Home, Sweet, Home

After over 16 hours in the car, we arrived home last night at about 12:30 a.m.(central time). On the trip home, we logged in over 1200 miles (roundtrip= +2700 miles). And I might add, that the kids did really well.
On Monday morning, we left somewhere in northern Virginia and headed home. Hills turned into rolling hills, and then into the Shennandoah area - it really was much, much more beautiful than I ever expected.
As the hills and mountains moved closer together, we veered off the main interstate and onto some two lane highways. Instead of heading directly home, we chose to travel through Welch, West Virgina. We were going through the Appalachia area - considered to many the poorest area in the U.S.





For generations Welch has been a coal mining town. It is situated in a very narrow valley - so narrow Runcie and I felt extremely claustrophobic. Most homes are dangling on the side of a mountain and there are a handful of streets, town buildings, and a few homes on level ground. Like most in the Appalachia area, Welch was very impoverished - as you can see from the pictures. The reason I wanted to travel through this town was a book that I recently read (Lauren's choice for book club). Titled, The Glass Castle: A Memoir - it's an autobiography of one of MSNBC's writer's who spent much of her childhood in this town. She recalls unbelievable details of her life of poverty and neglect. It really is a must read for everyone - even though her parents gave what most would have considered abuse and neglect - she tells her story objectively and movingly. (If you can't tell, I loved it)






She often talked about her home on 93 Little Hobart Street. - So we programmed it in the navigation - and it led us up a very steep curvy road. Her home was almost at the end of the street (in the book it was on the end, but someone had built a home on the end of the street since she left). Her home had fallen in. You can still see that roof, now on the ground, that kept leaking on her and her brother when they were forced to sleep under a raft so they could stay dry during rain. And you can also see the steps. I had heard an interview with her, and she had heard that some went looking for her home, and it had fallen in, but they did find the rubble - and the hole for the foundation of the glass castle (still filled with the trash that Rex Walls dumped). In some ways, it was so very sad - but I know how it ends - and what an amazing person she has become.


As we drove out of the Appalachia area, we talked about the great disparity within America. Homes in Welch held together with plywood, duct tape, and cinder blocks weights - and estates boasting of conspicuous consumption - one estate was rumored to have 5 million in stonework and landscape alone. I was sad - realizing that the American dream isn't as attainable for all - but - who says that the American dream is the key to happiness.
What we did come away with from our trip was an experience - an education of where we live and why we love it here. We also recognized how blessed we are and how relative struggles can be. We even - on our 16 hr. car ride home - started thinking of other adventures and mysteries to explore in trips to come.

Big Fun in a Big City

I was so excited about the run in Central Park - that I awoke without the assistance of a wake-up call. By 6:20 I was already out, and it was amazing to see how many others had already beat me out there. NYC truly is the city that never sleeps. Even though I had been to the city several times, I hadn't spent time in Central Park: an oasis in the middle of concrete and steel structures. Once inside the park, I followed the 6.8 mile loop around the circumference of the park. Within the park, there are playgrounds, tennis courts, ponds, and lots more. I had a blast running around and seeing it all - although the humidity hung on me like a heavy blanket. When I returned to the room, it was still quite dark and everyone was asleep, except Gigi.
After the troops had packed up- we forged on to breakfast, which was enjoyed in a sidewalk market. The store owners utilized every square inch of space - fruit hanging in baskets overhead- muffins in display windows, etc - it was amazing how much was in a small-closet like restaurant. I wish I had taken a picture of it.

After a bathroom break at our hotel, we boarded the red double decker bus. Little Runcie was beaming from ear to ear. Ever since he saw a Thomas the Train episode with a double decker bus, he as been going on and on about how fun it would be. Well, today, his dream came true. Another highlight of his trip was when we pulled up next to the General Lee - It was ironic to see a "General Lee" car (with 'rebel flag' painted atop) wearing a NY licencse plate.
Starting at Central Park, we slowly wound our way south through the shopping districts, SoHo, Greenwich, TriBeCa, Wall St. etc, etc. The tour guides kept our attention with quick wit and interesting descriptions of the city. Also, since the buses were so high, you could literally reach up and touch signs and there were times when someone on board got smacked with a tree limb.





I included this picture of the market - because you see them so much - and I have always thought it would be such an adventure to live in a city where you could walk or take a subway everywhere and shopping would be done within a neighborhood market- where there are such unique communities and traditions within the city. It's hard to explain, but it just seems so picturesque and magical.
Going back to the North vs. South thing (General Lee with NY plates), I have to be honest, everywhere we've been, everyone has been so welcoming and helpful. Today, several people helped us with our subway adventure - in which we had to take several routes back to Central Park. Subways are still foreign enough to us that as Runcie was trying to take a pic of our train - the doors suddenly started to close and he almost missed it - thankfully, he flexed his muscles and pryed the doors apart. One other mishap, we thought it would be fun to let each child have his or her own seat. Even though Gigi may look sturdy enough to stay planted, as soon as the train took off, she went flying of her seat to the floor. Needless to say, she was a little traumatized.



