Looking back, looking forward

It was one year ago, this past Monday, that Candace died. This past weekend was hard and I didn't really want to go to work on Monday. But, as with most things I don't want to do (except exercise), I saw the bigger picture and knew going to work was the best choice. I got up, got Mads up, and together we headed to school.

When I got to my office, one of the amazing people I work with had left red roses for me on my desk. She had also left pink ones for Mads.

The thoughtfulness of the gift made me tear up. For most of the day, I found myself focused on my students and not on my emotions. However, at lunch, I sat staring out my window. Flying in the distance, I saw the unmistakable white head and tail of a bald eagle. Graceful for its size, I saw it settle on a branch of a tree and look in my direction. Or I thought it looked at me. I could't tell without my glasses - the glasses which had earlier been buried under the papers covering my desk. As I turned to hunt for my glasses I noticed the little red circle with the number 1 on my mail icon that indictates new mail.

Compelled to read emails as soon as I notice them, I clicked on the Mail icon. Would it be an email worth getting excited about or one I would delete without opening? In one of those rare and bittersweet moments, I saw that the 'unread' mail was from Cruise America. The subject line read, "Cruise America RV - Hot Deals!!!".

I admit, for the length of time it takes to blink, I thought about it. I thought about opening up that email and finding out just what those 'Hot Deals!!!' were. I thought about doing an RV trip all over again.  I thought about collecting Gman and Mads and Nikki and heading out somewhere this summer. Sort of a 'In-Candace's-memory' trip.

Then I hit the delete key.  Because while it is true that I am nostalgic; I am not crazy.

Monday was an emotionally difficult day. For too many reasons to explain, and many I likely don't need to, I spent a lot of Saturday and Sunday crying.  I am still grieving the loss of Candace. This weekend I felt like everything since she has died has been harder than I thought it was going to be.

Just like that RV trip across America two and a half years ago was harder than I thought it would be. I clearly remember the times on that trip when I seriously thought I would sue Cruise America for the horrible RV experience. I have moments when I am still angry they put my life, the kids' life, Candace's life and Nikki's life in danger by forcing us to drive in an unsafe vehicle that should not have been allowed on the road. And even though I still can't forget how most of the people at Cruise America made that trip so much harder than I ever thought it would be... I realized, in spite of how hard it was, we were all better for having taken that trip together.

Every one of those experiences has made for an amazing story. Our RV trip had all the elements needed to make it unforgettable and magical. It had great love, drama, frustration, laughter and locust! :). And even though it was tough, we became closer, we loved harder and we lived more in those short days in that RV than I ever could have guessed when Candace said to me, "Will you take me on a road trip to the Grand Canyon?"

So, perhaps Cruise America regained some good 'car'ma on Monday when I got that email. I don't know. What I do know is that even though there were some incredibly tough moments, I learned so much on our trip. I learned what I can and can not do. I learned how far I can push myself until I break. I learned that even when it seems like I am broken, I am not. And I learned that moments that seem unbearably rough are, likely, going to come together in an amazing story somewhere down the road.

Feel free to look back through these posts. They made me smile this week, I hope they do the same for you,

Blessings,

MaryKate

We've Come So Far...

What a long strange trip it's been...

Entry 10

It's 7:34am as I start to write this. I'll get everyone up in an hour and get them to the airport. BffC hasn't been feeling well, so I hope the trip will go okay and their returning to Ohio will be an almost effortless trip.

As I sit here with Mads sleeping near me and my cat curled up at my feet... Gman is in with BffC and everything in the house is quiet, I realize as much as I love the idea of things being back in some sort of order in my life, I'll miss the laughter and joy of a full house. I won't miss the Legos *everywhere* or the bickering over who gets to pester the cat, and I certainly won't miss the "QUIT TOUCHING ME's" of your typical 11 and 7 year old sister brother drama... but there is something wonderful about 'family' and this trip has certainly been about family.

A little recap of the winding down of the trip. On Wednesday the troops went to Deception Pass. We had a wonderful time just looking at rocks! The kids took bags so they could take their rocks with them. I weighed their luggage last night... 47.3 pounds! *whew* just under 50! lol

Gman by the bridge.

Mads looking for rocks

Enjoying the sun at the rocky beach.

We spent the rest of the day driving around Whidbey Island and took the ferry back to the mainland. 

Thursday we spent relaxing and swimming at the pool and I made brisket. 

Gman at pool.

The brisket you *know* you wish you were here to eat made on the Big Green Egg!

Friday I took Nix to the airport to head home and it was down to just the four of us. Not an extremely eventful day either. BffC needed some down time and so did I. Saturday was crazy busy!

