Last summer the adventure was three weeks in an RV covering 7,000 miles (here). We saw this wonderful country in a way that we had never imagined that we would. This year is going to be different. Last year was completely centered around exploring as a family. This year we are trying to give each of the kids an adventure of their own.  Jessie headed out this morning for a week camping trip with Boy Scout Troop 830 (Camp Coker).  We have been out of scouting for a few years and I am really excited that he is interested in this great program again.  If we get an update from him during the week, I will add comments.  I hope he takes plenty of pictures and has a few stories we can post next week.

It’s Day 19 and we got on the road bright and early … The Captain woke early and started driving again … while the rest of us slept …. once again … we make really good time when we don’t actually “camp”.

We didn’t stop till late night. We finally crashed in a Wal*Mart Parking lot but the Captain was up early and couldn’t sleep so we were “hammer down and east bound” by 4:30 AM … my honey is crazy.
It was COLD last night … so I was happy when the Captain started driving and turned the heat on … we were at 12,000 ft …. I would call that “on top of a mountain” …. and it was much warmer with the heater on and the evaluation dropping.

Once everyone started rousing from sleep, the Captain said we could pick a campground to crash at for the day as soon as we crossed into Kansas … and that was harder than you would think … well … I wanted something family friendly … maybe a pool for the kids to swim … and full hooks up so we could shower and dump the tanks … since we had been “dry-camping” for the past 2 nights …

So … we crashed at KOA campground in Goodland early in the morning …at this point I was confused about what time it actually was … I think we crossed another time zone and it took my phone a few hours to catch up … so I’m not sure what time we actually landed at the KOA … but they were nice enough to let us check in early (and that’s were the niceness ended … I’ll explain more later) … I was thinking … Ok… KOA is everywhere … would be a good place to try … we haven’t really tried any “chain campgrounds” … and thought this would be a good time to check one out ….

They had a pool but we couldn’t swim until after 11:00 … so we got breakfast at the camper … the kids played on the playground … they were enjoying being able to run and play … and I worked on laundry … just 2 loads this morning … but great to get it done while we had a chance … this was a more exspensive laundry … $1.50 per washer … and $0.25 for every 10 minutes in the dryer … but everything worked and I was glad to have the 2 loads completed and put away … (fyi … I store the dirty clothes under the bed … so they are out of the way … but I just like knowing that everything is clean … you never know when we may need something that is dirty

SO … after breakfast, laundry and the playground … it was time to go swimming … we headed to the pool for some R&R … we played at the pool for a bit and Dancing Mermaid decided she wanted to play putt-putt … she had mentioned this earlier at the camper … but the manger was there … and acted like he didn’t want to do that right now … made some comment that he was hoping to get some breakfast … so I told him not to worry about us … we were fine .. we had plenty to do for now ….(I felt like he was busy and we were trying not to be bother-some) ….. I was shocked to learn that it cost $2 each to play … and there was really nothing to the course …. keep in mind that we have great mini-golf courses at the beach and you can play $5 to play all day … but I knew she really wanted to play when she offered to pay with her money … so … she headed to the office to pay and get our clubs … and the Captain went to put the little guys down for a nap … he also needed a nap after driving most of the night …

OK … so here is were things start to get stressful for me … people have been nice to us at every campground, Wal*Mart, rest area that we have stopped at or been too … the Park Rangers and bus drivers have all been very patient with the kids … other vacationers chatting with us … but you know … there is alway one sour-puss somewhere who just has to make things difficult … and today was that day … and the KOA manger/owner was the “one” ….

I really don’t know where to start … except to say that the manager seemed very busy and stressed …so we tried to stay out of his way … and now … back to putt-putting …. Dancing Mermaid said the lady in the office (his wife) told her not to play hole number 10 until she was done because it would take her ball) ….there were only 10 holes … so we played only the first 9 … and let me say that the putt-putt course was not well maintained … and was pretty sad but she and I were having some great one-on-one time … so I wasn’t focusing on any of that … just us having fun … so … we got to the end of the first 9 and decided to play again … around this time the guy comes by on his bike (which he was always doing … riding here and there .. unlocking the store then locking the store back … again … we felt like he was way busy so we just stayed out of his way) … and said that when we were done, could we leave the clubs at the front door of the store … again … I’m not thinking anything “bad” about his comment … just thinking they must have problems with the kids keeping the clubs … or taking them back to their campgrounds … or that they don’t have a lot of clubs and need to have them nearby when others want to play .. anyway .. I just let it go … later I realize that this was his way of hinting to me that we should put the clubs back …

