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

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.

I am so behind…We are in Delaware.

I finally have WiFi where we are camped boondocking in Delaware. I have not updated my blog because (my excuse is) I have not had WiFi. I thought I would just get on today and knock out the last 7 states we have been through..haha… first I need to get the pics off my camera then off Scott’s phone then off my phone, sort through them for the best looking ones (side note, I need and would love to take a photography class) that aren’t too blurry or have a head cut off. Then I need to try and remember what we did in each state. That’s a lot and it overwhelmed me. Maybe I will just do a quick recap then when I have time..haha again… I can add each state. The only problem is we keep going to new states and I get further behind.

Also I have noticed I have stopped taking as many pictures or making sure I have my good camera with us. This is kinda sad as far as the documenting side of it goes. It’s also kind of nice because we aren’t posing for pics or stopping to smile at the camera. We just say “lock this in your memories ” and continue on adventuring. Yes I have forgotten a lot the this happened at this moment things that I would use the pictures to help me document but I have tried to not stress or be sad that I didn’t or couldn’t to get a picture of that.

Anyways we are currently in Delaware farm country. Across the street is a super smelly, chickens in the 10,000+ , packed in long barns with mist going into them. Those are everywhere. Advice- don’t, I repeat don’t get behind a semi full of chickens. On the side of us out our window is a beautiful field with thistles that right now have big purple flowers on them. The field is green, the sky is blue, the flowers are purple, the butterflies are white and the little barns are red. It’s almost perfect (remember the smell? And the humidity and the heat)!

We picked some flowers or weeds from the field today. I tried to get pictures of Aveyah in the field but she didn’t like the poky weeds.

Here are the pictures

Killen’s Pond State ParkHaircut . He saw a kid at the beach with this long top haircut. I tried to copy it. she is catching fire flies

Here are the places we like

3rd wave brewing, Dogfish Head Brewing, Amity coffee shop, Hasting Butcher Shop, Killen State Park

Sweet Home Alabama

I have been excited to get to Alabama the whole trip. I didn’t really have any specific reason but I wanted to see it because of how I picture the south in my head. Oh it was better than what I thought in my mind. We stayed out on country roads surrounded by thick trees, green fields and the cutest homes with front porches and yards. The folks were all so friendly and had great “accents” and respond respectfully yes sir and yes ma’am’s. The food, well it’s fried, extra sweet and not colorful; but we did learn about conecuh sausage that is really good.

Mobile- We went and explored the USS Alabama Destroyer War Ship and The Drum Submarine. We learned a lot and got to walk around the whole ship.

Blakeley- state park that is a civil war battlefield. We learned about the war and Confederate and Union sides. What the way was about. We also got to run around and pretend what it would have been like as we hid in trenches, saw sharp tree spike guard fences and the pits and walls where soldiers were. Walked on the ground that men lost their lives for us for our freedom. It was powerful and impactful for us all.

Fairhope-

We boondocked at Big Daddy’s Grill. Great spot. Fun for kids to play at sand pit while parents have a beer or eat. On the river with a dock to go out on. We met some great friends that we connected with very quickly. Can’t wait to hang out again. We even had them all over to our house for dinner. It was a great time.

  • Good  Coffee: Refuge
  • Good Breweries: Fairhope Brewing
  • Good Libraries: Fairhope= AMAZING Could spend all day every day there. Kids have their own area and can be normal, roam, use computers, great story times. LOVE IT!.

Gulf Shore= big hotels and beach house rows. Eat at Flip Flop Deli. Watch out for sand gnats- noseeums- they itch bad. We like Fort Morgan beach area. It was less tourist hangout and commercialized

Pictures that speak for themselves.

By far one of our TOP favorite places.

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.