Trees for the Forest
We spent a good part of day four driving to our new destination. It was exciting coming "home" to Hampton Roads for the first time in four years. Everything was familiar, yet different. We have spent a good hour total having the following discussion: one of us..."Oh look! That's new." The other..."No it's not, we went there twice before we moved." Suffice it to say, it's pretty amazing how places change over time.
One thing we can both agree on, is that we do NOT miss the traffic. Yeesh.
We came here to visit the old house, see the neighbors we miss, go to tour battlefields, forts and possibly Colonial Williamsburg. We have been here almost two days now, and here is what we have done....
Nothing.
What it is about a forest? Oh wait, let me digress. See, we are staying in Newport News Park. One of our favorite old camping haunts. It is about 10,000 acres of forest, lakes, trails and just generally beautiful. Right in the middle of things, but away from everything.
We have spent the last two days marveling at the beauty. Catching fireflies and naps, fishing, biking for miles and checking for ticks. We haven't been to battlefields, but we did ride our bikes to what was George Washington's headquarters during the civil war. We saw several deer early in the ride and Nathan was calling to Bambi for much of the rest.
It rained yesterday for hours off and on, but that just gave us some needed down time. We played games with the kids, Noah started a trip journal (which is apparently going to consist of a single incomplete sentence per day- sigh), and we made some berry cobbler. Laundry got done too. What's a vacation without a little laundry?
Last night before bed we discussed all the things we haven't done. How we're completely and irreparably off schedule. But none of this is a bad thing. We're finally starting to relax. No one is bored. We're excited to see family, see DC, see...whatever we end up seeing.
Right now though, I'm going back out to see the trees. Taking my coffee for a walk in the woods.
Trees
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Friends
Days two and three behind us and we're becoming seasoned road trippers and campers now. The kids were delighted to find out that we actually WERE going somewhere and that there would be friends and fun. The whole first day of driving, and stopping, and shopping, Nate expressed his chagrin repeatedly saying, "THIS is not camping Mommy." And indeed it was not. However, when we lumbered into Camp Lejuene late on the second day, the newest camping scene unfolded.
My dear friend allowed us to change the landscape of her front yard for our visit. We started out in the more than adequate length driveway, only to realize we couldn't hook up our electricity unless we were closer to her house, much closer. We then proceeded to back on an angle, into the grass, and r-i-g-h-t up to her front step. "Hi! Haven't seen you in years, mind if I park in your foyer?"
But as it turns out, good friends don't care where you park your camper when you come to visit. Whew.
The kids. Oh my goodness the kids. Did you know, that children start out small and grow to gargantuan proportions at a high rate of speed?? Apparently I did not know this, because the sight of my best friends children after four yours was shocking. It literally brought me to tears. They are so grown and beautiful, and we're so...old. (Not that you look old Paige, you look like a spring chicken my dear.)
Age and grown children notwithstanding, we had a blast. We talked, we laughed, we ate yummy food. We rode horses at midnight with the kids and stayed up to the wee hours. During which wee hours we talked and laughed some more. And there might have been more eating. Berry cobbler I believe it was.
It was tough to say goodbye. We promised each other we wouldn't wait so long to see each other again, like we always do. The kids didn't want to say goodbye either, but it was off to new adventures. I am buoyed entirely in the knowledge that good friends will always be there, will always be the same person you loved then and are truly one of the greatest gifts in life. Even the ones who park in your foyer.
My dear friend allowed us to change the landscape of her front yard for our visit. We started out in the more than adequate length driveway, only to realize we couldn't hook up our electricity unless we were closer to her house, much closer. We then proceeded to back on an angle, into the grass, and r-i-g-h-t up to her front step. "Hi! Haven't seen you in years, mind if I park in your foyer?"
But as it turns out, good friends don't care where you park your camper when you come to visit. Whew.
The kids. Oh my goodness the kids. Did you know, that children start out small and grow to gargantuan proportions at a high rate of speed?? Apparently I did not know this, because the sight of my best friends children after four yours was shocking. It literally brought me to tears. They are so grown and beautiful, and we're so...old. (Not that you look old Paige, you look like a spring chicken my dear.)
Age and grown children notwithstanding, we had a blast. We talked, we laughed, we ate yummy food. We rode horses at midnight with the kids and stayed up to the wee hours. During which wee hours we talked and laughed some more. And there might have been more eating. Berry cobbler I believe it was.
It was tough to say goodbye. We promised each other we wouldn't wait so long to see each other again, like we always do. The kids didn't want to say goodbye either, but it was off to new adventures. I am buoyed entirely in the knowledge that good friends will always be there, will always be the same person you loved then and are truly one of the greatest gifts in life. Even the ones who park in your foyer.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Day of Discovery
We left almost 24 hours ago now, on a road trip adventure only the Allgood's could have conceived of. Sixteen days, 3900 miles, camper, kids, bikes...margaritas.
