Drive Stats: 175 miles, 6.5 hours on the road
10:30 am - 4:30 pm in Jeep to Seattle downtown, :30 to camp
The longest part of our drive was the 30 min to go a couple of blocks to get to the bridge adjacent to our campground, well...that and taking the scenic route through town rather than taking the Trans-Canadian hwy 1 again with the toll-bridge that we had no idea what it was already costing for going over the first time (we later paid online; it was $9.45Can). The rest of the drive was smooth sailing. Even the border crossing--the agent was very kind (according to online reviews, they're not all that way, so we were very happy).
We said good-bye to Susan & Bernie just south of the border crossing. When we got close to Seattle, we unhitched the Jeep in a Walmart parking lot and drove into downtown before heading to our campground in the opposite direction. Downtown traffic was no surprise; we enjoyed the tunnel and water-level bridges on the way. We parked at the shopping center and rode the monorail to the "Seattle Center" and saw the Space Needle.
The kids enjoyed the monorail and the giant playground at Seattle Center, then we had a nice sit-down dinner overlooking the bay and saw the "boat-parade" when a big group of sailboats came
by.
We backed the Jeep up to the MH so the back racks were overlapping b/c we heard about bike thefts from another camper... No bunk down since we are leaving right away...Piper got a turn to sleep at the table-bed, and Addisyn chose the top bunk rather than the couch.
DAY 15--FRI 7/7/17 -- DRIVE DAY-->Salem, OR
Drive Stats: 225 miles, 8 hours on the road + 30mi Jeep
Depart: 8:30am Arrive: 4:30pm
(ugh terrible traffic through Portland)
We visited Uncle Robbie and Aunt Arlene at their house, then went out to dinner together. We had a nice visit, remembering bits of my childhood, getting to know my uncle and aunt, and enjoyed a nice tour of their property. They spend a lot of time outdoors maintaining the property. I wish I had gotten pictures! Robbie has some of the same expressions and mannerisms as my dad.
We split ways after dinner since our MH was 15 min north of them.
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| a boomerang in her hair is stylish? |
All our stickers for this trip:
DAY 16--SAT 7/8/17 -- Salem, OR
Drive Stats: 30 miles JEEP (40min)
We had a hard time motivating everyone to get moving but we were in no rush. We've had a lot of long days and while we are enjoying making memories, we are also tired.
We visited the state Capitol and Addisyn got to compare the similarities and differences to the nation's Capitol she visited a couple months ago. The girls saw the Senate and House meeting rooms. We gave ourselves the quick self-tour, and the girls agreed that "our vote counts." There was a big fair on the Capitol lawn celebrating the 50th anniversary of a beach access law passed in 1967, and the girls got a picture in front of a giant inflatable crab--the state crustation. We noticed the Capitol has a gold statue and no dome--we learned that the original building did have a dome, but it has twice been rebuilt due to fire. The circular center is flat outside on top, but looks normal looking up from the inside.
Our afternoon was at an amusement park Karen remember's going to as a girl--Enchanted Forest. The girls had a great time. There were lots of caves and tunnels for the kids to maze through, and Marissa was not so fond of the dark ones, but she did a few with mom/dad or her sisters. They were a bit intimidating walking/crawling into darkness not knowing where it would come out. Chris liked the "crooked house" with slanted floors and walls painted to trick your sense of perspective. The slides coming out of a shoe and fort and a witch were great fun. The kids were all tall enough to do the big rides so we did the Bobsleds and the Log ride as a family. With the bumps and sharp drops and turns, I was impressed with Marissa for being so little and even though her little body bounced around on the bobsleds. There were ponchos to borrow for the log ride and after seeing how big the splash was and how wet everyone was getting off we used them, but by the time mommy got everyone else outfitted, there was no time left to put one on herself. It was fun going as a whole family together, and at least the kids blocked much of the splash from the parents! I took photos with the waterproof camera and was surprised and happy to see all smiles after getting soaked! We dried well enough and did a few kiddie rides before heading home.
The kids had been waiting eagerly for their chance to swim, so we had an hour to play at the
pool before dinner.
To finish our day, we read a fun article on the differences between taking a family "vacation", and taking a "trip". Like, what is bathroom privacy, or taking a child who wets her pants on occasion, or who do you think picks up after you and makes the dirty dishes disappear? "Magic Mommy."
