Coast to Coast with the Douglas Duo

Day 36 - Mission: Patterson, NY

2010-05-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

We arrived late last night in Carmel, NY at Clarence Fahnstock State Park. We will be switching campsites for the night tonight. Our campsite last night was very steep and it made it difficult to sleep.

We arrived at Patterson about 45 minutes before dinner (or lunch as we know it).

In the lobby, a model of the temple in Jesus' Day as rebuilt and enlarged by Herod the Great (scale 1:200).

Thanks again to Michael and Melissa for coordinating plans with your brother Stephen. Many thanks to Stephen for inviting us for the meal and giving us a tour of the translation services department.

We also got to see Sophia's brother Skylar for a few minutes.

After dinner (lunch) we took a full tour.

Beautiful paintings of scenes of Biblical teaching, appropriate since Patterson is teaching facility.

Photo-op spot by the fountain

Gilead Missionary School

more education

Laundry - super organized and efficient

Dining room

Kitchen

Maintenance & Construction

Art Department

Writing Correspondence

Service Department

& Translation.

There is also an audio visual department, that handles all of the recordings of the publications and videos, including sign language videos. (It is a very busy department that is in use much of the time, making it difficult to give tours in that area.)

What an encouraging and educational day!

Tomorrow will be fun filled again, with our tour of Watchtower Farms at Wallkill.

Day 35 - Mission: Carmel, NY via Providence, RI & Boston, MA

2010-05-24T17:13:00.001-07:00

We said good-bye to our beautiful & peaceful campground in Sandwich, MA this morning.

We will be making our way to upstate New York for our tours of Patterson & Wallkill. But before officially leaving Massachusetts - we are making the short jaunt back to Boston for a special pizza pie and of course, Mike's Pastry.

Our drive back to Boston took us through Providence, Rhode Island

and being such a small state, we were quickly back in Massachusetts.

Before heading into Boston, we took a short side trip out to see the Boston Light. It is the oldest lighthouse site in the United States, but not the oldest lighthouse. It was rebuilt in 1783. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the coastline, we didn't see the lighthouse. We saw this:

Yep, fog! Socked in fog. The only indication of a lighthouse out on the island, was the repetitive blasts of the fog horn. Fitting.

Oh well, nothing that a cannoli can't fix.

But first a stop at Ernesto's in the North End.

Thanks Charlene, for convincing us to go visit your cousin, Andrea! It was the best pizza hands down, thus far on the trip!

We devoured it, but left room for a few goodies from Mike's.

The photo makes the box look 10 pounds bigger - really.

COLBY! We haven't even left Boston yet! Oh its useless. Who can resist a Whoopie Pie?

Finally in Connecticut, en route to Carmel, NY. Beautiful sunset along the way.

Tomorrow, we tour Patterson - Watchtower Educational Center.

Day 34 - Mission: Cape Cod, MA

2010-05-24T17:12:00.001-07:00

More sights of Cape Cod was on our agenda for today.

We started off in Sandwich, where we are staying. It is the oldest town on Cape Cod and it is a beautiful one. The houses are so unique and so many of them have star fish poised in their windows - really cute. Our first stop was Sandwich Glass Museum.

We learned all about colored glass, glass blowing, and even saw a demonstration.

The finished product

Did you know that to make red glass they used to put gold in it? Or bright canary yellow glass was made with radioactive uranium?

Afterward, we were on our way out to see the Chatham light, built in 1877.

Because they are built on cliffs, the lighthouses in Massachusetts are usually smaller than ones in other parts of the country. This one is just under 50 feet. We even got to climb up into the light tower of this one.

There used to be two lighthouses at this site, but one fell from the eroding cliff in December 1879.

We stopped in Orleans for fish & chips at this place. It was so good!

Then, much to Colby's dismay, we were off to another lighthouse. (Obsess much, Jen?)

This one called the Nauset light, built in 1877 had to be moved back from the 70 foot cliff in 1996.

These three tiny lighthouses are called the Three Sisters and are not far from the Nauset light.

These 3 wooden towers replaced the original brick structures in 1892. They stood 150 feet apart. They were decommissioned and eventually moved here and away from the eroding beach. The multiple lights at different harbors made it easy for sailors to distinguish which harbor it was.

I gave Colby a rest from the lighthouses and we headed into Hyannis for some snacks and shopping.

Later we made our way back to Sandwich and had dinner here. Colby had delicious prime rib for $10!!! Can't beat that!

Colby took this picture of us snug as bugs in the back of the van. I am frankly surprised that he was smiling still after enduring my obsession.

Tomorrow, we head back to New York. But apparently we will be making a detour back to the North End - something about pizza and pastry?

Day 33 - Mission: Cape Cod, MA

2010-05-24T17:11:00.003-07:00

This morning we slept in - an actual bed, an amazing one, at the Marriott. After sleeping on an air mattress wouldn't you?

We finally crawled out and got on the road for Plymouth, MA and Cape Cod. Before leaving Boston, we drove through Cambridge to see some of the Harvard campus.

We arrived in Plymouth in the early afternoon, and stopped first at Plymouth Rock housed in this superstructure.

The actual rock is much smaller than what you would imagine. Apparently it is 2/3 smaller than it originally was. The date 1620 is etched into it - the year the Pilgrim's landed.

Relaxing at the Mayflower II exhibit.

We walked around the quaint town of Plymouth for a while before heading the small distance left to Cape Cod.

Beautiful bridges cross the canal into to Cape Cod.

Finally we arrived at our campground in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

It was a beautiful town and a beautiful state park. After we settled in and found our site, we went out on the Cape to see some lighthouses. This one in West Dennis was built in 1855. It was later converted into an Inn and restaurant.

We ate dinner at Captain Parker's Pub in West Yarmouth. Their New England Clam Chowder was delicious.

Tomorrow - more sights of Cape Cod, and probably a few more lighthouses.

Day 32 - Mission: A Day with Jay in Boston

2010-05-24T17:11:00.001-07:00

This morning, we were starting out for the walk of the Freedom Trail, numb feet and all.

Boston is truly a historic place! There is so much to see and do here. I will keep this post as short and simple as possible.

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile long trail past several historic, early American Revolutionary sites.

The Old South Meeting House - the place where Bostonians on December 16, 1773 decided what would be done with the historic "tea".

The Old State House - The seat of British Government before the Revolution & outside its doors, the site of the Boston Massacre.

Colby & Jay standing outside Faneuil Hall with Samuel Adams. It was a stage for many of the protests and debates against British Rule. Samuel Adams led much of the activity that went on here.

Random sign posted on the outside of Faneuil Hall - obviously historic, but not as old as Revolutionary.

Quincy Market - just behind Faneuil Hall - Boston's first public market, filled with lots of good stuff to eat.

The center dome - plenty of area to sit down and eat.

Oh yea, I couldn't get enough of the New England Clam Chowder.

Jay with Arnold "Red" Auerbach, former coach and general manager of Boston Celtics. Sorry, Laker fans. (Go Celtics!)

This town is full of really cool old pubs - we are here with a Redcoat guarding the entrance to one.

The Custom House clock tower - Construction completed in 1915. Formerly where the government inspected & registered goods coming into the harbor. Now a hotel.

The yummy North End. Sigh.

Paul Revere's House

the Duo with the Paul Revere statue.

The North Church - where the famous signal lanterns were displayed by Paul Revere April 18, 1775.

Itty Bitty house.

Don't worry Laker fans - he's pointing to the Boston Bruins sign. It just also happens to be the home of the Celtics too.

Another one of these bridges.

Walking down the Freedom Trail to visit Bunker Hill - The site first major Revolutionary War Battle. Also where the famous "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" quote came from.

