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Tag: experiential education

New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument
When it comes to our National Park system, national monuments tend to be sorely overlooked compared to the marquis parks that visitors flock to in their travels. Bandelier is not one of those overlooked monuments.
Except by me. I’ve passed by it countless times as I’ve traveled through northern New Mexico. This time, though, I was determined to take Fred and George there.
What is Bandelier National Monument about?
Bandelier National Monument is named for Adolph Bandelier, the passionate, self-taught anthropologist whose hobby turned into some very important work in understanding the ancestral pueblo peoples of the southwest. Human occupation here dates back 11,000 years, but the height of pueblo culture in the area was from about the mid-1200s to the mid-1500s, until drought conditions forced the Puebloans elsewhere.
In the 1880s, Bandelier explored the ruins left behind with the help of men from the Cochiti pueblo, the most direct descendants of the former residents of Frijoles Canyon. Bandelier’s work later became the foundation of modern southwestern archaeology.
Today the monument preserves at least 3,000 archeological sites within its 33,750 acres. It is unique in its vastness, sporting 70 miles of hiking trails but only three miles of public roads. Casual visitors spend most of the time in the main area surrounding the visitor center. Given the popularity of this monument, the park service uses busses to shuttle visitors from parking areas to the visitor center much of the year. The infrastructure simply can’t accommodate the demands of the public without use of the shuttles. Travelers looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience can venture into the backcountry trails, with a permit.
Visitor Center…
The vast majority of visitors spend about two hours in the Frijoles Canyon area at the visitor center. This is where you’ll find the Main Loop Trail through the ruins. The visitor center itself houses some fantastic exhibits that incorporate all the facets of what makes Bandelier special. Displays address human and natural history and the connection between them, as well as the language, art, and culture of the pueblo people.
And like most wonderful visitor centers, there is a short movie to watch that will give visitors a better idea of what the monument is about. It’s well worth the time to give yourself an introduction to Bandelier before setting out on the trail.
The Bandelier Visitor Center blends in with the cliffs of the Jemez Mountains.
The courtyard at the visitor center is an inviting place to take a break and soak in the surroundings of Bandelier.
Bandelier encompasses a surprising variety of ecosystems.
I’m a fan of giving visitors a way to interact. Hands-on exhibits allow connection without jeopardizing preservation.
A diorama recreating pueblo structures and life gives dimension to ruins that would otherwise be difficult to understand.
Keeping language alive is another aspect of preserving ancient culture.
The exhibits at Bandelier National Monument do a fantastic job of helping visitors understand that pueblo culture is alive and well.
This is Fred disapproving of our impact as visitors. Visit with respect and care.
In addition to the educational features of the visitor center, there is a small gift shop and snack bar for visitors to enjoy.
Main Loop Trail…
Walking the Main Loop Trail will give you a comprehensive look at ancient pueblo life. The 1.2-mile trail is marked by interest points you can read more about in the printed trail guide available at the visitor center for a dollar.
Much of the trail consists of a wide, paved path but there is a steeper section that allows visitors an intimate view of the cave rooms. You can even enter some of them. This section is easily bypassed by those not up to the challenge.
Having said that, it isn’t terribly strenuous or dangerous, but it is moderately difficult. It is probably not advisable for really small explorers unless minders are prepared to go slowly and keep a very close eye on them. There are handrails in the narrower and steeper sections. I will say that I found it fairly challenging with my physical limitations and the substantial weight of my camera gear. Taking it slow and steady made it manageable.
You can extend your explorations by walking an additional half-mile to the Alcove House, which we didn’t do during our visit. Park rangers reported that it’s a true highlight, however Frankenleg was having none of it after having done the Main Loop Trail so I had to be content with what I was able to see. Fred and George were pleased with what they were able to experience, especially getting to climb into the caves.
Another nice feature that helps visitors engage is the opportunity to climb into some of the cliff dwellings. Most are off-limits but getting to climb into a few was a big hit with Fred, George, and a few of the other visitors we shared the trail with.
Use the Main Trail Loop Guide available at the visitor center to follow the markers and better understand the life of the ancient pueblo people.
From the upper levels of the trail, visitors get a birds-eye view of the ruins below.
Much of the Main Loop Trail is a wide, paved path.
There are narrow, steep steps to navigate along the Main Loop Trail but with care, they are not difficult. Even with the challenges of Frankenleg and about a ton of camera gear, I managed without too much fuss.
Fred crossing the creek area on the plank boardwalk. It’s not fancy but we saw visitors of all abilities navigate it without trouble.
Camping…
Bandelier’s campground offers a few more amenities than many national public lands facilities. It carries a higher per night price tag as a result but when I’m camping with the boys, more amenities simply make the trip easier to manage. I really enjoyed camping at Bandelier, one of my favorite features during our visit in June being the constant buzz of hummingbirds.
Here’s what you’ll find when camping at Bandelier National Monument:
- The sites are spacious and equipped with picnic tables and fire rings of varying styles depending on your choice of campsite.
- The ground is hard-packed as is often the case at campgrounds like this so be prepared to pound stakes if you’ll be pitching a tent.
- Pinon pines and junipers create visual privacy between sites.
- Those short trees that don’t provide much shade. That’s great if you need to recharge electronics via solar power like I do. There’s no electrical service in the campground.
- Ravens will try to grab your food if you turn your back for a moment. You’ll need to stay vigilant and keep food stored properly, even for short periods. They are bold and smart.
- The campground is supplied with water at several locations, flush toilets, and sinks.
- There’s also access to a dedicated dishwater disposal sink.
- Firewood available for purchase from the campground host.
- Waste disposal is also supplied and you can sort by trash and recycling.
- A credit card pay station is available.
- Easy access to shuttle bus stop to go to the visitor center. Or use the 1.5-mile trail from the campground.
Spacious sites accommodate large camping setups.
Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings.
For more images visit my Bandelier National Monument Flickr album.
And now for you moment of green…
Bandelier National Monument is a national gem that captures the trifecta of geology, natural history, and human history.

As some of you know, I’m originally from the Sunshine State. Which means I have lots of extended family strewn about the peninsula. So this year I met my parents and my brother’s family in Amelia Island for Thanksgiving as sort of a mid-way rendezvous between our respective hometowns.
Because it was a family holiday, not necessarily an adventure trip, I wasn’t planning to be on “blogger” duty. Except that on an outing the day before Thanksgiving, I discovered Fort Clinch State Park and I knew it deserved some Val in Real Life love. Call it an impromptu experiential education adventure…
Fort Clinch State Park…
Tucked in the extreme northeast corner of Florida, just across St. Marys River from Cumberland Island National Seashore in my adopted home state of Georgia, Fort Clinch features beaches, moss-covered live oaks, and a Civil War-era fort.
While it did not ever see the action of war, the fort was garrisoned during the Civil War as well as the Spanish-American War. In addition to the fort, there’s a small museum and a short film to acquaint you with it’s role in history. It’s an interesting contrast to one of my favorite Civil War sites, near Savannah that did see battle, Fort Pulaski.
With that short intro, here’s a pictoral look at Fort Clinch State Park:
The fort entrance with a surprise appearance by my big brother… see him walking right into my shot? Ahem!
Fort Clinch State Park is tucked in the northeast corner of Florida, just across the St. Marys River from Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia.
Low sun over a building at the fort.
The details at Fort Clinch make the Civil War seem very real even 150 years later.
Civil War era uniforms.
A step back in time to the Civil War.
Cousins and a cannon… family time at Fort Clinch State Park.
Fort life comes alive with the help of colorful characters.
The textures and colors are worth taking the time to notice and enjoy.
Fred and George heading into the fort. Unfortunately we were there near closing time. Fred wanted to stay much longer.
The pier…
At the pier with my Thanksgiving crew casting long shadows in the setting sun.
The Fort Clinch beach.
Cousins on the pier… a great place to get outside for some pre-Thanksgiving Vitamin N.
A peaceful evening on the pier.
Fort Clinch was a great little discovery for us. The boys have always enjoyed forts and it was a great blend of outdoors and history. I particularly enjoyed the re-enactor we met who did a fabulous job of staying in character to answer questions. It was great fun to talk with him.
If you find yourself in the area, do check it out. Even better if you have the time to camp and/or walk the nature trails there. This little park has a lot of variety to offer.
And now for your moment of green…
I’m not much of one for beaches but the sunset on the pier set a nice tone for our Thanksgiving holiday.

December 16, 2014
Virginia City: Historic Nevada Delight
Where do you go after you’ve been to hell and back?
My post-Hell Hike and Raft destination of choice? Virginia City, Nevada.
Last month at the end of my epic Hell Hike and Raft adventure, my crew mates headed back home but I grabbed a rental car and pointed myself towards Nevada and the legendary Virginia City. The good folks at the tourism board helped me get set up to explore the city, its history, and people. And I tell you what, it invigorated me in a way few city destinations have.
Equal parts history and legend, Virginia City deftly straddles the divide between its authentic past and it’s future as a tourism destination. Having risen from the wild west as a mining town, the city has reinvented itself with a dignity many other historic places have not.
The basics…
Nevada as a whole has a rugged, unforgiving reputation. Rightly deserved. It is not a welcoming environment for those looking for comfort and convenience. This is largely a place to find out what you’re made of.
There’s a different rhythm in Virginia City… and it’s fantastic.
