Day 7 - June 4, 2012

Day 7 - June 4, 2012

Ashbury Park, NJ  - Hartford, CT  - Norwich, CT

3 ¼ hours/183 miles  -  40 minutes/40 miles

We are cold!!!!  As I write this, it’s 52 degrees and freezing!  And the weather forecast for the next couple days doesn’t look promising.  There’s a reason the summer season doesn’t kick in till after the 4^th of July.  O.M.G.  it’s cold.

We left NJ around 10a.m. and honestly, we had an easy drive (after help form BernadetteJ).  Rained the whole way, but no major traffic.  We got to Hartford in 3 hours and went right to the Mark Twain House.  (This was a mommy thing.)

The check–in was rough…the kids were giant PITAs…seriously.  (PITA=pain in the ASS).  The guy who was handling the ticket purchase actually suggested that I may want to reconsider, because there was a lot of information being dispersed by the tour guides and interruptions and distractions were not appreciated.  Seriously, he said that.  Well, a major (the cold and tired part) of me wanted to tuck my tail and bail…the other part thought, “screw you!”  My kids will be just fine.

Of course, I then threatened their lives.  Seriously…I told them they better act like they were on a school field trip, with their teachers (as opposed to their mother, how sad is that?), and if they didn’t…there’d be no more trips to the pool, for the rest of the trip.  I stressed to H&A that they better worry about themselves and stay out of B&C’s way.  I was a freakin nervous wreck. 

Then, we started the tour…guess who was tour guide?  Yup…the guy from the ticket counter.  He wore red pants, with a red and white striped shirt (think candy striper, and it was not a uniform) and had long hair to his shoulders, with a round face (that actually reminded me of my dad’s face at 25 years of age).  He was full of himself and Mark Twain….and did not like interruptions.  He was particularly irritated when two different cell phones rang during the tour.  I was on pins and needles, because I’d given my cell phone to Bear, so he could watch YouTube (on silent) while we toured.  It was like sitting on a keg of dynamite.

We made it, though!  Without incident!  I said as much too the guide as we exited…and he just smirked at me.

Then we headed to the state capitol….which was gorgeous.  We went inside and I was immediately accosted by people asking me to take their pictures   Apparently, there was a big swearing in of new lawyers who were admitted to the Connecticut Bar Association and they all wanted their picture taken with their families, their certificate, in front of some legal eagle statue.

Then we headed to Norwich, which is where our hotel is & we encountered more rain.  I’m not sure if it was the rain, the temperature, or the yelling form the back, but I got in a really bad mood…kids were seriously testing me.  Then we made a grocery store stop for supplies…and they acted like they’d never been in a darn grocery store before.  So, I took all TV and technology away for the night.  We got to the hotel, unloaded, and then I visited the Courtyard (by Marriott) bar…they all have the fancy bar now.  I ordered a Cosmo to go.  The kids are doing their school worksheets and/or reading a book.  No pool tonight.  Dinner from the Marriott market (doesn’t appear to be a lot of other options nearby, this seems to be a one horse town).  Early to bed, as we are going to Bean Town tomorrow, which should be fun, touring in the cold rain…

Bear getting his Twain on

Mark Twain's Home 1874-1893

His neighbor, Harriet Beecher Stowe's home

Fab Four freezing

Con. State Capitol

Day 6 - June 3, 2012

Day 6 – June 3, 2012

Rehoboth  Beach, DE/Cape May, NJ/Ashbury Park, NJ

85 minutes by Ferry & 2hours by car/126 miles

We got up really early, because I wasn’t sure what it would be like getting my car onto a ferryJ.  (Turns out to be an easy task).  We had breakfast at the world’s slowest Starbucks, evah, and then got to The Lewes Ferry Dock before 9.  Since we were so early, we were on the 9:15 ferry, and it wasn’t crowded.  It was easy to literary just drive on, park the car, and find a table (so we could play Uno).  About 10 minutes into the trip – I felt queasy…I don’t know what has happened to me in the last decade – but I get motion sickness very easily.  So I dragged the kids on deck – they were too cold, so they dragged me inside, I was gonna hurl, so we went back outside…and repeated the cycle & before you know it – we were in New Jersey!

