#ramvanfam

[ramvanfam]

Ohio by way of Niagara Falls and the Rustbelt

My grandma was turning 85. There would be a surprise party...in Westerville, OH. It’s not often everyone on my dad’s side of the family all get together anymore. We are multiplying (in fact there would be my cousin’s new baby to meet) and live all around the country. In the spirit of avoiding the weddings or funerals mindset, I knew I wanted to make this trip happen.

We decided to drive, in part because we love road trip adventures, and in part because there is no easy way to fly to Ohio from Rhode Island. Also, according to virtually everyone we mentioned this trip to, because we are crazy. We had only four days and 1600ish round trip miles to cover. 

Thank god Cody is a morning person, because these types of trips only make sense when you leave well before sunrise. By the time the sky was turning red, we had already made it to our first pit stop. We were treated to this rainbow sky behind the iconic golden arches in an almost empty parking lot, save for a few over the road truckers.

I had been daydreaming about taking the kids to see Niagara Falls for a while. I was there just once in college, while visiting friends at RIT; this would be Cody’s first time. After looking at the map, I decided it would be a great way to break up the drive. We had learned there are bike paths all around Niagara Falls, so decided this would be the perfect opportunity to try out our bike rack on its first long trip.

Our drive took us right along the Erie Canal. Coincidentally, Willa’s 3rd grade chorus was in the process of learning Low Bridge, so we all had that song stuck in our head for days. We got off the highway in Canastota, NY and got to see a painted low bridge up close. 

Cody is an expert at the backroads, and this is one of my favorite things he brings to our adventures. Miles of highway can get so monotonous - from the interstate, everything looks the same - but one reprieve into a small rustbelt town is enough to light a fire of interest and curiosity in all of us. 

There’s a toe path that runs along parts of the Erie Canal and through this town - you can see it just beyond that arch in the picture. We didn’t have time to get our bikes out, but we walked along it for a little and saw some beavers working on their dam. 

Small towns like this make me feel at home, and it was relaxing to walk around and just see life happening on a sleepy Thursday morning. I like how the murals gave us a small glimpse into what the town might have been like back in the canal’s hay day. 

“A House Held Up By Trees” - Other perks of taking back roads - seeing a house held up by trees that looks just like the pictures in the book we have by the same name.

After playing a friendly competition of Eye Spy (a farm animal - 5 points, a silo - 7 points, an Amish person - 10 points), we got back on the highway to log some more miles. We took this opportunity to listen to every podcast we could find about people going over the falls in a barrel. Next stop - the Canadian border!! 

We crossed the border at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and just followed signs for Niagara Falls. We weren’t sure what to expect. The last time I came here, we walked across the border from the US side during a time when you didn’t need passports. This route took us along the Niagara Parkway and we saw that right beside us was a bike path along the Niagara River. 

We parked the ramvan right near the Butterfly Conservatory and unloaded the bikes, resisting the urge (mostly mine) to first go look at the butterflies. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, and we were all ready to be out of the van and stretch our legs.

We had no idea how far we were from Niagara Falls, and purposely didn’t look at a map to find out; we figured we must be pretty close.

It felt great to have reached out first destination and be out in the fresh air in one of the first warm days of the spring. The mood was slightly less jubilant as we kept riding for 7 more miles before we finally reached the falls. Oops! Didn’t think it would be quite that far, but there were a few picturesque places to stop along the way.

Someday I would love/be slightly terrified to ride one of these gondolas across the Niagara River. By the time we got to this junction, we could start to hear the roar of the falls (good thing because the kids were beginning to lose patience). 

It was so worth it to have the anticipation build and get to slowly approach this view by bike. I was trying to put myself in the shoes of someone who had no idea what to expect, but it was also just as awe inspiring the second time around.

It was a beautiful sunny day, but it had been a long cold winter and the falls were still pretty pretty frozen, so the Maid of the Mist tour boats weren’t running. While I would have liked the experience of getting so close to the falls, it was kind of nice to not have to feel like we were missing out on something if we decided to view the falls just from above. 

It got more and more crowded as we got closer to the horseshoe falls. The temperature dropped a solid 15 degrees as we walked through the mist coming off the falls. 

