It's been awhile since I've posted which means 1 of 2 things: 1) we've been really busy or 2) no one has been the ER recently! It's actually both, thankfully, and I've been saving up all our travel stories for one big RV Living Is Awesome post. So here it is...
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| Stone Mountain, lake/Mt is behind me |
The greatest thing about living in a truly mobile home (not just one that claims mobility but would only really move if a tornado was helping!) is that we can just "up and go" at our leisure. No flights to pre-book, no hotels shortages to deal with, and no packing...EVER! That really is the best thing honestly, because when you have 3 kids that are all under age 5, there are many things that you just NEED to have. And I never have to worry about forgeting one of those random, can't-find-it-at-any store-at-11pm things. "Lonnie" never fails to say at some point in the trip, "Hey did you remember my..." Sometimes he gets me, mostly I just punch him in the arm. However, there are some unique concerns that do come with trailer living. We have been on the road for the better part of 2 weeks, covering 3 states, and I have some advice for the Gas Buddy App and anyone considering this lifestyle:
1. Google the size of gas station parking lots, there are many we can't get into,
2. Gas Buddy: if you post a price for diesel fuel, don't be out of it! Or have 3 gas stations in a row be
out of it! (10 miles left in the tank, we can make it, turn off the AC, stop the radio, no breathing...),
3. Never ever tow a trailer in the suburburbs of Orlando, Florida looking for gas. Just don't,
4. If an RV park on the Gulf has availability 2 weeks before Spring Break...consider researching just
a little more before commiting to stay. Sometimes the Walmart parking lot is a better deal,
5. If you are having fun, stay the extra night. If it is 40 degrees on the beach and raining, leave,
6. If you have friends near an area you are visiting, definately call them! Even a few hours with a
friend is worth the time to coordinate a visit, (thanks Tara, Lalla, Tim, Kathy, SC Ihme's, Jerry,
Karen, Sarah...)
7. One word: Crockpot!! Figure out how to keep the power on in the trailer and dinner is ready on
arrival. Some of the best lamb I've ever had,
8. Any drive over 6 hours is too much to survive with kids, keep it short and your temper will be.
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| Kai after a day at Universal Studios |
During our jaunt away we visited Mayport Naval Air Station (great Fam Camp and beach!) and St. Augustine, Universal Studios (DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT take kids under 4 here, I don't care if they are free and want to see Curious George!), MacDill AFB Fam Camp (awesome locale), Charlotte Motor Speedway (coldest and wettest half marathon ever!), Gulf highway (beautiful drive), and Stone Mountain Georgia. Our next big trip is the NASCAR event at Talledega, infield camping! That will definately have its own post because if it's anything like a state fair, well...you get it.
The best parts of the trip were walking, in our winter coats, on the Mayport beach and watching Orion just laugh while wading in the ocean. HARRY POTTER!!!!! When Kai went up to the food counter in Dr. Seuss land and told the lady "I want green eggs and ham, please" and them proceeded to eat them all! HARRY POTTER!!! (so fun it needed to be said twice) Taking the train around Stone Mountain after a morning full of hanging out at the lake right next to our campsite. Ayla trying to talk to the pelicans. Seeing the dolphin in the Gulf just before we headed home.
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| Twins at the beach |
Things I did not enjoy while traveling included almost running out of gas in rural Alabama and the amount of times my kids seem to need to pee during a roadtrip. I mean really, we've got a schedule to keep people! Backing up a 40 foot trailer after dark, also not fun. But to top it off, completing a Tough Mudder is not high on my list of things to plan on a vacation. Sure, it's like some cult/status/fitness thing, but paying big money for the priviledge of running (kind of) 12 miles in 45 degree weather in the mud and through obstacles that are wet/cold/muddy/cause bruises/electrically shock you with your 10 closest friends is insane. It just is. The T-shirt is awesome. Still crazy.
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"Lonnie" and me post-Mudder
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I'm thankful that there weren't any truly horrible (yet hilarious) things that happened these past weeks that would make this blog fulfilling for everyone, because reveling in someone else's madness is way fun! I do hope that some of the adventure did get through because there was just so much we did that a true account would long, boring, and have too many pictures of me in Harry Potter world (so awesome!). The thing about living in a trailer is that at the end of the day, the family craziness is really the same as any non-mobile family has. We just do it on the road in a confined space. With the mosquitos, who have returned to Alabama just as we have. Let the games begin!
