{"id":392,"date":"2021-06-02T12:22:13","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T19:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/box5401.temp.domains\/~gagnonsg\/?p=392"},"modified":"2021-06-03T10:07:41","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T17:07:41","slug":"our-first-rv-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/destination\/our-first-rv-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Our First RV Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"392\" class=\"elementor elementor-392\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-612b3ecd elementor-section-height-full elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"612b3ecd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7af88a59\" data-id=\"7af88a59\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-528bace0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"528bace0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our First RV Trip<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3cb8b8c5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3cb8b8c5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d7e1dc0\" data-id=\"7d7e1dc0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a821aef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a821aef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Learning as we go on with our first week on the road<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e48ebe3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e48ebe3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-799a6ad9\" data-id=\"799a6ad9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a3ec49e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a3ec49e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1cbaf8f\" data-id=\"1cbaf8f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72acfeb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72acfeb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the winter of 2018, for at least a year or so, our family had been considering a summer-long road trip to visit the National Parks in the Western half of the United States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-706d13d0 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"706d13d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;double_underline&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;in an RV!&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">But, wait for it...we had been contemplating taking this journey<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">in an RV!<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b2de905 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b2de905\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f30269f\" data-id=\"f30269f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-602a9c52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"602a9c52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neither Justin nor I had ever been on an RV trip before, nor had we even driven one for that matter. So, before committing to over TWO MONTHS rolling around HALF OF THE COUNTRY in one, we figured we should probably \u201ctest drive\u201d this way of life.\u00a0 We marked Spring Break of 2018 on our calendars for our test run, and booked an RV for a week-long journey up the Northern California Coast.\u00a0 It would be the perfect opportunity to test out driving and living out of an RV, to figure out what we liked and didn\u2019t like about the amenities (most importantly how much room we\u2019d need for the 6 of us on our next trip), and to give us a good gut-check as to whether or not RV life was really for the Gagnon family.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trip started off on a high, as most vacations do.\u00a0 I had spent a week packing, rounding up all of the things we needed for the RV, and cooking some meals to bring along that would make life easier.\u00a0 Turns out, when you rent an RV, they come pretty bare-bones, so we had to make sure we had clean sheets, towels, kitchen utensils, cleaning products, and everything we would need for daily life in our traveling home.\u00a0 After all, this was no Four Seasons.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-34b60221\" data-id=\"34b60221\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79f9de03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"79f9de03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14-1024x816.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-large size-large wp-image-408\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14-1024x816.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14-768x612.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14-1536x1224.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14-20x16.jpg 20w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_14.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ready to hit the open road.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3965189 elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3965189\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-473af082\" data-id=\"473af082\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a66d2f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7a66d2f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_16-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-large size-large wp-image-410\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_16-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_16-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_16-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_16-15x20.jpg 15w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_16.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">We thought tadpoles could make the journey. They didn't last a mile.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-521647c\" data-id=\"521647c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c3fc9e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c3fc9e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We loaded up the RV with all of our stuff and the kids found their seats at the table, reveling in being able to play games and draw while strapped into the car. I had even brought along our newly-caught tadpoles for the journey.\u00a0 We pulled out of our driveway to squeals of joy and our road trip music bumping.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About five minutes into our drive, it became clear that our tadpoles, which we had caught only the day before, were not going to survive the trip.\u00a0 I guess even paved roads are quite bumpy in an RV, and water was sloshing around in the tank as we turned every corner. I tried to reassure the kids as Hayden voiced his concern that the choppy seas inside the tank were the polar opposite of the calm pond from which we had collected our biology experiment.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And then there was the fact that I hadn\u2019t considered how to secure the observation tank to the countertop during transportation&#8230;\u00a0 We pulled an audible on the tadpoles and called my sister-in-law to see if she would care for our pets for the week, and after a quick stop to unload the now-traumatized creatures, we were <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">really<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on our way.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a gorgeous drive, first through the Sonoma and Alexander Valley Wine Country with the sun shining, the greenest hillsides, and rushing rivers.