As for Virginia City itself, there are luxuries to be had but they are not without the limitations of a town perched at 6,200 feet and only accessible by a few winding mountain roads. Because of the nature of the location as well as the independent spirit of its people, the residents of Virginia City don’t get their feathers ruffled if something goes awry and they don’t operate on the time-frame most of us urban-dwellers subject ourselves to.
A power outage? No complaints, just keep going about your business as best you can until it gets fixed. Operating hours? They’re sometimes more like suggestions. They are subject to change if something comes up. It’s nothing personal and not meant to be a slight if you are inconvenienced, just the reality of living in a place where those kind expectations don’t hold up. Please don’t mistake that mindset for standoffishness. The people of Virginia City were nothing but helpful, friendly, and welcoming but there are different rhythms and social conventions here.
A quiet evening in Virginia City.
Virginia City is the county seat for Storey County.
Once a mining boom-town, Virginia City drew pioneers seeking their fortune in the Comstock Lode.
Town pride in action. Virginia City residents are working on a mural that reflects their history.
Discovering Virginia City…
Virginia City is a visual feast of colors and textures. When I drove in at dusk on a Monday night, I was immediately impressed. Even in the failing light of the day I could tell I was going to be a very busy chick soaking it all in… but I couldn’t stop to admire it right away since my hotel hosts were waiting for me to arrive so they could go home for the night. (As you can see, that Nevadan flexibility about time goes both ways…)
The vibrant colors and textures of Virginia City are matched by the personalities of it’s people.
I slipped into town the day after the conclusion of Virginia City’s International Camel Races. I’d only learned about this wonderfully bizarre event a few months earlier, oddly enough, thanks to one of those graphic murals on the side of a U-Haul trailer. I’d known about Virginia City and its connection to the 60s music scene but learning about the races intrigued me enough to bump it to the top of my travel priority list.
Unfortunately, this year’s camel racing festivities conflicted with the Hell Hike and Raft but I knew I had to check out Virginia City in spite of that. The decision paid off. The town was in recovery mode after such a huge event so I’m really quite thrilled with my timing. In the quiet lull of the post-camel-racing tumult, I was able to walk the streets in the early morning and evening hours with few others to encounter.
I loved the feel of this town asleep. I had to chuckle that my evening strolls came complete with the metallic creak of a sign blowing in the wind as my lone footsteps echoed across the boardwalks, something straight out of a western movie before a duel takes place.
And during the busier mid-day hours, there’s still a good vibe here. With a town like this, where tourism has become a thriving industry after a long history of pioneering and mining, there are a few things that lend a slightly tourist-y feel but it’s mixed with the authenticity of a town with a genuinely rich history. In talking with a few of the town’s residents, I got a great sense of pride and ownership. They truly love their Virginia City. By wandering off the main drag and onto the side streets, you can step into their world and get a feel for the place these folks call home.
Regardless of how you choose to explore Virginia City, by sticking to C Street or getting off the beaten path with activities like geocaching, you won’t find the ubiquitous and familiar franchises. The offerings here are as unique as the people.
If you slow down and take a good look, the details throughout town are a delight to the senses.
Virginia City was a glorious muse for shooting in infrared as well as for geocaching. Yep, there’s one somewhere in this shot…
Things to do in Virginia City…
My approach in visiting any new place is hit the common highlights first to get a basic understanding, then dig deeper. That’s why I’m a fan of stopping into visitor centers as a one-stop shop to sort out my plan of attack. They’re a wealth of information and Virginia City has the added bonus of the Ye Olde Virginia City app for your phone to help you as well.
“Diamond Jim” was my buddy at the Visitor Center. He helped me figure out how to spend my short time in Virginia City.
Virginia City has a lot to offer in terms of different museums and tours to explore. Fortunately, it’s fairly small and highly walkable so it was no problem ditch the rental car at the motel and explore on foot.
There is certainly more to do here than my two-ish days allowed for but I did manage to pack in a lot of activity in that time:
- Silver City Cemetery: I really enjoy soaking up the history contained in cemeteries. This particular one holds no world-renowned historical figures but it does hold the story of Virginia City. On the hillside below town, beautiful wrought-iron gate surround most of the grave sites. Different sections signify the diversity of the pioneers who made the arduous trek to Nevada, seeking their fortune in the Comstock Lode.
Trust me when I say Virginia City is a friendly place. These two were a hoot and in the time I got to chat with them I discovered that Trolley Tour Bill (left) even graduated from high school not far from where I did in South Florida. How’s that for a small world?
- Silver State Peace Officer Museum: This surprise little gem wasn’t initially on my radar. What drew me to it was a geocache. I didn’t need to enter the museum to nab the cache but the host at the desk was so enthusiastic about it, I had to check it out. It proved to be a very interesting and remarkable collection of law enforcement memorobilia and artifacts. They even have a children’s corner where little ones can color and dress up in uniforms.
- The Way it Was Museum: Outwardly, this museum appears to be a cheesy tourist-trap but I was surprised to find a very nice collection of Virginia City artifacts ranging from household items to mining equipment. There’s a video to watch if you care to but the items on display alone are worth the small admission. If you want to be blown away, take the time to ponder the scale model of the mining shafts constructed to mine a portion of the Comstock Lode. Mind boggling. Trust me, that’s coming from a geologist who understands what’s involved here.
The Mark Twain Museum holds some unique treasures. This is a sense of humor I appreciate.
- Mark Twain Museum: This museum is housed in the basement of the original Territorial Enterprise where Mark Twain got his start. It’s filled with the printing equipment used as well as other furniture and various pieces of the time, including his original desk. And the “Mark Twain sat here” toilet? How can you resist?
- Trolley Tour: As an indy traveler, hopping into a tour trolley full of people is usually not my idea of a good time. In this case, however, I got to chat with the hugely entertaining trolley driver, Bill. And the tour was well worth it. I was able to get a quick overview of the history of Virginia City as well as a feel for the lay-of-the-land which was really helpful in figuring out what I wanted to go back to visit on foot.
- Road side historic point on Hwy 341: On the outskirts north of town, this is one of the best roadside historical markers I’ve encountered in my travels. This little stop offers some mining history as well as a very pleasant picnic stop overlooking the Silver State Cemetery.
With only a couple of days to explore Virginia City, I left a lot of museums and attractions unvisited but they include the likes of train tours, ghost tours, mine tours, more museums, and even a wild west show. As you can see, there’s plenty to keep you busy here for many days. And if Fred and George were with me for this trip, I would have counted it as a roadschooling feast. There is a good deal of unique shopping as well but since that’s not my cup-o-tea, I’ll leave that to someone else to detail for you.
I’m certainly late to the game in discovering the fun to be had in Virginia City but now I’m hooked.
Intricate wrought iron and tombstones tell the story of pioneers who came seeking their fortune and never left.
The Silver State National Peace Officers Museum holds and impressive and thought-provoking collection of law enforcement artifacts.
Wildflowers and history greet visitors at this roadside stop on the outskirts of town.
The Way It Was Museum holds a wide array of historic artifacts covering everything from mining to medicine and daily living.
Final thoughts…
Like with any place, how deeply you’d like to explore is up to you. For myself, I knew I was interested in more than a casual passing-through or day-trip that would only allow me to skim the surface of what Virginia City has to offer. My surprise was that my three-night stay wasn’t sufficient to sate my Virginia City appetite. This is a town worth repeat visits to experience various seasonal offerings of festivals and events like the International Camel and Ostrich Races, World Championship Outhouse Races, Christmas on Comstock, and wine tours.
Bring it on, indeed!
Beyond the attractions and events within Virginia City itself that I missed on my visit, there are also nearby places I will be sure to check out next time around including outdoor destinations like Washoe and Dayton State Parks as well as the Lake Tahoe area.
I hope what you’ll take away is, not only that Virginia City is really groovy, but that Nevada is so much more than Las Vegas or Burning Man. I know, I know, I was surprised, too. Nevada wasn’t on my radar as a travel destination either until George decided he wanted to geocache the ET Highway.
If you’ve underestimated Nevada like I have, be sure to take another look and discover the surprises the Silver State and Virginia City have waiting for you. And you don’t have to simply take my word for it, check out these stunning Nevada images.
So count me in to get back soon. This Georgia girl is sold on Virginia City and Nevada. And I still want to see those camels race…
Coming up…
Next up, my take on Virginia City’s food and lodging options. Until then, check out my Virginia City video on YouTube:
And now for your moment of green…
Rethink Nevada… it’s a delight of colors, textures, and opportunities.
October 13, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: Maryland, West Virginia, & Washington D.C.
By the time we exited Philadelphia, we’d been on the road for 37 days in the Overland Expo to TBEX expedition. As we slowly moved southward back towards home we could feel the trip winding down even though there were still many more places to visit and two weeks remaining.
Going into Maryland, we had the comfort of knowing we’d be camping for a few nights and not have to do the overnight hotel bounce. This eased my urban worries. Even though visiting Washington, D.C. would be part of the plan, I could rest easy knowing I’d be able to curl up in the tent at night.
Patapsco State Park…
After most of the day in Philadelphia and a short stint in Delaware to claim a quick rest area geocache smiley, we didn’t reach our campsite until late afternoon. The lush Maryland forest was so similar to Georgia that it made us feel quite at home and we were instantly at ease. So we set up camp, went out to resupply, then returned to relax in an environment that felt familiar and comfortable.
Finally, West Virginia…
So way back in our journey (like three weeks earlier…), you’ll recall we had to reroute and ditch our plans to grab our West Virginia geocache on the way to Toronto. Well, now it was time to get it or we’d miss our chance entirely and fail in our no-state-left-behind mission. So for our first day in Maryland… we went to West Virginia.
