babyblog

Vacation

So we decided to go away for a couple of nights & see the Olympic Penninsula. The land which lies between Seattle & the Pacific Ocean which is reportedly very beautiful, with mountains, lakes, coastline, etc.

We get up early on Thursday morning and I do all of the packing, then get shouted at for being online while G loads the car.

Dylan announces he doesn't want to go after seeing TSUNAMI documentary which said that this area is due one.

Tell Dylan not to be silly. Become secretly concerned about TSUNAMIs.

Set off, all is going well, then we stop in the "Arse End of Nowhere" for food - the only thing availble is Burger King. It has a play area, so I think OK - we'll go, the kids can burn off some energy after being in the car for a couple of hours, I can feed Tab, she needs changing , etc.

Send G to change Tabby - no changing area in mens. This is AEOFN after all. Go to womens. None there either. Go change her in car.

Come back - sit down to nurse her. Get VERY EVIL STARES from AEOFN inhabitants. Begin to lose good humour.

Look for her baby food - discover SOMEONE FORGOT TO BRING IT.

Go to a Wal Mart for baby food which is the only store AEOFN has..... get fleeced by children for various toys and DVD's for journey. Good mood lessens more.

Set off again (now been on road for 4 hours).

Drive towards beach which I have booked hotel at for first night. Don't quite understand why ocean is on left hand side when it should be on right hand side.

Keep Driving.

Tell G about TSUNAMI fears. Get laughed at.

Finally wonder that we have been driving another hour and a half when it should only have been 30 mins drive. Decide to turn on Sat Nav.

Discover we are LOST. Need to turn around and drive back another hour the way we came.

G begins to mention TSUNAMIS alot. Points out every road leading towards "high ground". Decide he is also secretly concerned.

Get to hotel - had booked a cheap place unseen via internet. Inexplicably it is an entire HOUSE. We had the top two floors.

It is 4pm. Decide to go to beach to fly kites before dinner.

Arrive at beach - 20 mins walk in freezing cold wind. This sign is posted on beach.

Tab is not impressed with the wind.

Here is me and my kite

The boys enjoy themselves

After 30 mins we go back to house - mindful of weather and potential Tsunami.

Go out for a quick dinner. Go to bed

Tab screams all night long. G is sleeping downstairs with Harry who was restless so I get to stay awake all night with her. Worrying about Tsunami sneaking up on us in the night.

Morning arrives. Mood = Frightful.

Boys go swimming. When they get back, G announces that he had decided to go and get changed and LEAVE HARRY STANDING BY THE POOL. And HARRY HAD FALLEN INTO THE POOL. And DYLAN HAD TRIED TO SAVE HIM BUT PANICKED AND COULDNT and that G HAD REALISED AND MANAGED TO SAVE HIM but "DONT WORRY EVERYTHING IS FINE AND DONT FREAK OUT YOURE BEING RIDICULOUS ITS ALL PERFECTLY OK NOW"(!!!???????!!!!!!!)

11am: Leave house en route to 2nd destination. No hotel booked but we will get one when we get there. Mood = well, you can imagine.

Rain = Chucking Down.

Drive.

Drive more.

Drive loads more.

See a Rainbow

Tab = screaming in car.

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

4pm = arrive at destination town, described in travel guide as "a glittering waterfront of hotels, restaurants and shops'.

Destination town = slum. refuse to stop.

drive

Tab commences more screaming.

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

drive

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

drive

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

rain = continuing to piss down

gas tank = empty.

Approaching short Ferry journey to go home....

G says "don't worry we have plenty of gas, we will make it"

6pm Arrive at Ferry. Get on Ferry. Ferry ends. Go to car. Start engine. WONT START. NO GAS. G says "just roll down the ramp off the ferry, it will start once we're not on a hill". I do as described and discover, while rolling down ramp into oncoming traffic that BRAKES DO NOT WORK WHEN NO ENGINE IS ON. Panic. Try to stop. Put car in park. Car makes mad sound. Continues to roll. STAMP both feet on brakes. Finally halt..... causing enormous commotion behind me and cars honking me. Car starts, manage to get to gas station.

Drive home........Tab screams

Sing: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

8pm. Arrive home.

Sigh.

Posted by katie at April 6, 2008 02:26 PM