Oh boy, we're having a rough start!

Day 2 – June 30, 2016

Conway, AR – Dodge City. KS

566 hours/9 ½ hours

So I had ambitious plans for today. The night before I set the alarm for five, because I was going to sneak down to the gym for a quick workout before the kids woke up. And I’d planned to be on the road by 7:00 a.m. I swear I was, I swear I was…

At about 4:45 I heard moaning and I thought I was dreaming, but then it registered that it was not a nice moan. Then I realized it was Barrett. He was in the next (connecting) room, and I truly thought he was having a nightmare. But he got louder and louder. I jumped out of bed and walked into the room and realized he was in the bathroom.

All I can say is that poor boy was suffering…

Holy crap! We had a very long drive in front of us. What should we do????

Well, I will spare you all the scenarios that played out in my mind. And I will spare you the logistics I employed to, well, I guess stay on schedule. And I will not describe the paranoia I experienced during my ten hours on the road – many times in the middle of Bum F. Egypt. And I will not describe to you the looks I got from people when my fifteen year old son and I entered gas station bathrooms together (I had too, the poor kid was not well). If anyone said anything, well I had the transgender law on my side. I’ll play any card I can.

I am happy to report, aside from the 5-6a.m. nightmare hour, we were spared major disaster and major embarrassment. Screw all the people who looked at us.

We rolled into town around 5:30 p.m. I was disappointed. Dodge City was not all that I imagined. And it stunk like cow s*** – literally - and the road warriors felt compelled to tell me that, over and over.

We went to dinner at a “local establishment.” And I would love to tell you my real thoughts, but then I’m afraid I’d cement my image as a snooty-wannabee-gluten-free- decent-chardonnay-loving-*****. So I won’t.

Everyone went to bed early, well almost everyone – Hunter and I got sucked into Friends reruns.  

Westbound and down!

Day 1 - June 29, 2016

Cumming, GA – Conway, AR (30 miles NW of Little Rock)

587 miles – 9 ½ miles

It was a very easy drive today – with the exception of the length. We didn’t leave Atlanta until 9:00a.m., because I was up till midnight getting things ready to go. Since this was just a driving day, I felt little pressure. We visited Little Rock five years ago and toured the Clinton Library and the Capitol. We’ve done this town and this was just a stopover on our way to Dodge City, KS.

The kids really were extremely well behaved. Rich called me in the afternoon to see how we were doing and I had nothing to tell him. And no good stories to share with you. It was much more interesting when they were younger, wasn’t it?

When we got to the hotel, Hunter and Audrey went to the gym (Hunter has to follow his coach’s training schedule). I was going to go…but I feel kind of achy. I hope I’m not getting sick. We’re planning to walk over to Outback for dinner. As I type this, Bear’s having a coke, mommy’s having a glass of wine, and Camden has all his Transformers spread across the floor. Hoping for early to bedtime, because we have another big driving day tomorrow!

Preview for tomorrow…Holy Mother of God – day two, 4:45 a.m., I was awakened by a child moaning in the bathroom…it wasn’t good.

Newport Rhode Island

Day 7 – June 2, 2016

Rehoboth beach, MD – Newport, RI

430 miles/8 hours

It was a very long day on the road and I’m going to spare you the mundane details.

We stopped in Mystic Connecticut to see an old friend of Rich’s, with whom he went to high school and the University of Florida. We had a fabulous dinner in the old town area and then took a walk along the streets. Of course I had to see Mystic Pizza, but I was too full to try a piece of pie.

We then headed on to Newport and it was very late. I almost didn’t unload the car…

After a great night’s sleep we explored the wharf area and grabbed breakfast. It was overcast and chilly, but still fun. Such a quaint area, filled with cool shops. But I was a good girl. Then we headed to the shore and strolled along the Cliff Walk, to see the coastline and the mansions! OMG – HUGE houses. Such a throwback to a different era. I didn’t get to see Hammersmith Farm (Jackie Kennedy’s childhood home – after her mom remarried), and we didn’t go into the Breakers (the Vanderbilt Mansion) - simply ran out of time. So we’ll have to visit again!

That was our time in Rhody. Apropos for our smallest state.

One of the mansions.

Strolling the cliff walk.

Cammy was not pleases that his siblings didn't heed the warning!