First? A trip with their godfather to Pike's Place Market. I'd share lots of pics but I gave my goddaughter ONE job - 'please take pics for the blog' and she took ONE picture. Of an elephant car wash sign. So here is the photo of Pike's Place Market you get:

So... I took back my camera when we all met up again at ROLLER DERBY! Banked Track no less! Tilted Thunder Roller Derby Championship Bout... Four Teams duked it out: Sugar Skulls, Rolling Blackouts, Royal Crush and St. Hellions. It was great fun... although BffC was starting to get really tired by the end of the last bout. Here are some pics I took at the game:

Grant eating the bottomless popcorn basket. He tested that theory for sure!

Mads intently watching the game for pointers. We just might see her on the track next year!

BffC wasn't feeling good on Sunday, but a good friend of mine and Dressage trainer,  brought out "Sam" - one of the nicest horses ever to give the kids their first 'real' experience on a horse - they both did an amazing job... Sam was extremely patient and kind. 

First they had to brush down Sam to make sure all the dust was off of him from being outside. It can get under the saddle and irritate the horse if he is too dusty!

Mads and Gman each got an opportunity to clean the shoes on the horse to remove the mud and rocks.

Sam was gentle and calm while each one got their turn riding. Chelsea and Ralph were also patient! The kids both had a wonderful time getting to ride and even rode the horse at a trot!

Mads

Gman.

It was a wonderful way to end our trip! There are many closing thoughts I could ponder, but I think it is enough to say that this is a trip none of us will forget any time soon. (We probably won't repeat it anytime soon either *lol*).

I believe the intent was to spend time together, love each other and connect. And without a doubt? We accomplished what we started out to do!

Thank you again, all of you who loved us and supported us both financially and emotionally. You made the magic happen, not Disney *smile*.

Happy Trails,

MaryKate

The second half!

On our way to Seattle...

Entry 9

No entry would be complete without thanking those who have donated to making this trip so wonderful! Today we'd like to thank Susan for being an Adventurer and supporting our trip! We'd also like to give a special shout out to Lauren (who let us snag her car for the day in California), Oliver (who picked up all our luggage in Seattle) and Ken who drove down to pick up people from the airport. And one more 'thank you' to my sister Margaret. Just for being supportive and listening to me when I needed an ear to process.

Okay, so much to tell... Today is Thursday, my last entry was on Saturday. I've had spotty internet so haven't been able to post. However, I am finally back in Seattle and over the next few days I'll have time to play catchup! So, last Saturday was Legoland. Sunday was Disneyland, Monday was California Adventure Park and 3am Tuesday? Was a trip to the airport!

It's clearly too early to be at the airport:

But let's back up and discuss how we got up at 3am to make it to the airport by 4 to be sure we were seated and ready to get on that plane at 6:15 when it started loading. 

We have to go back to Saturday night, when the bed broke in the RV. That's right! Mads climbed into the converted kitchen table bed, only to have the support piece of the bed break off. When it fell off I could see someone had hastily tried to repair it previously and hadn't done a very good job. 

I don't necessarily blame CA for that. It’s quite possible that someone did it on a trip and stuck it back on there so they wouldn't have to pay damages and there is no way CA would have known that. But for me? It was the last straw. Now, even if we wanted to sleep in the RV on the last 4 days of the trip up the coast? We couldn't have done it because the bed was broken.  And going to the repair shop was not an option. I had enough. I looked online and realized there was a Cruise America rental area in Carson, Cal (near LA)which was only about twenty minutes away. I figured I had already paid the $500 one-way drop fee, so why not just pay for the miles I had travelled and leave it there. I didn’t even want a refund for the unused days. I just wanted to be done with Myrtle. I called CA on the phone and got a relatively unfriendly customer service rep – Heather. Not that Lucas or Elizabeth were any more helpful. I know they had their jobs to do and had to tow the party line, but as unhelpful went? She was probably the most unhelpful. She informed me if I tried to drop off the RV anywhere else but Everett, Wa, I would have to pay another drop off fee. I refused. I told her I had already paid a drop off fee and I had lost 3 days of my vacation. She said, “You signed a contract. You have to pay another drop off fee. I will email upper management and let them know and they will tell me what the drop off fee will be. Call me back on Monday morning.” I informed her again that I was refusing to pay another drop off fee and to put that into my records and said good night and hung up.

I got tickets on a plane to Seattle. I think at first, bffC was a bit disappointed we weren't driving up the coast and seeing the Redwood Forest. But I realized, although the cost in dollars was high to complete the trip in the RV, the cost in 'together time' was even higher. For a trip where I wanted to spend quality time with my bffC, I had actually been spending a lot of time tense and driving. We were having fun, but I wasn't really getting 'clucking' time with BffC. I had time with the kids, and Nix... but the point of the trip was to spend time hanging out with each other, and that wasn't really happening. Plus I was tired, we were tired of Myrtle constantly demanding attention and we started smelling Propane in the RV. I sent the troops off to Disneyland and I attended to the details to make flying home happen. After planning, plotting and regaining my sanity, my friend Lauren showed up to go with me to Disney. After all... I *needed* EARS!

