The rains came down and lightning struck the ground, the instant repercussion of thunder physically shook the building and rattled the windows. I saw it and heard it with my own eyes. The closest I've been to a lightning strike. About 150yards between the destructive force of mother nature and I. Much different to the storm I saw in my first week while at Danbee. This storm only lasted an hour and the rain itself was so heavy, the gutters were overflowing and the ground turned in to a lake in a matter of minutes.
The storm put a halt to this week's...scratch that... the entire summer's, biggest, on campus event; The MKN Olympics. The Games were genuine sporting events that ran over 3 days... tennis tournaments, basketball and flag American football games, a swim meet and a lake swim, etc. Then there were slightly less athletic, and more "for fun" and/or artistic events, such a water marathon on the lake (including use of the slide and trampoline), canoe races, and song writing/banner painting.
Every camper was randomly picked and placed in a team, there were 8 teams, each representing a different country. The campers had a field day when they found out on was on Team Australia...don't ask me why but no matter how much proof I provide, they will still swear on their mother's lives that I'm an Aussie, so it was much to their amusement.
My primary role on the team was a coaching role; I took the basketball teams, the flag football teams and we left with a near perfect record in each, losing only one flag football game. The secondary role was lifeguarding the waterfront games.
The entire olympics we placed 5th or 6th, which baffled me with all our wins. The shock came at the closing ceremonies. When they announced 6th, we expected Australia. When they announced 5th we expected Australia. We were adamant we'd be called out next for 4th place, so imagine the uproar when they announced us finishing 3rd.
A few days of great fun and pride seeing the kids achieve some remarkable achievements. One kid, Trevor 13, swam across the lake in 20 mins & 1 second, though he is a junior olympian. Another kid, Saunders, won the tennis tournament, beating the long reigning MKN #1.
All this fun was followed by another relaxing day off. This time we stayed away from lakes and beaches and headed to two very picturesque towns. The first being Northampton, Massachusetts. A town full of beautiful architecture and every store had its own little market stall outside the front door, which gave a unique feel to the town, I would recommend Northampton, MA to anyone. The second town was a little smaller, not really much in it, however it put me a step closer to ticking off the "visit every town, city and village that shares my home city's name" box on my to do list...Southampton, Massachusetts...*tick*. Coincidentally Southampton, MA does have something in common with my Southampton, England; they both have a big Harley Davidson main dealership. We stopped by, dribbled over some stunning bikes and figured I'd buy a T-shirt to prove it =)
The week has now slowed down, we're back to normal program, but tonight we sat down as an Algonquin tribe and we were all told about Wednesday......
=D
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Monday, 25 July 2011
Pink Shades
Unbelievable week. There's no other way I can imagine describing this week gone by! And he greatest thing...it's only the start of it!
It's been hot! I mean REAL hot! 102F and 125% humidity.
Mah-Kee-Nac hosted an inter-camp swim meet, which meant a day away from the lake. I've never been much a fan of repetition, so the change in scenery was a welcome one. However, at dinner, I was met wig a barrage of "Sebastian why weren't you there to drive me" and "where have you been all day", it's a great feeling to know I'm doing something right.
Day off took us to Fairfield, Connecticut, a 2.5 hour drive from camp. This led to the first dip I've ever had in American salt water. Penfield Beach was the location it had been far too long since I had salt in my hair and the beauty and satisfaction of seeing sea disappear beyond the horizon and not fresh water stuck in a bowl and the horizon blocked by tree packed hills. In Fairfield we visited two remarkable culinary establishments; one being the Firehouse Deli and EPIC sandwich bar and then Pink Berry; a frozen yogurt bar, serving up the lightest of desserts, with lashings of fresh fruit. A definite recommendation.
A quick comment on the tan...awesome!
The quest to become as useful as duct tape at camp has taken another step forward as the magical hands waved themselves upon a lifeless outboard motor and restored it to it's former glory, 0 duct tape used =)
Friday Night Lights was another one of those moments where the kids all go, "why aren't you the American football counsellor"?
The eldest boys at camp, the Senecas, formed a high school all-star team as the counsellors prepared to do battle with 80% having never touched an American football in their life.
Un-phased each campus fields a team of counsellors per quarter of football. My campus come on with 8 minutes of running clock play time and I'm put in as QB. 1 coast to coast kick return, a 30 yard touchdown completion and a broken up hail mary playing defence...upper senior campus bring home the big W to the calls from my kids..."The British are coming". Haha
The game was a pretty big event, but in every way shape and form was blown out the water last night.
