mold. There were dead mice in the house but nothing else in the house seemed affected.

Back to camp we headed, and hung out in the field by the marquee while we waited for more people to return so the festivities (drinking) could begin.

Mayzie went to the car to get something, and on the way back tripped. We ended up here:

And this is why:

(Fractured Ankle)

She will be on crutches for at least 4 weeks. Not looking forward to the airport and flight. Bugger. The little trip to the hospital was actually quite nice as we had left the kids at the camp, and finally had some time together. L We returned to the reunion site and since camping was now no longer a viable option I returned to the tent site and packed up the car, and Mayzie and the kids had some food. We said our goodbyes and headed out.

A message was sent to our friends in Jeffersonville to see if we could arrive a day early. Since we know the Hills, our old neighbors, we kinda figured it wouldn’t be a problem, but were still waiting for a response when we left cell coverage. Having not heard from the Hills by the time we were about halfway we started calling motels and hotels in the general vicinity of where we were going – just in case. NOWHERE had vacancies, and still no response from the Hills. Perhaps they were out for the night?

We continued toward Jeffersonville with the mindset of if the Hills were not home we would just camp in the front yard. Fortunately Jessica called us when we were about 20 minutes away, and approved our early arrival. We got the kids to bed, and we were not too far behind.