Here are some pics of Disney. I had a great time :). 

Lauren

I do have to say, the fireworks at the end were SO worth i!

Monday came and it was time to drop off Myrtle to her new home that would hopefully be more considerate of her ‘special needs’ and get her the ‘help’ her poor moaning required. I called CA at 8:40 in the morning. They called me back at 9:30 to tell me that the drop off fee would be $2000! At first, I sort of panicked. I told her that was ridiculous and I would not be paying that fee. I told her I would return the vehicle, pay nothing, they could send me a bill and I would turn that bill over to my lawyer and we could figure it out in court. I told her I had been extremely patient and understanding, but no contract could force me to drive an unsafe vehicle to Everett. I hung up my cell phone, cried for a few minutes and then? I had this feeling of peace come over me. Strongly. I had this feeling that it was going to be okay. The knot in my stomach started to unwind and the near hyperventilating I was feeling ceased. If I could say I felt a warm hand rest gently on my shoulder y’all would think I was crazy. But I did. And I knew it was going to be okay.

What I didn’t plan on, was meeting Farhad Tabib at the Cruise America lot in Carson. The place was HOPPING. Apparently, renting in Cali is different than in Ohio! There was one other vehicle in Ohio when we rented. Carson was packed with RV’s. I drove the RV into the parking lot, said my goodbyes to Myrtle and went hunting for the manager. He was busy moving vehicles and such, but I sort of jumped up in line and caught him. I handed him my keys and kindly said, “Hi. I am giving you my keys. I am not paying anything today, I am in a big dispute with Cruise America. I have had a very bad experience with this vehicle, I believe it isn’t safe. It smells like propane, it has had problems since I left Ohio and I am not willing to drive it any further. Cruise America will be sending me a bill and I am giving that bill to my lawyer to deal with.” I asked if he needed anything from me and he asked if he could make a copy of my rental agreement. I told him of course. He asked if I would let him try to remedy the situation before we got to the next step of mediation or legal involvement. I said I had been informed by ‘upper management’ that they would not do anything to resolve my issues or remove the $2000 drop off fee they were insisting on charging. He asked me to take a seat and he would be right back. About ten minutes later he returned. He was incredibly busy, but he took the time to make sure I was okay. I was still a little weepy and he took me into his office. First, I had to fill out an accident form for ‘the Ramada Inn-cident” He asked if the RV had been fixed and I said to the best of my knowledge any damage from the accident had been addressed in my 3 day hostage situation in Clinton, OK. After I filled out the paperwork, he told me he had spoken to his boss and was waiving the $2000 fee for drop off seeing as I had already paid $500. He also deducted the last two days of rental that I had already agreed to at $129 a day (which I hadn’t asked for and had expected to eat), he put the $500 security deposit toward the mileage that I owed, and he gave me a $150 gift certificate to use toward another RV rental. My total bill when I turned in Myrtle? Was less than $300. (Making the total rental around $3,000 which doesn’t include gas, or hotels, blah blah). I told him that seemed unfair. I wasn’t asking for that, I just felt that the $2000 fee was unreasonable considering I had already had to eat a lot of money and time for the situation in OK. He said he understood I wasn’t trying to get out of paying, but he wanted me to have a positive experience with Cruise America and he was sorry for the unfortunate experience I had when renting from his company.

I realize that a lot happened on this trip. And I realize we had our ups and down with Myrtle. But meeting Farhad reminded me that just because I didn’t enjoy working with corporate Cruise America, there are good people that work for that company. I know because I met one. I am not only happy that I was able to fly to Seattle and am able to spend some quality time with everyone, but I also ended up my time with Myrtle on a positive experience. And I know this might shock you, but I am going to use that $150 coupon toward another Cruise America rental. I am, one weekend, going to rent a little RV and drive to the ocean and write and see if it is an experience I would like to have more often. I don’t know that I am ready to buy an RV, but I have to admit I really enjoyed the adventure of ‘camping’ and hanging out in an RV. Myrtle, although large, did drive well considering all the junk and all the people we stuffed in her. It’s nice to know her engine worked great… even if she had electrical issues as well as functionality issues.

So, our trip isn't over, just the RV part. We are still planning on many an adventure! Possibly including a whale watching tour, a trip on the ferry to Orcas Island in order to go to Hurricane Ridge, a trip to Deception Pass and possibly a trip to the rainforest. Oh, and Roller Derby! Can’t forget roller derby! I’ll also be making some of my famous brisket and who knows… I’ll likely even have a brisket party! We will have from 11am Tuesday until early Monday to continue our fun! I think flying to Seattle? Was one of my brilliant ideas! And with Southwest? It wasn’t overly expensive for the five one way tickets (less than driving the RV) and I’ll get some time with my bffC.

