October42011
Disneyland was more than I expected. Not just in the attractions or the time and attention to every detail, not for the fact that every employee acts like or actually are having the time of their lives, But in my children’s reactions. The second we arrived at Disneyland it was just as you would expect, they were brimming with joy, Christmas would pale in comparison to the excitement they felt that moment at the gates. Even Braeden who is 12 and usually acts aloof in most situations couldn’t contain his glee. Disney has done a fantastic job every ride is like being inside a disney movie; it is obvious that no expense was spared. The parade was a sensation everyone so well choreographed, and the floats even contained the chimney sweeps from Mary Poppins, even I was in my happy place.
October12011
I’ve realized it has been a long time since I have updated my blog. I was in Las Vegas last time I wrote anything or added any notable pictures.
By the time we left Las Vegas I was just so excited to get home and experience with my family the last moments of our epic journey that I felt no need to be anywhere near a computer.
We began the drive toward Los Angeles, a drive expected to take the average traveler 4 or so hours. It took a solid 12 hours to make the journey. Eltsie was having a really tough time pulling us up the steady inclines of the Sierra Nevada’s in to the Mohave. We found ourselves stopping and letting her cool down every 20 mins or so until we found a spot to chill out and wait till dusk when the temperature will drop and we can finish the drive.
Eventually we found our way and were officially in the city of angels. We went looking for a Walmart so we could camp for the night. We drove the the narrow streets of the outskirts of LA in the winnebago doing about 30 mi per hour when suddenly we hit a bump. Due to flash flooding they have culverts like ditches accross streets like where a cross walk would be. There are no signs to warn you of such poor planning, and we are airborne. Both kids are sleeping in their beds and we have all four wheels off the ground in a 30ft winnebago at 1am on a residential street. I seriously left my seat and had the moment of free fall and terror that I would imagine the stunt drivers on the Dukes of Hazzard or Super Dave Osborne may have felt. Not a second later we hit the ground in the most fluid and perfect landing perhaps ever accomplished by such a vehicle and continued on. Both the kids woke up, JJ said she left her bed and was floating, we are sure we have broke every dish we own, and who knows what else. We find a safe place to pull over and realize that the RV is fine as are all our dishes, Walmart is located and the crisis averted. Tommorow we do Disney!.
August222011
We often stay at Walmart as it is free and usually right off the highway. A lot of the time we end up pulling in to a one horse town tired and ready to rest. Today that town was Bangor Maine. After we found a semi flat spot for Eltsie to rest we ventured inside for some supplies. The walk from the rv to the store seemed to take forever, this often happens when you can feel all eyes on you. It’s hard to tell if people are staring with astonishment judgement or innocent curiosity, but either way the fact remains they are staring!. We go inside to get minutes for our American cell phone. We stopped at the bikes, they have a way better selection there of lowriders and beach cruisers than at home and a huge tub of beach balls. We ake one of the bikes of it’s stand to have a look while JJ pulled out a ball. Immediately we have the man working the department telling her not to touch the balls an us not to touch the bikes. The man whos name was Aaron tells me I am Not to ride it only to look and I tell him that there is no other way to know if the bike is for me other than to get on, he informs me he can call the management, I ask him politely to do so. Now though I feel my jerk comin on, after he makes te call I tell him I only got him to do it to waste his time as now I am leaving. He informs me that he is going to follow me through the store so he can give management direction to my whereabouts. I get Aaron to direct me to the tap lights while we wait for management. Shortly there after a handsome Walmart official with tattoos poking out from under his sleeves named Flint approaches us. I introduce myself and inform him about his employee being unreasonably rude to my family an I and that I would like to file a harassment complaint. Suddenly Aarons Tune has changed he swallows the golf ball in his throat and begins to plea his case as I politely excuse myself to find cell phone minutes. We arrive in electronics still being closely watched. In small town I believe it is a general assumption that people who look like us are perhaps the lower rung of society, I mean we obviously don’t have jobs edication or money, right?. I ask the lady behind the counter about cell phones, instead if being cold she receives us a one of her own and immediately shows me her betty Page chest piece. She says she more often than not keeps her ink covered as it is not as accepted on their area, but when the blanket of night falls she becomes Miss Kitty and there are no holds barred, quite literally. So Betty Page was an appropriate choice. Welcome to America!
August182011
We left Nova Scotia in a flurry of good times, goodbyes, and good friends, all while experiencing a feeling of true evolution. With no real schedule for the next month or so, we were officially free to explore the massive landscapes of massive people affectionately or not so affectionately known as the USA. With no more than $2000 CAD to our names and well over 4000miles to cover we were feeling both ambitious and adventurous as we begin the second and last leg of our journey.
To cross the border we had to back track approximately 400km to New Brunswick to cross into Maine. It was raining, and I am always a little nervous when I approach an international crossroads, even though I was sure we had vacuumed and cleaned every inch of Eltsie and removed anything that could be deemed paraphernalia by even the most fascist of border guards. We were pleasantly surprised to have been granted the friendliest border guard in the best mood of any one in his position I had ever met. He asks us the regular questions where we are going, the nature of our visit etc, even cracks a couple jokes and then waves us through without even the thought of a search. Palm to face. Of course and no weed.
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