albany field trip.

the one positive for staying in one park for more than a week is that we can plan big family trips for the weekend days, instead of packing up and traveling. i’m sure derek feels the same.

so on saturday, we decided to head to albany, for a family field trip.

on the way in, we saw “the egg” which i think is a performing arts center or something. either way. it’s cool.
IMG_4388

we navigated to the state capitol and managed to park right next to it. it was closed, because it was the weekend, but we were cool with just looking at the outside.
IMG_4392

selfie.
IMG_4395

we tossed some change into the water and made some wishes.
IMG_4399

lidkids on the steps.
IMG_4401

zooming in.
IMG_4402

and in some more. and it almost looks like they all like each other!
IMG_4403

i pressed my phone up to the glass to get a pic of the insides of the building.
IMG_4405

from the top of the steps, looking out across the courtyard(?) to the building across the street.
IMG_4407

george washington. keeping watch.
IMG_4413

the view of the capitol. from the street.
and now i can tell you about the hilarious tragedy… when i got home, i posted pics of the capitol and then started looking around in instagram at other people’s pics and suddenly realized… this is the BACK of the capitol building. the front is sooooo much cooler with like 700 steps or something. i was so mad. i might make the kids go back.
IMG_4414

anyhow, after we strolled around in the backyard of the capitol, we attempted to find a place to eat within walking distance. but, since it’s the state capital and the weekend, nothing was open. finally, we found a bar, with two other people in it, and made the executive decision to give it a go. it did not disappoint, as evidenced by this pic of my reuben.
IMG_4421

even though i was stuffed, after we got back to the car, i convinced derek to pull over and let me hop out to get cheesecake from this cool place:
IMG_4423

inside was even cooler. lots of pop culture comic book type memorabilia.
IMG_4425

IMG_4426

IMG_4427

i opted for the blueberry maple cheesecake, handed over $5, and i was on my way.
it. was. so. good.
(this is the real reason i might make my kids go back to hang out at the capitol building.)
IMG_4428

isaac expressed mild interest in touring the uss slater (a world war II destroyer escort), so we didn’t want to miss that opportunity, and we were already close, so off we went. we arrived just in time to get on a tour that had just started. here’s our tour guide, aiden, showing us the kitchen.
IMG_4429

checking out some guns and stuff.
IMG_4430

the officer’s dining area.
IMG_4431

bunks for the non-officer crew.
IMG_4434

crew cafeteria.
IMG_4435

IMG_4436

we had to go up and down some steep ladders and through tight spaces. with hazel, it made for a bit of an adventure. (not to mention, the scorching hot steps in the sun).
IMG_4441

the radio/technology room. our guide said “there’s more technology in our phones than in this room”.
IMG_4442

maps and cartography and stuff.
IMG_4443

IMG_4444

spotlight.
IMG_4445

two helmsmen guide the ship from this room. interesting fact. the steering wheel doesn’t steer. it just tells someone down below what degrees to turn the ship.
IMG_4446

lid kids and guns and stuff.
IMG_4450

more guns.
IMG_4451

one guy moved it up and down. one guy moved it left to right. and they used this scope. super high tech.
IMG_4453

hazel, busting up some enemy ships.
IMG_4455

the info plaque.
IMG_4457

there was a geocache nearby, so isaac and derek went off to find it, while the girls and i sipped delicious ice water from paper cones. derek took this pic of the ship on his way back. it’s the only wwII destroyer escort that is still in the water. facts.
IMG_4460

we decided to head back after this adventure, but first hit up two mcdonalds for ice cream, coming away empty handed. and on the second one, they took our order, we sat in line for ten minutes, then informed us they were out, after we had already paid, and then refunded our money. except not all of it. so derek had to go back in to straighten it out. we sat idling for a very long time in very high heat. when we finally pulled away, a cloud of smoke came out of the van and we began to smell gasoline. not good.

we drove home, but took our van in the next day, ruining our sunday adventures. i guess there was a leak in our fuel line or tank or something. and it is covered by a recall. but, we had to get the van from the shop that we took it into, to a honda dealer and hour away. would be easy, if we had a second car. so we have been arranging cabs and AAA tows. she’s all set now (monday night) and we are back up and running. well, will be. when derek gets home. 🙂

we have one more week at this campsite.
and we leave saturday. and i can’t wait.

One Reply to “albany field trip.”

  1. You have now documented the back side of the capitol building. The front can be viewed next time:)
    Keep posting. Miss you.

Leave a Reply