First little snafu

Well, it was bound to happen, and now it has - first break in the new RV. Brand new coach, broken heater. Grr! Thought we had fixed it with hubby adjusting the igniter coil, but it lasted only so long, and now the heat is no longer working again. I am frustrated beyond measure. Part of the reason that we bought new was to be able to travel without worry.  Looks like a new igniter is in the very near future. On New Year's Eve. In this area. Daunting to say the least.

Starting out (Beach Motel RV Park at Point Mugu NBVC, CA)

We’ve had a few of those days that makes me think that we have made the right decision.  Yesterday, as three of the kids were climbing the rocks with me before our first “house guests” came by, we realized that there is a small beach that appears only when the tide goes way out. We climbed down the back side of the rocks to the beach and wandered a bit before we headed back up the rocks and back to the RV. While we were at the beach, we wrote names in the sand, and K designated a “bird toilet” due to an area of beach with large amounts of seagull fouling, and generally spent some time being silly and enjoying one another’s company.

When we returned and the kids told C about our adventure, he was sad because he had elected to stay back with dad and clean-up for our guests. So C and I took a quick trip down to the private beach, where we talked about climbing only where there are no living creatures, so we don’t disturb them, and talked about how glad he was that we had a whole beach to ourselves. It was a great (and rare) bout of one-on-one time with him and we both needed that.

Today we got up and ate, then planned out our day – a trip to the Laundromat, then the “rocket ship” playground, a picnic and another trip to “our” beach was on the agenda.  We did get laundry done, and it took a little longer than we thought, but it got done, then came back and made lunch because someone was hungry, so the picnic was out.

We did rally for a trip to the playground, and we climbed the rocket ship and had fun until a battle over a swing resulted in raised voices and hurt feelings and no one willing to compromise, so we left and talked of returning another day.

When we got back to our beachside home, we did a few chores before heading out on the rocks, and wandering along the sea side barrier, exploring the different kinds of rocks and their appearance, size, shape and so on. We walked on the rocks until we were ready to go down to the beach, and someone staying in one of the cottages flew out to tell us that we were disturbing nesting birds of a bird sanctuary and that we had to get off of the rocks. The sanctuary is actually inland and there are no nesting birds in the rocks (or perhaps a few, but no more so than elsewhere at the seaside). But I didn’t feel like quibbling with someone who will likely be gone tomorrow, so we’ll wait and go down tomorrow when conditions are more pleasant.

Instead we re-routed to the road and walked back to the larger beach and the kids splashed in the waves, and built with sand and I found the first “I miss” of the trip, when C told me that he misses our bathtub and wishes he could take baths rather than showers. He and K built a “bathtub” in the sand for a while. I love seeing them play and construct together. Meanwhile, H, who “doesn't like the beach” was in the water up past his waist and giving me minor heart palpitations with how deep he was in the surf while he body surfed. He is just growing up so fast! B was along the waterline splashing and doing her version of a handstand, which is one hand and foot from the same side (so both right or both left), which always reminds me of a yoga pose of some kind.

All-in-all, a good two day lead up to the holiday, and I am excited to see what the next few days bring!

Picked it up!

Got the RV today. Picked it up and inspected/toured it all. Not sure how I am feeling, but I know I wasn't ready to drive in L.A. traffic, so I had the hubby drive, and took off with the kids in the Pilot. Didn't want hubby distracted by the Bratmobile crew. Yes, the kids have named the RV the Bratmobile. I think it suits in many ways, and they picked it themselves. They want to get a big Batman moniker to put on the back for all the world to see. That will be negotiated. But I kind of like it.

Leading up to the trip

We're starting our year away in January, and the time leading up to the trip has been stressful thus far. I know that change is stressful and chronicling our preparations might help me keep my head on straight.  First, a little about my decision-making process, as to what we would drive, finding the right ride and going from there. I'm hoping to keep track of some of the other decisions that we make as to what goes into the RV and what doesn't.

Because we will be driving with one adult and four children, the ability to be mobile at all times is vital in my mind. We debated the 5th wheel, travel trailer, RV Coach (types A&C) and settled on a Class A motorhome with a vehicle to tow behind, most likely a Honda Pilot, on the recommendation of "our guy" who will be setting it up for us. We need a vehicle small and light enough to tow, but big enough to carry all five of us, and the most often recommended vehicle has been the Pilot. That has yet to be found, but it will come.

As for the coach itself, we decided that a Class A bunkhouse was the way to go, and lucky for us there was an RV show in Pomona, CA that we were able to go check out. We found a few that we liked and finally, I found the one that I wanted, a Thor Windsport 34J. Here is our ride!