Rhodes Island and Pennsylvania.o

We only got a picture of the welcome sign in Rhode Island. All we did was drive through it. We did go back while in PA to do the Cliff Walk in Newport. The trail goes along the backside of many mansions. They were impressive but in our opinion didn’t measure up to the coast scene .

In Pennsylvania, New Bedford, we stayed at an amazing Boondockers spot. The guy was a semi driver and ensured us he could guide us down his long driveway and pull through in front of his house. Thanks to his expertise we made it with out taking out any trees, or bushes or dents to our rig. Their house is beautiful with a great porch we were invited to sit at and enjoy. The kids loved the grandkids toys especially the sandbox and swing set.

We went to The Buzzards Bay Brewery. It was so peaceful with the sun just setting, kids and families all outside enjoying the warm sunset. One evening we took a walk along a jetty that has waves breaking on both sides. It was neat to be out in the dark and see the stars and hear the waves, occasionally getting some spray from them. We met a family there that invited us over for dinner another evening. They are fun and very hospitable to us and our crew. We grilled out in their yard and just spent a evening relaxing and talking.

While there Scott redid 22 bushing on our rig. We had 1 tire wearing faster then the rest. It was a lot of work but he likes doing the work himself so he knows what happens and how it all goes. God protected him and us a few times as we helped. https://adventureforth.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/img_7803.mov

Onto Connecticut to meet Cousins!

We drove through a little corner of NewYork and all we did there was get a NY Bagel!Then we made our way across Connecticut to met up with my cousin Stacia and meet her family. We also go to see my Uncle and Aunt. It had been over 10 years since we have seen each other.

It was one of the hottest and most humid weeks they have experienced in a while. We were parked at the Casino on asphalt. It was so hot. Our trailer would get up to 97 degrees during the days. We spent a lot of time wondering the casino/mall or being at my cousins.

It was a great week. We got to spend 4th of July with them. We went to a small town parade then had a backyard BBQ and then went to small group at my Uncles Church. We went my my Aunt and Uncle to see the submarine. We all went down below for the cramped hot tour. We went to Mystic CT and got ice cream and watched the draw bridge open. Scott and the boys got in trouble by 2 people for climbing a tree. Lol. We told them we are from Montana.

All the kids loved playing together so much. We had a great time and made memories to last us until next time. Hopefully it won’t be 10 years again.

Delaware

We boondocked at a great spot with great hosts. It was a fun little farming area. Jay taught me how to cook corn on the cob and shrimp in the instant pot.

We also stayed at Killens Pond State Park and the Harrington Fair Grounds.

It was a quick trip in the state. We also drove into Maryland because a brewery we went to was on the border line. We even drove back to Pennsylvania to go to a summer camp that our friend Luke told us about and to meet his friend Ben. It was a fun camp, Ben even let us all go zip lining. We went tandem with Shane and Aveyah. They were not even scared and wanted to go again.

Took mostly fun pictures of the kids and the fields and farms.

Tennessee- May

Knoxville – We went to a church in a coffee shop down town. We went to a blue grass folk festival. We also went to a NSRA car show and got to do ride alongs in the auto rally cross track.

Pigeon Forge- Grandparents and a cabin stay. Touristy town with a lot of amusement activities but we spent time in the Great Smokey Mountains ⛰

It’s been 11 months since we have seen family. We FaceTime and talk on the phone a lot but it’s not the same as being together. We sure miss them. The comfort being at our parents house, the kids being with their grandparents and cousins. Scott and I getting to be with our siblings and nieces and nephews. Staying in contact is hard and especially for the kids. They grow so fast and are always changing. BUT we get to see our family soon!!! I (Cari) will be flying to Spokane we met my new niece. I will get to be with by family. I will have Aveyah with me so they will get to see her and toddlerhood ways. Scotts parents will fly to Tennessee to be with the boys and Scott. When Aveyah and I fly back his parents will still be there so we get to see them and they get to see Aveyah and get their hugs and snuggles.

I made a separate post about being home and my niece. Find that here Plane ride=meet Niece

Virginia

What a unique place. For starters it’s mottos is “Virginia is for lovers”. What? Want to know the story behind that. Also it’s such a mix of historical events, centuries old, original colonies and modern shopping, eating and tourism. It’s green and humid, It has swamps, rivers and beaches and thick trees, farm fields, giant industries and manufacturers . And we have only seen the eastern part of it.

We stayed in Newport News and went to Yorktown and Jamestown. We will do Williamsburg when we come back someday.

JamesTown with The Chicks Life

We stayed at Pocahontas State Park which is an amazing campground with access to a pool with slides, toys, kiddie pool and all other swimming options. We met a family that was camping there who has 5 girls. They we’re there for a homeschooling convention. The kiddos all connected and played non stop. Riding bike around and around, playing at the pool and around the campground. We went to an historical settlement that re-enacted the 1700s way of life with farming tobacco, home life, gardening and cooking. The kids weeded the tobacco crops, moved dirt to cover the potatoes and moved fire wood into the house.