Clever geocaches are always appreciated. We had a very good laugh over the nano training series we found in West Virginia.
It was a long haul but we made it to Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park, visited the park for a short time, then set about nabbing our geocaches. Truly creative geocaches are fairly rare so we were tickled by a series of “nano” training caches. For those of you out of the geocaching loop, nanos are tiny… seriously tiny geocaches and have a reputation for being a little bit annoying. This series poked great fun at them and was added a lot of fun to our very brief visit to West Virginia.
When we returned to camp that afternoon, we spent the rest of the day relaxing and playing hackey sack, triumphant in our geocaching mission. And that evening, as we were delighted by fireflies dancing about us, I realized it was the summer solstice. You can lose track of these things on the road but that realization brought me back to where we were exactly one year before… at Great Sand Dunes, and me in utter misery.
It took some effort to get back to West Virginia, but George was so excited to put the sticker on the map when we stopped in Harper’s Ferry.
Visiting the District…
Sooo… since apparently our urban adventures in Toronto, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia weren’t enough, we felt the need to do Washington, D.C. Obviously there are countless educational opportunities there and George was so young at his last visit, he doesn’t remember having been there.
And like our other urban adventures, we had to be very selective in what we took the time to visit. It was a bit of a drive from our campsite so I only allowed one day to pack in everything we could manage. With those constraints, the boys top picks were the Air & Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Lincoln Memorial. George also wanted to just see the Capital building and the White House… much like his desire to see the Statue of Liberty.
And so we set ourselves loose in D.C…
We started our day off at the Air and Space Museum…
George and a mini Hubble.
The boys loved seeing the donations at the Air and Space Museum. They were impressed people from all over the world come to visit.
We didn’t do the entirety of the National Museum of Natural History but we did spend a good deal of time in the geology section. Believe it or not, I wasn’t the only one who was giddy about the exhibit… although I may have been more excited than most.
Hands-on fun will always win over curious kids…
Like the Statue of Liberty, George simply wanted to see the Capital Building so we walked by to let him get a sense of the scale.
I consider the Lincoln Memorial a place to pause and reflect but amongst the throngs, it wasn’t meant to be. George felt better for having experienced the grandeur of the monument in person.
On a Saturday in June, the Lincoln Memorial was overwhelmingly packed but a visit to D.C. wouldn’t be complete without a visit.
George may have been a little more enthusiastic about the National Mall than my exhausted Fred.
In addition, we managed to work in a walk along the Potomac, getting stuck in D.C. traffic, and some virtual geocaches at places like the Lincoln Memorial, the Botanic Garden, and the Korean War monument. To say we were exhausted would be an understatement.
Unraveling teen…
During our stay at Patapsco, it became clear that Fred was coming unglued. He was sleeping poorly and constantly exhausted. As many of you probably now, growing teenagers require lots of sleep, lots of food, and lots of space. Food was easily remedied but the other two factors were not possible to address. His teenage body was rebelling and trying to manage another growth spurt amidst this kind of travel wasn’t working for him. He’d been a trooper for over five weeks at this point and he needed a break so it was here that I made another fairly major excursion modification and lopped and entire week off of the trip.
That meant leaving without exploring Patapsco and skipping Williamsburg, the Great Dismal Swamp, and the Outer Banks. With some consideration, I realized those destinations were close enough to home that we could take another trip to reach them later on if we decided later on that they were still important to us.
I still owed George a promised trip to a water park, however, and Fred agreed he could manage that since it was on the way home. Just knowing I was responding to his needs and making changes was enough for him be able to hold on a little longer.
And with that, we packed up camp in a drizzle on day 40 and hightailed it to Greensboro, North Carolina for the water park.
And now for your moment of green…
After long, hot, crowded day and walking many miles around the National Mall, to find this little green oasis was refreshing.

April 22, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: Philadelphia Blitz
Although you may have noticed this already, let me set the record straight before I share the next few adventures on the Overland Expo to TBEX expedition. I’m an outdoor travel chick. End of story. My wheelhouse is camping, day-hikes, geocaching… that sort of thing.
The open air Dragon Lot in Philadelphia saved us from the no-way-to-park fate we suffered in New York.
However, in order to fulfill some of Fred and George’s travel desires, as well as embrace certain historical education elements, this particular trip had a much larger component of urban adventures than I’m used to.
This is not my strength. It’s sort of a chicken-and-egg scenario… I’m not sure if I don’t like urban travel because I’m not good at it or I’m not good at it because I don’t like it.
So with that preface, when I last left you in the tales of our expedition, we exited Rhode Island with our sights on Philadelphia.
Will brake for PEZ…
For a change, we handled our no-state-left-behind geocaching policy with adeptness, nabbing a Connecticut smiley early and without difficulty. With that goal behind us, we pushed towards Philadelphia… but you can only pass so many PEZ factory signs before your adolescent travel-mates insist on a detour. Given their love of PEZ (George even had a PEZ-themed birthday once…), I indulged the request.
Check out these gems from PEZ history.
Unlike the Ben & Jerry’s stop we made in Vermont, there isn’t a tour to be had here. It’s really just a visitor center but you can peek through the windows to see the factory happenings. For the most part, it’s a chance to view vintage PEZ paraphernalia. As much as this is not my scene, I’ll admit it was oddly appealing, but in a “Huh, go figure…” kind of way.
While this stop wasn’t exactly a life-changing experience, the collection of dispensers and the history of the candy is interesting. It’s also a great conversation trigger for discussion of consumerism and manufactured demand via the appeal of limited edition and collector’s items. Yes, we get into discussions about these things. It was also a nice break from the car and we even scored another geocaching smiley from the effort.
If you happen to find yourself in Connecticut and you’re planning on stopping by, here’s some extra tidbits for your visit:
- They do charge an small admission fee but it comes with a discount on a purchase… so be prepared for the pressure to buy something.
- You don’t need much time here so it can be a fairly quick point-of-interest stop that won’t cramp your travel too much.
- They do have indoor and outdoor seating so it’s actually quite a good place to take a road trip lunch-break.
For the love of PEZ… 😛
Seriously… there are Mr. Bean PEZ dispensers out there. Go fig.
Just a few more stops…
Even though our goal for the night was Philadelphia, there were a few other matters to handle along the way. First was an attempt to just see the Statue of Liberty. George had a burning desire to lay eyes on it even if we didn’t go out to the island and the whole bit. I was very up front with him about my limited patience and ability to deal with New York City so he agreed to a drive-by viewing. I wish I could say this went smoothly. It did not.
Fred. Cooked.
I made the fatal error of trying to get him close by going through Battery Park instead of from Liberty State Park on the New Jersey side. Seriously, I don’t know what I was thinking. It was a colossally stupid move.
With her roof box, Blubaru would not fit in most parking decks and the heavy construction in the Battery Park area meant we could barely even see the statue as we drove around in search of a place to stash the car.
After a valiant and time-consuming effort… and maybe more than a few strong words with a parking deck attendant about whether or not my car would make the posted clearance in the parking garage, we gave up. It was getting late and I’d exhausted our options for parking. I was so mentally cooked by this time, I couldn’t fathom trying to salvage the visit by getting over to Liberty State Park for a better view.
Road-weary George.
So we proceeded with the torture of trying to get back onto the interstate to resume our progress towards Philadelphia. We nudged our way out of the city in the throes in rush hour traffic of course, because I couldn’t have timed it better if I’d tried. We did mange to catch a distant view of the statue from one of the bridges as we crawled along. That was enough for George. He understood that navigating New York City by car is not the way to do go but that we gave it a go. In a way, it was a valuable experience because I tried to warn him of the chaos we’d be in for in the attempt. Seeing it in person was an eye-opener for him.
Once we broke free of the traffic, we still had the matter of grabbing a New Jersey geocache on our way to Philadelphia. Not only was I entirely grateful for an easy Rest Area hide, it turned out to be quite interesting and highlighted an adjacent swamp. The opportunity for unexpected discovery is one of the many reasons I love geocaching but when there’s an impromptu educational experience as well, that’s where the rubber hits the road. (You can’t see me but I’m waving my geocaching pom-poms…)
First Impressions…
It was nearing dusk by the time we finally arrived at our hotel in Philadelphia. After a little respite to get checked in and gather our wits, we set out to see the flags lining Benjamin Franklin Parkway. George was beside himself in geography glory, challenging me to identify the flags and me only doing a passable job at it.
Philadelphia was impressively photogenic.
Getting out to walk and explore felt refreshing after a trying day in the car. It was peaceful and invigorating as we marveled at the enormous sycamores that lined the street. With a multitude of points of interest, there was no shortage of sights to take in and I was blown away by the relaxed, park-like feel even as we strolled next to a six-lane road. Well done, Philly.
After our walk, we headed to the Kite & Key, a pub just a short way from our hotel. I fancied a pint, something I’d not had in awhile being the sole responsible adult on our trip. The kids were up for some fish and chips and I was looking forward to a leisurely dinner with them. It was dark by the time we arrived and packed with hipsters.
After our long day, and being quite sensitive about loud, crowded places in general, Fred was immediately on edge. But given the late hour and my lack of familiarity with the area I pushed him to stick it out so we didn’t end up on a wild goose chase just to get dinner. He made it but he was utterly cooked. Our perceptive server made sure we got the check quickly so we could be on our way in short order.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway was inviting and delightful… and even included a geography lesson.