Rehoboth Beach

Mini Road Trip – Days 5 & 6

May 31^st & June 1st, 2016

Bethesda, MD – Rehoboth Beach, DE

161 miles/3 hours

We had a relatively pleasant drive to Rehoboth Beach. We missed all the traffic in D.C. and the roads in Delaware were wide open. If you drive to the Delaware shore from D.C., you’ll encounter miles and miles of farms. It’s very pretty and there are tons of produce stands and vibrant flowers everywhere. It still baffles me how a large and beautiful area on the east coast can still remain sparsely populated – especially so close to Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Our first stop was Grand Ginny’s, so we could see her new home. It’s beautiful and located on a “prong.” I missed the explanation of what exactly a prong is, but it’s a body of water. Audrey and Rich grabbed a crab net and headed out to the dock to try their luck. We only stayed for an hour, because Gunny has cats and I felt my throat closing up. Yuck.

No problems checking in at the hotel, which was empty after the mass Memorial Day exodus. In no time, the kids and I were strolling Rehoboth Avenue and visiting momma’s favorite book store, Browse About Books! We also walked the boardwalk and indulged in some less-than-good-for-you snacks. The kids ate enough to call it dinner. Ginny and Martha joined us for ice cream and Rich and I snuck out for oysters and wine.

The next day, despite dire weather predictions, was beautiful! I took the kids for a go-kart ride (because Hunter wouldn’t stop nagging me). It was the first time that Cammy got behind the wheel and he was a wild man. The guy who was starting the go-kart for him told him to take it easy, since it was his first time. Well, as soon as the guy pulled the cord on the engine, Camden floored it – he burned rubber. It was a figure eight course and we lost sight of him as he went around the bend. We heard a big crash and my heart stopped. But apparently he recovered quickly, because when he came out of the tunnel, he was still full throttle and had the biggest smile on his face. Oh Lordy, here we go!

After the speedway, we hit the beach. It was perfect weather, warm enough that I was happy, but cool enough that no one was complaining about the heat. The ocean temperature was a different matter. Chilly. To quote Cammy, who only went in up to his knees, it was, “legit torture!” Wait till he dips his toes into the ocean on the Cape.

We met Ginny and Marth at a restaurant on the bay in Lewes. Lewes is the cutest little seaside town and dinner was wonderful. There was a child incident, however. Audrey and Camden were over by the patio railing looking at the boats. There was a couple sitting two tables down from where they were standing. Our two tables were the only ones occupied on the deck. Apparently the couple didn’t care for A&C’s chatting. The guy asked them to leave. I couldn’t hear what he said, but from where I was sitting I saw the shocked looks on Camden and Audrey’s faces. They explained to me what happened and I was going to say something to the man, but Audrey begged me not to, so I didn’t. For the record, I’m usually the first to reprimand my children, but I really didn’t think they did anything wrong.

More ice cream after dinner. Tis the season.

Audrey trying her luck at crabbing.

Wild man

Dinner with Gin & Martha - see Cammy poking his head around?

Washington D.C. 2016

Mini Road Trip – Days 2-4

Chattanooga, TN – Bethesda, MD

610 miles/10 hours

Sorry for the laptop charger debacle. And now…trying to catch upJ! I’ve also managed to lose my phone charge. Yikes.

The drive across Virginia, which is truly a very large state, was long. And boring. I listened to a dreadful book the whole time. I cannot reveal the title, because I’d feel bad, but ugh. About 20 miles from Bethesda, around Fairfax, we hit a wall of traffic. There was a bad accident and it wasn’t fun. When we got to the hotel, around 7 PM, there were no more connecting rooms. Hotel was booked solid with families for a soccer tournament. The pool was not an option, as it looked like a party going on there. We met Uncle Lance for dinner, but didn’t have a reservation. Big mistake, as we had to wait two hours for a table (and faced similar wait times everywhere we went). We lost two kids to the Sandman by the time the food hit the table.

For our second day in DC, we went to Great Falls, which is a national park. I believe the correct park name is the B & O Canal National Park. I will spare you the description of why this is so, but it is very pretty and we took a little hike. It was also very, very hot. We wanted to go into DC, to see a couple of monuments since a few of the kids really don’t remember our previous visits to the Mall. But Uncle Lance had warned us that Rolling Thunder was in town, which is a convention (for lack of a better work) that brings 10,000 motorcyclists to the district to remember our fallen veterans. Traffic was a nightmare. We couldn’t get over the bridges into DC, and ended up at National Airport, where we parked and watched the planes fly in for landings. The kids thought that was really cool, but it made me extremely nervous!

