Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night quite certain that we have lost our minds. Other times I sit bolt upright as though awakening from a nightmare, sure that we have destroyed our childrens' lives. But most often (in fact, VERY often) I am positive that we are among the sanest people on earth. This journey we're on is not necessarily the one we intended to take, but it is the one we needed to take. Over the last 12,000 miles some of the romanticsim and lofty goals (learn Spanish in one year, read all of the classics, become perfect humans etc.) we had envisioned in the planning phase have faded into the distance, but we have seen and learned and accomplished so much with gusto and unparalleled gung ho-edness. We have had our highs and lows, our days of delight, our hours of happiness, our moments of madness. We have all stomped off, from time to time, to our respective corners and one or more of us has driven off in a huff, but we have grown stronger as a family and have begun to really look at what it means to each of us to have made this leap into the unknown. A year on the road. That was the plan. It has turned into so much more.
The picture above represents how I feel on this one year anniversary. Behind the wheel of our Acadia and hurtling down CA 1 on a return trip from Hearst Castle I braved a brief glance to my right to catch a glimpse of the Pacific. Expecting the blueness and the sheer drop off to the rocks below, all I needed was a fleeting look to lock that image in my mind's eye. I never expected the couch ( and somehow it didn't surprise me), but I had to stop the car and photograph it to take in the incongruity of the scene. To me, that's the best part of this journey. It has made us take a second look at everything and has given us the space, good bad or indifferent, to interpret what we find.
To mark our year we thought we'd put together some Top 10 lists. Enjoy. We know we have.
Top 10 Favorite Places
1. Acadia National Park, ME
2. New York City, NY
3. Carlsbad Caverns, NM
4. Yosemite National Park, CA
5. Big Bend National Park, TX
6. Sequoia National Park, CA
7. Las Vegas, NV
8. Disneyworld, FL (yes, really!)
9. Gila National Forest, NM
10. The Mendocino Coast, CA
Top 10 Favorite Camprounds/Resorts
2. Patten Pond, Ellsworth, ME http://www.barharborcampingresorts.com/content/4005/PATTEN_POND/
3. Pinewood Lodge Campground, Plymouth, MA http://pinewoodlodge.com/index.php
4. Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort, Nas Vegas, NV http://www.oasislasvegasrvresort.com/5. Danforth Bay Camping Resort, Freedom, NH http://www.danforthbay.com/
6. Liberty Harbor RV Park, Jersey City, NJ http://www.libertyharborrv.com/
7. Flying Flags RV Resort, Solvang, CA http://www.flyingflags.com/
8. Jetty Park Campround, Canaveral, FL http://www.jettypark.org/
9. Gregory E. Moore RV Resort, Santa Rosa Beach, FL http://www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill/default.cfm
10. Stillwell Ranch, Big Bend area, TX http://stillwellstore.com/
Top 10 Favorite or Most Awe-inspriring Moments
6. Liberty Harbor RV Park, Jersey City, NJ http://www.libertyharborrv.com/
7. Flying Flags RV Resort, Solvang, CA http://www.flyingflags.com/
8. Jetty Park Campround, Canaveral, FL http://www.jettypark.org/
9. Gregory E. Moore RV Resort, Santa Rosa Beach, FL http://www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill/default.cfm
10. Stillwell Ranch, Big Bend area, TX http://stillwellstore.com/
Top 10 Favorite or Most Awe-inspriring Moments
1. Whale watching cruise out of Bar Harbor, ME.
2. Watching Elias win the Mutton-Busting Championship in Houston and Bandera, TX.
3. Riding the subway from Jersey City and arriving unexpectedly in the crater of Ground Zero. Humbling.
4. Seeing the orignal US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Also humbling.
5. Sledding the dunes in White Sands National Monument.
6. Seeing the rings of Saturn through a high-powered telescope at the McDonald Observatory in TX.
7. Hiking into Seminole Canyon to see ancient cave paintings.
8. Encountering a bear and her cub in Sequoia National Park and similarly watching a parade of moose walk through our campsite in Maine.
