A scary experience…

So after a long drive naturally I need to pee. (Who am I kidding, after a short drive I need to pee too, although I have got better.) I got all my luggage out the boot and we walked to the front desk, he wanted to talk, I wanted to pee.

It took a while, but finally we were headed to our room. I ran passed Tyler and headed to the bathroom not too concerned with the light, since I can pee in the dark. I lifted up the seat and I swear, it made a noise like a snake or something had slithered off the seat. I freaked out! Pants almost down, and hopping around like a frog in the dark, I was half laughing and half screaming. Tyler walked into the room dumbfound and not quite sure what all the commotion was about and not sure what to do about it.

After turning on the light, I realize there was a sanitize strip on the toilet to say it was clean and that’s what the noise was. Heart attack for nothing!

I guess we missed our five things again today…

Our door was the one on the right, ME

Oh boy… so where to start with this story… So yes we arrived in Maine and pulled up to our hotel, which realistically was more of a motel and nothing like the photo that we saw online. It was a creepy little house, with a creepy little man in it that gave us our key and checked us in. Then after getting into the room I just hear a loud scream and hear, “Oh my god there is a snake or something in here!!” … in retrospect I have no idea what I was thinking by running into the bathroom after hearing that, I should have ran the other direction because if there really was a snake I have no idea what I realistically would have done. That being said I went into the bathroom and see Robyn laughing with her pants around her ankles and a strip of paper on the floor that ensured us that the toilet was clean. I shook my head and walked out, that is far too much excitement for me at midnight after 7 hours of driving. 

The Maine attraction…

New State :)

The best way to describe Acadia National Park is though pictures. It is really beautiful. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll save them and add these…

Ditto… and if any of you actually know me you know that I would MUCH rather prefer to say a thousand words ;)

Frank…and his baby…

Tyler, while working with Kohls, met a guy called Frank. I’m sure he will tell you a little about the background, but basically all I knew about Frank was that he looks like 50cent, and taught Tyler how to dance.

We meet up with Frank, his girlfriend and their baby. The kid was an angel, willing to try any food her dad gave her, so quiet during our meal and of course, super cute!

After Boston, MA we started to head towards Ellsworth, Maine…

Our 5 things we are thankful for today… (yesterday we had no reception)

1) The sunrise on the beach

2) Old Navy (for shopping)

3) Bob, Geri and family for being such wonderful hosts

4) Pandora (It’s a music station that you play over the iphone)

5) Real clam chowder (yes mom I eat clam chowder *Tyler*)

Frank was a contractor who worked for a company called Groom Construction, Kohl’s (the company I previously worked for) used Groom as quality control for when we built new stores. Given I was in charge of new stores for Kohl’s and Frank was always handling our buildings we worked together very closely. I had known that Frank lived in Boston and he always told me that if I would be out that way I should get in touch with him. As I always do I stayed in touch with him and we met up.

Boston, MA

MA!

For my mommy…

I started a tradition that every year on my birthday, I wake up with the sunrise. (It doesn’t always go according to plan, and one or years I have decided the sunset would be good enough.) But waking up with the sunrise always makes me feel closer to my mom; she is the ONLY person crazy enough to wake up at the crack of dawn…just because.

I convinced Tyler that this would be *fun*. 5a.m, I was up and ready, Tyler was a little slower, but still made it happen. It was a cloudy morning, so the sunrise wasn’t completely clear, but it was beautiful nonetheless, and my family was close to my heart.

Enjoy the pictures below :)

We had breakfast at the Abbotts and then an amazing drive through Hull. We even had an ice cream on the pier, and then headed back to their house for some beach time.

Pretty sights in Hull, MA

Driving around Hull, MA

When we were ready to leave Hull we left with more than just a memory or two, our cooler box was fully stocked, and were we kitted out with a Hull hoodie each.

