Mitch – Page 2 – Wandering Out Westy

Day Sixty Eight – Seventy

Acadia National Park

Away we go along the coast of Maine. After loading up on farm fresh eggs and biding the friends of the farm, including all the goats, chickens, and Kiggy,farewell we headed to Acadia National Park. It is located on Mount Desert Island in the Atlantic. Gorgeous rocky coastline, endless islands, bald mountain peaks, it is something else! We arrived at our campsite just in time to sit on the rocks and watch the colors cover the eastern skyline.

In the morning we explored the main drag through the park along the coast and past the scenic points. Sandy beach and thunder hole were pretty exciting, especially in the sun. We ate lunch on Otter Point watching people boulder along the rocks. Drove up to the top of Cadillac mountain for outstanding views of the surrounding peaks, ocean, and islands. Stopped in Bar Harbor at a laundromat to wash our loads. Headed to the southern part of the island to snooze under the stars.

Woke up before the sun and hustled down to the beach to watch. I’ve never seen a sunrise over the ocean, so very pretty !! Fell back to sleep for a couple more hours before driving out to a lookout over the coastline, parked Robin and made a delicious breakfast with pancakes and fresh eggs! Read our books on the beach before wandering into town to find Quietside Cafe. After a steaming slice of devine blueberry pie with two scoops vanilla, we wandered to the Sargent Mountain Trail Head to embark on an epic hike. The trail was straight up the side of the mountain at first, with beautifully crafted steps of stone and metal ladders here and there to allow less rock scrambling. Toward the top we stopped by a sweet pond with a croaking frog. The majority of the hike was scaling two bald mountain tops with 360 views and three surrounding coastlines, spectacular! Enjoyed our lunch at the top before the wind guided us back down. After leaving Acadia, we waved good bye to the ocean and headed to inland Maine to sleep for the night.

Day Sixty Six – Sixty Seven

Bowdoinham, Maine

Waking up to chickens clucking and roosters crowing was a real treat! Reading books and dozing in the morning sun. Soon Beau came to coral us toward a delicious steaming breakfast with his workmates and farm boss. Such kind, welcoming, down to earth people! Fully satisfied we wandered around the farm ‘s border down to the Abbey through the fields and forest. A beaver made a damn in the little river that flows into a beautiful glassy lake with an island of bright green trees. On our way back we visited the chickens, filled our water bottles at the pump, snapped on the mosquito netting for the back door of the van for a swift cool breeze and a nap in the shade. In the afternoon, Beau invited us to help plant potatoes in a nearby field. Six workers, one tractor, a field of rows, half a dozen types of potatoes and three hours later, the potatoes were cozy in their new soil home and ready to grow! That evening we dined on delicious curried muscles, peanut noodles, hamburgers and beers at the coolest restaurant art gallery in Maine!! Snuggled the farm cat Kiggy before retiring. Fell asleep to twinkling fireflies in the fields and our own personal light show presented by two stow aways in the van.

Woke up ready to explore this beautiful organic farm. Walked amongst rows of vegetables and through huge caterpillar greenhouses. Visited the goats with some scrumptious carrots. They are getting ready for kidding, goat cheese and milk! Yum! Recovering from a bit of a bug, I took an afternoon nap while Mitch planted peppers and weeded beds with Beau. For dinner we made clam chowder and enjoyed greens from the garden sautéed in garlic. Shared a few beers and stories before bed. What an amazing chance to experience homesteading first hand! If we can build our lives around the simplicity and self-sustaining joy of a homesteader’s life I believe we will find our place. So far on this adventure it has felt the closest to our hearts’ home.

Day Sixty One- Sixty Five

Brooklyn, New York to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Hugs, a teary “see you soon” and all the siblings waving in the middle of the Brooklyn streets as our van rolled on, started the day. Leaving New York was hard to do with such amazing memories and the comfort of home, but knowing we were headed toward our best friend Nika made it easier. Once we entered Connecticut, trees and little inlets with sail boats, dotted the drive. The sun was beating on the van, sticky with sweat we took a dinner break to cool off in Chipotle’s AC. Back on the road, a drive Google Greta estimated to take five hours, with traffic, quickly turned to seven and a half. We rolled into Cape Cod, MA fifteen minutes shy of the last ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Looks like we would be sleeping on the mainland one more night to board the boat in the morning. After thoroughly exhausting our potential parking options including every grocery store in town, we decided to sleep in the van in the ferry parking lot.