Colby climbed the 294 steps inside the monument to the top. What a great view of the Boston Harbor.

Then a short walk down to the USS Constitution - also know as Old Ironsides. Unfortunately, it was being renovated so we could only see part of it.

Jay took pity on my exhausted feet and we took a cab back to Quincy market.

Another famous spot in Boston at Quincy Market. (Not the real building here, but the feel of it.)

After a quick bite to eat at Quincy Market, we took the subway to the Sam Adams brewery tour.

Colby is smiling in this picture because we are about to get free beer.

After Sam Adams, we were in for a really special treat - a Red Sox game at Fenway Park and the opportunity to see batting practice from the top of the Green Monster.

The boys having fun.

Oooh! Touching the Monsta!

Willy the Green Monster - the Red Sox mascot.

Beautiful downtown Boston

Kevin Youkilis and his funky stance. Definitely a big one with the fans.

The view from our hotel room.

THANK YOU SO MUCH JAY! Our time in Boston with you was so much fun!

Tomorrow we will be on our way to Plymouth and Cape Cod.

Day 31 - Mission: Boston, MA

2010-05-24T17:10:00.003-07:00

Today, we set off for Boston, Massachusetts.

Before leaving New Jersey, we visited a Guy Fieri stop called the Brownstone Diner.

Here is a link to the episode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SID4vJKWLHs

If you watch, you will see how huge the pancakes are. This was not a special thing just for Guy. This is a normal portion. HUGE pancakes! And delicious....

Before leaving Jersey City & heading for Boston, I had to do all of our laundry.

It was time to say goodbye to Liberty Harbor RV Park. You can see in the pictures below, we had a pretty good view of the Statue of Liberty.

We also went on a fruitless search for a real New York pickle. We got to the place and it was a warehouse so they sent a few miles away to their store front. When we got there, they were closed. So we called the warehouse back and they said, "Oh yea, its a Jewish holiday. We will be closed today and tomorrow." Yea, thanks for that.

Finally, we were on the road through Connecticut to Boston, Massachusetts. Our good friend Jay met us there and gave us the 5 star treatment & tours. That evening Jay took us to the North End - the Italian district. We ate a fabulous dinner at Tresca - owned by hockey legend Ray Bourque.

Afterward, we strolled the streets of the North End and had our first encounter with Mike's Pastry. This place was packed! Cannoli seemed to be their speciality, but everything they had looked delicious.

We stopped at Caffe Vittoria for my favorite "Lavazza" espresso.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up for the North End & Boston, so far!

Tomorrow is a big day full of WALKING! My feet are beyond hurting - numb, in fact.

Day 30 - Mission: Brooklyn, NY

2010-05-24T17:10:00.001-07:00

We woke to raindrops beating down sometime during the night. Our hopes that it would just pass through were not fulfilled. It rained all day. I mean - ALL day. Normally, I love the rain, but it came at a very poor time in our schedule. Today we were scheduled to tour Brooklyn Bethel - World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses.

We would be taking the subway to get there, which also means a lot of walking to and from, with one umbrella. All in all - it was a great day, soaked or not. Thank goodness I had packed our winter wool coats. They helped to keep us somewhat dry. Oh and did I mention - my feet are REALLY hurting now.

Thanks to our great friends - Michael & Melissa - they connected us with their friends there, Keith & Laurie.

We had the privilege of being invited as their guests for dinner with the Bethel family. We arrived at 25 Columbia Heights around 11:30 am, just before dinner (the rain really slowed us down). Notice I said "dinner" as the mid-day meal. Laurie explained to us that dinner is considered the largest meal of the day whatever time of day that is.

Everything at Bethel is done in such an organized, orderly fashion and mealtime is no exception.

After dinner, we were given a formal tour by Brother Fields.

Here he is standing next to an original MEPS (Multi-language Electronic Phototypesetting System) machine.

After our tour, we walked in an absolute downpour to the 90 Sands building.

We were able to visit with an old friend, Dawna.

Keith & Laurie invited us to stay for supper - a simpler, lighter buffet style meal. Our plan for the evening was to attend a local weeknight meeting. But we found out that all of the congregations in that area would be at their circuit assembly that weekend = no weeknight meeting scheduled. Instead, Laurie gave us an extended tour - which included the residence buildings, the adjoining tunnels, the rooftops, the commissary, their apartment & the currently vacant 124 building. You can see in the following pictures how crummy the weather was that day.

Manhattan

The Brooklyn Bridge

Before leaving Brooklyn, Keith, Laurie, Colby & I shared a proper New York pie at Fascati's. It was definitely the best one we have had yet.

Thanks Keith & Laurie for being so hospitable, and thanks Michael & Melissa for setting that one up for us!

And I think my feet have gone numb from the pain!

Day 29 - Mission: Manhattan, NY

2010-05-24T17:09:00.001-07:00

After getting over the sticker shock of New Jersey, we arrived very late in Jersey City. We found our way out to Liberty Harbor RV Park - which was basically a big parking lot. It was actually not that bad, well except for the bathroom/shower house. It was the closest RV park to Manhattan & at $40 a night, you can't beat it. Oh and the sunrise wasn't bad either.

Today, our goal was to see as much of Manhattan & New York City as possible. As you will see, we almost did it all. (My feet hurt!!!!) Oh yea, and I woke up with a raging sore throat.

We were completely lost in getting into New York, but a very nice local lady helped us out. Turns out, it's a short walk from our RV park to the PATH station - New Jersey's metro. For our Canadian readers - notice who makes them?

It dropped us off at none other than WTC Ground Zero.

The new World Trade Center Tower is going up rapidly. The crews work around the clock. We stopped by the Visitors Center and saw the plans for the memorials - two giant square waterfalls cascading down into the sunken ground. (Not sure if I am on board with that one. It's a bit disturbing.)

We were SO turned around, it took us a while to get our bearings. Next stop, Money Central:

Wall Street

The New York Stock Exchange

Trump Building

Tiffany & Co

& the famous Bull. (Colby had to practically wrestle some Asian ladies for his chance at a photo next to it - apparently internationally famous.)

Next up, China Town - where we had great Chinese Food, 5 items for $5.

& Little Italy - we sampled a cannoli & a slice of pie, pizza pie that is.

Only in Little Italy.

I don't even want to think about how much the VW van is paying for that primo Manhattan parking spot.

A stroll through SOHO. (Alas, no shopping, though)

By this point we were becoming competent subway travelers & ended up at Grand Central terminal.

And what looked like a short walk to the Empire State Building, was not. It's 6 New York blocks.

Scratch this one off the Choose Your Own Adventure Series.

We jumped back on the subway for the Upper West Side and accidentally took the express, which stopped at the edge of Harlem (apparently still subway novices).

We made it into the Upper West Side & I kept hearing a specific theme song running through my head....

"Sun-ny day, sweepin' the clouds a-way, On my way, to where the air is sweet...Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street".

Complete with corner produce stands,

And....wait a minute, this ones from the wrong show!! 10 points for everyone who can guess this one.

Another Choose Your Own Adventure winner: Central Park

This especially is one of those places I have always wanted to visit.

Another subway ride,

to Rockefeller Center

NBC Studios

Radio City Music Hall

Another nod in the direction of Canada,

Dinner - another slice & an expensive one.

Dessert? NO! The best candy store EVER!

m&m World

We had fun in here.

You are what you eat? (I see the resemblance - Oh Colby!)

As we walked closer and closer, the lights got brighter and brighter.

Yep, Times Square - this place is insane! That's 3 Choose Your Own Adventures in one day - practically a world record I bet.

Our real dessert - Junior's Cheesecake. Sigh.

