Wait for it...Weight for it...June 2009 WL **PACKING**

[Happydog]

Hey Rabbit! How's it going? Just thought I'd check in!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

How'd I miss your pictures from your lake trip? I'm obviously not very observant this week. Any hoo...it looks like you guys had a great time over spring break. It looked so calm and peaceful. I love the sound of the country -- nothing beats it! Gotta say, the lake grass would've really creeped me out. I'm not a bit fan of swimming in anything you can't see the bottom of. I tried it once, and literally had a panic attack because of some seaweed. Yeah, shameful and sad.

Oh, and I've tried some flavored marshmallows before. Not too bad! Word of advice though...don't try them in Rice Krispy treats unless you have all the SAME flavor. For some reason, we had a bright idea to use the assorted bag. Um...yeah. Not good. I have no idea why I thought that would be a good idea.

 

[TxRabbit]

Hey Everyone!!

I know that I have been MIA on this PTR for quite a time now. I felt I needed to take care of some business before I posted some more... You might notice my new look.

Anyway, now I feel free-er to talk about our trip plans...

Which I promise to get back to ASAP!!

 

[jewels1916]

Yay, you are back! Love the new look!

 

[jenseib]

I'm confused. What new look are we talking about?

 

[TxRabbit]

Yay, you are back! Love the new look!

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I'm confused. What new look are we talking about?

My user name...

AGAIN!!!! Life is really getting in the way of my trip planning.

My parents arrived on Wednesday evening and we have been making plans for all the projects around the house that they hope to help me with while they are visiting. They will be here for ONE MONTH!!!

We decided that it is too much to tackle the kitchen cabinets. Instead we are going for bang for the buck. Peter and I got a storage unit and put all our front room stuff into it. We begin by painting this room and then shuffling all the furniture in and out of this room to paint every where else downstairs.

Oh. And we have decided to put in the backsplash! I'll post pictures, if y'all are still interested.

Meanwhile, I have to say that I have been thinking thinking thinking about Disney. The planning continues in my head, even though I haven't had a chance to write more.

When last we parted, I was researching for our drive to Disney. I talked with a friend that drove there for Spring Break (they often drive) but they do it in ONE day. She said they leave at 3 or 4 in the morning, and arrive in the early evening. Maybe by dinner. I didnt' have too much opportunity to really get into the nitty gritty, but I am thinking that is a HARD day. Oof.

I'm still partial to breaking up the drive. Easier on the bod.

When I get a chance, I will post more. Meanwhile, anyone ever been to Hammond, LA? I'm thinking about making one of the public parks there our evening rest/dinner stop on the way...

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I was wondering about the new name. How'd you change it?

Ha, you have to be one of the few people who are excited to have your parents visiting for a month!

Ooh, I love backsplashes! Good choice. Yes, pictures please!

 

[TxRabbit]

Yesterday was the BIG 45 mark! I made one last change to our ressie and made the big bad payment!

What did I change? Well....knowing that we are planning another trip in 2010...it made good sense to upgrade our tickets from 7-day Water Fun and More to 10-day NON-EXPIRING Water Fun and More! With my current touring plan, we are only using 6 park admissions and 2 Water/Fun admissions. Basically I paid $380.20 to upgrade, and I anticipate having tickets with 4 park days and 8 water fun days left. I'm pretty pumped about that... I'll probably need more park admissions for another trip, but I might be able to skip the water option for at LEAST two trips.

It looks like my Thanksgiving plans may have been taken out of my hands...I have been plotting and scheming to do SOMETHING. But, it looks like we'll be going to another family wedding in Colorado instead. The middle Sis-in-law got engaged. She's trying to plan for a Thanksgiving wedding...So ANOTHER trip to CO is in the works. And if she still wants to go on a 2010 Disney trip with the family, then I'm sure her DH will want to come too...which makes us a party of 10. I'll have to deal with that LATER.

Meanwhile...we are doing several things for a final push before vacation. The house. The finances. The food.

With my parents in town, I haven't had a whole lot of time for planning. We are tyring to be super productive while they are here. Especially since they came out to get stuff done!

Hope everyone is doing well!

 

[jenseib]

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

WOO!! Isn't it great when you make your final payment?

How's the house stuff going?

 

[Happydog]

Yesterday was the BIG 45 mark! I made one last change to our ressie and made the big bad payment!

What did I change? Well....knowing that we are planning another trip in 2010...it made good sense to upgrade our tickets from 7-day Water Fun and More to 10-day NON-EXPIRING Water Fun and More! With my current touring plan, we are only using 6 park admissions and 2 Water/Fun admissions. Basically I paid $380.20 to upgrade, and I anticipate having tickets with 4 park days and 8 water fun days left. I'm pretty pumped about that... I'll probably need more park admissions for another trip, but I might be able to skip the water option for at LEAST two trips.

