If you’ve been around for a while, you might already know my propensity to load our car with gear, grab my kids, and hit the road for a month full of adventures.
We sometimes call it “roadschooling” (as in: homeschooling on the road) but really it’s just a beautiful, adventuresome piece of our life.
We took our first epic road trip in a VW Beetle when the kids were just 3 and 7. That autumn we spent a month wandering our way nearly 3,000 miles across the country to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and back again.
I’m not sure what inspired me to pack up such young kids for such an epic solo-parenting adventure, but I’m grateful that I did.
Roadtrips (as you likely already know) aren’t all picture perfect sunsets and smooth sailing. But even the turbulence is part of the adventure.
On our first month-long road trip, the tent that we borrowed from friends before we embarked broke to bits in a wind storm the very first time we set it up.
Fun? No. Memorable? Most definitely.
Indeed, there are always bumps out there on the road. But despite the inevitable hiccups, this journey (and the many that followed) was an unforgettable one. On that first trip were supported by old friends and new all along our route who offered hot meals, places to sleep, laundry facilities, showers and baths, and–yes–even a loaner tent for our month-long adventure. (Thanks, Tony and Nettie!) We had a team to call on, despite being so very far from home.
And the journey, of course, was transformational.
As a mother, as kids, as citizens of this country and of the world.
Our second big trip took place when Sage and Lupine were 8 and 13. The three of us embarked for another month away, heading this time to Vermont and Maine, visiting old and new friends along the way.
Since then Pete has joined us on a couple of two, three, and four week journeys, including a month road tripping around Ireland (talk about a life-changer!) a year and a half ago, and trips to Canada, Northern Minnesota, and Cayo Costa, Florida.
And?
The kids and I are eager to do it all again.
Seeing as they won’t concede with staying the age they are now forever, and instead insist on continuing to grow, it’s now or never. In a heartbeat Sage will be an adult, off on his own adventures. So I’m seizing the heck out of this moment. Because we homeschool; because we’re self-employed.
Because we can.
And because I might not get another chance.
The trip we’re planning now will carry us eastward again. We have a few destinations in mind–namely getting my 16 year old back to the Atlantic (a place where his heart finds such ease).
We all fell hard for Maine when we visited a few years ago, and have been itching to get back, to visit old and new friends there and (hopefully!) spend a little time promoting my book along the way.
And on our return trip, I’ll be attending (and vending, books and other goodies) at the International Herb Symposium in Norton, MA.
We’re thinking four weeks should do the trick.
With that in mind, I turn to you, my friends! We are currently accepting hot tips for places to visit and things to do in upstate NY, costal Maine, Cape Cod, and possibly Montreal (as well as places between).
Bonus points if your suggestions are nature-centered, free/affordable, or have anything to do with Tesla, Norse history and mythology, blacksmithing, or sword work. (I’m joking on that last set, but only half joking, as Sage would love anything you might throw his way on those subjects.)
For my friends between here and the Atlantic: we hope to see you along the way!
Hello Rachel, I live in Estrie région in Québec, I would recommand Parc National du Mont Mégantic, there is an Astrolab and the skies in this area are worldwide renowed. This is in betwen Montréal and Maine.
If you can adjust your path, the High Peaks in the Adirondacks in NY are absolutely gorgeous! I can fill you in on all the little local spots if you head through there.
Also in Western Mass there is a blacksmith who works with forges from all points in history…from the first types on the ground to more modern types and everything in between. Makes them all by hand. He is awesome. I give him all my horse hoof rasps which he makes in to knives. I can get you in contact if you are ever interested and you are always welcome on our farm to stay!
I haven’t read you in a while, so I was lost for minute on were to click to leave a comment, that now are scarce on blogs, I think. This that you relate sounds amazing, I wish to be able to do something like that with my kid someday, Mexico has become increasingly dangerous for a woman, I even had to drop out of my own school last month due to safety concerns.
However you are always inspiring, so maybe we would visit a forest or something like that on the weekend.
It’s great to read you, as always.
Depending on the time of the visit . Sept + Oct in Carver Ma there is Kung Richards fair .