Is it time to leave yet? Why do the last few days before the trip always seem the longest?
can we go now?
-cp
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Mmmm... Harpoon Beer!
As Carolynn said, our first (edited - out-of-state) stop on our road trip is Union, New Jersey.However..... I see that our journey fittingly begins and ends at the Harpoon Brewery. My last day of work before leaving Boston is June 4th. My first day back to work will be July 27th.
So, I see that 2 important events book-end my time off: running in the Harpoon Brewery 5-miler race in Boston on Saturday June 5th and competing in The Harpoon Campionships of New England BBQ at Harpoon's Windsor, VT brewery July 23rd through the 25th. I can think of no better way to start and finish this journey than with a cold IPA. Cheers!
- SM
http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/index.cfm/page/Harpoon-Championships-Of-New-England-BBQ-2010/cdid/120963/pid/28549
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
How much longer?
12 more days.
And then it begins... this trip I have been dreaming about since before it even seemed possible it would ever happen. I still can't believe that we are going- that it was possible for two people in their later 30s with jobs and a mortgage and dogs to get almost 7 weeks off to travel the US.
Firsts thing first. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible. Our families, our jobs, our friends. John Davis who sold us the best RV ever. And last but not least- Scott- for agreeing to spend 7 week stuck in a very small space with me despite my being a morning person with a word quota.
The toughest part about the trip, besides leaving Rocco behind, is deciding where to visit. If we had 17 weeks I think we could see it all... but since we don't, we were forced to be a bit more selective... I hope you will agree with our choices...
First stop- Union, New Jersey! To visit Nicole and the rest of Leavy crew. I can't think of a better way to start the trip!
-cp
And then it begins... this trip I have been dreaming about since before it even seemed possible it would ever happen. I still can't believe that we are going- that it was possible for two people in their later 30s with jobs and a mortgage and dogs to get almost 7 weeks off to travel the US.
Firsts thing first. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible. Our families, our jobs, our friends. John Davis who sold us the best RV ever. And last but not least- Scott- for agreeing to spend 7 week stuck in a very small space with me despite my being a morning person with a word quota.
The toughest part about the trip, besides leaving Rocco behind, is deciding where to visit. If we had 17 weeks I think we could see it all... but since we don't, we were forced to be a bit more selective... I hope you will agree with our choices...
First stop- Union, New Jersey! To visit Nicole and the rest of Leavy crew. I can't think of a better way to start the trip!
-cp
Monday, May 24, 2010
History of a road trip.
Two questions keep popping up when I tell people that Carolynn and I have a 7-week RV trip planned... How the heck did you decide to do that? How did you both get the time off to do it?
Even though they're 2 questions, the answers are intertwined.
There are a lot of things that Carolynn and I share in common. One being yearning for adventure - a hunger to experience new and different things. Maybe that's why neither of us, until recently, has been at a job for longer than 5 years. Anywho...
For years now, I've wanted to throw caution to the wind, load the dog in the car, and hit the open roads of the US. (Come to find out most of you share that same dream!!) In February, the wheels of the plan were set in motion as Carolynn decided to move on from a very crappy work situation. She left and started back working part-time for Flour Bakery - thanks Joanne! - waiting to hear yeah or nay from America's Test Kitchen (ATK). In the meantime, we threw out the idea of an extended trip during Car's permanent work hiatus. A road trip was born.
It looked like Carolynn's schedule allowed for it, but what about mine? The construction industry in Boston has finally caught up to the rest of the struggling US economy. So, it's been slow for the past few months at my work. I asked for an extended leave to save the company some dough and allow me to take an opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks EG Sawyer for letting me go!!
On a side note.... Once we had committed to taking the trip - i.e. purchased an RV - ATK called Carolynn to ask for her professional and personal references. So, after four months of interviewing and waiting, ATK chose to pursue her then? UGH!!! In being the stand-up (and Catholic, guilt-ridden) person she is, Carolynn emailed ATK **before any job offer** to let them know that she had planned to take this trip. Super risky for the unemployed, especially since this is/has always been her dream job. I guess things sometimes work out for good, honest, up-front people. ATK offered her the job and allowed her the 7 weeks off. She started there just over two weeks ago.
