A long day of driving

Yesterday we left the Cottonwoods RV Park in Columbia, MO, at 9:30 a.m. We spent the rest of the day driving through the heart of the Midwest. Farm after farm. Barn after barn. Cornfields as far as we could see. Considering this was my first trip to the Midwest, I really was struck by the simple beauty of the farmlands. I would imagine, however, that if we pass that way again I might just get a little bored with the scenery. 

The kids passed the time coloring and reading. Aidan finished one of his Summer reading books...one down 7 to go. We pulled into the Yogi Bear Jellystone camp at 6:00 p.m. While stopped to refuel earlier in the afternoon, I got everything ready to hit the grill immediately after parking the coach. We jumped into action as soon as we hit the brakes and were eating by 7:00 p.m. We wanted the kids to have plenty of time to jump on the inflatable "pillow." The thing was huge....about the size of the youth league soccer field. The kids jumped until dark. After that, we headed back to the campsite to build a fire for roasting marshmallows. Only Aidan actually ate the S'mores which was ok because it meant s'more for me! The kids fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows. 

It's 10:30 a.m. right now and the kids have already been to the playground and the jumpy pillow. Aidan and his dad played a round of mini-golf. We are back in the coach and ready to roll. The kids are ready to see the Badlands.

Day 1: St.Louis & Columbia

Day 1 started at 3 a.m. After celebrating Aidan's birthday at Greer Stadium we loaded the kids up in the RV to sleep. They slept surprisingly well as I continued to unpack our gear and set it up in the "coach." Megan joined me around midnight while Brent slept in the house since he was due behind the wheel at 3. Somehow, he managed to tough it out through the early morning hours and we arrived in St. Louis on schedule. We had NO trouble finding a place to park the rig which was a huge concern. The Gateway Arch is within walking distance from plenty of RV spots. However, had we arrived even a couple of hours later, it wouldn't have been so easy. The lots were full when we left. 

We got to the Arch by 9 a.m. where we cleared security as tight as any airport only a few minutes later. When we got to the ticket booth, however, we were told that the wait would be over an hour to get a tram to the top and cost a small fortune. The kids were more excited to tour the Museum of the West inside the lobby of the Arch. Even better, it was free. We spent the morning checking out the stagecoaches and stories of the Louisiana Purchase. The kids were thrilled. Everything was going according to plan and better. After the museum, the kids were satisfied with returning to the RV for lunch. After lunch, with the help of Megan's Garmin, we found Grant's Farm with no trouble. 

We arrived at Grant's Farm thrilled to be enjoying yet another of St. Louis' free attractions. Parking was a bit steep, but all told, it averaged $5 a person. Once inside, it was fabulously organized. We were ushered directly to a tram that took us on a tour of the grounds. The farm was once the homestead of U.S. Grant. His first home was built there soon after marrying his wife whose family owned the property. It was later acquired by the Anhauser-Busch family who turned it into a nature preserve full of exotic and protected animals. The kids loved seeing bison roaming so close to our tram. The tram eventually stops at the Tier Garten and petting zoo. Abby and Ella were a little freaked out by the aggressive nature of the goats, but Aidan ate it up. The girls much preferred the carousel. Mom and Dad enjoyed the FREE tastings of beer while the kids ate $5 kettle corn. I guess there really is no such thing as a free lunch. We saw the famous clydesdales and Miss Budweiser, the donkey who wants to be a clydesdale. It was a fantastic afternoon. The only hitch was when I had to convince the kids that the gift shop contained live alligators that snack on kids to keep them from crying for the less than free kiddie-crack that was sold there. They bought it and we kept them moving.

Tonight, we are staying in a campground in Columbia, MO, the home of the University of Missouri. I know there has to be a Starbucks in this town. Megan's Garmin will surely find it.

After figuring out all of our hookups, we set up the portable Coleman grill and barbequed some chicken. The kids fell asleep worn out and happy as clams in the master bedroom while watching a VHS of Aladdin. If tomorrow goes as smoothly, we are on course for the experience of a lifetime. This is incredible!

Still packing

So, today it's food. I am trying to plan meals for on the road. We really don't want to eat fast food or endure our three less-than-restaurant-appropriate kids in restaurants night after night after night. All I can come up with is canned soup and spaghetti-o's. Crap. That's not good. HELP!!

Why can't I just relax and enjoy this planning stuff. Part of the reason we bought this thing is that in order for me to fly I must be medicated (or at least self-medicated at the airport bars that are oddly open and serving at all times...It's 8 a.m. Margaritas, anyone?). Now my anxiety is beginning to peak again as if there aren't Wal-Marts in the Midwest or grocery stores in Montana. This isn't Oregon Trails, people. We can get more supplies without contracting cholera or shooting rabbits with little digital bullets. We shouldn't have to make a raft and float the RV across the Mississippi to reach further supplies. What is wrong with me?? I might have a control problem. BUT....once on the road, I am a warrior of preparedness. I will have everything you could possibly need. I'll have tweezers and gauze; bug repellent; phone numbers for every KOA between here and Victoria; need a flashlight or three? I have them. Quarters for the meter? Got them. Granulated molasses in case we are colonized by ants? Working on that one.

I'm off to pack more emergency supplies of water in the RV.... just in case my hose won't reach the hook-up.

Getting ready

T - 4 days! We are so NOT ready. Summer is supposed to be a laid back and lazy time...WHAT HAPPENED??!! With every intention to get things packed and ready, nothing is done. I am up to my eyeballs in laundry. Skipping from event to event has kept me too busy to get packed and ready to load up with three kids and three adults for a cross country trek in an RV. This is getting really complicated.

Aidan's birthday party is Saturday night. We plan to sleep in the RV that night after the baseball game and get up and go by 4 a.m. We want to be in St. Louis before the crowds arrive at the Gateway Arch. Ideally, we will be there before 10 a.m.

Perhaps the most daunting aspect of this trip is the packing of the clothes. We will need camping friendly clothes as well as city appropriate clothes for the two weeks we plan to be in Victoria. We will need tank tops and shorts for the super-hot Midwest and jackets and pants for the cool nights in Canada. After I have planned for all of the possible scenarios, we may have empty closets.

It's going to happen!

Yesterday, after months of agonizing over the decision to buy an RV, we came home from Chattanooga with our RV.... the trip is ON! We can't wait to get going. We plan to leave on June 28th, 9 days from now. In the meantime, there is so much planning to do. We have route decisions to make and campground reservations to confirm. The list goes on and on....