A couple of tidbits for those of you keeping score on our planning:
Trying to bring our four bikes along on the trip took on a life all its own. Despite weeks of trying to work it out, none of the options (putting them in a rack on the roof of the Expedition, in a rack on the roof of the camper, in a hitch-rack on the back of the camper, in a dual-receiver hitch-rack on the back of the truck, dehydrated and stuffed in a sealed foil envelope in the glove-box) seemed feasible for a cross-country trip. Ultimately, Nan suggested we look for a way to bring just the kids’ bikes along, so they’d have something to do on those days when we aren’t sight-seeing, hiking, working, or otherwise amusing ourselves, and when mom and dad could use some peace and quiet. (As in, “How about riding your bikes slowly and carefully to the camp store and buying us some marshmallows! It’s only 3 miles away!”) After weighing all the options, I found a metal luggage basket that fits perfectly between the luggage-rack rails on top of the Expedition. With the quick turn of a wrench I can lay the handle bars flat, and the two bikes can lay on top of each other in the basket. It’ll raise our height only about a foot total (which keeps us around 8 feet tall rather than well over 11’ when they’re all on top standing up in racks), so that should cut down on wind resistance and reduce the odds we’ll knock them off on some overhang. It also means I only have to get them down/put them back up when the kids want to ride them, rather than every time we stop and want to either open the back of the truck and/or make camp.
We’ve each been allotted a single, good-sized drawer to put clothes in for the trip. Not a trunk…a drawer. We’re adding a bin for boots, shoes, and miscellany and another for “cold” clothes and coats. Not surprisingly, my lovely wife has expressed a certain amount of hysterical laughter...I mean concern about one drawer being enough space for her clothes, so we’ll likely be expanding at least somewhat as we do our final packing. The good news is that we discovered four drawers will fit perfectly in the empty space inside the door of the camper, opening up some valuable room in the Expedition. When we did our dry run trying to fit things in, we actually had more space than we needed, but of course that’ll be sucked up (with clothes) like a shot when we’re doing our final packing.
We’re almost set for Christmas, and that should help with the stress level around here. We’re buying less gifts for one another this year as we save for the big trip. Plus the kids know that our Great Wolf Lodge trip is considered part Christmas gift so that means there’s less under the tree when we make that excursion. I notice history repeating itself, as we’ve often been saying what my mom used to say every year at Christmas time: "I cut way back this year—there won’t be as many presents as you’re used to"—though we’ve altered the message some with things like "We aren’t buying as much this year because of the trip..." and "Stop circling things in the toy catalogs—we’ve already bought everything we’re going to buy..." and "No, you’re not getting an American Girl Doll because there isn’t time enough for me to sell a kidney and recover before Christmas."
Those dolls… For weeks Joelle was talking non-stop about American Girl dolls. And I mean non-stop. Over and over and over, despite our repeatedly saying, "You’re not getting an American Girl doll, and that’s final." Still she’s been leaving the catalog on my bedside table or at Nan’s place at the dinner table, drawing pictures of American Girl dolls everywhere (complete with desired accessories), cutting out pictures of them from ads and casually leaving them by our sink in the bathroom, working the topic into any conversation whenever someone pauses to take a breath ("Speaking of American Girl dolls..."), etc.... It’s abated some at this point, I think because it got so bad on one particular day that I was forced to employ some superior parenting skills. Our last conversation on the topic happened like this: For the 10,000th time, Joelle made a comment about how much she was looking forward to getting an American Girl doll for Christmas. I said (again and firmly) "You’re NOT getting an American Girl doll." She turned away in a huff and said, "Fine. Then I’ll ask Santa for one." With unmistakable exasperation I responded in a loud voice, "JOELLE, IF SANTA BRINGS YOU AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL I’M GOING TO STUFF IT BACK UP THE CHIMNEY! YOU’RE NOT GETTING ONE!" (I wonder what her therapist will make of that when she shares it in a session some years from now…) Since then Joelle’s toned it down somewhat. The catalogs are still around, and I suspect she’ll be looking for a doll-shaped box under the tree, but for now the ad campaign has gone underground
Honestly, in addition to how much they cost (arm + leg for doll, then you can add some must-have accessories like an $80 bike or $115 bed—for a doll…), I’m not entirely comfortable with the way the American Girl dolls handle the racial issue. Take a look at their website and you’ll see the only named African American doll ("Addy") is an escaped slave who left her baby sister behind because her cries could give them all away. Sure the books paint a nicer story, but that brief description didn’t exactly draw Joelle to Addy or her (buyable) books. Not surprisingly, Joelle’s preference is the “fun-loving”, powerfully blond Julie, who’s saving eagles and riding horses in the 1970s... I realize their goal is to create historically-appropriate characters, but it may be time for them to come up with something from a more recent time period for African American kids to enjoy. I’m just sayin'...
Anyway, the trip planning is nearly done though things are indeed dragging on, and it’ll be less crowded under the Christmas tree this year than usual, but with exciting times so near ahead no one’s complaining. ...Well, almost no one. ("Speaking of American Girl dolls..." here's a picture of Joelle's desk)