- SM
Even though they're 2 questions, the answers are intertwined.
There are a lot of things that Carolynn and I share in common. One being yearning for adventure - a hunger to experience new and different things. Maybe that's why neither of us, until recently, has been at a job for longer than 5 years. Anywho...
For years now, I've wanted to throw caution to the wind, load the dog in the car, and hit the open roads of the US. (Come to find out most of you share that same dream!!) In February, the wheels of the plan were set in motion as Carolynn decided to move on from a very crappy work situation. She left and started back working part-time for Flour Bakery - thanks Joanne! - waiting to hear yeah or nay from America's Test Kitchen (ATK). In the meantime, we threw out the idea of an extended trip during Car's permanent work hiatus. A road trip was born.
It looked like Carolynn's schedule allowed for it, but what about mine? The construction industry in Boston has finally caught up to the rest of the struggling US economy. So, it's been slow for the past few months at my work. I asked for an extended leave to save the company some dough and allow me to take an opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks EG Sawyer for letting me go!!
On a side note.... Once we had committed to taking the trip - i.e. purchased an RV - ATK called Carolynn to ask for her professional and personal references. So, after four months of interviewing and waiting, ATK chose to pursue her then? UGH!!! In being the stand-up (and Catholic, guilt-ridden) person she is, Carolynn emailed ATK **before any job offer** to let them know that she had planned to take this trip. Super risky for the unemployed, especially since this is/has always been her dream job. I guess things sometimes work out for good, honest, up-front people. ATK offered her the job and allowed her the 7 weeks off. She started there just over two weeks ago.
- SM
Blood, sweat, and tires...
Two weeks from yesterday we hit the road. So what did we do to celebrate? Packed the RV... woohoo!
We are heading to Rochester, NY for the Roc City Ribfest competition this weekend for an RV test-run and to satisfy the BBQers in both of us. Keep your fingers crossed that not too many things break down on the way. Well, at least we'll have a week to fix it before hitting the wide-open road!
So, while Carolynn put the sheets on the RV couch (for Murphy and Rocco) and bed, cleaned up some mouse droppings (snap traps and sticky traps - here we come!), and stocked the shelves, I loaded up the tow-behind utility trailer with all of our BBQ equipment. I sooo look forward to parking a 24 foot RV with a 12+ foot trailer attached.... UGH!
I just asked Murph how he felt about the trip. He satisfactorily wagged his tail.
- SM
We are heading to Rochester, NY for the Roc City Ribfest competition this weekend for an RV test-run and to satisfy the BBQers in both of us. Keep your fingers crossed that not too many things break down on the way. Well, at least we'll have a week to fix it before hitting the wide-open road!
So, while Carolynn put the sheets on the RV couch (for Murphy and Rocco) and bed, cleaned up some mouse droppings (snap traps and sticky traps - here we come!), and stocked the shelves, I loaded up the tow-behind utility trailer with all of our BBQ equipment. I sooo look forward to parking a 24 foot RV with a 12+ foot trailer attached.... UGH!
I just asked Murph how he felt about the trip. He satisfactorily wagged his tail.
- SM
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Nervous anticipation
Couple - check
Dog - check
RV - check
Time off - check
Tentative plan - check
Extended limit on the credit card - check
Bring on the brewery!!!!!
T-minus 14 days and counting to the biggest adventure of my life. I can't wait to scratch the traveling itch!!! As you read, the big things are taken care of. But it's the little details that kill you. I guess whatever we forget, we can pick up on the road.
We hope to take a million pictures and share a million stories. Y'all come back, ya hear?
- SM
Dog - check
RV - check
Time off - check
Tentative plan - check
Extended limit on the credit card - check
Bring on the brewery!!!!!
T-minus 14 days and counting to the biggest adventure of my life. I can't wait to scratch the traveling itch!!! As you read, the big things are taken care of. But it's the little details that kill you. I guess whatever we forget, we can pick up on the road.
We hope to take a million pictures and share a million stories. Y'all come back, ya hear?
- SM
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