Perhaps our biggest goal of this trip is to visit family and friends we have scattered around the U.S. who we don’t get to see very often. My two uncles and their families live in the Boston area, it was obviously going be a destination on our trip! It’s been at least 10 years since I’ve visited, and Sam had only been there for a brief overnight job.
Of course, driving east wouldn’t be right without first stopping by The Root
Of course, driving east wouldn’t be right without first stopping by The Root, a tree house community that Sam and I have been involved with over the years. Located about 45 minutes west of Albany in Sprakers, NY, it’s a 16 acre former tree farm that has four tree houses, a workshop barn, a silo with a library and observation deck, and a bath house (with hot tub!). The property also offers farming, chickens, beekeeping, and a creek to bathe in during the warmer months.
We are so proud to be a part of this community of friends who are oozing with creativity and ideas. During our visit, we had a chance to check out the progress on a drum platform built in the tallest tree at the tallest peak on the property. The platform sits roughly 60 feet from the base of the tree, and will eventually allow our musically inclined friends to bang on a drum and boom across the Mohawk Valley. Why? Because it’s fun!
On Saturday we continued east toward Duxbury, MA to see my Uncle Victor and his family. Some of you may have heard me speak about his abilities as a jazz musician, and about my cousin Henry who is quite the gypsy jazz guitarist! We were thrilled when Victor and Ann Marie suggested we visit the beach and take a tour of the area. It was the perfect snapshot of everything New England embodies – breathtaking beaches, oyster bars, sailboat marinas and beautiful colonial architecture. We quickly realized that we didn’t have any real plans to see the Atlantic Ocean during this trip, so we were thrilled to visit!
They prepared us an amazing meal at their home before we headed up to Hingham for the night. We set up camp at Wompatuk State Park, and since our trailer wasn’t ready for this trip, we slept in the bed that Sam outfitted for our car. The campground was beautiful and everything we wanted in a place to sleep for the night.
The next morning we headed to visit my other uncle, Dana (also an incredibly talented jazz musician), and his family. We enjoyed another amazing home-cooked spread for breakfast and adored their house in the suburbs of Boston in West Roxbury, MA.
It was sad to visit for such a short amount of time, but we were so grateful for the chance to visit and for their hospitality! All the more reason to come back soon.
Going Over There 