Sunday, we woke up to the clouds breaking and sun peaking through. Packed our backpacks with our NapSacks (sleeping bags you can wear- an awesome gift from Maura) Locked up Robin and hoped the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. It was a spectacular ride, breezy and beautiful. Off the boat we touched the Atlantic for the first time all trip! Jumped for joy when Nika pulled up in her turquoise Japanese beetle 😉 she drove us through her home island; hair wiping through the open window, tan as ever from her year of adventure since seeing her last. Down a sweet bumpy dirt drive lined with trees and wild flowers we pulled up to Nika’s sweet shingled abode. Chickens scurried throughout the yard as we set the dining table outside for a delicious breakfast prepared by Matteo, a traveler friend of Nika’s from Italy. After delightful crepes and conversation we drove across the island for the five minute ferry ride to Chappawidick, a tiny separate island of Nika’s heritage and family farm. A tasty egg salad lunch made by Carol, Nika’s momma, and her aunties, we enjoyed sitting in the green grass, tree lined field with gorgeous New England style house and barn! A walk to the beach topped it all off. Explored Nika’s family roots and childhood places of adventure. Back on Martha’s Vineyard we splurged on some theater candy at the local candy shop and hit the movie scene at the adorable hole in the wall cinema. The Great Gatsby was awesome and all we could talk about as we crawled into our Nap Sacks for bed.

A rainy Monday on the island called for dates with the coffee shop and library while we waited for Nika to get off work. Wandered around town through the cutest plant shops and nurseries looking for the perfect plants to accompany Nika’s new diggs. Headed back home for another delicious meal made by Matteo. After dinner we drove to town in the dark to devour the most delicious apple fritter donuts straight from the oven of Back Door Donuts. Sticky fingers and stuffed tummies we headed home for sleep.

Rise and shine its a beautiful day to go to work with Nika!!! A day spent walking the gorgeous private beaches of Martha’s Vineyard sounds perfect to me, especially with bird watching involved! Off to save the day of the Piping Plovers, Oystercatchers, and Least Terns we walked across the beaches to specific sites pin pointed by the Biodiversity Works employees as nesting sites in need to extra efforts to protect the off spring of the endangered birds. Building low-predator fences, counting as many birds as possible, gazing gleefully at the teeny Plover cotton ball chick with legs, and sweeping for tracks filled our fabulous island beach day in the sun. After “work” we made famous Chicken Enchiladas to share with a great group of friends at a potluck on Lamberts Cove Beach. Great food, good conversation, lots of laughter, fishing on the shore, and harmonica playing, an awesome recipe to encourage two travelers to stay awhile.

On Wednesday we packed up our things, hugged our Nika a billion times and boarded the ferry back to Robin on the mainland. No joke, we almost took the next ferry back to the Vineyard to stay the rest of the season, filled up with the first hand experience of the life we know we want, simple and beautiful. But the shores of Maine called our names so we rolled up the road past Portland to the sweetest organic farm and amazing group of people. But not before a dinner stop at the hot spot Friendly Toast, a quirky little joint, felt like we were dinning in the fifties. Made it to the farm, with the best welcome to date: Beau Baker walking up a sleepy dirt road to meet us, huge smile on his face he asked us to dim the headlights, instantly the fields lit up with little sparkles of light! Fireflies!!!! Thousands of them dancing on the tops of the knee high grass in the dark, sprinkling joy on the land and a flutter of aliveness in my heart! What an adventure.

Day Fifty Seven- Sixty

New York City

Tuesday we slept in, relaxed, watched an episode from the new season of Arrested Development on Martin’s projector, and made meatloaf with the tasty leftovers from the BBQ the night before.

Wednesday we ventured out to Manhattan with Park and Kadin, attempted to go see a MoMA exhibit called Rain Room but there was a five plus hour wait, yikes! instead we went on a shopping spree with Mitch’s birthday cash and he got great deals on a much needed summer wardrobe. After we wandered the streets to Union Square, and took a load off at Maura’s apartment. When she got home she treated us to a soft served fruit dessert that looks like ice cream but is made with only fruit, water and sugar and loads of fun toppings. It was devine, like a puréed banana with cookie crumble and hot chocolate sauce!