It looks like my Thanksgiving plans may have been taken out of my hands...I have been plotting and scheming to do SOMETHING. But, it looks like we'll be going to another family wedding in Colorado instead. The middle Sis-in-law got engaged. She's trying to plan for a Thanksgiving wedding...So ANOTHER trip to CO is in the works. And if she still wants to go on a 2010 Disney trip with the family, then I'm sure her DH will want to come too...which makes us a party of 10. I'll have to deal with that LATER.

Meanwhile...we are doing several things for a final push before vacation. The house. The finances. The food.

With my parents in town, I haven't had a whole lot of time for planning. We are tyring to be super productive while they are here. Especially since they came out to get stuff done!

Hope everyone is doing well!

OH BOY! That is such a great statement to make! 45 days until.... but now it is 44 so YAY! Interesting strategy with the park tickets... we have batted around the idea of the APs -- but no decision on that one yet. Yes it will be interesting to see how this next "possible-not-entirely-certain-of-the-details-trip" unfolds for you!!! But until then, all these "must dos" I totally understand. Work is busy as heck for me this month, and I have a birthday to plan, some house projects, and of course the "Operation Suprise Disney" !! I hope you are getting all of your HGTV projects take care of!

 

[jewels1916]

Hey Rabbit! Just checkin' in!

 

[jenseib]

I was just thinking of her too the other day. Her trip is coming up soon, isn't it?

 

[Happydog]

Hi, Rabbit! Hope all is well before your trip I sent you a pm
not much longer now!!!

 

[TxRabbit]

Hey Rabbit! Just checkin' in!

Thanks for thinking of me! I've been gone for over a month really.

I was just thinking of her too the other day. Her trip is coming up soon, isn't it?

Two weeks!!! 14 days!!!

Hi, Rabbit! Hope all is well before your trip I sent you a pm
not much longer now!!!

I sent you a PM back. FINALLY.

I've been MIA for pretty much the entirety of my parent's visit. We got SOOOOOOO much done around the house. Not at all what they thought we were going to do, but still. We ended up painting the ENTIRE downstairs (ceilings and walls), refurbishing the powder room, prepping ALL the baseboards and windowsills (and painting some of them). It's like living in a completely different house downstairs. I love it. I'm so grateful for the help.

And NOW!! I am officially 14 days away from departure!!

I have so much to get ready, really. So I will be a busy camper for these next two weeks. I totally expect time to fly by. I'll be posting all the details that only my DISing friends could appreciate as I go along.

btw. I've been wearing those sandals that I bought. They are incredible. I love them so much. The only thing about them that isn't good for Disney is lack of waterproofness. Is that a word? So I will still be bringing my Tevas for anticipated wet day rides. Kali, etc.

Might have to do some shopping...I have to go through Bolt's clothes and make sure he's good. I'm not a matching kind of girl, so we don't do the t-shirts. But I do like to make sure that we have bright colors on for easy spotting in a crowd. Or easier at any rate. And you especially do NOT want to be wearing too much BLACK in the summer in Disney.

As you can see. Packing has become priority #1. Gotta make sure we are good to go!

Anyway. I'm back.

 

[tinkgurl]

It's almost time for us to both go!

 

[jewels1916]

Glad you are back. I thought your parents were in town and were keeping you busy! Or...you were keeping them busy! You should post pics of all that you did when you get a minute!

Only two weeks until your trip!!! So exciting!! Seems like time went by really fast! Good luck getting everything together! And you know we like to hear all the minute details!

(ps, I think waterproofness should be a word, if it isn't already)

 

[TxRabbit]

It's almost time for us to both go!

Glad you are back. I thought your parents were in town and were keeping you busy! Or...you were keeping them busy! You should post pics of all that you did when you get a minute!

Only two weeks until your trip!!! So exciting!! Seems like time went by really fast! Good luck getting everything together! And you know we like to hear all the minute details!

(ps, I think waterproofness should be a word, if it isn't already)

I don't know if the pics would have much impact. I'd have to see if I could find some "befores" so the "afters" could be truly appreciated!

 

[TxRabbit]

I ask you. Can you ever over plan WHERE the restrooms are along your route? For my auto, the answer is a big NO. You cannot overplan hopefully decent potty breaks. Hopefully not TMI, but seriously, ladies, I anticipate working my legs enough walking around the world, I don't need a thigh work out with every bathroom break. If you KWIM?