We were now closer to the main streets of town, and could see our hotel in the distance. We were staying at the Marriott on the Falls and it was just down a little farther and one street above us. We had come so far - we decided to just keep walking/riding to get to our hotel and then send Cody back to get the van once we checked in. There was an incline car to get up to the main street from the falls, but there was one problem - no bikes allowed. We were so close, yet so far away. We ended up on a trek through a big parking lot that we were sure would lead to a road to the hotel. Instead, we found a dead end. We saw a dirt path through the woods above that said no trespassing, but it seemed like our only option. After convincing the kids that it is okay to sometimes break rules at times like this (MY HEART VOICE SAYS TAKE THE PATH!!), we made it up to the main road, and finally to our hotel.

There were no falls view rooms left, but we could walk right around the corner from our room to the elevator alcove for this amazing view. The hotel stored our bikes for us while Cody rode his to get the van. The parking lot in the above picture is the one we rode through. 

We contemplated walking down to the busier part of town for a restaurant dinner, but it was getting late and the kids wanted to swim (always get the hotel with the pool!). Cody took them down to the pool while I unpacked and laid out this dinner spread. I had packed a ton of food for this trip and we ended up not eating out at all. After dinner, we turned on a movie for the kids, and Cody and I took our wine and went around the corner to sit by the hallway window and look at falls. People coming off of the elevator probably thought we were nuts, but we just wanted to soak in that view. And it’s a good thing we did - when we woke up the next morning, it was so foggy that you couldn’t even tell the falls were there. We took that as our cue to leave - but not before a morning swim. Onward to Ohio!

We took a slight detour to drive through the town of Erie. It was a part of PA I had never been to. The city center still had kind of a 1960′s vibe and it was easy to imagine what life might have been like back then. Cody led us down to Presque Isle State Park, which is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie. It was still pretty foggy, so we couldn’t see much. We stopped for a picnic lunch and planned our next move.

There are 21 miles of bike paths throughout the park. It had started raining a little, but we decided we couldn’t pass them up. 

We rode for a few miles and found an End of the Rhode type of beach with dunes perfect for jumping.

It was nice to have some time to explore and stretch our legs, because after this stop, it was hammer down to Ohio; we were expected by dinner. 

After hundreds of miles of driving, coming from two completely different places, and not talking all day about our travel plans, the Wolfe’s pulled into the parking lot of my grandma’s apartment at the exact same time we did. Twin powers unite! We only had about 36 hours in Ohio, so we were going to make the most of them. After a pizza dinner with everyone trickling in as they arrived, we went back and slept at my aunt and uncles’ house. On Saturday, there would be a Bunny Hop 5K run, an Easter egg hunt, lunch and a tour of my grandma’s new apartment building, and the surprise party.

It was a busy day, but so worth it to get to spend it with these people!

Sunday was Easter. We had originally planned to get up and leave pretty early, but we decided to enjoy a more leisurely morning. We had a nice breakfast at my aunt and uncles’, then headed over to my grandma’s where the kids rode their bikes on the bike paths that surround her apartment while the adults “visited” (as my mom calls it). We took some final photo ops and were on our way around noon.

At our first gas station stop, the kids were excited to discover that the Easter bunny had left their baskets and some eggs hidden in the ramvan! Each time we stopped, there would be a couple more eggs hidden, filled with lego people they could put together and play with in the car. That Easter bunny sure is a tricky guy.

We weren’t sure if we would try to drive the whole way in one shot, or if we would have to stop overnight somewhere. The kids fell asleep in the car around 9:00, and by the time we got to NYC around 11:30 hardly anyone else was on the road. We knew at this point it would take us twice as long to drive the remaining 200 miles in morning traffic, so we just went for it. And by “we” I mostly mean Cody. I just did my best to stay awake and pick good podcasts. 

4 days, 1700 miles, and a whole lot of fun. And we even all made it to school and work the next day!

[ramvanfam]

Cyclocross Season

What started as a foray into a new ramvan weekend activity, quickly turned into a full blown obsession. I have many fond memories of traveling with Cody all over the Northeast during his bike racing days. One of the best parts is the new places it takes you. It has been so fun stepping back into that world and turning these races into family adventures, ramvan style.