2. Watching Elias win the Mutton-Busting Championship in Houston and Bandera, TX.
3. Riding the subway from Jersey City and arriving unexpectedly in the crater of Ground Zero. Humbling.
4. Seeing the orignal US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Also humbling.
5. Sledding the dunes in White Sands National Monument.
6. Seeing the rings of Saturn through a high-powered telescope at the McDonald Observatory in TX.
7. Hiking into Seminole Canyon to see ancient cave paintings.
8. Encountering a bear and her cub in Sequoia National Park and similarly watching a parade of moose walk through our campsite in Maine.
9. Watching Gabe cliff jump in Sedona, AZ.
10. Airboat ride in the everglades
All-time Favorite Moment: The day Gabe told my mom on the phone, "Grammy, we got our imaginations back on this trip."
Top 10 Meals/Food Experiences
1. Lobster/clam bake on the beach in Searsport, ME. The owners of Searsport Shores campground do this a few times every season and we were lucky enough to be visiting during one of those times. Clams, lobster, corn on the cob, freshly baked bread all served at picnic tables on the beach. Yum.
2. Mother's Day brunch at Bally's, Las Vegas, NV. Unlimited Perrier-Jouet champagne+ mother's day=long nap and even longer lasting headache. If you go, make sure you ask to be seated as far away as humanly possible from the actual buffet. It's a nice place to visit, but....
3.Shibuyu (Japanese+sushi) at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV. Amazing sushi and even more amazing sake menu. Very dark and hip and happenin', but the kids were very comfortable and welcome here. Julian ate his weight in sushi. We're still paying finance charges on this meal!
4. La Posta de Mesilla, Mesilla, NM. The best, most authentic Mexican we've had on this trip (even after going to Mexico). The chile rellenos are to die for and their Chile 'Rita is one of the best cocktails I've ever had!
5.Taste of India, Bangor, ME. We loved this place for the food, but also because it was such an unexpectedly authentic find on the coast of Maine.
6.Red's Eats in Wiscassett, ME. The lobster rolls and fried zucchini at this Maine landmark are worth the wait. We stood in line for over half an hour at this shack on the harbor. The boys loved the fish and chips.
7.Hitchin' Post, Solvang, CA. Old- style steakhouse made famous by the movie Sideways. Great steaks and fantastic house wines.
8.11th Street Cowboy Bar, Bandera, TX -BYO Steak! This place was pure Texas-cold beer, live country music and grill-your-own-steaks followed by washing your own utensils in the kitchen. Mike caused one Texan to comment, "I seen a lot of things in my life, but I ain't never seen no man doin' dishes". Toto?
9.Peking Mongolian and Japanese Restaurant, Williamsburg, VA. A higher-end buffet with live cooking stations and great desserts. Like an interactive food museum for the kids.
10. Ukranian Christmas dinner hosted by Ivanka Hromiak and family, Wilmington, NC. You can't beat a dinner party where you're greeted at the door by a tall, handsome Ukranian bearing vodka shots! The food was awesome, too.
Honorable mentions:
1.Apple cider donuts from Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Stowe, VT. Still trying to figure out how to make them!
2.Corn dogs at Houston rodeo, TX. The right balance of grease and crunch.
3. Fried dough at the Blue Hill Fair, ME. Same. I've loved these at this fair since I was a little girl. It was fun to introduce my boys to them.
4.Beignets at Cafe du Monde, New Orleans, LA. Worth the hype.
5. Jelly Belly Beans from Jelly Belly Factory Fairfield, CA. Or so my kids tell me....
6.Grilled rainbow trout caught by the boys in Helen, GA. Nothing better than fresh-caught trout!
7.Thanksgiving dinner with The Bogerts in Atlanta, GA. A tradition since 1995! Why is it that we make the same stuffing every year and still have to consult a recipe????
8. Mad Greek restaurant in Themiddleofknowwhere, CA.
9. Pizza on the beach in Fort Myers Beach, FL.
10. Airboat ride in the everglades
All-time Favorite Moment: The day Gabe told my mom on the phone, "Grammy, we got our imaginations back on this trip."
Top 10 Meals/Food Experiences
1. Lobster/clam bake on the beach in Searsport, ME. The owners of Searsport Shores campground do this a few times every season and we were lucky enough to be visiting during one of those times. Clams, lobster, corn on the cob, freshly baked bread all served at picnic tables on the beach. Yum.
2. Mother's Day brunch at Bally's, Las Vegas, NV. Unlimited Perrier-Jouet champagne+ mother's day=long nap and even longer lasting headache. If you go, make sure you ask to be seated as far away as humanly possible from the actual buffet. It's a nice place to visit, but....
