The first two weeks have been a whirl wind! Here's an update on what our trip has looked like so far as we've been out yonder. Home sweet home:
view each morning waking up
Road trip mobile: Toaster, our 2008 Honda Accord
Our route: We vowed never to take interstates and only county roads and highways to experience the charm of small town 'merica
1940's tractor pull competition
Highlights: Our first destination was Royal Family Kids Camp. The kids and counselors treated us like good ol' fam and we were spoiled with getting to play with the kids and sharing in the family meals. And, we were so thankful to see so many of friends off! Our first night tent camping in Concannon Fishing Lake, Kansas, we survived three lightning storms throughout the night. We sat there wide awake all night scared to death. Our two options that night were to either get fried or survived. So glad we survived!
The next morning at Concannon Fishing Lake, Kansas
All of the rains from the storms produced floods in Missouri and we came upon one on 116 that rerouted us:
Meet our travel mascot, Toaster. We met this girl during one of our side of the road breakfast stops in Missouri. I immediately fell in love with her. Her coloring was like a toasted s'more, so Toaster she became! With all of our stuff jammed in the car, there was no room for lil' Toaster, so we named the car after our girl.
Adam has always wanted to see Land Between the Lakes, Kansas ever since his road trip moving out to Colorado. It just so happened to be on our route heading to Virginia. Best part, we had a sunrise breakfast on one of the shores... spectacular!
Most spontaneous night thus far: Wachapreague, Virginia on the 4th of July. We were looking for a camping site as the sun was starting to set. Adam was on the lookout for churches we could camp out in their parking lot, however, I was not so pumped about that. I was hard core researching and found a spot! Thirty minutes later, we were pulling into Mr. George and Ms. Mary Anne's place, a horse farm with no camp site. Through chatting and Ms. Mary Anne's extreme generosity, they let us camp on their land behind their house. So awesome! That night, we went into town and saw the Atlantic for the first time on our trip, went to the fair, played some mean bingo and had a blast! This was the most beautiful place we have camped thus far! Thanks, Mr. George and Ms. Mary Anne, for taking a chance on us!
morning light on horse farm
Adam's keen nose for a natural grocery store led us to meeting the owner who had done a similar cross country road trip like ours 37 years ago with her husband and they landed and never left Mountain View, Missouri. She was excited to share memories with us, give us a commentary of the local politics, and point us to the local watering hole Blue Spring. It was incredible! Caves all along the shore and the clearest blue water. We thought we discovered a new treasure!
I had my first meltdown of the trip on the 10th day at Woodland Beach, Virginia from those daggum green headed black horse flies. These bad boys will rip your limbs off, I swear! Adam and I were taking a romantic stroll down the beach, then three started swarming me. I was hyperventilating quite a bit, started swatting and mumbling profanities. I know the bites of horse flies! Then, one took a bite out of me and I went sprinting, screaming and cussing down the beach as they continued to take me out! Beautiful spot though, huh? I took these before the misery started.
woodland beach
Adam celebrated his 27th birthday in Boothbay Harbor, Maine! What a spot to start a new year! The day started out strong with making an incredible frittata for our family then playing soccer with Will and Mia (my cousins' kiddos). Adam's one goal for his birthday was to ride hard all day on some trails next to the Kennebec River. He had just gotten his mountain bike fixed after a month and a half of waiting to ride. Two miles in to his glory ride, his chain broke, then his seat snapped. This guy was heart broken. But, an awesome dinner my Uncle Joe whipped up, beers, chocolate ice cream, family stories and laughter around the table, and tons of love from family and friends turned the day around to an awesome birthday!
heartbroken with bike troubles
Our where abouts now... Maine! My aunt, uncle and cousin and his family live in Boothbay Harbor, Maine and have welcomed us with open arms. We have been completely spoiled with loving family, my cousins' kiddos Mia, Henry and Will, a bed, showers, a washer and dryer and my Uncle Joe's delicious cooking! It's been so nice! I have been dreaming of coming out to see the great state of Maine for five years now to visit and we are here! We have been introduced to the incredible lobsta, Maine's own Giffords international award winning chocolate ice cream, intense soccer games with Will and Mia, tons of laughter and stories around the dinner table and my cousin Matthew has shown us the Washburn & Doughty tug boat building business. It's fascinating!
More to come soon! Next foreseen adventure ahead: Acadia National Park!