Big Daddy says Thanks for Riding along

A 20 day journey across the US in a 33' RV with 7 people (5 under the age of 13) is not for the weak at heart. Seemingly on paper it is a fairly easy operation.

But if you add the idea of a rookie driver, rookie RV travelers, a borrowed $100,000 RV and never spending that much uninterupted time with one another, it provides an interesting opportunity.

In retrospect, it was a humbling time. We may never get that much time together again. We may never see some of the sights or meet some of the people or enjoy some of the laughs. But we will know is we can live for the moment, knowing today is the only thing that is assured. We can breath each breath and look at our life as a playground, just as #5 did the entire trip.

Route 66 was once the way from east to west. Probably many of the proprietors of profitable businesses were lured into the idea of "what we see today is what we will have tomorrow". And with the striking of a pen, President Eisenhower changed their world more than they probably ever considered. Knowing and seeing the economic implications of this "progress" helped me better understand the reality of life. What is today may be completely different tomorrow.

Knowing tomorrow can bring a completely different world, motivates me to live today. One of our fellow bloggers sent me a picture in front of a plane he was flying. In his early 70s, he opted to take flying lessons. I cannot tell you how many people said to me, "I always wanted to do Route 66" or "I wish I could do that" over the last few weeks, but it has been a decent number.

The reality is you can. You can enjoy life and you can enjoy it today. Fear is an impotent force. It has no assets, no strength or no physical manifestation. It only has the strength we allow. So as you consider your dreams or aspirations, why fear the future. Why not rewrite the future to include those things you "always wished". You can do it!





The "Crosses of Route 66" proved to be a good reminder to us what was truly important. It is the cross of 2000 years ago that gives our entire family reason to smile!

Big Daddy

#4 is Out

My favorite part of Route 66 was swimming. I liked the swimming pools at the campsites. One of them was 8 feet deep. My dad jumped in there and went straight down. I didn't go straight down like he did. I did cannon balls! yahooooooooooo!

The RV was fun riding. It was fun sleeping up top. It was fun being able to play while dad was driving. It was scary when the weather stripping blew off and hit my window. But not nearly as scary as when the hail, rain and wind blew our RV back and forth.

I had fun with my family. Maybe you can travel with us another time!

Goodbye,

Dog #4

#2 Says Adios to her Homies

My dad surprised us early on in the trip. We were riding down the road in Missouri when all of a sudden he pulled of to go to Meramec Caverns. It was a awesome surprise and it turned out to be one of my favorite things.

RV life would have been more enjoyable if it hadn't been all summer long. A shorter trip would be more fun, but I still liked it.

I really liked the swimming pools at the campsites along the way. Almost every park had a pool. If it didn't we let mom and dad know about it.

It seems like my favorite restaurant was Lamberts where they threw rolls at you.

When dad said we were going to spend a day at our new friends' house, I was happy. They were nice people and we got to know their families. Their swimming pool was fun. I wish I would have known how to dive when we were there, because it was probably 10' deep. But #1 taught me how to dive later. I can't wait to practice my new skill.

Another interesting thing about our trip and Route 66 is there are many high places. There is the Arch in St Louis, the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Hollywood sign in California, not to mention the many mountains and cliffs. An amazing thing was #1 convinced me to ride a 18 story ferris wheel at 6 Flags. (by the way, I hate heights!)

See you on our next adventure, if we have one!

#2 Dumbo

#1 says "tootaloo"!

Hey guys!

I had fun! I loved California! It had awesome weather, and the beach was amazing! I also like the Grand Canyon and the Merimac Caverns. Hmmmm... what else. The RV was great, especially when it was quiet. (never) just kidding. Well, I had fun on Old Route 66! Especially the diner burgers! YUM! YUM! YUM! I would totally recommend this trip to anyone! Thanks for keeping up with us, and for writing comments! I appreciate it! Talk to you guys later!

-Caddie <><

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Big Daddy

#5 Says Goodbye

I did not like Flat Stanley. I wanted mom and dad to get rid of him. He bothered me.