\u00a0 We rolled the windows down, played Yahtzee in the back of the RV, and had fun with some workbooks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4bf6c4b2 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"4bf6c4b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;double_underline&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;JAM.&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">This was the<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">JAM.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa55942 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fa55942\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02-20x15.jpg 20w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_02.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6fe3c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d6fe3c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We loaded up the RV with all of our stuff and the kids found their seats at the table, reveling in being able to play games and draw while strapped into the car. I had even brought along our newly-caught tadpoles for the journey.\u00a0 We pulled out of our driveway to squeals of joy and our road trip music bumping.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About five minutes into our drive, it became clear that our tadpoles, which we had caught only the day before, were not going to survive the trip.\u00a0 I guess even paved roads are quite bumpy in an RV, and water was sloshing around in the tank as we turned every corner. I tried to reassure the kids as Hayden voiced his concern that the choppy seas inside the tank were the polar opposite of the calm pond from which we had collected our biology experiment.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And then there was the fact that I hadn\u2019t considered how to secure the observation tank to the countertop during transportation&#8230;\u00a0 We pulled an audible on the tadpoles and called my sister-in-law to see if she would care for our pets for the week, and after a quick stop to unload the now-traumatized creatures, we were <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">really<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on our way.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a gorgeous drive, first through the Sonoma and Alexander Valley Wine Country with the sun shining, the greenest hillsides, and rushing rivers.\u00a0 We rolled the windows down, played Yahtzee in the back of the RV, and had fun with some workbooks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be3312c elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-phone elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"be3312c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;double_underline&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;JAM.&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">This was the<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">JAM.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1919d78 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1919d78\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bbdbbaf\" data-id=\"bbdbbaf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6061f1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6061f1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About two hours into our venture, we started on the windy, twisty roads toward the Mendocino coast, and Grace began to get carsick.\u00a0 Before we knew it, she had puked twice into a gallon ziploc bag, but then emerged \u201cbetter than ever,\u201d rallying for the final miles of our journey on that leg.\u00a0 We arrived at our lodging for the night, an RV Park in Mendocino, as the sun went down, and cooked dinner in our RV.\u00a0 Outfit with headlamps to stave off the dark, the kids threw the football while Justin hooked up our rig to power and water.\u00a0 We all snuggled into our beds that night, grateful for the fresh air, our cozy beds, and the chance for new adventures tomorrow.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day 2 of our epic RV road trip adventure dawned bright and early.\u00a0 We now know that sleeping in an RV, while a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">much<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> better sleep than camping outdoors, still means that you can wake up pretty early.\u00a0 We realized that we had forgotten to shut some of the blinds before bed, and would make sure to do that the next evening.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-256636b\" data-id=\"256636b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e08586 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1e08586\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04-1024x756.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-large size-large wp-image-398\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04-1024x756.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04-768x567.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04-1536x1134.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04-20x15.jpg 20w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_04.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-fc42df5 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fc42df5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a0694f3\" data-id=\"a0694f3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1f3bc1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b1f3bc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-300x225.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-403\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-20x15.jpg 20w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d8607f\" data-id=\"0d8607f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5cc91d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a5cc91d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We were given a crash course in RV living really quickly. Living the RV life, the day always begins with \u201cstowing.\u201d\u00a0 I had never really thought much about this term or process prior to our trip, but quickly became engaged with the practice.\u00a0 One of our beds in the RV, where at least one of our children slept each night, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> doubled as our dining table.\u00a0 Upon waking each morning we had to collapse the bed, reset the table, and also undo the upper bunk above the driver cab, where the remainder of our kids slept.\u00a0 After cooking breakfast, all items taken out had to be stowed and secured in cabinets, containers, or other storage areas. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cab183a elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"cab183a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;a lot&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">We had <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">a lot<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\"> of stuff with us, so this was a process.\u00a0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-31449a3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31449a3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-71430c9\" data-id=\"71430c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-216b1b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"216b1b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We spent a few days in Mendocino, hiking a great deal each day.\u00a0 We explored the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, Caspar Beach Area, downtown Mendocino, and also Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.