Cape Cross

Our first race was Cape Cross. Our friends from Aquidneck Cyclocross told us about it, and Huxley could not have been more excited. The kids, who had no idea what they were getting into, did a full lap of the adult course, and it was intimidating!

Willa, who loves riding her bike but hates competition, got to the race convinced she didn’t want to participate. With some encouragement from her friend Elena, she decided to give it a try. She went way out of her comfort zone and took a wrong turn, but still finished (a huge accomplishment for her) and got third place in the 7-9 age group.

Huxley, who we pretended was 7, had been training and looking forward to his first race for weeks. He had a pretty bad crash at the very beginning and almost gave up. But he got up, got his bike fixed, and joined back in for the older kids’ second lap. He flew through the course, bombed up every hill, sprinted across the finish, and wished he could do it all again. He didn’t get a podium spot but didn’t even pout about it (a huge accomplishment for him!)

One of the best parts of the day was watching the kids ride all around and cheer the other racers on. They get to have a certain degree of freedom that doesn’t exist when you’re riding on roads. 

The ramvan did great for its trial run bike race trip - for both hauling bikes, and more importantly a pizza party in the back to watch the end of the races.

KMC Crossfest

KMC Crossfest was at a racetrack in Thompson, CT. One of the cool things that differentiates cyclocross from other forms of bike racing is how varied the courses are. You have no idea if the racers are going to be riding through sand, on grass, on a racetrack, running with their bikes up stairs, or a little of everything. 

This race had a small designated kids course. It was pretty low stakes and more of a fun for all, everyone gets a medal kind of thing. They did a few laps, and then split into teams and did relay races.

It was a beautiful day, and we stayed for the rest of it to watch all the races. This time we were a little more prepared. We parked the ramvan right along the course, and cooked some hot dogs on the butane stove in the back. 

Biking is one area of life where Huxley takes the lead and Willa is happy to follow. It’s cool to watch the role reversal and see how their relationship stretches and changes.

Boss Cross

The whole AQCX crew was at Boss Cross. Niklas and Hanalei were old enough for the junior race. Willa, Elena, Pia, and Huxley all did the kids race, which was on a separate kids’ course.

This would turn out to be Willa’s last race. She was doing great until she wiped out in the mud right before the finish. She was pretty upset, but she got herself back up and walked across the finish line as people cheered. 

Hux was super psyched about the kids’ course having a real barrier and loved every minute. He even ended up on his first real podium. 

In the end, they had all the kids come up to get their pictures taken on the podium. Willa was still upset about her crash, until the hilarious announcer encouraged them to dance. That got everyone smiling.

Two of the Aquidneck Cyclocross dad’s also raced in the men’s race. Not sure if the kids had more fun in their race, or sprinting around the course cheering them on!

Grand Prix of Gloucester

The Gloucester race was one we had been talking about all season. Cody did this race when we were 18 and it’s the first cyclocross race I had ever seen. It was a big race and we knew there was a decent kids course, plus the setting was pretty unbeatable.

It was a beautiful day with a big crowd. The whole AQCX gang was there. Willa deemed herself the team photographer, a perfect role for her. 

There was a much bigger field for the kids’ race than at any other race. They didn’t do a podium, and all the kids got medals, but Hux crossed the finish line first in his age group, which was a big point of pride for him.

There were food trucks and a beer tent at this race, but we came prepared. Not pictured are the stromboli’s we cooked in the back of the ramvan for lunch, along with the cooler of beer from Newport Craft. 

Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross

This race really lived up to its name. It was another big race on another beautiful fall day with the whole gang.

Hux decided to try the 9-14 junior race for the first time. They did a couple laps of the full course, and he hung right in there. 

There was a professional photographer at this race, who got some amazing shots.

There was also a kids’ race that wound around a bouncy house, with a podium ceremony at the end. This race really was ideal for people of all ages!

Aquidneck Cyclocross had paid for a tent spot, so we had a great set up for the ramvan. 