Sleeping in the RV was ok, but they didn't let me sleep over my daddy while he drove. Booo. I always slept with one of my sisters. I think they snore.

I liked going swimming. I usually used the green noodle. Someone bit a hole in it.

Six Flags was a lot of fun. My favorite ride was the Moon Cars. Mom says I drove them better than #2 did. She kept hitting the rails. I didn't like the water roller coasters or the baby roller coaster. Because it only had little bumps and it was too scary going up the hills. My dad took me on a big roller coaster and I did not like it one bit!

The Scrambler was way fun. I got to ride it with Big Daddy. I also snuck a ride on it with RV Mamma. The Scoobie Doo ride was fun too because I didn't fall off of it. I also liked the faris wheel, it was 18 stories (way high).

We saw a ton of choo choo trains along the way. Dad took me to a train store just outside of St Louis.

Manuel was MY friend. He was nice to me. He was daddy's friend too. He let us stay at his house and cooked us good food. He also had great strawberries.

That pretty well is it.

#5

#3 Bids you a fond Farewell

We made it! Route 66 was awesome. My favorite part of the trip was going to the beach and seeing our new friends. The beach was cool because we had fun swimming. The Silveira's house was a ton of fun because we got to swim and eat strawberries.

The most interesting time for me was watching #5 get freaked out by Yogi Bear and the train robbers. He was pretty funny to watch.

I could tell God was real because He led us through the whole Route 66 safely. The way He made the Grand Canyon was awesome. The mesas were pretty cool creations also.

My favorite campsite was either the Silveira's house, Malibu or Kansas City. RV life was interesting. It was weird showering with my flip flops on. It was fun being able to sleep while dad drove. I liked being able to use the bathroom while we were moving.

Iliked swimming almost everyday. I was a little disappointed that the Flagstaff's KOA didn't have a swimming pool, but we got to go to the mall instead...whooooa!

Bye we had fun!

Kit #3

I am not saying the road was long,but.....

I am not saying the road was long, but occasionally the idea of alternate sources of transportation did cross my mind!

















All in all, I enjoyed myself immensely. My favorite sight on the trip was the Grand Canyon. I was amazed by its beauty and vastness.

My most enjoyable campsite was either Elm Creek in the Rockies or the Malibu RV Resort on the ocean.

The most difficult time for me was when we drove through the desert with the a/c on the fritz and the weather stripping flapping in the 100+ degrees breeze.

The most interesting aspect of the trip was all of the people we met along the way and being with our children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for nearly three weeks.

I did enjoy being able to do 4 loads of laundry all at once and having very little laundry to worry with when we returned home.

If I were offered the opportunity to try something like this again, I would stay in one place more than a day and probably travel a shorter distance.

Peace-

RV Mamma

Week Two with Stanley

Early on June 27th, Big Daddy pulled the rig over so we could all run across this masterpiece. Stanley was a stiff, he just stayed stuck to one spot!
















It was that day when we discovered our electric steps on the RV were no longer joining us. As a matter of fact it was at the Continental Divide. You should have seen how quickly #5 made a Pushup disappear!

Did you know the Continental Divide is where the waters decide which way they will drain. To the east they drain into the Gulf of Mexico. To the west they drain into the Pacific Ocean.
















#2 is a big rock fan. She was in her height of glory just outside the Petrified Forest where we found a neat rock shop. Incredibly the winds were blowing backwards. This must have been the phenomenon that left Stanley stranded in a tumbleweed.
















In Holbrook, AZ and the LA area were two places which still have WigWam hotels rooms. Unfortunately we never were there at a time close to night. Although Stanley would attest to the fact we were generally close to somewhere close to storm time!





















Any Eagles fans out there? RV Mamma and Big Daddy couldn't agree on the lyrics of the hit "Take it Easy". (RV Mamma just informed me she was right about the lyrics...) But Stanley convinced them it included "Standing on a Corner in Winslow, AZ." Unfortunately, the building on the corner was damaged about 18 months before our visit. The fence in front of the statue was as close as Stanley could venture. All that was left of the building was the wall behind the statue and some temporary support structures to prevent it from crushing the statue as flat as Stanley!
















