Moving our Blog

Just in case we didn't learn our lesson in "rolling with it" from the last post...

In case you couldn't tell, we're not exactly expert bloggers. In fact, we're not really even that tech-savvy. Quite frankly, we'd rather be out in the world having epic adventures with our kids!

Anyway, when we gave mobile-blogging a trial run, we discovered that the google blogger app no longer exists and it's a bit of a pain to work with through a mobile browser.

On to plan B!
(I fear you may be hearing this many more times.)

After much gnashing of teeth and perhaps a few undignified utterances, I've set up a new blog and transferred the content from this one. The new link is

https://russellsontheroad.wordpress.com/

And if you haven't already, follow our adventure on instagram @RussellsontheRoad

Send us lots of "Plan A" energy and see you on wordpress!

Lessons in "Rolling with It"

So, here we are, 14 days from departure and we are finally accepting the fact that our amazing rooftop tent is not going to arrive in time for the trip. BUMMER! We're still super-excited to get our SkyCamp when we get back; we're just sad not to have it for this trip. We knew from the beginning that this was a possibility, and we had a backup plan just in case, but we were really hoping the stars would align on this one. Oh well. Given how much we're going to have to readjust and go with the flow during the trip, we're considering this good practice in figuring out how to make things work.

On to Plan B!

Our world-class accommodations will be...drum roll, please...a ground tent!

We're going with an REI "Kingdom" tent which has both a detachable "garage" and a screened-in front area.

Our top considerations in choosing a tent were:

• Ease of set-up/breakdown: We are not staying in any one place longer than 2 nights, and we will often be making camp after a long, adventure-filled day, so the less mental and physical energy we have to spend on sleeping quarters, the better. This tent has "hubbed" aluminum pole assemblies, which are much easier to deal with and, *bonus,* no fiberglass splinters! We're going to do a few trial nights here in our backyard to get it all figured out and practice the set-up and breakdown.
• Water protection: As much as we'd like to pretend that we'll have 8 weeks of perfect weather, it's likely that we'll be camping in the rain at least some of the time. This tent got great reviews, even in really nasty weather, so we'll hope for the best. If we get wet, we'll deal. It won't be the first time
• Space/privacy: 4 people. 8+ weeks. Enough said. The ability to divide the tent into separate areas for gear, sleeping, changing clothes, hanging out, etc., is a real plus, especially when traveling with a teenage girl (Julia just turned 13!). We're pretty used to traveling and staying in close quarters, but it will be nice for all of us to have at least some privacy when we need or want it.

Once we got the tent and accessories, we were a bit concerned about space. With all the time we'll be spending in the car, we definitely don't want to be packed in like sardines, and we'd like to be able to see out the back window as we explore different areas of this gorgeous country.

Huge thanks to our friends the Jassie family for lending us their rooftop carrier! 

We did a quick trial, and it looks like we can fit the tent, accessories, all of the bedding and sleeping pads, and a few other things on the roof, leaving enough space in the back of the car for clothes, camp stove, cookware, and other miscellaneous gear. We've gotten pretty used to traveling light, so I think we're going to be okay. 

The kids are now out of school, and it's time to really start organizing, finalizing lists, packing, and preparing. Stay tuned for more updates, please cross your fingers that we don't run into any other "plan B" moments, and wish us luck as we enter the final countdown.* 

 *cue Europe music video...or Geico commercial?

The Countdown is On--100 days until takeoff!

This summer, we are heading off to find adventure, traveling from coast to coast to coast with our two youngest children: William, age 10, and Julia, who will be 13. The plan is to spend 8 ½ weeks together--driving, camping, hiking, exploring, seeing new places, trying new things, and learning about this enormous and diverse country. David and I have talked for years about doing a cross-country road trip with the kids. We wanted to wait until both kids were old enough for long, chapter-book reading during the drive, but we also needed to do it before the thought of spending a whole summer with their parents and away from their friends would be torture. After learning about the upcoming solar eclipse in school last year (Thanks, Mr. Kiernan!), Julia’s interest was sparked, and we finally decided to take the plunge. I think it’s safe to say that we’re both excited for the adventure and anxious about the enormity of the undertaking.

So many of you have offered great tips, suggested stops, shared lessons from your own travels, and asked us to share our progress. We’ll do our best to keep you posted!

While the plans are still being fine-tuned, the departure date is set, the basic map is sketched out, reservations have been made, and the local library has been cleaned out of all books that could possibly be helpful.

The Accommodations

The first question people usually ask when we talk about the trip is “Where are you staying?”  The answer is, EVERYWHERE! This will be, primarily, a very long camping trip, with a few stays in hotels and with family thrown in here and there. We’re all a little giddy about our primary accommodations though;
Check this baby out:

www.iKamper.com
There's a cool video about the project here:
https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/2629185/video-754508-h264_high.mp4

I am ridiculously excited about this tent; it feels a bit like a treehouse for grownups, and I can’t wait to try it out! We researched a number of rooftop tents before stumbling on this one through a Kickstarter campaign a few months ago. It didn’t take long to convince us that this was the one. Just not having to set-up and break down a tent every single day for 8 weeks makes it worth every penny. The crew at iKamper is terrific and their enthusiasm for their product is infectious. We’re crossing our fingers that production and shipping are on time, and we will definitely be taking a few test runs before the main event.

The Route

First, let me say that I had NO IDEA how complicated and time-consuming the planning process was going to be. Talk about overwhelming! We started by making a list of the places each one of us definitely wanted to see and doing some research on where the eclipse would best be seen. Then Mom got to work with maps, guidebooks, travel blogs, Mapquest, the road atlas, and lots of internet research.  In the end, I’ve tried to get a good mix of activities: landscapes, historic sites, cultural exposure, state and national parks, outdoors, indoors, swimming, hiking, kid-friendly, parent-friendly, down-time, planned activities, unplanned exploration, not too much driving every day, etc. Phew--I’m exhausted just thinking about it! But the hardest part is done and now I’m starting to just be excited and a bit less overwhelmed.

The Plan

If you know me at all, you know I’ve got a plan and many, many lists. We’ll try to post weekly as things come together. David promises to contribute along the way, and the kids are excited to get in on the action too, so stay tuned for “guest blogs” from David and the younger members of our crew.

In the meantime, feel free to share suggestions, ask questions, or just send positive thoughts our way!