2 Kids,2 Dogs,1200 Miles: 2 More Weeks in FL 2 - Finished with a Blast! P40

[Poolrat]

We're already laughing about it. It's now the "go to" saying around our house:
Me [looking at Madison's dirty shirt]: What happened to you? Did you fall off a cliff or something?
Madison: No, I rode my bike off one.

That would happen in our house too. I think Madison was brave to get on that bike again and glad you pushed to do it. I guess nothing could have been as bad as the last ride right?

Me too. They won't be ready until late next week.

Which dog is playing the role of "seeing eye" until next week?

A thousand things ran through my head as we went down. Of of which was "hmm....there are some very large rocks at the base of this bluff somewhere around here. I wonder where they are?"

Along with " I am going to have climb back up as far as I am sliding down."

It was part bravery, but also part Bambi and I not letting her quit. You can't stop riding a bike just because you fall off one cliff.

That should be in a fortune cookie somewhere....

On the left is Allie. She was also a rescue, but we know what she is: part Rat Terrier, part Australian Cattle Dog. Also part cat. Let me explain: her previous owners had her since she was a puppy. They also had two cats. So she learned much of her mannerisms from them. For example: laying around in the sun and being completely ambivalent to the presence of humans - except for when she wants to play. Madison wants a cat so bad, and every time she asks, we just say "we already have Allie, why do you want another cat?"

I too have a cat that thinks he is a dog. Comes when called and stick by you begging for attention. He used to walk my DD to the bus stop, and wait until the bus came before he ran off. The bus scared him.

Everyone already commented on the max speed.
I think you done good.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I too would be upset about the cheese doodle amongst the cheese balls. Unless it was a rogue crunchy cheese doodle. Those are far superior to cheese balls.

Your family, kids, dogs, and plant included, are much more patient than I could ever be. I get antsy on a 10 minute car drive to the supermarket, let alone 1,200 miles!

 

[E3yore]

"Do you think we should just trade [the van] in and buy a new one?"

I never said trade. I said "Should we go by a new car?"

 

[KY*Figment]

I never said trade. I said "Should we go by a new car?"

DH's never actually listen to the words that DW's say. They hear bit words & make their own conclusions.

 

[KatMark]

I never said trade. I said "Should we go by a new car?"

He was too upset about his cheese doodle to pay attention to what you were saying, Bambi.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I'd definitely go with holstein...

I've tried teaching him to Moo, but he insists on barking.

Well you have a cow and a cat... maybe she should ask for a "dog"

I'm thinking goldfish. They don't take up any room on the couch, unlike this other two.

Sometimes the things in your head really should just stay there.

Most of them do. But I let the good ones out.

When did Evan get his driving shift?

Maybe that's why we ended up in Omaha at 4am!

I think the dog riding shotgun shows us where you stand in the family hierarchy.

Actually, I kicked him out of the middle row. We can push the captain chairs together to make a bench where you can actually catch a fairly decent nap.

Or maybe he's looking for Dr. Doofenschmirtz and his rocket van stopinator?

NOTHING CAN STOP THE ROCKET VAN! HAHAHAHAHA!

I will continue my boycott on your behalf.

I knew I could count on you.

Wow... that average speed is WEAK. But with a slow top speed like that what can we expect?

I drag raced a State Trooper in Georgia.
And WON!

Always a phrase you want to say when you're 1200 miles from home...

You have no idea

The resemblance is amazing! But watch out for the milk.

I've got a good story about my brother (the farmer) convincing my sister's boyfriend to try to milk a steer. It's probably not appropriate for this forum, though.

Do they get admission to the parks?

For that price, they'd better get a VIP tour.

And a Dole Whip.

I don't care what Andy says, I thought it was funny. This may or may not be comforting to you.

Knowing that I have spread joy to the rest of the world? Comforting.
Knowing that I unleashed some kind of funny virus that may infect all of the world's population? Umm..still comforting.

Mine too! If I had a book.

It's not really a book. More like a piece of fine quality papyrus that I make notes on.
OK, it's a grocery list written on the back of McDonalds receipt. Whatever.

I had no idea this was even a possibility! I might have re-considered my road trip otherwise.

Why do you think we brought the dogs along? Protection!