I don’t remember how it all happened but I know we went between Virginia, WaDc and Maryland a few times. We had to get new truck tires and have some other work done. We went back to DC to do the zoo and the Air and Space Museum super quick. It was a busy day with a lot of walking. We saw a mama gorilla with her baby, a tiger swimming, and pandas being super lazy inside where it was cool. We watched an elephant ? taking a dust bath and another one itching itself the hanging tires

Georgia ??

Savannah is awesome to tour at night amongst all the squares and statues and old churches illuminated by light. The cobblestone streets, the carriages, the architecture and the parks have a majestic ancient feel.

We also went to Jekyll Island where we first saw the Atlantic Ocean on a beach full of living sand dollars. We went to Driftwood Beach that is unique and beautiful. Caution. Do t be barefoot the shells and mussels slice your feet open. Poor Blake had some major cuts that required days of bandages and extreme care. I guess infections from those cuts can be really bad and require hospital care. We saw historical buildings that were used in the 1700’s for the wealthy prestigious folks of the time.

Some other things we did:

-Augusta during the Masters Golf Tournament. Didn’t know it was going on.

-Rice plantation where we got to tour the house, servants quarters, farm buildings and rice fields.

-Boondocked at a great couples house and went to Easter service with them at their church.

Plane ride=meet Niece

Saturday the 5th at 3:20 am I am woken up by my alarm. Yay, I get to go “home” today. The checklist in my head begins with coffee, toothbrush, power charger, bags then wake boys up. I have energy because I know that in 12 hours I will be in Spokane.

I am not the type that worries or gets nervous but I was nervous. I was nervous because I didn’t know how Aveyah, who never wants to sit still and is not quiet, would do on my lap on airplanes for hours. I also feared her running off at the airport during check in or during our layover at the huge, busy, Dallas airport. I asked my friend for ideas and made sure I had all the toys and snacks she suggested. I also had my carrier and stroller. I was armed but nervous. Her best advice was that she told me she always prays about how she wants it to go and for who she has to sit next to. So I started praying whenever I started thinking about the what if’s. Praise God the flights were just as I prayed and I didn’t have anyone sit next to us on either flight, Aveyah didn’t scream very much, she didn’t want to run up and down the isles and she stayed in the stroller at the airports. Aww. I was so thankful for the reminder to pray and allow God to work out the details that I can’t control. She ate her snacks, looked at her book, colored, napped and played on my phone. The seatbelt and safety brochure were probably her favorite things though

Saturday evening my mom when to my Brother and Sister in Laws to meet my niece. She is the smallest baby, only 5-15lbs, that I have ever held. She is so cute and has long fingers and legs and soft blond hair. She sleep good and gaining her weight now. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to come home, see family and friends and meet Addi.

Aveyah is loving all the one on one attention she gets. She just runs around my moms house, jumps on the couch, want to always go outside and pet Nicki.

The boys have been in Tennessee playing and working with Scott. He has the huge task of packing up and hauling our home to a storage unit all before picking up his parents from the airport then going to a cabin for a week of vacation. I am excited to get back and see his parents and they are excited to soak up some Aveyah snuggles.

Louisiana and Mississippi

Alright I don’t know what happened but every time I update this and add more content and pictures it doesn’t save. So I give up. I will add some pictures and call it good. Not very detailed and we did a lot more in these two states then I wrote about.

Louisiana

We felt like we have entered into a new planet. We have never been in an environment like this. The ground is swampy then there are thick palms then there are huge trees and vines grounding and hanging from them. Also there are huge bare trees with Spanish moss growing on them. They look all spooky like from a dark movie, especially in the areas the mist is rolling in.

We experienced a lot of firsts here such as

  • First alligators
  • First time eating crawfish
  • First armadillos
  • First bayous
  • First beignets
  • We drove over the Mississippi River
  • We drove through Baton Rouge at 5 miles an hour,on the interstate
  • We learned to avoid I-10, it’s so rough

We also drove past the church Scott came down to help rebuild with a mission trip in 2005. The church had since been rebuilt on stilts. We were shocked at the amount of damage and the amount of vacant places there are now. A Sheriff told us that we would probably not see more then 10 folks on the road over our next 2 hour stretch. He was right. It’s a odd feeling driving a coastal highway that is empty and properties that are just stilts or foundations instead of homes.

Mississippi

We learned that in the south the states all have a welcome center right when you enter the state. That’s helpful. We enjoyed the welcome center and even got a lot of info about the up coming Mardi Gras. We didn’t know we were in Mardi Gras week. We went to 2 parades and learned that they are not what we northerners have heard or believe them to be. Well at least not all of them. They are full of joy, culture, traditions and history. We have never had that much fun at a parade before. We also came home with pounds and pounds of beads. We met a lot of folks that were so friendly and kind. It was nice. Also as a northerner, did anyone else not realize there is so much coast line in Mississippi? (and later we learn the same in Alabama). The Gulf Coast here has miles of beaches, bike trails and even an island of the coast that we hear has amazing blue water on the other side.