We drove to the beach in Cape May to try and see the lighthouse - but it was far away (you can barely see it in the pictures).  Then we drove along the beach road and I was very impressed.  So clean and cute and the houses…omg…HUGE.  I kind of have an arrogant view of beach towns, after growing up on Cape Cod and then Naples…but there are a lot of pretty beach towns in this country. 

We found the Ugly Mug Salon and ate lunch.  I used to work with a bunch of guys (in Lauderdale at Shooters/Pier 66) who were from Cape May and Wildwood and they told wild stories about the place…finally made it.  Problem was, it was noon, on a Sunday and I was towing four kids!  Needless to say, it didn’t have the vibe that had been described to me years agoJ.

We shopped a little and then headed north.  The plan was to stay just outside Atlantic City and then walk the boards…but I had a funny feeling when I pulled up to our hotel.  A little scary.  Thank God for smart phones….ten minutes later I had a new ressie and was heading north to Ashbury Park.  We’re at a Residence Inn and it is awesome.  The people are so nice!  They have a laundry room (coin laundry), so I got to do some housekeeping chores…although the task was not without folly.  It’s been 20 years since I did laundry that way and I had to make multiple trips to the front desk for help – both due to human error and mechanical malfunctions. 

After laundry and swimming we head to Ashbury Park.  I can’t quite explain what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t what I found.  Let’s just say it was very interesting….  It was rainy too, so it added to the gloom.  I found the Stone Pony, where Jon Bon Jovi got his startJ, but there was a huge rainbow flag waving in front and lots of cop cars.  Something was going down.

We drove through McDonalds and headed back to our temporary crib.  TNT movies tonight (Mathew Machoney night).

The Cape May Lighthouse

Big Beach Mansions

Par-tay...not.

Strolling in Cape May

Ashbury Park, in the rain.

Day 5 - June2, 2012

Day 5 – June 2, 2012

Rehoboth Beach

Last night the weather was wild.  Lots of rain and according to the weather report, Rehoboth Beach was under a tornado watch for most of the overnight hours.  It was overcast and chilly in the morning, so we walked over to Rehoboth Avenue again, for coffee and donuts.  Then we cruised the boardwalk, as the sun teased us with a game of in-and-out ( and we) decided what to do.

We finally decided that a cold day at the beach is better than no day at the beach.  Ginny drove over and joined us.  The kids were very good, much better than the early years at the beach.  Unfortunately, the "no swimming sign" was up again, so they had to make do with just getting their feet wet.  Audrey and Camden buried bottles of sun block in the sand – all the while gathering new friends.  Hunter and I took turns bringing Barrett back from food-stealing missions.  He tried to take one couple’s pizza (on the beach?) and succeeded in scoring some French fires from a group of teenage boys.

After a few hours at the beach, Gin and I took the kids to putt-putt golf, which was fun.  Then it was an early dinner before bidding Gin & Martha adieu.  Kids are watching some Disney movie and I am pre-packing for tomorrow’s departure.   We’re taking the ferry (car and all) to Cape May.  Wish me luck…I am nervous about this leg.

Donuts on the boardwalk

No swimming

Gin & I

Cammy & Audrey and some new friends

Bear did not care for putt-putt

Day 4 - June 1, 2012

Day 4 – June 1, 2012

Philadelphia, PA – Rehoboth Beach, DE

125 miles/2hours, 15 minutes

We made it out of the Philly hotel without incident!  Yeah.  I was nervous.  Very nice hotel, not so nice for families with young kids.

We passed the Monster Mile on the way down to Rehoboth Beach.  For those of you who are not NASCAR fans, it’s the Dover Speedway, where the race is this weekend.   Needless to say, Hunter was very excited.  I could not believe how many RVs there were, all with flags flying, surrounding the speedway.

Unfortunately, the weather is not that great, its overcast and they‘re calling for rain.  We reached the beach and hotel by noon and it was a ghost town.  Kind of chilly, too.  The kids wanted to swim in the pool and they didn’t last long. 