We kept playing … and around this time a storm comes up … you know, we are in Kansas and we were keeping our eye out for a twister to touch down …. that would be a great story to add to our adventure … we almost saw one when we left Arches … anyway … it’s starting to rain and I don’t want to get struck by lightening while putt-putting … so we grabbed a game from the camper and head to the table in the laundry room to play a game or 2 of Sequence … again … she and I were enjoying our time while everyone else was resting in the camper ….

Shortly after finishing our second game of Sequence … the rain stopped and the storm seemed far enough way to go back and play again … since Dancing Mermaid had paid and gotten the clubs … I really didn’t have anything to do with the actually money transaction .. and was not aware that the putt-putt course had to be “turned on” … so … we realized that it had been turned off …and HONESTLY not thinking anything about it … I reached over and turned it back on … since I had felt like the manager was so stressed .. in my mind .. I was thinking …”why bother him with something so simple as turning the putt-putt back on” .. well … that didn’t go over so well … (oh … I guess now would be a good time to point out that he was foreign … and so he had a think accent and the broken english added a bit of humor to the situation …. but at the time … I didn’t think it funny) … so .. the owner comes out of the store saying … “you guys are just all over the place … I guess I need to put a pad-lock on everything” … so … in my mind …I’m thinking … “all over the place” … what is that suppose to mean … I paid to stay here … I’ve dropped at least $5 in the laundry so far … paid $4 t o play putt-putt … it’s not like we have bothered him … we have only giving him business … and I guess I should add … that at this point during the day … we were one of only a few campers in the park … so … I’m thinking … it’s probably no wise to talk to customers like this … especially when it doesn’t look like your business is flourishing … BUT … I say nothing … and he continues to talk and walks over and turns the putt-putt OFF … I am astonished .. but still try to keep the smile on my face and I say … “So … we can’t play?” … and he says … “play … it’s nice out” … not sure what all that was suppose to mean …

Well .. I’m trying to keep my cool and not let this mess up our day … and … we move to some holes that don’t require the electricity to be running …. and after a few minutes .. I say to Dancing Mermaid … “You know what … let’s start back at the beginning … we can work around this .. not going to let this bother us … we still have the World Championship of Putt-Putt to complete” … and we headed back to hole number one ….

Hole number one required electricity to turn one of the flaps (an obstacle …. I guess that’s what it would be called) …. Dancing Mermaid holds up the flap that won’t spin … and out he comes again … wanting to know what we are doing …. at this point … I’m starting to feel like we are being watched … I say that it stopped working after he came out the last time … not wanting to be confrontational or cause any more problems … I figure it is best not to argue with the obvious fact that he turned it off on us …. maybe he is psycho or split personality or something … but you know what is going on when you turn it off on someone … and now he says “next time … let me know you need help and I will help you .. I don’t like for people to do things themselves” … Ok .. I have several thoughts about that but I will let it go … I smile and say Thank YOU … and Dancing Mermaid and I start playing again ….

I’ll remind you at this point … that this is all happening pretty fast … everyone is still asleep in the camper …. so not a lot of time has past because naps don’t last more then 2 hours or some (give or take) …. and we are still having a great time and trying to let all this other stuff roll off our backs ….

So … we finish our game (remember … only 9 little holes … nothing much … just some little wooden boxes with fake grass on top … only takes a few minutes to play all 9) … the sun has come out again .. and it is hot!!! … we decide to go take a dip in the pool … I ask DM if she is done playing and she says maybe one more game after we swim … and I think that should work out just about right (time-wise) … and I was also thinking the little guys would probably like to play when they get up … so we head to the pool to cool off …. a fellow camper comes out to join us at the pool too … I don’t think Mr Happy realized other campers were at the pool or he probably wouldn’t have been so openly rude … but then again … you just never know ….

