S. Carolina

We stayed a few nights at beautiful Myrtle Beach state park. While there we went down the road to visit Huntington Beach state park where they have a great nature centre and wildlife. A road in the park has gators on one side and a marsh full of birds on the other. The girls counted 8 aligators, most too close for comfort. Among others the marsh had egrets, white herons and great blue herons.

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

As we continued down the Outer Banks of N. Carolina we enjoyed a couple of ferry rides that connect the long road together. We stopped to view one of the famous Hatteras lighthouses. This one is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country at 208 feet high, and well-known for it's pattern.

This little sandpiper kept coming very close to us at the national park campground on Ocracoke Island. I think it was interested in what was in the sand the girls were digging up while making their sandcastles.

Kill Devil Hill

I personally really enjoyed visiting the spot the Wright brothers first flew. I think the kids were hoping for some rides or some sort of entertainment, it took awhile to explain why it was so cool.

Standing on that bare windy hill where they tested out their earlier gliders, it was so windy and wide open you just wish you could take off.

66 years between the first flight and the moon landing.

Washington, D.C.

We had a great time in Washington seeing all the things you see on tv, like that Simpson's episode where Lisa and the Lincoln statue have a chat.

Remember that scene in Forrest Gump where the Jenny yells 'FORREST!' and runs through the water in front of the Lincoln memorial?

New York City, Day 3

We had a great day with Frances and Hamish. They took us to the American Museum of Natural History (you know the movie: 'Night at the Museum'). What a great place, you really need several days to take it all in, including their special exhibits that are always changing. We saw a beautiful butterfly exhibit of many varieties of live butterflies. They seemed to like Hamish, landing on him often and not wanting to leave. We also enjoyed their live lizards and snakes exhibit where a huge boa constrictor showed us how wide she could open her mouth (a yawn maybe?). Kyra got a video of a lizard that accidently slipped off it's legde, it was unharmed so it was funny.

After many hours enjoying the museum they took us for a walk in Central Park. They say that for them it's their backyard and they know it that well. We went on a bus to their apartment not far from the park on the east river. They fed us a lovely meal and then so kindly guided us back on the bus, 2 subways and down Wall St. to our ferry terminal. They even waited with us until our ferry showed up an hour later. Thank you so much for everything Frances and Hamish. You added greatly to our New York experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with you!

New York, day 2

On day 2 we took the ferry from our camping area (more of a parking lot at the ferry terminal) to Wall St. From there we took the subway to Central Park. We had a great time at FAO Schwarz. They even have gigantic stuffed zoo animals and dragons for sale for several 1000 dollars. As you can see we found that giant piano (remember it in the movie 'Big'? Why does everything I say lately have a movie reference?). The Harry Potter characters the kids are posing with are lego, they also had life-sized Darth Vadar and Chewy.

In Central Park we took a horse and carriage ride and then went to the Central Park Zoo. They have a great rainforest room there, warm and misty with wonderful birds. With tired legs we returned to our motorhome. Just getting to and from these adventures was an adventure: walking around the city, the ferry and of course the subway system, all very educational.

New York City

With the help of our GPS street finder we made it into Jersey City where our camping spot was across the harbour from Manhattan, with a view from our motorhome of the Statue of Liberty. How cool is that?!

On the afternoon of our first day we took the subway (the 'path') to the Empire State Building. With many others we made our way to the top, squeezing between the crowds for views of the city. Sometimes a pigeon would block our view, sitting on the wall at eye-level hoping for snacks from the tourists. The views were pretty cool once the pigeon moved. I kept thinking of that movie, 'Sleepless In Seattle'. I love that movie. I thought it was great to be in New York, it's one of those places on my mental list of places I've always wanted to see. Kyra was less enthralled, she said it was just a city. Oh well, can't win them all!