On Thursday we woke up early to surprise Park with birthday breakfast in bed. Ventured into Williamsburg to get Mitch a hair cut. Discovered the hippest joint, Manetamed, where we found out his stylist just got back from a business trip to LA to style the models’ hair of this years Calvin Klein campaign. Jumped the ferry to Staten Island and saw the Statue of Liberty. Walked to Maura’s work for an office tour, before heading uptown for birthday drinks at her social club. Met up with the remaining siblings for a delicious Indian feast with the best chai tea I have ever had!

Our last full day in New York, we walked around Brooklyn and stopped at Pies and Thighs for brunch. Took the subway into Manhattan and met up with Maura, Kadin and Park. Watched Maura and her friend Evan choreograph the hip hop routine they will teach to their dance class on Sunday. Then we headed toward Chelsea on an adventure of a lifetime, Park’s surprise birthday gift for the big 21, tickets to the immersive theater production of Sleep No More. Our taxi pulled up outside an old brick warehouse where we waited in a line along the sidewalk, Martin and Kristine joined us. Soon we were escorted in to a dimly lit foyer. At the coat check every purse and coat had to be relinquished. We were then given a room key to the “hotel” and shuffled down a dark, narrow, winding hallway through a door and then poof we appeared in a 1930s style speakeasy; jazz music, Charleston dresses, and waitresses offering apothecary mixed drinks. Shortly our room key numbers were called, we entered an elevator and were handed masks (creepy white masks with duck bills) up the dark elevator we went at each floor a few people shuffled off before the bell boy would stop others and drop them at different levels, an independent experience we were to behold, no talking, keep the mask on at all times, and fortune favors the bold. Off the elevator, my heart quickened and my mask was moist with sweat on my face as I entered into an experience like none other. Six floors of “stage” this theater immersed its “masked bystanders” into the experience, the actors interact with you as they perform Shakespeare’s MacBeth in a manner of dance instead of dialog, throughout the elaborately decorated rooms of the set. A profound musical sound track, lots of blood and death, sex and nudity, gorgeous costumes, awesome choreography , and perfectly creepy set design; I will leave it at that with hopes you will go someday and experience it for yourself, but for a bit more info check out Freakonomics “fear thy nature” podcast. After three hours of insane stimulation we found ourselves again, on a beautifully decorated roof top with climbing foliage and starry lights, city scape surrounding us. Shared fancy drinks with a few of Maura’s good friends who met up after the show. For the next four hours before bed and at length again in the morning we all shared our experiences, processing the thrilling night we had had!

Day Fifty Four- Fifty Six

New York City

We made it to New York City! Robin was a champ. Woke up to enjoy breakfast with the family at an adorable restaurant called RYE. Had fresh squeeze grapefruit juice, homemade donuts, french toast with sausage, eggs and greens. Spent the remainder of the afternoon with Mitch’s folks before having to say good bye, they left early the next morning headed back home, but Kadin, Park, Mitch and I get another whole week in the city with the sibs! That evening Maura and her awesome friend Jen took us to World of Dance, a hip hop dance competition that tours all around the world. It was insane, the venue, the dancing, so much energy so much fun! The competition itself lasted over eight hours! So we decided to go to about five hours instead 🙂 It was held in an old warehouse building in Manhatten. The main stage was located on the lower floor, with three other floors of balconies with people hanging off the sides to get a better look. The music pumped through your chest with a rhythm that ignited an immediate excitement. During intermissions, circles would form in the crowds with mini breakdance battles taking place between attendants. As the show progressed the crews were getting better and better. It was amazing to watch how people can move their bodies so beautifully in unison with such emotion. Such a contagious atmosphere, we were all dancing in the streets to the subway on the way home.

Next day we woke up and headed over to Martin’s gf Kristine’s place to help Martin build her surprise birthday gift, a floor to ceiling cat tower for her feline friend, Tops. It was a team effort, and well worth it for how excited both Kristine and Tops were after the big reveal. Took a stroll through Williamsburg on this lovely sunny day with Kadin and Park. Walked to the waterfront and played frisbee on the green, watched the sun set below the horizon emphasizing the Manhattan skyline. Wandered back to Martin’s home to order in Thai food for all the siblings, squeezed together in the tiny NYC apartment, we laughed and chatted eating steaming plates of curry. Watched Take Shelter before crawling into bed with hopes of sweet dreams.