A few trains & we were back in Jersey City. I still feel sick and my feel are insanely sore!!

Tomorrow = More Walking = Brooklyn & 25 Columbia Heights

Day 28 - Mission: Washington DC, Part 3 & Jersey City, NJ

2010-05-24T17:08:00.001-07:00

Today, we checked out of our campsite at Greenbelt State Park. A beautiful park, except for the chiggers & ticks.

We took the metro back into DC to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

There were some good and bad experiences here in need of relating.

The bad news:

First of all, no one explains that when you arrive you need a ticket to see the main exhibit, though the museum has free admission. Even after they put you through the intense security check - no one says a word. So in theory, you can (like we did) wander around for an hour looking for the "Elevator" that takes you to the fourth floor to the main exhibit. (They did this to us the day before as well. Let us in, put us through the security check, and then told us the museum was closing - duh!)

Second, if you are planning to take your time, in order to see every detail & read every sign, you can forget about it. There are way too many people & there is way too much to see. Oh, and plan on them herding you out & basically shutting the exhibit down - 15 minutes before closing. That included the gift shop, where I encountered the rudest security guard ever - who took his "security" job way too seriously & was not about to let anyone into that gift shop, 10 minutes before closing mind you. Not even to purchase a postcard that I had already picked out while waiting to be let into the main exhibit. I was, and still am a bit bent out of shape about this one.

Finally, it was upsetting to see the "change" in the exhibit. There were about 4 things relating to people put into the concentration camps other than the Jews. So, if you go in trying to find a purple triangle - you are going to have to look hard.

Now, for some good news.

First - It is absolutely the most beautiful, well thought out, & well exhibited museum I have ever been into in my life. It really feels like you have stepped into a living memorial for the atrocities that occurred. I especially was touched by the scripture on the wall in the main lobby.

And, overwhelmed by the Hall of Remembrance - it was very emotional.

Second - Any mention of those in the camps wearing a purple triangle, was very faith strengthening. One sign especially stood out. It mentioned that Jehovah's Witnesses were one of the first religious groups banned because they would not serve in the military or swear allegiance to the regime. But unlike other prisoners, Jehovah's Witnesses could be freed if they renounced their faith. Yet not one of them recanted.

Finally - unrelated to the museum itself. We met some of our brothers & sisters, on two separate occasions while at the museum.

I do recommend that everyone should visit at least once in their life - its probably not the place for children though. But if you do bring them, there are walls hiding the things requiring adult supervision. Let me warn the adults here - the higher the walls, the more disturbing the images are behind it. Very sobering. Oh, and make sure you get your ticket for the main exhibit.

After leaving the museum, a short metro ride back to our van & we were on our way to Jersey City, New Jersey. We drove through Delaware

& upon entering New Jersey, we were appalled at the toll roads. It cost us $20 in tolls just to get to our destination. (Not liking New Jersey so far.)

Oh yea, and one more thing about D.C. If you are going to eat food from the street vendors, we highly recommend the vegetarian egg rolls. It sounds weird, but they were the best we have ever had.

Day 27 - Mission: Washington DC, Part 2

2010-05-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

This morning, we off on the Metro to DC again. We started off at the Library of Congress - I have to admit Colby was dragging his feet on this one, and my reasoning "Babe, it has over 30 million books!" didn't seem to impress him.

Until we got inside and then he was impressed. It's like the Sistine Chapel in there.

We were able to see a Guttenberg Bible.

I also found one of my new favorite quotes here:

"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

After the Library, we went outside for a view of the Capitol Building.

It was a short walk to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

I have a small obsession with bi-planes. (Riding in one is on MY bucket list.)

Lunar Lander

Charles Lindberg's Spirit of St. Louis

U.A.V.'s also known as drones...much larger than I imagined.

I know, I know...another bi-plane.

They were hosting some large event that evening, so many of the exhibits were closing off early.

We walked by the Smithsonian Castle - here you have a view from the Capitol to the Washington Monument.

We tried to make it to the Holocaust Museum, but the tour book we were using had incorrect hours. So we will plan to visit that tomorrow before our trip to New Jersey.

We were so close to the Jefferson Memorial (or at least we thought we were - its actually about 1/2 mile away) so we walked to it. I think this is about the time, my feet started to go numb. We had done so much walking already and wouldn't be stopping for at least 3 more days.

At least it was a beautiful walk along the tidal basin,

with up close views of budding cherry trees.

Who knew Thomas Jefferson was this tall?

We had dinner at the Elephant & Castle - a Canadian pub & restaurant. I had fish & chips and some sort of pirate beer...."Heavy Seas" by Clipper City Brewing - local to Maryland. It was yum!

I wanted to get some pictures of Washington DC at night. So after heading back to the car, we drove right back into the city. It is not an easy thing to get pictures of these landmarks at night - we actually had to park and walk to the Lincoln Memorial again. But I think it was well worth the effort on a few of them.

When we walked over to the White House, we found out the Obama's don't keep the front porch light on. At least not that night. Some large function was being held on the lawn.

But on the way back to the car, we got to see a creepy bubble wrap couple with no heads.

Driving home through the DC area was surreal. Nobody sleeps in this town. It was after 11pm and the streets of Chinatown & Georgetown were bustling!

Day 26 - Mission: Washington DC, Part 1

2010-05-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today we learned quickly how to ride the metro from Maryland into DC. Our first stop was the National Archives.

Where we were able to view the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Talk about old - the lighting in the exhibit is so dim to prevent and further deterioration of these documents.

A quick jaunt across the street and we were in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum

Complete with dinosaur bones

and fine jewelry - a rare encounter with not only the Hope Diamond but also the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond.

Next we made our way to the Smithsonian American History Museum

Here you can see everything from Abraham Lincoln's top hat, to Michele Obama's Inaugural Ball Dress

Dorothy's ruby slippers,

the original Kermit the frog

& Julia Child's kitchen.

"Look Colby! A RED le Creuset!"

After musing at the museums, we went out for a walk to the Washington Monument,

the White House,

and the Lincoln Memorial. (Look closely - its raining -almost sideways)

Along the way, Colby showed Albert Einstein how to Google on an iPhone.

We also completed another "Choose Your Own Adventure" - with Colby comparing shoe sizes with Abraham Lincoln. Hhmmm, what do you think?

When we were about to leave the Lincoln Memorial, a bolt of lightening hit very nearby with a tremendous thunder clap instantly after. Shrieking girls and heavy rain, sent us back inside until it passed over. Then after taking the metro back to the car in Maryland, we had another awesome light show in the sky. This is one of the pictures we were able to capture.

For dinner, we ate at the Italian Inn - delicious and filling!

Tomorrow another day of museums and DC sights.

Update from the Cape

2010-05-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

Well a mini update will have to do today. We spent the day travelling the cape in search of it's lighthouses and we found a few and even managed to climb the spiral stairs and ladder into the actual lantern room. We have many many photos to go through and upload to the blog. I am not sure when we will find the time and the WiFi. The longest would be later this week when we get back to the cabin in North Carolina. In the mean time I will do my best to keep you posted via the iphone. We decided today to head back to Boston tomorrow after the meeting to catch a few more sites including the first lighthouse in America the Boston light which also happens to be the only one still manned by a lightkeeper. We have also been instructed that we have not had Bostons best pizza until we have tried Ernesto's on Salem street so I am looking forward to that. We may also have to stop by Mikes for a few pastries to take with us. If you google "Cannoli" Mikes is the second result right after wikipedia. Now I don't know how good they are from wiki but they are might wikid from Mike's. We only have tomorrow afternoon to spend in Boston as we have to be in Up state New York by tomorrow evening as we have tours planned at Wallkill and Paterson Monday and Tuesday. We are however going to swing through Providence, Rhode Island on our way to Boston after morning meeting here in Sandwich. Sing it with me now...Sandwiches are beautiful, Sandwiches are fine, I like Sandwiches I eat them all the time... Well any who it's off to bed in the back of the van with another full day ahead awaiting that golden globe to arise once again over the deep blue Atlantic.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Cape Cod

Day 25 - Mission: Washington D.C. via Greenbelt, Maryland

2010-05-13T16:23:00.001-07:00

We set off super early this morning for Washington DC & Greenbelt, MD - where we will be camping during our stay.