Now this might sound hard to believe but I swear down it's the truth. Helicopters circled the camp, spot lights lighting up everything. Scuba divers rose out of the water and walked up the beach and led us past junior baseball field, where the hoards of kids and counsellors were met by a US Army, Heavy Armoured Artillery Vehicle. The v8 engine erupted in to life and drove up to upper parking lot and an amazing display of fire. Fire poi, flaming kendo sticks and a some girl doing the hula hoop with a ring of fire, backed by flame throwers. The kids were called to upper baseball to the sight of military grade search lights...OLYMPIC BREAKOUUUUUT
Finally in reference to the title, I have an amazing pair of bright pink wayfarer shades. Dad had pink shades and now I have my own pair...footsteps =)
It's been hot! I mean REAL hot! 102F and 125% humidity.
Mah-Kee-Nac hosted an inter-camp swim meet, which meant a day away from the lake. I've never been much a fan of repetition, so the change in scenery was a welcome one. However, at dinner, I was met wig a barrage of "Sebastian why weren't you there to drive me" and "where have you been all day", it's a great feeling to know I'm doing something right.
Day off took us to Fairfield, Connecticut, a 2.5 hour drive from camp. This led to the first dip I've ever had in American salt water. Penfield Beach was the location it had been far too long since I had salt in my hair and the beauty and satisfaction of seeing sea disappear beyond the horizon and not fresh water stuck in a bowl and the horizon blocked by tree packed hills. In Fairfield we visited two remarkable culinary establishments; one being the Firehouse Deli and EPIC sandwich bar and then Pink Berry; a frozen yogurt bar, serving up the lightest of desserts, with lashings of fresh fruit. A definite recommendation.
A quick comment on the tan...awesome!
The quest to become as useful as duct tape at camp has taken another step forward as the magical hands waved themselves upon a lifeless outboard motor and restored it to it's former glory, 0 duct tape used =)
Friday Night Lights was another one of those moments where the kids all go, "why aren't you the American football counsellor"?
The eldest boys at camp, the Senecas, formed a high school all-star team as the counsellors prepared to do battle with 80% having never touched an American football in their life.
Un-phased each campus fields a team of counsellors per quarter of football. My campus come on with 8 minutes of running clock play time and I'm put in as QB. 1 coast to coast kick return, a 30 yard touchdown completion and a broken up hail mary playing defence...upper senior campus bring home the big W to the calls from my kids..."The British are coming". Haha
The game was a pretty big event, but in every way shape and form was blown out the water last night.
Now this might sound hard to believe but I swear down it's the truth. Helicopters circled the camp, spot lights lighting up everything. Scuba divers rose out of the water and walked up the beach and led us past junior baseball field, where the hoards of kids and counsellors were met by a US Army, Heavy Armoured Artillery Vehicle. The v8 engine erupted in to life and drove up to upper parking lot and an amazing display of fire. Fire poi, flaming kendo sticks and a some girl doing the hula hoop with a ring of fire, backed by flame throwers. The kids were called to upper baseball to the sight of military grade search lights...OLYMPIC BREAKOUUUUUT
Finally in reference to the title, I have an amazing pair of bright pink wayfarer shades. Dad had pink shades and now I have my own pair...footsteps =)
Friday, 22 July 2011
Mid-Camp Crisis
This post was written a few days ago...
I'll continue from where I left you...
The New England Patriots' "Gillette" stadium is HUGE, the attendance was around 60 thousand and the upper tiers weren't even used.
The match was awesome, we were about 30 rows back from field level, so the view was great and having the kids there made it such a funny experience. It quickly turned in to a good old international rivalry between the American kids and the English counsellors. Manchester United toyed with New England Revolution and dominated the match. The score however ties knots in my stomach, it's the classic moment when you wish you had put money on the game after predicting a 4-1 Man U win.
This week has probably been one of the most full on weeks I've ever had. One that's full of accomplishments, lessons and non-stop activity.
Of the things I'm writing about the most ironic goes to 'me becoming the resident tug boat man at Mah-Kee-Nac'!
Irony because part of the family business is marine towage, however I do not and never have worked for said company and generally my step-bro's and step-dad get called the tug boat men. However at the end of each session, if needed, I'll race across the lake picking up stranded yachts and their crew, broken down ski-boats, wayward windsurfers and on occasion the odd crew member that's fallen out of the dinghy and the 10 year old crew sail off into the distance, clueless as how to rescue their friend.
