Connecticut

 5/30 -  5/31/24

Drove across the new Cuomo Bridge - although I think I’ll always call it the Tappan Zee Bridge

Stopped in Mystic to wander the town on our way to our Harvest Host site.

Then spent the night in our favorite Harvest Host site so far, Our Kid’s Farm, in Connecticut. They had an adorable store in the barn with lots of sustainable items and foods for sale and the owners were so nice. We chose to have their ice cream for supper, of course.

Look at the spurs on this rooster!

This cow was so curious

I got to hold the sweetest 3 day old, blue eyed goat (umbilicus still attached!)

Our site for the night

We spent the next night on another farm, just over the border in Rhode Island, not near as picturesque but we enjoyed the whippoorwill and the other animals

Maryland to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey

 5/26 - 5/29/24

On Sunday we headed inland with western West Virginia as a destination. We decided to stop at Antietam as we were passing it. We had enough time to watch the movie but not enough to really do the place justice. Such a heartbreaking place. 

From there we stopped in to visit my friend Cindy and her daughters, Angela and Mandy, in Uniontown, PA. Cindy and I worked together at Bergum Group Homes and she was the wonderful seamstress who made my wedding dress all those many years ago. I loved catching up with her and the girls. 

We continued our travels and, after some heavy rain on twisty roads and downed trees, we made it to Sisterville, WV, the childhood home of my nephew, AJ’s girlfriend. We got to meet Heather and her two adorable children, as well as her parents, sister, and nephews. Because of all the rain we camped out on the road in front of her folks’ home rather than risk getting stuck in mud on their property. The next morning we participated in the small town remembrance for Memorial Day. Heather’s dad is the Commander of their VFW post so he was the Master of Ceremonies and Heather was the featured service member speaker. She did a great job. 

We said our goodbyes following the ceremonial laying of the wreath in the Ohio and headed back towards the coast. We had more horrendous rain before reaching our night’s destination, the Midnight Oil Brewery in Delaware.

From here on out I got forgetful regarding taking photos! We stopped to visit Uncle Bruce and Aunt Janet in south Jersey, and were fortunate enough to get to see my cousins Michael also. We then drove to north Jersey to visit Tim and Alyce Kavanaugh. We love Tim’s new home and it was so nice to see them both.

Because we are nerds and we stayed in the guest room at his house we drove a short distance away and stayed at a Boondocker’s Welcome host’s driveway so we could put our New Jersey sticker on the van (our rules are that we have to spend the night together in the van in order to “earn” the sticker). We were warned and were fortunate enough to see the black bear wander past our van during the night on its way down the driveway.

Georgia to Maryland

 5/23-5/25/24

We left in the morning to drive a short distance to Hardeeville, SC to visit Lyla and Rory Perrodin. Rory and Matthew worked together at Longview and Mieke calls him Uncle Rory because he was such a frequent help to her as she worked on her various vehicles. They now live in the Latitudes, a Margaritaville community. 

They are renting while their home is being built. We first went off to get some lunch at Cahill’s, a working farm and restaurant. The food was great and the we picked up some of their tomatoes, peaches, and a basil plant.

Later we went for a golf cart tour of the community. Rory is a mentor at the woodworking shop.

The outdoor amphitheater where live music is played in the weekends, with the movie theater and pools behind. Lots of activities offered for those who are interested.

After a yummy breakfast we said goodbye and headed north. In remembrance of my dad, who loved the kitsch of this place back in the early 70’s, we stopped in the oh so racist South of the Border at the border of South and North Carolina.

We were lucky enough to be able to meet up with my cousin Jennifer for a drink after she got out of workin Fayetteville, NC. It was nice to catch up.

We made it to Virginia and spent the night in the parking lot of a Bass Pro Shop. Next morning we drove to metro DC to visit with Roger Worthington. Matthew and Roger were in post grad classes together at Cal State Fullerton and it’s been too many years since we’ve visited. It was nice to catch up and to see his lovely home.

Views on our way

We stopped at the Swain Lockhouse 21 site on the C&O Canal (Chesapeake and Ohio)and after a lovely walk along the canal we decided to spend the night there