Heading north on the GW Parkway, back to the hotel, the traffic was better and we did manage to sneak into DC. We stopped at the Jefferson Memorial. By the time we finished there, the crowds and motorcycles seemed to have doubled and I was nervous that we’d get stuck in the city. Later, I’d see in the news that Trump was speaking on the mall, which explains some of the helicopters above.

Back at the hotel, I met up with one of my blogging friends, Kristi Campbell, and her son. We tried to swim in the pool, but the rain chased us away – so we hung out in the hotel and visited for about an hour and a half. It was fun, but way too short. After that, we went out to dinner with Uncle Lance again and really had a very nice night.

For our last day, we headed up to Baltimore. We drove by Rich’s old house and our former home in Ellicott City. We also stopped to see his grandparents’ graves. Then we headed to Camden Yards to watch the O’s play my Red Sox. It was the first MLB game for Barrett and Camden. We had a lot of fun – it was a great way to spend Memorial Day. And, the Red Sox won!!!!!

Early dinner and early to bed – heading to Delaware next.

Late night dinner didn't work out for some of us.

Hiking in great Falls

Planes flying into to National.

Washington Memorial 

Jefferson Memorial

 

 

Mini Road Trip Day 1 - Chattanooga

Mini Road Trip Day 1 –May 27th, 2016   

Home – Chattanooga, TN

105 miles – 2 hours fifteen minutes

Courtyard Chattanooga – Hamilton Place

Day one of our tip was rather uneventful. All of the excitement happened before we hit the road. Miss Audrey had her fifth grade graduation and “final” walk through her school. I was, of course, a bit emotional. I think my eagerness to get on the road and my anxiety about getting everything done for the trip, prevented me from totally falling apart. Lucky Audrey. It’s a weird dichotomy, these big milestones. I’m so proud of and excited for her, and honestly ready to move past the elementary school stage (although I still have three more years left with Cammy). Yet there’s an empty feeling, an ache in my belly, a sense of loss that her childhood is over. Oh, the melodrama! But seriously - it  hurts. Now we get to experience the tween years and the teenager years and then she will be gone – and I cannot even fathom it.

Enough about that, because I’ve made myself cry.

By the time we hit the road (at 2:45 p.m.) it was already too late for a holiday weekend. The traffic on Highway 20, enroute to the interstate, was bad. The road was cluttered with RVs and campers and just to keep it interesting – a logging truck! Once we got to I 75, it was smooth sailing.

Rich had driven on ahead of us (in a rental car), so he could attend a car show with an old friend from high school, Dennis. The little detour was not part of our original itinerary, but since Rich was going to join us for the long weekend, I made an exception☺. Plus, I hadn’t seen Dennis since our wedding. We picked up Rich from Hertz and then we visited with Dennis and his family.

It was rather late by the time we checked into our hotel. We grabbed a late dinner and then went to bed. Tomorrow is our long drive to Washington DC.

Postscript (from Bethesda): - I have forgotten the charger for my laptop. So I’ve been unable to write or update my blogs:(. I ordered one from Amazon and it will be delivered to my Aunt Ginny’s. I’m a little behind, but have been making notes. Borrowed one of the kids Chromebooks, so y’all don’t think I bailed!

On the left, Aud's 1st day of kindergarten - on the right, her last day of 5th grade.

5th grade graduation.

Walking the halls for the last time.

Pulling out of the drive way.

Our first stop.

Welcome to summer 2016!

Just checking in....

Hello friends and family! Today I started packing for our first journey of the summer. We're not leaving till Friday, but I needed to get started. I have a busy week ahead with work and the kid's end-of-year school events. We're doing things a little differently this summer, because a certain someone in the family has a big birthday coming up. I wanted to do something special for him that wasn't part of the road trip.

The kids and I are kicking off the summer by taking a mini-road trip to the Northeast, and then coming home for a few weeks, before heading out on the road "for real."

I wanted to check in, because I have no idea who or if anyone reads this blog. Road Warrior Momma doesn't receive the same attention as The Latchkey Mom (which lately isn't saying much). Just wondering if anyone is still out there? For those of you who are, I'm still planning to share stories and pictures. I'll post a few days behind, because Big Daddy worries about our safety. My posts are hastily written and therefor unpolished. I apologize - but the consolation is that you're getting the real story:).

I'm not going to share our itinerary this year. I thought it might be fun to keep it a surprise. Look for my first post in about a week!

xoxox,
Allie