Enough about Myrtle and such. How about some photos from Legoland and California Adventure?Disney was the big winner for handicapped access. They were very kind and accommodating. Legoland? Not so much. I enjoyed both parks (I was doing Myrtle things and didn’t make it to California Adventure. Apparently much of the park is under construction anyhow, and I didn’t miss much) but I really liked all the items constructed in Legoland. To me? It wasn’t nearly as crowded as Disney, and for whatever reason I enjoyed it a bit more. Disney was wonderful and BffC was in her happy place! She tooled around in her cart moving through her favorite places like a little kid. I got to Disney around 7pm and stayed until after midnight. That was enough for me, but it was very enjoyable and I liked the fireworks! For rides? I still prefer Cedar Point, but for cool things to see and do? Disney probably wins in that department.

I LOVED Legoland. I could have looked at all the construction all day! Me and my very TALL new boyfriend. He's so... quiet and easy going!

Mads and her new Volvo!

Grant got the 'hand me down' car! *laughter*

BffC in her new car - it flies!

The best part of the California Adventure Park was when the kids and BffC got up early in the morning to go to the park, Nix and I moved everything to a new hotel. BffC got tired about halfway through the day and told me she'd meet me in the lobby of the hotel. I had exchanged Myrtle and had returned to the new hotel room (which did NOT have internet connection...). So I go up to meet her in the lobby and she's not there. I text her and she says, "I'm right here getting a room key!" I texted back, "Um... I don't know where you are, but you aren't at OUR hotel!!!" hahaah. Anyhow I went and fetched her from the wrong hotel and we all had a good laugh about it.

All in all, I’m glad to be back in Seattle… I’m glad to be spending lots of quality time with my bffC. But I will say, and don't tell, all right? I sort of miss Myrtle. Maybe it is that Patty Hearst hostage syndrome… you know, where you fall for your kidnappers? Yeah I think that might be me.

Happy Trails,

MaryKate

ps. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update. Tonight I'll catch you up to Thursday and share the plans for the rest of the trip!

Sedona, Grand Canyon and Cali, Oh MY!

Parked in the Hampton Inn...

Entry 8

A special shout out to Dorothy and Lori, the latest Adventurers to donate to our road trip! We'll be using those donations at Legoland and Disneyland over the next two days! The kids and bffC are so excited, but honestly? I think bffC is the MOST excited about Disneyland! *chuckle*

I'm starting to think if I could, and if I didn't want to be predictable, I'd start every one of these blogs with "I'm so tired..." However, not wanting to be predictable, I'll start instead with, "Holy Golden Gate, Batman! Who knew driving in California could be so life threatening?"

Let's see... my last blog left off in Sedona. A very full Wednesday started out with a jeep tour of 'sacred sites' in Sedona. My bffC really felt called to do this and at first I grumped about it, but turns out? It was one of my favorite parts of the trip so far! We used a company called Earth Wisdom Jeep Tours. Our tour guide was named Blair. He was fantastic - if you ever head to Sodona, look them/him up; well worth the money. Mads, Gman, bffC and I climbed into the jeep:

The first site we went to on our two hour tour was called cathedral rock:

If you use your imagination, you can 'see' the first man and woman standing in the middle. bffC had a very intense experience here, it isn't for me to tell her story, but she really felt the energy. It was a strong, shaking energy and I vote for super healing! Go Sedona!

We took the jeep offroading - I was a bit worried at first but bffC handled it like a pro. At one point the whole jeep lurched sideways and I thought we were goners, but Blair navigated the gullies all the while sharing fascinating tidbits about Sedona and answering all my questions!

Yay seatbelts!

After we returned to our beautiful room in Sedona, we were on our way to the Grand Canyon. Having seen the amazing rocks and outcroppings of Sedona, I really didn't think the Grand Canyon was going to be that amazing.

Believe it or not, this outcropping you see is where the original plans to build Disneyland were set. Luckily, Eisenhower turned it into park land and Walt had to go to Anaheim. It would have been an ecological disaster to have put Disneyland in Sedona. *whew*

When we first arrived (after several hours of driving) at the Grand Canyon, I think we were all overwhelmed. Not with the scenery, we saw NOTHING the way we entered, but overwhelmed by all the PEOPLE! It was crazy. I let bffC off to the vistor's center and then drove off to try to find a place to park. Imagine my surprise and dread when I realized my worst Chevy Chase movie moment had come to pass. I parked the RV, got out, fought through the insane amount of tourists and probably 20 other identically marked RVs... only to find a big sign that said "Sorry folks, visitor's center is closed for installation of an exhibit" really? REALLY?

