Trip Home, Part A - Day 8

After a good night sleep, we all took showers and had a big breakfast.  Scott and I worked on getting prepped for the ride home.  Scott took care of the bikes and our tow car last night so today he focused on all the outside prep: water, electrical and sewer.  I worked inside to get cleaned up and stow our things for travel.  The kids were a big help as they are now starting to understand the steps it takes to be ready.  

We pulled out of the Dell a little after 11:00 am.  We were met with some slow traffic as we left the greater Sevierville area but after 45 mins or so, we found our highway and got up to speed.  The kids settled right in!

We stopped at a Loves station in Kentucky around 2:00 pm.  I made lunch while Scott filled up with diesel.  While eating lunch, the boys say up front to watch a UPS truck hook up to a new trailer.  Sammy and I enjoyed our tacos and salad from the comfy dining table.

We were making great time until we hit Cincinnati, OH around 4:30 pm.  There was just no way to avoid traffic... Head west and the highway drops to a single lane over the only bridge to cross a river and the state line into Indiana OR go 20 miles out of our way but right through the city with its Friday night rush hour traffic.

We took our chances with the road work, figuring traffic cannot be too unbearable when you have a bathroom and kitchen along for the ride.  I brewed Scott a cup of coffee and we made the best of it.

We spent just less than an hour in that construction traffic.  I took advantage of the time to bake chocolate chip cookies.  We even offered some to a truck driver next to us.  He was so excited, so I hopped out on the highway and have him some. I think we made his day!

I fed the kids their supper on the road and they settled in to watch a movie right about the time we hit a stretch of rain showers.

We stopped for the night at 8:30 pm at a Flying J in Beaverdam, OH.

We haven't left the RV in 9.5 hrs and have travelled 441 miles.  It's been a big day but everyone is doing great!

After the kids were settled in for the night, Scott and I ate supper... tilapia with broccoli & cauliflower.  Who says you can't eat well while traveling?

Its 10:36 pm and its time to sleep!

Side note:  Sammy left her hair in a French braid so she would have curls today...

We Have Arrived - Day 2

It seems like forever-ago since we woke up in our little rest area back in Ohio.  Its been a BIG day!

Our sleep was pretty short considering the day we had yesterday and given that Scott and I have been staying up late nights to prepare for this trip, it definitely could have been longer.  But 7:00 am seemed like a good time to start the day.  It was slick just getting up and having some cereal for breakfast, taking turns in the bathroom and getting dressed.

We recently have showed the kids how to geocache and it just so happens that there was one located at our rest stop... so we walked across the parking lot and looked for treasure.  We found it!  What a great way to start the day... fresh air and a bit of exercise!

We were on the road by 8:30 am... with 6 hours of driving remaining.  It was a smooth ride this morning.  The kids watched a movie before we stopped for fuel (and donuts).  Next the kids and I did Bible and worked on homework.

We decided to stop for lunch and found a McDonalds in a Flying J along the route.  As we pulled in the parking lot, our rear tire dropped into a HUGE pot hole and we had quite a rough ride... I mean cupboards open, stuff falling, the works!  There was no damage but we all agreed to eat lunch inside.

Once we got back on the road, the kids got another set of prizes for good behavior and I went to work on making reservations for our week.  I cannot wait to see how each day pans out... so EXCITED!  While I worked, Sammy took a turn in the Navigator's Seat.

Yup, she looks comfy

We hit a major traffic jam the last 10 miles and that last stretch took well over 45 minutes.  But we finally arrived and set up on our lot around 4:00 pm.  After we checked in, we ate supper and met our neighbor.  Then decided to head out for a little fun.

We didn't have much time so we decided to just do a quick ride on the SkyWheel, a giant ferris wheel in town to check out the views of the mountains.  What we didn't know is that the SkyWheel is at the far end of a major tourist attraction called the Island with musical fountains, games, stores, restaurants, etc.  We parked and walked the distance to get to the start of the complex.  (There goes my planned early bedtime).

Can you even see the Ferris Wheel in the distance?   Yup, that's how far we walked.

But as it usually is, it was worth it!  We had lots of fun on the Sky Wheel.

Then got some yummy treats... Frozen Yogurt and Auntie Annes.

I promise, they only offered one size bowl for the yogurt.

Just to be completely honest here.  The frozen yogurt place was self serve and then you paid by the weight.  So, Scott helped Sammy with the yogurt and then I helped with the whipped cream which she desperately wanted to do herself, and... well, this happened.

 

Let's just say, she was one happy girl!

We took a different route to finish touring the whole space... it really is a cool area and we'd love to come back.

Because it was getting late, we found a tram to take us back to our car.  Then we headed to Walmart for a few things, including a pair of shoes for Tyler.  (Side Note:  Did you know that literally every road trip we have taken as a family (even when he was a baby) we have lost a pair of Tyler's shoes on the ride down???  How is it even possible?  Seriously, we didn't even get out of the RV yesterday except to fill up fuel and its not like he was walking around barefoot... where did they go?)

We made it home a little before 10 and headed in to prep for bed... brush teeth, PJs, and a quick read... Good Night!

Its been a long but really good day!