Camp Fernwood does exist....

We finally got proof that Suzy does disappear to camp every year as we have now seen it and stayed there. We arrived and waited until lunch was over, parked the RV in the carpark and got the grand tour. Pretty busy schedule for both the kids and the counsellors. Said hello to the owners Fritz and his wife Christine and then tried to blend into camp life as best as we could. Suzy had told her bunk girls that her dad was coming so he became Grandpa to about 20 14 year olds...think he felt very old - Paddy won't be happy they are calling him Grandpa and not pop pah...

So the routine goes something like this - up at 7.15, flag raising then breakfast then tidy bunks then activities all day something like 7 periods....with a big lunch (we got to sit at the owners table so our food was delivered and we didn't have to fight off the millions to get food) and a rest hour in between....then shower hour then dinner then activity then lights out....its pretty full on but every kid I spoke to just loved it. Tightly scheduled though - but even the 8 year olds knew what was going on. We were introduced at dinner which is outside on the grass - pretty good food. The kids have so many activity choices it is unbelievable and what an amazing way to try so many different sports in a safe place. We could not think of a hobby or sport that was not covered (rifle shooting, jewellery, rock climbing, water skiing, photography, horse riding, yoga, drama, singing, art and craft, to name but a few).

Suzy works on the lake in canoeing - pretty cool spot. Mike wanted to go canoeing with Suze so he had to do a water test which was 18 lengths of a fenced off area of the lake. He had to have 2 go's at it and it was hard going for someone who has done zilch exercise for a long time!!! (he did manage to do it in the end).

We could have slept in the guest area but we just stayed on the RV and even got an invite on the second night into the counsellors drinking hut in the trees - felt pretty old but all good to see..

So we survived the camp Fernwood experience, we both enjoyed it - got to see where Suzy disappears to and can see why - it is a pretty special place and such a lovely relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and environment.

The main lodge

The bunk rooms for the younger kids

The lake

Mike being a life guard - cool jetty things for their boats

One of the many activities - sailing

Suzy in her canoe

The boat - the suzy day

Horse riding - they have 14 horses here

Suzy's bunk room

Rifle shooting

Lovely grounds

Main lodge

Some shots around loony...

Portland, Maine

Portland is a cool city. Very relaxed but great food and vibe. People generally go about their business relaxed and with very little stress. We couldn't find a park for the RV (One gripe about RV's in the US - they are well set up for them except in towns and cities where there are very little parking spots for them). A lady at a ferry terminal said hey just park there - we are not very busy today - kind....so we strolled through old Portland on cobblestone streets, ate more lobster on the water, checked out Fort Williams Park and the old lighthouse (Maine has millions of lighthouses). Shopped a little, had coffee in a garden cafe - all very pleasant.

Headed out of town a bit around the lakes area to a place called Naples and stayed the night in a camp called Loony Haven - loony as in the birds not us - but you can see the funny side! They are kind of duck like and make an interesting call early in the morning! We could back right up to the lake - ended up staying here 2 nights. On the second night we wandered down the road to the country club golf course - a little rustic found ourselves in the middle of ladies league and was part of their presentation! Wandered back and enjoyed the good old campfire - trying to use up all of our wood now as one of the last fires we will have. Tomorrow we head to track down Suzy at this camp she keeps disappearing to but no one has ever seen - watch this space....

lovely Portland

garden cafe

Old Portland - looking towards the port/waterfront

this guy has it sorted - his law office, lovely car, his boat called barrister all on the port ready to go - great spot for an office - reminds me of a colleague with his office across lyall bay surf who heads out when the surf's up

I love this billboard- if only

Waterfront district - bought a cool bag here from seabags and it is made from a recycled sail

yum

even more yum with a local quite tasty beer

fish shop

lighthouses everywhere

Maine - the real reason for coming to the US + lobster

Connecticut we drove straight through after Strawberry Park and headed directly to Maine - think we drove through a few other states as well but they were all so close together who knows....Decided to stay south of Portland in the beachy towns - off the interstate again and stopped off at Old Orchard Beach. The campground there had this old trolley for a $1 you could get to the beach and the action - we had lobster - gorged myself on lobster since I have been in Maine - it is so affordable and tastes yum...

