BuckeyeFortMama 43 Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 It is time for another BuckeyeFortFamily trip report. It was a another great trip, and a little longer than most so please read on and enjoy! Thursday March 21, 2013 Here we are, nearly the end of March and it’s still freezing in Ohio. I spent Thursday packing clothes baskets which I use to transport 6 bodies worth of clothes and food to the camper in the barn. I usually walk the baskets to the camper but this snow still in our flower beds was too discouraging. So I cheated and put them in the back of my Expedition and drove them to the barn where we store the fifth wheel. Here’s the camper in the barn. Everything neat and tidy in the kids bedroom. The truck is packed too, just waiting on the kids to get home from school so we can take off. Here we are getting ready to leave. Our dog Hiram gets to vacation at Grandpa’s farm which makes him happy and our traveling easier. Here’s a better picture of him for the dog loving fiends. We left Ohio with snow flurries in the air dreading a cold overnight at a Flying J along the way. The kids had school on Thursday so we didn’t hit the road until after 4pm. It was 30 degrees outside. Normally we stop at Wytheville, VA when we leave after school. It’s 300 miles and takes us just under 5 hours. Tonight the plan was to drive until the temperature warmed up (even if that meant no stopping). So what are the BuckeyeFortKids up to on the drive through southern Ohio? The usual… Where’s Waldo in the front seat, DVD watching in the back seat (Disney movies only on this trip-it’s like research), and sleeping, of course. Here we are coming up on the West Virginia line. You can see the big green bridge ahead. This bridge crosses the Ohio River. We travel this way a lot to visit family and come to WDW so our kids love crossing this bridge. There is always fun at the end of a trip across this bridge. Here’s a picture of the Ohio River. I had packed sandwiches and snacks for the road so we passed some time in West Virginia eating them. We drove through Charleston around 7:15pm and it was still 31 degrees outside. We love looking for the gold dome of the Capital building. An hour later we found snow. The temperature is dropping quickly now that the sun is gone and we are in the mountains. We go through 2 big Mountain tunnels on our trip. The kids love them and hate them.Here are some pictures of the first one. This tunnel is in West Virginia but when you FINALLY emerge you are crossing the Virginia line. When we crossed into Virginia it was 9:15 and 24 degrees. Tunnel #2 is half an hour into Virginia. I think it is called the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel. It was 22 degrees as we came out of the 2nd tunnel. BRRR! We stopped in Wytheville at the Flying J for gas and a crummy Denny’s supper.18 degrees with a bitter cold wind!!!! TOO COLD TO STOP! SO WE KEPT ON DRIVING. We love to stop at Wytheville because coming through Fancy Gap in the morning is beautiful, but it was not gonna happen this trip. Right before midnight we crossed into North Carolina. Friday March 22, 2013 We finally stopped at Rock Hill, South Carolina because we were beat and it had warmed up to a whopping 33 degrees. It was 1:20 when we got out of the truck and into the camper at the Flying J. Here are the kids in our big bed in the master bedroom. After I took the picture I got in bed with them. It was tight but we were warm (sorta). Next we will finish this drive and get to the Fort! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 I'm in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 Great start to your trip. Sorry about all the cold. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I'm in! I'm mad at myself that we didn't do a group picture. I didn't take a pic with any Fiends we met. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I am in!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I'm in on this trip to!!!!!!!! Looks like an uneventful ride so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 Love the drive pics!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 That's always a pretty drive. We stopped in Bluefield and woke up one morning after leaving Myrtle Beach to 6" of snow, luckily we only had the car and most of it melted pretty fast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 Looking forward to more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I'm in too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Kahuna aka John 71 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I'm in... I love the barn... Wish I had that ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I love the barn too. We have a port but it isn't enclosed. Wish it was. And Hiram is one fine-looking dog! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuckeyeFortMama 43 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 I'm in! Glad to have you along for the ride. Great start to your trip. Sorry about all the cold. It has a been a weird weather year all around. The weather alone on this trip will make it unforgettable (more to come on that). I'm in! I'm mad at myself that we didn't do a group picture. I didn't take a pic with any Fiends we met. I know! We so should of. Next time we won't forget! I am in!! Hey Aaron! I'm trying to read yours and write mine at the same time. I'm in on this trip to!!!!!!!! Looks like an uneventful ride so far. It was, we have such great little travelers. Love the drive pics!!!! It's a long drive that is now so very familiar to us. Crazy. That's always a pretty drive. We stopped in Bluefield and woke up one morning after leaving Myrtle Beach to 6" of snow, luckily we only had the car and most of it melted pretty fast. Oh my goodness that would be a shock. I kept thinking we were just dragging the Ohio weather with us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuckeyeFortMama 43 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Looking forward to more! It's coming very shortly. I'm in too! I'm glad you are. I'm in... I love the barn... Wish I had that ! My husband made me post the pictures because he knew someone would appreciate it. It is our pride and joy right now and makes camper storage and prep so much easier. I love the barn too. We have a port but it isn't enclosed. Wish it was. And Hiram is one fine-looking dog! Thanks Gwen, I love it. This is our first full camping season with the barn. We got home and I just left the frig stocked and plugged in. All we need to do is throw clothes in and remake the beds and we can take off again! Hiram is a good looking boxer and he gets away with murder because of it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuckeyeFortMama 43 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 We crawled back into the truck at 6:45 and it was 29 degrees. This spring break was starting out COLD! It was nice to finally see