We strolled along Rehoboth Avenue and looked at all the fun stores.   Then we had a (late lunch) and Ginny and Martha met us and continued walking the Avenue with us.  When we got back to the beach, the sun was shining and it was packed!  Still cold (for me) though.  We rushed back to the hotel to change and by the time we got back to the beach, sun was gone.  They also posted the “no swimming” flags, sooooo….not sure what that means for the rest of the weekend.

We chilled out at the hotel , before dinner.  There’s a huge convention here and it’s very, very interesting.  Early dinner and drizzle on the way back to our room. 

Gettysburg has followed us.

Beach ghost town.

Grand Ginny & Martha brought the sun.

Overcast again....

Day 3 - May 31, 2012

Day 3 – May 31, 2012

Gettysburg, PA-Philadelphia, PA

152 miles/3 ½ hours (traffic and Valley Forge Detour)

Another great night for sleeping.  We were up at 6:30 and had a lazy morning with breakfast bars from home (no free buffet at WyndhamJ) and baths.  We hit the road by 9:00 and it was an easy drive.  When we drove by Adamstown (where Grand Ginny lives), I surprise called her, but they were about to hit  the road for Rehoboth, so we’ll see her tomorrow.  We got to Valley Forge before noon.  It is a smaller, less crowded venue than the Gettysburg Park.  We made it in time for their noon movie (the museum itself was not much), which was more boring than my grade school Social Studies’ films!  Hunter’s own Social Studies book was more engaging on the topic.

We drove through the park, which, once again…gorgeous.  The Memorial for the fallen soldiers was unreal.  We toured Washington’s head quarters during the encampment, a very nice stone house, which was in stark contrast to the small log cabins scattered throughout the camp, for the soldiers…talk about the 1% living better!  I made the mistake of commenting on this to the tour guide, and she jumped all over me!  “General Washington did not live here alone, his generals and members of the First Continental Congressed stayed in the house with him.”  Oops. Sorry.  But still…

Headed to Philly, little bit of traffic and then we were in the heart of the city – our hotel, a Courtyard, is right across from the Philadelphia City Hall…which isn’t all that cool, because it was very crowded and with all of our luggage and my system of unloading, etc.  The doorman (a doorman!  At a Courtyard!) graciously let me do my thing, while he entertained the kids…the bellman (at a Courtyard!), backed off too…phew.  Here come the Clampetts.  And if I had a $1 for each time I heard, “You have your hands full,” we’d be staying at the Ritz across the street.

The hotel is very nice, so I thought it was best to keep the kids out of it, so we hit the pavement.  We walked a mile to Independence Hall (encountering Elmo…literally…on the way).  Unfortunately, they sold out all the tickets for the tours today (we encountered LOTS of field trips) , so we didn’t get to go inside.  We did see the Liberty Bell.  I was so nervous about Bear, but no need to be.  The trouble maker was Hunter.  Last time I saw the Liberty bell, it was encased in a glass case.  Now, it is hanging in a pavilion, with just a velvet movie theater rope around it.  Well…Mr. Impulsive felt the need to TOUCH IT!!!  Yes…Hunter leaned over the rope and committed a Federal Crime…he touched the GD Liberty Bell!  The guard jumped, but lucky for Hunter I got there first and unleashed a can of verbal whoop ass.  The guard, for some reason, decided I was a better enforcer.

Dinner at Chili’s.  The waitress we enthralled with our road trip.  I asked the kids if they knew how lucky they were…they growled (que the eye rolls), “yes.”  I then asked them if they’d still go on road trips with me when they were teenagers….Hunter said, “By then, hopefully, I’ll have my own life.”  Are ya kidding me?

Next quote of the day, from Audrey.  She was talking about how she wanted to design t-shirts and she wanted one that said “If you’re looking for trouble?...you got the right girl!”  God help me.