The most frustrating part of the Grand Canyon was the lack of information. Especially for ways to view the park if you can't walk. BffC isn't able to walk long distances, especially in hot weather. Nowhere do they post any driving tours or ways to see the Grand Canyon without paying for a plane/helicopter or a mule - which she also couldn't have done. After driving Myrtle around, I saw a place I could dump them off then I could circle around to pick them up. They all scurried out of the RV and while I was trying to circle around to find them? I got lost. Seriously! Finally, I found them again and they all piled back in the RV and I was frustrated I didn't get to see anything. All that driving to see NOTHING?

After forcing poor Nix to get out of the RV and ask someone, (no park ranger was around to really help us, but Nix just asked a random guy in the gift shop for help), we struggled with the limited map we got, and figured out we should drive down Desert View Dr. I kept thinking "I am sure the rocks in Sedona were just as lovely as the rocks in the Grand Canyon... " Then? I saw this:

I absolutely couldn't breathe. 

We stopped at our first view point off the side of the road. There was almost none of the pushing/talking/cacophony we found when navigating the crowd at the (closed) Visitor's Center. 

The pull off was peaceful and serene. I felt overwhelmed by the immensity and beauty of the landscape. None of my photos show it justice. I think the only thing that would have made it better would have been the eye of an archeologist who could have, once I absorbed the incredible tranquility and majesty of what I was seeing,  told me more about the rock formations and the history of who lived there, the ruins found there, answered the thousand questions that floated through my mind... I'm kind of geeky like that. :)

I am not going to try to put in a bunch of photos, because truly, they do not begin to communicate the vastness and magic of the surroundings - on any level. If you ever have the chance, GO. Just go. Because we only spent a few hours driving along and looking and even that was amazing. Exploring the Grand Canyon more fully is something I will have to do in my lifetime for sure.

Mads and Gman standing infront of the fence. 

Can you believe I actually watched someone go OVER the guardrails/fence? It was at least an 800 foot drop to the level below and who knows how many more feet to the actual bottom of the canyon. Taking risks is fun, but taking stupid risks that can get you killed? Life is too short for such stupidity.

Although the drive around the rim of the Grand Canyon was worth every penny we paid to get into the park, it put us about two hours back in the wrong direction. It took five hours to get to the Kingman, AZ where we finally collapsed for the night. That was after the tour in the morning, driving to the Grand Canyon, then retracing our steps and pushing forward until 11:30 at night.

Today? We got up early, had some awesome chicken fried steak and headed to California.

Traffic in California makes Seattle look like drivers with training wheels. *deep breath* My knuckles were on the steering wheel so tightly I had to pry my fingers off. I got a crazy headache from locking my jaw. *ugh*. Driving the vast nothingness that is AZ and parts of TX and NM was bad, but it was NOTHING like this:

And this? Wasn't even the bad traffic!

Perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't of been up and down hills with traffic going 70 and Myrtle lucky to be going 55/60. Let's just say, I have a WHOLE new appreciation for truckers and people in large vehicles!

So here ends the saga for tonight. It's midnight and this RV is turning back into a lemon. Oh wait. Too late for that! hahahaah,! 

I need to get some sleep - it's LEGOLAND tomorrow and Disney on Sunday. Then? Then we start the blessed trip up the coast toward home... (home... doesn't that sound like a wonderful word?).

I am so fortunate to see all the incredible things I have been able to see and do all the fun things I've been able to do on this trip. I've loved getting to hang with Mads and Gman... they are really growing so fast... I haven't had a lot of quality time with my bffC... probably because I do all the driving and she usually sits in the back. Plus? She is a night owl and I am a morning hen... So I tend to sleep in the RV and she sleeps in the hotel room. Tonight is no exception. Mads is already asleep and I am finishing up my blog and joining her. 

I think a big reason why I am looking forward to getting home it that I'll get a few days with her at my quiet, peaceful house. Just 'us girl' time. I'm going to send the kids off with my sis to go shopping and bffC and I can just relax and spend that quality time together I've been craving. Tonight? Nix is being wonderful and doing our laundry so we have clean clothes for the rest of the trip. LOVE YOU NIX!!!!! *hugs*XOXOXOXOXO

As for this point in the trip? We're all about done with each other *chuckle*. Too many days in a rolling tin can - as the genie once said in the Disney Aladdin movie, "PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS! Itty-bitty living space!"

I'm excited about getting back home and having time together where I don't have to drive and we can all just enjoy each other without having to figure out where we are spending the night and not fighting about which kid gets to sit behind the driver and which doesn't! *smile* I learn something new every day and for that, and for those I love... I am grateful.

Happy Trails!

MaryKate

Two for the Price of One...

So much to tell, so little sleep to tell it...

Entry 7

This entry is a double feature. It covers Tuesday *and* Wednesday, August 9th and 10th and it covers, OK, TX, NM and AZ!

First, as I try to do when we have Adventurers donate to our cause, we'd like to thank Teri for her kind-hearted and wonderful gift. Thank you for supporting our trek. Much love to you!