We drove through Tennessee before the sunrise

& made it into Virginia in the early morning.

(I think this is the prettiest state welcome sign yet)

We had to stop for a nap break shortly after driving into Virginia.

We stopped here for lunch - the Pink Cadillac.

It was a cute 50's style diner with a theme centered on Elvis. Colby had a yummy hamburger & fries, I had a comforting tuna sandwich & chips.

You know you have been driving too long and across too much land when things like this become funny:

We drove past many famous Civil War battlefields on our way through Virginia.
Suddenly traffic got heavy again and we entered Maryland.

We located our campground and found a spot. In this park, the big warning was not for venomous caterpillars, but an infestation of ticks & chiggers. Colby was on edge especially.

We spent most of the afternoon trying to update our blog at a local Starbucks. Then had dinner at a University of Maryland hangout - the Mosaic Cafe - for Persian food.

Tomorrow we will head out on the metro for the first day tour of DC.

Day 24 - Mission: Working/Relaxing

2010-05-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

Another work day for some and relaxing day for others. I won't say completely relaxing though, because I made dinner tonight - my favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage. We had Uncle, Aunt and Grandpa over for the feast too. Early tomorrow morning, we will be heading off in opposite directions - Jim & Cathie back to Florida, Colby & I for adventures up the Eastern seaboard.

Day 23 - Mission: Working/Relaxing & Meeting

2010-05-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Today some of us relaxed & some of us worked...try and figure out who did what...

My productivity for the day was in teaching my cousin how to knit in the round (she is already a proficient knitter, so this was just a new technique for her).

The boys spent the day working on the cabin, much more productive on so many levels - they are putting in a bathtub for Cathie.

This evening we met up with Uncle, Aunt & Grandpa for an early dinner at "Fatz" - a local home-style restaurant where they use bacon as a garnish, have excellent fried green tomatoes and have awesome loaded potato soup.

After dinner, we were off to the weeknight meeting. It was a small but friendly congregation that quickly tried to recruit Colby and I to move to Franklin....

Day 22 - Mission: Sightseeing Franklin & Highlands

2010-05-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

This morning we piled into Jim's pickup & set out for a tour of Franklin's natural sights & Highlands, NC.

Our first stop was the Cullasaja Falls

Then on to Dry Falls - not because it isn't full of water, but because you can walk behind it while remaining relatively dry. (Look close - we are there behind the falls)

The next waterfall we stopped at was Bridal Veil - this one you can drive behind. I am kicking myself for not jumping out and snapping a picture because Jim used it as a car wash and the joke of the day was: "If you use your local waterfall as a carwash, you might be a redneck."

Franklin is known for its beauty on several levels, not only its natural sights but it is also know as the Gem Capital of the World - rich in gems & minerals. We had a chance to see some of these up close and personal at Jackson Hole, a local stop, where you can actually mine for your own gems.

A little bit of shopping & coffee in Highlands - the really upscale side of town.

We stopped for yummy BBQ at this local dive...

And on our way back to the cabin, Jim saw these locals out in the field and called them over for a tangerine snack.

Cathie & I finally made it to the local yarn shop too and I found some yummy Alpaca that is locally grown here in Franklin. I even have the name & photo of the fluffy creature that provides it annually.

My Uncle & Aunt & Grandpa had made their way up from Florida yesterday, so we went to their camp for a visit in the evening.

Day 21 - Mission: Relaxing in the Smokey Mountains

2010-05-10T22:13:00.001-07:00

Today was the first day the I have not felt well. Maybe it was the heat of the south, maybe I have been burning the candle at both ends, or maybe something else. It was enough to keep me inside and on a cozy sofa at my cousin Cathie's cabin. Later that afternoon, she & I ventured out for a quick tour around Franklin, North Carolina, while the boys got to work. What I mean by that is they purchased this "cabin" (a renovated chapel) a few years back & have been remodeling it over time. So, Colby got right in there and helped out with some of the work - drywall mudding. The property they own is BEAUTIFUL, surrounded by green, green, and more green. My cousin had our new favorite snack ready for us when we arrived last night by the way - boiled peanuts. And if you haven't had them, you have to try them. We like the spicy ones and believe me, they are addicting. Tomorrow, we plan to take a drive around the area further for some more sightseeing.

Day 20 - Mission: Charleston, SC & Franklin, NC

2010-05-10T22:12:00.002-07:00

So we will start off with today's recap with some humor. Anyone remember the SNL classic with Matt Foley's words of wisdom....

We have fulfilled them - "Living in a van - down by the river!"

And remember our bug solution? Here it is in all its glory...

(don't worry we take them down every morning, so we haven't sunk that low...yet.)

This was the campground we stayed at in Hollywood, SC - just outside of Charleston.

And it was full of a variety of wildlife...

Yes - that is a snake.

And I do believe this is "THE Ugly Duckling" - a face only a mother could love.

This morning we were off to see the sights of Charleston and then on to North Carolina.

It was very busy in town today - it being a Saturday, so we started off at the Market.

Historically - this place had a sullied past, but now it is as advertised in the sign above. We stopped at a chocolate shop here in town and she recommended a walk down to the battery. (This again is the last time we listen to the locals....this was no short jaunt, but rather a few miles in the heat & humidity of South Carolina.)

When we arrived we had a clear view of Fort Sumter & Civil War history.

It was long walk back to where we parked at the market, but the architecture in Charleston is amazing. We won't bore you with all the photos of restored homes & ironwork. Except for this one...look closely - see the red heart?

(Now, how do I remove the color in the rest of the photo around it?)

We crossed this beautiful bridge by accident last night. (This has become a popular design for bridges on the East Coast - another one in Savannah, Georgia)

We missed our first state sign, North Carolina, and it must have been because we were to busy admiring the beauty around us as we drove by. It is just BEAUTIFUL in western North Carolina. We are very much looking forward to the few days ahead, out of the heat & humidity among the wooded Smokey Mountains in North Carolina.

Day 19 - Mission: Savannah, GA & Lake Aire Campground

2010-05-10T22:12:00.001-07:00

Last night was rough. We stayed at Anastasia State Beach which was BEAUTIFUL!

But we were informed that the campground was infested with stinging & venomous caterpillars, yes caterpillars. So we had to sleep with all of the windows shut in the van because of the sheer number of the bugs. It was so terribly humid outside too - the windows open would have only helped minimally. We wanted to wake up early & see the sunrise so we both only slept about 4 hours each. But the sunrise was well worth the lack of sleep.

A stop in Jacksonville for breakfast at the Waffle House - the grits were delicious!

A random tour around Amelia Island, Florida in search of a non-existent old pirate village (that's the last time we listen to the locals).
Today we are headed off to tour Savannah, Georgia, Tybee Island & finally stopping for the night in Charleston, South Carolina.

Savannah was a really interesting place.

The city has at least 12 squares situated throughout the old town. We toured Chippawa Square which is named to commemorate the battle of Chippewa, Canada 1813.

The statue in the middle of this square is James Oglethorpe who founded the colony of Georgia in 1733.
Right next to it, we passed by this church and just had to take this picture.