I love that game! Or...um, my kids do.

He still hasn't let me play it.

I'm picturing you, looking through the sun roof at the heavens, arms outstretched and shouting "WHHYYYYY???!!!"

KAAAAAAHHHHHNNNNN!

Ok, spill it. The max speed was achieved with whom behind the wheel?

Pepper. Although Allie was working the pedals.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I'm generally a lurker, but I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on your news from the other thread, and thank you for continuing your TRs. I really enjoy them a lot -- very witty, and love the pics.

Thanks for coming out of lurkdom, and thank you!

Also, on your little bike adventure! I bet Madison was scared to death. Oh, and you too.

Based on the screaming, I would say yes.
And Madison was pretty scared too.

How about Part lab, part Holstein, part sack-o-hammers?

That's a lot of parts.

To be ignored on a monumental scale

Sad but true.

What about Holsteins?

Eleventy Billion Dollars?

Oh I’m sure that there would have been plenty of cigarettes amongst all the rest of the contraband in the hold of that plane. And he could have just gotten Allie to light it for him.

That's why I'm glad you're around, Rob. You're a problem solver.

I suspect it was your promise of cheeseball fertilized that sealed the deal for the plant

Why is my plant orange?
I dunno. Maybe something in the water?

What it lacked in excitement, it made up for in… ummmmm… lacking excitement.

Exactly what I was going for!

There are a few roads through the mountains where it’s better that you don’t actually know just what is (and how far down it is) on the other side of the guardrail that your just about to drive through.

I have a creepy fascination about stuff like that. Others in the van, however, would be digging their fingernails into my arm as we drove past that guardrail.

“Dude… pass the cheeseballs.”

Wait, what were in those cigarettes you gave him a few comments back?

You mean you didn’t drive the whole thing in reverse?

Do I look like Mater?

I drive through that country regularly. Believe him on this one. You can even see the photographic evidence here:

Part 2: Interstate Blues

Nice Plug!

Looks like Evan just let one loose and Madison is giving him the stink-eye as if to say: “Really… you couldn’t hold that in just a bit longer?”

I’m assuming that the “Max Speed” figure was accomplished while traversing those majestic mountains in the dark (in reverse)

And that was going UP the mountain!

Aren't they cute?

They certainly think so.

Is this the cow that delivered the mail to Delaware????

It's not exactly the pony express. It's still faster than a donkey. I think.

Look at that excitement.

Smart parents!

I'll give you one guess who's idea that was.

Fashionista? Is that a new word?

I tried to Google it to see if I spelled it right, but Google didn't know about it. So, yes, I guess it is.

Well, obviously you survived to tell the story.

It was touch and go there for a little while

That is exactly how I looked when we used to drive to Florida from Chicago every year.
Great update, Barry. Hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend (we're off to Dubuque on Sunday to meet our son's girlfriend).

Have fun in Dubuque. Tell her I said Hi!

 

[E3yore]

DH's never actually listen to the words that DW's say. They hear bit words & make their own conclusions.

He was too upset about his cheese doodle to pay attention to what you were saying, Bambi.

If I had my way the van would be sitting in my parents driveway and we would have a nice new one.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I'll admit, I thought it was funny too. I still stand by my statement though... especially with Barry.

I may have to print that one out and frame it!

I hate driving through Chicago rush hour! But I often ask myself. When is it not rush hour in Chicago?

To make it worse, it was Taste of Chicago weekend, so traffic was even worse.

Conversely, I would be disappointed if I found a cheese ball within my cheese doodles.

Well, to each their own, I guess

I had a cat that thought she was a dog. Just too nice and needy to be a cat, truly.

Too nice to be a cat! Classic!

I literally had tears in my eyes one minute and then laughing (out loud) the next!

Clearly we're all OK since we can laugh about it!

I'm a first timer to your TR's and I think I'm going to enjoy....We are from NW Indiana just south of Chicago and usually drive also. We flew for the first time last year and loved it! I have 3 preteen and teen kids now so space is now at a premium in the SUV.

Welcome! I hope you enjoy it! We fly when we can, but certain trips just have to be driven. The best thing about preteens : they can control their bladders better.
Right? RIGHT?!

