A perfect picnic

After a sleep in we decided to go shopping at the huge mall across the road- still undecided whether this was a good idea or a bad one as I spent lots of money!

In Australia we just don’t have department stores like JC Penny and Sears- its so cheap! Plus the clothes are really good designer stuff. We also went to Waa Mans which is the best supermarket I have ever been to. Now to start with I love supermarkets especially when in different countries. I just find all the brands and how they place things so interesting (weird I know). This supermarket however was the supermarket of all supermarkets!!! It was massive. They had a salad and hot food bars that would have been as big as the fresh food section in Woolworths. Their cheese section was as big as a Telstra shop and the rest of the shop would have been twice the size of any Coles in Australia. We ended up getting a hot chicken, pesto, feta, sundried tomatoes, pina coladas and a bread stick for a picnic we planned to have at Niagara falls.

Late afternoon we drove to Niagara Falls where we set up a picnic rug and our food for a lovely dinner overlooking the falls. The falls themselves were beautiful however it was hard to get their full effect from the American side as you look at both sets of falls sideways. Although the sheer power of the falls cannot be missed as you can get about 2m away from the edge and the noise and speed of the water is phenomenal. As it got dark, lights from the Canadian side reflected a rainbow of colours and we were lucky enough to be there when they had fireworks which were awesome. Only down side of the picnic was that every time the wind changed it would bring the mist over us making it feel like it was still rain around you- kind of like a constant spray bottle squirting.

It was such a perfect picnic.

A day of the unexpected

We had a long way to drive today but still decided to stay off the interstates for the start which means we could see the ‘real’ america (they are the coolest roads, so easy to get around all odd numbers go north south and even east to west. It makes getting lost fairly hard- though we still managed to.) so it ended up taking us nearly 10 hours to drive from Lake George to Buffalo.

We firstly drove through Saratoga Springs which was a quaint little old town that is known for huge horse races. We stopped at a church on the way out of town that was having a yard sale. I got a dress and Sarah got a few pairs of pants but we wanted to buy all this beautiful furniture and ice skates!

Along the road trip every time we went over a railway track Sarah would get excited – and we went over lots! So after the yard sale we saw these beautiful railway tracks right next to the water so we quickly pulled over to get some photos. Then I decided I didn’t like my dress in the photos (vain) so I changed and so did Sarah. Then being stupid I put on my angel wings and halo and walked onto the tracks only to run off them quickly as a train came! I waved as it went past and got many strange looks, although some of the photos look cool- YOLO.

Back in the car we worked out the radio and found a local station (very redneck). However, they were discussing this huge county fair at Herkimer so we followed the signs and even though we got lost and were giving up on finding it we turned the corner and there it was. It was a true county fair with a crowned Miss Herkimer, tractors, rides and food. We made friends with one of the carnies who I swear wanted to marry one of us or maybe both of us lol.

After leaving Herkimer we popped into a town called Utica. To picture it think of what you think of a ghetto from the movies. We were trying to find Maccas and at a red light we couldn’t help but hear a group of teenagers sitting on their porch talking with sentences like “oh no gurl he didn’t”, “hell no”.  On the way back from maccas we again stopped at the lights and they Sarah yells out the window “Hey, how yall doing!” Then they started talking to us and were like “I’ll have what she’s on” to which Sarah replies “im high on life!” It was hilarious. Then the conversation went on until they decided they were going to find us some American boys, but unfortunately the lights changed before they could lol.

This encounter left us in stitches but due to spending so much time stopping and doing random things we were still only half way to Buffalo so we hopped on the interstate and fast tracked the rest of the trip. We made it to the hotel in time for a late dinner which was perfect because our hotel was right across from a shopping strip that went on for 5 km!

We ended up at TGIF for dinner and I know it’s a chain store but omg their meals were great and for $12 we could get a 2 course meal. Plus we signed up to their rewards program so got a free dessert which was the best thing ever!

What a day!

 

 

 

 

  

 

Kancamagus Highway- Lake George

Trip Advisor has told us that one of the top ten things to do in New England was to drive through the White Mountains on the Kancamagus Highway… and it was the best advice.

After taking 2 hours to cross Maine and make it to New Hampshire, we swapped over driving. I was a little unsure how I would go but with a km it felt completely natural (a part from the parking). It was such a beautiful day and with the windows down and music blaring it was a great start to our road trip.

Along the highway there are numerous pit stops that have walking tracks or lookouts.  It is absolutely breathtaking to take a turn and see raging rapids with huge boulders, old rickety suspension bridges or lookouts above sweeping plains. Everything was so green and the trees merged over the road so every moment looked straight off a postcard. It was one of the prettiest drives I have even been on.

Upon leaving the highway we began to see these moose signs that signal moose crossing ahead.  To us Australians this is a foreign thing so we would try and get a picture, but would be too slow every time. So when we saw the next one and there were no cars behind us I decided to pull into someone’s driveway and Sarah ran up the road to go take a picture. Then I jumped out to take a picture of her taking a picture, which then turned into me dancing on the highway! All the while there were two old people looking out their front door wondering what the heck we were doing. Sarah waved but thought it might put them at ease if she explained what we had been doing. So we both walked down and met the Adam’s. Within minutes we had found out their entire life story which they actually told us three times due to them both having dementia (bless their little cotton socks). They were so adorable and so happy to just be talking to people- especially Australians that they gave us blankets they had crocheted. I couldn’t say no when she offered and she was so happy to give them to us. Then they wanted to take a picture but their camera wasn’t working so we promised to send them a picture we took. It was such a random experience but it makes me so happy to have made them so happy!

