Syracuse with the Salisbury Family

Well it was time to bum off friends again!!!! So packing up our wonderful rolling ‘backpacks’ we headed to the bus station for our 7 hour journey to Syracuse. Where? I hear you ask.... yep that’s right, Syracuse, up State New York to visit my lovely friends Jay and Lisa and their absolutely gorgeous 4 month old twins Miss Elliot and Master Jackson. Jay and Lisa are friends of mine from when I worked in a hotel in Cairns. Jay is a native American and they moved back 5 years ago and said they always held an open invitation to me to come and visit. A decision they may have lived to regret!

A very happy Miss Elliot

A cruisy little Mr Jackson


But what a lovely week we had with the Salisbury family along with their pet lop-earred rabbit, Rudy. They have recently purchased a new house and have done up the third level as a studio apartment equipped with it’s own bathroom and lounge. That became the Heidi and Serena penthouse!! What luxury especially after staying at the poorly run hostel in Boston. We made use of the space we were given and within ten minutes of our arrival we had spread our stuff from one end of the room to the other – oh the feeling of joy to spread out!

Dinner time - not easy with 2 bubbas so mum and dad take one each

Rudy the lop-earred rabbit let me cuddle her - well when she couldn't escape that is!

The one difference, and boy what a difference, coming from Boston to Syracuse was the sudden temperature drop. From the heatwave they’d been having in Boston we were suddenly plunged into 15 degree temperatures! Ahhhhhhh, time to bring out the jeans, coat, scarf, gloves and long sleeve tops. Yes we are truly Queensland wusses.

The next week I was in heaven with 2 babies at my disposal for constant cuddles. Serena helped keep them entertained simply by looking at them and each one would crack up... hmmmm what were they telling her?!!!! Jackson and Elliot were the most beautiful little human beings and always so happy. Except maybe the one day that Serena sat in the back of the car with them and they both started to SCREAM. Freaking out, Serena jumped in the driver’s seat and Mum (Lisa) jumped in the back to calm them down. This meant that, yes, Serena drove us home – on the wrong side of the road! Well it was actually the correct side considering that we were in the States but it wasn’t the side she was used to. But 20 minutes later we made it home safe and sound, all in one piece and not a dint on the car. Well done Serena!

Serena and Heidi become instant baby sitters and love it!


The beautiful architecture of Syracuse University - minutes away from the Salisbury home


Having the weekend off, the Salisbury family followed in tow by Heidi and Serena, packed up the 10 tonnes of baby gear, our winter woollies and headed to the Finger Lakes region for a day outdoors. This was such a beautiful area. Lakes surrounded by rolling green hills that were just starting to change colour with the Fall season as well as family recreation parks. We took a gentle walk to a waterfall and then had lunch in one of the quaint little towns in the area. Infact, the area is home to the famous Ivy League University Ithica so it had quite a modern funky feel to it.
Many a home cooked meal was had as we prepared each evening around the kitchen table, babies in basinets before heading to bed to leave the oldies to drink a beer and share good food together. It was just what we needed at that stage in our trip and we enjoyed the company of our two friends very much. We are hoping to see them back in Australia one day.

Our walk at the finger lakes out to a lovely waterfall with the Salisbury gang

Little Jackson loves his mode of transport!

Making our way along the dry creek bed to the waterfall

Dad gets double the cuddles in before making the trek to the waterfall


But all good things must come to an end and so at 5am one morning we were up and on our way to the Train Station for our 12 hour journey into Canada and Montreal to be precise....

H and S