Once we came out of the subway tunnels, the skies poured with rain. The city transformed instantly to accomadate to the wet weather. All the vendors had plastic wrap over their goods - and each had his own stash of umbrellas to sell. Even though we had only 5-6 blocks to walk, we ended buying each child his or her own umbrella - as well as one for me. Navigating around the city on foot with a stroller and a 3 yr old and a 5 yr. old is challenging enough - throw in 4 umbrellas that are constantly poking other pedesterians.... well, let's just say I was glad to get to our car.
Afternoon and evening were spent in the car - more tollbridges in New Jersey turned into farmland in central Pennsylvania. (we think it maybe dairy farms this time).

Living up to our tradition of finding good Mexian restaurants on roadtrips, we ate at a great one in West Virginia. The kids were pretty punchy during dinner, so afterwards we went outside to let them jump and run and act crazy on the sidwalk outside of the restaurant.
Tonight were in Virginia. We'll be dangling on the border of West Virginia tomorrow and it'll be a short drive in to Welch - we may check it out. Other than that, we may just coast in to Franklin tomorrow night.... unless we find something interesting along the way...

Change of Plans - viva New York City

Runcie here . . . We woke up this morning to overcast skies - fitting for the day we have to leave. We went down to feed the ducks one last time, and a few sea gulls joined in the feeding frenzy. Our feeding time was cut a little short by some light rain, and then we were off. We started off down a small state highway along Lake George to the town of Lake George just to see it one last time. It's a really quaint town and is also the home of Fort william Henry - an old Revolutionary War era fort (rebuilt of course).


At the last second, we decided against going to Boston because the forecast called for a high probability of thunderstorms, so we headed south to New York City. Not long after we left, we heard Gigi making a sputtering motorboat sound, but every time I looked back I just saw her drinking the chocolate milk we had given her. Finally I heard it again and looked back in time to see her spewing it all over herself. She had been repeating this procedure for several minutes unbeknownst to us, so we basically had a chocolate baby for the road trip to NYC.

The State of New York is very big on toll - interstates. After payments on the way to Albany and then twice more as we approached the NYC suburbs, we had already spent about $10. Each time, the traffic bottlenecks. Throw in a couple of fender benders and the bumper to bumper traffic in going the last few miles, and it took us about 5 1/2 hours to make the 3 1/2 hour drive to New York City.



We finally arrived at our first destination - Pier 83 - which is where you can catch a boat ride around the entire Manhattan island. It's a narrated tour and is a great way to see the city and learn not only about Manhattan but also about the surrounding burroughs such as Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. We got many great pictures of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many great vantage points of the NYC skyline. We even got a pic of Yankee Stadium which is scheduled to be torn down in a couple of years.




Also at the last second, we decided to spend the night in New York City, so we headed uptown toward the Central Park area and found a hotel. We checked in quickly and then went back out as it was beginning to get late. We ate at a sidewalk area next door to the hotel. The kids were really troopers as it was about 9:15 or so before we finished eating. Donna and the girls went back to the room, but the two Runcies decided to stay out and catch a ride on the subway to Times Square . . . about 3 stops down the line. Little Runcie was totally enthused about riding on the subway and being underground. When we came out of the station, it was like daylight with all the neon and glitter of Times Square - it really is a sight to behold at night. We stayed there long enough to buy some ice cream and headed back. Little Runcie finally got to bed around 11:00.

Donna is all excited about running in Central Park in the morning, and I grudgingly have conceded. I'm just not comfortable with Donna running in strange places, but Central Park at close to the 7:00 hour is supposed to be bustling with runners, so we figured it would be OK. I'll probably be hanging out watching the Disney Channel in the morning, but maybe the kids will allow me to sleep in a little . . . I'm not holding my breath.

Our travel plans tomorrow are still up in the air. We plan on enjoying NYC for a little bit tomorrow morning as well. I know the other kids will also want to ride the subway. We're not sure where we'll lay our heads tomorrow, but that's part of the fun. That's all for now.

Our Last Day Here

Our morning began by going to breakfast in the Sagamore Dining Room. It's a buffet style breakfast - and a little fancy. Well, fancy enough to make me a little nervous about excited and happy, and sometimes willful children. But I must say, I was really proud of them and we all enjoyed our time together. We sat outside and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the lake coming to life.
After breakfast, we decided to take the kids on a horse and buggy tour around the island (Sagamore is on Green Island- almost all belongs to the resort with the exception of a few private residences). All three of our children got to sit on the front row of the surrey - and even hold the reigns. They felt quite empowered.