Independence Hall…
After a good night’s sleep we were ready to get a dose of Philadelphia’s history and sights. Like our time in Boston, we had to pick just a few things to see knowing we were missing a lot of good stuff but that’s how it goes. With the constraint of budget, the boys getting overfull from history, and my inability to tolerate urban travel, we had to hit the high points and move on.
Independence Hall on a clear-sky day
Of course we needed to visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Those are no-brainers for a first visit to Philadelphia. Yet again, we found ourselves struggling with parking. It’s not like the car is a monstrous vehicle even with her roof box, but these big-city environs are simply not friendly to anything remotely outside of mainstream. After some initial trouble, we found an open-air lot. It was quite a relief since it was beginning to feel like another New York-type fiasco was upon us.
The line for the bell was not horrendous but it did require a little bit of wait. The inviting green next to the building was most fortunate as I sent Fred and George to frolic while I held our place in line to see the famous bell. Not that there isn’t plenty to see in the Liberty Bell exhibit in addition to the bell but Fred, ever the comedian, quipped “All this just to see a broken bell?” Spoken like a true teenager, no?
The boys were able to roam while I stood in line for the Liberty Bell. This was very helpful…
Having secured our tickets for the Independence Hall tour before visiting the bell (which you’ll want to do very early in heavier visitation times, by the way), we made our way to the entrance to navigate security and whatnot. Rather than retread basic tourist info about Independence Hall that can be found in countless other places online, I will simply say I was pleased with making this one of our Philadelphia priorities. It’s a worthwhile and stirring experience to stand in the places where the drama of our country’s genesis unfolded. Yes, I’m a history nerd, what can I say?
With me gushing over how cool it was to visit Independence Hall, Fred and George refused to be impressed until I dealt with the hunger-factor that had reared it’s head. So we popped across the street to the Red Owl Tavern for lunch. About as far as I will go into food review mode is that this place was really yummy, great ambiance, excellent service. If you find yourself in need of an excellent place to eat while visiting, this is it. There, done. 🙂
The “Broken Bell” as Fred puts it.
The Signer
Historic courtroom in Independence Hall
After hitting the wall the night before, George was refreshed and ready to explore.
I’ve used restaurant tic-tac-toe to keep the kids entertained for years. This time George used his nerdiness to add his own twist by creating Probability Tic-tac-toe.
Ben…
The Independence Hall area has a lot to offer within a short walk. After most of our day spent at the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, we opted to fill the remainder of our time by visiting Ben Franklin’s grave. There was a geocache smiley to be had and, let’s face it, Ben’s the dude. You’ve got to take a moment to give a bow to an amazing life.
There are many other notable figures in this cemetery to consider as well. It’s a lovely, peaceful walk through the grounds that will give you a little bit of a nature break within the hustle-and-bustle of the city.
Ben’s grave
Christ Church Burial Ground is full of the historic figures that helped shape our country.
Worn headstones at Christ Church Burial Grounds
Moving on…
And nearly as fast as we came into Philadelphia, we left. It was time to head to Maryland and some actual camping. Something I know how to do well…
And now for your moment of green…
A cool, green respite in the bustle of Philadelphia…
April 14, 2014
Musings on Roadschooling
It’s been a wonderful trip down memory lane to write up my thoughts on our roadschooling journey. So much has been a whirlwind, especially since this wasn’t part of some grand vision I had from when they were babies.
Here are a smattering of additional random thoughts I have on the matter that have come up in conversations over the last several years:
Best buddies exploring together…
1. No decision is permanent. You can pull them out of school and you can put them back if you need to. Obviously you don’t want to be changing that every week, but you get the idea… you have the freedom to adjust as necessary, depending on what life throws at you.
2. Trust yourself! Yes, I was riddled with self-doubt at first but give yourself time to find a new rhythm and you’ll get the hang of it. Plus, there are an amazing amount of resources available so you don’t have to create everything yourself.
3. There are a multitude of different approaches. Take the time to experiment and figure out what works for your family. Remain flexible and make adjustments as you go. Find support in local groups and communities to help you navigate this new territory and remember there’s no Status Quo with kids.Do what works… until it doesn’t.
4. As much as I advocate for giving kids the world, this is actually not for everyone. Not every personality, whether parent or child, is cut out for it. Again, pick what’s right for your child and family.
5. In my mind, road-schooling at younger ages is a huge bonus. Education is less-complicated then. Learning to do things like read and write is highly portable. As they reach upper grade levels, education becomes more complex, especially if they gain an interest in less-than-portable subjects (i.e. George and chemistry). And as they get older, developmentally they need their social network and that can be very challenging to adequately maintain on the road.
6. No, it’s not easy. In fact, it’s a lot of work. But yes, it’s worth it. When you consider the big picture of what you want for yourself and your children, nothing is easy… even sending them off to school every day.
Immersion in all of the wonders the world has to offer…
April 7, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: Rhode Island Adventures
Somehow on our Overland Expo to TBEX expedition, we managed to fritter away six days in Massachusetts, some of them actually successful. It was time to move on, though. Originally we planned to quickly cruise through Rhode Island but the boys were jonesing for some beach time so we set out to spend a couple of days on the coast, Rhode Island-style.
In a rare scenario on this expedition, we found that we didn’t have to race to our next destination. We leisurely packed up camp in Concord, Massachusetts and set out for the short 100-mile trip to Fishermen’s Memorial State Park in Narranganssett, Rhode Island since its location is fantastic for exploring nearby state beaches and Block Island.
Roger Wheeler State Beach…
Those of you who know me realize I’m not really a fan of the beach so this was a stop simply to fulfill Fred and George’s travel whims. They humor me on many things so I do have to throw them a bone from time-to-time. I figured I could get at least a little quality with my camera while they had their salt-water fun.
George’s happy beach frolic made this stop especially fun.
So after setting up our home-sweet-home at Fishermen’s Memorial, we headed out for the beach action the boys were craving. The campground location put us within a few minutes of Roger Wheeler State Beach and being late-afternoon on a random Monday, it was nearly deserted.
They had a pretty slick set-up going on. The generous facilities (think restrooms, showers, rinsing areas, concessions) were quite conveniently located in relation to the parking lot and beach front. Picnic tables allowed me to keep my camera gear out of the sand which was excellent. A lot of times on an outing like this, the setup isn’t terribly well thought-out so it becomes an exercise in frustration, making it not worth the effort.
I didn’t get that at all here. It seems like even during very busy times, the setup probably works very well. In all honesty, I’d probably take the boys to the beach more if we had easier access to a place like this. I’ll never be a beach person but, as beaches go, I have to say it wasn’t half bad. I actually enjoyed it more than any I’ve visited in my home state of Florida.
After such a relaxing time at the beach, we opted for dinner at a nearby restaurant called Aunt Carrie’s. I’m not a food blogger but, just FYI in case you’re ever in the area, I’ll say that it was a middling experience. I can’t say I’d recommend it… but it wasn’t awful either. I’m a sucker for scallops and mine were pretty good but I thought the kids dinners were overpriced for measly portions.
Fred and George at Roger Wheeler State Beach
Getting bumped…
So here’s things get wonky for us in Rhode Island. You see, one of the reasons we picked this location was in order to visit Block Island. In researching our visit, I realized we wouldn’t be content with simply hanging out where the ferry dumps you off once you arrive. Block Island offers a lot of activities and boasts a little town with shopping and what-not but that’s not really our scene, right? We wanted to visit the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge for some good nature and camera time for mom and a unique place for the boys to explore.
Instead of exploring Block Island, Plan B involved a geocaching mission.
The problem we ran into was transportation. Once there, we’d have to be able to get to the north end of the island… with everything we needed for the whole day, including my insanely heavy camera gear, food, water, etc. Between the timing of ferries, the distance we’d need to cover, and our load, we had a logistical problem with the on-island transportation offerings.
Instead of trying to rent something on Block Island, I opted to just put Blubaru on the ferry so we’d have everything we’d need and be able to do things on our terms. Having just drifted into town, however, I didn’t have a ferry reservation so I took a gamble. After talking to the ferry operators, I felt I had a decent chance to make one of the few unreserved spots available on the morning ferry so we reported to the waiting area early as instructed to secure the number one position in line.
So we sat for something like two hours, listening to podcasts to pass the time and even grabbing a quick geocache that was nearby. The ferry dude was giving me a thumbs up… it was all looking very good. We spent the bulk of the time in near-certainty our gamble would pay off. And then two giant dump trucks showed up that needed to get to the island for work that day.
That was it, we were out, our morning wasted and my mood soured. The ferry was about to leave and the ferry dude asked if I could just grab my stuff and get on without the car. It wasn’t humanly possible to get all of our stuff together we’d need for the whole day in the few minutes we had.
Great Swamp…
Soooo, suddenly without a plan for the day, we had to improvise. After a little research through the wonderful technology that is a smartphone, we found where we’d be spending our day… Great Swamp Wildlife Reservation. There were a handful of geocaches to be had and we were intrigued by the notion of what a Rhode Island swamp might have to offer.
Along the trail in Great Swamp…
A reptilian friend on the trail in Great Swamp.
Swamp cachers…
Great Swamp proved to be a very entertaining geocaching stop.
One of the funniest geocaches we’ve ever found. We weren’t sure what we were getting into when the cache name mentioned lamp skirt… in the middle of a swamp.
