So, we're back at the RV for naps (hopefully) and laundry. This morning, the girls were up pretty early -- 5:30am. I'm hoping they'll get on the Mountain Time Zone pretty quickly here and "sleep in" at least until like, 6!

ANYway, we woke up to rain and when Matt looked on the National Weather Service website it called for rain all day. Figuring the Denver Zoo plan needed to be postponed, we went for Plan B -- the Denver Children's Museum. Ate breakfast and got the girls dressed. Then Matt and I decided to try out the showers here at the RV park. Matt had peeked in the men's showers yesterday and thought they seemed nice. They definitely were! Clean, big and especially nice and roomy changing area outside the shower! Very nice.

Headed to the museum and met Ivy there. It was a great museum! Pretty typical but also different. Had a play area for younger kids that had some great makebelieve stuff in it (including a vet's office which Faith loved). Had a cool room with all sorts of bubble making things which both girls loved. There was a nice playground outside the museum which we also enjoyed.

Had a quick lunch at McDonald's. Now, as I said, we're attempting naps w/ the girls and Bob is getting some laundry done.

More later, I'm sure!

Love, Steph

Bob's Thoughts - Day 3

Left Salina with no surprises and headed west on I70. Today we travel 420 miles on I70 to get to our campground in Golden, Colorado.

The drive was long, but uneventful. The first 240 miles was through Kansas and was straight and flat. Steph took her first shift driving, and did a good job. The traffic was light until we reached the Denver area. We made good time today and even after stopping for fuel we got into the RV park at 4:30 (Mountain time).

The RV park is on a ridge and the campsites all have great views of the Rocky Mountains.

We met Karen's cousin Ivy for dinner tonight and went to bed early. We are hoping to meet Ivy at the Denver Zoo tomorrow, but the weather might dictate otherwise.

Bob's Thoughts - Day 2

We unhooked the car from the tow bar and went to a really nice park on the evening of night 1. The next morning when we were getting ready to leave, Matt and I suffered from severe brain cramps and tried to violate many laws of physics as well as common sense in trying to get the car reattached properly to the RV.

45 minutes later, we were finally able to get it done and get started. Amazingly, no one was angry or upset. It is just one of the things that happen on a trip like this.

Everyone had warned me that driving through Kansas would be flat, straight and dull. This turned out to be all true. However, it makes for an easier drive in the motorhome.

We arrived at the campground in Salina, Kansas at 5:00 and did not de-couple the car. There was no place to go so late on a Sunday night anyway.

A few pics...

A happy start...




Zwingin' wif Zayde




A prize for anyone who can tell what's on Matt's head...




A lively crew...

We are GOLDEN!!!

Sorry about all the destination puns, but hey, I'm a Specter. It's what we do. No post yesterday, the wifi wasn't working.

Uneventful drive yesterday - had a little trouble hooking up the van correctly (it's never good when someone has to say, "Get the hammer.") but learned a few good lessons from that. The RV Park at the end of the day was nice - as dad said, everything the previous one wasn't - in a good way. Very rural, and as scenic as the middle of Kansas could probably be.

Uneventful drive today as well - western Kansas is as flat as the cliches suggest. The approach to Denver is flat out gorgeous - even with the traffic. We will be at this RV park for 4 nights - it is also one of the nicest we have stayed at.

Planning to post a lot of pictures tonight - so check back later. Thanks for checking in!

Matt

Bob's Thoughts - Day 1

Wow, what a day. The schedule below is normal for the first day of an RV trip - but that doesn't make it easier.

--> To bed at 11 PM the night before - with the alarm set for 3AM (more on that later). Can't sleep. On the computer until 12:30 and then still can't get to sleep. Guinnie is panting in my ear and Arthur wants to walk on my head. Finally to sleep around 1.

The alarm goes off at 3AM so I head out to the RV to start the generator so that the refrigerator can get cold. No need to start the Air Conditioning because the night was cool. FYI - the 'fridge in an RV works differently from a residential unit and takes a while to get cool.

Karen's alarm goes off at 5. Oh well, who needs sleep anyway.

Matt shows up at 6:45 and we start loading the cold and frozen food. Much to my surprise, everything fits.

Steph shows up with Faith and Mari at 7:45, and we load up the final stuff by 8:15. It takes us 15-20 minutes to hook the car up to the tow-bar and we roll away at 8:35. This is a really great accomplishment to be able to leave that early. Matt, Steph and Karen did a great job getting organized and ready.

The drive was uneventful (the best type) except for some detours and construction delays.

We pulled into the RV park about 3:45 (St. Louis time) much to my relief. I am exhausted.

Tomorrow will be an even longer drive, but we are off to a good start.

More tomorrow!!!

Bob

Landed on St. Charles Place

We're here in St. Charles - more later, things are hectic with getting set up and ready for the evening. No major disasters - in fact, ominously smooth sailing. EXTREMELY nice RV park, although if it's possible for an RV park to seem 'Corporate', this is it. Not exactly back to nature, but very convenient and amazingly well-designed and maintained.

Anyway, we'll post some pics and give more details later.

Matt

Looks like we made it...

So, it's 11:08 pm the night before we leave. We're all in one piece. Not necessarily GOOD pieces... I am tired (what else is new?). Matt is angry (misplaced his brand new expensive prescription sunglasses). The girls are sleeping. We think Bob and Karen are sleeping. I have to finish packing the toiletries. The clothes are in the RV. Phew. Now all we have to do is get everyone up and going in the morning (including Matt's parents :-) ) and be on our way. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to post a blog entry and everyone will still be speaking to each other. St. Charles, MO, here we come!

OH and I managed to come through my 2 day workshop on PRAXIS Pathwise training mostly unharmed. Anyone want to know about the 4 domains of something or other?

SHOUT OUT TO MY SISTER, PAIGE, WHOSE BDAY WAS NOT FORGOTTEN...JUST REMEMBERED LATE IN THE DAY...

Down with Disease

Let's see - the last few days started out with a 103.5 fever and a completely useless Matt which totally messed up the entire week of preparations. Things WILL be happening at the last minute after all, but everything is ready to go.
I felt like a nervous wreck yesterday, had a miserable time getting to sleep. Then a funny thing happened. Finally fell asleep, for not more than an hour or so. But in that time had this awful dream where I got a phone call from one of my students' parents basically saying, "You'll be hearing from my lawyer" about some nameless something I had done or said. Think of it as Kafka for teachers.
Anyway, there I am in the dream thinking, "Great. This ruins my vacation!" Woke up soon after and slowly came to realize that it was indeed just a dream. And also realized that I was filled with a feeling of relaxation I hadn't felt for days. Whether it was that dream or just the last grip of the virus I had finally letting go, I feel so much lighter and free this morning. I'm ready for this trip to begin.
Hope you all got the explanation emails about how to view the blog. Let us know if anything isn't right!

Matt

Let's try posting a picture!

Hopefully we'll be posting pics along the way, so let's see if this works.
A picture of Mari enjoying her favorite snack - her own fingers.

Matt