And let's just say that I know Bolt well enough to know that it seems that he expresses the desire for a pit stop about 2 minutes away from the last decent one and about half an hour before the next convenient one. The dancing in the back seat can get pretty fierce by the time we find a stop. Luckily, being a boy does have it's advantages in this area...but I don't believe that Louisiana is quite as barren as Kansas and Oklahoma can be, where we have simply exited at a no services exit and used the facilities there, so to speak. My recollection of Louisiana is much more populated, and our route has lots of bridges and raised highway areas that make stopping difficult.

Luckily the internet has fabulous resources where people have actually documented EVERY exit on highways. Including pictures. Available services. The price of gas. It's absolutely wonderful.

My parents drove from AZ. Gleefully, I showed my mom all the Interstate 10 info. She thought I was slightly crazed in my planning and researching the route. But then, she CALLED me from Interstate 10, at mile 60 in New Mexico, wondering if there was ANY decent place for them to stop for lunch (which I had packed for them). A park? A rest area? Anything at all? Because they were caught in one of those long stretches of exitless highway that is commonplace west of the Mississippi.

I can't comment on the other side of the Mississippi, because I haven't driven there. But AZ, NM, CO, KS, OK, WY, MT, and yes, even central CA, and parts of TX have huge exitless areas of no services.

I haven't driven Interstate 10 eastbound. I know NOTHING of the route. And researcher that I am, I must be armed with info. Must. Have. Control. Anyone?

So here we go. Our route begins near Nasa south of Houston. We plan to leave at 11:00 am. Peter is working a half day that day. Working through lunches earlier in the week, he can leave 4 hours early on Friday. Hence, the 11 am etd.

The plan is lunch in the car.

110 miles away is the first rest area in the state of LA. Only for eastbound traffic at exit 1. Toomey Rest Area and Visitor Center (eastbound): Restrooms, Phones, Picnic Tables, Pet Walk Area, Handicap Facilities. Info from:

http://www.interstaterestareas.com/louisiana

Google maps clocks it at exactly 2 hours. Obviously they are counting on averaging 55 mph. Knowing my driving style. I'm pretty sure we will get there sooner. Pretty all sure. (Olivia anyone?) The great thing about google maps is its street view. They actually have a street view of this rest area and it looks really nice.

These planned stops are planned to be short stops. I love rest areas. They remind me of my great grandma. She would always stop at every one. Even if was less than a half hour further down the road. It doesn't add too much time to stop. It helps to break up the monotony of the car. Stretching is good. And chances are, given the chance to go, you can go, and thus, save time later on unplanned stops at exits that aren't nearly as convenient.

The next stop is also a rest area at exit 122. Google maps thinks it will take 1 hour 53 minutes to go 123 miles. Atchafalaya Rest Area and Welcome Center - Restrooms, Phones, Picnic Tables, RV Dump Station, Pet Walk Area, Handicap Facilities. Comments: This welcome center is located "smack dab in the center of the Atchafalaya Basin." It features an exhibit of the swamp's annual cycle of life, an animatronic presentation, and a 4 1/2 minute multimedia video presentation.

If it has actually taken us around 4 hours to get to this stop, it should be around 3 pm. Likely, this will be a great place to have a more significant stop. How fun that there is something to do here. But it isn't yet time for dinner. And there is more to go...

The next stop will be a more significant stop. It's the dinner stop. It's a planned one hour break. The focus of this stop is fun. Play. Stretching. Walking. DOING for crying out loud, because we will have been stuck in the car doing nothing for an additional 108 miles, 1 hour and 43 minutes.

The time should be about 5 pm. Likely, it will be closer to just after 4 pm.

The destination includes the Tammany Trace, which is a rail-trail. If you aren't familiar with the program, rails to trails is an organization that seeks to convert now retired railroads into recreational trails. The idea is that the public donated the land to the railroads for use, which served a common good. Now that the rails are no longer used, that very valuable land should be converted back into use for the public in the form of much needed recreation. I am debating exactly what we will do, but it will include the connected communities of Abita Springs and Mandeville.

The attraction in Abita Springs is, of course, the brewery. Peter actually went there during our college years. Fond memories. In Mandeville, there is quite the playground, recreation area. At least, it appears to be wonderful on the internet.

The distance between the two along the trail is 4.39 miles. I'm not sure that it would be the best to do that distance. We might have to pick one on the outbound journey and the other for homebound.

So assuming we go the keep-awake-avoid-the-temptation-to-taste-too-much-Abita stop, we will stop in Mandeville at the Tammany Trace Headquarters. Check it all out:

http://www.tammanytrace.org/tour.shtml#trailhead

There's still quite a ways to go until we arrive out our evening destination. But that's as far as I have researched. And it's quite a chunk to read, so I will leave off here.

 

[Happydog]

This is so cool! We want to do a road trip at some point... It would be great fun, and planning like you are would be half the fun for it!

Neat details. Your post is like a travel guide!!

Big plus for the playground and the Brewery!