Packing

We are about to pack ourselves and our children into the Eurovan and drive 900 miles through the desert.  I would not necessarily say it is the bleakest drive in the world (that stretch along the border through El Paso is pretty bleak, but we’re not going that way this year), not is it the most monotonous (SharpSticks wins that one for her drive through the wheat fields of, hm, Alberta was it?), but it does have a certain featurelessness that is typical of much desert driving.  

Just to make things interesting, we’re taking a hard right at Fort Stockton, Texas, detouring from the Interstate this year and going through Carlsbad and Roswell in New Mexico.  

For those of you unfamiliar with NM geography, Carlsbad has what are among the most famous caverns in the world situated nearby.  Aptly titled, Carlsbad Caverns National Monument.  (I love that web address.  The simplicity.)  And Roswell has made itself famous for association with extra-terrestrial life.  Our terminal point in this grand tour is Albuquerque, city of my childhood.  We are still deluding ourselves that we will make it there in one day.  

We are two drivers, and the drive from here to there is 14 hours, not counting pee breaks, leg stretching, dinner, and stops to appreciate the cultural/ educational/ social/ geographical/ historical/ silent and/or childless significance of any given place.

So today we are deciding what to pack into the van with us and the three Sonars.  So far we have packed two audio books and a bucket of car-appropriate crafty/fiddly things.  Oh, and need I say there will be a bucket of legos and a kilo of stickers?

Perhaps clothes and sunscreen would be wise additions?  And of course, some knitting.  I can’t decide between a very weird sock (I tried to link directly, but it was weird… it’s the Conservative sock, which will be decidedly unconservative in some actual colors) or a sweater for Partner (The Hacky Sack Hoodie from Son of Stitch and Bitch—though I tried to talk him into the totally hot Messenger sweater with the skull on the shoulder).  Go ahead and laugh.  Oh yeah, sure, ‘take the sweater,’ you might say, wiping away a tear of hilarity, ‘to knit in the 100+ degree (Fahrenheit) New Mexico desert.   Good plan.’  But I will need some knitting to wile away the hours, knitting that isn’t too challenging, so that I can follow the pattern over the wailing and gnashing of teeth (‘My butt hurts’ or ‘I know we just stopped ten miles ago, but I will not pee in a cup!’).  

So, what must you have with you when you go on a trip?  Sedatives?  A travel guide?  A nanny?  Earplugs? 

Comments

[Drythe]

Earplugs are a must. Also a big towel for shielding the sonars while they pee on the side of the road. (If it's a sedan, open both passenger and back doors to create shield.) A long dowel doesn't hurt for the inevitable smack-fests amongst the children. Pediatric Benadryl is also helpful if sedating the children (or the adults) proves necessary. 3 small pillows. God help you if you bring but one.

We also used to do dollar-store presents when we took the boys on a plane trip - one present per leg (of the flight, that is, not the child). The anticipation helps some, and the presents keep them occupied for...oh...ten minutes or so. Except play-doh. There are just WAY too many fascinating applications for gooey sticky stuff.

Also, if you're bringing a laptop, bring a couple of DVDs for the evenings. Or, if you have iTunes or something with one of those color displays that goes with music (I hope this makes some sense), those are great lullabies.

Finally, do NOT bring: silly putty, gum, or lollipops, unless you are fond of getting these out of your hair (ice works).

Good luck and happy trails!

Love,
Drythe

[Astraea]

Hey there!

Lots of good music is a must. Obviously counting games are easy to "pack," although instead of counting cars, maybe you count tumbleweeds or cacti? Shape of the clouds guessing can work if you don't have car-sicky types. Joint story making. Story telling choose your own adventure style (to make it easier, you could base it on Greek myth or medieval romance, both of which you are champion at!). I don't know if macrame would go over well, but the plastic gimp string stuff could have multiple uses and double as hobbles if the Sonars start getting uppity. ;)

I'm trying to figure out what to bring on my epic plane ride Thursday. So far I've got: class prep in binder and class prep on laptop. Neither is particularly enticing. Might be time for a novel. Have anything for me to download?

:)

Safe travels and enjoy!