After dinner, I decided to walk more…burn off everyone’s energy.  We stumbled upon a courtyard with sculptures of board game pieces…Monopoly, Sorry & Dominos…then the Philly Love statue…when I saw the Rocky museum in the distance, I could not resist.  Oh yeah!  I made them walk a mile and a half (one way and then back again) and we ran up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, while I sang the theme to Rocky…they had no frickin clue, but it was fun!

Washington's Headquarters

Elmo!  In Philly!

Independence Hall

 

Bear's having fun!

We love Sorry

 /

Rocky!  Who?  They asked

Hunter made it to the top first

Can you believe she made us walk 3 miles and run up, like a 100 stairs?

Day 2 - May 30, 2012

Day 2 – May 30, 2012

Richmond,VA-Gettysburg,PA

175 miles/3 hours

An uneventful day makes for a boring blogJ.  Apologies in advance.  We all had a wonderful night's sleep, since everyone got AT LEAST 8 hours…heaven.  Gym time, showers/baths/breakfast…on the road by 9:30a.m.

Easy 3 hour drive.  Northern Maryland is so beautiful.  Oh, there was one little bit of excitement.  We stopped at a rural 7-11 for a potty break.  I was in the restroom with Aud, when I heard a lady yelling & she kept yelling…  I poked my head out – yup, the 7-11 lady was yelling at my 3 boys.  I gave her my automatic disclaimer about Bear, and she’s like,” Not him – him!”  She was pointing at Hunter.  He apparently opened and closed the ice cream freezer multiple times, despite her requests to stop.  Shame on him, but she totally lost it. Even Audrey said, “She was a harsh.”  Sheez.

Staying at a Wyndam hotel tonight – very nice, kids keep saying it’s like the White House.  After early check-in, we went to Gettysburg and drove through the battlefield, which… wow, I feel bad saying this…is so pretty.  We climbed a huge water tower to get a birds-eye-view and you could see for miles and miles.  Eventually, we found the museum and saw a movie (which Barrett mercifully sat through for 15 minutesJ) and then experienced the cyclorama.  It was cool, but totally not worth the money.

Subway for dinner and pool time…huge in-door pool all to ourselvesJ.  Sweet.

Tomorrow, Valley Forge & Philly.

                                                 Birds-eye-view of Gettysberg Battlefield

                                  Monument to the fallen Pennsylvania Civil War soldiers

Poor Abe

Day 1 - May 29, 2012

We got off to a late start.  Left the house at 7:40, to the tunes of Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.”  After gassing up and getting coffee, we waited in the Publix parking lot for 45 minutes, for the Pharmacy to open.  Once we scored, we got on 85N by 9:45.  Despite one big accident and multiple thunderstorms, the first half of the drive was relatively smooth sailing.  When the sun started shining just south of Winston-Salem, I started to relax even more, until I saw the blue lights flashing in the rearview mirror.  Uh-oh.

I got snagged for speeding (75 mph, in a 60, but honestly thought the speed limit was 70).  My license plate being covered by the luggage carrier didn’t help, nor the fact that I couldn’t get to my registration because of all the stuff on the floor of the front seat.  THEN the officer pointed out to me that “the One in the yellow shirt” didn’t have his seat belt on.  Dang.  I whipped around…Barrett!  Hunter and I told him to put his seat belt on at the same time, when he yelled:  “BARRETT PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON!”, in his loud, annoyed, pissed-off Bear-Bear shriek.  OMG.  Officer Kent looked quite shocked.  I explained the situation.  He asked me if everything on my license was correct, and I had to confess that it was not (address) and then he returned to his car, to call it in.

When he returned, he said, “You have your hands full.” 

“Yes sir.”

“Slow down & good luck.”

Thank you officer Kent, thank you Bear!

Got to Richmond around 6:00, missing the Capitol, tour.   We did a drive-by, for pictures.  Checked in at the hotel by 6:30 and then experienced the free cuisine of SpringHill Suites, in the form of a Taco Bar.  Yum (seriously, kidding).  I was too tired to venture out.  Little swimming and early to bed.

Cumming, GA - Richmond, VA:   535 miles, 9 hours

Hear we go!

North Carolina (it was pouring whne we crossed into SC)

Notice Cammy - in his underwear...