I'm trying to convince myself that driving this year would be fine.... the looks on your kids faces at the end of the trip cracked me up but you're not helping the cause!

They're actually pretty good on the drive - don't let that picture fool you.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Now don't you wish you had gone to the ball game?? I wouldn't have thrown you over the railings or anything

Now that you mention it, it probably would have been safer!

Seriously, I am glad the main injury was to your glasses and that Madison didn't let a little thing like a cliff-dive stop her from riding her bike!

No, but the other Cubs fans might have.

Yeah, probably best to just avoid them until the spring when we have hope again!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=263802616970649

Hopefully this link will work here - it is something a friend posted on FB and it came to mind when you mention Pepper chainsmoking...

That's hilarious!

 

[E3yore]

It was touch and go there for a little while

You did scream for Flight for Life. Of course it was after we got home.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

That would happen in our house too. I think Madison was brave to get on that bike again and glad you pushed to do it. I guess nothing could have been as bad as the last ride right?

Well, we have some railroad tracks a few blocks away we could ride down.

Which dog is playing the role of "seeing eye" until next week?

Neither. I have a seeing eye rooster for that.

Along with " I am going to have climb back up as far as I am sliding down."

That never crossed my mind. I did look to see if it would be easier to take her down the rest of the way, but the vegetation was too thick, so up we went.

I too have a cat that thinks he is a dog. Comes when called and stick by you begging for attention. He used to walk my DD to the bus stop, and wait until the bus came before he ran off. The bus scared him.

That's great!
For some reason, fire truck sirens get Allie all riled up. She howls when she hears them - and she knows the difference between an Ambulance, Police Car and Fire Truck - only the fire truck upsets her.

Everyone already commented on the max speed.
I think you done good.

Thank you.

I too would be upset about the cheese doodle amongst the cheese balls. Unless it was a rogue crunchy cheese doodle. Those are far superior to cheese balls.

It's amazing how broad people's interest is in cheese flavored snack foods.

Your family, kids, dogs, and plant included, are much more patient than I could ever be. I get antsy on a 10 minute car drive to the supermarket, let alone 1,200 miles!

We were pretty surprised at ourselves the first time we did it.
Truth be told, I was thinking about tossing that plant in Chatanooga. It was complaining just too much.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I never said trade. I said "Should we go by a new car?"

True. For a while there, it really wasn't worth much as trade anyway. Scrap metal maybe.

DH's never actually listen to the words that DW's say. They hear bit words & make their own conclusions.

Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't listening.

He was too upset about his cheese doodle to pay attention to what you were saying, Bambi.

It was a very traumatic experience.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

If I had my way the van would be sitting in my parents driveway and we would have a nice new one.

How's that for a souvenir?

You did scream for Flight for Life. Of course it was after we got home.

Did you see that scar? I think I'm still bleeding...

 

[DEA]

Neither. I have a seeing eye rooster for that.

Aha! That explains why I keep hearing women complain about guys being led around by their...

 

[Poolrat]

Aha! That explains why I keep hearing women complain about guys being led around by their...

Ba Da Bum {rimshot}

 

[afwdwfan]

NOTHING CAN STOP THE ROCKET VAN! HAHAHAHAHA!

Really? I thought maybe one of Doofenschmirtz's "-inators" finally worked based on your foreboding teaser about the next update.

I may have to print that one out and frame it!

That might be a good idea. I doubt you'll ever see that statement again.

 

[petals]

I like your doggies.. My small dog thinks he's a cat as well.. Know how cats go in and out through your legs when you're trying to walk.. Yeah my gizmo does that.

 

[PartyFromSaturn]

I'm in! Love your trip reports! My favorite part is how as I'm thinking something like, "I hope he explains why there's a plant in the far back." the rest of my mind keeps reading ahead and finds the answer is there! Thanks for sharing your stories!

 

[dvc4life]

Barry and Bambi - Trying to get caught up with posts today and just had to comment on your scary experience with Madison and her bike. So glad that everyone was safe after that adventure. How scary it must have been for you all. And what a brave young man Evan was taking care of his mom and pulling her back from the edge. How sweet. And that Madison was able to get back on her bike and conquer it, good job.

Again, glad no one was injured seriously.

Now, back to page 4 to catch up!