This was probably my favorite race. The course was set up in a way that the kids could ride all around and have all sorts of independence without getting lost or getting in anyone’s way. As is usually the case at these races, everyone there was supportive of kids riding bikes. Even though Willa didn’t race, she rode her bike miles with her friends and had a blast.

Secret Squirrel

We had been hearing about the fabled Secret Squirrel race all season from our friends who had done it last year - about how challenging and muddy the course had been, and about the Donut Madison. It lived up to all the hype and more. But first, we had to make squirrel cookies.

There was no designated kids’ course - Hux raced in the 9-14 category. There was a decent sized pack, and they did two laps of the adult course. The course was mostly in the woods with two super steel hills, and it was freezing! 

There was a part of the course that went so steep uphill in the woods that even most of the adults had to get off their bikes. Hux was wearing sneakers without much traction and he kept slipping back down the hill. It would have been comical if not for the fact that he was losing it. He was so frustrated, and finally a guy standing at the top directed him to try a different side of the hill where there was a tree root he could use for grip. Huxley begged him for help. To his credit, he didn’t ever physically help - I’m sure this wouldn’t have mattered in a kids’ race, but it showed he was taking it seriously. He kept cheering, and by this time everyone else in the crowd was cheering too, including two of our friends who had made the drive to watch.

He finally made it. By the time he came down the other side, his face was full of tears and he was ready to quit. We all knew he had another lap, which meant he would have to face the hill again. After lots of encouraging cheering and a pep talk from Cody when he crashed again a little later, he kept going. His second lap was great, and he made it up the hill without a hitch. As he crossed the finish line, the announcer noticed how much smaller he was than everyone else, and was shocked to hear he was only six. She then announced it on the microphone, which effectively cancelled out any other negative feelings from the day. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Huxley from watching him race, it’s his ability to turn a frustrating situation into a story of valor by the time the day is done. Gradually, a crash that was actually devastating to him at the time becomes a superhero story of courage when he relays it to others. This part of him always makes me smile.

Meanwhile, Willa spent most of the afternoon bombing down a hill on the other side of the course over and over.

They both made friends at this race. Willa met a girl her age who also had a brother Huxley’s age. Her ability to make friends anywhere awes me. The two girls were disappointed to learn they both lived an hour away from the race in opposite directions, and would likely not run into each other again. But that didn’t stop them from having fun for the day.

The last race of the day at Secret Squirrel is the Donut Madison. You find a partner, eat a donut, do a lap of the course, and then pass off to your partner to do the same. There was a guy who needed a partner and we convinced Cody to do it. He had to borrow a helmet and bike and ride in his work boots and jeans. It was a hilarious and gross way to end the day.

NBX Grand Prix of Cross

Cody took Huxley alone to the first day of NBX GP to do the 9-14 race. It was another hard course with sand and a full flight of stairs to run up. There was a professional photographer who got these great shots. 

The next day was the kids’ race. It was pouring and cold so only a few kids came out. Willa rode her bike, but didn’t do the race.

The announcer came over to commentate the kids’ race and he was hilarious. “Huxley Harple - with a name like that, they ought to name a library after you.”

Some friends braved the weather to watch this race too and got one of my favorite pictures of Huxley ever - it captures him so perfectly.

Ice Weasels Cometh

Ice Weasels was another legendary race. It’s always one of the last of the season, usually in the beginning of December, so almost guaranteed to be cold. This one was held at Medfield State Hospital, an abandoned mental hospital, which gave it an even more mystical vibe.

This was one of Huxley’s best races. He did the 9-14 race, and for the first time he actually beat a couple kids. It was a freezing but beautiful day. The kids did two full laps of the adult course. It was the perfect course for him - other than the barriers up to his thighs, it was mostly grass and hills, just like our yard course. 

Hux is starting to see the same group of 8/9 year old boys at most races, and they are finally becoming friends.

One of the most fun parts of this race is the absolute silliness. People wear crazy costumes, and at the last race of the day they stop to chug beers or take shots being passed to them. Willa totally embraced the vibe with her Wonder Woman onesie. 

What a fun way to end the 2018 cyclocross season! Next year we will be back better than ever, this time with a bike rack for the ramvan.

