tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198820262011-04-21T20:38:15.873-07:00We're a six person homeschooling family--complete with one 62 pound "puppy" and two grumpy part-Siamese cats-- on a cross-country pilgrimmage to a new brand new life (in the dead of winter). Come along for the ride! <i>Is there a Starbucks near here?</i>ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.comBlogger491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138474042933432272006-01-28T10:36:00.000-07:002006-01-28T11:47:23.006-07:00

I just realized that other day the being a moderator on the site means I can post.Some of my favorite memories on the trip:Calico ghost town: Mom handed me the camera and told me to take pictures, which made me extremely happy :). I love taking pictures, and making people pose. The picture below was my favorite. There where two groups for a while (boo, and mom) and (dad, the man child, and the

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138345157745785422006-01-26T23:53:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:59:17.746-07:00

I'm headed into a busy few days as we end our trip and begin to settle into our new life in Illinois. I'm not done posting about our trip, but my internet is iffy for the next few days. Check back next week to see how we completed our trip and any last minute thoughts from the road. After we arrive, I plan to leave this site up for awhile...just in case any of you are interested in your own RV

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138344810803810462006-01-26T23:47:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:53:30.803-07:00

TLO adores this peg game from Cracker Barrel. The Boy does not believe that I made one just like this in eighth grade shop class.Rush Hour by Think Fun is a HUGE hit! We had to go to Barnes and Noble to buy more cards to expand the game. Check it out...you'll love it, too!

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138344422807577252006-01-26T23:24:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:47:02.850-07:00

We started the morning in Texas.We drove most of the day through Oklahoma...where the winds really do come sweeping down the plains (and onto the highway...yikes!)We ended up in Joplin, Missouri.En route, we were able to make a stopover at the Gleeson's, of the Gleeson Blogomerate fame, in OKC, a mere few blocks off of our route.We were treated to warm, friendly hospitality and a yummy "Gleeson

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138343042784449392006-01-26T23:16:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:24:02.786-07:00

Here's a flag pic of the kids at the "U Drop Inn" in Shamrock, TX.This building has been lovingly and beautifully restored and is a shining example of Art Deco design. It used to be a Conoco station as well as a restaurant and Greyhound Bus station.I met a charming docent when I visited and enjoyed talking with her. She told me they had received a federal grant to help with the renovations. If

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138342575767204702006-01-26T23:10:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:16:15.766-07:00

We discovered that Cracker Barrel does a family meal to go! For around $35, we got enough food for six of us to have dinner, plus about four of us to have a second "C.O.R" dinner (Clean Out the Refrigerator) the next night. (So, enough for 8, easily, if not more). It was so good! You pick a main dish of either Chicken 'n Dumplings, Meatloaf or Roast Beef and then get three generous portions of "

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138342232555091952006-01-26T23:02:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:10:32.556-07:00

Both of the older girls were born in Texas. Foo in 1989 in San Antonio. Boo in 1991 in College Station. Here, they return to their "roots."The Amarillo KOA also had the added attraction of...Wild bunnies!

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138341734816639772006-01-26T22:49:00.000-07:002006-01-26T23:02:14.853-07:00

We stayed in Alburquerque, NM for one night and then moved on to Amarillo, TX. Know what these are? Cadillacs!Cadillac Ranch, just west of Amarillo. Another piece of Route 66 memorabilia.For the record...Hubby was unimpressed and wouldn't let the kids sign the cars. His response? "They had been vandalized." Well...DUH, Honey. That's the idea!!! The kids were freezing in this picture and didn't

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138340948533176392006-01-26T22:38:00.000-07:002006-01-26T22:49:08.566-07:00

Clines Corners. Located at the junction of Highway 285 and Interstate-40. (Actually, I think it's considered a Trading Post.)I could have spent a fortune here! Fortunately for Hubby, it started snowing a lot and we rushed off to try outrun the storm (we did).