Look closely, yep, there it is, God's personal name - Jehovah, engraved on the I Presbyterian Church.
Another cool thing we stumbled upon was this:

the Paula Deen store
and subsequently stumbled upon this:

the Lady & Son's - Paula Deen's restaurant
We shared the Fried Green Tomatoes & the Crab Stew - it was SO SO SO delicious!
Some sites on Riverfront Street:

Cable Car

Cobblestone Streets

Tug Boats

Candy Stores with fresh Salt Water Taffy
We headed out to Tybee Island to see the lighthouse there. I wish we could have vacationed for a week here - it was such a cute little town.

This light could possibly usurp the St. Augustine light for beauty. The fact that it was much easier to photograph helped too.
Then we were off for our final stop for the night, Hollywood, South Carolina

& Lake Aire RV Park & Campground. We had an epiphany & bought screen material to cover the windows of the van allowing us to sleep much more comfortably.

Day 18 - Mission: St. Augustine, FL

2010-05-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

This morning we said our good-bye's to Uncle Bob & Aunt JoAnn.
She graciously allowed me to photograph her close-up (remember she took a fall & ended up with 7 stitches and a broken pinky finger?)
As you can see, its all healing nicely.
Today we are heading just a little ways up the coast of Florida, through Daytona & to St. Augustine.
Our first stop was the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse.
It was pouring rain at the lighthouse & I had another clumsy moment. Note to self: Do not run in the rain in flip flops, especially in front of a complete group of strangers. I fell, scraped my knee, & bruised my pride.
Next, a drive through Daytona Beach & by Daytona International Speedway.
Then a drive out to Fort Matanzas - a small fort to protect the back way into St. Augustine.
Finally we arrived in St. Augustine & at Castillo de San Marcos - the oldest masonry & only 17th century fort in existence in North America.
The walls are made of a material called coquina - a type of rock formed by tiny shells that have bonded together like limestone. As you will see we had some fun here:

Jennifer with the drawbridge guard.

Little doorways - those Spaniard's were short!

REAL little doorways -
those Spaniard's were REAL short!

Giant cannon

Colby, aka Dr. Juggle's, new act:
the Human Cannonball!!!

And some other highlights from today:

My favorite lighthouse so far:
the St. Augustine Light

Dangerous marine life?

& to end the day:
A beautiful western sunset on
the eastern coast.

Day 17 - Mission: Cocoa Village & around town

2010-05-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Not much to report today & no interesting photos.
We walked the streets of Cocoa Village, another place of history for my family. My aunt used to have a kitchen supply store here and later was the Founder of the Village Craft Fair.
Colby found & treated me to a trip to the village yarn store - Knit & Stitch, where I could pick out anything I wanted. (For those of you who don't know me, I have a crazy obsession with "gourmet" yarn. Malabriga Merino Wool Sock Yarn was my choice, which ironically I plan to make into a hat for Colby. Funny how that worked out!)
Afterward it was off to Wal-Mart for a needed oil change - the poor van did just clear the 3,000 mile mark on our journey.
That evening, a farewell dinner with Grandpa, Uncle and Aunt at the Olive Garden.

Day 16 - Mission: Back to the Beach

2010-05-10T22:08:00.002-07:00

Today was a kick back and relax day. We did end up back at Cocoa Beach. Florida is known for its heat & humidity, we did not think May would be so hot. The beach provided welcome relief.
Here's Colby being a kid at heart, building a sand castle. Fun in the Florida sun!

Day 15 - Mission: Kennedy Space Center

2010-05-10T22:08:00.001-07:00

This morning, we were off to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
We took the Bus Tour there which takes you out to three locations:
Stop #1: Launch Complex 39. A drive by the VAB or Vehicle Assembly Building (where the shuttle is prepared & attached to the rocket boosters) & then out to 2 of the launchpads.
This is the VAB. One of the world’s largest buildings by volume - it is 525 feet tall, 716 feet long, and 518 feet wide. The doors are massive - the assembled shuttle with its booster rockets has to fit through them. (The picture doesn't do it justice. To put it better in perspective - each of the stars on the American flag on the side of the building are 6 feet tall - just shy of Colby's height. Big huh?)
This is launchpad 39A. There is a launch set for mid May, so you can see the Shuttle on the pad going through its month long preparations. It travels on a giant machine called a crawler for over 3 miles from the VAB to pad 39A - it only travels about 1 mile per hour, but it can take up to 5 hours to make the journey. This machine with the assembled shuttle on it weigh so much that the river rock it travels on which is 7 feet deep is crushed from the weight and has to be replaced with fresh rock. This is launchpad 39B - which has not been used recently but is being converted for future space exploration missions when the shuttle program ends.

Stop #2: The Saturn V exhibit. This place has a bit of added interest for us - because my Uncle Bob worked for NASA during the Apollo missions with the Saturn V rocket (more specifically on STAGE 3 of Saturn V).
SO BIG!
SO, SO BIG!!
This is STAGE 3.

Stop #3: The current International Space Station Center.
The components that make up the space station are assembled, processed & prepared here for the trip to orbit.

We also rode the Launch Simulator ride which produces incredible G-Forces (Glad they don't take pictures during the ride - Think you have double chin? How about triple chin?)
The Rocket Garden - display of rockets used in past space exploration.
A Saturn Rocket. This one is "THIS BIG" - yeah right!
Colby in a Lunar Rover.

A good day at KSC!

Afterward - it was off to dinner with my Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt & Cousin at Dixie Crossroads, known for their rock shrimp. Colby and I shared a huge platter of rock shrimp, bay scallops, crab legs and a whole maine lobster. WOW - It looked so good, we dug in and forgot to take a picture! Disappoint it did not.

Day 14 - Mission: Merritt Island Sightseeing

2010-05-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

This morning, we were off to the Merritt Island Congregation with Aunt Joann - it was nice to meet some of her friends.
In the afternoon, Colby & I made the trip out to Cocoa Beach to test out the Atlantic Ocean waters. It was just beautiful! The water while a bit warmer than the Pacific, was a welcome refreshment to the heat & humidity of Florida.
The rip tides were insane & actually change the level of the sand on the shore. Us at the Atlantic seashore.Our mark on the sand.That evening, we had some unfortunate excitement. Aunt Joann fell in the kitchen & was rushed off to the ER for some stitches. Six hours later, she emerged with 7 stitches, a broken pinky finger, and bruises. I told her there are much easier ways to get onto our blog than this - at least her sense of humor was in tact. (I will see if she is up for a picture - stay tuned.)

Day 13 - Mission: Family Dinner, Part 2

2010-05-02T11:51:00.001-07:00

Another shorter post for today.
We arrived in Merritt Island, Florida late last night after leaving Disney World. A tour of Merritt Island with a stop at the World's Largest RonJon store courtesy of Cathi & Jim.

My Aunt Joann & Uncle Bob bravely & kindly took on the task of another family dinner. And again, it was so nice to see everyone - Cousin's, their spouses, their kids.... It was a regular Gunn Family Reunion.

The newer additions to the family Daisy, Heather, Robbie & I also met "Jen Jr." - if you know my family, not so coincidentally there are at least two of almost every name. Poor kid got stuck with mine (even if it is a variation) - HA!
This is my 100 year old Grandpa, who probably will out live us all!

Late afternoon, the guys went out fishing & unfortunately the fish were not biting.

Day 12 - Mission: Disney World "Magic Kingdom" & Merritt Island, FL

2010-05-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

This morning, we met up with my cousin's son, Christopher for a visit to the "Magic Kingdom".

Our first ride - the ever popular "Pirate's of the Caribbean".