Old Orchard Beach is kind of a dinky 50's looking town - pretty old style US obviously a bit of a party spot due to all the security....very nice around these parts - up and down the beach you keep hitting beach towns with good food, good coffee and fab food....

From Old Orchard we headed to Wassamki - about 8 miles out of Portland but on a lovely lake - camped in the woods and had one of the last camp fires...this place was cool - people are very genuinely friendly here and go out of their way to make your stay fab. Even to do a load of washing was cheap!!

Old Orchard Beach pier - not quite the Atlantic City

Lobster to die for here

Wassamki campground

thats the RV in the trees

ah pretty nice

Mike at his campsite

Read this great Stuff article on the US of A

As I was catching up on NZ news and needless to say despairing over what I was reading - this caught my eye - very well written and encapsulates my thoughts exactly...

United States of O'merica by James Robinson

Back to the bush and real camping...

Camping in NYC is quite hard work as you can imagine...as much as we loved the big apple we couldn't wait to hightail it out of there in a 32 ft motorhome. We are heading up to Maine so decided to stop off in Connecticut. Drove through Yale, Stamford all those posh places with fandangle universities to a place in the middle of nowhere called Strawberry Park. Ahhhhh back to peace and quiet and trees and this time a nice pool and a hot spa for adults only - bliss....first time we have had a spa since we left the Paua bubble.
Went through some dinky towns as our policy is to try and stay off the interstate and enjoyed a beverage or two in the trees....

Cruising down the freeway in the hot, hot sun (who recognises those lyrics aye??)

A world away from NYC

New York, New York....

Two big cities in a row....we found this classic RV park right in the heart of Jersey city and across the water from NYC. Fantastic location but the most minimalist RV park you ever did see. They have roped off the Liberty Harbour Marina and turned carparks into some RV parks and charge a decent amount for the privilege. We didn't care - after negotiating the RV through the streets of the city - interesting! We couldn't believe the primo location. We could catch the ferry to Wall street outside the door of the RV - hey we are used to living in marinas!

So on a coldish, foggy day we head to the big apple. Packed in a lot in a short space of time. Headed from the ferry up Wall Street (that place has a lot to answer for!) to the World Trade Center. They do not refer to this as Ground Zero any more - time has moved on but construction hasn't. After 10 years the memorial still is not finished and it is still one big construction site. See photos below.


We then headed up town to the theatre district and went to the Empire State building, roamed around Times Square, checked out the 'Met' (Museum of metropolitan art - not Mike's favourite place in the world but I loved it), then strolled back to Broadway through central park to see Jersey Boys on Broadway. Had a few champagnes and then headed to the show - fantastic - got a standing ovation and we were both very impressed. Through Times Square and millions and millions of people to catch the train home - that was an event in itself.

The next day saw us getting up early, and catching the ferry to the Statue of Liberty - scored tickets to the pedestal. I wanted to get up into the crown which has reopened but the tickets are booked out until October! After some seriously tight security we got up there - views were amazing.

Love New York, but hate the fact it took us hours to get out of the city and its surrounds, the many tolls one as much as $16 and the traffic which is something else. Makes Auckland look good on a bad day (well kind of).....That grungy vibe and history you just can't beat though...

The next apprentice...mmmm....I don't think so!

World Trade Centre (formerly Ground Zero) - memorial is where the trees are and the big building behind them

How very New York like...strolling through central park with some shopping :)

cool

Lunch time - braodway and times square

King kong is lost in the fog

Me at the Met

The Met

Through the fog

Foggy NYC at night

billboards galore

Self taken shot on the ferry to Statue of Liberty

New York New York

She's green because the copper has oxidised

Michael

The head

Looking up from the pedestal

a new immigrant perhaps?

City shot

On the way out of NYC driving on a bridge

Speaks for itself