3.Shibuyu (Japanese+sushi) at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV. Amazing sushi and even more amazing sake menu. Very dark and hip and happenin', but the kids were very comfortable and welcome here. Julian ate his weight in sushi. We're still paying finance charges on this meal!
4. La Posta de Mesilla, Mesilla, NM. The best, most authentic Mexican we've had on this trip (even after going to Mexico). The chile rellenos are to die for and their Chile 'Rita is one of the best cocktails I've ever had!
5.Taste of India, Bangor, ME. We loved this place for the food, but also because it was such an unexpectedly authentic find on the coast of Maine.
6.Red's Eats in Wiscassett, ME. The lobster rolls and fried zucchini at this Maine landmark are worth the wait. We stood in line for over half an hour at this shack on the harbor. The boys loved the fish and chips.
7.Hitchin' Post, Solvang, CA. Old- style steakhouse made famous by the movie Sideways. Great steaks and fantastic house wines.
8.11th Street Cowboy Bar, Bandera, TX -BYO Steak! This place was pure Texas-cold beer, live country music and grill-your-own-steaks followed by washing your own utensils in the kitchen. Mike caused one Texan to comment, "I seen a lot of things in my life, but I ain't never seen no man doin' dishes". Toto?
9.Peking Mongolian and Japanese Restaurant, Williamsburg, VA. A higher-end buffet with live cooking stations and great desserts. Like an interactive food museum for the kids.
10. Ukranian Christmas dinner hosted by Ivanka Hromiak and family, Wilmington, NC. You can't beat a dinner party where you're greeted at the door by a tall, handsome Ukranian bearing vodka shots! The food was awesome, too.
Honorable mentions:
1.Apple cider donuts from Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Stowe, VT. Still trying to figure out how to make them!
2.Corn dogs at Houston rodeo, TX. The right balance of grease and crunch.
3. Fried dough at the Blue Hill Fair, ME. Same. I've loved these at this fair since I was a little girl. It was fun to introduce my boys to them.
4.Beignets at Cafe du Monde, New Orleans, LA. Worth the hype.
5. Jelly Belly Beans from Jelly Belly Factory Fairfield, CA. Or so my kids tell me....
6.Grilled rainbow trout caught by the boys in Helen, GA. Nothing better than fresh-caught trout!
7.Thanksgiving dinner with The Bogerts in Atlanta, GA. A tradition since 1995! Why is it that we make the same stuffing every year and still have to consult a recipe????
8. Mad Greek restaurant in Themiddleofknowwhere, CA.
9. Pizza on the beach in Fort Myers Beach, FL.
10.Falafel in Tuscon.
Top 10 Worst Experiences
1.. Waiting for RV parts in Houston, TX.
2.Getting locked out of the RV barefoot, alone (save for a certain cockapoo who decided this would be a great time to poop 17 times with no pick-up bags in sight!) and in the rain for 4 hours (Liz).
3. Encounter with irate non-English speaking truck driver at gas station in New Jersey (Mike).
4. Driving through CA forest fires and smoke.
5.Seeing the devastation in New Orleans and relizing how little has been done in 2 years.
6. Seeing the devastation at WTC in NYC and realizing how little has been done in 7 years.
7.The Unfortunate Enchilada Incident of 2007 (don't ask, but suffice it to say it involved 2 tired parents,a tray full of enchiladas, an uneven rv, a slippery microwave rack and 2 carpets-one of which we threw away and subsequently [and alarmingly!] found hanging on our neighbors clothesline the next morning).
8.Heatwave in Groveland, CA and dealing with the most (and really only, to date) unpleasant campground employees at Yosemite Pines Campground who, in their infinite wisdom closed the pool just as temperatures reached 612 degrees.
9. Every time we push the retract button for our levelling jacks. It's a 50/50 crap shoot. Will they retract or will we have to spend the day waiting for a mechanic?
10.The moment we acknowledged the reality that diesel prices were never coming down again and we would have to adjust our budget and our lifestyle accordingly.
