Moving Day

As we try to do weekly, today was once again moving day for us, and if they could all be like today, I'd really, really enjoy that - especially since this morning unfolded in a way that I'd have to make the day a workday, and take another day off later in the week.

So today - we started here.

And we moved all the way over here...

But - this is why: (you should enlarge this)
In this house, the front yard has amazing space, afternoon sun and plenty of bike-riding area. Dontcha wish you could move your house around like that? ;) Truly, if every moving day was like this, we wouldn't get to see much - but the days sure would be easier. :)

Cranberry Bogs

I had looked at this view several times in Google Maps, and thought it might help all of you readers out there to see how big the cranberry is a part of this part of the country. The map is satellite view of a small portion of where we were (blue dot). This part of the map was pictured in fall, all those red fields are about to be harvested, likely recently flooded cranberry bogs. If you go look at google maps now, and pull back outside of this, there will be bunches of similarly shaped green fields, which must have been taken in the summer, then merged with this other satellite image area. Anyhow - if you go and zoom at the right level, you'll see why this area lives and dies by the cranberry harvest, and just how much land we're talking about. Pretty wild. Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=plymouth,+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=64.113178,79.189453&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Plymouth,+Massachusetts&ll=41.922972,-70.769806&spn=0.12006,0.154667&t=h&z=13

Route Map

I google mapped our route and thought I'd share it with everyone. I'm planning on updating it regularly, with current locations and the next planned destination, when possible.
The 'trips' are approximate, but the locations are as drilled-down as I can make them. This is both for us and posterity; who knows if the girls will want to stay in the same spot? ;)

If you want to take a look, you can check it out here: CLICK.

A fantastic Sunday...

Since we've been in routine, I've thought of Sunday as 'My Day'. I work during the week, we drive on Saturday - usually, and I've learned a ton about myself by paying attention and realized that I NEED some downtime during the week. Jill's indulged me that I'm on my own schedule on Sunday - for the most part, and I really appreciate it. That being said - sometimes it just needs to be a day of doing stuff, rather than a day of rest. I don't get that many chances to see all the things that the girls see... so today - I decided that we'd venture out - and it was rewarding.

First, we wandered back down to that spectacular border crossing (what may be the most spectacular, and really - surprising, we'll see...) to see if we were just happy to be close to camp; It was as great as we'd remembered. Pictures will follow as I don't have the camera to download right now. Sadly, I'm not sure it could be appreciated as much here as from the road, but WOW is all we have to say.

After driving there, and filling up the van (that was on E, with the many FUN motorcyclists - DOB) we set our sights for Newport, to see the mansions. And, to drive through the heart of the state to learn what we could about this tiny state you can drive across between breakfast and lunch (or was it brunch, if you were so inclined?).

When we got to Newport, it was clearly a tourist destination, and they knew it. A cruise ship in the harbor - teams of people wandering every little shop (many of which you can find all over the US), and traffic. But, we soldiered on, wanting to push though and drive Bellevue drive, where the RICHEST of the the rich built opulent houses in the 1800's, simply because they could. Funny thing is, they only summered in the houses - about 6 weeks a year. Staffs of 40 or 50 people, an upkeep that probably would rival a museum, but the money didn't matter. Clearly, this was about one-upping each other, and each house was bigger than the next.

I'd always heard of 'The Breakers'. Seems everyone here, even now, names their house. As if it were a ship. The Breakers was Cornelius Vanderbilt II's house, and tho it is off Bellevue (where all the other estates are) you can tell he did it for a reason. The street there is a 'driveway' and he was clearly the leader of the industry, and the society here.

I figured, if we were gonna see one of the houses, this was the house to see. From the solid alabaster columns, to the Swiss marble walls, to the 50 foot entry hall, to the amazing view (seen throughout this post), the guy knew who to hire (the architects and designers made careers and published books based on this commission). Most shocking info of the tour tho is that he only really got to enjoy the house, as it was, for one year. Turns out it was finished in 1895, and in 1896 he had a stroke, then died in '99. Gladly, the family held on to it for quite some time after, but it makes me glad I'm not building a mansion.

The pictures of the view show it from the back and front... (yes, that is Madelyn in the shadow, and Erika below the balcony). I've rambled enough, and I hope that Jill fills everything else in about this place, this house, and this trip.

Where we are now **

** Unfortunately I had to edit the heck out of this post for it to work correctly. I will try to work on that more as time goes on so that we can post immediately from the road. A good experiment, but I can't call it a success yet. -- R.

Well, if the posting works right, and the picture goes alongside - this has been the goal. Yes, the ponies really are throughout the campsites. Yes they are so in the campsite that the foal (laying down in the right of the photo) will walk through your tent and the stallion will steal food right off your table. We are still settling in and hopefully will post much more tonight, but I wanted to send along a little teaser today. :)


Sent from my iPhone