Geojules

Our last full day in New York and we head into Manhattan to soak up the NYC vibe one last time. No real plans but just want to see the city again. Dave and Alex's house is our home away from home and we take a while to get moving. The overland train to Grand Central takes about 45 minutes and the Sunday off-peak timetable sees the morning trains going hourly. We leave the house with 15 minutes til the 10.35 train. Google maps says it takes 18 minutes but Niamh assures us we'll make it in 10 minutes. She wasn't allowing for me taking an early left hand turn and sending us in exactly the wrong direction. We get over the blame game for missing the 10.35 and take the opportunity to check out Mamaroneck ... read more

Enjoying a more laid back time in Toronto. The intensity of the first week in NYC was impossible to maintain and the slower pace in Toronto is welcomed by us all. Millsy is better again but still not firing on all cylinders. Probably a combination getting over her bug and running on a low battery. Another bag of bready goodness from Cobs to get us going and a couple more loads of washing to freshen up the suitcase. We hang out in the Airbnb before Jane pops over for a chat. Deaks is keen for another skate park session and heads out after a couple of hours of Brooklyn 99. We drove past the Beah Skate Park on our way through Toronto. It's across the road from the lake and looks enormous. He spends a few ... read more

Our Airbnb is awesome. Awesome location and so comfortable. It's great to have some space and the character of these old homes makes it such a warm place to stay. The street has an idyllic feel about it. The sky is blue, dogs are basking on front porches in the spring sunshine, pre-schoolers are singing in the front yard of a daycare and birds are chirpings in the trees home to busy little black squirrels. Toronto feels like it's awoken from hibernation this week and everyone is making the most of the weather. We promised the Fosters we'd bring the warm weather, but this is actually ridiculous. It is beyond great and the relief and joy is palpable. It's an unfamiliar feeling for us from the seasonless Brisbane. Have I mentioned that we have a Cobs ... read more

Up early and packing the bags again. We leave a bit of excess weight in the Mamaroneck basement - books and shopping - and load up the Jeep. The Armstrong-Robinsons are also heading off for their spring break - Camp Cod for them. The weather is glorious for this time of year and Alex and Dave are deciding if they could even take their surfboards. Milla has woken up sick. She's had a sore throat and headache and now it's a full blown head cold and she's feeling a little nauseas. Good day to be sick, she can rest in the car for 7 hours. We virtually retrace our route to West Point and getting out of Mamaroneck and onto the freeway is confusing, stressful but at least a little familiar. We cross the Hudson River ... read more

Most days we've passed the New York Public Library and talked about going in. So close to our hotels but not close enough to our destination. We have a few hours after checking out and we make the short stroll to 5th Avenue and Library Way. Another wonderful building and the scene of many films - Ghostbusters, Spiderman, Gossip Girl. We chill out in one of the reading rooms adorned with portraits of old white blokes with beards. The treasures room is really interesting - old maps and original versions of the declaration of independence and other significant historic documents. There's also original Winnie the Pooh toys and books. We check out a couple of shops on 5th Avenue and grab some sandwiches and snacks from the Walgreens. The Walgreens across from Grand Central has the ... read more