Then off to Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain & the nearly forgotten "Country Bear Jamboree".

A stroll through Fantasyland, brought us to the 3D "Philharmagic" show (an ensemble of some favorite Disney music on 3D film).
And for the final ride - Space Mountain.
A brief stop at the Main Street Candy Store, and I was in full "kid" mode.

We headed back over to Epcot for the Pavilions & food we missed yesterday.
I will end the day with my personal favorite photo of the trip thus far:

Fearsome, I know.

Day 11 - Mission: Disney World "Epcot"

2010-05-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Starting off with another one of those not so pleasant experiences. After arriving back at the Resort from Animal Kingdom, we found out that I had been bitten by or had some sort of allergic reaction to something while I was on the hammock the other night. I felt it happening but did not think much about it. Right on the small of my back and it itches like crazy. (Benadryl to the rescue!)

This morning, we were off to Epcot - my favorite Disney Park of all.

We met up with my cousin Linda & Jim for what would turn out a fun but exhausting day of walking.

The International Flower & Garden Festival was going on here - so we captured some of the character topiaries.

My favorite part of Epcot is the World Expo. Visiting so many countries in one afternoon isn't possible anywhere else.

Canada

France

Morocco

Japan

Italy

Germany

China

We did miss a few pavilions - we will definitely be back tomorrow afternoon!

We had lunch in "Canada" at Le Cellier. It was delicious and we were stuffed but the "Happy Anniversary" button struck again. This time with delicious Canadian Mousse - aka Chocolate Mousse with Maple Leaf shaped ears. Too bad this button doesn't work outside of Disney property.

A great shot of the "Ball" - Spaceship Earth at night.

Day 10 - Mission: Disney World "Animal Kingdom"

2010-05-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our apologies again for the delay in posting days 10-14 activities. We will make every attempt to catch up as quickly as possible.

Today we left Homosassa and made our way east across central Florida to Orlando - more specifically Disney World. We found our resort - the Pop Century Resort - themed around the 1950's - 1990's. In traditional Disney Style it was bright, fun, and loud!

We met my cousin Linda here (she had arranged our stay there - THANKS AGAIN!) and checked in. At check in, they gave us an assortment of buttons to wear. Most predominant was the "Happy Anniversary" button (so its a little early, but our whole Coast to Coast trip is sort of an anniversary expedition). Colby also wore a "1st Time" button, but it didn't seem to matter much that he had never been to Disney World before.

We had lunch with my cousin Linda & her husband Kevin at the Yacht Club Resort & they gave us a delicious anniversary dessert, some sort of chocolate truffle with fresh strawberries - hhmmm I think I might like this button.

Then it was off for a tour of Disney World property. After, we set off for Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. We had a great time here and have some fun experiences to relate.

This is the "Tree of Life" in the Center of the Park (a bit ironic, I know)

This one gets its name from all the types of "life" forms carve into its trunk, look closely & you might see tigers, bison, fish, hippos, owls, whales, and other such creatures.

We first stopped at the Lion King Experience - a lively show, then we sort of were stuck watching a parade on our way to the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. We saw lots of animals...

a young elephant

a white rhino (literally, right next to the jeep)

and my personal favorite, reticulated giraffes.

Then a walk through the Maharaja Jungle - flying foxes, fruit bats, tigers, birds, etc. I got lots of amazing photos of the Asian tigers, but I will only post a few.

We rode the newest ride Expedition Everest twice - a forward & backwards high speed roller coaster, protected by a larger than life Yeti.

The craziest experience of the night - was the discovery made on the Dinosaur ride. Apparently, I am terrified of Dinosaurs - even the animatronic ones. I do not have access to the photo right now, but check back for the proof of me wanting off that ride as soon as possible.

Tomorrow's challenge: Epcot - my favorite!

Disney World Tour

2010-04-28T19:07:00.001-07:00

Hello friends, I am putting up another short post just to let everyone know we have arrived at Disney and even did the Animal Kingdom today. We will be posting a deluge of pictures and stories when we get back to the land of free WiFi. A little teaser...there is a picture from the coaster camera on Dinosaurs Jennifer and I took but Jennifer is missing from the picture... Thank for following along and don't be shy about leaving comments after your favorite posts and pics.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Pop Century Resort

Day 9 - Mission: Relax

2010-04-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today, the goal was to relax. We have a whirlwind 3 days of Disney World coming up.
Colby, Cathie & Jim went to play tennis and swim at the club. Jim showed off his Harley Davidson to Colby. I didn't feel up to it, so I stayed in and tried to catch up on the blog.

We had a delicious dinner this evening - Jim grilled up some Filet's and Jumbo Shrimp.

We finished off the evening relaxing in the hammock. I finally feel like I am on vacation.

Please forgive us in advance, because we will most likely not be able to update the blog until after we leave Disney World.

Day 8 - Mission: Homosassa Siteseeing

2010-04-26T23:41:00.000-07:00

This morning we were off to Homosassa Springs - the local attraction.

A spring fed refuge & rehabilitation center for native wildlife. We took a boat ride to the main entrance and spent a few hours in the park. All in all, it was a very well put together and well kept park. The most famous resident at Homosassa Springs is Lucifer.

A 50 year old Hippopotamus and we just happened to be there for his afternoon snack of melons.

Fortunately we weren't here for this. (The splatter zone) Hippos mark their territory in a very disturbing way.

Florida Gators

Gopher Tortoise

My first sighting of a real CARDINAL.

And a Roseate Spoonbill - a bird that seems to be right out of a cartoon.

A mother swan and her babies.

Whooping Crane

A sleepy Owl

And even a Bald Eagle

A Red Fox

A Red Wolf

And even a Black Bear

This beautiful turquoise blue water is the source of Homosassa Springs. A 50 foot fresh water aquifer. It is a place that fish and manatees love to hang out.

We arrived in time to see the manatees eating their afternoon snack of Romaine lettuce.

That evening, we drove out to the Gulf again and had a delicious seafood dinner at Peck's with my cousins.

Their specialty on the menu is blue crab.

We plan to relax tomorrow and save up some energy for a 3 day whirlwind tour of Disney World.

Day 7 - Mission: Family Dinner - Part 1

2010-04-26T23:40:00.001-07:00

Today's post is very short. I hope to add pictures later.

This morning we went to the Crystal River Congregation meeting and heard a very nice public talk.

We are looking forward to seeing all of Cathie & Jim's kids and their families at dinner tonight. Cathie was brave enough to take on the task of hosting it at her home.

It was so nice to see everyone and meet the new additions to our family. A hilarious game of Password & then Balderdash finished off our night. We all learned something new: the clues party and pagan automatically led Cathie to the word Bacchanalia instead of Birthday! HA!

A fantastic electrical storm came through this evening. There were tornado warning out again today. The bad weather seems to be following us.

Day 6 - Mission: Homosassa, FL

2010-04-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

And now, the moment you have been waiting for....(drumroll, please) The Coast to Coast with the Douglas Duo - Choose Your Own Adventure Series!

But first, a picture of our very tropical campsite at the Shady Pines Campground at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

We made our way out to the beach. It has been ranked as the top beach in the US twice. It was just beautiful! The sand is soft and sugar white.

We found out right away that this would be truly just a dip in the Gulf rather than a swim.

Here's why:

Because of the storm last night and another one on its way, the surf was especially strong.

First the water test:

The air was still on the cooler side, but the water was much warmer than the Pacific Ocean.

Shortly, thereafter we had completed the obligatory dip in the Gulf of Mexico. (To be honest, we would have done it even if it hadn't won the vote.)

Before leaving we left our marks on Port St. Joe Beach.

