Cape Cod, MA

Rory would like to reside here when he grows up he informed us after our visit. We spent two beautiful sunny days here playing on the beach and driving around the island. I think the most delightful activity was when we got up early Friday morning at low tide and walked along the bay of Brewster Flats where we explored the tide pools and caught hermit crabs, collected sea shells and laughed together squishing our toes in the soft wet sand.

Gallup Cemetery - CT

Along a beautiful winding road, through thick forest, with the season starting to change to autumn there is a little, old cemetery. It was a very reverent and solemn morning as we walked through our ancient Gallup resting place stopping to read a name and wonder about his or her life. Our boys were very respectful.

Verona, NJ & New York City

Almost a month spent in one location. It was a nice contrast from the rest of our trip so far. The Caldwell ward here became our little extended family as we got to know them through our friendship with Dallas and Kim Jensen and their boys. The Jensen's were in a transition of their own as they were embarking on a new life in Raleigh, NC. We, along with the Jensen's family and friends, helped them pack up and move. It was a great way to rekindle a longstanding friendship and build new memories. We are so grateful for the time we were able to share with Dave and Jan Jensen, who housed us, fed us, gave us good suggestions for our visit to New York City and Dave's generosity in flying us over the Hudson River for a terrific view of the NYC skyline at night, breathtaking! Dave also took our boys up in his plane for some touch and go's one Sunday afternoon. There are so many cool things to see and do in NYC that a month still wasn't long enough, some of our favourites were; Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park, the Empire State Building (no sign of the peach!), our friend Tracy Versluis, Greenwich Village, the art parade in Soho, Brooklyn Bridge, making paella for the Jensen's, and a beach day at the Jersey shore.

The Nation's Capital

Washington D.C. is full of great, free, educational fun. Ken and Laurie Curtis, Caitlin's parents joined us for this portion of our adventure. We enjoyed the Natural History Museum, Lincoln Monument, Washington Monument, National Zoo (best zoo we've ever been to!), National Aqurarium (not free and not very good at all - skip this one), Native American Museum, National Archives (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and tons more!), Bureau of Engraving and Printing where the paper money is made and the White House. We also celebrated Ewan's 4th birthday with a cake, piñata and the new Ratatooi movie.

Outer Banks - NC & Virgina Beach

These were a couple of really cool beach days along the Outer Banks and then on Virgina Beach. The waves really beat up Rory and Liam who were the most adventurous on the boogie boards. We met a guy on the beach in Virgina who had a great recommendation for camping near D.C., he used to manage Pohick Bay Regional Park and gave us the number. We reserved some space straight away for us and Caitlin's parents.

East Dismal Swamp

Yes, this is really the name of this place (a state park). We hadn't stayed in a swamp up until this point and thought it might be a cool experience. If you should ever have this thought in the middle of summer in North Carolina don't entertain it. There are bugs!

Cape Fear - NC

We took a couple of beach days in Florida before heading in to the Carolinas. We ended up having more trailer problems as we pulled in to Wilmington, NC.
As we stopped for petrol and were just passing through when upon routine inspection of the trailer, we discovered things were not well. The wheel bearing on the other wheel had burned up so we hobbled our rig over to the Walmart and set up for the night.

The next day, a Saturday, Jared got to work tearing off the and blow torching his way into the mechanics of the wheel. He was pretty dirty and sweaty by the mid- afternoon on this very hot & humid North Carolina day when a well-manicured, older woman peered down at him working under the trailer. She asked in her sweet North Carolina accent "do you need any help?" I'm sure Jared looking up at her wondered what she could possibly do to help? He replied that he thought he'd about got it. She didn't think so and actually Jared didn't either, with his little family wondering around the Walmart trying to stay cool and hydrated. Well, Geneil (that's her name) had a secret weapon and that was her husband J.M. Caton. Caitlin and the boys came back from terrorizing Walmart to find Jared talking and making a plan for how to get us back on the road with J.M. and his friend Jim Smith and their wives. The Smith's would take us in and Geneil would go back to her house to unpack from the 2 month road trip they had just pulled in from (literally) while J.M. would stay with Jared and work on the trailer.

Myself and the boys were whisked away to a comfortable country home with air conditioning and cable t.v. while Jared and J.M. spent the whole day in the blazing heat, driving around for parts and taking the axle off the trailer. J.M. knew everyone in town or at least their grandpappy it seemed and at 2AM after the rig was finally ready to go after the Catons and Smiths had already given us their day and dinner and shelter we were invited to spend the night in the comfort of a home. We spent a very nice sabbath day at the Long Leaf Southern Baptist church with the Caton family. We thought that maybe our journey was over in NC except angels came along and showed Christlike love and care. Thank you Catons and Smiths of Wilmington, NC!

Jared: This was just about the longest day of my life. I was feeling so down with the trailer needing major work and just didn't know what to do. J.M. was a dad to me on this day when my real dad could not be present and I think that we will be lifelong friends.