\u00a0 Hiking for our family always involves a great spectrum of attitudes, ranging from complaining (\u201cMom, you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">always<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lie to us and say that the hike is going to be really short, and it is <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">never<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> really short!\u201d), to sheer and utter joy that shows up in skipping and singing along the trail.\u00a0 Usually it\u2019s the same kids that seem to fall into the same categories on this spectrum, but I won\u2019t name names.\u00a0 Our eyes beheld such beauty along the coast during these few days.\u00a0 Our hearts reveled in the time away from our normal routines, taking each step as an adventure, unplanned and welcoming the unknown.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RV living continued to have a learning curve for us though.\u00a0 As first-timers, there were so many moments that offered the perfect mix of frustration and hilarity.\u00a0 Like Justin emptying the \u201cblack and grey water tanks\u201d for the first time, as he loudly critiqued my angle of holding the tube &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe need more slope!\u00a0 More slope!\u00a0 We need gravity on our side, Al!\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-80aecd8\" data-id=\"80aecd8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2ab046 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d2ab046\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-large size-large wp-image-407\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13-20x15.jpg 20w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_13.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Taking in the shore in Mendocino.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5f0bac2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5f0bac2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-25c2316\" data-id=\"25c2316\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64be29e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"64be29e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like trying to get the kids used to stowing before we moved each day, as game pieces, headlamps, and various stuffed animals went flying every time we turned a sharp corner.\u00a0 Like Grace and I taking our first shower together in a shower no larger than a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">half <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of a hall closet (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis was not a good idea, Mom.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0 Like Justin fixing a broken shower door with only the screwdriver he packed last minute and a bottle opener.\u00a0 Like a Tupperware container of ground beef falling out of the refrigerator on a bumpy road and spilling <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all<\/span><\/i> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the inside of the RV.\u00a0 And like our family returning from a hike to find our entire RV site flooded in a pool of muddy water because our the threads on the city water connection we stripped and the hose had come detached.\u00a0 There were <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">so many<\/span><\/i> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">times<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when Justin and I looked at each other, almost doubling over from laughing so hard, and said, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf one or the other of us was not ALL IN on this adventure, this just wouldn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e66d132 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"e66d132\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;double_underline&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot; all in.&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">Luckily, we were both<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\"> all in.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-24a948d elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24a948d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b57f82a\" data-id=\"b57f82a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-698dd7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"698dd7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-large size-large wp-image-397\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-20x15.jpg 20w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Standing in front of Big Tree at Redwood National Park.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d3226bf\" data-id=\"d3226bf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dcbb74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9dcbb74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our final destination on our Spring Break RV Trip was Redwood National Park. Like I have mentioned, our family has a thing for National Parks, and, now just four years later, we are well on our way to visiting ALL 63 of the United States National Parks. At that time, none of us had ever been to Redwood National Park, so this trip was the perfect opportunity.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The drive from Mendocino to Trinidad, a town situated right next to both Redwood State Parks and Redwood National Park, took a little over three hours.\u00a0 It was a gorgeous drive from start to finish, up the untouched jagged California coast.\u00a0 We stopped many times on our journey to get out of the RV and take in the sights up close. Justin was especially enthralled with the scenery, often sticking his head out the window \u201cfamily dog style,\u201d mouth wide-open, soaking in the sights.\u00a0 Our journey wound through Humboldt County and into the mountains, as we watched both the topography change from coast to mountain and back to coast, and the vegetation from farmland to forest.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-484fa1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"484fa1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The drive from Mendocino to Trinidad, a town situated right next to both Redwood State Parks and Redwood National Park, took a little over three hours.\u00a0 It was a gorgeous drive from start to finish, up the untouched jagged California coast.\u00a0 We stopped many times on our journey to get out of the RV and take in the sights up close. Justin was especially enthralled with the scenery, often sticking his head out the window \u201cfamily dog style,\u201d mouth wide-open, soaking in the sights.\u00a0 Our journey wound through Humboldt County and into the mountains, as we watched both the topography change from coast to mountain and back to coast, and the vegetation from farmland to forest.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d2961f9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d2961f9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ab7320\" data-id=\"0ab7320\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3970e6a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3970e6a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As our journey progressed, so too did our learning curve with RV life.\u00a0 We got quicker and more adept at the hooking up and detaching process, Justin became a pro at fire prep and water tank dumping, and I became an incredibly efficient small-space cook and dishwasher, managing all in a sink no bigger than our guest bathroom sink at home.\u00a0 We hit an especially bumpy road on one venture, sending three cabinets worth of water bottles, cooking supplies, and tableware sprawling all over the kids and the floor (luckily, no one was injured).