Its just too bad that the time and weather were not on our side. We still had a 5 hour drive ahead of us. On our way back to the mainland, we took some shots of the Cape San Blas Lighthouse, though its really more of a tower than a building.

We accidentally stopped in a town called Panacea known for their Blue Crabs and had lunch at the Coastal Restaurant. We had excellent Fried Green Tomatoes and Chicken.

I mentioned accidentally stopped in Panacea because we had taken a wrong turn on the highway just before this town. We ended up adding an hour to our drive but at least it sent us in a circle. (We had that I have been here before feeling.)

We finally got back on the road and made it to my cousins house in Homosassa, FL. Homemade Cuban Sandwiches, Black Beans & Yellow Rice. We will be here for a few days and have a big family dinner tomorrow.

Day 5 - Mission: Port St. Joe, FL

2010-04-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Please excuse the delay in the postings. We are frantically trying to catch up!

In this episode of Coast to Coast, we will be recapping the events of Day 5. It ended in a really extreme way, which most of you now know about, based on our "Alive for now" post.

It is DouglasDuo tradition to photograph our campsites. So we begin with that & our departure from our campground at St. Bernard State Park, a very well-kept and beautiful state park.

Also, the motivational sign in St. Bernard Parish - we passed this everyday - a definite reminder of the disaster here not so long ago.

If you notice the sky in the last two pictures, you will see its dark & ominous appearance. A humongous storm was coming on shore from the Gulf of Mexico. So, before heading out for our destination for the night, we drove back into the French Quarter one last time. This trip called for the original Po-Boy's at Johnny's - Colby had the Oyster Po-Boy & I had the Roast Beef. Both were excellent!

Jazz Fest was beginning today, and the streets were insane, so Colby was the gopher while I circled the block in the van.

And of course, we couldn't leave without a farewell Beignet & Cafe au Lait (addicted much?).

At this point, it started to rain. Actually no, pouring is more like it. And the lightening! It surrounded us on all sides...time to get out of dodge!

The trip to Port St. Joe was about 8 hours. We quickly entered Mississippi after crossing Lake Pontchartrain.

(The wind was so strong in Mississippi, my triceps were sore from fighting with the steering wheel. Come to find out, major tornado's occurred there that day!)

Shortly thereafter was Alabama.

Finally we pulled into Florida & stopped at the welcome center for the famed cup of OJ just before they closed for the day.

The drive out to Port St. Joe, on the Gulf of Mexico, was uneventful until the very last minutes. As we approached the peninsula, the storm that we had only out run by an hour, caught up to us while we were trying to complete some of the blog updates at a McDonald's (no Starbucks out here, friends). We hurried out and back on the road when the lightening strikes seemed to be approaching. As we drove out to this isolated part of Florida, I began to think we were crazy. And again, being the worry-wort of the duo, began barraging Colby with lightening storm questions. (Will we get hit in the van? What if I have to go to the bathroom? Are we going to die? - All valid questions I thought.) En route to the beautiful St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (we called ahead this time and got the gate code) the most awesome lightening strike occurred right in front of our eyes, out in the Gulf somewhere. A huge bolt with half a dozen "feeler" bolts streaming off in all directions. Words can't describe it. Even Colby's heart stopped for a second with this one. I think I may have really been speeding at this point.

Well, we arrived safely, as many of you know, and we were left to ride out the storm in the safety of the van. The storm hit, thunder & lightening, rain began falling, then pouring, possibly even some hail. And then.....nothing. Really....NOTHING. It fizzled out entirely when it hit us. (Was I disappointed? Maybe.) The only photo we got of the light show was this:

Colby will have to wait for his next big photography break, some other time. (I thought this shot was still great, considering it was raining and taken from inside the van.)

So, our cliffhanger for next time:

The "Choose Your Own Adventure" winner - A dip in the Gulf of Mexico.

Alive for now on the Pennisula

2010-04-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to do a quick post to let everyone know we are safe and sound in the van at St. Joseph's Pennisula State Park. We arrived about fifteen minutes ago amidst a light show on all three sides in the sky. There is a major storm front moving through and we were able to just get ahead of it by about an hour. Thank you all for following and we will have some of our adventures from New Orleans posted tomorrow with more pics as well.

-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Kenny Mill Rd,Port St Joe,United States

Day 4 - Mission: New Orleans Siteseeing

2010-04-23T19:22:00.001-07:00

This morning we got in touch with the St. Bernard State Park and found our campground. It is a beautiful campground, the only downfall is the distance out there.

On our way out, we drove through some of the still destroyed parts of St. Bernard, Louisiana.

Many houses have been rebuilt, but many still sit condemned. "Snack & Nap & Random Facts", aka Colby, learned that 80% of this parish was underwater due to Hurricane Katrina.

We headed back to the French Quarter, making our first stop at Central Grocery for the original Muffuletta.

If you love olives, like I do, you will love these sandwiches. But their size is tremendous, so you could share one with four people, or like we did, share half between two people.

Then walking through the streets of the French Quarter, I began a photography project involving the unusual doors of New Orleans (more about that later).

On our way, we passed Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop - the oldest continually occupied bar in the US.

A very cool place that looks like the local pirate bar. Continuing our walk - we were on a mission for the best Fried Chicken, and the locals recommended the Praline Connection on Frenchmen.

We also sampled Zapp's potato chips - Cajun Dill,

and a "Snowball" - the Louisiana snow-cone, which hit the spot on this humid day.

Our next stop was the Garden District in New Orleans.

A community of old southern mansions from the 1800's, known for the beautiful foliage and gardens throughout. Beautiful & ornate it truly is.

Finally, we set off on the Canal Street Ferry for Algiers, with views of Downtown & the Natchez Steamboat.

Driving through this historic town, on our way to the Aurora Congregation meeting.

This group of new friends were so warm, hospitable, and friendly - we only wish we could be in town longer to get to know them all more closely. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.

Afterwards, we headed back into the French Quarter for dinner at the Chartres House Cafe where Colby had the Crawfish Etouffee and I had the Chicken Gumbo.

Finishing the night off with another round of Beignets & Cafe au Lait at Cafe du Monde. Sleep well we did.

Day 3 - Mission: New Orleans, LA

2010-04-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

Leaving Dallas was much like leaving any big city - you soon end up in the country. The only thing of note to report on the road out of Texas was driving through the town of Marshall. (I was incorrectly told at the gas station that this was the same town as "We Are Marshall". Thanks for clarifying that Heather! That Marshall is in West Virginia.)

The drive into Louisiana quickly turned to lush yet swamp-like trees. Making our way south through the state, we drove over the 18+ mile long Atchafalya Swamp Bridge.

Shortly thereafter crossing the Mississippi into Baton Rouge.

After our update of Day 2 at the closest Starbucks, we headed off again for New Orleans - more specifically - the French Quarter.

It was 9:00 pm when we finally arrived. Let me just tell you, it is insane there and forget trying to cross the pedestrian loaded Bourbon St. in a car. No one stops, they just cross and act like they don't know you are there.

Being tired from the 9 hour drive in, I was stressed and Hyde - errr I mean Colby was starving. This was our first time into New Orleans and we really only knew of food places that were open during daytime hours, and of course Cafe du Monde. Walking around on a Wednesday night, we stumbled upon the Corner Oyster House.

I had the Red Beans & Rice with Andouille Sausage and Colby had the Gumbolaya - yes, Gumbo & Jambalaya in one dish. (By the way, this Gumbolaya turned out to be the best dish we found.)

Before heading out to our campground, we stopped at Cafe du Monde for Beignets and Cafe au Lait.

OH MY GOODNESS! I am not a doughnut girl, but these little lovelies were delicious. And who would have thought that the Starbucks addict would like chicory coffee?

