Opera in the Park, Caillon

We just got home from an amazing Proms-like Opera In The Park thanks to Richmond City Parks and Recreation. The kids quickly found classmates amongst the crowd and with amazing acoustics in the out-door amphitheatre we were entertained with really good quality, popular opera. The electrical storm passing south of us introduced an element of drama but the announcer assured us it was passing and we should stay.

J recalled the Carillon as the birthplace of Jesus (it's where she's seen the Nativity twice) and on this visit developed the theory he was born in the conveniences; there is more privacy.

We didn't take a camera, so thank these Instagram users for their forward planning.

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Fort Gilmore to Fort Brady, Richmond's National Battlefield

One of the National Park Service's narrowest bit of land that gave us a great bike roll from Fort Gilmore to Fort Brady on the James River. All dug out by the Confederates (South) and taken by the Unionists (North)... who then entered a scorched Richmond.

We weren't your classic Civil War history buffs - decidedly European - but we got enthusiastic about grassy earthworks and battlement models in the Visitor Centre.

The Diamond, Richmond

Thanks to a corporate team building event, we had an all expenses paid trip to see a Baseball (Minor League) game (with my colleagues, not pictured). Parking $3, entry $7 and corn-dogs $3, this kind of blow-out can only happen once in a lifetime. It was a night of family firsts, obviously baseball, but also a first for live sport and corn-dog, which is a hotdog deep fried in a cornmeal batter and served (not sure what other word to use here) on a stick. It was M's treat to have the thing but she found it too sweet and for the first time, passed on junk food.

Late in the game, fans get to enjoy the 7th inning stretch and opportunity to sing Take Me Out to The Ball Game. We also stayed to the end, a first for me, with the incentive of fireworks - in earlier games I have abandoned long before the final ball.

Baseball is as dull as cricket but it was fun to meet partners of my work team, all for the first time.

Secret Garden, Richmond Central Library

We love the 1930s Central Library and this morning they were doing a Terrarium workshop with mini Dinosaurs included. Had a moment of magic on a shaded terrace pottering about with herbs and cacti in a quietly focussed and unusually diverse group.

Afterwards we played by a burbling water platform that the girls did 'ballet' on while I got to sit and ponder.

Paint the Walls, RVA Street Art Festival

The perfectly timed reminder that there is energy and community here in RVA. The old bus depot is going to get a creative facelift thanks to the Street Art Festival. Tonight was the prelims with plenty of familiar faces, spray cans, bubbles and beer!

Williamsburg Bridge, NYC

Heading home...

MOMA PS1, Long Island City

On the third attempt to enter MOMA PS1 we got in and found an interesting and gritty place. No rap artists today and the courtyard was a watery haven, alongside a post-disaster community of chrome caravans, vertical vegetable patches and fish ponds in recycled plastic tubs.

Indoors the eco-fest continued with an impressive pool, Minecraft theatre (pic), land-mover movie and bizarre performance...

The fancy French fare in the cafe and the interminable wait for a seat almost wiped out the venues many splendid things. We will return for more art.

Four Freedoms Park, Roosevelt Island, NYC

A 1973 vision of a park on the tip of 'Welfare Island' - disability and mental hospital location of choice - opposite the UN. It was formal and pure with a few issues along the way i.e. not being disabled accessible at key vantage points when this is a fully accessible island in honour of F. D. Roosevelt.

So they have their law suit with the A.D.A. to resolve but my biggest gripe is the crazy pebble paving that is stuck down, so you walk and it doesn't shift... J spent an age trying to dislodge a stone or two.

We took to the insanely high cable car off the island over to Manhattan and the next day found a ferry service we loved.

Morning croissant, Williamsburg

Dividing up the morning croissants, but where's the jam (and the decaf)?

Loft living, Williamsburg

Our second Airbnb home this road-trip was fab. A dash of Loft living in waterfront Williamsburg, with a view of the Empire State building from the loo. J did some decorative re-purposing and I got consumed by the bountiful art books.

Sunset Lagoon, Hermit Island Maine

Too soon it was sunset and time to leave...

Small Point Harbor, Maine

An afternoon row in a strong breeze. We were slightly anxious that we may be setting ourselves up for more drama but apart from rowing technique frustrations all was calm. We docked in a sheltered cove, snacked on pistachios and apricots before heading against the wind and the tide, to the rickety dock, with M taking the oars.

Head Beach, Hermit Island, Maine

A moment of morning calm...

Ocean Prime Site No. 1, Hermit Island, Maine

Check out the spot you can secure if you're organised enough. We may yet be mailing in a request come January!

Bambi wandered through our site too...

Kelp Shed, Hermit Island, Maine

For full restoration - strawberry ice cream!

Small Point, Maine

A day of restorative calm thanks to some fab Samaritans who let us wash away the blood and singed bits, do Domino runs with G&Ts, then share lunch at the Small Point Club and finally left us for an afternoon on the beach. Watched the tide come in, with M body-surfing the biggest waves...

NB: Boogie board on the festive wish list.

Bowline Knot Site No. 10, Hermit Island, Maine

It's good to have little bit of elevation on a dappled sunlit site to ensure the neighbours are surveyed and encouraged to say Hi.

Sand Dollar Beach, Hermit Island, Maine

A completely still and beautiful second day at the far end of the peninsula, racing Hermit Crabs - Bianco, Geoffrey, Tabitha and a forgotten 4th. Turbo had nothing on this lot. Met lots of familiar faces and as the gentle rain sprinkled on us the beach cleared and we were left with the place to ourselves. Home for a nap before accident no. 2.

The hypothetically phrased, 'If it was lit you wouldn't add more mentholated spirits/denatured alcohol?' actually should have been, 'It is lit, don't create a fireball that will set me aflame, have me lying flat-out on the grass to extinguish myself and then spend 15 minutes by the nearest tap/spigot having icy cold water poured over me by a complete stranger, with a growing audience, before a long, burning trip to the primary care facility, which we'll fail to find for a very long while'.

In fact the pain subsided after a few hours and the verdict - second degree burns on the thigh and an odd, skin-wrinkling discolouration on the forearm & wrist and very frizzy hair

 Next stop pasta and gin.

Sand Dune Beach, Hermit Island, Maine

Day 1 on the island of 1960s dreams... early morning crabbing and late morning paddling, before some cycling down steep sandy hills/hwulls. J forgot to back pedal and tumbled into a heap and so the accident open-season began.

Kind first aid support from a nearby caravan and beach backups, then a half hour drive to the ER holding an ice pack and singing soothing songs before a forty minute procedure of some brutality that brought front and back of chin together with two layers of stitches, only relieved by Sponge Bob on a carefully positioned monitor and lots of supportive singing of, 'I threw a wish in the well...'.

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Mildred's Lane, Pennsylvania

A brief moment at Mildred's Lane in all its sunlit, stylish glory and artistic intensity - more next time, perhaps...

Narrowsburg, New York State

We just loved Narrowsburg, NY State. The anti-fracking capital of the USA. Lunch got very voluble as tables across The Heron's riverside patio filled with folk sharing tales of the latest victory in the battle to prevent the process continuing in the surrounding hills.

There was a fabulous metal bridge across the Delaware, Big Eddy - a glacial whirlpool - and a boat ramp for catching tiddlers and watching the big boys reel in even bigger fish or just float by on rubber rings as the sun set.

I can't resist a Post Office either.

Smokey Belles, Catskills, New York State

So the summer road trip began in the woods along Ten Mile River in the Catskills. Outdoor showering with no baby bear, roaring river pottering with a baby snake and communal living with a huge dose of style...

Smokey Belles was unusual and lovely.