[ramvanfam]

RamVan Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays in which people tend to embrace traditions - maybe it’s going to the same place every year, or seeing the same people, or eating the same food. There is something comforting about knowing what to expect. But there is something magical about doing something completely fresh and new. 

We tend to change it up every year anyway, but when Willa made these placemat’s at school, it’s all I needed to see to be motivated to plan an epic Thanksgiving family adventure. 

Cody worked the day before Thanksgiving, so the kids and I spent the day baking homemade bread, cooking turkey and mashed potatoes, setting the table, and getting excited!

Cody and Huxley carved the turkey and we had our traditional meal on Wednesday evening, feeling pretty thankful to be in this particular moment of time with each other. 

The next morning, Thanksgiving day, we would be going to the end of the road, to the edge of the world, as far east as we could get. We were ready.

We got up early, packed up all the leftovers, the butane stove, some paper plates and forks, and some tasty beverages in the back of the Ram Van, and hit the road.

First stop, Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. Second stop, Millpond Diner for some breakfast.

Diners like this are so cool. It’s always fun to see the booths and stools (usually red) filled with all types of people, the waitresses walking around with their coffee pots and calling you hun, the same kind of food on the menu, the silver exterior. There’s a comfort that comes with knowing what to expect in a place you’ve never been that isn’t unlike the comfort of the traditions behind Thanksgiving. 

Onward to the edge of the world!

When we got to Provincetown, we drove to the furthest beach we could find and ran to the end. To make it even more dramatic, there was a decent drop off at the edge. We prepared to jump.

Nothing between us and England but the wide open blue. It’s a far out concept even for me, but the kids were fascinated to imagine thousands of miles of ocean. 

We decided to check out Provincetown a bit. Being November in a summer destination town, there wasn’t much open. We wound through town and headed to the causeway to take a walk, passing this welcoming rainbow of chairs and bears along the way.

It was a pretty chilly and windy day, but we braved the walk across the causeway in the winter sun. There was a surprising number of other people out doing the same thing. Nice to see so many families out enjoying each other’s company.

One warning, if you or someone you know has to use the bathroom on Thanksgiving day at the edge of the world, good luck to you. There was literally nothing open for miles (even Dunkin’ Donuts had closed at 2:00!) As our search led us further and further from Provincetown, we realized we were going to have to alter our plan a little bit. We finally found a gas station near Wellfleet. 

It ended up being a worthwhile detour. We headed to Marconi Beach for our Thanksgiving picnic. The dunes on this beach are huge! We took some time to explore before dinner.

We headed back to the van to start cooking! Cody fired up the camp stove while I got the back ready for a picnic.

The kids also used this opportunity to warm up their freezing hands!

We finished eating just in time to watch the crescent moon rise against the backdrop of the sun setting over the edge of the earth.

This Thanksgiving, I was most thankful for my family, and our Ram Van - the vessel for adventure.

With the moon in the rearview, we headed back home with minds and hearts full of the magical moments of one of my favorite Thanksgiving days yet.

[ramvanfam]

Crabbing

Not gonna lie - the concept of fishing baffles me, especially when the idea isn’t necessarily to catch something you can bring home and eat, but more just the sport of it. I’m fairly certain I’m missing something given the amount of people who will wake up in the middle of the night and spend hours (and even days!) bobbing around with a fishing pole on a boat that makes me seasick just to look at. Then Cody had the idea to get some crab traps and take the kids crabbing.

Crabbing, fishing, it’s all basically the same. (I’m sure it’s actually not the same at all to those that know what the hell they’re doing). Except I grew up in close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and have fond memories of summer dinners with newspapers spread on picnic tables, crabs smothered in Old Bay, and never enough mallets and claw crackers to go around. 

So, let’s go to cool beaches with our crab traps and see what happens! We first brought the traps to Fogland in Little Compton (also a great kiting spot). We brought all of our gusto along with some chicken parts for bait. 

We had to walk through the water to get to this little island that grows and shrinks with the ebbing and rising tide. That made it all the more exciting. And also worthwhile when all we found in our traps were plenty of minnows. 

We didn’t end up catching anything at Fogland. But we had a blast, and didn’t let that discourage us from trying again. Okay, maybe searching for edible things in the water isn’t so bad after all. 

