Our third hoorah in the home on wheels and by far the longest. We are 8 days in and still chugging along. I had hoped to post at least three times a week with our adventures and pictures but (like all family vacations) we have had some hiccups.

First being, I forgot the wire to connect my camera to a PC and the computer we have with us doesn’t accept the memory card. So, no pictures unless I find a store on the route that carries my wire. UGH! YAY! I got a wire and can add pictures!! Enjoy 🙂

Second, our first campground was not so pleasant especially with the water smelling like chlorine due to the current algae crisis in Lake Eerie in and around Toledo and Cleveland. W e had to high-tail it out of there a few hours early sans water on board.

Third, I came down with a nasty bug a few days ago and spiked a fever this afternoon. Needless to say I have been out of commission and leaning hard on my wonderfully nurturing husband for mommy and daddy duty. As if he doesn’t have enough to worry about with keeping us safe, driving, WORKING, taking care of the kids and now taking care of me. He is my superhero!

Hiccups aren’t barricades, more like speed bumps and despite them all we are having an amazing time making memories and having loads of fun.

I have been keeping a journal best to my ability:

August 12, 2014 4:20pm……..Day 1

Today is the beginning of our family road trip around the country. We departed our home in Northeast Pennsylvania at 4:00pm. Darryl and I make a deal we would go with the flow wherever the road takes us. We are excited!

It’s the eight of us: Our five kids Juniper, age 6; Lemon, age 5; Ash, age 3; Oak, almost age 2; Dogwood, age 2 months, our dog Oliver and Darryl and myself.

We are headed west toward Cleveland, OH where we plan to spend a few days visiting the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame and celebrating Oak’s second birthday which is August 14.

After a stop at a new discount store we found, we’ll be pressing on until dinner time (which won’t be very far) and then a little further until bed.

August 13, 2014…………….Day 2

We continued on our journey arriving in the Cleveland area just in the knick of time. We rented a car (a few minutes before they closed) and checked in to the American Wilderness Campground right before dinner where we set everything up and went to bed after a long day on the road.

August 14, 2014……………….Day 3

The birthday fairy came to the RV.

Oak’s TWO!! We started the day like any other birthday in our house, with presents!

Then, after breakfast and getting dressed, we headed out to Cleveland and the ROCK N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME!

We saw a lot of really cool memorabilia and listened to the greats from early Americana rock to current day musicians.

 

It was lots of fun.

After we saw the lake came back “home” and continued our birthday party with pizza and cake, just as the birthday girl wished.

When asked what her favorite part of the day was, she answered, “cake” with the sweetest smile.

I can’t wait for what tomorrow holds when we leave here and head on down the open road.

August 15, 2014……………….Day 4

We had to leave the campground a few hours earlier than planned because of algae in Lake Eerie and the chlorine content of the local water. We headed toward Fort Wayne, IN by way of Defiance, OH where I was able to wash some laundry after our younger two had “accidents” in the night (probably from all the excitement). We ate dinner waiting for the rinse cycle.

It was a long day on the road but we were able to do some puzzles and read stories to make the time pass.

*Not to toot my own horn but I warmed my heart by doing an anonymous good deed. I left a $5 bill behind at the Laundromat with a note for someone to find and pay it forward. I hope to keep blessing people all over the country with little things as we go.

August 16, 2014………………Day 5

We woke up in New Haven, IN. A new state! “The Hoosier State” Plans are always changing which makes this a true adventure never knowing where we’ll end up and what new things we’ll get to do.

Today, Darryl found an antique train and railroad event where we got to ride on an old cargo caboose and see an authentic steam engine chug down the track.

We also had fun on a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Everyone had a great time.

After lunch we made it to Columbia City, IN for rest time and laundry while I took J & L Geocaching to a local secret, Poptique, a gourmet popcorn store.

 

They enjoyed their s’mores popcorn after grilled chicken dinner in South Bend, IN and getting dirty in a beautiful park full of gardens.

One is the “Garden of Vision” full of fragrant flowers for sight impaired people to enjoy. Such a lovely day!

If I am able to find and buy a wire, I will upload the pictures from our adventures otherwise you’ll just have to wait on the edge of your seats to see us until we return home to Pennsylvania! (as you can see, I got the wire)