Boston & Salem, MA

May 20, 2010 - From Long Island, we drove 245 miles to Boston for an overnight pit stop.  After we arrived, we took the crowded subway (filled with Red Sox fans making their way to Fenway Park) into the city for a Thai dinner then took it easy after our long traffic filled bike ride.  Our main reason for Boston: being the major pastry foodies we are, we had to stop at Flour Bakery to try their sticky buns, as seen on the Food Network's Bobby Flay Throwdowns!

May 21, 2010 - Yes, we literally went to Boston just for the sticky buns. And Flour Bakery did not disappoint. We called in and reserved 2 buns before they sold out then drove to the bake shop and tasted the sweetness, along with some great lunch sandwiches that Flour Bakery also prepares. After our late morning indulgence, we drove to Salem, MA for a rest stop where we went to the Witch History Museum, then headed for our next stop, Bennington, Vermont.

A view of the historical New England seaport, the quaint Mystic, Connecticut on our ride up to Boston

The reason for Boston.  The pecan smothered sticky bun from Flour Bakery. SUPER YUM

Old town hall in Salem, MA.  Know for their witch trials, Salem was founded in 1626.

Long Island, NY

May 17, 2010 - From New Jersey, it was a 44 mile drive over to Long Island where Charlie's Aunt Nazig and her family lives. The weather was rainy so we spent 3 nights with his family, taking it easy, catching up and eating homemade meals! We arrived with a warm welcome, a kitchen busy with plenty of good eats being prepared & great company with all of the Gianakas family.

May 18, 2010 - With the wet and rainy weather, we took it easy today. Had awesome sushi lunch with Charlie's cousins, Nicky, George & Raluca and then another lovely homemade evening meal from Auntie Nazig, a baked apple pie from Charlie, and lots of great story telling from Auntie Nazig's adventurous childhood.

May 19, 2010 - Pearl finally takes a bath! Another relaxing day with more story telling, another awesome home cooked meal and the highlight of the evening, breaking out Uncle Nick's old 16 mm movie projector where we watched old movies of Charlie and his cousins as babies/toddlers and seeing his mom, dad, aunt, and uncles all young and stylish in their late 70's and early 80's best.

May 20, 2010 - Before we left for Boston in the morning, Auntie Nazig took a spin on Pearl. Such a nice, relaxing stay in Long Island.

Charlie & his Auntie Nazig

Charlie making his to-die-for apple pie

Awesome homemade dinner at the Gianakas's

Family Dinner.

YUM. Charlie's apple pie fresh from the oven with a caramelized crust.

MORE YUM. Auntie Nazig's homemade Romanian cake.

With Charlie's cousins, Christopher, George & his wife Raluca

Pearl finally getting a bath in the company of Corvettes.

Charlie's Uncle Nick & Auntie Nazig bidding us farewell.

Posing on Pearl

Video of Auntie Nazig going for a spin on Pearl!

Greensboro & Jamestown, NC

May 7, 2010 - Driving out of the Blue Ridge Parkway towards the 40, we arrived at our friend, Hillary's place in Jamestown, a 230 mile ride from the Smokies.  Hillary made us feel way super at home, that we ended up staying 3 nights at her place, relaxing and doing nothing.  With the long rides covering great mileage on the trip and the unending sights to see, sometimes all we want to do is poop out.  We spent our Friday catching up and taking a night in downtown Greensboro, meeting up with Hil's sis, Ashley and their friends.

May 8, 2010 - This perfect day was spent doing laundry, visiting the Old Guilford Mill to buy baking mixes, yellow grits, and grocery shop.  While Hillary spent the day with her family, Charlie baked a pear pie, while I cooked up the yellow grits in almond milk with squash, and bake mac n cheese with portobello mushrooms, zucchini & onions.  We enjoyed a wine-induced, home cooked meal and lazed around.

May 9, 2010 - Taking it easy on Sunday, we walked an art exhibit in UNC Greensboro, then kicked it with Hillary, her sister Ashley,  Layla, the German Shepherd & Loretta, the cat in their awesome, old school pad in downtown Greensboro.  Good times in NC.

This picture, taken for my bro, Nico in Hickory, NC who lived here many years back.  Our gas stop.

Hillary taking care of business in her hand tilled veggie garden.

F.W. Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro.  The location of the Civil Rights Movement's first sit-in.

The Old Guilford Mill where we got old school made yellow grits and baking mix.

 Cooking night.  Baked organic mac n cheese with seasonal veggies.

Charlie's pear pie.  Made with his first whole wheat crust.

Hillary with daisies from the yard.

