Time of departure 16 days 15 hours 10 minutes
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Delivery day
Ok so now you have a little background on how we ended up with the motorhome. We waited anxiously last month for them to deliver the coach. They were bringing it from South Carolina. Oh were we excited! When we had finished going over the coach, my mom and her husband had stopped by to pick up the boys. We all couldn't wait to go for a ride. It was almost on empty so we thought we'd run to Garber and fill it up. We were half way there and Tim looked at me and ask if I had brought any money. Neither of us grabbed our wallets. We were so excited to get in it and go that neither of us brought any money.
We turned around came back home and decided to drive to Perry to fill up. We also ate dinner there. The kids were back and forth from the bedroom to the front. It was quite the first cruise. Luckily everything worked great. I even drove from I-35 home. I can honestly say it wasn't too bad.
I secured reservations last week in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We have decided to stop off there for a few days to make the drive to Florida a little less long. We have reservations at a RV park called Island Retreat. We wanted to stay at Luxury RV but they were booked for that weekend. This park is three blocks from the beach and lots of stuff near. We aren't taking a car with us this trip so it is kind of important to stay close to things to do. The lady said to keep calling back because they often have cancellation. I am really hoping we can get into this place. Island Retreat is about 3 miles from the beach. I think we would have to rent a car if we have to stay here. I'm sure it will all work out!
Official Countdown Clock 16 days 23 1/2 hours
We turned around came back home and decided to drive to Perry to fill up. We also ate dinner there. The kids were back and forth from the bedroom to the front. It was quite the first cruise. Luckily everything worked great. I even drove from I-35 home. I can honestly say it wasn't too bad.
I secured reservations last week in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We have decided to stop off there for a few days to make the drive to Florida a little less long. We have reservations at a RV park called Island Retreat. We wanted to stay at Luxury RV but they were booked for that weekend. This park is three blocks from the beach and lots of stuff near. We aren't taking a car with us this trip so it is kind of important to stay close to things to do. The lady said to keep calling back because they often have cancellation. I am really hoping we can get into this place. Island Retreat is about 3 miles from the beach. I think we would have to rent a car if we have to stay here. I'm sure it will all work out!
Official Countdown Clock 16 days 23 1/2 hours
Friday, July 4, 2008
Trailer to Motorhome
We purchased our first RV back in 2001 just before Jenni was born. Our first real trip was to Branson, Missouri. We stayed at a wonderful campground out by Silver Dollar City called Compton Ridge. We have been back there every fall break since then.
Our first was a 32 foot travel trailer with four bunks in the back. We really loved it but it only had one slide out room in the living/dining area. There just wasn't any room in the bedrooms and the bathroom/shower was an extremely tight squeeze.
Next Tim's dad took a 5th wheel in as a down payment for a house. Tim purchased the trailer from his dad and we got an extremely good deal. We have loved it also. It had three slide outs and lots of storage space. The draw back to both of these was the travel to and from our destinations in the front cab of a truck. Of course as the kids were younger space wasn't as tight. Now Jessi is 12, Jake and Josh are 8 and Jenni is 6. We were beginning to sympathize with sardines. Oh we could have been fine another couple of years but it was definitely stretching the seams of our patience. Not only was space an issue but I'm sure most of you can imagine the fussing between siblings over all the stupid stuff.
We started looking for a motorhome this spring. Not really actively looking but keeping our eyes open. After the spring break trip to San Antonio, we decided that the time to get a motorhome was drawing closer not further in our future. We shopped the local dealerships. I'm not sure if you are aware or not but RV's that come from dealerships must have gold hidden in them somewhere. The prices they were asking for a 10 year old motorhome was ridiculous. My want sense was pretty high, but not high enough to fall for there sales pitch of how great their RV was.
One night while searching on EBAY I ran across a great looking motorhome. We had passed on a few before and Tim had dealt in earnest for a couple. None of the deals came through. It just wasn't right. I would have reservations or Tim would have reservations. It was weird. When I found this one I told Tim the next morning. "I think I found our motorhome." Of course it was Friday the 13th. I wouldn't let him make a deal for it. I told him if it was meant to be it would still be for sale on Saturday. Let me tell you the look of "she has lost it now" in Tim's eyes was hilarious. But he loved me enough to respect my hang up and waited. They delivered it from South Carolina the following Sunday! It was everything we hoped for and more. When I figure out how to get pictures on this thing I'll post some.
So now we will be able to travel without breathing down each others necks. Even Tim's dad thought we got a good deal. That is saying alot coming from him. The time we will save from having to stop for potty breaks should knock a couple hours off our trip alone. Tim is anxious to say "Someone fix me a sandwich and bring me a pop" and have it done while traveling down the road. I'm looking forward to being with my family and making memories that will last a lifetime.
Our first was a 32 foot travel trailer with four bunks in the back. We really loved it but it only had one slide out room in the living/dining area. There just wasn't any room in the bedrooms and the bathroom/shower was an extremely tight squeeze.
