East Coast Adventures
From St. Augustine to Nova Scotia
DAY 1
T-Minus One Day Before Launch:
Less than 24 hours we leave for 5 WEEKS up the East Coast from St Augustine FL up through Canada, to Prince Edward Island. Squeezing in some last minute work loose ends and looking forward to lots of magic. We’ll be hitting a beach where we fell in love with wild horses and great surf, family masterminding in Delaware, visiting a shore Jim grew up on with an iconic boardwalk & spending the 4th of July with friends, then a ferry ride even farther north into Canadian beaches. Can’t wait to share all the adventure. Have I ever told you how much I love my tribe?!? #18summers #dontmissathing #familyboardmeetings
DAY 3
Lots of moments so far on our 18 summers adventure. One of my favorites: Action packed night on the Tether ball court! Have not played in years. Me & Sammy vs. Alden…serious trash talking by Sammy. – Jim
DAY 3
Front porch sitting, kids in the pool, laundry washing, dad working. Getting it all in. We try to follow the Waldorf “breath in, breath out” flow. A typical day for us on the road goes something like this:
Jim Sheils & I up at 6, prayers, lemon water, meditation, sunrise and sometimes exercise (sometimes surf, some times exercise comes later).
Children up around 8, beds and linens put away for the day, “house” swept, all dressed & breakfast cooked-with helpers, all while Jim checks in with work and gets things moving forward in business.
Always in the pool or beach by 10am… for hours! Sometimes we get to surf or swim laps (exercise), sometimes it’s all play.
Before 1 we return “home” for lunch and re-set with showers and journaling or reading books (the boys are both dyslexic but once they began reading they became unstoppable, summers they read 3-4 books a week). Then we decide on an adventure for the day. Today, we’re headed a little north to try a shop called Beans and Beads. A craft-ery and coffee shop. Make some art, drink some Joe (buy a mug, I buy a mug everywhere we travel- great reminders of fun times).
Once we return from that adventure, around 4ish, we’ll prob do a quick second beach or pool trip before dinner, Jim will tell some bad jokes then he’ll check in again with work while I prep dinner and ground with the kids around 6.
After dinner tonight there is a “movie on the lawn” and live music at a local kite shop.
We’re all always exhausted at the end of the day.
Once everyone is asleep, Jim & i sneak in a few hours of work and creative masterminding, then crash.
It’s a lot. A LOT. – Jamie
#18summers #toofast#makeithappen #fullhandsfullheart
DAY 4
18 Summers Adventure continues.
Exploring the Outer Banks and finding fun.
One of many moments of Leland…being Leland!
#18summers #familyboardmeetings #carpediem
DAY 6
Last night ended with Açaí bowls. And a little patience for a good mess!
#18summers #familyboardmeetings #carpediem
DAY 7
The adventure continues! Just checked into a hotel in Rehobeth Beach for the next few days. Wasn’t easy finding parking for the RV!
#18summers #familyboardmeetings #carpediem
DAY 13
18 summers adventure update: July 4th in Long Beach Island with the Keltz/Mack clan. Epic day with multi generation surf sessions and fireworks.
#18summers#familyboardmeetings #carpediem
DAY 14
Meanwhile in Portland Maine… older brother was not impressed #18summers
DAY 16
Nova Scotia Lobster fest with some old Florida friends. Thanks Karen!
#18summers #familyboardmeetings #carpediem
DAY 21
Look for the “Helpers”
THIS GUY, RIGHT. HERE. Do you know who he is?
On any adventure we take — whether starting a new business or embarking on a cross-country trip (with 7 chickens) — we look for the helpers. Fred Rogers’ mother would always comfort him in times of fear or transition by telling him, “Look for the helpers. You can always find people who are helping.” Jim and I work hard to BE the helpers. To offer love, support, inspiration of any and every kind. We truly want to help others, whether it be through our time, talent or treasure. Often times, we need help ourselves. This past week, after we celebrated crossing through the Bronx and the GW Bridge (OMG) through Manhattan — in our RV with all the kiddos — we came into a super sketchy situation. A little above Yonkers (seriously.) we noticed the bridge passings over the RV were lower and lower in height and offering “warnings” for low clearance. We went under 2, slightly afraid we had miscalculated our height (I was in the passenger seat frantically searching for our specs on the vehicle), when we came upon a third bridge that we KNEW we could not pass. Quickly, we escape the only highway (maybe it was an interstate… not sure) we knew of to travel into Maine. We wandered through a residential community before coming out into a rough neighborhood ending in us turning around, defeated, in a parking lot. As we try to (64 tries) back out of this parking lot, a young man yells to us “do you need help?!?”. We look over to find THIS GUY, standing under a UFC training facility sign.
He wasn’t smiling but we could tell (through the head wrap and death-muscles) he was friendly and wanting to help. He asks where we are going and offers to take a run while we follow him through the city to the correct interstate. WHAT?!? Is he serious? This New Yorker (one of my best friends is a New Yorker so I’m not making any prejudice here – she’s badass awesome), UFC fighter is going to go for a run, as I follow him through the city to the interstate so we may continue our crazy adventure into Canada? Yup. He knew we were crazy too. He was patient and waited for us at each stop, he made sure we understood which direction to turn after we reach the interstate. He was a helper. I’d love to find a way to thank him, even if just to cheer him on in a fight. Or maybe it’s just to let YOU know that he’s great and to send him some good juju today.
Nova Scotia Lobster fest with some old Florida friends. Thanks Karen! #18summers #familyboardmeetings #carpediem
DAY 22
Amazing adventure. Blessed roads. I couldn’t imagine a better view for my birthday. – Jamie
#luckygirl #amazing #blessed #adventure #18summerstribe#travelwithkids #cabottrail #capebreton
DAY 24
We just had a tire blow out on I-295. And, I got thrown up on at dinner. Twice. I should play the lotto tonight.
#winning #grateful
DAY 29
Last stop was a success! Surprise birthday celebration for “Machine Gun Granny” … She could make you dinner from the garden, sew you an outfit and tell you to go f**k yourself when needed. My home making, friend making, food making inspiration. She has the strongest spirit I’ve met and yet a gentle soul. Although her mind isn’t as strong, her wit never fails. These are the days.
DAY 35
Nova Scotia & Cape Breton have the most stunning views I’ve seen. Their people are diligent to keep it pristine and preserved. They have 4-6 recycling options when you go to throw something away — even at the McDonalds (don’t judge, they serve lobster at McDonald’s up there!).
Our trip had many ups and downs, moments where we just wanted to go home. There were moments we said words not worth repeating, or acted in ways not worthy of imitation. Yet.. Overall, it was a success. We’re safely home reveling in the beauty and adventure that was 5 weeks on the road with a limited plan and lots of love.