Now? On to two days worth of bloggin:

So. Tired. That is the best way to start this blog. Yesterday we drove 13 hours from our prison, I mean our hotel in Clinton, OK, to Gallup, NM. I would tell you about Myrtle (the new name for the RV in homage to Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter) and the fridge breaking... and the fact that she eats CD's, doesn't play them and doesn't spit them out either, but I think you have all heard enough about my issues with Myrtle. I have been informed that as long as Myrtle doesn't have a *mechanical* failure, I can not get another RV. Period. That's when I simply gave both Elizabeth and Lucas - the two cruiseamerica help desk people (who I realize are just following the policy of a company with little customer consideration) a gypsy woman curse. I felt bad afterwords because seriously... I was upset and crying. And they were towing the party line. So... yeah. They both better hope nothing happens to me, my godchildren or my friends on this trip. Just sayin'. I also learned that cruiseamerica will not reimburse me for *any* of the hotel or meal expenses I incurred while Myrtle was broken down in Clinton, OK. That's $700 worth of hotel and food and supplies I will never see again. While it is true, we would have still had expenses for those 2 nights and three days of being stranded, we would be much farther along on our trip. I would like to say, however, that they would be glad to add 'free' days on to the end of our trip (more mileage at .32 a mile, that's only *good* for them). *sigh* If it weren't for the good stories we got out of it... the locust invasion followed THE NEXT day by a cricket invasion... not to mention the guts of the roof of the Ramada Inn hanging forlornly as we pulled out of the driveway... I'd be way more upset about it all. But it is grace that got me started on this trip and grace that will get me to Seattle.

So enough about that. Let's see some pics. We stopped in Texas to get a steak after leaving Oklahoma. I was informed not to bother with a steak once we got west of Texas. So we stopped here:

That's right, The Big Texan: it was a treasure trove of good photo ops to embarrass the children for the rest of their lives. Awesomeness:

That's right. A free 72oz steak. But you have to eat the salad, the roll, baked potato and shrimp cocktail not to mention the HUGE plate of meat and the drink in 60 minutes to get it for free. While we were there someone took on the challenge:

All I know? Is that it was a LOT of dead cow. And I LIKE steak.

One more embarrassing pic - I love Gman's face in this one:

Then we pushed on through Texas toward our goal of Gallup, NM. Texas can be quite beautiful, but honestly? There is a LOT of nothing moments as shown by Mads finally getting to hold her 'tumbling tumbleweed':

After 13 long hours of travel, we made it to Gallup, New Mexico. I have decided New Mexico is an amazingly beautiful state:

 We arrived late to our campgrounds: USARV Park in Gallup, NM. A friend of mine asked me to post this:

Because a friend asked me for this, this is the 'Gallup pole'. Snicker snicker snicker. That's right folks I'm here all week!

The campground was clean and the showers great, but the beds in the cabin not so comfortable. None of us ended up getting very good sleep. Which led to a bit of grumpiness all around. However... we kept moving moving moving... and got up early, had some awesome Huevos Rancheros, refilled the cooler with ice (fridge still not working) and headed to our destination of Sedona.

Little did we expect we would have an incredible side trip along the way. 

Bffc had some pain today (due to the fantastic bed she had last night) and she ended up sleeping a bit in the back of Myrtle. While driving, I saw a sign for Walnut Canyon and we decided to check it out on our way to Sedona. When we arrived, this is what we saw:

The native people of Walnut Canyon *lived* in these canyon walls and dug them out to make their homes! Even in the winter when it was snowy and icy, they climbed up and down the walls of the canyon! I can barely even imagine it considering they didn't wear shoes! Here is Gman in one of the 'homes' that still survive!

All I know? Is someone told me it was 200 steps down. When I reached 300 straight down? I stopped. Gman and Mads continued down about another 80 steps. Then trudged back up to find me and we slowly progressed back UP those 300 steps to the main overlook. Wow. Nothing like 600 steps in the hot sun and then driving 5 more hours! woohoo! 

We took the exit marked "Sedona 89A" and started down. It was about a 2000 foot drop through windy roads. I wish I had better pics of the trip down... Myrtle was very good about it, but truth be told? I am kind of anxious about the trip back up those 2000 feet! Myrtle doen't like anything that is too strenuous you know. Clearly she takes after the women and one boy on this trip.

Not exactly an easy trip with Myrtle, but we all made it safe and sound. Yay for lower gears and the 'towing' button! I hardly had to use the breaks except when I was making the crazy hairpin turns! 

We finally made it to Sedona and got a room at The Matterhorn Inn - we have a lovely ground floor room with two beds. Gman, BffC and Nix stayed in the hotel and Mads and I are out in the RV. We plugged it into the hotel room so we have AC and all is well.