Memorial day morning, we were thrilled Martin and Kristine had the day off from work! Mitch picked us up some scrumptious bacon egg and cheese bagels from The Bagel Shop before Kristine picked us all up to play at the park for the day. Frisbee, football, slack-lining, siting on picnic blankets under a gorgeous blue sky in the middle of Prospect Park, you would never guess we were anywhere near the largest city in our country! Walking through the Park’s many faucets with ponds, trees, and activities, it is no wonder so many people were out enjoying the day with us. So many bikers and runners it felt like we were in a triathlon! Grabbed some refreshing italian icies to cool down and found a fun exhibit telling the tale of a single home who has seen every stage of life as the city around it grew from farmland to what we know today. Played on stilts and learned other games from the olden days. Later we headed home to prepare an epic BBQ on the roof top in Brooklyn. Maura and Jordy arrived, Jumbo Jenga in tow. Munching on perfectly grilled hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob, potato chips and veggie kabobs, the eight of us managed to build a 32 story life sized jenga as the sunset on the city surrounding us. It was surreal, and the best day spent with such amazingly fun folks.

Day Forty Seven – Fifty Three

Spencertown, New York

What a wonderful treat to be caught by family at the halfway point on our adventure! In the sweet little town of Spencertown in upstate New York, Mitch’s entire immediate family and significant others reunited for a week at a beautiful cabin on Beaver Pond. (Special thanks to Maura’s friends LeeAnn and Frank) The setting alone was unreal, a huge home in the middle of a forested nook with a pond, let alone the wondrous opportunity for all ten of us to enjoy a week all together! Our time was spent playing wiffle ball in the yard, slack lining between two tall pines, paddling kayaks on the pond to investigate geese’ nests with large white eggs, practicing our Archery skills (Mom C is the raining queen), watching movies on the projector, yoga lessons in the living room, playing endless games of ping pong, riding bikes to the local market for ice cream, swimming in the toasty warm pool, standing under the cover porch watching thunder storms with hail the size of goofballs roll by, rambunctious games of Cranium, sweet anniversary and birthday celebrations, talking a lot, laughing even more and of course, what McGreevys do best, cooking deliciously huge meals for all to devour! What a wonderful whirlwind week with fabulous folks. Off to the big city we loaded up Robin and cruised into Brooklyn, our home for another week!

Day Forty Four – Forty Six

Washington, DC

Woke up eager to seize the day in our Nation’s Capitol. Enjoyed a delicious meal at the hotel’s breakfast buffet. Rode the subway to the National Mall where we visited the Castle information center to get a grasp of the surrounding museums and monuments. To the west end of the mall sits Lincoln and to the east the Capitol building. In between we were excited to see the White House, Natural History Museum, American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, and so many more! We started out exploring dinosaur bones and ancient plant fossils from early in the earth’s history. Wandered through prehistoric oceans and amongst tribes of life sized cave men with larger than life predators including giant sloths bigger than polar bears! Digitally transformed our faces to Neanderthals. Found our way up stairs to a magical oasis of butterflies. When we entered the garden hundreds of butterflies flitted through the misty jungle air. One landed on my head and another hitched a ride on Mitch’s shoulder, our company for the remainder of the visit. Lastly we examined different rock minerals and gem stones in the largest and most fantastical rock display I have ever seen! On leaving the Natural History museum we were elated and exhausted. Next we ventured into the American History Museum but first got some lunch at the Stars and Stripes cafeteria. In the American History museum there was very thing from Revolutionary war, to the Civil War, to the onset of transportation by road, track and sea, with life sized displays of city streets from the forties and railway cars you can walk on to simulate a ride. Walked through a display of all the First Ladies’ inauguration ball gowns, how fun to see style changing over time and tastes. The most moving exhibit was the Civil Rights display walking through the movement starting with Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to Martin Luther King Jr’s speech. Stood in awe at the wrinkled bill of Abe Lincoln’s top hat and the four bar stools that hosted the diner sit-ins. After hours and hours of exploring the past we jumped back on the subway and fell into bed at the hotel for a quick nap before dinner with Tim and his hilarious and interesting co-workers lobbing for farmers all over the US! Slept soundly after an amazing day.