The next time, we stayed a little closer to home and had very few expectations. There’s a turn off route 24 between Portsmouth and Island Park that leads to a rocky beach on an inlet (I don’t know the name but it probably has one). We brought a blanket and made it all nonchalant and exploratory for the kids.

We walked around till we found a good spot, baited the trap, and tossed it out.

Maybe the rest of my family is more “determined” than me (although I’m not sure that’s possible), but I enjoyed watching them cheerfully try to catch something again and again - throwing the trap out, skipping some rocks, pulling it in with nothing but seaweed, throwing the trap back out, skipping some more rocks, etc.

In the end, we caught nothing, but we did see quite a few of these tiny baby crabs, which we took as an indication that bigger crabs really do exist somewhere! With all this buildup about eating the crabs we would theoretically catch, Cody decided to take us all on a field trip to Seabra in Bristol to get some live crabs.

We played with them for a little bit, and even each named the crab we would eat. In retrospect, that seems slightly perverse, but also it’s the circle of life and all that. We had a big pot of water boiling on the grill and put them one by one in the steamer basket on top (I could barely watch, but the kids were really totally fine with the whole idea). 

We layed out the newspapers and bought some Old Bay for the occasion. Willa’s opinion on her crab was somewhere between like and indifference; Hux has a strong sense of smell and gets really turned off by certain foods - apparently this was one of them. Cody and I loved our claws but then realized we didn’t really want to do the work it would take dig into the bodies. It was a good experiment!

When we were in North Carolina, Cody took my dad, my brother, Huxley and our nephew crabbing at a place where we had seen other people consistently pull up crabs. They stayed for hours and caught a bunch of big ones, all of which they threw back, even though I’m sure some were big enough to keep. Maybe there is something to fishing after all, even if it’s mostly an excuse for people to get together and see what they can pull out of the blue unknown.

[ramvanfam]

Rhode Warriors NC>RI

We left Corolla on a Sunday morning, along with throngs of other people all going the same direction. When we got to Duck, we could either cross the bridge and head back north with every other car or take a little southern detour to Hatteras. There had been no wind all week in Corolla, so we decided to take a bonus day and go try and find some.

We weren’t disappointed. We found a great public launch spot at a day use area in Salvo. But first, Huxley had to take a lacrosse break.

We had stopped for some lunch earlier in the day and were remembering the last time we were in Hatteras, almost nine years ago. I had just found out I was pregnant with Willa. Cody was just learning to kite. We still had the glimmer in our eyes of an unknown future full of possibilities.

Now here we were with an 8 and 6 year old. Turns out we still have the glimmer of a future full of possibilities, now it just sparkles a little more. 

The bay side of Hatteras is a perfect place for windsports, especially learning them. It is shallow super far out; it’s much easier to launch your kite while standing than it is to do it while treading water. The kids loved that they could get so far from shore and still touch the ground. (Maybe that’s a metaphor for growing up?)

While Cody kited, we played in the water and took some snack breaks in the back of the van. 

Cody decided to head downwind, where we could go pick him up. We went to the KOA Campground’s big grassy lot on the water. It clearly states that it’s only for campers, but they were nice about letting us stop for a quick pick up. (Side note: Hatteras is a great place to camp, aside from the heat. There are campgrounds everywhere.)

We packed it up and decided to get some miles under our belt for the rest of the day. We were all sunkissed and sleepy from a week of nonstop fun.

We really didn’t have an agenda or any sort of goal as to how far wanted to get before stopping for the night, aside from wanting to get to the other side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (bridge tunnel bridge). When Cody saw a sign for Wachapreague, VA, the “little city by the sea”, we knew we had to check it out.

There was a cute little inn right across from a restaurant on the water. Exactly what we had hoped for. Both were locally owned, and had the air of holding on tight to an atmosphere that is slowly disappearing all along the coast. We checked into the Wachapreague Inn and walked over to the Island House Restaurant for dinner.

There are views like this all around the Island House Restaurant. It was a stormy evening and we saw no less than five rainbows just during our dinner. I was reading the menu and noticed they had a lookout with even better views. While waiting for our food, we walked the spiral staircase up to check it out. 