We spent much of the 28th in the Flagstaff area and unfortunately Stanley was stranded in the RV all day. But the crew had fun with one of their road games, "The Wild Flowers of Route 66". These were some of the amazing specimens we found on the nature trail at the Flagstaff KOA.






















We woke up early on the 29th to ride the train to the Grand Canyon. It was a lot of fun. There were country singers, good weather and train robbers all for the price of a ticket. Stanley stayed close to the window for fresh air.
















He was a brave soul at the Canyon. He was willing to work his way right up to the edge. #2 was not a big fan of the edge. She kept close to solid ground.
















The old saying "keep your eyes on your fries" was taken to a whole new level. I once heard of a guy who would lick his whole order of fries so his brother wouldn't mess with them. But this crazy critter took his curly fry right over the edge with no fear!















Water was a rare commodity out west. The Williams, AZ had a tank to catch the rain water. It also caught Flat Stanley. He was always a sucker for a smile!
















But his smile didn't stick around too long. He was on 'black tank" duty on the 30th. It was a rough day on the road. Big Daddy felt like he was on "black tank" duty all day.














Kingman, AZ was the pivotal point of the day for us. To go to Oatman, AZ or to skip it. The EZ Route 66 guide suggested longer RVs skip this section of the road. What to do? Stanley thought a quick check under the hood was a good idea.
















Poor Stanley was the only barrier between a mutiny and Big Daddy on the road to Oatman.
















You may need to double click on this picture to get the full effect. But evidently, someone's car did not successfully navigate the road to Oatman. How a full blown mutiny didn't occur at this point is still one of the mysteries of our trip.















We survived the most chaotic day of our trip and the camera was fixed a little less on the sites as we hit LA. Big Daddy and RV Mamma had their eyes focused more on the streets than on the sites. That is until we hit Santa Monica Beach! The completion of Route 66. We made it!!
















A good night's sleep at the Malibu RV Resort and we were off to our friend's house in Santa Maria, CA. This was a fun filled day for all. Particularly Stanley, he enjoyed some grapes, tangerines, strawberries and broccoli!




























A good night's sleep in our friend's driveway and an early morning let us through the desert nearly unscathed to land on a blacktop parking lot at Circus Circus in Las Vegas!

Week One with Stanley

June 20th Marked the departure from Indianapolis enroute to Chicago to join Route 66. Believe it or not, our tour bus driver had never driven an RV before and chose to do so in the tight busy streets of Chicago on day one!



















We had dinner at the famous Launching Pad in Wilmington, IL. It was a classic Route 66 restaurant.
















Later that night we broke camp for the first night of our adventure with the Venturis at the Carriage Lake RV Resort in Streator, IL. They were incredibly kind hosts!














We left Straightor the 21st with hopes of camping in St Louis. Along the way we stopped at Odell, IL at a 1932 Standard Station.















Flat Stanley took respite over the driver's head. Personally, I think he lacked confidence in the driver and wanted a better view of the road.
















The quiet town of Towanda offered Flat Stanley a little refreshment from his whiskers.















Should you consider traveling Rt 66 through Illinois, you need to follow Stanley's lead. A stop at Funks Grove will offer sweet surprises.

Make sure you check out the owner's license plates. They are pretty cool. Also, take note how they spell Syrup.














A fun aspect of IL 66 is the miles and mile of telephone poles. One of the paradoxes of the ride was the interstate side by side with the Mother Road and the cellular towers looming over the old telephone poles. Is the fast pace always better? You have to decide.















Williamsville is worth the time. A restored gas station offered Stanley a few laughs. First was the pickup cab "For Sale, 1/2 Off"

Then he found a seat that neither Abe Lincoln or Elvis Presley ever took the chance to sit.