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138340266781607672006-01-26T22:26:00.000-07:002006-01-26T22:37:46.796-07:00

I think I've mentioned how much Foo and I have enjoyed the great gift shops across this great land of ours.I purchased this Indian Blanket in New Mexico. They are softer than I expected, even though this is an inexpensive "tourist" one. The handmade Native American ones (about $400-$600 and up) were so soft and gorgeous!It's been a wonderful lap blanket in my chilly front seat.And, no. It is NOT

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138339162035606612006-01-26T22:12:00.000-07:002006-01-26T22:19:22.036-07:00

Payton has this way of doing things and then looking at us like we're the crazy ones. Like she'll sit in a seat when someone moves and then look at them as if she is trying to convince us, "But, I'm Mommy. I'm supposed to sit here." Or, "I'm Daddy. That was my hamburger I just ate."We've had a lot of fun with this on the trip. It might help to know what Payton's "voice" sounds like. She

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138338744969867812006-01-26T22:08:00.000-07:002006-01-26T22:12:24.970-07:00

We'll show this to them when they grow up, to prove to them that they really did like each other.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138338495816605442006-01-26T21:58:00.000-07:002006-01-26T22:08:15.830-07:00

Foo and The Little One watching "A Little Princess" on DVD.All the kids chillin' in the "dining room." Boo helping The Boy check email.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138337618422944472006-01-26T21:39:00.000-07:002006-01-26T21:53:38.440-07:00

The Painted Desert, part of the Petrified Forest National Park. These formations are called the "Teepees."At the northern end of the park, there is a visitor's center that features a free 20 minute informational movie. It was excellent!6 stars!!!

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138336680544123322006-01-26T21:35:00.000-07:002006-01-26T21:38:00.563-07:00

We call this the "Album Cover" photo.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138285131677181592006-01-26T07:14:00.000-07:002006-01-26T07:18:51.676-07:00

You really, really must check out Lolo's Extreme Cross-Country RV Trips!!! This great site chronicles seven summers of RV adventures by Herb, Lolo and their two boys. They were my inspiration.Do not miss it!

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138284869687269962006-01-26T06:56:00.000-07:002006-01-26T07:14:29.933-07:00

All over Holbrook, you see "Rock Stores." This seemed funny at first. They sell gorgeous pieces of polished and unpolished petrified wood, gems and fossils. Very cool.There is petrified wood all over Holbrook, even next to the KOA bathroom. Stone-like pieces of wood that you'd swear were poured into tree-shaped molds.The Petrified Forest is a National Park (tip: Glad we bought our National Parks

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138283749005481442006-01-26T06:51:00.000-07:002006-01-26T06:55:49.006-07:00

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138283445701397802006-01-26T06:43:00.000-07:002006-01-26T06:50:45.713-07:00

On Route 66!The end of our trip will parallel "The Mother Road" or Route 66. Here are some of our pics from Holbrook, AZ:

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138249256482842292006-01-25T21:10:00.000-07:002006-01-25T21:20:56.516-07:00

We took Rt. 87 to Rt. 277 to Rt. 377 and found the entire route to be smooth. It was an evening drive and we had crystal clear skies.Holbrook KOA was deserted, except for us, but the bathrooms and showers were still top-notch.We had Cruise America winterize our second RV, seeing we are headed north and it is the dead of winter. So...no water for the rest of our trip!We have dish pans in the sinks

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138248624068442602006-01-25T21:03:00.000-07:002006-01-25T21:10:24.070-07:00

The pets have been doing pretty well on the road (Payton is feeling much better today and, in fact, is terrorizing Kahlua as I type.)Kahlua hides under Hubby's seat or in one of the upper cupboards, while Kona sleeps on the top bunk (the highest spot in the RV, of course). Payton now settles down on her cushion between the two front seats.The cats received something called a Purr-Pad (not

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138248204551624392006-01-25T20:58:00.000-07:002006-01-25T21:03:24.553-07:00

Because we've realized we need to arrive at our final destination by this Friday, we had to cut out a detour to Tuscon where we were supposed to visit our friends, Laura and Kelly. Now, they made the trip to Hawaii twice (three times for Kelly) while we lived there and we came within an hour and a half and couldn't get down to see them. We suck, I know.But Laura and I are going to make plans to

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138337931804385002006-01-25T20:57:00.000-07:002006-01-26T21:58:51.806-07:00

Outback Restaurant "to go." Highly recommend the Steak Salad...yummy!Mesa, AZ

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138247921949987862006-01-25T20:56:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:58:41.950-07:00

Psst..it's warm here!