Another full day in DC (we must be dreaming) ate another filling breakfast and headed back to explore the western side of the National Mall. First we walked past the White House, and looked through the gate into the gardens, then all of a sudden a tall woman in a pencil skirt and sleeveless matching top with shoulder length black hair walked out onto the balcony accompanied by a few shorter ladies! Pretty darn sure it was Michelle Obama! Come to find out later president of Turkey and his wife were in town. So cool! Wandered across long stretches of green grass toward the National Monument, walked with tears in my eyes along the reflective Vietnam memorial with thousands of 7 point font names etched into the stone. Walked along the lengthy reflecting pool and up the stairs to Lincoln’s Memorial. He is wayyyy bigger in person, it was very powerful reading his words, especially in the low heartfelt voice of Daniel Day-Lewis. Stood in the exact spot MLK spoke the words, “I have a dream…” Walked through another powerful and breathtaking memorial of the Korean War. The Memorial for WWII was overwhelmingly large, as well. After we could catch are breath and my heart receded from my throat, we walked back to explore the Air and Space Museum. We learned all about the Wright brothers exploration of flight, walked through a space shuttle, touched rocks from Mars, and studied rovers that have walked on the moon. Minds blown we got back on the subway toward Washington Square. Met up for drinks with the lovely, Katie Conway, who is living and teaching in DC. It felt so wonderful to catch up with such a sweet friend! Had the most unusual dinner experience with Tim at Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steakhouse. Waiters in gaucho pants walk around between the tables with two-feet-long skewers of every kind if meat you can imagine, all you can eat. It was wild and wrapped up our DC experience perfectly.

Day Forty Three

Shenandoah National Park

Last day in the hills before the big city, we woke up to little snow flakes falling. Deep cleaned the van before hitting the road north through the remainder of the park. At Dark Hallow Falls we hiked down a pretty trail with wildflowers, a trickling creek, and a tall waterfall climax. Drove a little farther to Hawksbill Mountain trailhead. Wound along a beautiful part of the Appalachian trail, listened to new bird calls and even spotted a sweet bird’s nest with tiny little eggs. Once on the salamander trail we hiked the switch back up to the highest point in the Park to sit and admire nature surrounding us and holding us so closely. Back on the road we bid farewell to the forest for now and hopped the freeway toward Washington DC. Parked Robin safe and sound in a garage outside the hotel and excitedly met up with Mitch’s dad, Tim, who was here on business and willing to house us in the city for a few days! Went to dinner with Tim and his coworkers before hitting the sheets in our fancy hotel home!

Day Thirty Nine-Forty Two

Blue Ridge Parkway

Before departing the Smoky Mountains we popped by the Mingus Mill to tour a historic building that is still in operation grinding corn to meal. Entered the Blue Ridge Parkway excited for the next 500 miles of gorgeous tree lined roads, 45 mph speed limit, with absolutely no commercial vehicles! Took a step back in time as we passed many Model-T cars headed toward a convention. Landed in Asheville, North Carolina for the evening. Enjoyed the sweet artsy town, with loads of cute shops, galleries and delicious places to eat. Luxembourg Ave Brewery (LAB) was the dinner destination, we devoured polenta and pork chops, arugula chicken burgers with seasoned potatoes. Stopped by a cool store and purchased a brand new cast iron skillet perfect size for the van.

The next day we continued up the BRP to climb the highest point on the east side, fittingly named Mt Mitchell. At the top we were socked in from a passing storm, but pretty neat to have made it so high! Back on the road we stopped at the North Carolina Minerals Museum and learned all about the rocks in the area. Last activity of the day was a three mile hike to Linville Falls, a pretty large water fall with many different vantage views. On our hike back an unexpected down pour erupted from the sky, soaking us to the core and encouraging us to run, slide and play down the muddy trail back to the van. On the road again, and in dry clothes, we made our way toward Grandfather Mountain. Disappointingly the main attraction, a mile high swinging bridge, was closed, so we wandered into the sweet little town instead and happened by a great campground on the river with a HUGE open green field to play in. After an extensive game of frisbee and attempting to blow every single dandelion puff in the grass, we made a delicious vegetable stir fry with tortellini, before falling into bed from an eventful and exhausting day.