As we were leaving the restaurant, we walked through the bar and there was an awesome band playing. There was hardly a crowd and Willa and I both were wishing we could stay and listen to them. But it was getting late, so we went across the street and settled the kids into bed in the hotel.

I mean, who wouldn’t sleep great next to that fisherman lamp! Cody and I snuck out to see the sunset before heading to bed ourselves.

We awoke early, said goodbye to Wachapreague, grabbed some complimentary coffee and pastries from the Inn, and hit the road again. We had one final indulgent stop at a Waffle House in Delaware before throwing the hammer down and getting back to the highways.

Thank you, Ram Van, for yet another adventure. This was our longest one yet, but I have a feeling it’s only the beginning.

[ramvanfam]

Rhode Warriors: RI>NC

This is what road warriors look like. These are the faces of four people who just took a 650 mile journey from Portsmouth, RI to Corolla, NC and turned it into an 18 hour day of fun and adventure.

We had the car all packed, woke the kids up at 4am, threw them in the car, said one last goodbye to Minka (the cat), and headed on our way. The excitement and anticipation had been building for weeks. Willa and Huxley even got to miss the last four (snow make up) days of school for this trip. All the cousins on the Meabon side were going to be together for a whole week of fun at the beach. But first, we had to get there. Cody’s fortune cookie the day before we left read “Sometimes the object of the journey is not the end, but the journey itself.” Challenge accepted. 

We watched the sky begin to brighten and talked about our first big milestone of the trip - making it to NYC. Driving interstate 95 through Connecticut is so monotonous and long, but by leaving super early, we at least avoided the usual traffic. We were thinking the kids might go back to sleep, but they were much too excited. I’d packed them surprise bags of all kinds of new activities and books, and their Nonna brought over some treats for the road too. There was no chance they were going to fall asleep voluntarily.

NYC is always cool to see, but especially when you know it means you are leaving New England and diverting from the route driven hundreds of times back to Dillsburg, PA. Here is where we got to go on some new roads that we had seen on the maps when planning out our route earlier in the week.

The good old fashioned AAA maps were a perfect way to get Willa and Huxley excited about what we could see and do along the way. They started to anticipate the journey too, instead of only having the “are we there yet” mentality. This made the drive so much more fun for the adults in the car too. On one of the first gas stops, we encountered a taste of how the south really is different. There was a Golden Corral attached to the gas station convenience store. It was Sunday morning at 10:30 and the line waiting to get in was backing up well into the shop and filled with all sorts of interesting characters. It took me a minute to remember it was Father’s Day and these people were out to Father’s Day brunch at a buffet attached to a gas station. The world is filled with all sorts of people. 

We veered off the beaten path somewhere around Delaware, and began coming across some of the towns and waterways we passed through when Cody and I sailed Vixi from Massachusetts to Annapolis, back before these kids were even a glimmer in our eyes. We had fun telling them stories of our adventures, and I think they had fun imagining we even had lives before they were born. When we got to Elkton, DE, we passed by a baseball game about to start. It was a great time to stop for a break.

As we were sitting in the bleachers watching a bunch of men play a peaceful Sunday baseball game, we heard screaming coming from across the street. One of the player’s wives had locked her keys in the car with her small child still in the car seat. It was about 90 degrees and panic soon ensued. If you’ve never watched a man try to break his own car window with a metal bat to save his child on Father’s Day, consider yourself lucky. The situation was so intense, I wasn’t sure if we should leave or stay to make sure the kid made it out okay. In the end, it took a few minutes and some sort of special weighted bat, but the front window shattered and the little girl came out totally fine, aside from being slightly traumatized. I never knew how strong car window glass is. We took this as our cue to be on our way.

We took our packed to the gills Ram Van and stayed on the back roads for a while longer until we got to Easton, MD. It’s a cute little town with some restaurants and shops. We got a Father’s Day lunch at the Banning Tavern, which had good local food, lots of beers on tap, and was attached to the small town movie theater.

As we were heading back to the highways, we spotted the coolest playground ever. We had to stop and get some energy out. If there’s one thing I’ve learned while adventuring in unknown places, it’s always stop at the playgrounds!