Ashley & Hillary's house in Greensboro.

Layla with her ball.

SO CUTE

Loretta being a snob.

With the Meredith sisters in the backyard.

Another shot of their cozy yard.

Savannah, Georgia

April 29, 2010 - Savannah was quite the special place.  We rolled into the humid town after our camp in Torreya State Park late afternoon, 290 miles later, coming from highway 84, going northeast.  Established in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, this old Victorian city is truly a historic gem.  The landscape is lush green with old oak tree canopies lining the 22 garden squares, streets and parks.  We walked back in time in this pedestrian friendly city.   Our 2 night stay, spoiled with complimentary made to order breakfast, afternoon tea, wine/cheese & homemade cookies every night was awesome in the classic Savannah Bed and Breakfast Inn.  This historical Inn on Gordon Row was built in 1852 in the Federal style architecture.  We stayed in a converted 2 story carriage house (where the horses were parked with the driver's quarters) nestled in the quaint courtyard of the Inn.

April 30, 2010 - Walking Savannah is like walking the garden park in the Mary Poppins movie.  One of the largest national historic landmarks in the US, we enjoyed the architectural and cultural history of the city.  The squares and the houses are absolutely gorgeous with the backdrop of Gothic Victorian homes.  We ended this evening walking to an organic restaurant, Cha-Bella, where we savored a local grown, epicurean dinner.

 Our room with a traditional four poster, rice bed in the 2nd story of the carriage house.

View of the 2 story carriage house, where we stayed from the courtyard.

Savannah Bed & Breakfast Inn on Gordon Street.

Our tree-lined street where Pearl is parked on the first day.

 Pearl parked directly in front of the Inn, resting under a canopy of oak trees.

Walking the city at night through a park square.

The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist at night.

One of the 22 park squares.

Spanish moss hanging from the oak trees.

Rad students playing percussion at one of the squares.

In front of the Mercer House, from the book & movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Brick buildings of SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) with a rad scrolled lampost in the foreground.

Carriage and horses rolling on the street with gawking tourists.

Savannah sidewalks covered in mosaic shells.

Charlie & I both ordered the catch of the day, fresh wahoo with local produce on parmesan grits at Cha-Bella.  The veggies, fish and grits was one of the best we've tasted.

Best desert, EVER at Cha-Bella.  Goat cheese cheesecake with a plump strawberry on a reduced balsamic drizzle.  This was amazing.

New Orleans, LA to Biloxi, MS

April 26, 2010 - With an early rise in Leroy Percy State Park, we headed 300 miles to New Orleans, LA, a beloved city that I've visited 3 times before with best friends and my mom.  It was unreal to drive on the 55 through the swamps on the bridge overlooking both Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.  After the long drive in the blistering humid weather, we headed for Coop's, a favorite dive on Decatur Street in the French Quarter.  I couldn't help but feel nostalgic for my girlfriends at this classic bar and southern food joint.  We then headed for Cafe du Monde (my personal must-stop favorite!), famous for their beignets and gobbled a powdery plate before heading out.  For a Monday, the French Quarter was unusually super busy, only realizing from a billboard while driving out that we were in the middle of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. 

100 more miles later on the 10 heading east, we were in the Gulf Coast city of Biloxi, MS, our overnight stop for this day.  The drive through bayous, lakes, bridges and coast was gorgeous.  We had a great view of Pearl from our hotel room, sitting on the street next to the Gulf of Mexico.

Drained from the heat at Coop's

Charlie's enormous southern fried chicken with rabbit & sausage jambalaya at Coop's.

My enormous blackened redfish with green beans at Coop's.  The beans were seriously hot with tons of red pepper, I couldn't eat it.

YUM

Charlie and the to die for beignets at Cafe du Monde.

View from our hotel room off the Gulf Coast in Biloxi, with Pearl glistening in the sun.

Spa City Donuts in Hot Springs, AR

April 23, 2010 - On our way to Hot Springs National Park, we stumbled upon this gem of a donut shop in the early morning.  Spa City Donuts are homemade goodness.  The owners were super friendly and ready to share their morning selection.  I had a melt in your mouth, awesome Old Fashion Blueberry while Charlie had the same, as well as Cinnamon Sugar.  We were convinced to try their best seller, an Apple Fritter, which we took to-go, plus extra Old Fashion Blueberry (we had the Apple Fritter later on and it was amazing).  If ever in Hot Springs, Spa City will take care of your morning fix anytime of the day!

Melt in your mouth, Old Fashion Blueberry.  I'm drooling just thinking of this again.

The proud owners and fellow bikers with their classic & yummy selection!