Back in the car we made it to Lake George around dinner time and decided to drive straight to the town to get something to eat.  It’s a very touristy/summer place with lots of stuff to do for families. Close to town we pulled into this giant 10m Uncle Sam statue and a 8m Santa Claus… again so random. We worked out they were in front of a theme park and I thought it would be wise to try and sneak in. Due to it being closed everything was locked up, but the back gate was wide enough if I climbed up half way and jump through. Mid way through this operation, while trying to confine my fits of giggles I reconsidered my choice of climbing through as how the heck was I to get back over! So stuck halfway with Sarah laughing at me and taking photos I decided to jump back the way I had climbed. You may call me a scaredy cat but didn’t want to end my trip in jail. 

We then safely and legally made it to Lake George which was gorgeous. We had dinner in an Italian place on the main street right near one of the best putt putt golf places I have ever seen. We decided to get a tub of ice cream for dessert and eat it near the water, where we stumbled upon a town fair that featured sing-a-longs with a band asking us to repeat hiedi-heidi-heidi-hi etc. It was great fun!

After days like these I look to myself and go did this really just happen- random things always seem to happen and they turn into the best adventures! YOLO

 

 

 

Beginnings of the best Road Trip

Once getting back from Provincetown we knew we wanted to hire a car, but had no idea what we would do or where we would go or even how to go about it. Fate would have it that right near the pier is an Alamo car hire shop where then had the most helpful girl. We originally thought we could drive to Niagra Falls in three days and then catch buses the rest of the time. After getting a quote for $500 we didn’t know if it was worth it, but then for some reason I asked how much it would be for the full 12 days and she said around $700 wtf? So for $200 more we got the car for an extra 9 days! I don’t understand the pricing but I’m ok with that. 

So we ventured to the airport to pick up our car and after a kafuffle with what size car we ended up with a 2014 Toyota Yaris.

We began to roughly plan our two week adventure and our first stop would be Portland, Maine.

Leaving the airport mid afternoon meant that we just went on the interstate because we didn’t want to be driving at night time. We had good intentions… About an hour into the trip, after Sarah got over driving on the wrong side, we both declared we were starving so we pulled of the interstate when we saw a McDonalds sign. Little did we know that the sign was not like the ones back home where they indicate that a McDonalds is right near the road, and we ended up driving a good hour before we gave up on finding one. As we were well off the interstate we ended up driving all these back roads, through countryside, across one way bridges, huge ponds and mansions. It ended up being a very beautiful scenic route.  Then after seeing the sign hours before we found a McDonalds next to a Supermarket, so we ate and got groceries for our car trip.

Excited over the weird food we food we didn’t realize it had gotten so dark. Then my phone started playing up and lost battery and Sarah’s phone couldn’t keep up so it became a recipe for disaster. To add to all that was the fact that we hadn’t even booked a hotel! Now im the planner of us two, where as Sarah is go with the flow, so im sitting there stressing that we have no idea where we are going and its dark, while she is like ‘its all ok’.

So after getting lost a few times, we managed to find a Travelodge not far from the city and decided to spend two nights there so we could see Portland in the morning.

After a sleep in, we ended up shopping at Kohl’s (which we love because they have really good stuff and give you lots of discounts, it has also made us want to get into couponing!) and Dollartree among other suburban stores.  We then took a drive through Portland city and stopped at a few places along the wharf. For dinner we ended up at Applebees as it was only across the road from our hotel. I’d put it on par with Hogs Breath but you get a lot more for less. I had an amazing steak which I had been craving for so long and a berry salad that was weird but good.

We also spent the night tentatively planning the rest of our trip, before an early night ready for the adventures ahead.

 

 

Provincetown

What a crazy, energetic, beautiful place!

Sarah and I got the early morning ferry from Boston to Provincetown ($65 return tickets bought through the Harvard outings centre) ready for a quiet day strolling down the beach. Little did we know that we would have an epic day full of random things!

We met Pam (Musical Theatre teacher) as the pier and she showed us down the main street which was streaked with rainbow flags, restaurants, shops and lots of people with dogs.  We were fortunate enough to stay in Pam’s friend’s apartment which was right across from the beach on the main street, which meant we had the perfect location for crazy shenanigans.

After a French toast brunch, we went for a swim in the beautiful water of Cape Cod. It was nice and relaxing until I nearly got ran over by a boat! Sarah and I did some shopping while Pam rehearsed for her performance. Provincetown has some of the coolest shops I have ever been to. There was this one where they sold old army uniforms, pith helmets and number plates (basically anything awesome!), then we found an old antique shop that had the coolest clothes and incredible hats. I so wanted to buy this hat but had nowhere to wear it L. We also had popcorn flavoured gelato and tried salt water taffy which is addictive.

By this time it was 5pm, so we went to the Church to watch Pam perform in a musical theatre show featuring local singers singing contemporary songs. So many talented people! We laughed through songs from Book of Mormon, cried with songs from Ordinary Day and enjoyed the anthems from Wicked and Catch me if you can.  I wish there was this much emphasis placed on the arts back home!

It was then Lobster time! Well for Sarah at least. Watching her try and eat it, was hilarious. So was watching all the drag queens walk past promoting their shows. Provincetown (unbeknownst to us) is one of the first entirely gay friendly communities in the USA and at nighttime the place completely changes with festivities and shows. We decided to see Electra, the drag queen, perform in a one woman show where she changes from Barbara Streisand to Bette Midler to Elton John. 

We then met up with Pam’s friends who owned the apartment we were staying in. They loved our Australian accent (we sound so bogan so I don’t know why!). We then went to a gay club with them which was quite fun. It was definitely an epic night full of unexpected things.

 

v