U.S. Roadtrip: Richmond, VA

Going north again and a new speech for Alex in Richmond. We stayed in a house outside in a beautiful neighborhood with a great playground.

You need a big pencil to document big ideas!!

The next day we headed towards the capital, Washington D.C. but before leaving Richmond we drove downtown to see Saint John's Episcopal Church which has an important role in the American history (see below).

Pretty bridge we passed on the way downtown

Inside the church where Patrick Henry held his speech

The church in the background

U.S. Roadtrip: VA is for Virginia (Chesapeake)

Our first and longest stop in Virginia was in Chesapeake, a place with lots of history. It was the first English Settlement in the U.S., named Jamestown. We stayed with a very nice family with several grand children so lots and lots of toys, too :-)

The first day we were all taken to Jamestown settlement which is a build up replica of the original settlement but not at the exact same spot. We had a guided tour and learned a lot about the settlers but also the Indians and Pocahontas.

Gabriel found a bug/friend, a potato beetle

All the states' flags outside the entrance

Notice the Swedish settlers!!

Unfortunately, Marlee got a really bad tooth ache during our stay here and I took him to the dentist. He ended up having to pull his tooth. Luckily it was a baby tooth. It will not be his last health issue during this trip...

U.S. Roadtrip: Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC

Continuing north but staying in South Carolina. Had a nice lunch with one of Alex's sisters in Charleston before going to our campground in Summerville.

Going to Charleston

During Alex's speak at night me and the boys managed to lock ourselves out of the camper with no phone and no money. I manages to borrow a phone and call Alex and when he got back we realized the tiny window by the top bunk bed was open and we let Gabriel climb in and then unlock the door for us.

Gabriel saved us by climbing into the top window

 Next stop Myrtle Beach. A very nice place and beach!! Me and the kids enjoyed the beach while Alex had a speech.

U.S. Roadtrip: SC is for South Carolina (Spartanburg)

Heading South to South Carolina. The warm weather is following us and we are happy to stay at a campground with a pool - Pine Ridge Campground. A great family owned campground with all kinds of fun stuff for the kids! The biggest surprise however, was that Aunt Cindy and Uncle Danny came to join us and camped right next to us!!! We had such a great time with them, and with their dog Toby, of course!!

We finally had the time to start coloring our US maps and the states we had visited

Good camp food - Swedish Pancakes

Yepp, the Lego got to come with us on this trip, too :-)

Taking the path through the woods to the pool...

These three!!! (Gabriel, Toby and Rafael)

They are lucky Toby is such a sweet dog!!

Exploring the surroundings - The Walnut Grove Plantation from the 1700-hundred. We got to visit all the little buildings with all different purposes - the main house, the kitchen, the smoke house etc. And we ended the visit with going to the grave yard.

When walking back to the cars we took the path through the woods and there was a little fawn in the laying grass. We took a few pictures and then left it, hoping the mom was not far away.

Aunt Cindy and Uncle Danny is here so of course there needs to be S'mores!!!

Ready to his S'more!!

Since we were not too far from Spartanburg we decided to go down town for a day. They had free mini golf and yummy ice cream! What more could we possibly ask for!!??

Our last night at this place and craft time. Painting rocks.

Gabriel found a friend during our last night. We had to let his friends stay in South Carolina though...

U.S. Roadtrip: GA is for Georgia

Our first "real" stop was Atlanta, Georgia. We stayed at Red Top Mountain State Park. A beautiful park with bike paths and lots of water. Me and the boys had an adventurous bike ride with obstacles along the path. There were not many signs along the way so it was hard to know how far and where we were supposed to go but we had a great time.

Noah's chain fell off and Marlee was quick to fix it!

We also went to the local beach and it was so nice!! The weather was hot in Georgia and we enjoyed the refreshing water.

The park had lots and lots of deer.

Larry McDonald chairman for the JBS until his plane was shot down by the Russians

Our first tourist adventure went to Stone mountain park (https://www.stonemountainpark.com/) outside Atlanta. We had the pleasure to spend the day with the boys' second cousins and their dad. What a great day!!! The park was kind of pricey but it was a LOT of fun things to do in there. It was almost like an amusement park but not with the traditional things.

Stone mountain

Highland outpost

Marlee made it to the top

Noah and, even, pappa went the whole way up, too!!!

Up on the highest level

All the cousins in front of the carving on Stone mountain

Time to take the Summit skyride up on the rock

Watching the carving on the way up

On the top!!!

View of the park from the top

He carried these logs around the park almost the whole day. He wanted them to make a fire, and we did.

The laser show at night. Really cool!