New England Summer 2018: Day 2 - Shopping, Surfing And Whales

[Melbatb]

I actually slept quite well. I woke up at 2am for a loo trip and then woke up for the day at 5.45am. J and the kids were awake not long after.

We decided to eat out for breakfast. They had discovered a bagel shop about a5 minute drive away. It was very popular with the locals - a good sign. J and O shared an acai bowl - acai berries with banana, raspberries, granola, and peanut butter. It fed them both.

F had a peanut butter and jelly bagel. I had s cream cheese bagel. With 4 big glasses of water it was $13.

J and I went for a walk in the other direction once we had dropped the kids back at the apartment. This area had rock pools which looked promising for an evening activity.

We decided today would be shopping day. New Hampshire has 0% sales tax and a big outlet mall at Merrimack. Both kids were looking forward to renewing their wardrobes.

It took about 45 minutes to get there! It was just opening (@ 10 am). O hit gold in Nike with some blue trainers at $40. Converse saw 50% off so 3 t-shirts were acquired. Hits followed in Fila, Bloomingdales and Tommy Hilfiger.

We had lunch in the food court - decidedly average. J's salad was probably the best choice! Though O quite liked his mozzarella and pesto panini. Mine and F's chinese was the poorest choice. Both kids also had fruit smoothies.

We hit the other half of the mall. F saw a shop called Vine's Vineyard which she had seen on Youtube. It was lovely - the cotton was soft and the whale motives very cute! Two t-shirts, 2 lightweight hoodies and a pair of shorts were acquired.

Visits were also made to Ralph Lauren, Old Navy and finally Nautica! Four hours of shopping and the kids were done!

I just got some Russian doll measuring cups

The drive home was via the local supermarket to get something in for dinner.

This was O's haul. Yes - he likes blue and white! He was very happy!

This is the view from our apartment. The beach is just over the road. It was a lot busier today than yesterday.

And looking in to the apartment. It isn't so big but the situation makes it ideal. Also we have free parking! The wifi is fast and it is quiet!

It was beach time. O took me a beach chair down. The other 3 body boarded whilst I took photos.

Then I noticed a jet of water in the distance and then movement. And again. J came out and I said what I had seen. He had seen the same. Then we saw it again - it was definitely a whale! We managed to show the kids too! How lucky are we! Whales off the shore at Hampton Beach!

After a dinner of omelettes we went back to the rock pool area. F enjoyed fishing around.

O and I sat on the rocks and we talked some more about his Indian trip. It sounds incredible. He loved it - even the dehli belly didn't put him off.

No sunsets on the east coast as such!

Now back at the apartment! It was a good idea to start the vacation with the beach - we are all relaxing!

Now time for bed! A lovely first day of the holiday for me!