Entry FeedTwo weeks ago we left on our vacation. The plan was to have a driving vacation, leaving Toronto, visiting cousins in Terrace Bay, spending a few days in each of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Algonquin Park. I booked some hotels.
Monday morning of the August long weekend, we prepared to leave. For Day One we planned on driving to Sudbury, and I had secured lodging for the first night at the Radisson.
Because we had planned on camping one night, there were sleeping bags, tents, and fishing equipment as well as our suitcases (Daughter packed two), food for the trip, and every electronic thing you could think of.
Electronically, we had:
- 2 cell phones
- 1 Cell car charger
- 1 Cell outlet charger
- 2 GPS systems
- 2 car chargers for GPS
- 1 Camera
- 1 Camera battery charger
- 2 in car DVD players
- 1 car-to-outlet charger
- 3 ipod Nanos - synced, 2 with movies
- 1 ipod in car charger
- 5 sets of earphones
- 1 cord to plug the ipod into the van's stereo system
- 2 miscellaneous chargers
- 1 set of miscellaneous video cords (from old DVDs?)
- 1 Camcorder charger
- 3 Nintendo DSs
- 1 Nintendo DS car charger
- 1 Nintendo DS outlet charger
- 3 extra Nintendo DS stylus'
YES - all of that was packed. The kids didn't use their DS ONCE! We couldn't locate the camera charger when it was needed. Half of the cords are in a pile on my coffee table, waiting for me to get them untangled and organized.
Remember the days when your parents would throw you in the car with a colouring book and some crayons and you would drive to FLORIDA? The Sony Walkman was the best invention EVER because you could listen to Depeche Mode and the Smiths, and your parents couldn't tell you how awful "The Queen is Dead" was.
For myself, I had packed five books (almost finished the last one), Daughter's sweater and knitting stuff, and my make-up. I didn't as much as moisturize the entire trip, never mind wear my make-up. But the tweezers did come in handy for slivers.
The van was all packed and ready to go. Everyone was strapped into their seats - a van that seats eight barely had room for the five of us with all of the stuff. Suitcases were doing double duty as footrests under each of the kids' feet.
And we were off. It was 12:32 pm. 12:37 pm we stopped for gas. As Husband was filling us up, Son One, a notoriously bad car travel, remarked, "I've been really good so far, haven't I?"
It had been five minutes. "Yes. Yes you have, honey."
Back on the road. Turning onto the highway, I asked, "Honey, did you pack the Toys 'R' Us bag?"
"What Toys 'R' Us bag?" Husband asks.
"The bag with all of the gifts for the kids that we are going to visit. It was right in the hallway with all of the other stuff."
I look back and notice Son Two trying hard not to smile.
"Do you know where the bag is?"
"I put it behind the couch."
He hid all of the gifts which I had bought. GREAT!
"I am NOT turning around," says Husband. Of course not, I think. 12 km into a 3400 km trip, why would you?
We were on our way.