An Enid Blyton vacation

I'm one of those people who just LOVE to plan - esspecially trips. My trips are always meticulously detailed - with exhaustive background checks that would put many security companies to shame. This weekend's day-trip to Block Island (Rhode Island) was completely unplanned and somehow I am thankful for that.

Four of us sat in a snug booth on a ferry as it chugged its way from the mainland to the island. It was a sunny Monday and the ferry was deliciously uncrowded.

45 mins later I was sitting on the back of a scooty (Indian for vespa) at it zoomed at 15mph on a thin road framed by water on two sides. The light breeze made the summer day feel more like early spring and I was eternally grateful that hubby knew how to drive a scooty. The island is small with a few attractions and even fewer restuarants. Armed with our scooty and a black-and-white prehistoric map, we were set to explore it all.

The day was perfect - empty beaches, historic lighthouses, great weather, good food and fun company. It felt like a true vacation set within the books of Enid Bliton and her 5 adventurers. Expectant of tourists, there is a cotton candy and chocolate shop that proudly serves chocolate covered bacon. And a seafood restaurant that is also proud of its sushi.The eccentric personality of the island is best demonstrated by the zoo that was set up by a resident who liked to bring back animals as souvenirs from his trans-continental trips. Citizens of this zoo included a lama, a camel, a miniature horse, a zebra, a yak and even a Zeedonk - a hybrid zebra and donkey combo.

There is no video-camera that captured my learning to ride a scooty on a thin stretch of road along the Atlantic. If there was - you would hear the peels of laughter that followed me almost pitching hubby and I into the ocean. Dressed up in my shiny silver helment, you would see me swerving dangerously along an empty road with my dear husband running alongside to make sure he gets back the deposit on the scooty! Precious moments that I couldn't have planned better, even if I'd tried.