The plan was fluid, flexible and fun. The reality has been, well, so far it has been one discovery after another.
They say you learn something new every day. Some days, you might learn more than others. Here are some things I've learned in the last 24:
If you don't finish packing the night before you leave? You might not get on the road until 2pm your first day out.
Starbucks has an app which will locate any Starbucks in a 50 square mile area based on your current location. It can also tell you that you have $0.00 on your Starbucks gold card.
Port Orange has a lovely Super Target with a marginal Starbucks.
The only campground you are staying in with a pool, will have the pool closed during office hours, which don't occur until three hours after checkout. Your children may be disappointed.
There is a 6 foot tall chicken at the campground in Walterboro, SC. But their pool is not open much on July 4th weekend.
A 386 mile, 5.5 hour drive will take 10 hours.
There will be more potty stops than you expect.
The cap will jiggle loose from your bumper and your sewer hose will fall out somewhere on the highway. Duct tape will remedy that and look very fashionable.
The front axle weighs 3080 lbs, the rear axle weighs 4080. For a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 7160. The truck maximum GVW is 7350. Good thing I lost 60 lbs...
Four bikes on a bike rack hanging from your trailer bumper will break the welds and begin to tear your bumper right off. Fortunately, you will discover this at the first nights stop before losing bumper, bikes, spare tire and killing anyone who might've run into it.
In car video screens and DVD players are a good, good thing.
If your toddler tells you he's not done going to the bathroom, and you wipe him anyway, you'll have to do it again.
There's a town named Coosawhatchie. I extend my sincere condolences to all individuals who must list that on their resumes, marriage certificates, and Facebook pages.
The camper weighs 8360 fully loaded. The truck is rated to pull up to 13,500. Well, at least we did THAT right.
This Pro Pride 3P hitch was worth every single penny. Thank you Sean.
Just because there is a Krispy Kreme sign on the gas station doesn't mean they have Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Go figure.
Loves travel center has an app which tells you where every Loves in America is, as well as indicating the current gas price. They sell aspirin for the headache that gives you too.
A Ford F150 Eco-boost with heavy duty tow package towing an 8300lb travel trailer gets about 13mpg.
No matter what snacks you pack, the ones behind the glass of the vending machine will always be more appealing to your children.
Fireworks viewed from the side lot at a Hardees in SC, doesn't have the ambience of Disney, but they are still beautiful, and the kids love it.
Sleeping in our own bed after a day on the road is awesome.
The plan was fluid, flexible and fun. The reality has been, well, so far it has been one discovery after another.
They say you learn something new every day. Some days, you might learn more than others. Here are some things I've learned in the last 24:
If you don't finish packing the night before you leave? You might not get on the road until 2pm your first day out.
Starbucks has an app which will locate any Starbucks in a 50 square mile area based on your current location. It can also tell you that you have $0.00 on your Starbucks gold card.
Port Orange has a lovely Super Target with a marginal Starbucks.
The only campground you are staying in with a pool, will have the pool closed during office hours, which don't occur until three hours after checkout. Your children may be disappointed.
There is a 6 foot tall chicken at the campground in Walterboro, SC. But their pool is not open much on July 4th weekend.
A 386 mile, 5.5 hour drive will take 10 hours.
There will be more potty stops than you expect.
The cap will jiggle loose from your bumper and your sewer hose will fall out somewhere on the highway. Duct tape will remedy that and look very fashionable.
The front axle weighs 3080 lbs, the rear axle weighs 4080. For a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 7160. The truck maximum GVW is 7350. Good thing I lost 60 lbs...
Four bikes on a bike rack hanging from your trailer bumper will break the welds and begin to tear your bumper right off. Fortunately, you will discover this at the first nights stop before losing bumper, bikes, spare tire and killing anyone who might've run into it.
In car video screens and DVD players are a good, good thing.
If your toddler tells you he's not done going to the bathroom, and you wipe him anyway, you'll have to do it again.
There's a town named Coosawhatchie. I extend my sincere condolences to all individuals who must list that on their resumes, marriage certificates, and Facebook pages.
The camper weighs 8360 fully loaded. The truck is rated to pull up to 13,500. Well, at least we did THAT right.
This Pro Pride 3P hitch was worth every single penny. Thank you Sean.
Just because there is a Krispy Kreme sign on the gas station doesn't mean they have Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Go figure.
Loves travel center has an app which tells you where every Loves in America is, as well as indicating the current gas price. They sell aspirin for the headache that gives you too.
A Ford F150 Eco-boost with heavy duty tow package towing an 8300lb travel trailer gets about 13mpg.
No matter what snacks you pack, the ones behind the glass of the vending machine will always be more appealing to your children.
Fireworks viewed from the side lot at a Hardees in SC, doesn't have the ambience of Disney, but they are still beautiful, and the kids love it.
Sleeping in our own bed after a day on the road is awesome.
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