So … we are sitting at the pool … I’m sitting on the steps because the water is really cold and each time I have to work my nerve up to get back in … I’m chatting with the lady who has come to the pool … and Mr Happy starts heading towards the pool … already I know he is coming for us .. not sure what we have done this time … but I can feel it … the phone rings and he stops to answer it … and I continue talking with DM and the lady … Jikkal has actually wandered out of the camper and has come to see what we were up to … but has decided to head back to the camper … (but he could hear Mr Happy yelling at me on his way back to the camper)

And here is comes …. he says he can’t find the clubs we were using … and I say ….” oh! There right here … she wanted to play some more … just cooling off for a minute” … and he starts yelling at me … and I quote …

“You are being ridiculous .. you only pay $2 …. you take advantage” …. so with the smile plastered to my face … which is now red … because he is yelling and this lady is watching … I said … “if you want the clubs back … I will give them to you but your wife told her she could play as much as she wanted” ,… and he didn’t like that … he continues to tell me about how I am ridiculous and taking advantage … (I’m guessing he is still working on his English vocab … being a homeschool teacher … I was thinking I should give him a list of resources he could use to improve his “word bank” … and place for him to put them) …. He very rudely informed that YES! He wanted the clubs back, NOW! … So I handed them to him …. and he continues to fuss … and I very calmly said .. .OK … I gave you the clubs .. that’s enough … at which point … I just turned my back and walked back to my seat …. I’m thinking … he better be glad that he met this Tabitha because “BC Tabitha” would not have been sooo nice … maybe left a few flat tires when we broke camp …. but ???? …. thankfully he started back to the office … mumbling as he went … but at least he went (after living with a teen in such close quarters for the past few weeks … I can overlook mumbling

Of course, the lady at the pool was astonished … and when I sat down … she said she could not believe how rude he was … I was just glad someone else was there … 1) to witness it and 2) to keep me from saying or doing something I should not … I plan to inform KOA that their GoodLand Ambassador needs some lessons in “Southern Hospitality” …. not good for their name … needless to say … we will not be frequenting another KOA on this trip … maybe ever … but we were the hot topic at the pool that afternoon …

After all this excitement … we headed to the camper … everyone was waking up …. and we took showers and got ready to head into town …. we took our picture with the World’s Largest Easel … you can read about it http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9183 …. and attempted to go to the local museum but it was closed … our bad! … new time zone and we still didn’t have all the clocks right … next we headed to Pizza Hut for dinner … once again … not very happy people in these parts … but we got our bellies full and moved on … we made a pit-sop at Wal*Mat … and back to the campground …. the Captain thinks everyone here is mad because they are here and can’t figure out how to get out … I don’t know … just love laughing at his point of view …

The kids played on the playground again … met some friends … enjoyed the cool evening weather … could see a cloud forming in the distance … the wind is right brisk coming across these plains … we kept watching to see if a tornado formed … not that we wished that on anyone … just thought that would be fun to film … maybe end up on the weather channel with the Storm Chasers ….BUT … no such luck!!! I sat at the picnic table and worked on typing up all the details of the past days while the kids played … and enjoyed the cooler weather … I bit later … we got everyone in the camper and got everyone settled down for a good nights rest … the Captain plans to drive all the way across Kansas tomorrow ….

I took a few mnutes to look up some totally cheesy spots to stop and take photos .. trying to give the kids a break from educational stuff … I think this will be a fun drive tomorrow.

I think the Captain is as excited about getting out of Goodland as he was about getting out of California

As I was getting Jamie a honey bun … A can fell out of the cabinet and landed on Bailey’s head … She was not happy .. And I think she will have a knot there tomorrow … These beds are probably not made for sleeping while driving … or opening cabinets while in motiong … with dancing mermaids sleeping … my poor proncess … she always seems to get the worst of things

Ok … My ankles and lower legs are killing me … Not sure if it’s left overs from the crazy “virus” I had .. Or if it’s something I’m doing in the RV … How I’m sitting??? …. could be the way I’m climbing around this thing …. trying to accommodate every one … Anyway … May need to buy stock in Motrin!!!!

We have been watching the lightening storm in the distance … Very cool … Just glad it’s not on top of us … BUT the weather is much cooler right now … Little blessings are everywhere … just need to acknowledge them!!!!!