In the last couple days us ski drivers have had a few opportunities to take the boats out and go nuts. I don't know how else to explain but I did a front flip while on waterskis, the skis removed themselves from my feet and the flip completed with a feet first entry in to the water, haha. We've also started experimenting with 'bare footing' and, kid you not, it's so much fun and highly recommended, just be prepared, somehow, for the destruction of your nuts if you try to go on your knees...veteran of such pain is writing this blog.
So I have this ethos of life whereby I try to learn something new every day. This week has been no exception except the things I've learnt/am learning are fulfilling long time aspirations of mine. I've been playing with a rubics cube and am 1 stage away from being able to complete it.
The second thing is for years I've wanted to know how to make a monkey's fist and in the space of 20 minutes the art of monkey fist tying was mastered.
The third and most grandeur ambition that I've fulfilled/am endeavouring to fulfil...before this week I'd never sailed...this week I sailed, I had charge of the sail, and next week I'll be sailing across the lake solo. Loving it!
Thursday was my day off, another day of maximum relaxing. Spoke to the family as it was mum and my step-brother's birthdays, it was great to hear some familiar voices from home. Pretty much just chilled on the beach at Burbank, opposite Winadu (Our brother camp) with good company, worked on sorting out this life jacket tan, got pizza at Arizona and a couple more absolute steals in dick's sporting goods.
The work side of the last few days has seen the 3 week kids leave camp and the second session kids arrive. We have 2 new kids in our house, and the atmosphere had seemed to have calmed down...that was until the night before parents visiting day and arguably the most bucket-head kid on camp gets a nose bleed, rubs the blood all over his arms, face and t-shirt and runs in to the other houses screaming "I've been shot!!!
He's a handful, as are all of our kids, but I genuinely find myself SO entertained, even though I know it's wrong; I laugh...A LOT.
Parents visiting day was a hit. Nice to see where the kids come from, get told tricks of the trade to controlling them, I still let them cause havoc, but now they listen when I say stop.
One kid in my house said I'm the coolest counsellor ever, suppose that's something!
I'll continue from where I left you...
The New England Patriots' "Gillette" stadium is HUGE, the attendance was around 60 thousand and the upper tiers weren't even used.
The match was awesome, we were about 30 rows back from field level, so the view was great and having the kids there made it such a funny experience. It quickly turned in to a good old international rivalry between the American kids and the English counsellors. Manchester United toyed with New England Revolution and dominated the match. The score however ties knots in my stomach, it's the classic moment when you wish you had put money on the game after predicting a 4-1 Man U win.
This week has probably been one of the most full on weeks I've ever had. One that's full of accomplishments, lessons and non-stop activity.
Of the things I'm writing about the most ironic goes to 'me becoming the resident tug boat man at Mah-Kee-Nac'!
Irony because part of the family business is marine towage, however I do not and never have worked for said company and generally my step-bro's and step-dad get called the tug boat men. However at the end of each session, if needed, I'll race across the lake picking up stranded yachts and their crew, broken down ski-boats, wayward windsurfers and on occasion the odd crew member that's fallen out of the dinghy and the 10 year old crew sail off into the distance, clueless as how to rescue their friend.
In the last couple days us ski drivers have had a few opportunities to take the boats out and go nuts. I don't know how else to explain but I did a front flip while on waterskis, the skis removed themselves from my feet and the flip completed with a feet first entry in to the water, haha. We've also started experimenting with 'bare footing' and, kid you not, it's so much fun and highly recommended, just be prepared, somehow, for the destruction of your nuts if you try to go on your knees...veteran of such pain is writing this blog.
So I have this ethos of life whereby I try to learn something new every day. This week has been no exception except the things I've learnt/am learning are fulfilling long time aspirations of mine. I've been playing with a rubics cube and am 1 stage away from being able to complete it.
The second thing is for years I've wanted to know how to make a monkey's fist and in the space of 20 minutes the art of monkey fist tying was mastered.
The third and most grandeur ambition that I've fulfilled/am endeavouring to fulfil...before this week I'd never sailed...this week I sailed, I had charge of the sail, and next week I'll be sailing across the lake solo. Loving it!
