I happened to think while writing to one of my blogging friends that I have also had the pleasure of meeting in REAL life, MamaK, that blogging about an upcoming road trip our family will be taking might be of interest to my readers. I'm sure some might wonder how a family with twelve children DO a road trip. Am I right?
We will be traveling to Gleanings For The Hungry for a week of service, which will be an approx. 14 hour trip for us. Our family car is a Ford 15 passenger van. On this trip, ten of our children will be going with us (the older two have jobs). I don't know how many of you have actually spent any time IN a 15 passenger van, but it isn't actually spacious if you have 12 people, for which 5 must be in carseats inside it. There is no space for baggage such as a standard car would have a trunk. So, suitcases, sleeping bags, ice chest, diaper bag, travel toys/amusements, must all fit inside the van with us. **gulp**
On the way "home" we are going to go 4 hours farther away to visit family (names are not used to protect the innocent! LOL!) for two days and then drive about half way home, stay in a hotel one night and then drive home the rest of the way the next day.
What I am going to attempt to do is blog about my plans, especially while trying to keep the cost down, and packing and on-the-road strategies in hopes that this information will be:
1. Helpful, perhaps for your own future road trips.
2. If not helpful, at least entertaining!
Stay tuned!
March 14, 2007
Preparing for a road trip - Part One
at 7:10 PM
Labels: Children, Family Life, Traveling
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10 comments:
Have you considered using a car-top carrier? They can hold quite a bit.
Sounds great and useful! I came over from Meredith's blog (like merchant ships). We have four babes now, (I almost said "only four," but boy, I don't feel like only anything at this point! My youngest is almost four months, so we are still adjusting to our new number!)
Anyhow, we cross country at least once a year, and we haven't done it yet with the new little one, so I will be checking back to glean from your wisdom! Thanks!
I'll be watching your travel adventures! Dr. Dobson calls it family bonding! LOL you know something will happen along the way, and those things make the trip memorable! One year we came to visit family from VA to MN, and right before we left the flu hit us. We bought puke buckets and began the drive home. Through a blizzard on the Penn. Turnpike. When we got off the turnpike it was too ice to drive so we had to stay in a hotel. With our dog, who they let in because of the weather. Then next morning, with the flu, we had to change our flat tire and drive around to find a place OPEN and with our tire size! There was a nail in the tire, so it couldn't be repaired. We had to buy the wrong size of tire, but they assured us it would get us home, then we were to get a new one.
We never forgot that trip, its the thing you laugh about later. Changing a tire with the puke bucket next to you in 3 feet of snow.
Oh, yeah, I was going to recommend a luggage carrier! We get one on our van. We got poles that fit across the top and then strap the carrier to that. However, you CANNOT fit in parking ramps with the carrier attached at the Mall of America. It will knock those poles of the size thingy, hehe. Not that I would know that or anything......
Oh, and the van is so high you have to put the little kids up there to get the luggage in and out, hehe. The big guys will dent the roof.....
I can't wait to hear how it goes! I hope you all have a fun and smooth trip.
I'm also anxious to hear / read how you will be doing all of this. Also, will you be homeschooling in the process of getting ready, etc.?
Lisa
Hello, I am interested to read more of your blog as I am eager to learn large family dynamics. I have 6 and homeschool.
Jeri,
I'm looking forward to this series. We have just made plans for a road trip from San Diego to Montana for two weeks. The great thing is that we get to borrow an RV so that means I get to sleep in a bed while hubby drives right? Yeah right!
qtpies7-
Atleast you didn't have to worry about feeding everyone:)
wow. How do you fit 5 carseats into a single car of any size?
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