Top 10 Lessons Learned
1. Never, ever travel with an unsecured and open jar of honey. Ditto bottle of soy sauce.
2. Bold type on a map does not neccessarily translate into a bold place in reality.
3. Campground websites rarely tell the truth and pictures can lie.
4. We Americans are, by and large, really cool people.
5. It pays to read the suitcase full of manuls that come with a new RV, especially the ones with a giant stop sign on the front cover with words that say, "DO NOT OPERATE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS FULLY AND COMMITTED THE INFORMATION WITHIN TO MEMORY AND SIGNED A BLOOD OATH THAT YOU WILL OBEY" or something to that effect. Had we done this we may have saved ourselves from ponderances such as, "Hmm, I wonder why our water is brown?". The RV learning curve is slow. Manuals speed up the process. A little.
6.RV park laundry rooms are microcosms of American life. Every laundry room must, by force of nature, have one ranting radical republican, one babbling liberal democrat and 1 middle of the road person (usually me) quietly folding her laundry. There is also always 1 person of a "certain age" doing a monologue on their ailments, diseases and "lucky to still be alive after my fifth triple bypass and emergency spleendectomy" tales.
7.It seems that it is a law in California that every Californian must a) own an RV and b) use it on the weekends rendering all RV parks full to over-flowing c)wear those funky wool hats even when it's 106 dregrees in the shade.
8.We would starve to death (or be a lot skinnier, anyway) without the GPS Navigation in our car to tell us where to find the nearest Walmart or McDonalds.
9.I'm the best teacher my kids will ever have. And vice versa.
10.380 square feet of space is more than enough for our family.
Top 10 Worst Experiences
1.. Waiting for RV parts in Houston, TX.
2.Getting locked out of the RV barefoot, alone (save for a certain cockapoo who decided this would be a great time to poop 17 times with no pick-up bags in sight!) and in the rain for 4 hours (Liz).
3. Encounter with irate non-English speaking truck driver at gas station in New Jersey (Mike).
4. Driving through CA forest fires and smoke.
5.Seeing the devastation in New Orleans and relizing how little has been done in 2 years.
6. Seeing the devastation at WTC in NYC and realizing how little has been done in 7 years.
7.The Unfortunate Enchilada Incident of 2007 (don't ask, but suffice it to say it involved 2 tired parents,a tray full of enchiladas, an uneven rv, a slippery microwave rack and 2 carpets-one of which we threw away and subsequently [and alarmingly!] found hanging on our neighbors clothesline the next morning).
8.Heatwave in Groveland, CA and dealing with the most (and really only, to date) unpleasant campground employees at Yosemite Pines Campground who, in their infinite wisdom closed the pool just as temperatures reached 612 degrees.
9. Every time we push the retract button for our levelling jacks. It's a 50/50 crap shoot. Will they retract or will we have to spend the day waiting for a mechanic?
10.The moment we acknowledged the reality that diesel prices were never coming down again and we would have to adjust our budget and our lifestyle accordingly.
Top 10 Lessons Learned
1. Never, ever travel with an unsecured and open jar of honey. Ditto bottle of soy sauce.
2. Bold type on a map does not neccessarily translate into a bold place in reality.
3. Campground websites rarely tell the truth and pictures can lie.
4. We Americans are, by and large, really cool people.
5. It pays to read the suitcase full of manuls that come with a new RV, especially the ones with a giant stop sign on the front cover with words that say, "DO NOT OPERATE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS FULLY AND COMMITTED THE INFORMATION WITHIN TO MEMORY AND SIGNED A BLOOD OATH THAT YOU WILL OBEY" or something to that effect. Had we done this we may have saved ourselves from ponderances such as, "Hmm, I wonder why our water is brown?". The RV learning curve is slow. Manuals speed up the process. A little.
6.RV park laundry rooms are microcosms of American life. Every laundry room must, by force of nature, have one ranting radical republican, one babbling liberal democrat and 1 middle of the road person (usually me) quietly folding her laundry. There is also always 1 person of a "certain age" doing a monologue on their ailments, diseases and "lucky to still be alive after my fifth triple bypass and emergency spleendectomy" tales.
7.It seems that it is a law in California that every Californian must a) own an RV and b) use it on the weekends rendering all RV parks full to over-flowing c)wear those funky wool hats even when it's 106 dregrees in the shade.
8.We would starve to death (or be a lot skinnier, anyway) without the GPS Navigation in our car to tell us where to find the nearest Walmart or McDonalds.
9.I'm the best teacher my kids will ever have. And vice versa.
10.380 square feet of space is more than enough for our family.
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