Day 10 - Newport

Julian woke at 5:40am... so we were washed, packed and Julian was feed by 7:30am.  We had breakfast in the hotel and mucked around a bit before leaving to go grocery shopping at 9:20am.  (Timing is important).  The hotel directed us to Stop and Shop and this is it (forgot the outside photo).

 Bakery, Fruit and Vege.

 Everything else.
I have always wanted to go to an American supermarket.  This one seemed to be very similar to ours which I found very surprising.  I think the prices were also similar, perhaps a little cheaper.  This was pretty big so it had a good selection and the bakery did very nice donuts ;)  So we bought our beer, cereal, and nappies and headed out back to the I-95.

Unfortunately our Galant had other ideas.  Steve said "There is a strange warning light on the dash, I am going to pull over." Then we both heard the noise - we had a flat tyre.  We were on a slope so we headed around the corner to the Aldi supermarket carpark to change it.

Steve cursing rattle guns and kicking the rim to get it off, Julian in the pram trying to avoid the sun, suitcases on the deck.  I went inside Aldi and headed to the first male I saw to ask where I could get a tyre fixed.  Thankfully I struck it lucky and a nice guy told me the directions to Pep Boys.  Steve thankfully managed to put the spare tyre on (bloody space saver tyres) and we went to get the puncture fixed.

If it was only that easy.  When we got to Pep Boys, we found that the nail had damaged the sidewall and we were up for a new tyre (it just gets better and better).  Eric found us the cheapest tyre but it still set us back $110.

Julian was very unhappy as it was now 10:45am and he needed sleep badly.  So we left the rim with Eric and went for a drive to get Julian to sleep.  Took less than 5mins.

 Julian surrounded by suitcases and nappies!

We needed to kill sometime to allow Eric to get the tyre sorted, so we drove along Boston Post road for 20mins before turning around and heading back.  It looked a lot like the drive into Hoppers Crossing - lots of big shops surrounded by parking lots.  We did find some suburbia (nearly all with flags out the front):

 Pretty little houses.

 Our white Galant.

Steve installing new tyre at Pep Boys - yes they could have done it, but this was faster.
In all the flat cost us $110 (to be claimed on Travel insurance); 2.5hours and because of the lost time, we wouldn't be going on a tour of the Vandebuilt mansion in Newport :(

It was 1.5hours to Newport and it was a very nice drive.  We asked Jane (GPS) to take us to Flo's Clam Shack for some Newport specialities - Clamcakes, Chowda and Lobster rolls.

 At Flo's, waiting for lunch.

 Hot creamy clam Chowda and fried clamcakes.

 Julian pretending that the lobster was a phone (the lobster lights up when your order is ready).

 A very delicious lobster roll - Steve and I shared it.

Flo's Clam shack.

Cont...

Day 9 - New Haven Connecticut

And the final shot of New York - the projects.  Doesn't look like a nice place to live.

And then we were on the Turnpike and there wasn't anything that photographed well.  We were stuck in traffic slowly crawling for miles and miles and for what - an old Mercedes on the shoulder with 2 cop cars behind it with flashing lights.  An extra 30mins with a hungry boy in the car is not much fun!

Unfortunately we didn't think about taking a photo of Premiere suites where we stayed (Check them out here:  http://www.newhavensuites.com/) $112 per night and it was lovely.  Full kitchen in the room, heaps of space, breakfast provided - we were very happy.

We feed Julian something out of a Heinz tin as we left our homecooked food in the freezer in New York (!!).  Surprisingly, he ate it all and then ate the last prune yoghurt quite happily too.  Then it was our turn.  New Haven had a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and Steve said that I HAD to try them (he has had them many times before).

 And here they are (Julian is colouring in, trying for a fry, new drink cup on his right).  Also note the token greenery (celery) that they give you to go with the chicken wings.  The tub of white stuff on the right is blue cheese sauce and that is on top of the 2 spicy sauces that your wings are dripping in.  Not low calorie!

 The only photo of New Haven - looks like Adelaide, lots of churches.

I know that I said that we had finished shopping but that was in New York.  There is an outlet mall out this way so we headed there after dinner (This really does sound like I am a shop-a-holic - I am not usually, maybe just in the US?!)

Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets - and open air mall and I had about an hour to cherry pick what I wanted - Eek!
Gap - same old but 40% off, so bought more.  Julian is sorted for jeans until he is 5!
J. Crew - Kind of like Country Road, bought shirts, cardigans, jumpers for me and polos for Steve;
Sunglass hut - for Steve (he will be sporting his new glasses tomorrow), only took 10mins and we could have done it in less (Do all kids like eating sunglasses?  Really what is the fascination?)
Gymboree - kids clothes store similar to Pumpkin Patch (Ali's recommendation), all summer stock but managed to get Julian a hoodie;
Brooks Brothers - Mens outfitter (Ali's recommendation again), Steve was measured and walked away with 5 business shirts, all non-iron so everyone was happy.

Today was always going to be the longest day of the trip (and was without the 5am start and traffic jam), so we headed home and we all went to bed happily.

Tomorrow is Newport and Woods Hole, Cape Cod.