Who says you can't go (mobile) home again?
We're on the road somewhere in New Jersey with the kids, the dog and our temporary home with wheels - we're calling her Monte or Aunt Fanny* - a 2012 motor home complete with a flat-screen tv, two booth tables, bunk beds, automatic curbside steps and a 3-burner stove that's kind of nicer than the one at home ( but will get equally as little use).
While Evan and the others signed the paperwork with an employee who had obviously fulfilled his potential, and watched a video on RVing (place oxygen mask on yourself first...)Mike and I loaded up on Cap'n Crunch and cheese sticks and assorted other proteins at Target. We then bid adieu to the northeast for the next six days.
It's amazing how quickly we all settled in. Sophie is armed with with plenty of American Girl books, art stuff and Polly pockets; Cam began watching a movie when we hit Mamaroneck and hasn't come up for air since ( though he was the #1 helper when we were loading Monte/Aunt Fanny) and Mike is contemplating a nap, but is now acting as co- pilot to Evsn. Izzy has found her spot in the aisle (she has to back up to move) and at the table.
According to Maggie - our slightly direction-impaired GPS - we are due to arrive in Lexington, Virginia at about 9pm. We are booked for the next 3 nights at Yogi Besr's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Natural Bridge. On its website, Yogi is everywhere - in a canoe, at Bingo, going down the waterside... And somehow that's comforting. What can go wrong with Yogi on hand?
So we forgot our ez-pass (definitely not as bad as forgetting our passports when we were headed to Canada) and just hit our first toll. We spent three minutes chatting with the toll collector about Izzy, the weather, Evan's um, hair... Aren't we supposed to just hand over our money and not even get a nod in return? My friends, we are definitely not in New York....
But it feels like (mobile) home.
Friday, 8:30 am
I forgot what my favorite part of this RVing is ( no, it's not watching Evan back in to space #54 for what felt like hours in order to properly align our hookup stuff and no, it's not the questionable neighbors who have a fetish for wind chimes). Its when we are all finally in bed (Cam at the helm, Mike and Sophie on the bunk beds and Evan and I in the master suite and we are all gigging away, shushing each other, convincing Sophie that there isnt a Big Foot. Because we arrived after dark (and we're talking Virginia dark - holy cow it was like a scene out of Friday the 13th) we really have no idea where we were. But the stars were out, the kids and dog tucked in for the night and all was good.
* We can't agree on RV name. El Monte is the name of the rental company, hence Monte. But Evan finds the RV very backside heavy when he's driving so he named it Aunt Fanny... What do you guys think?
Have a blast Kamer Family! Since Izzy is aboard, why not call the RV Shaggy Fanny. Don't let the kids overload on campfire Smores. LOL!
ReplyDeleteSo far, I'm almost wishing I were there - almost. Sounds like a lot of fun. Then again, Kamer time is always fun. Have a great time. And post pics! Xoxox.
ReplyDeleteI particularly enjoyed, from your 2009 trip, the photo of "Fingers Up Statue Nose." If you can create and post a few more such brilliant works of a similar motif on this trip, you'll make me a happier reader. Additional suggestion besides smores... has Evan taught them M&M Melts yet? Have fun! - Scott W.
ReplyDeleteM&M melts? (I'm guessing a NRHS hockey thing). We almost picked Stonewall Jackson's nose but thought that would be disrespectful since we were in his hometown :)
DeleteAn NRHS hockey thing in the sense that it was taught to me by none other than Evan Kamer, circa 1988. I guess he's losing some memory. Very simple. Get the big, big, big bag of M&M's (I'd avoid peanut or any of the fancier ones - keep it 'old school'). Fill ENTIRE mouth with M&M's (all participants at the same time). All hold in mouth till some of the color starts melting out. Then, all begin to chew. Watch all the different colors run down everyone's chin. Perfect campground entertainment. A definite crowd pleaser.
DeleteLaughing all the way with you! Ott's like "aunt fanny". Enjoy part deux!
ReplyDeleteTake good notes, Otts! A few musts for the RV: dust pan and broom, hangers. Also, whole family must be in agreement if RV is to be locked or kept unlocked when leaving it. We locked ourselves out... thanks to Mike's long and limber legs, he was able to climb in window and save the day!!
DeleteI'm thinking drinks at the beach while this is still fresh in your mind. We just drove 6 1/2 hours round trip to visit Tom's parents for the day and thought we should have rented an RV. Someone should really open up a shop in rye! My suburban just isn't cutting it anymore and our dog is 1/1000 of Izzy's size. Please take pictures of interior of RV for our future discussion. I am interested to see the lay out. How big is it?
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