Aboard Astraea

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Cross Country Trip

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On October 16 I served my last day of active duty in the Navy. Now we’re on to the next step of our journey to being cruisers. We’re making a cross country trip to see family and friends before we leave for Mexico at the end of November.

Our first night we stopped at Natalie’s Dad’s house in Arizona. He and Pam were out of the country traveling to Italy, drinking wine and eating fancy cheese.

We road tripped through the 4 corners of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico

We road tripped through the 4 corners of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico

We spent our next night with Pier 32 400 dock neighbors Tom and Dee at their house in Montrose, Colorado.

Tom showed Sully his riding mower

Tom showed Sully his riding mower

Our third night was spent in Aurora, Colorado with my Navy buddy, Jeff. He stayed with us in 2012 when we had just bought Astraea and were replacing the portlights. We visited an awesome microbrewery, Dry Dock Brewing. They had a delicious Apricot Ale and their seasonal pumpkin beer, Imperial Pumpkin, was the best we’ve very had.

Visiting Jeff in Aurora, CO

Visiting Jeff in Aurora, CO

Our next tourist stop was at the St. Louis Gateway Arch

Our next tourist stop was at the St. Louis Gateway Arch

Next we continued east and stopped in Columbus Ohio to have lunch with Natalie’s college roommate Jaime and meet her newborn son.

Lunch at Jimmy John's with Jamie and baby Allan

Lunch at Jimmy John’s with Jamie and baby Allan

We continued on to Pittsburgh, PA where we stayed with Natalie’s friend from High School, Lindsay. We toured around Pittsburgh, rode the Dusquene Incline and ate sandwiches at Primanti Brothers.

At the overlook after riding the incline

At the overlook after riding the incline

Sully riding the incline

Sully riding the incline

We visited the Heinz History Center. Sully's favorite part was the train set in the kids portion of the museum.

We visited the Heinz History Center. Sully’s favorite part was the train set in the kids portion of the museum.

We diverted south to Knoxville, MD to visit with Natalie’s sister Nicole and her husband, Karl, and their daughter, Elena.

Elena and Sully played very nicely together

Elena and Sully played very nicely together

We had fun eating delicious, hearty and healthy food (Nicole is a registered dietician) visiting and helping with farm chores, slopping the pigs and working on the roof.

We made a last minute decision to divert to Ft. Dix in New Jersey to see my sister, Lizze. She just returned to the states from serving in the Army in Afghanistan.

Lizze showed Sully the Army tank displays on base

Lizze showed Sully the Army tank displays on base

Finally we made it to our first endpoint, my parent’s house in Loganville, PA. Movers brought our extra stuff from San Diego and we’re storing it in my parent’s basement while we’re cruising for our (sometime) return to a land based life.

We got to visit with Grandma Ness from next door

We got to visit with Grandma Ness from next door

Sully played with trains still on loan from Uncle Scott

Sully played with trains still on loan from Uncle Scott

And then we headed out on our next adventure, a trip up and down the east coast to visit with more family

And then we headed out on our next adventure, a trip up and down the east coast to visit with more family

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