Our journey from New England to New York started as it usually does—tidying, sorting, and piling the girls into the car. We enjoyed scenic views and a smooth crossing over the Cape Cod Canal. But just as we hit the highway and settled into the drive, Will noticed something unusual sticking out from the side of the trailer. Suspicious (and a bit concerned), we pulled over, and that’s when we discovered it—an entire wheel was missing! Not just the tire, but the whole wheel had somehow come loose, bounced off the RV siding, and disappeared into the trees by the roadside.
In disbelief (and maybe a little panic), we managed to find a local RV service station just three miles away. Heart rates high, we limped the RV, one wheel down, back across the canal bridge, hoping and praying we wouldn’t break down on it. Thankfully, we made it across, and the kind folks at the RV shop helped us out. While we waited, we explored every nook and cranny of the small nearby town—a cute place with a delicious bakery and a charming little play park right on the water.
With a new wheel firmly attached, we set off again toward our destination for the night. This was our first night arrival, and setting up in the dark was a new challenge. It was also the first night of potential freezing temperatures, so extra blankets and pajamas came out. Thankfully, it was a quick one-night spot, so the setup was easy, and the blankets helped everyone sleep well.
The next day, with a newfound respect for wheels, we headed out. Our destination was Albany, where we spent a few days exploring and meeting up with another wonderful family member. The autumn colors were out in full force, and the campsite’s pond reflected them all, making it a beautiful spot.
As we continued our drive south through New York State, we started to get a few honks—not enough to be truly concerning but just enough to make us wonder if we’d lost another tire! Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. A quick Google search revealed the issue: we’d accidentally driven onto a parkway where RVs and other large vehicles aren’t allowed! No signs had indicated this when we entered, but apparently, large vehicles like ours are prohibited. The penalty? A potential $10,000 fine! After a friendly local confirmed the restriction, we scrambled to find an alternate route. This was no easy task—road after road had size or weight restrictions, and we wound our way through back streets and small questionable spaces, avoiding potholes and low-hanging branches. All this added an extra two hours to our journey. At this point, we can confidently say: Southern New York is not an RV-friendly zone.
Once we finally arrived at our next spot, we took a deep breath and geared up for our big trip into the city—“The Big City” as we’d described it to Tilly, just like in Paw Patrol. Luckily, we were close enough to catch a train directly into the city, which the girls loved! Tilly has now decided she’s a train conductor and loves “checking tickets” and announcing when a train is arriving in her imaginary world.
Navigating New York with a double stroller was… interesting. From the trains and subways to dodging crowds, we managed to make it work, even if we had to take the lifts a few extra times. We encountered some unique “moments” (like homeless people camped out in the lift and people peeing off platforms), and we had to remind the girls not to touch or pick up everything, and to keep their shoes on—a reminder of the free, clean, and natural play areas they’d been experiencing over the past few months.
We explored neighborhoods decked out in Halloween decorations, guided by more incredible family who graciously showed us all the hot spots. We walked the Highline, spent time in Central Park, and enjoyed classic New York eats like pizza and bagels. By the time we said our goodbyes, we were exhausted, and the train ride back to the trailer was a much-needed rest. However, we couldn’t fully relax; we still had one last stretch. We had a mile-and-a-half walk from the station to the trailer, and after checking our watches, we realized we’d walked a solid 11 miles that day.
The next day, we decided to take it a little easier. With our legs still sore from the city trek, we wandered around Bear Mountain, taking in the views, and strolled by New Croton Dam. Both spots treated us to even more vibrant autumn colors.
After our New York adventure, we packed up the trailer and hit the road again, ticking off a few more states as we made our way to history-rich Gettysburg.
Staying in this historic area was a fantastic experience. Each evening, we explored different parts of the battlefield, diving into the stories and lessons of the past. Tilly was especially taken with Longstreet Tower, enthusiastically climbing up and down the 100+ steps—twice! Alice and Will each picked up a book on Gettysburg, though their choices showed their distinct “historical approaches.” Alice went for a school-friendly, 200-page book covering “all you need to know,” complete with 16 full-page images, while Will opted for a dense classic, nearly triple the length and the font…half the size!
On our final afternoon of the weekend, we packed up once again and headed toward Alexandria to spend some quality time with close family. It was bittersweet to fully winterize the trailer, close it up, and store it for a whole month. Driving away from it felt a little sad, but there was also a huge sense of relief—we’d made it through New York State, and every single wheel was still intact.
As I close out this post, we’re looking forward to a taste of “normal” life—settling into a house again, staying put in one place for a while. It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes before the travel itch kicks in and we’re ready to hit the road again!
See you soon!
P.s: The eagle eyed reader may have noticed that part of the title is not referenced in the post, the story behind that part is simple. As we drove down the road to our campsite, in a small field behind a cute farm there was one horse, one goat and one turkey standing next to each other watching something in the distance. It was an odd sight to see and saying it out loud was odd, so odd, it was blog title worthy.
Our Adventures in Frames 
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