You haven't seen the last of us Cafe du Monde - we will definitely be back.

Ok, now for the ridiculous part of the trip. Remember we said even the bad experiences would be recounted. This is the first big one, but it turned out alright.

Our campground was a 30 minute trip out to St. Bernard State Park - through the most heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina part of town. (More about that later)

When we pulled up to St. Bernard State Park, the gate was locked. Seriously. LOCKED! Boy were we mad. In all of our camping experience, we have never been locked out of a place before. I left the campground office a small piece of my mind on their answering machine. Mind you it was now after 12:00 am, so we did the only thing we could think of. We drove to a truck stop. Yes, a TRUCK STOP! You will all have to forgive me for not having the desire to take a picture of the truck stop, it was not a proud moment for us.

Fortunately, this all worked out in the end. We apparently just needed the gate combination, which they will gladly provide if you just call them and let them know. (So, we learned something new....CALL AHEAD!)

Day 2 - Mission: Dallas, TX

2010-04-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

Up at 7am and after saying goodbye to our gracious hosts, Jim & Lavonne, we set out for the 10 hour drive to Dallas, TX.

You might be wondering what it was that I meant in my cliffhanger in Day 1 (Jennifer & Colby caught on camera committing a California misdemeanor!) Let me start by saying that we really did nothing illegal. It is actually encouraged if you are on the right side of the fence. So, just outside of Amarillo we made a stop here.

This is Cadillac Ranch. If you haven't heard of this or seen it in a movie, yes those are actual classic Caddies planted nose down in a Texas pasture! Ten to be more specific.

Back to the California misdemeanor. These are customized by visitors which it is encouraged by the artist. What would be illegal in California, like I said, is completely legal in Texas, as long as you are on the right side of the fence. It is art - not graffiti. We did not bring our own can of spray paint, but found two slightly used ones in the field and tag we did.

And voila! Here it is:

The C2CDD (Coast to Coast with the Douglas Duo) 2010 tag.

And you know how they say taggers get addicted?

Colby couldn't stop...

That was our fun in Amarillo - highly recommended by the Douglas Duo with two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Back on the road again, on our way to Dallas. We were told the drive would be boring and ugly - let me just tell you, we were told wrong. At least in our opinion, it was beautiful ranch land teeming with blooming wild flower and quaint old country towns like this one.

We even saw Camels in a pasture!

Arriving in Dallas, we met old friends, Julie, Brandon, the enormous Dutch & Kitty, who were so hospitable. They fed us great food & wine, gave us a comfy bed, and sent us on our way in the morning with snacks.

Thanks guys! It was great to see you and hang out for the night.

So, for tomorrow - off to New Orleans, LA. The cliffhanger: Nighttime in New Orleans - Beignet's & Po-boy's, here we come!

Day 1 - Mission: Albuquerque, NM

2010-04-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

Maybe leaving at 3am wasn't the best idea, but we wanted to be able to see something in Albuquerque before it was too late.

Exhausted but excited, head out we did for a 12 hour drive. Our route, 241 north, 91 east, 15 north, 40 east (much of Historical Route 66 is along this stretch of road). Making great time was essential, with as few stops as possible. Fuel stops in Barstow, CA & Hollbrook, AZ and eating homemade sandwiches along the way got us into Albuquerque in just 11 1/2 hours. Some of the sites we saw or passed from 40 east: Meteorite Crater, the Petrified Forest, and an awesome lightening storm around Grant, NM.

Visiting the winner of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" for New Mexico (sorry, Albuquerque Aquarium), we arrived in Old Town Albuquerque - founded in 1700s.

Our first stop, recommended by Uncle Bob & Craig Ferguson, "The Rattlesnake Museum".

Then met up with our Albuquerque tour guides, Justin & Gretchen, setting off for an adventure southwest style. "Frontier" for our DD&D dinner. And yes, this one was a dive (which is not a bad thing)! Dinner was under $10 for both of us. I had the Green Chile Stew & Colby had the Carne Adovado Burrito, and we shared their famous Cinnamon Roll.

A quick tour of the University of New Mexico campus & we were off to the tip top of Sandia Peak. The "World's Longest Tram" took us to the summit at 10,378'.

THANKS again Justin & Gretchen for showing us around! And Justin's parents were kind enough to offer their guest room for the night, way out in the "country". What a great group of new friends we have made! Thanks Rex for recommending and setting this one up!

After a great night of sleep, today we are en route to Dallas, in Amarillo at this very moment. So tune in tomorrow and watch for the exciting adventures we have been on already today. Here's your cliffhanger: Jennifer & Colby caught on camera committing a California misdemeanor!

BonVoyage!

2010-04-19T04:17:00.001-07:00

We are officially on our way now. It's been a frantic couple of weeks and we apologize again for the lack of posts but be prepared for the flood of pictures and stories coming your way! We will do our best to confer with each other about our posts so as not to be to redundant, though each of our posts will be unique to the writer. At times we may write about the events from our own perspective in our own writing style.

So here we are on the 15 Freeway heading to the 40 Freeway racing to beat the sun to the Eastern horizon, a hopeless endeavor but exciting none the less. We have all our gear, some food and water and a big comfy bed all in tow with us. A mini home with four wheels and a V6 to boot. (I once promised myself I would never live in a mobile home, I guess I never saw it coming)
The plan for today is to get to Albuquerque (spell that five times fast) New Mexico before 5:30 to meet some friends of friends (aren't we all friends...really?) at the Rattlesnake Museum and walk around Old Town (thank you for voting). Well that's all for now, Colby.

-- Post From My iPhone

www.thedouglasduo.com

2010-03-27T11:12:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update:
We have just switched to our own domain name.
You can now find us at www.thedouglasduo.com.
If you Google "thedouglasduo", you will find us too.
It will take a couple of days to make the switch official, so please be patient!
We are excited about our new addition to the world wide web.
We have more "Coast to Coast" information in store for you, so stay tuned!

Coast to Coast is now a "Choose your own Adventure Story"

2010-03-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Jen and I have decided there is just to much to see and do across America in 54 days. So we have come up with a plan to incorporate all of you in deciding where we should go and what we should do. It's just like those books we use to read that allowed us to choose for the characters which path in the story they should take. All of you reading this will be our narrators and we the characters!
Along the right side of the blog we have begun to post polls for you to choose from. For example, some are places to visit like the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. Others are suggested foods to eat.
Simply select which one you prefer and click vote. The highest of the two wins! We will be posting pictures and stories of the winning spots as we visit them.
So what are you waiting for? Start choosing!
Be sure to check back often as we will continue to add more polls!
Who knows? It could get interesting!
-Colby

The Maiden Voyage

2010-03-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome, welcome, welcome to our blog! Take a look around. We have set this up in expectation of our fast approaching road trip "Coast to Coast". As you can see, there is a huge map with a huge route planned - 7,401 miles to be exact. This is our intended itinerary - time, weather, & finances permitting. Since we can't bring you all along, we are bringing our trip to you! We would love for our family, friends, and fans to follow us along the way. We plan to regularly update with pictures, postings, links, & experiences (good & bad). Our love for food will definitely creep its way into the blog along the way with visits to local "Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives".

We are 31 days away from our departure date! Early in the misty morning of Monday April 19th we will drive off into the sunrise towards our first stop.

Here's what we need from you:
Please check out our map and the cities we intend to visit. We know many of you have been to these places before. Since it is our first time in many of these places - help us out by leaving some comments with suggested sites to see, great grub to be had, photo op spots, or even advisories & warnings. Do this soon, since we are making more specific plans now.

Please become a follower of our blog to receive notification of our new postings.

We look forward to hearing from all of you!