Having salvaged our day with a lot of fun geocaches in Great Swamp, we headed back towards camp but since we still needed dinner, there was one stop we really had to make…
Sometimes it doesn’t take much to amuse the boys. Eating at George’s very entertaining for them. And very yummy, BTW.
It was a worthwhile stop… entirely yummy. It was a bit the spendy side but after our experience at Aunt Carrie’s I really wanted a decent meal. The boys did a great job tromping around the swamp and being agreeable so we just decided to go for it. We didn’t get to eat at Fred’s back in New Brunswick so it seemed like we should at least get to eat at George’s.
When training pays off…
After dinner, we high-tailed it back to camp to batten down the hatches for an incoming rain storm. Clearly mother nature decided we’d been dry for a couple of days and that was enough. With heavy rains in the forecast, I did a little advance camp breaking that I would normally have saved for the morning.
In the frenzy of an unusual camp evening, Fred managed to open the car door into is upper lip, leaving a respectable gash. All packing came to a halt as I had to address the problem. And here’s where having Wilderness First Aid training paid for itself…. I knew it wasn’t a problem. I could reasonably assess and deal with his injury. It was well beyond a simple band-aid fix but since I knew how to clean it and dress it with more appropriate bandaging, I had him fixed up and we were back to packing in a matter of minutes. He was good as new in a few days time.
Prior to my WFA training, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge or proper tools and materials on hand. Without that training, I would have spent the night in a Rhode Island emergency room because I would have been unsure if this was something that needed stitches.
Insult to injury…
We were already dealing with the brewing thunder storm and Fred’s lip-busting antics and for some inexplicable reason, the park suddenly closed our camp area’s only bathroom. I was dumbfounded. I’m sure they had a good reason but they didn’t bother to tell us what it was. All they did was put up a tacky little sign that said to use the restroom in the other camp area. Only, that camp area was nowhere near ours.
Huh? Area 2 might as well have been Area 51 for as far as it was from our site.
So apparently if we needed a middle-of-the-night potty run we would have to trudge over a quarter mile in a downpour. Uh… No thanks. Not cool.
On that note, we spent a fairly restless night waiting out the thunderstorm in the tent, trying to make sure we were going to stay dry in the pounding rain. The next morning, rather than try to prep breakfast in the rain on top of trying to break camp I made a deal with my little camp helpers. Break it down like champs and they’d earn a trip to Dunkin Donuts on the way out of town. Let me tell you, with that kind of incentive, we were out in no time. That, plus we all really had to pee…
Another soggy camp exit…
And with that we headed out to our next point of interest, Philadelphia.
And now for your moment of green…
Check it out… I actually almost enjoyed being at the beach. 🙂

March 31, 2014
Adventures in Leave No Trace Training
Last week I set out to add another piece to my outdoor-chick toolbox. Having secured my Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification last year and renewed my Wilderness First Aid certification in January, I had nothing else on my radar. But when my dear, insane soul-sister, Karan of E-Corps, told me in no uncertain terms I needed to join her for a Leave No Trace Trainer course, I didn’t object.
Homework
If you’re not familiar with them, these are the guiding principles of Leave No Trace:
LNT Seven Principles
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Before setting out to our training location at Neels Gap on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia, we each picked one of the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace to research in-depth and present to the class. I chose Respect Wildlife and dove into how to present the topic in a new way. I struggled for a bit until I went to where I do my best thinking… the trails. It was there my idea hit me and gelled into a working plan. More on that in a bit.
Adventures in preparation
As excited as I was about the class, I hadn’t been on an overnight backpack in a very long time and resurrecting those packing skills from deep in my memory was a daunting task. These days, I can pack for a 10,000-mile camping road-trip in my sleep but it took a great amount of effort through no-longer-familiar decisions to get myself ready for a backpacking adventure.
On top of hauling out long-unused gear, I checked the weather and realized we were in for a miserable time. The challenge of backpacking for the first time in ages was going to be compounded by dreary, wet, bone-chilling cold and the need to have everything completely waterproof. After a multitude of mini-crises about which pack to use, remembering how to pack, what food to bring, how to get my weight down, how to keep everything dry, and whether or not to haul my massive camera, I managed to get my act together and to class.
Training Trainers
Class began at a cabin near Neels Gap where we met the rest of our classmates and our leaders, Tom and Alex. Instructor Tom, got us started with some basics about the Leave No Trace Principles then moved on to some activities to get us thinking and discussing the basis for the principles and the overlap between them. Leave No Trace volunteer and AT uber-hiker, Alex, gave us some practical tips for practicing LNT ourselves as well as how to share the principles when we encounter others who clearly aren’t familiar with them.
LNT leader Tom looking way more comfortable in the dreary cold than the rest of us…
Under better meteorological circumstances, Tom would have led us out for a longer hike and more field study. That would have extended out miserable weather exposure though, so he cut us some slack and we lingered in the warmth and dryness of the cabin for most of the morning. So that’s where my buddies, Karan and Hollis, and I improvised to give our presentations.
In an effort to avoid straight lecture and regurgitation, my lightbulb moment on the trail a few days earlier involved creating a role-playing scenario for my Respect Wildlife topic. This was a big gamble since I had no idea if my classmates would embrace becoming bears and chipmunks. Before we got started I handed everyone a card with their animal persona and scenario… everything from a team of chipmunk food-stealing con-artists to bears who liked to play bear-bag pinata.
I knew Karan and Hollis would deliver so I had them start my “counseling” session for wayward forest critters who’ve had run-ins with humans. They set the tone beautifully and I had to stifle my laughter as Karan impersonated a chipmunk with a penchant for human food. With that, the rest of the class followed suit in putting themselves in wildlife’s shoes so-to-speak.
Karan’s improvised LNT “Leave What You Find” puzzle game…
Hollis conducting his durable surfaces activity at the cabin…
In the field
With half of our class presentations given in the cabin, we set out to the field for the remainder of our training. In the soaking rain, the wet trail provided the opportunity to consider best path choices in terms of traveling on durable surfaces. For the most part though, we simply trudged through the chilling fog and rain to our camp at Bull Gap.
Once there, we set up camp with some guidance on best and worst places to pitch tents and how to set up camp so as not to be inconsiderate to other hikers. Fortunately the rain had stopped temporarily so we only had to contend with dripping from trees as we set up camp. And after some time to settle in, we got back to the business at hand of learning how to teach and practice Leave No Trace on the trail… albeit a foggy, sopping wet, miserably cold one.
It was here that we covered the subjects of proper waste disposal, minimizing campfire impacts, the ins-and-outs of hanging bear bags, and how to be considerate of other visitors.
Our AT camp at Bull Gap…
Tom demonstrating bear bag hanging including tree selection, distance from camp, and rope tossing techniques…
Karan’s bear bag rope toss…
Dispersing liquids…
Solid waste disposal… AKA Cathole class.
Alex giving us the rundown on firewood selection and minimizing campfire impacts.
Don’t let the smile fool you, Karan had a miserable night wrapped in a crinkly, emergency blanket after discovering her water bladder had leaked and soaked her sleeping bag.
Alex, AKA The Reverend, was kind enough to volunteer his time and experience to help Tom with our LNT training.
The boot tree in the mist at the Mountain Crossings Center at Neels Gap.
In a nutshell…
At a minimum, taking a Leave No Trace Awareness class is important for anyone who pursues outdoor wilderness activities. Newbies and experienced outdoor-folk alike can learn a lot. It benefits you, the people around you, and our outdoor playgrounds by minimizing our impact and making us more thoughtful about how we use and inhabit our natural areas.
So now that I’ve added another notch in my outdoor-chick belt, the big question is would I recommend the Trainer course to others? Absolutely. I’m obviously no stranger to outdoor pursuits and I’ve always used the Leave No Trace ethic in my adventures, but I still learned a lot from taking the Trainer course and I’m looking forward to taking that information out to spread the word about Leave No Trace through Awareness classes.
My soul-sister Karan was probably more happy about being dry and warm again than having earned her certification…
High-five to Hollis for being our camp chef and official bear bag hanger for the trip.
Officially certified…
And now for your moment of green…
Even in the misery of the bone-chilling cold, you can’t help but marvel at the beauty of a fog-enveloped winter forest.
March 26, 2014
George L. Smith State Park: A Photo Essay
Last weekend, the Camp Granola crew set off for a camping adventure in George L. Smith State Park in central Georgia. It was one of many trips we’ve taken around the state to complete the Georgia State Parks Geocaching Challenge. Being the types inclined to head to the mountains, the challenge has forced us to step put of our comfort zone and visit places that wouldn’t have been on our radar. The result is that we’ve discovered some really amazing places and it’s expanded our notions of what makes for great outdoor adventure locations.
George L. Smith State Park was no exception…
The icon of George L. Smith State Park, the Parrish Mill.
The Parrish Mill is a combination of grist mill, saw mill, covered bridge, and dam.
Built in 1880, the mill serves as the dam that holds 412-acre lake.
Downstream of the mill, the water churns its way down 15-mile Creek.
The mill museum is the gateway to the hiking trails.
The old mill generator is one of the many pieces of history to be seen at the museum.
Parrish Mill artifact.
412-acre lake is a paradise for both anglers and paddlers.
Three sisters stand out from the crowd.
Let your cares drift away in the silence of winter here.
Take a boat out and drift among the cypress and tupelo.
Be mesmerized by the dancing reflections in gentle winds.
A natural lake mirror makes the landscape more vibrant.