Thursday was my day off, another day of maximum relaxing. Spoke to the family as it was mum and my step-brother's birthdays, it was great to hear some familiar voices from home. Pretty much just chilled on the beach at Burbank, opposite Winadu (Our brother camp) with good company, worked on sorting out this life jacket tan, got pizza at Arizona and a couple more absolute steals in dick's sporting goods.
The work side of the last few days has seen the 3 week kids leave camp and the second session kids arrive. We have 2 new kids in our house, and the atmosphere had seemed to have calmed down...that was until the night before parents visiting day and arguably the most bucket-head kid on camp gets a nose bleed, rubs the blood all over his arms, face and t-shirt and runs in to the other houses screaming "I've been shot!!!
He's a handful, as are all of our kids, but I genuinely find myself SO entertained, even though I know it's wrong; I laugh...A LOT.
Parents visiting day was a hit. Nice to see where the kids come from, get told tricks of the trade to controlling them, I still let them cause havoc, but now they listen when I say stop.
One kid in my house said I'm the coolest counsellor ever, suppose that's something!
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Different Days
The last couple of days have been different on so many levels. Normal days turned topsy turvy. For starters I've been refereeing basketball and flag American football (non-contact) tournament games, which took me away from the lake for a bit and was much to the kid's surprise as they didn't know I play. It has somehow turned me in to a bit of superstar on camp as every other kid and counsellor is asking questions about my experience and wanting to shoot hoops or throw an american football about, and without fail, promptly followed by the question "why aren't you a ............counsellor". I still retain the opinion that I have he best job on camp! The bet bit is I'm getting all the troublesome kids starting to listen to me and cooperate. Amazes me the power sport has over people, especially with the older kids.
On the lake I've really got to know the Malibu wakeboard boats well. I've figured out how to create HUGE kickers in the wake, some kids are getting about 6ft of air....on a tube.
So Tuesday comes around; it's a normal day, I'm sure of it! The day goes as planned and the evening activity is the much anticipated counsellor vs. Seneca (the eldest kids) American Football Game.
Amazing...my time to shine...NOPE! A single propellor aeroplane swoops over head (ok...I know it sounds far fetched but really did) and 3 guys eject themselves from the plane. Parachutes deploy, one guy's flying a green flag and another guy, a White flag closely followed by a third with smoke pouring out his heels. Next thing 2 new York street dancers are busting out the moves in a dance off one half wearing white and the other green...
"Green and White Breakout"...the opening ceremony to a day filled with totally random games.
Green and White is INSANE! Half he camp is dressed in green, the other half in White (my team) and compete in events such as the Box car derby...but you're not allowed wheels and you have to make a boat, mini tricycle race (you really can't fit in them), frisbee marathon, slowest cycle race (slowest time to the finish line without falling off wins), funny synchronised swimming...topped off with a rope burn finale, where the Senecas build a fire to make the flames reach up and burn a horizontally suspended rope. White win and I've never cheered so loud, especially at a rope.
We're currently sat in a big yellow school bus on our way to another random event...Manchester United are on their USA tour and upper senior camp are on our way to see the first game against New England Revolution at the New England Patriots "Gillette" Stadium...
On the lake I've really got to know the Malibu wakeboard boats well. I've figured out how to create HUGE kickers in the wake, some kids are getting about 6ft of air....on a tube.
So Tuesday comes around; it's a normal day, I'm sure of it! The day goes as planned and the evening activity is the much anticipated counsellor vs. Seneca (the eldest kids) American Football Game.
Amazing...my time to shine...NOPE! A single propellor aeroplane swoops over head (ok...I know it sounds far fetched but really did) and 3 guys eject themselves from the plane. Parachutes deploy, one guy's flying a green flag and another guy, a White flag closely followed by a third with smoke pouring out his heels. Next thing 2 new York street dancers are busting out the moves in a dance off one half wearing white and the other green...
"Green and White Breakout"...the opening ceremony to a day filled with totally random games.
Green and White is INSANE! Half he camp is dressed in green, the other half in White (my team) and compete in events such as the Box car derby...but you're not allowed wheels and you have to make a boat, mini tricycle race (you really can't fit in them), frisbee marathon, slowest cycle race (slowest time to the finish line without falling off wins), funny synchronised swimming...topped off with a rope burn finale, where the Senecas build a fire to make the flames reach up and burn a horizontally suspended rope. White win and I've never cheered so loud, especially at a rope.