\u00a0 We also experienced a torrential rainstorm one night, with rain pooling on the redwood branches far above and plummeting onto our RV roof below in droplets several times larger than typical raindrops, exploding like gunfire overhead <\/span><b>ALL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><b>Night<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><b>Long<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We didn\u2019t sleep well, if at all, that night.\u00a0 There were other challenges with cooking, bathing, and cleaning, but we worked through them. There is never a dull moment when traveling in the RV.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f040e56 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f040e56\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-45704b4\" data-id=\"45704b4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e31d4c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e31d4c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the \u201cbumps in the road,\u201d we found more goodness than we could have imagined.\u00a0 We explored the National Park (mostly in the rain) over those few days, climbing into the trunks of giant Redwood trees, sprinting through groves towering above our heads, and spotting deer, elk, and giant banana slugs.\u00a0 In typical fashion, the kids loved to complain prior to heading out on our journey for the day, but emerged happy and even joyful once on the trail.\u00a0 We loved to give Quinn a hard time on our hikes when he got tired, telling him \u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you\u2019re in training\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (for the big National Park Road Trip we were then dreaming up for the next summer), and hoped to put off the piggy back ride for another few turns of our journey. Justin was squarely in Quinn\u2019s pocket at that time, though, and could usually only make it a couple minutes before succumbing to his charm and hiking the majority of the time with Quinn on his shoulders, his back, or in his arms. The kids also loved giving me a hard time for my love for hiking, jesting with an impersonation of me skipping along the trail, arms flailing, gleefully shrieking, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLet\u2019s go hiking!\u00a0 Let\u2019s go hiking!\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I loved catching my kids, two at a time, arms around each other as they took in the beauty around them while in conversation.\u00a0 I loved waking up to the four of them, snuggled together in the loft above the cab, whispering with their headlamps on.\u00a0 I loved snuggling with them by the hot campfire.\u00a0 I loved doing puzzles while listening to the rain fall outside.\u00a0 I loved talking to Justin and laughing with him at all the fun, crazy, and ridiculous moments of our journey.\u00a0 And I loved really <i>being<\/i> with my family, fresh air giving us life, and beauty opening our eyes.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d869d53\" data-id=\"d869d53\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d899f24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d899f24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-float attachment-large size-large wp-image-412\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18-15x20.jpg 15w, https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c384ff elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c384ff\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e8cc4c2\" data-id=\"e8cc4c2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ea7db5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ea7db5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was clearly a good amount of craziness living in a 25-foot RV for a week with a family of six.\u00a0 That could never be denied.\u00a0 But what we truly underestimated is just how much we would LOVE this lifestyle, and the way it afforded our young family the perfect way to explore the country\u2019s most gorgeous natural treasures. On this first RV \u201ctest drive,\u201d we found so much goodness in the adventure of it all, the goodness ALWAY easily trumping the crazy. The Gagnons were hooked, and we then had no doubt that we would keep coming back to these road trip adventures for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e47e28f elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"e47e28f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline_zigzag&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;GONE.&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">The Gagnons were <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">GONE.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8cdb27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"f8cdb27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;3:2&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_03-300x225.jpg\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"225\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_05-300x225.jpg\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"225\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_11-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_06-300x225.jpg\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"225\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_07-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_08-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_10-300x225.jpg\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"225\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_09-300x225.jpg\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"225\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_01-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_17-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_18-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/OurFirstRVTrip_Redwood-NP_2018_12-225x300.jpg\" data-width=\"225\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-77599785 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"77599785\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f9458b6\" data-id=\"7f9458b6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c4b01ae elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c4b01ae\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4caa54a5\" data-id=\"4caa54a5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d622c0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1d622c0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">More Like This<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39bd7773 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"39bd7773\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">You may also 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A Foolproof Fire<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-pagination\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-button-wrapper elementor-pagination ecs-load-more-button\" data-settings=\"{&quot;loading_text&quot;:&quot;Loading...&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;See More&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;2c21c69f&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/skanvie.hr\/website_58e85257\/planning\/the-outland-living-firebowl-a-foolproof-fire\/?page=2\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-animation-grow\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>See More<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning as we go on with our first week on the road In the winter of 2018, for at least a year or so, our family had been considering a summer-long road trip to visit the National Parks in the Western half of the United States.&nbsp; But, wait for it&#8230;we had been contemplating taking this 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