Two big brothers look over their little brother in the lake.
Sitting on the edge of the calm lake, you can get lost in the depth this subtle landscape has to offer.
Glassy waters give way to ripples in the gentle, cooling breezes that sweep across the lake.
George L. Smith State Park is more about boating than hiking but the 3 mile trail makes for a nice walk along the edge of the lake and through the drier lands that include gopher tortoise habitat.
The Disapproving Beagle helped us claim the George L. Smith State Park cache as part of the geocaching challenge.
Even from our camp’s backyard, the constantly changing light provided hours of dramatic textures.
Camp in the shade of cypress at George L. Smith State Park.
The combination of tall trees and watery reflections make for surreal images right at the edge of camp.
The hammock view from camp.
And now for your moment of green…
Get lost in the waters and reflections of George L. Smith State Park.

March 10, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: 24 hours in Boston – Part 1
After a night catching up with high school friends, it was time to figure out what to do about our altered arrangements. Wendy had given us some great ideas of things to do in Falmouth on a dreary day… which is what we expected to have as we set out to explore.
Star-struck Car Talk fans…
Except that isn’t what we discovered. The previous forecasts called for the storm to ease its way out slowly but when we awoke, it was to clear, blue skies. It was a shock to our eyes now accustomed only to grey skies. I’ll admit it took me a little while to believe I wasn’t dreaming but once it sunk in we hopped in the car and headed to a local coffee shop to eat and figure out what to do with this new situation. Having just driven south to Falmouth, the thought of turning around and going back north to Boston to pick up our trail was not entirely exciting to me. Plus, hanging out at Wendy’s was fun.
But as we considered our available time and the items on our travel wish list, it was clear we needed to take advantage of this good weather and get to Boston. Having abandoned our campsite at the disappointing Wompatuck State Park, we had to make alternate overnight arrangements for our Boston exploration. I did a quick hotel-booking from my phone so we could explore the remainder of the day and the following morning in Boston before heading to Concord.
And with that we backtracked north towards Boston to check in to our room before so I could get another round of creative tent-drying happening before we headed out to explore. But first, more hiccups…
Seriously…?
Because you know we’re the Lil’ Abner of road-trippers, there was really no way we could simply drive to Boston without incident, right? Well, clearly we hadn’t weathered enough troubles on this trip. In the relatively short drive to Boston from Falmouth, we got rear-ended. Yep… poor Blubaru got smacked.
It was from a stop so when I felt the jolt, obviously I knew it wasn’t catastrophic. But I sat for a few moments just dumb-founded… all of the events of the last few weeks sort of flowing over me. The kids were fine. I was fine. I just didn’t want to get out of the car to look. It must have freaked out the poor fella who hit us. He approached the car kind of wondering why it was taking so long for me to get out. So I took a deep breath and slowly moved towards the back of the car, just kind of numb and tired.
I gazed at Blubaru’s bumper, perplexed. There wasn’t a scratch. I looked at the dude. He looked at me and shrugged. We looked at his car. Not a scratch. Of course, prudence required a more thorough inspection but after checking every nook and cranny, even crawling underneath with a flashlight, I simply couldn’t find anything wrong with the car. It seemed sort of irresponsible not to go through standard procedures to cover myself should any issues show up later but I decided to take my chances rather than spend a couple of hours creating a useless paper trail. And so, you might say we finally caught a break. If you can call getting rear-ended a break.
Car Talk Plaza …
After getting checked in to our hotel and spreading our enormous tent out in a variety of creative ways to dry it, we headed out to another surprise I hadn’t told the boys about. It turns out our hotel was not all that far from Harvard Square. If you’ll recall, the Camp Granola crew is quite fond of the Car Talk dudes so without letting on, I headed towards the Car Talk headquarters at Harvard Square.
After struggling through the huge learning curve of deciphering Massachusetts traffic, we managed to get ourselves there and find parking. This is no small task considering the area so it was a lot to go through for a little bit of wow-factor. But I knew the boys would be thrilled even though there isn’t much to do other than just seeing the door of the office.
It took them awhile to put together where we were. I dropped little hints here and there but it didn’t really sink in until I pointed it out to them. They were both speechless. George was so star-struck he could barely walk up the stairs.
Car Talk Plaza…
True to form…
After thoroughly enjoying having blown their minds, it was time to our next stop to refill their geek reservoirs…
Boston Museum of Science…
With limited time in Boston, we had to be selective in our choices of places to visit. After being good sports through bad weather, waiting out car repairs, and pulling their weight in soggy camp exits, they boys were due for something purely their choice and they laser-focused on the Museum of Science.
We only had a few hours left until closing by the time we got there. With our limited time, we only scratched the surface of what the museum had to offer but it still ended up being a highlight of the entire trip for Fred and George. They could have spent days exploring there. After days and days of “real life” travel ordeals, they escaped into the glory of scientific discovery.
Here are some highlights of our visit:
The Mathematica section caught the boys’ attention. They spent a large chunk of the time there. For all of their grousing about doing math, places like this are a subtle reminder to them to them about how much math is involved in our everyday lives.
George spent so much time exploring this display, I was worried he wouldn’t see anything else.
Experiential education is all about hands-on and the Museum of Science delivered more than we could get to in a few hours.
Fred absorbed at the Museum of Science.
Of course, I geeked out over the geology and natural science stuff. I was as entertained as the boys.
From basic scientific concepts on up, the Museum of Science was impressively diverse in it’s offereings.
The naturalist in me enjoyed seeing lichens getting some museum cred…
Getting the bigger picture…
Fred highly recommends the planetarium show.
If you’re planning on visiting the Museum of Science…
- Allow at least a half a day but a full day would be best if you have very curious budding scientists on your hands.
- Fred and George recommend the planetarium show. It was a big hit with them.
- Parking and driving in Boston is not fun. Fortunately there is parking to be had at the museum which makes this an easy attraction to visit.
Next up…
So with a rough start to our morning, we actually managed to pull out a memorable and worthwhile travel day. With a good night’s sleep, we’d take on another half-day in Boston before heading to Concord. But that’s for next time…
And now for your moment of green…
I had to run outside the Museum of Science to catch the sunset. It was such a foreign sight to me at this point on the trip.
March 4, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: Adams National Historical Park
Even though our entrance to Wompatuck State Park was not easy, we were ready to use our camp as home base to explore the Boston area for a few days. At dinner the previous night, we decided on one day in Quincy, a day in Boston, and one around Wompatuck. In spite of being very displeased with the campground at Wompatuck, the park did have a lot of interesting programs to offer as well as some promising geocaching so we wanted to make sure we worked in a day to enjoy the park itself in addition to the surrounding areas.
Fred, George, and John.
Adams National Historical Park…
For our first full day of exploring in Massachusetts, we headed to Quincy and the Adams Historical National Park visitor center. The weather was still drippy and damp and we were moving slowly so it was approaching mid-day before we arrived.
Yes, it was raining on us again. Still? I’m not sure if I can say it ever truly stopped. Just lulls that seemed so much better than torrents.
We began by browsing the visitor center and taking the time to watch the movie provided by the park service. George is not a history buff but these are the kinds of situations where Fred gets really connects with history. He was completely absorbed in the movie, Enduring Legacy: Four Generations of the Adams Family, and was thoroughly inspired to head out to see the historic sites, especially the Stone Library.
The proper way to do this is to join the NPS tour of the sites which involves a trolley ride beginning at the visitor center. The tour stops at the Old House, the Birthplaces, and returns to the visitor center and takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The glitch for us was that it would take us through lunchtime and the rules of the tour didn’t allow us to bring backpacks or food. Clearly that wasn’t going to work so we hacked our own tour.
I decided we’d drive ourselves to each tour stop so I could feed us en route and stave off the “hangries” but still get on the next tour. There were plenty of other things to see in do in Quincy to pass the time until the next tour but they all involved walking. In the pouring rain (yes, it had started again…), none of it was appealing.
But on the way back to the car we got side-tracked…
United First Parish Church…
So walking back towards the parking deck where we’d stowed Blubaru, we passed the United First Parish Church. In my quick research of what to see in Quincy, I’d missed this stop but the sign out front announcing it as holding the Adams’ family tombs caught my eye so we dragged our soggy selves in the front door. The kind hostess was offering tours. Far be it from me to turn down an unexpected adventure.
Sitting in JQA’s spot. They boys were pretty impressed to know they sat in the very spot a president had.
It was well worth the stop. The church itself is richly steeped in history and the tour was fascinating. A lot happened in this place and it was impossible not to imagine what it must have been like to be present in that time. Knowing the powerful and dynamic historical figures that walked, sat, and spoke in that same space is humbling.
The tombs are displayed with the U.S. flags representing the time of each Adams’ presidency so the tour even managed to catch George’s attention and bring out his inner-geography nerd. Being able to handily answer the tour guide’s questions about the flags stars and stripes was a big boost to his involvement in the tour. And to be in the presence of two intriguing presidents and their impressive wives is both sobering and empowering.
The church was an excellent accidental find on our part but I highly recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a way to fill time while waiting for the trolley tour. The tour guides were friendly and knowledgable and the tour took only about a half an hour.
Of course, stopping here meant we missed the tour of the Birthplace. It wasn’t a huge deal since what Fred really wanted to see was Peace field and the Stone Library. After a walk in the rain to get back to the car, I quickly pulled some food out of the cooler for us to eat on the way. I make that sound easy and care-free but it was really more like grabbing what food was easiest to get to and chucking it unceremoniously over the back seat at the boys.