As we got further south, a certain feeling came over me. It wasn’t quite nostalgia, wasn’t quite excitement, wasn’t anything I could come up with a name for. It was just a comfortable, quiet contentment. I love where I live, but I had someone once tell me I “had the south in me”. That comment stuck with me. I can’t put my finger on what it is, but before I even said anything, Cody noticed a change in my body language; I was more relaxed. Maybe it’s landscapes like the one in the next picture, and wide open green farmland.

Anyway, we had to start making some distance to our next milestone landmark, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. This in itself had been such a source of anticipation for the kids. I mean, we were going to drive underwater! It was so fun to watch their excitement build. We still had a ways to go, so we passed the time with some of our favorite kids podcasts, Wow in the World, Story Pirates, and This Podcast Has Fleas. Finally, we could see the bridge, tunnel, bridge, tunnel, bridge (as Cody had taken to calling it) in the distance.

Once we crossed over into Virginia Beach, we still had 100 miles to go. The stir craziness was beginning to set in - I was glad I saved a couple tricks and treats for this last section. We broke out the candy necklaces and toys from Nonna and started our round robin of everyone choosing a song, which usually entertains for an hour or so. Before we knew it, we were rolling our windows down, crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge and officially entering the Outer Banks. It was all smooth sailing from here!

What a day! We arrived at 8:30 pm to a big family Father’s Day dinner with 17 people full of love - the whole Meabon side, including my grandma. We were still full of energy and ready for a week of fun!

And this guy - one of our favorite things to do as a family is to let Cody lead us on adventures in the Ram Van. This Father’s Day was the ultimate show. We had a whole day on the road with him at the wheel, and it could not have been more fun. When given the choice, always take the trip - do it for the end, but do it for the journey too. There are little gems of life waiting around every turn.

[ramvanfam]

Fort Barton Woods

Fort Barton Woods is part of a public park at Lawton and Highland Avenues in Tiverton, RI. There is a tower to climb with a beautiful view of the Sakonnet River.

The actual fort was active during the Revolutionary War, overlooking the main ferry crossing between Tiverton and Aquidneck Island. Not much of the original fort remains, but it’s fun to imagine what life would have been like back in the late 1700′s.

In the woods, there are a couple of easy going trail loops to choose from. They’re perfect for kids, dogs, or just a leisurely stroll.

I’ve noticed we tend to come hiking here on mild winter days in February/March - those times of year when you are growing desperate for some fresh air. Sometimes there’s even still snow on the ground, which makes it extra fun/slippery.

Once, we tried a little adventure where the boys went one way and the girls went another. Willa and I ended up going a much longer route and Huxley was worried they had lost us forever. But we had a blast!

We like to pack a picnic lunch and eat on one of the wooden bridges that cross Sin and Flesh Brook (yes, that’s really its name).

In the two sets of pictures in this post, my kids are a year apart in age. It’s crazy to me how much different they look. Reminds me to keep documenting these moments so I can look back on fun times, but more importantly, to really live them when they are happening.

One more tip - once you get deeper into the woods, you can often hear gun shots. While this can be unsettling, it is just the Tiverton Rod and Gun Club, and not someone actually hunting nearby!

[ramvanfam]

Ram Van at the Beach

The kids’ favorite thing about the Ram Van is parking somewhere (anywhere really) and playing in the back. This is perfect for the beach during the marginal months, when parking is still free and the lots are wide open. 

They love it when they can take a break from swimming and “chill in the back”. It’s also a great place to watch Cody kiteboard if the wind is whipping sand in our faces otherwise.

Cody made two custom removable drawers for the back so we can still pack it full of things, and have an open place to hang out.

We went to watch the Water Brothers surf contest at Second Beach in Middletown on Sunday. Even though it’s mid May, the air has been cold and the water hasn’t warmed up much at all. This didn’t deter Willa and Huxley for a second. They were so excited to wear their wetsuits again, and spent an hour frolicking in the waves and sand.

When they finally realized they were cold, they were freezing. We went back to the van and cranked the heat. They wrapped in towels and ate a picnic lunch in the back before bundling back up to watch some more surfers.

It’s free and easy, and it’s my kind of Sunday.