DAY 17--SUN 7/9/17 -- DRIVE DAY --> Oregon Dunes
Drive Stats: 170 miles, 4 hours on the road + 20 miles exploring/dinner JEEP
We didn't leave till 11am. We enjoyed sleeping in and relaxing like an actual vacation in the morning.
Chris has been looking forward to this day for the whole trip! Oregon Dunes was the place of his first off-road riding experience.
There was a marine layer of fog rolling by which felt like rain mist. Jackets on!
KOA campground: kind of weird having full hook-ups, and listening to off-road motors all around
Kids loved the jumpy "jump pad" (NO pool)
Karen stuck the Jeep in the sand...had to put in 4x4 to back out. (*haha!)
DAY 18--MON 7/10/17 -- Oregon Dunes
Drive Stats: __miles in JEEP
Today was the Chris was waiting for! Duning at the place it all began 30 years ago. Marissa was jealous of all the other campers with quads because she wanted hers, but Chris aired down the tires in the Jeep and we went out to the dunes for an hour or so. We were a bit nervous being out by ourselves in dunes we are not familiar with, and not really knowing what the limits of Jeep the are, but Chris did NOT stick it. I never doubted him, but the girls were nervous bouncing in their seats a bit. Good thing Karen wasn't driving (I had no interest--it was not my skill level).
It was different scenery than we are used to because there are forest trees and lakes of water all through the dunes area. The kids wanted to play at the lakes, so they got their feet wet. We hiked up a hill, but it was small compared to the ones we climb at Gordon's Well.
After coming back to eat lunch and relax a bit, Mommy ejected everyone out of the MH for fresh air and sanity. We played good analog games like Connect 4, and Checkers, and Dot-to-Dot-Squares.
Then it was the business end of things, going to the grocery store (which is a different experience from what I'm used to with 5 people), dinner, laundry, and tidying up the MH so we can get rolling first thing in the morning. Chris bought more firewood and let the kids make S'mores tonight after writing in journals.
DAY 19--TUE 7/11/17 -- DRIVE DAY -- south San Jose
Drive Stats: 605 miles, 12.5 hours on the road
Depart: 7:50 am (K drove 10-1 / 3hr & 3-5:30 / 2.5hr)
Arrive: 8:30pm 1 gas stop, 1 McD Playplace stop 45min
12hr40min
Big drive day
Chris study--read 3 chapters before his class tomorrow.
Chris bee sting on his wrist (under his watch band) swelling still -- keeping watch... not sure how close to a doctor or civilization we are.
Got gas in City of Weed, saw horses and Mt. Shasta.
Marissa was still sleeping for a hour on the road before she even woke up.
Piper and Addisyn napped in the back bedroom for about an hour--they wish they could have slept in.
Today's Journal topic: What are/should be the rules for traveling in the MH?
**STAY CLEAN**
-pick up after yourself
-pick up other people's trash/clothes sometimes too
-no eating in the beds or bedroom, or on the carpet
-no messy foods on the couch
-if you spill, clean it up
-only one mess (project/craft/game...) out at a time
-keep your belongings tidy (for example, no dirty socks left out on the couch or the floor, and your fun stuff or souvenirs stay in your bag/container)
-no towels on the floor --(we SHARE them)
**BE SAFE**
-close the tilt windows when we drive
-don't disturb the driver
-keep the driver company (keep him/her awake and alert and get them stuff)
-don't block the driver's side mirrors
-don't step on the hot circle of engine cover with bare feet
-no fingerprints on the windshield (even when you want to be the 1st one in at a state border)
-don't slam doors (or otherwise abuse the MH)
-conserve MH water (sinks/shower/toilet)
**BE NICE**
-be considerate
-be honest
-use your words
-listen to each other
-say please and thank you / be nice / be polite
-no grabby hands
-be helpful
-take a "chill pill" sometimes
-let others pee before you poop in the only bathroom
-no locking the bathroom door
-knock before opening the bathroom door
-don't run in front of someone else to pee if they REALLY REALLY have to GO
-be quiet at bedtime, or if you wake up early
**TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF**
-no electronics on camp days--just use them on drive days for 2-3 hrs
-drink water
-don't make mommy ask you to do something 3 times
-don't ignore things and wait for "magic mommy" do it
-write in your journal every day (with details and feelings words)
-go to bed and go right to sleep
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Kids rules from their journals: HAHA!!!
-eat candy every day
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