In the morning we woke to the sun peaking through the clouds. Loaded up the van after breakfast to hit the road but not before we called to wish our wonderful mommas a happy Mother’s Day! A ways down the road at Otter Point we parked Robin beside a lake to stroll a winding trail along the shoreline. Saw lots of wildlife including a snake and many different kinds of birds. Stopped to admire Otter Rocks Mountain and its distinctly changing foliage, it looks like a rainbow of seasons starting with green Spring at the base, shades of yellow/orange summer/fall and working up to brown Winter at the top. Crossed a sweet little bridge back to the parking lot. Continued on the Blue Ridge parkway with its jaw dropping views of valleys, hills, and rainbow mountains at every turn. Rolled our eyes every time Google Gretta, yes we nicknamed our GPS, interrupted a Click and Clack podcast, to remind us to STAY STRAIGHT. Pulled in to the BRP music museum, on the Virginia border, just in time to listen to a live blue grass band, fiddles, guitars, banjos and bass echoing off the breezeway walls. It was fantastic. Walked through an artfully curated museum learning all about the distinct music style of the Appalachians and its transformation over the years. Back on the road we passed mountains with clouds tucked into their green hills. Swang by Mabry Mill at sun set. Headed off the parkway again to sleep for the evening in the outskirts of Roanoke (the largest city near to the parkway). Stuffed ourselves silly from the outrageously large servings at Apple Bees before bed.

Last day on the Blue Ridge Parkway we cruised on up to Shenandoah National Park. Similar to the beautiful views from the past week, Shenandoah has overlooks every half mile, it’s fantastic. Walked through the visitor center’s museum to learn the heart wrenching story of the Appalachian families that had been displaced over the years starting with the Cherokee natives and the trail of tears to Oklahoma, then the farmers who moved in after the indigenous peoples were moved out, were displaced when the land of Shenandoah was claimed as a National Park, but this time they “paid” them to leave their homes and livelihoods, but in turn preserved the beautiful land for generations to enjoy. After that emotional roller coaster, we glided into a campsite in the Big Meadow, made some frittatas for dinner and snuggled up to watch the amazing movie Lincoln, see it if you haven’t already. Exhausted from even more emotion we slept.

Day Thirty Seven-Thirty Eight

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Woke up early to head into the Great Smoky Mountains. Detoured onto a gorgeous little scenic drive paralleling the mountains rolling through the foothills. Entered the park, welcomed by a rushing river, swayed with the river to the visitor’s center. Got some great information on the flora and fauna native to the area. Found a campground with the most splendid campsite right at the edge of the river with a little island perfect for our pop chairs and books. Hiked the Little River Trail full of wildflowers and birds. Cooked some peanut sauce and couscous stir fry for dinner. After finishing Mitch went to wash the dishes, the second he left a little drop of rain landed on my book, then another and another, boommm a roll of thunder, I quickly packed up my chair and ran to the van. A bright flash filled the sky as the rain now pouring down pelted the roof of the van, another boom of thunder, the storm was literally directly over us in minutes. Out of the blur of rain I see Mitch, drenched head to toe, dashing through the puddles. I threw open the sliding door and he jumped in, pots and plates in tow, that’s one way to clean the dishes! Our first thunder storm was exciting! The next day we woke up ready to embrace the Smokies! After breakfast we enjoyed our campsite a little longer before packing out and heading up to Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the park, we got a beautiful 360 view of the mountains with their distinctly smoky blue hue. On our way back down a crowed had gathered at the edge of the trail, someone had spotted a young black bear, we stopped to watch it pop it’s cute little ears out of the brush. Back on the Newfound Gap road another group was gathered. We stopped again to see a mamma bear and her two teeny tiny fuzzy black babies bounding around without much coordination, it was one of the cutest things I have ever seen! Visited the second visitor’s center with a full farm exhibit of buildings and descriptions of what life was like in the Appalachians before this area was made into a Park. Mitch and I both decided we could easily have lived here, with the wood sided farm house, beautiful barn, sweeping vistas, and gardens galore! Stayed at a different campground in the mountains, enjoyed a cozy fire before crawling into bed.