Fred very much took the Adams’ stories to heart. It’s that kind of impact that makes all of the travel difficulties worthwhile.
JQA and Louisa’s tombs. Both remarkable people in their own rights.
Fred and George at the United First Parish Church. Yes, they’re smiling in spite of the rain. They really did enjoy the tour.
The Adams’ were not the only ones to leave their mark in Quincy. The Hancock cemetery tells the tale of so many others.
Peace field…
Once at Peace field, we had a little time to explore the gardens and carriage house before the tour caught up with us. The grounds are a feast of textures, colors, and plants. Under different circumstances, I could have spent hours photographing the nuances of this place. But in the pouring rain, I didn’t bother to pull out the big camera. I knew I wouldn’t be allowed to take pictures inside the buildings anyway so I stuck with my iPhone to grab a few shots of the grounds.
Fred and George waiting on the porch of the Old House for the tour to start. Yes, they look drenched. They were.
Having had some training in interpretation, I always appreciate a well-done, ranger-led tour and our guide for Peace field was stellar. I thoroughly enjoyed what she shared with us in terms of balancing the larger events and smaller details of life at Peace field. I so wish I could share some of the stunning portraits, period furniture, and details of the home itself but in order to protect the collection, the park service no longer allows photography.
The historic artifacts stored here really are incredible and well-worth the effort to visit. It’s an amazing peak into not only life at the time, but also the lives of our early leaders.
Some Camp Granola tips for touring the Adams National Historical Park:
- As “indy” as I am when it comes to travel, in this case, the trolley tour is really the way to go. It will save you the hassle of navigating the streets of Quincy and finding parking. Just plan ahead unlike I did…
- Be sure to check out the movie at the visitor center. It’s a well-spent 27 minutes.
- Allow time to visit the United First Parish Church next door to the Visitor Center and Hancock Cemetery across the street to get larger view of the history of Quincy.
George exploring the mock continental congress room in the carriage house at Peace field.
The gardens and Old House at Peace field. Worth exploring, even in the rain. In fact, it was possibly more beautiful for the peacefulness and quiet we had for lack of other visitors.
The Stone Library at Peace field. Beautiful building and a stunning collection of books. The details are exquisite.
Sideways…
It wouldn’t be the Overland Expo to TBEX trip if our plans didn’t go sideways, would it?
After our time at Peace field we headed back towards camp. We were soggy from yet another day in the rain and we wanted to have our dinner and curl up in the dry tent. Alas, we hit rush hour so getting back to Wompatuck State Park took a very long time.
When we finally arrived, the boys crawled into the tent to get dry and warm while I considered our dinner options under the circumstances. It was about this time that reports of severe storms for the area were coming in. We’ve been through some hefty storms in tents before but I didn’t yet have confidence in our newest shelter and our camp site was far from ideal to handle the runoff. So it’s safe to say the weather was concerning me a bit. Ok, a lot.
We did manage one geocache at an abandoned military bunker in our unexpectedly short visit at Wompatuck State Park.
Then a friend from high school who lives in the area and knew where we were, began messaging with offers of staying at her place. Very tempting… the problem is that she was a good bit further south, down in Falmouth. I faced another difficult decision point. I looked at the drowned rats that were formerly my sons and decided to get out of Wompatuck. We’d just go to Wendy’s and see what happened from there.
The boys have never been so motivated to get camp packed. In no time we had our gear back in the car in “wet” mode… which is a completely different packing method than in fairer weather. And so, we unexpectedly made our way south to Falmouth.
Somewhere along the way we stopped for dinner. I wanted something hot, comforting, and New England-y so we popped into a seafood joint. It was very yummy but took forever so by the time we finally got to Falmouth, the kids were ready to pass out. Which they did.
And now for your moment of green…
Beauty in the rain at Peace field.
February 24, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: Fundy National Park
I awoke in a fog on Day 27 of the Overland Expo to TBEX expedition. After a horrible, mostly sleepless night of battling technicolor food poisoning, I wasn’t exactly refreshed to explore the majesty of Fundy National Park. We were now four weeks into our trip and all of the bumps and hiccups along the way had worn us out. We needed a couple of easy days to recuperate.
The Point Wolfe covered bridge.
I dragged my addled, weary self out of the tent to muddle my way through breakfast. After days of rain, I stepped out into entirely unexpected, beautiful clear skies. I felt like a kid at Disney World. The combination of relief and amazement renewed my vigor for exploration.
So after a quick breakfast, I sat down to rough out the next few days. From what I’d seen so far, I knew I wanted more time in Fundy. It wouldn’t be a problem logistically to stay and I started to get very excited at the prospect of hiking throughout Fundy as well as being in one spot for a couple more nights.
Seems mother nature had other ideas though. As a matter of course, I did a quick weather check. It was crushing. The current days weather was nothing but a blip. More heavy rain was due in the next morning and it was projected to last several days. It felt like a cruel joke and snuffed out any thoughts of sticking around Fundy. We’d have to make the best of the day we had.
Epic natural beauty…
Fundy National Park forms the heart of the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve. The Bay of Fundy area and the park are famous for the likes of dramatic tides (the biggest in the world), outrageously cool geology, and the iconic Point Wolfe covered bridge. It also boasts the stunning abutment of a marine coastal ecosystem with the Caledonia Highlands Plateau. Mind-blowing is an understatement.
Our first stop was at a deck overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Originally I thought it would be a short stop to gaze at the bay and nab a geocache. But when we got there, the soupy cloud of fog over the bay started to drift up over the nearby mountains. The fog oozed over the peaks as it moved inland. I was paralyzed by the spectacle.
A newcomer to the overlook walked up to the rail next to me to take a picture. I snapped out of my trance and raced back to the car to get my camera gear, all the fatigue of the previous miserable night lost to the soul-stirring amazement of witnessing of one of the most stunning scenes of nature I’ve ever seen. After the ordeals of this trip, this was my reminder about why I explore.
In the face of this unexpected treat, we didn’t rush off to our next geocache or trail. We simply stayed and watched the dance of fog over the mountains for as long as it lasted.
The fog of Fundy makes for a jaw-dropping spectacle.
Point Wolfe
Filled with excitement after the fog show, we moved on to geocache our way to Wolf Point. There are miles-and-miles of trails in Fundy but in spite of my renewed spirit, I was still very physically drained from the food poisoning and the Point Wolfe trail was short enough to be doable for me under the circumstances. So we set out to explore at long last.
The trail led us through the forests down to the little bay at Pointe Wolfe. I was giddy with delight in seeing this boreal forest that reminded me of the upper elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains near Clingman’s Dome. It felt like home and I walked at ease in the familiarity of the landscape. Once at Point Wolfe, the boys played and I spent time shooting along the deserted coastline. We were utterly alone on the peaceful bay.
Jaw-dropping geology is one of the best parts of Fundy National Park.
Fundy’s drama is seemingly endless. Stunning rocks and remnants of piers make for a feast of textures.
Streams cut through the boreal forest to empty into the Bay of Fundy.
George on the trail to Pointe Wolf.
At last, a warm, dry, lunch break in the sun.
The only wildlife we spotted during our brief visit.
Back at camp…
But of course, we did have other things to attend to. It was time to head back to the car for lunch then, sadly, back to camp for laundry duty. I hadn’t tackled it for 8 days and there was no getting by any longer. We needed clean clothes and the dirty ones were beyond pungent.
Back at the Chignecto North campground, we took the afternoon to hang around camp, do laundry, and let Fred and George play. In between stages of laundry, I made arrangements for an oil change and new windshield for Blubaru. That would take us to the Subaru dealer in Bangor, Maine the next day.
Fred and George are getting a bit big for playgrounds but after so many days of rain and driving, they embraced the chance to play in the sun.
I’m not kidding… a full four days after the Franconia Notch incident, my boots were still soggy. There was no way to dry them out in the midst of constant rain.
By the way, this is the view I get when I wake up in the morning. It’s one of the many perks of camping.
One of the most notable differences of visiting a Canadian national park was the infrastructure supporting recycling and composting. Upon our arrival at camp, we were given special bags for collecting both. Well done, Canada, well done.
Note to campers: Do not leave your site like this. Not cool.
Chasing a sunset…
Since it was our last night, it was obviously my only chance to try to shoot a sunset. So while in camp that afternoon, I planned for an early dinner so we could get back to Point Wolfe in time.
By evening, the tide was out leaving the bay empty and the wave-worn rocks exposed. Fred and George, who were initially annoyed at having to go back to the same place, ran and frolicked in the bay where a few hours earlier they would have been swimming. Without enough clouds to create a backdrop, the sunset didn’t pan out, but it was no matter. We finally had a “normal” day of camping and it felt wonderful. So wonderful.
Walking where they would have been swimming only a few hours earlier certainly got Fred & George’s attention.
Point Wolfe at sunset and low tide.
Border crossing #8…
Motivated by the incoming rain the next morning, Fred and George were super helpers in getting camp packed up. The skies had gone overcast again and we knew we were in a race with the first raindrops. And we made if by the skin of our teeth, putting the last bits of gear in the car when the rain began. With that, we bid farewell to Fundy and retraced our path through New Brunswick and back towards Maine and our final border crossing of the trip. And yet again, we found ourselves driving through the pouring rain.