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138247780380958802006-01-25T20:53:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:56:20.380-07:00

*Penguin not included.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138247632947289702006-01-25T20:49:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:53:52.946-07:00

We drove from Williams to The Grand Canyon and then down to Mesa, AZ in one day. This was a moutainous drive, in which we reached 8000 ft. at one point. It was also a winding road, that gave at least some of us car-sickness. Still, beautiful. Entire patches of snow-white birch trees in the forest. Snowy moutain peaks. Beautiful cliffs. We spent the night in Mesa so that we could turn over

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138247351894141042006-01-25T20:43:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:49:11.893-07:00

We are actually doing schoolwork on our trip (although not as much as I would like). Every day, we start our trip learning Spanish with Spanish in Ten Minutes a Day. If you'd like to know where the table is...just ask us!Adios! (Again...can't get the character map to work, so no upside-down exclamation point, either.)

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138246909198041642006-01-25T20:36:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:43:23.650-07:00

This year for Christmas, Boo knitted all of our gifts. She knitted most of us wonderfully warm scarves for the wintery weather and I received thirty-five knitted dishcloths!She gave The Boy knitting lessons, yarn and needles. He's knitting a blue scarf for himself and is doing quite well. Watch for a photo of his progress.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138246605533177892006-01-25T20:32:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:36:45.533-07:00

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138246322930315272006-01-25T20:05:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:32:02.986-07:00

We left our snowy Williams, AZ campsite and drove about an hour north to The Grand Canyon. We stopped at the National Geographic Visitor's Center outside of the park and saw an IMAX film about the history of the Grand Canyon. It rated 5 stars by the family. (I thought it was slightly corny, although informative.)Okay...In every photo or movie that I've ever seen of The Grand Canyon, it looks

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138244660295579242006-01-25T19:41:00.000-07:002006-01-25T20:04:20.336-07:00

We left Las Vegas, NV and headed for Williams, AZ. Gorgeous views, as usual.I have realized that my geographic knowledge was severely lacking. I grew up in Northern IL. It's flat there.After I married, I moved to San Antonio, TX for three years and then to Bryan/College Station, TX for two more. With the exception of the Hill Country, it's pretty much flat there, too.I had no clue that NV,

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138243276793278422006-01-25T19:31:00.000-07:002006-01-25T19:41:16.796-07:00

Dance, dance, dance

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138242695389076782006-01-25T19:17:00.000-07:002006-01-25T19:31:35.400-07:00

"Together...we'll take over the WORLD!!!"

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138173647631269282006-01-25T00:11:00.000-07:002006-01-25T00:20:47.646-07:00

A few things we have really appreciated having on the road:ChapstickLotionWater bottles (We're drying up here!)Lots of quarters for laundryPet bath wipes. Kona spent the first few days of travel sitting IN the litter box and Payton has a penchant for playing in dusty places. Beach towels. We brought about ten beach towels with us to use after showers. They are great! Thinner than regular

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138171465458036902006-01-24T23:41:00.000-07:002006-01-24T23:44:25.460-07:00

This does not count. They didn't unfurl the flag. I wasn't there. Sorry!

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138171282251645852006-01-24T23:31:00.000-07:002006-01-24T23:41:22.253-07:00

We promised the kids we'd take them to the Adventuredome at Circus, Circus because we missed all the fun of San Diego (our original plan included San Diego Zoo and Sea World San Diego). We decided it was worth it to drive out to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, to purchase discounted tickets. Our mistake? Afternoon work traffic! Ugh! Because we took so long, I didn't get to meet up with one of my

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1138170657562393632006-01-24T22:30:00.000-07:002006-01-24T23:30:57.616-07:00

Hey, look! ginabina is actually on this trip!Hoover Dam was amazing! We left for the dam at about 9am. It was a short trip from Vegas, with a Starbucks detour, of course. (I now have two Starbucks City Mugs...San Francisco and Las Vegas.)We parked in the lot that was easiest for RVs and then walked back towards the dam in gorgeous weather. Hubby and I watched the four kids walking ahead of us

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137945213721692992006-01-22T08:51:00.000-07:002006-01-22T08:53:33.723-07:00

Hopefully Friday or Saturday.Will email when we get to our next Internet connection.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137945048537140942006-01-22T08:10:00.000-07:002006-01-22T08:57:21.490-07:00

We slept at the Bakersfield KOA again and set off for Las Vegas in the morning.Wow!What a gorgeous part of the country! We saw rolling foothills, which were amazing (no pics, sorry!), windmills, Joshua tree groves and even hit Route 66 in Barstow, CA. The true highlight had to be our visit to the ghost town of Calico, CA. Rest Area in the Mohave Desert. Windmills!Calico was a boomtown of about

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137942457832068912006-01-22T08:01:00.000-07:002006-01-22T08:07:37.846-07:00

How to clog your RV toilet Use the RV toilet without first filling the bowl with water.Use non-RV toilet tissueLeave the hoses open instead of closed when you are at the campsite. (They need to be closed so that pressure is created when they are opened for dumping.) Not that we'd know or anything....