Big Daddy's original plans for camping night two would have allowed a good view of the St Louis inner city. RV Mamma was a little anxious about this idea, so we journeyed west to Eureka.



There Stanley and the crew enjoyed a stay with Yogi and his crew.











Outside Springfield, MO we found a winner for lunch. Stanley got pinned by a "Throwed Roll" at Lambert's. This dining experience was a favorite of everyone.
















Stanley enjoyed all the bridges of 66. They were fun and a far cry from many of the modern ones.















One of the rivers we crossed formed a neat little rest stop for not only us, but anyone who travels 66. Meramec Caverns was a good stop. Someone told us cameras weren't allowed. But if you go, take a camera, our informant was incorrect!


















Carthage offered up a good view of the movies. They didn't seem to be RV friendly so we got to take note of the most important 66 movie in years "Cars" and hit the road for a better place to sleep.






Stanley tried to snag a golf cart at the Lebanon KOA, but RV Mamma straightened him out before he caused too much damage. He is safer behind the whell than #5, he has been known to wreck one of these babies!




Kansas and Oklahoma offered up the first views of 66 on the road. Thankfully someone got Stanley before he got flattened once again.















Ever get a Blue Whale for a birthday present. This landmark was not only a favorite of Stanley, but if you look closely, #5 was enjoying the stop!











Arcadia offered Stanley a view of one of RT 66 staples, the Round Barn. It was getting late and the day and Big Daddy nearly took out the power line overhead with the RV, so we didn't linger.















June 24th we pulled out of Tulsa with hopes of seeing the sights of OK. As we passed Camp Creek, OK Stanley got a good view of the shoe tree. He said, "the view is much better than the smell!"















A few miles later Stanley wanted to throw out some greetings to his friend Mr. Smiff. Two blinks and this opportunity would have been gone.
















With a good night's sleep at the Elk City KOA, we were on the road to who knows where. But you cannot leave Elk City without checking out the National Route 66 Museum. Thankfully it was closed so Big Daddy had the entire parking lot to maneuver the rig. It was a neat place with a great feel for the olden days on the road. It even had a couple BurmaShave signs. But Stanley migrated towards the Kachina Dolls for some reason. Can you find him in the photo?

















One of Amarillo's most famous RT 66 sites (contoverial as well) is the Cadillac Ranch. Some creative artists east of town made their own satirical tribute "Bug Ranch". Stanley blended into the background.
















But if you are Amarillo, The Texan is worth the trip. If you can eat the 72oz steak and fixins within an hour it is free. If not, it only sets you back a bad stomach ache and about $50. If Stanley stuck around here very long, he would be able to leave the "Flat" off his name.















A night at the Amarillo KOA might cause a little alarm if you notice the signs as you enter the site. It mentions something about turning your radio on for instructions if the Alarm sounds. We gave Stanley another chance to be seen, this time at the authentic ranch. Can you find him this time? We left our website behind on one of the old luxury sedans!




















Whether Stanley or the kids were most excited about being halfway to the coast is uncertain. But he took time for a picture for his fans. The MidPoint Cafe was an inspiration in the movie "Cars". #5 bought some "Cars" paraphanalia there.














Stanley and #5 were always interested in any motorized piece of machinery along the way. Consequently, we had to stop in Santa Rosa at the Route 66 Auto Museum. $8 covered admission for all except #1 who slept in the rig while the rest of us got to enjoy the smooth rides.
















After a little genuine Route 66 food at the quaint little restaurant, The Olive Garden, we made our way to the Albuquerque KOA. We ran into a number of friends from past stops. But what we really wanted was a good swim. Right as we approached the pool the staff closed it for the night. Evidently, southwestern cities occasionally have an occurence the weather people call "monsoons". I don't know if this one qualified officially, but as for us it ranked amongst the worst storms we have ever experienced. The rig held up pretty well considering the chaos.The raindrops on the hood and the sunset allowed the old sailors promise to remain true with a little twist. "Pink sky at night, RV driver's delight"!