June 26, 2007

June 26, 2007

Motor Home-Sick

The order and structure that goes into a normal day at the house was getting to be too much for us. We were ready to pick up Mike and return to the unplanned excitement of the West. Helen has been parked for a few days now, longer than any other stop we’ve made since we left.

We woke up around noon and got ready to go to the airport. It was at the airport that we found out that we were in the newspaper. Our good friend Leo made sure that we got as much publicity as the other group of guys in the bus. There was a good picture of us at the send-off in there, along with a neat article that I’m sure is hanging on my fridge back home. Thanks Leo.

We updated the site, checked our e-mails, and headed for the terminals. Mike’s flight was delayed nine minutes, throwing our schedule way out of whack (but not really). We met up and the five became six once again. Everyone talking at once, we filled Mike in on all the great stuff that he missed out on, and a lot of the crap that we had to deal with while he was gone. Everyone back up to speed, we drove back to our temporary desert home.

We arrived back home and after a few introductions, we started to make dinner. Mrs. Kapenga’s famous Stromboli is one dish that Dan and Micah are beginning to perfect. It was delicious, and everyone was impressed with the cooking skills of Helen’s crew. Just because we only eat food that comes in wrappers while on the road, doesn’t mean that we don’t know how to cook while in a kitchen.

After dinner and a small waterslide building project, we began to pack and clean up. The accumulated trash from all of our food took a while to pick up. Luke broke a window in the Winnebago by throwing his army helmet. He was aiming for an open window and shattered the sliding pane next to it. It made a bit of a mess, and there is a gaping hole where the driver’s window should be, but for now we don’t need one.

Mike got his head shaved today; I did last night, so now everyone is buzzed clean. It’s the high speed, low drag, and low maintenance aspects that make it the hair cut of choice among the crew members.

When the guest house was clean we made our way back into the Bago to continue our push to California. We said our goodbyes, hopped in and drove off, aiming to cross the border.

It feels good to be on the road again, like this is actually back to our normal. There was little adjustment time, as Helen was as eager as we were to drive west although we did make a wrong turn down a one way street. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic and we turned around easily.

California is getting close, and we’re proving a lot of people wrong. If we were to break down right here, we would walk the remaining 139 miles to the border. Well, Mike, Luke, Ian and I would bike, Dan and Micah would walk, but we would all get there somehow. No problems since we left Tucson, things are looking good for the Winnebago Boys. Next post should be from California, …should be.

Winnebago Guys, from the desk of Aaron Tubergen

Phoenix, Arizona -ish

2,456 miles from home

June 22-25, 2007

June 22-25, 2007

More Like Home

Never had we doubted old Helen more than we did in the mountains Friday night. The steep cliffs on our right, provided little room for us to pull off when we overheated, which we did often. The transmission’s temp would skyrocket with every steep climb. Cars and trucks passed us with speed, as we eased up the mountains. The stop and go pace of the Winnebago was a tedious necessity to keep it cool, but the all night drive got us all the way to Tucson, Arizona where Micah’s aunt Robyn and uncle Brad live.

Parking the Bago next to the guest house, we quickly moved all of our stuff inside and took our first real showers of the trip. It was a good feeling being clean again, at least for a little while. It was easier to put up with each other too, now that we didn’t smell. Right after showers and a little laundry we took naps. For Luke and Dan it was the first sleep since before Roswell. When we woke up we would drive our way to Mexico; the first planned activity of the trip.

Mexico was a lot of fun. Our house was right on the California Gulf. The waves were huge and we swam in the ocean a lot. We also got out and explored the nearby tourist community. Things are a lot different in Mexico than they are in the States. We slept a couple of nights under the stars, out on our porch to avoid the cockroaches inside. All in all, a good time before taking off back to Tucson.

Once back at the house, we finished moving in and once again taking advantage of real showers. The backyard pool made the 100 degree days bearable in the afternoons. At night we played video games and drank pop just like we were down in my basement back in Holland. It was a good break from the road. Throw a few chores in the mix and we felt right at home.

Not much else happened in these few days. Away from the road and out of the Winnebago, we haven’t really had anything out of the ordinary happen to us. I’m sure that when we get Helen back on the highway the posts will get a little longer.

Mike is supposed to fly into town tomorrow afternoon at about four o’clock. The plan is to leave after dinner and make a push to California. We’re not that far out, and hope to make it to my sister Julie’s place in a few days. That is after we call and tell her we’re getting close.

One more late night with Playstation 2 and Mountain Dew before we get Mike and leave. We’re all a little ready to get back on the road again; it should be a good feeling.

Winnebago Guys, from the desk of Aaron Tubergen

Tucson, Arizona

2,338 miles from home

Luke's List

This was written a while back but never got posted, here it is

Luke: So far team Winnebago has high spirits, but I expect that to change as we approach the Rocky Mountains. But with the right amount of quarreling and fireworks we should be all right.

Here is a list of things we still hope to accomplish.

#1. Make a citizen’s arrest

#2. Jump off a bridge into a river from the roof of the Winnebago

#3. Break 55 mph

#4. Run a heard of buffalo off a cliff

#5. Perform a pit/e-brake maneuver

#6. Make a bonfire that can be seen from space

#7. Sneak into Mexico

#8. Freeload off hotel pools and complimentary breakfasts

#9. Collect insurance

#10. Shave every ones head