Now it is time for me to crash... Tomorrow, we have a jeep tour of Sedona and then we are on our way to the Grand Canyon. Very full day tomorrow! More pics and I'm sure more stories to be posted when I get some time in the next 24! We pretty much have no idea where we are going to end up in the evening on the 11th, so the adventure continues...

We all had a great day today and even though bffC had some break through pain, tonight she's in a super comfy bed and we are all getting some much needed rest so we can pack in a full day of cool stuff tomorrow.

I love Sedona, I will post more pics when I write the next blog. Sedona's really lovely. Maybe a little 'far out' for me, but as in all the places we've been we've met some wonderful people so far! Can't wait for sunrise. We have to all be moving by 8:45 as our tour starts at 9!

Happy Trails,

MaryKate

In God's Hands...

A little deep breathing music please...

Entry 6

I'm going to make this a relatively quick post. Mostly because I am 'sneaking' on a computer while I am waiting to get news about the RV.

We're still in Clinton, OK. The nearest RV center is Oklahoma City about an hour and a half in the wrong direction. We should be seeing the Grand Canyon today instead of the locust infiltration and inside of an RV repair shop. I had no idea the first sign of the apocalypse was "broken down RV" THEN the plague of locusts. Who knew?

This morning at 8:30am CruiseAmerica called me. I missed the call and called them back. They were sending out a tow truck to tow the RV to an RV shop. The tow shop then called me and said they would have a truck out to pick me up in an hour. We rushed to get everything out of the RV (we have an amazing amount of food and crap already gathering and multiplying in the dark cabinet corners) and threw it in our rooms, then I called the hotel and said we'd be here another night.

Two hours later I still hadn't seen hide nor hair of the tow truck. My cell phone rang. The tow truck dispatcher sent the tow truck to CLAYTON, OK not Clinton. It was about 2.5 hours away in the wrong direction. Sooo... they sent out another tow truck and he arrived around noon. I had on the *wrong* dress to climb up into a semi cab. You need a mighty big tow truck to haul an RV! So I changed quickly, left everyone at the hotel to get laundry done and organize the volumnus amounts of 'stuff' we had hauled into the hotel room and off I went with the tow truck driver. We went maybe three miles to a 'diesel' repair shop. He left me off here at Challis Diesel Service:

At first I was sort of freaking out. There was one 65-70 year old gentleman here, nowhere to sit and GASP no air conditioning. I had no idea what to think. I mean it is 106 outside with a plague of locust. I don't have my camera only my poor cell phone, or I'd show you exactly what I mean. They've only come in the last day or so... kinda creepy. Just saying...

I kept myself collected and talked to the owner of the repair shop. He was very kind and he let me sit in his office near a fan. I am sneaking his assistant's computer right now while he 'fixes' the electrical system on the RV.

I have no idea what is going to happen next. I was feeling really frustrated by the whole thing... but then I had a wave of "everything is going to be okay" pass over me and now? Other than sneaking on the computer? I feel okay with things. I realize it is all going to be okay. I don't want all this to ruin our trip. I thought about just renting a large van or SUV to finish off the trip, but it is over 4K to rent a car one-way from OKC. So, that is off the table.

I am going to trust that cruiseamerica is going to do right by me and my intrepid campers.

When I know more, you will know more... but I know many of you want to keep in the loop of what is happening.

Originally? I'd be posting pics of the Grand Canyon right about now... not the RV with the hole in the roof and electrical problems and the plague of locust at our hotel. *laughter*

But these are the things kids remember. The laughter. Finishing the puzzle we started last night. Last night, Mads wanted to sleep in the queen sized bed with me. I said okay. About halfway through the evening, she started making 'anxiety' noises in her sleep - enough to wake me up. I reached over and patted her hair and she calmed down and stopped whimpering.

For me? That is what this trip is about. Forging those bonds that matter. Loving my bffC. Laughing with Nix in the evening. Loving on Gman and watching him grow up and try new things. Being the only boy, we were walking from the pool yesterday and he said, "It's hard being the only boy on this trip." And I said, "That just means I get to love you even more because you are special." He threw up his hands in the air, but it made me smile.

That is what this trip has been about from the beginning - no matter what happens with the RV or with this experience. No matter if we see the Grand Canyon, Disney, Seattle... I know in my heart and my soul that it will all be okay.

Because this trip? Is about love. Not about destination.

Happy Trails,

MaryKate

ETA: I want to take a moment to truly thank Ray Challis, his helper (Tony?) and wife. Ray especially took the time to make sure the RV was as good as he could get it before I left. I went to Challis Diesel to get my RV fixed, I left having made a new friend and someone with a heart as big as his smile. Thank you Ray... for calming me down, for going to bat for me to get a replacement RV and realizing that it wasn't going to happen and making sure you did the best you could by me and my friends to keep us safe for the rest of our trip. <3
-MaryKate

Aaand we're down but not out...