We were all eager to get down to the lake and enjoy our last day here. Thankfully, it was still warm enough to make the most of our lake experience. All three of the kids have made great strides in their swimming, and fun was had by all. Runcie especially enjoyed making a "lake" in the sand area - and making some new friends as well. The cool, brisk water was not only enjoyed by the kids, but Runcie and I as well. Leaving will be sad for me, as I know it will be several years before we come back. There's something about the sparkling lakes, rocky shores, strong pines, and mountains reaching for the sky - that make me feel quite at home here.
Lunch was eaten on a dock side restaurant over looking the lake. Again, the kids were good and made life a little easier for Runcie and me. Of course, we found some hungry ducks who were more than eager to enjoy some of our leftovers.
After lunch, I took the kids back to our room for some rest time, while Runcie took care of our laundry. Fortunately, there was a wash and fold service right down the street that he was more than happy to utilize.





We were fortunate enough to have Brittany, our local sitter here, come and watch the kids so we could have one last dinner together before we set off for our trip tomorrow. The Club Grille serves up steaks and seafood - and is on the resort's stunning golf course. There were some beautiful views of the lake and the mountains, and dinner was equally enjoyable.
After dinner, we decided to peruse the downtown village area. We stumbled in a few shops and got a couple of trinkets to help remember our time here.
At home I began the arduous task of packing for 3 days of unknown destinations for our family and putting the remainder of our things in other suitcases. Thankfully, Runcie was kind enough to prop up his feet which provided more room for packing headquarters-(see in picture below - we had a good laugh when we saw his feet propped up in the midst of my diligent packing and sorting). Actually - he was working on the computer to determine where we'll 'land' tomorrow.
As of this moment it is still unsure - We were planning on Boston, but the hotel we wanted to stay was booked up - We'll see...

A Hot Day at The Lake and a Night in a Cool City

Donna and I had been following the weather reports, so we knew today would a be a good day to be out on the lake. We enrolled the kids in the Teepee club which offers arts & crafts, swimming, and other camp-like activities, and after a nice breakfast with just the two of us, we went and rented two wave runners.

Lake George is a rather large lake, and with the boat traffic and wind, the water can get really choppy. I must say that with my limited experience on wave runners, I'm just glad I didn't wipe out. It was very exhilirating opening up the throttle, but I was not particularly comfortable turning . . . a minor detail . . . so I had to keep it at more manageable speeds most of the time. Donna did terrific, and we both stayed dry other than the spray from the pounding we took crossing the many waves. As you might imagine, we have no pictures to prove any of this to you as the digital camera had to be left behind.

The 30 minute rental period went by quickly, and we next went and rented a two person kayak and paddled around the small island where we are staying. We were both equipped with paddles. I noticed at the end of our roughly one hour rental that I was pretty hot, but I couldn't convince Donna to swim. I jokingly quipped that a person can get hot when he's single-handedly paddling a two person kayak around the lake. In all fairness, Donna did contribute for most of the ride. We've included a picture of my beautiful bride right before the kayaking excursion.

After a leisurly lunch and brief swim which was literally therapeutic in these cold waters, we dressed up and went for afternoon tea - a tradition at the Sagamore. I'm not much of a hot tea drinker, but it was a lot of fun as they throw in a few finger sandwiches and a dessert sampler.

We decided to take the kids on a late afternoon drive to Saratoga Springs to check out the town - it was the one we briefly drove through on the way here and mentioned on our blog. We grabbed a few brochures at the visitor information center and jumped on a trolley which gives a guided one-hour tour of the city for $1 per person (kids are free). Saratoga Springs is best known for a horse racing track and for its hot springs and mineral waters. We actually were more enamored with the architecture as many of the Victorian and Greek Revival homes have been preserved. Little Runcie and Elizabeth got to ring the bell on the trolley. We only did a short part of the tour which included drinking some of the mineral water from a fountain area. Perhaps not coincidentally, Elizabeth got sick during our dinner - but she turned out to be feeling fine immediately afterwards.



Speaking of dinner, we ate at a restaurant right out on the sidewalk. We've included some pictures of the downtown buildings with members of our family in the foreground. We also noticed "horse" statues all around the city - likely due to the horse culture here, and each horse is uniquely decorated. Our kids loved them.



After a stop at Ben & Jerry's for some dessert, we jumped in the car and drove around to take in some of the architecture. Unfortunately, it was beginning to get dark, but we were able to get some good pictures of some of the buildings we saw.

The famous Revolutionary War Battle of Saratoga was fought a few miles from here, but we did not have time to visit the battlefield. Although, many of the old buildings in Saratoga Springs are preserved, it's not as old of a town as I expected due to the Revolutionary War history in the area. The city itself was founded, I believe, in the early 1800's. Much of the architecture dates from the latter part of the ninetenth century with some around the mid-nineteenth century.





That's all for now. We're beginning to make plans for our drive home which have morphed into going from here to Boston on a slightly out-of-the-way country route through Vermont and New Hampshire. However, we still have tomorrow on Lake George to enjoy.