The youngest 3 are asleep and the rest of us are trucking across NM … Don’t really have a plan … Just playing it by ear …I figure everything thus far has worked out well (yep! that’s what I said .. and I really mean it) …. The next part will too!!! THe Big Man has got this covered!

I am having a great time … This is the biggest adventure I have ever been on … I went to Europe the summer before my senior year … And that was awesome … I will never forget all the cool stuff we did and saw .. However …

Doing this with 4 kids is HUGE … And I am loving every minute of it … Survivor/Man vs. Wild/ Bear Grylls/Big Brother/Real World … Have nothing on this … 6 people ….3 weeks … 1 RV … Limited funds … Come on people!!!! This is reality … Not reality TV …. Just all out …full throttle … adrenaline filled … sometime panic attacked … mostly high intensity ….. FAMILY FUN!!!!!

Well …. Better help the Captain navigate and decide where to stop for the night … Trying to get the the Petrified Forest and the Painter Dessert ASAP!!!!

Keep the prayers for safety and sanity coming … They are working

FYI … our odometer registers 1800 miles as of this post Wooohoooo the Stricklands are burning it down!!!

We are on the road again … Makes me think of the song … Rip loves Willie Nelson!!!

After a great lunch, the Captain picked up the Flying Dutchman and we loaded our clean clothes and dishes … Thanks soooooo much, Scotts …. And of course, a few pictures before we got going

We left shortly after 3PM …

The little guys fell asleep as soon as we got on the road good .. I had been delaying their naps (today) so they could sleep in the camper…. We wanted them to sleep as much as possible so we could make up for the time we lost due to our battle with the tire dragon … In reality …. it wasn’t a lot of time … Just didn’t get to do anything in OK that we had planned …. BUT we did get to spend some quality time with friends AND that was much better than any museum or exhibit … And now the Flying Dutchman as new sails ….. she is safer, hopefully will get better gas mileage, and should cut out future delays.

The Captain, in his great wisdom, did add the road side hazard to our new tires … so … if we have any more problems …. they will be covered

Good news about Jikkal’s bike … He was able to get it fixed for $10 … Yea!!!!

It’s about 8:00 now and we are well into Texas (over 100 miles …. still on I40)…. Heading toward Conway and then Amarillo … Seeing lots of Wind Mills …. Cows … Horses …. Farms …. Rolling hills …. Oil rigs … Grain bins …. Also … Smelling cows …. And horses

Just saw the largest cross in the western hemisphere! Cool!

The big guys and I played a game of Counting Cows. Dancing Mermaid won … Of course …. she was the most serious about the game … It was really fun … We will make up a new one tomorrow and see who wins that one!

We are currently at a travel center for a quick break and then back on the road again.

We are in Oklahoma City, OK … Visiting our friends Rip and Meagan Scott … They use to be in our life group when they lived in Myrtle Beach … The Captain and Jordan picked orange shirts for today!!!

We got here after mid-night … The Scotts had dinner ready … You guys rock!!!! We stayed up talking and looking at pics until 3:00AM … Jordan slept till 7:30 which was awesome … I just knew he would be up at the crack of dawn … Rip was up early with fresh coffee and blueberry pancakes for breakfast. YUMMMY!!!!!

The Captain, Jikkal, Marley, and Rip have gone to slay the tire dragon this morning … We are hoping this will be the end of our tire problems. They also plan to stop by the bike shop and get Jikkal’s bike fixed … Well … Jikkal has said he has a $20 limit on the tire … If it costs too much … Then he had rather just go to Wal*Mart and buy new bike

Meagan, I, and the rest of the kids are hanging out here at the house … I’m doing laundry … for FREE again … can’t beat that … Not so mention Meagan as the super nice washer and dryer set … I was worried that I wouldn’t know how to work such hi-tech stuff!!! …. Meagan also washed my dishes from the camper … Thanks girl!! …The kids are enjoying playing, having fun with someone other than siblings, and watching TV and …. Just being relaxed and with space to spread out

So that’s what’s happening here …

Well … It is 11 PM on July 14th … The 5th day of our big adventure … From sea to shining sea …

And … I’m sorry to say that there is not much to report … Well as far as distance …. We have left AR and heading towards Oklahoma City.