Next Tim's dad took a 5th wheel in as a down payment for a house. Tim purchased the trailer from his dad and we got an extremely good deal. We have loved it also. It had three slide outs and lots of storage space. The draw back to both of these was the travel to and from our destinations in the front cab of a truck. Of course as the kids were younger space wasn't as tight. Now Jessi is 12, Jake and Josh are 8 and Jenni is 6. We were beginning to sympathize with sardines. Oh we could have been fine another couple of years but it was definitely stretching the seams of our patience. Not only was space an issue but I'm sure most of you can imagine the fussing between siblings over all the stupid stuff.
We started looking for a motorhome this spring. Not really actively looking but keeping our eyes open. After the spring break trip to San Antonio, we decided that the time to get a motorhome was drawing closer not further in our future. We shopped the local dealerships. I'm not sure if you are aware or not but RV's that come from dealerships must have gold hidden in them somewhere. The prices they were asking for a 10 year old motorhome was ridiculous. My want sense was pretty high, but not high enough to fall for there sales pitch of how great their RV was.
One night while searching on EBAY I ran across a great looking motorhome. We had passed on a few before and Tim had dealt in earnest for a couple. None of the deals came through. It just wasn't right. I would have reservations or Tim would have reservations. It was weird. When I found this one I told Tim the next morning. "I think I found our motorhome." Of course it was Friday the 13th. I wouldn't let him make a deal for it. I told him if it was meant to be it would still be for sale on Saturday. Let me tell you the look of "she has lost it now" in Tim's eyes was hilarious. But he loved me enough to respect my hang up and waited. They delivered it from South Carolina the following Sunday! It was everything we hoped for and more. When I figure out how to get pictures on this thing I'll post some.
So now we will be able to travel without breathing down each others necks. Even Tim's dad thought we got a good deal. That is saying alot coming from him. The time we will save from having to stop for potty breaks should knock a couple hours off our trip alone. Tim is anxious to say "Someone fix me a sandwich and bring me a pop" and have it done while traveling down the road. I'm looking forward to being with my family and making memories that will last a lifetime.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Beebe's go to Disney
Well here goes my first post. I thought my family and some friends might enjoy reading about our daily adventures. I'm starting this a few weeks out because I don't want you to miss any of the preparation for the big trip.
We have been planning this trip now for three years. We were originally supposed to go the summer of 2006. We had reservations and everything planned. Then we decided to move to the farm and there was no way to get everything done and move and go on the trip of a lifetime. So we postponed it a couple of years.
We made the reservations last January. We will be spending 11 glorious nights at the wonderful Ft. Wilderness RV park on Disney property. Now I know some of you must be questioning my sanity at this point. Why in the world would we drive to disney instead of just flying and staying in one of the hotels. Well the answer to that is simple. $$$$$$ Cashola!!!! I priced the trip for the family of 6 and let me tell you now I almost died from heart failure. You see according to Walt and his gang, 6 people in one hotel room is too many even if we are all related. So the basic price for a "normal family of 5 or less" doubles because we would have to rent two rooms. This made the trip ridiculously expensive. Thus the idea (I'm sure it was Tim's) to take the 5th wheel and just drive was born.
Now I assure you we both have had second and third thoughts about this. As we see it, this is the only way to get all four children to this magical playland and back. I offered to stay home but some how Tim didn't find that as amusing as I did!
Date of departure (July 22 which has just today moved up from July 23) is fast approaching. When we started planning it seemed like years away. Now we are down to 19 days. The kids are getting anxious but I think Tim is looking forward to this more than anyone.
Not bad for my first post ever. Hopefully there will be many more to come.
We have been planning this trip now for three years. We were originally supposed to go the summer of 2006. We had reservations and everything planned. Then we decided to move to the farm and there was no way to get everything done and move and go on the trip of a lifetime. So we postponed it a couple of years.
We made the reservations last January. We will be spending 11 glorious nights at the wonderful Ft. Wilderness RV park on Disney property. Now I know some of you must be questioning my sanity at this point. Why in the world would we drive to disney instead of just flying and staying in one of the hotels. Well the answer to that is simple. $$$$$$ Cashola!!!! I priced the trip for the family of 6 and let me tell you now I almost died from heart failure. You see according to Walt and his gang, 6 people in one hotel room is too many even if we are all related. So the basic price for a "normal family of 5 or less" doubles because we would have to rent two rooms. This made the trip ridiculously expensive. Thus the idea (I'm sure it was Tim's) to take the 5th wheel and just drive was born.
Now I assure you we both have had second and third thoughts about this. As we see it, this is the only way to get all four children to this magical playland and back. I offered to stay home but some how Tim didn't find that as amusing as I did!
Date of departure (July 22 which has just today moved up from July 23) is fast approaching. When we started planning it seemed like years away. Now we are down to 19 days. The kids are getting anxious but I think Tim is looking forward to this more than anyone.
Not bad for my first post ever. Hopefully there will be many more to come.
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