We're currently sat in a big yellow school bus on our way to another random event...Manchester United are on their USA tour and upper senior camp are on our way to see the first game against New England Revolution at the New England Patriots "Gillette" Stadium...
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Wars Follow Theme Parks
In the middle of a bunk war! Well almost...
It's 10pm, night has fallen...
The kids in my house are in the back room sitting on their floor chairs making plans, whispering incessantly. They've even split themselves up in to action groups. "Homeland Security" dedicated to protecting our house. Schematics for an intricate pulley system alarm have been drawn up - so far it only switches the light on, but once more string is available the plans involve, triggering catapults, switching on sound systems, even raising protective barriers to protect any incoming 'axebombs' which is an Axe (the american brand for Lynx) antiperspirant can with a pin in the side, which smokes out a room and covers everything in white. That's just one example of an attack weapon developed by "Battle Command", but frequently mentioned around camp, so clearly a common tool in bunk wars.
Everyone's on high alert looking out the windows, full house black out in effect. Every noise resulting with a flurry of lights flashing out and around the house.
I've unwittingly been dragged in, given the title president and being used to tie all the knots they need to make their systems work.
With so much activity I doubt I'll be sleeping soon so I'll give a quick run down of the last couple days.
Wednesday was amazing! The entire upper senior campus went to Six Flags New England, I spent the day in a walking group with 4 surprisingly well behaved kids, but we still went on all the biggest rides; "Bizzaro" and "Batman" being the biggest and best.
I genuinely felt sorry for whoever had the pleasure of trying to control the kids from my house.
Thursday was my day off, picked up a few friends from Danbee and went shopping in Lee Outlet Mall. Finally I have a hoodie; the one important thing I forgot to bring! Again an absolute steal at $5 and it's Billabong - from the same store I got the Volcom Tops from. Have to love sales!
Went to Lenox beach for a swim and had dinner at Betty's Pizza. However the night got interesting when my buddy Alex ate cashew nuts and I had to rush him to the nurses office for his epi-pen. So good drive again! It's made me miss my car and miss driving so much.
On the lake, things have been all good, had to make a few rescues to stranded campers...one windsurfer making it to the other side of the lake and then the wind died, also one sailor falling out of the sailing dingy and their partner not knowing how to turn the dinghy leaving them stranded in the middle of the lake and the dinghy heading in the wrong direction at speed, least to say I was fits of laughter.
A Mah-Kee-Nac traditional event is approaching...
Big weekend ahead of us...
CARNIVAL!
But remember nothing at Mah-Kee-Nac is normal!
It's 10pm, night has fallen...
The kids in my house are in the back room sitting on their floor chairs making plans, whispering incessantly. They've even split themselves up in to action groups. "Homeland Security" dedicated to protecting our house. Schematics for an intricate pulley system alarm have been drawn up - so far it only switches the light on, but once more string is available the plans involve, triggering catapults, switching on sound systems, even raising protective barriers to protect any incoming 'axebombs' which is an Axe (the american brand for Lynx) antiperspirant can with a pin in the side, which smokes out a room and covers everything in white. That's just one example of an attack weapon developed by "Battle Command", but frequently mentioned around camp, so clearly a common tool in bunk wars.
Everyone's on high alert looking out the windows, full house black out in effect. Every noise resulting with a flurry of lights flashing out and around the house.
I've unwittingly been dragged in, given the title president and being used to tie all the knots they need to make their systems work.
With so much activity I doubt I'll be sleeping soon so I'll give a quick run down of the last couple days.
Wednesday was amazing! The entire upper senior campus went to Six Flags New England, I spent the day in a walking group with 4 surprisingly well behaved kids, but we still went on all the biggest rides; "Bizzaro" and "Batman" being the biggest and best.
I genuinely felt sorry for whoever had the pleasure of trying to control the kids from my house.
Thursday was my day off, picked up a few friends from Danbee and went shopping in Lee Outlet Mall. Finally I have a hoodie; the one important thing I forgot to bring! Again an absolute steal at $5 and it's Billabong - from the same store I got the Volcom Tops from. Have to love sales!
Went to Lenox beach for a swim and had dinner at Betty's Pizza. However the night got interesting when my buddy Alex ate cashew nuts and I had to rush him to the nurses office for his epi-pen. So good drive again! It's made me miss my car and miss driving so much.
On the lake, things have been all good, had to make a few rescues to stranded campers...one windsurfer making it to the other side of the lake and then the wind died, also one sailor falling out of the sailing dingy and their partner not knowing how to turn the dinghy leaving them stranded in the middle of the lake and the dinghy heading in the wrong direction at speed, least to say I was fits of laughter.
A Mah-Kee-Nac traditional event is approaching...
Big weekend ahead of us...
CARNIVAL!
But remember nothing at Mah-Kee-Nac is normal!
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
"Have A Day"
Happy July 4th, Happy Independence Day, Happy "Day we kicked your ass" Day - as the kids said, promptly followed by Happy "Gave America back because we were running out of legitimate holiday locations outside of the British Empire" Day; much to the amusement of a few of the better historically educated kids.
All joking aside I've heard the phrase "Have a day" a couple hundred times and still have no idea what exactly it means, nor it's origins. I'll find out soon enough I'm sure.
So today ran a little differently, couple sessions towing the tubes about on the lake and then 4th July festivities erupted. Pie eating contests, giant slip and slide racing, frisby baseball - another totally random brain child from camp Mah-Kee-Nac's resident sports master of ceremonies, "Coach".
Finally found a regulation sized football to throw at the kids and get my arm working for next season. Already broken one kid's finger playing catch. Oops! Ironically it's the kid that wants me to coach him through Quarter Back drills during free play (allotted time slot where kids and counsellors are free to relax or play).
The night ended with the sounds of James Taylor's live concert washing over Mah-Kee-Nac from the famous music venue, Tanglewood, which is literally situated a mere 200 yards from Camp.
The concert peaked with a firework display. From the reviews I've heard I was mildly unimpressed by the so-called highly reputable display but it was fairly good. I did see a new firework, milky white trails bursting in to every colour of the rainbow, a great finale but not to out do displays I've seen in the good old South of England! Still a great way to end the night; laying face up on a flat topped boulder looking up at a multicolour-lit sky and the kids in their strange floor seats staring, so awestruck.
All that's left to say is...."have a day"
All joking aside I've heard the phrase "Have a day" a couple hundred times and still have no idea what exactly it means, nor it's origins. I'll find out soon enough I'm sure.
So today ran a little differently, couple sessions towing the tubes about on the lake and then 4th July festivities erupted. Pie eating contests, giant slip and slide racing, frisby baseball - another totally random brain child from camp Mah-Kee-Nac's resident sports master of ceremonies, "Coach".
Finally found a regulation sized football to throw at the kids and get my arm working for next season. Already broken one kid's finger playing catch. Oops! Ironically it's the kid that wants me to coach him through Quarter Back drills during free play (allotted time slot where kids and counsellors are free to relax or play).
The night ended with the sounds of James Taylor's live concert washing over Mah-Kee-Nac from the famous music venue, Tanglewood, which is literally situated a mere 200 yards from Camp.
The concert peaked with a firework display. From the reviews I've heard I was mildly unimpressed by the so-called highly reputable display but it was fairly good. I did see a new firework, milky white trails bursting in to every colour of the rainbow, a great finale but not to out do displays I've seen in the good old South of England! Still a great way to end the night; laying face up on a flat topped boulder looking up at a multicolour-lit sky and the kids in their strange floor seats staring, so awestruck.
All that's left to say is...."have a day"
Sunday, 3 July 2011
A Day In The Life Of Boston
The call of a day off opened up a window of opportunity to get away from the little terrors that reside in my little house. I have every Thursday off as does my buddy Alex.B in the house next to mine. He's from NJ, plays d-line for Ithaca and the best part, he's brought his car to camp.
So Wednesday comes around, we've notified camp we're leaving, but little do they know we barely know what we want to do; our sole ethos of the journey being...'get away from camp!'
We get in to the car, turn on the satnav and type in........Boston.
A 2 hour journey turns in to a 3 hour journey after a petrol station simply refuses to pump fuel. As well as reaching Boston and realising we actually have nowhere to stay.
Hotels promote their best prices at a slither below $200, so...short of sleeping in the car we end up shacking it up in a Boston University dorm room at about 4am. This was after we walked in to a bar, looking for a drink, set the alarms off, which signalled the armed gang crime response unit to rush down and sweep the building. We watched from the 7eleven across the road, but the thing that confused us the most....the front door was open and lights were on inside! Our faces on the CCTV footage must be hilarious.
Our day in Boston started off slowly, we woke up at 8, left the dorm at 8.30 sharp in search for the one road that has free parking. The satnav went ballistic and took us everywhere except where we wanted to be; although we did see loads of random Bostonian stuff, which mildly made up for the fact it took us an hour to figure out how to drive across the river and then an hour to find our way, to walk, back across it amongst a fury of 2 grumpy hungry bellies!
We satisfied our hunger and capped it off with a few scoops from my new favourite ice cream store 'boYo'.
My admiration for the people of Boston began in this store. Everyone was so eager for us to have a good time that every half hour we were getting pointed in new directions. So Lilia (pretty name) directed us to TD Gardens, where this year's NHL Stanley Cup winners play their home games, and she also suggested seeing Boston Harbour, which we saved for sunset. Managed to get me a boYo pink sox baseball cap (from the boYo girl's uniform) and a mini Red Sox helmet at the same time.
While wondering the streets we came across a stunning 1965 Ford F-100 truck that blew me away, the owner's parked it outside his plumbing company and for arguement's sake we gave this elderly chap the name 'Billy'. He told us a bit about his truck racing days followed by him pointing us down the road on the 'Freedom Trail' - a route that takes you to all the historically famous sites in Boston.
I won't lie, we followed the trail footstep for footstep right up to the point we bumped in to Cheers, from the TV show, about 500 yards down the road. Least to say Boston became a much funnier place after a couple blueberry beers.
As the day drew on towards a close we had time to see Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox Baseball stadium, however there was a big event at The House of Blues, which meant we couldn't look around, but hopefully we'll have a chance to go back and watch a game.
Sunset comes, Boston Harbour blows us away! There's a beach, so my toes are happy in the sand. The day ends with the drive back to Lenox with enough time for a night cap in our local.
Loving my job!!!!!!!!!! :)
So Wednesday comes around, we've notified camp we're leaving, but little do they know we barely know what we want to do; our sole ethos of the journey being...'get away from camp!'
We get in to the car, turn on the satnav and type in........Boston.
A 2 hour journey turns in to a 3 hour journey after a petrol station simply refuses to pump fuel. As well as reaching Boston and realising we actually have nowhere to stay.
Hotels promote their best prices at a slither below $200, so...short of sleeping in the car we end up shacking it up in a Boston University dorm room at about 4am. This was after we walked in to a bar, looking for a drink, set the alarms off, which signalled the armed gang crime response unit to rush down and sweep the building. We watched from the 7eleven across the road, but the thing that confused us the most....the front door was open and lights were on inside! Our faces on the CCTV footage must be hilarious.
Our day in Boston started off slowly, we woke up at 8, left the dorm at 8.30 sharp in search for the one road that has free parking. The satnav went ballistic and took us everywhere except where we wanted to be; although we did see loads of random Bostonian stuff, which mildly made up for the fact it took us an hour to figure out how to drive across the river and then an hour to find our way, to walk, back across it amongst a fury of 2 grumpy hungry bellies!
We satisfied our hunger and capped it off with a few scoops from my new favourite ice cream store 'boYo'.
My admiration for the people of Boston began in this store. Everyone was so eager for us to have a good time that every half hour we were getting pointed in new directions. So Lilia (pretty name) directed us to TD Gardens, where this year's NHL Stanley Cup winners play their home games, and she also suggested seeing Boston Harbour, which we saved for sunset. Managed to get me a boYo pink sox baseball cap (from the boYo girl's uniform) and a mini Red Sox helmet at the same time.
While wondering the streets we came across a stunning 1965 Ford F-100 truck that blew me away, the owner's parked it outside his plumbing company and for arguement's sake we gave this elderly chap the name 'Billy'. He told us a bit about his truck racing days followed by him pointing us down the road on the 'Freedom Trail' - a route that takes you to all the historically famous sites in Boston.
I won't lie, we followed the trail footstep for footstep right up to the point we bumped in to Cheers, from the TV show, about 500 yards down the road. Least to say Boston became a much funnier place after a couple blueberry beers.
As the day drew on towards a close we had time to see Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox Baseball stadium, however there was a big event at The House of Blues, which meant we couldn't look around, but hopefully we'll have a chance to go back and watch a game.
Sunset comes, Boston Harbour blows us away! There's a beach, so my toes are happy in the sand. The day ends with the drive back to Lenox with enough time for a night cap in our local.
Loving my job!!!!!!!!!! :)
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