Plans

Nothing goes as planned! In January we planned to go to Yellowstone for our summer vacation. BUT there were no lodging reservations available. So, we decided to camp in our tent. I made reservations for a tent site at Grant which is on Yellowstone Lake in the National Park. We decided that this would be a good time to upgrade our tent as some spring camping in Shenandoah had left it a little tattered. So, I did lots of research and settled on one. Order it. Received it. It still is in the box it arrived in. BECAUSE.....a couple weeks before we were to leave for Yellowstone, we decided we needed to buy an RV instead! Still not sure where this idea came from but when we decide to do something, we usually focus on it and do it quick. So a week and half before our departure date, June 23rd, we took ownership of a 1999 Bounder 36S. That's right, a 36 foot Bus! Well, that meant that we needed to tow a vehicle to get around Yellowstone. We considered renting one out there but at $400 - $500 for the week we decided it was more cost effective to purchase a cheap used car. And that is right, of all of our cars, none of them were suitable for towing! We searched and searched and one day got lucky. A 1994 Toyota 4Runner popped up on craigslist. It was in Sterling and had the tow equipment already on it. So we rushed up there to beat another guy to it. Success! Everything was falling into place. That is, until the 23rd drew nearer. The auxiliary brake system for the RV to the "toad" was proving to be a bear as well as a million little things on the RV that we just couldn't get done. Again, we lucked out. Anita told us about an RV guy and he spent a day and a half on our RV helping us get it ready. Still Matt and my Dad as well as Matt's Dad spent several of the last few nights until midnight working on hooking up the tow bar, and that brake system. FINALLY, the 23rd of June arrives. BUT it was taking us longer to get everything done. We were to leave about 3pm and head to Wolftrap for Frampton openning for YES then head off into the sunset. BUT we weren't ready. SO Matt, Carter, and Kyle went to the concert and Dad and I stayed behind to finish up the brake system. At Midnight we had success with the brakes and a short while later the boys returned. BUT we decided to wait until the next day to set off.

SO, about 1pm on the 24th we finally set off for Yellowstone in the Bounder with the 4Runner in tow. Through D.C. traffic in 100 degree heat! The hottest day of the year so far no less. IT WAS HOT!