When we got to the border station, the guard ran through the usual queries. When I answered his questions about how long we were in Canada and why, he paused and gave me a sympathetic look. He’d done the travel math of our time in Fundy plus camping plus weather and said “So, you had like one good day?” with pity in his voice. Yep, that about sums it up, dude. But it was a great day.
And now for your moment of green…
Magical places and moments are worth the struggle.

February 12, 2014
Survival
Last week when I talked about safety in the backcountry, I had no idea I’d be struggling to find safety in my own city just a few days later. I was one of the millions caught stupidly unprepared for a crippling weather situation in Atlanta earlier this week–the infamous “Snowpocalypse.”
Snowpocalypse was a much-needed reminder of the risks and dangers of everyday life in urban environments. It demonstrated how much we take for granted and what we’ve become too reliant upon. That survival situations arise in both urban and backcountry scenarios. It’s all too easy to wrap ourselves in a false sense of security in our built environment.
Armchair quarterbacks
In the aftermath, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about “Why didn’t you … (fill in the blank)?” or “Why couldn’t you have … (fill in the blank?)”
While I know these questions aren’t meant to be criticisms by most, they’re aggravating and myopic. Perplexed onlookers rightfully have lots of questions. But many of those questions drip with armchair quarterback bullshit. They attempt to simplify a very complex situation, in hindsight and without direct experience.
When things are going into the shitter the people involved don’t have the broad view that distant spectators have. When you are deeply entrenched in a rapidly changing, dangerous situation, you’re living moment to moment, with infinite unknowns. The best decision isn’t even remotely clear. And every decision has huge risks.
I was stranded in a huge city, yet still connected to a lot of information via my cell phone. Unfortunately, a lot of it wasn’t very useful. It didn’t address the challenges I needed to deal with at my location at any given moment. And there was so much coming from every different direction and resource. Making heads or tails of it was often fruitless, sometimes misleading. In fact, the distraction sometimes made managing the situation worse. Immersed in a stressful situation, it became harder and harder to distill the information down to what was useful to me. This creates a horrible feedback loop.
Keeping your wits about you
Your judgement becomes veiled when facing prolonged fatigue and stress in a survival scenario. When the enormity of the situation starts to creep into your thoughts, your decisions become impaired. So you begin making bad ones. Throw in all of the unknowns and it’s a recipe for disaster. If you can’t keep your wits about you, panic sets in and you’re done. You are no longer able to help yourself.
And this wasn’t just an individual scenario. This was a city-wide catastrophe. Imagine you’re completely surrounded by chaos. There’s little or no help to be had because everyone needs help. It’s completely overwhelming. There was a short time when it almost got me. Several things helped me get through those paralyzing moments:
- My Wilderness First Aid training helped me recognize the first signs of panic setting in and I was able to head them off.
- The “Mom” factor: I had my kids relying on me to keep them safe. I couldn’t lose my shit.
- I was connected to friends who talked me through it and would help me find the information I actually needed.
A big lesson
I’m grateful I had some survival knowledge to help me through. I’m also hugely grateful for the people who helped me along the way. Right now in the immediate aftermath, the biggest lesson I’m taking away from surviving Snowpocalypse is this —
Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands. ~ Jeff Cooper
The day before Snowpocalypse I went for a nice hike in perfectly agreeable weather. I had no idea how horrible the next day would be.
January 31, 2014
Overland Expo to TBEX: Slogging our way to Fundy
So when I left you in our Overland Expo to TBEX saga, we were suffering from a string of failures, bad weather, and our own stupidity. And that’s how we found ourselves moving on to Campobello — soaked, cacheless, and trying to salvage this detour that cost us so many miles and so much time. But first, our most memorable border crossing ever.
Border Crossing #5…
You see, when we got back in the car after the Quoddy Head disaster, we were completely soaked. Our rain gear did little to protect us from the torrents of Tropical Storm Andrea. The situation obviously didn’t improve with our frantic, wet, last-ditch, pre-border-crossing attempt for a geocache smiley at the Lubec sign. So when we arrived at the border station, the guard asked the usual questions and, as usual, asked me to roll down the back windows so he could see everyone in the car. He peered in, then gave me a quizzical look.
Uncertain what could possibly have him so befuddled and a bit aggravated by the hassle given the conditions of the day, I turned around to look into the back seat myself. And there sat George… Stark. Freaking. Naked!… with only his laptop covering his little boy bits. I managed to stifle an “Are you (bleeping) kidding me?” from slipping out and I calmly inquired with George as to exactly why he was buck naked in the back seat of the car while we were trying to cross an international border. He replied that we was just wet and uncomfortable so he took matters into his own hands and stripped off his clothes. He’s a little problem-solver, that one. *facepalm*
I slowly turned back to the guard and gave him a shrug and said “I got nothin’, man.” The guard found he had nothing further to say either and sent us on our way.
Epic moment in parenting, no?
Roosevelt Campobello International Park…
Still trying to grasp all of the events of the day and the fact that it had all happened before noon, we slogged our way to our intended destination Roosevelt Campobello Interntaional Park. The rain had slowed to a drizzle and we sought warmth and dryness in the visitor center… with George finally dressed, of course.
The park is located on Campobello Island where FDR summered as a child and later spent time with his family as an adult. It was formed as a memorial to him and as a symbol of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada. His “cottage” is preserved for tours and there are trails and flower gardens to explore. Not that we got to do any of that, mind you… but it looks like it would have been lovely had we not been in the middle of Tropical Storm Andrea.
We did take some time to mentally escape the events of our morning and soak up some history in the visitor center. This is the kind of scenario where Fred finds his learning groove and he thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the U.S. equivalent of royalty. Even George, who isn’t a history buff, was a bit taken in by the Roosevelt story. Or maybe he was just so happy to be out of the car and dry…
In my state of mind at the time, I didn’t take a single picture to share with you but it was a very cool place and I do hope I get a chance to explore it under better circumstances.
Border Crossings #6 & #7…
What would have made our lives a little easier at this point in the trip would have been a ferry ride across the bay instead of having to head back to Maine. It would have shaved considerable time and miles off of our journey to Fundy National Park. Alas, the ferry wasn’t running so we had to go the long way… and log two more border crossings.
For border crossing #6 back into the U.S, I was ever-so-thankful not to have to face the same border guard that witnessed our insanity on the way in to Campobello. We smoothly returned back to the states and headed north towards Calais, Maine, our point of entry to New Brunswick and Fundy National Park.
We attempted to soak up local flavor at a pub in Calais. Our lunch left a lot to be desired but we were hungry and bad food was the least of our concerns at the time. Cutting our losses, we scarfed our lunches and set on our way to refuel and make our third border crossing in less than three hours.
Blubaru’s booboo. By the time we got to camp it had stretched this far and continued to grow…
And on to Fundy…
With nothing left to be done but drive through the rain and get ourselves to Fundy National Park, we pressed along the New Brunswick coast. I was feeling the pressure of time. I desperately wanted to make camp before dark. The rain was bad enough but thought of pitching the tent in the dark in an unfamiliar campground motivated me to keep moving.
The drive went quickly though as I marveled at the road cuts along the highway. I could tell I was really going to like New Brunswick. Even with a stop to resupply before arriving in the park, we made good time. You might find this hard to believe given our day, but we even managed an easy geocache smiley of the lampskirt variety in the store parking lot. It was a much-needed morale boost to have a little success that day.
And that momentum continued. As we approached the park, we stopped for another geocache smiley in a graveyard. Some folks think we’re odd but we enjoy graveyard geocaches for the peek into local history they provide. The rain was a slow drizzle at that point and we reveled in our success. We felt like we were exploring again, not just surviving the trip.
When we finally entered the park, we were ecstatic. We were still a good ways from the campground, but it was such a relief to be within the park borders. The roads were sloppy and the rain had picked up again but I knew we’d get to camp in enough time to set up and get a warm dinner cooked up before dark. I finally relaxed and enjoyed the drive. We didn’t see another vehicle on the road for miles. But the one we did see? Well, that one was a tractor trailer barreling at us from the other direction.
He was moving fast and not even remotely staying in his lane on the narrow road. I slowed and eased Blubaru towards the soft shoulder to make more room for the truck. He didn’t slow, which I though was borderline nuts given the road and weather conditions. He blew past us giving Blubaru quite a jolt and passing within inches of us. As a lovely parting gift of our close encounter, we were left with a rock to the windshield and Blubaru sporting a healthy crack that grew with each mile. So much for feeling like things were going our way.
A joyful Fred at camp in Fundy National Park.
Home Sweet Home at Chignecto North…
At some point in a series of misadventures, you either just become unflappable or you find your sense-of-humor. Sometimes both. After the last few days of this trip (Exhibit A & Exhibit B), I could only look upon the cracked windshield with mild curiosity. I watched it grow as we approached camp and the beginnings of dusk set in. By the time we reached camp at Chignecto North campground in Fundy NP, I’d found my sense-of-humor about the entire situation — the rain, the iPhone, the geocaching, the detours, the naked border crossing, the cracked windshield… all of it.
Fortunately, there was another lull in the rain and we set to getting camp established in quick fashion. Pitching the new tent was still a bit slow and awkward since it was only our second go with it but once it was up, the boys were in gear and did their bit for getting us set up while I got dinner going. Camp life hummed along efficiently and we busted out dinner and clean up so we could collapse after a blistering few days of hard travel.
We rested easily, knowing we had our home established for the next three nights…
And now for your moment of green…
What a relief to have finally arrived in the stunning Fundy National Park in New Brunswick.

January 30, 2014