Drama at the Ramada


Entry 5


I could tell you about the 108 degree heat today. Or, I could tell you about the 'shortcut' dirt road suggested by the really cute waiter that almost shook us out of the RV and caused a twenty minute detour before we finally found a place to turn the monster around. I could tell you about the 30 minutes Nix (formerly cousinN... I just like Nix so much better... it's what I call her when we're driving) lasted trying to drive the beast down the highway! *lol* I could tell you about the amazing soda/gas station we stopped at and had dinner: Pops Soda Ranch.  I could tell you about the wildfire that shut down 35 and forced everyone off the highway...


I could tell you about all of that. At the end of the blog I'll post a few pics of those cool places. But the real story? Is why I'm sitting in a Ramada Inn with Nix and Mads in my room and my bffC and Gman in the room next to us and the RV parked outside the door with a hole in the roof. 


Are you feeling the Chevy Chase love yet? 


So pulling out of Miami, Oklahoma, this morning we were happy and ready to push on to Amarillo, Texas. We planned on taking historic route 66 for most of the afternoon and then when it got dark heading back to the interstate and into Amarillo. As my dad says, the best laid plans of mice and men...


The RV started acting funny just outside of Pops Soda Ranch. I couldn't get it started. There is an emergency switch on the dashboard, and by pushing it down and turning the key I finally got the beast to start. We forged onward.. Somewhere outside of Clinton, OK, we couldn't find bffC's phone. It was turning into a bit of drama so I stopped in a gas station and turned off the RV. When the cell phone was located everyone went to the restroom and I waited. When we all loaded up I turned on the RV and had zero luck starting it. We were about 180 miles from our destination of Amarillo, Tx. Finally I got the beast running again and as I merged onto rte40, the RV started lunging and the lights on the dashboard kept flicking off and on and the engine kept cutting out. I pulled off the highway and couldn't get back on. I was on business 40 apparently. I called cruiseamerica and got a tad testy with the guy. I was REALLY trying to remain calm and polite but it was HOT and I was tired and I had already spent time getting the rv fixed once... :(. So I realized I couldn't get any closer to Amarillo, the RV was barely moving. I drove into Clinton, OK and started looking for a hotel. The first three we passed were not okay. I was determined to find a decent place to sleep that had a name I recognized. 


Up ahead in the distance? I saw a shimmering light. My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim... I had to stop for the night... oh wait. Got carried away there. I saw the sign in the distance "Ramada Inn" and had to stop for a red light. Again? The RV cut out on me. Emergency button pressed, key turned... and we lurched into the parking lot.  I saw the lobby in the distance I was ready to pull in next to entrance when the lights and power steering and brakes all died at once. I was coasting into the lobby, uh... literally. I put on my brakes to stop, but the RV had serious forward motion - she was MOVING of her own weight and volition. For a moment  was worried I couldn't stop... No need to fear loyal readers, the AWNING of the hotel stopped the RV for me.  And as I plowed into the awning of the hotel and heard metal crashing into metal I thought... omg. Did I really just plow into the awning? 


So, I used the emergency starter again put the RV in reverse and as I heard both the awning and the roof of the rv grinding, and saw plaster and metal falling,  I put my head on the steering wheel... and low and behold the darn RV stopped flickering and starting working just fine. Really? REALLY????


I'll be getting a new RV sometime tomorrow. I don't care if the old beast now runs like I do after a cup of coffee in the morning. There will be a new RV seeing as there is a HOLE in the roof now where the vent cover used to be and I believe I whacked the air conditioner. Mads calls it sun roof; I call it a gaping hole. Besides, I have had enough of electrical drama and fridges that don't work and and and...


Luckily, we're all laughing about it and I have to call cruiseamerica at 8am in the morning. I suppose the 'good' news about it all is that if we had made it to Amarillo, the nearest rental location woud have been Albuquerque... from here the closest cruiseamerica is in OK City... only about an hour and a half away.


So, Mads is curled up with me... she had a little bit of a difficult time when she saw me get upset.. I didn't remain upset and she calmed down and now we're sitting here in the nice, chilly hotel room with the hat she just made on the loom Nix got her. She looks cute, Gman just came over 'visiting' and is getting Pringles crumbs in my bed. Life seems to be rolling along as it should be. Tomorrow... new RV, new start and maybe a little pool time. That is, if it isn't 110 degrees!


Peace everyone.


And Happy Trails.

MaryKate


pics: 


Breakfast - some of the best we've had! Certainly the cutest and sweetest waiter:

Pops Soda - an awesome lunch/dinner:

Gman waiting for dinner:

The walls of Pops Soda Ranch:

Best Soda flavor ever:

Wildfire (lots of ash and cinders swirling all around us):

RV damage, hotel damage will have to wait until tomorrow, however, :

more RV pics: