Day 2: My name is Ashley!

Yesterday was a great day. After I left Sorelle's, I went for a fairly lengthy walk around Charlestowne, around the Bunker Hill Memorial (located on Breed's Hill... American history is weird.)

Then I hopped on the trolley and went sightseeing! Boston is a very cool city. I window shopped and found lunch inside the Prudential shopping center.

Also, I learned a lot and saw great architecture from the trolley. Here's the oldest fire dept building in Boston. Or the US. Or something.

Don't judge my picture taking abilities. That's not what this blog is about.

From there, I rode the trolley to Quincy Market and had a beer at Ames Plow Tavern. I walked up to the host guy outside and asked if the outside bar was open. His response: "We have a bar in the basement. It's air conditioned there." Any Bostonian reading this is confused why I was annoyed but let me make myself clear. It is NOT hot in Boston. Especially in the shade with a beer in my hand. But there was no need to argue and I'm glad I didn't. The bartender downstairs was way fun and two 60ish year old guys, Ken and Jim, sat next to me, we chatted Seinfeld of all things for about an hour, and it was a great experience. So, whatever, host guy.

This next picture is from the stern of the boat. It's the Old North Church of Paul Revere fame. Well, the very top of the steeple, at least.

I took another from the bow just to show you where we are.

For supper, Barry grilled chicken and it was de-lish!

This morning, we washed the boat down and now she sparkles!

Right before I left the boat to hop on the trolley, we got a visitor- a catamaran docked just off our bow. Like, JUST off our bow. It was a bit tense on the dock. Here's proof.

Hope they're nice, because they certainly are close!

The trolley I hopped on was conducted by Dick, my new friend. He asked me where I was from and my name when I boarded, and after I answered, he said, "Welcome, Angela!" Ugh. Crap. So, I corrected him once. Then I asked where I should get a cup of coffee, "and DON'T say Dunkin Donuts!" (These Bostonians are proud of their Dunkin... Something about it being founded here or something. I even heard mention of a Dunkin University. Whatever.) 

He laughed and said he's a fan of AuBonPain. "Great coffee, not too bitter. You'll love it, Angela!" 

Ugh. 

I corrected him a second time, not sure he heard though. He continued talking about the sights along the route and turned to me at a red light. "You can get off here, Angela. The coffee shop is just around the corner." 

"Thanks. It's Ashley, actually." 

"Everyone say goodbye to Angela!"

Ugh.

Whatever.

"Thanks, Dick! Catch ya later!" :)

Now you're updated. I'll take a bunch more pics today. I love this city so far. Hope you are well! Love!

Day 1 of 23

Good morning from Boston!

So far, so GREAT! Yesterday, Barry and Alice and I left Jacksonville around noonish, thanks to our trusty Uncle Steve. 

Thanks, Steve!

Then we arrived at the boat by about 5ish. We were in 3 different parts of the plane, so I can only speak for my personal flying experience... It was great! On the first flight I sat next to by far the most terrified person I've ever met, but I helped her get rid of her hiccups, so that's something. 

We had a great cab driver, but aren't they all, really? 

Then had supper on the boat. 

But not before I went in search of a CVS or somewhere that sold milk, as I worded it to the new friends down the dock. "Tedusky's!" they said, was right down the road. "It's like a 7/11," they clarified after observing the confused look on my face. On the way, I passed the monument that I should remember the name of but forgot, and this beautiful church, of which I also forgot the name. Oops.

Today, I have no plan. I did however try Sorelle's, the bakery around the corner and they make a mean iced coffee. I had to do my own cream and sugar though. Not complaining, but is this a Boston thing? Oh well, they have wifi. (Meaning I will probably be back tomorrow.)

Oh and the weather is unbelievable. Not to make you jealous, but I thought, for a tiny second, when I turned the corner and the wind picked up that I might maybe need a sweater. So there's that.

Hope this post finds you well! Love!

p.s. Barry took this picture off the stern of the boat while they were in Plymouth, Mass. on June 21st, his Daddy's birthday. Too cool not to share.

we go together like donuts and peanut butter

I said I'd try not to go another week without posting... oh well.

I'm posting from Thunderbolt Marina in Savannah. The last thing I told you was that we were in Charleston again. We stayed at the Charleston City Mega Dock and were among GREAT company. 

Check out our neighbors:

Themis

Magic

(Some dumb name) but isn't she BEAUTIFUL!?!

Primacy- another Outer Reef, but not present at the rendezvous

From Charleston, we traveled south to Beaufort (BYOO-fort), SC.  Barry and Alice had some visiting to do, as well as some grocery shopping in the marina's courtesy car, so Grace and I went window shopping. And, amazingly, it was happy hour by the time we finished!

I had a Carolina Lemonade (sweet tea vodka, oh em gee! and lemonade.) I'm a believer.

 

This boat was at the base of the dock. Barry said, "If ever a boat LOOKED like it's name..."

This was our sunrise the morning we left Beaufort for Savannah. Wow.

We got to Savannah around noon yesterday, ate some lunch and then Barry and I washed down the boat. Alice got some incriminating pictures- me singing and dancing while working.

Dad, I think I was humming along to the Rockford Files theme song in this one! Haha

Thunderbolt is the marina- you may remember from the last time we were here- that brings fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the morning. We love this place.

Tonight we are planning to eat supper with Barry's sister Ardra at Vinnie Van GoGo's- they have the best pizza! I'm gonna try to remember to get a picture (of us all at supper, not of the pizza). 

I hope everyone is having a great week!

p.s. Congratulations to Roomie AND to Ryan Allred on new opportunities!! Yay you!!

Georgetown, SC smells like corn. In a good way.

Greetings from Charleston!

Since I updated the blog, we visited Georgetown and returned! You've missed a whole lot! 

The rendezvous was very fun, as always. We got to catch up with old friends and made a few new ones. 

Friday afternoon we went on a tour of Boone Hall Plantation, the oldest working plantation in the country. Or maybe South Carolina. Maybe it was Mount Pleasant. Clearly I wasn't listening. 

There were 7 or 8 slave houses that told different parts of the "story." One explained how the slaves lived, one how they got here, one about the importance of religion to them, etc.

This is the fence surrounding the main house. It's curvy and I thought it was so pretty!

If this driveway looks familiar to you, it may be because you've seen North and South or The Notebook or, apparently, Army Wives.

I could not get over those Oak trees!

Really big me, really small house.

The part of The Notebook when Noah breaks this gate was NOT in the script. They had to replace that gate.

This is my new friend Dick. His wife Pam took the picture. They live in Seattle and work for Outer Reef. 

(Very fun people.)

Don't mind that shmutz on my face.

Friday night was "Dine around Town" night- and since Barry and Alice's son and grandkids were here, they ate on the boat. I went out with friends to a sushi bar that turned into a VERY fun club. 

Saturday afternoon we had lunch and played cornhole (my team won... duh.) before the yacht hop. 

Saturday night, we toured and had dinner aboard the USS Yorktown. SO COOL. I got to walk on the flight deck. Then we toured the barracks, the operating room, the dentist, the bakery, then the ENGINE ROOM! It was huge and confusing and busy.

Sunset from the hangar bay:

On Sunday afternoon, Grace and Leo drove up to visit and stayed on the boat while we traveled up to Georgetown.

(I bought 2 books here!)

I figured out something pretty cool... I speak DUCK! These ducks talked to me quite a bit the past 2 days...

When we got there, a boat we know named Winedown Too was already there (above). And De Onions showed up a couple hours behind us.

We stayed there overnight and left late this morning- about 9:00. 

Now we're back in Charleston. We're staying at a different marina than where the rendezvous was. We love this place- Charleston City Megadock. Fabulous place. Excellent dock hands.

I'll try not to go another week without updating. Hope life is great elsewhere! hugs!