Part II: We went on a road trip without the Sprinter and …

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

We went on a road trip without the Sprinter and it was enlightening.

We drove from Oregon to Big White to Whistler and back.

Would the Sprinter have made it? Yes.

Would I have been nervous? Maybe. Abbotsford to Kelowna on the way there was dark and snowy. Visibility wasn’t great. I was a bit nervous anyway. The Sprinter would have done fine.

What was it like traveling in a minivan again?

  • Dramatic. With two kids that have been spoiled by The Luggable Loo, this was a good reminder that most people think ahead when traveling. On several occasions, we drove five miles away from a gas station or restaurant to hear Grace say: “I have to go potty”! Her usual announcement goes like this: “I have to go. Its an emergency. I have to go in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, …”
  • Combative. The kids feet and arms could reach each other. Enough said.
  • Wet. We didn’t have anywhere to hang our clothesline.
  • Cross fit for an out-of-shape mom. I pick up a kid while CD pulls the boots off, puts snow pants on, and puts the boots back on. Repeat.
  • Spendy and Gluttonous. Snacks started out fine but after ten days on the road, the food situation regressed. Here is the common scenario: The kids are desperately hungry and can’t possibly wait to eat. None of the available snacks are acceptable. We look for restaurants. We don’t have cell service or chose not to use cellular data. We drive around. We find one but it is just a brewery with frozen pizzas. We drive around more. We find another one. We run in and order $40 worth of food. The kids color in coloring books. We ask them to eat. They get up and walk around the table. We tell them to eat. They eat two bites each. CD and I eat two meals each. We get in the car. The kids say they are hungry. They eat popcorn. *Repeat every 2-4 hours.
“The Zephyr” in Squamish. CD and I ate a Zephyr salad, a bowl of veggie chili, a cup of Mexican Chicken soup, a falafel wrap, and a bunch of corn chips. It was good. It may be worth mentioning that this was a bit after brunch where CD and I ate 2 eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, 2 orders of hashbrowns, and eggs benny. The kids ate popcorn in the car.
  • Confusing. I couldn’t find anything in the back seat or front seat. CD was in charge of the back door and seemed to keep everything in its place. The kids and I didn’t do as well.
I should be too embarrassed to post this but just in case anyone feels like their car is a mess, this should help you feel better! Here is the scene in our back seat as we rolled back into Oregon. Yikes!

CD’s take on the situation: “20 days on the road comes much sooner in a mini-van than a Sprinter”. Shortly after CD said this, the mini-van alert popped up and asked: “Would you like to take a break?” Ha!

Advice? Get a 4 x 4 Sprinter if you can. If not, stay true to your rear wheel drive Sprinter. Invest in good winter tires, be flexible with your schedule, and stay committed to #vanlife.

If you have to take your mini-van, stay positive. Its not that bad. In fact, it is probably helpful in providing perspective and reminding everyone how to wait patiently while looking for a restaurant, a hotel, or a potty.

Leave a Reply

Part II: We went on a road trip without the Sprinter and …

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

We went on a road trip without the Sprinter and it was enlightening.

We drove from Oregon to Big White to Whistler and back.

Would the Sprinter have made it? Yes.

Would I have been nervous? Maybe. Abbotsford to Kelowna on the way there was dark and snowy. Visibility wasn’t great. I was a bit nervous anyway. The Sprinter would have done fine.

What was it like traveling in a minivan again?

  • Dramatic. With two kids that have been spoiled by The Luggable Loo, this was a good reminder that most people think ahead when traveling. On several occasions, we drove five miles away from a gas station or restaurant to hear Grace say: “I have to go potty”! Her usual announcement goes like this: “I have to go. Its an emergency. I have to go in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, …”
  • Combative. The kids feet and arms could reach each other. Enough said.
  • Wet. We didn’t have anywhere to hang our clothesline.
  • Cross fit for an out-of-shape mom. I pick up a kid while CD pulls the boots off, puts snow pants on, and puts the boots back on. Repeat.
  • Spendy and Gluttonous. Snacks started out fine but after ten days on the road, the food situation regressed. Here is the common scenario: The kids are desperately hungry and can’t possibly wait to eat. None of the available snacks are acceptable. We look for restaurants. We don’t have cell service or chose not to use cellular data. We drive around. We find one but it is just a brewery with frozen pizzas. We drive around more. We find another one. We run in and order $40 worth of food. The kids color in coloring books. We ask them to eat. They get up and walk around the table. We tell them to eat. They eat two bites each. CD and I eat two meals each. We get in the car. The kids say they are hungry. They eat popcorn. *Repeat every 2-4 hours.
“The Zephyr” in Squamish. CD and I ate a Zephyr salad, a bowl of veggie chili, a cup of Mexican Chicken soup, a falafel wrap, and a bunch of corn chips. It was good. It may be worth mentioning that this was a bit after brunch where CD and I ate 2 eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, 2 orders of hashbrowns, and eggs benny. The kids ate popcorn in the car.
  • Confusing. I couldn’t find anything in the back seat or front seat. CD was in charge of the back door and seemed to keep everything in its place. The kids and I didn’t do as well.
I should be too embarrassed to post this but just in case anyone feels like their car is a mess, this should help you feel better! Here is the scene in our back seat as we rolled back into Oregon. Yikes!

CD’s take on the situation: “20 days on the road comes much sooner in a mini-van than a Sprinter”. Shortly after CD said this, the mini-van alert popped up and asked: “Would you like to take a break?” Ha!

Advice? Get a 4 x 4 Sprinter if you can. If not, stay true to your rear wheel drive Sprinter. Invest in good winter tires, be flexible with your schedule, and stay committed to #vanlife.

If you have to take your mini-van, stay positive. Its not that bad. In fact, it is probably helpful in providing perspective and reminding everyone how to wait patiently while looking for a restaurant, a hotel, or a potty.

Leave a Reply