some signs of SPRING on our SPRING break as we traveled this morning. Breakfast at the Waffle house. I love this one. By 11:30 we are leaving South Carolina (they have such a nice sign to tell us that). What are the BuckeyeFortKids up to? Catching up on sleep of course. Lo and Behold we are finally seeing some Ohio spring temps in GEORGIA! It was noon before we saw 50 degrees for the first time the whole trip. THIS IS NOT NORMAL!!!! It’s 1:11 and we have finally found FLORIDA! Lunch time at the Florida welcome center Parked with the big trucks. I love going through Jacksonville because I love to see the big ships and cranes and the really big bridge. Now our oldest son loves the modern marvel of the freeway system coming out the south end of Jacksonville and he told me I better take pictures of this for the trip report. So these are for BFK3. I think we are bringing up these BuckeyeFortKids right. They are thinking trip report when they take pictures. We have had a smooth drive for the past 2 days and then we hit Orlando at 5:30 on a Friday night. Orlando, you SMB! Oh wait when I thought it was bad it got worse. But who cares, this is our reward for dealing with Orlando traffic. Just when you think after a long day of driving that this is about it for the today,just wait.... this is the BuckeyeFortFamily. We have to get some major Disney magic in before our heads hit the pillow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Icky rainy traffic, but the next photo does make it all better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 You've arrived!!! WOOHOO!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuckeyeFortMama 43 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Icky rainy traffic, but the next photo does make it all better. You've arrived!!! WOOHOO!!!!! Time to celebrate and coast on into the Fort. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Yipeee!!!!!!!!!!! We made it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuckeyeFortMama 43 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 “Mama, look there’s the first Fort Wilderness sign.” The kids are excited! Woooohoooo! Anyone keeping track? We play musical chairs with the car seats. Mama’s favorite monorail. We all have a favorite color or wrap monorail. BuckeyeFortMama loves the light green. Magic Kingdom. I wish I could bottle the anticipation we have when we come through here and save it for later. Here's a picture of the deer welcoming committee. This picture never gets old. My favorite sign ever. Hey, is it Spring Break?Reception Outpost Anarchy reigns in our truck when we pull up here. The kids can’t stay still so off come the seatbelts. Here’s our castmember checking us in. She was nice and friendly. We had asked for Little Bear and we got it! According to the secret app check our site was a difficult back in, which had me worried. BuckeyeFortFan told me it would be no big deal. He was right. He's a keeper. Our site was perfect. We chatted with the guy in the F-350 that was checking in next to us. He was also pulling a fifth wheel, so he talked "truck" with my husband. They were from about an hour north of us in Ohio and left at nearly the same time we did. It's a small world after all. Now that you are all singing along it's time to park for the week. 1449 here we come. But just our luck, we back into our site and this is our view. Fortunately it was a very light rain and didn’t last long. It only took about an hour to get set up and by then the rain had stopped. We had to go to the marina to pick up our Kenny cart so we thought we would grab a GAG. When we got up to the Trail’s End they were lining up for the 8:30 Hoop Dee Doo Review. The BFK4 and I went to get the golf cart while BFF and the other 3 BFKs played horseshoes, hula hoops and checkers. It’s been a few months and the kids missed their toys. Well, standing there after the hour of light rain and with Mama out of the way, our kids start working on their Papa, BuckeyeFortFan. We have done the Hoop Dee Doo every trip, but usually not planned. When we travel with friends we always get ADR’s for this awesome show, but when it is a BuckeyeFortFamily only trip we don’t. If we have a day(s) of rain we throw on a last minute Hoop Dee Doo just to cheer us up. I get back with the golf cart and find out our GAG is now HDDR tickets, REALLY??? Honestly, who cares I had one happy family. It was worth it!We walked in and found there was no one at the show. We had never seen it like this. NEVER! We’ve been here when the shelf had no one on it but never when the first floor wasn’t full. This was crazy. We had a great view. Now my family loves this show. We have “unbearable” jokes all the time at home. We sing Clementine just so someone can be “Frankenstein.” My girls now fake giggle like Claire. So this intimate experience was fun. I think we were the only table there who understood that we were supposed to be loud and for some reason we tried to make up for everyone else’s lake of enthusiasm. Needless to say Claire picked up on this and BuckeyeFortFan didn’t mind at all. After that woman finally got off my husband’s lap we got down to enjoying our meal. Just kidding, I played it well. This show is a blast and the food is great. Ribs, fried chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, corn, cowboy butt beans, cornbread and straw, strawberry, strawberry shortcake!!! Washboards never get old. BFK4 fell asleep in that crazy loud place and Claire insisted a take this picture. First day in the parks tomorrow and it's our only EPCOT day. Of course, we will be there for Rope Drop (just for you Lou...) Our first in the many "EGG"stravaganza activities will be in tomorrow's report. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 I love how your GAG blossomed! That is the way to go with the flow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ºoºThomasclan85ºoº 8 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Loving your report so far! Wish I was there myself!! :jumpforjoy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 The GAG-Blossom!!!Love it.Looking forward to more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Great update! Love that you got some Disney magic on night 1. We really need to do the HDDR on the next trip. I'm the only one that's ever been. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Hey, we were there at the same time! I remember that rain. I really like your tow vehicle. I keep telling myself that I don't need a new one, but I think I may be losing that argument! I know that part of WV well. We travel through there when we go to Snowshoe. Those are some steep grades through there. I bet that 6.7 just eats them up! I know what you mean by anarchy. My kids practically crawl out of the windows as soon as we turn into the Fort. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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