Next adventure? Boston, MA…

The sunrise was beautiful, but once we got back into bed I was definitely thankful for that. I am in no way shape or form a morning person, however I was happy I made it up to see it and to be able to share the special moment. I will say that Hull was a nice little town and definitely seemed like a great place to live. The people everywhere were very friendly and the Abbotts were easily the best hosts anyone could ask for. 

Old friends…new friends…and the beach…

We drove Hull, MA to see Geri and meet Bob (her husband). I met Geri and her daughter Jen in Sept 2009, at a Miller Brewery tour. I have keep in contact with Geri, but have not seen her in 3 years. Tyler has never met her, so I was excited to see what happened.

Ty and I at the beach

When we arrived at the door we were greeted and told to go to the beach, relax, put our feet up and grab a drink. That’s my kind of visit! Jen (and her husband Craig, as well as her children Brady and Caleigh) came down to visit as well, so it was lovely to see the whole family after so long.

Pretty beach

That night we celebrated by eating heaps of delicious seafood at Schooners, yummy!

Seafood dinner!!!

After days and hours of driving it was a very pleasant surprise to show up and go sit on a beach on an absolutely beautiful day. After hotel hopping for almost two weeks it was great to stay in a real home and see some friendly faces.

Tyler chilling at the beach

Pretty Providence…

Providence is a beautiful place with a stunning capitol building, and a wonderful tradition. The capitol building was there, in all its glory. Unfortunately the tradition known as WaterFire was not happening the Saturday we were there *sad face* but I did get to see the site where they hold the event. I have now also added it to my bucket list.

I encouraged my boyfriend to explore the shopping experience of the downtown Providence Plaza shops. He found some cool stuff, and with that we were ready for the beach…at Hull, Massachusetts.

The Capitol building, RI

Providence is a city that I will definitely be interested in visiting again, I originally had just planned to just breeze through and do something quick there, but after being around for a short bit I realized it is actually a pretty neat city. Since being back I talked to a friend who was actually at the WaterFire event and said that it was one of the coolest things he has seen, so I think we will be making our way back soon. 

Where they hold WaterFire

Surprise!!!

Next we headed to Connecticut (where I spent my first night in America.) On route we drove through New Jersey (where for the first time in America, Tyler didn’t have to pump his own gas) and New York (where we hit traffic which REALLY stressed Tyler out and I couldn’t understand why, until later.

We were driving around some small foresty looking part of New York State, with me reading and Tyler following Google map directions. I was convinced we were lost, but every woman who likes her place in the car and not walking beside it knows, never to mention this. Suddenly Tyler goes, “ I think we are lost let’s ask this girl for directions.”

3 things immediately go through my mind…

1) He would never admit we are lost – something must be seriously wrong

2) Maybe his google machine (iphone) is broken because he trusts that over everything (including me)

3) That girl looks familiar…

A double take and, now I’m confused. It looks just like Tamara, but it can’t be her, cos she is in…New York State…oh my gosh, it’s her!!!

Besties!

My T-ski :)

Like the 3 Musketeers

Tyler and Tamara had secretly arranged the meet up for linner (a mix between lunch and dinner); the New York City traffic had changed our eta, which is what he was stressed about. Hmm, makes sense now.

It was so great to see her again after 6 months. (A quick recap if you are new, or just a slow follower: Tamara and I au paired together in 2010, we had an amazing time, went to the beach, vegas and learnt dance moves to all our favourite summer songs. She went back to Germany, I was sad. She came to visit me in SA. I was happy. Tyler thinks she is cool. And now I’m having lunch with her. In America, where she is busy with an internship.)

After seeing Tamara I am ampt for her visit to Milwaukee in September! But our journey must carry on, so on to Hartford, Connecticut we go to join in the Caribbean festival. It was a mass of people and should probably be renamed the Jamaican festival since that was clearly the dominate country represented by way of food, music and flags. It was cool to grove to some different music and relax a little after being so cramped in the car. Enough partying it’s onto Rhode Island we go!

Tyler, did you forget the 5 things again? Just kidding, this one was probably me.

Festival!

Fountain with pretty lights

Sooo many people