50 Lines About 50 States in 50 Years

In our last trip we made Boston our home base. Cape Code, and Martha's Vineyard were the feature for our first full day. It was the most summery summer day I've ever had in my life, beginning with a ferry ride over to the island (multiple ferries this summer!).

 

After a seafood feast, and a stroll around town, we took a bus ride out of Oak Bluffs down to the Jaws Bridge. Cold water, but Levi braved it for the rush of swimming with Jaws. Of course he knows the losers in this pic that are further out are going to be the first to go, so he's safe.

Eva's queen of the world on the return trip.

The next day marked a triumphant return to Newport. Triumphant, but ironic because the claw machine that picked up tickets was not very good this time. But you can see the claw machine that picked squishes and stuffed animals was working just fine. I waited as long I could to get that lady standing to the side out of the frame, but she was apparently waiting for a bus or something.

Last time it was only Levi, and check out the pics from 2016 compared to this year. In the olden tymes they still used paper tickets as part of the payout.

 

Last time, some older kid had a card with tickets on it and gave it to Levi. So this year the kids paid that forward and gave the tickets on their card to some little kid. Circle of life.

 

We celebrate with a return trip to the same oyster place as last time. Last time was the one tiny FNAF thing, but look at the loot this time.We both looked longingly at this booth from 2016 as we were ushered upstairs to our table.

We celebrate life with a feast, including the tostadas and of course oysters. And two beers. Check out the size of Levi's burger, which comes topped with a fried oyster. Comforting to know that they still use the popsicle sticks to ID the oysters.

 

Feeling brave, Levi also tried raw oysters for the first time. Maybe I should have ordered a few extra. Here's a series of action pics to capture his reactions. A little salty.

 

 

Eva finishes her raw oyster like an old pro. We think this might be the first time she's tried raw oysters, but can't be sure. Long time readers can review the previous posts, likely one from the Florida panhandle, to be 100% sure. It's not the kind of thing that one doesn't record.

The next day was up to the top right of the map, beginning with one of my new favorite cities - Portsmouth, New Hampshire. And one of my new favorite breweries.

 

It's hard to conceive, but after 3 nights only a couple hours away from states number 49 and 50, we are finally about to do it. Leaving Portsmouth we cross the short bridge and enter Maine. Into the oldest town in Maine, no less.

What a great road along the water, Maine is idyllic. And crowded. Here I do the official dance that people do when they reach the point when they have been to all 50 states.

Eva is just shy of 40 states if you can believe it (we took a side trip to CT the day before to bang that one out while we were so close - picked up some toiletries at a CVS!), and she celebrates like she always does when she's at the ocean. Action shots.

 

Alexis does what she does every day, look stunning.

Levi does what he does, just look cool. Like Chief Brody in Jaws, I know you are out there somewhere...

 

I came to this country ten years ago, almost to the day, as a poor immigrant with only a few bucks in my pocket. Sure, I'd been to many of the states before that move. And although it was rush to the finish line (7 states in the last month) I have now reached the American dream of being in all 50 states. And I did it in exactly 50 years. Plus a half.

 

 

And this is the 50th line in this post.