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137907896798208582006-01-21T22:22:00.000-07:002006-01-21T22:31:36.800-07:00

When we were planning our trip, The Boy really wanted to see "the big trees" in the Redwood Forest. We told him they were too far north for our itinerary and we thought we'd be much further south when we turned left at San Diego to drive across California towards Las Vegas.Well, our change in plans brought us much closer to the Sequoia National Park, so we took off from Bakersfield to see the BIG

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137779496815819332006-01-20T10:43:00.000-07:002006-01-21T22:21:02.240-07:00

It is taking longer to drive through California than we anticipated.We have to have the first RV* turned in by Monday, so we're going to skip San Diego (pout) and head for Vegas, via the Sequoia National Park. We drove through a lot of farm country, through the Coastal Range foothills. We saw grape vineyards, lots of fruit trees and nuts. We also saw oil drilling fields, which was cool. The drive

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137778949206989602006-01-20T10:37:00.000-07:002006-01-21T22:14:31.660-07:00

Today was the RV pick up day. We drove down to Cruise America RV Rental in Oakland from Travis AFB. Then Brian had to drive the van back to the Oakland Airport and take a cab back to us as we waited for him in the RV at the Cruise America parking lot.We left the parking lot and made a wrong turn into what looked like a very, very bad neighborhood. I envisioned some scene from a Chevy Chase movie,

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137738874048722282006-01-19T23:32:00.000-07:002006-01-21T20:40:57.013-07:00

This is the flag from our Ft. Kam house in Hawaii. This is the Westwind Lodge at Travis AFB, CA. We're going to try to fly it all across the country.

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137738723368819062006-01-19T23:29:00.000-07:002006-01-21T21:38:27.193-07:00

We drove down to Fisherman's Warf and found a criminally cheap souvenier shop where we bought tons of postcards and magnets (I envision my deep freeze covered in magnets from our travels.) We went to Pier 39, where we saw the famous lazy (and smelly) Sea Lions. We stopped at Boudin's Sourdough bakery along the way to Ghiardelli Square, which was not worth the walk (although we did get a free

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137729957550352702006-01-19T20:59:00.002-07:002006-01-21T22:00:10.236-07:00

Note: The dates on these posts are inaccurate. We've written our posts on the road and have updated whenever and wherever we are able to hit the internet...which, so far, hasn't been that often. I'll also update photos later. Today we went to Target. For my Hawaii friends: Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!(that should be angelic singing)I love Target. 'nuf said. By chance, we saw a sign for "The Best Factory Tour

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137298205502231542006-01-14T20:53:00.000-07:002006-01-14T21:10:05.520-07:00

We arrived at San Francisco airport and then had to figure out how to get six people, one large dog w/carrier, two cats w/carriers and twenty-four bags from the airport to Travis AFB near Fairfield, CA. We rented a giant Econoline van (pictures will follow when I remember to bring my camera cable with me to my blogging location) and proceeded to take what must have been the long way through the

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1137297194257254872006-01-14T20:33:00.000-07:002006-01-14T20:53:14.280-07:00

When my kids are grown, I imagine having those times when we sit around rehashing stories from the past. Here's one that simply must come up:Thanksgiving 2016Remember that time we were moving from Hawaii after living there for eight years? Daddy was loading the 40ft container, virtually by himself (although he had of help from good friends). After about three days, the day before the truck was

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19882026.post-1136802562602914022006-01-09T03:17:00.000-07:002006-01-09T03:31:41.096-07:00

This is the beginning of the on-line journal of our family as we begin the trip of a lifetime! We are a homeschool family, moving from Hawaii to Illinois. Only we're taking the scenic route via RV. Pray for good weather and safe roads!Here's the cast of players:Hubby (aka Dad, until he gives me another handle)-the bestest, most wonderful, not to mention tallest man on the earth. Recently "

ginabinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091512966084016451noreply@blogger.com2