We started the morning with a sickly tire … That we pampered all day … … If you remember we lost a tire on Day 1 on the right side of the Flying Dutchman … Well … The sickly tire was on the left side and the Captain took extra care with it all day … as we drove down I40 … Shortly after crossing into Oklahoma … We literally blew out a second tire on the right side … … Parts of the tire flying down the road behind us … And loud noises under the camper that freaked-out the kids .. Totally crazy … I’m thinking these “new” tires that were on here … Well … Maybe they weren’t quite soooooo new …. Ummmmm

Needless to say …. As soon as we can get to an open tire shop … We will replace the rest of these tires so that our journey is not interrupted again … Well … At least not by these sad tires !!!

We called Good Sams Club to come out and help …. You know … that “road-side” assistance we signed up for before we “set sail” … And well … My first impression was not so good …. They said they would have someone out in 30 minutes … NOT!!! More like over an hour before they got here … And … Here’s the kicker … They called back to ask if we had a jack???? The captain was like … Uh, no …. That’s what we called you guys for …. Anyway … It was one of the longest tire changes I have ever been involved with …. I’m talking hot and the flies were about to fly away with the Dutchman …. By the time thet arrived, the Captain had already started without them … He is the man!!! (He did find a small jack under the camper to get started with … But was happy to have some muscle to work those bolts/nuts on these big tires!)

We are finally on the road again …Heading to the Scotts for some much needed food and A/C … Yep! They still want us to come by even though it will be close to midnight when we arrive … That, everyone … Is what I call true friends … Let’s hope they still feel this hospitable when Jordan sounds his morning wake up call at 6:00 AM.

Well … We are on an adventure and every adventure must have a villain … And ours (for today) was the tires … We will slay this dragon and continue on our quest … Still got some cute pics from today and still had lots of laughs

Good Morning!!!!

It’s the morning of day 5 …. (7/14/09) …. It’s Stormy Cloud’s turn to pick what color shirts … And she picked “cornflower” … That’s a light blue/purple color … (we have 8 colors to choose from … Only $5 each .. Designed, printed and shipped from … www.stickersandmore.com)

When I checked the odometer this morning … we had driven …. drum roll please …. 1031 miles ….
When we started out, the odometer was at 23802 …. this morning it was at 24833!!!!

We have packed up the camper … A quick vacuum … Everyone dressed … Quick breakfast of cereal and ramen noodles … And we are off … so easy/fast to clean this small space )

We made a stop by the visitors center to grab a little souvenir to remember our stay … Jessie and I both bought “hiking stick medallions” … These are small and not expensive …. about $5…. I think it will be great to get one from each park and then make a stick to put them all on … And hang it in the house … Well … That’s my thought process this morning … The rest of our crowd didn’t find anything they wanted … Not much selection as far as small and inexpensive goes … The hiking stick and medallions will be a family thing anyway …

Next, we made a short stop at Petit Jean’s grave site and overlook … MAN!! What a cool spot! The clouds were rolling over the mountain this morning … We were standing in the clouds!!! Great view of the Arkansas river.

We also learned some history about Petit Jean … She was a girl from France who was in love with the Captain of a ship who was to explore part of the Louisiana territory … But Captain Chavez wouldn’t allow her to sail with him to explore the New World … He had promised they could be married on his return … They sailed up the Arkansas River and encountered a friendly tribe of Indians and spent the summer with them …. No one ever suspected who Petit Jean (Little John) was … Until … She became ill …. and soon died … She is believed to be buried at the top of the mountain … Ahhhh …. What a sweet story …

Well …. We made a quick stop to check the air in the tires … And a quick stop at Wal*Mart to restock before we get back on I-40 …. Going thru some drinks!!!!

Back in the Flying Dutchmen and on the road again … Kids are watching a Scooby Doo Movie … Monsters in Mexico I think …. And we are heading to Oklahoma City!!!! Hope to take pics and the bomb site and see the Scotts while we are there!

Oh … And Kayla got a Tinker Bell Pez dispenser (she is into those lately) to remember Arkansas ….