Day #7 (June 18, 2015) - All Good Things Must Come to an End

Brave girl!

All good things come to an end....on the 7th day of the trip, we were headed to our final destination, Richmond, Virginia, and due to a series of events, we decided to head home instead. We left the Wild Dunes at noon, and by 4:30pm, we decided to stop for some gas and Starbucks. Assuming everyone was IN the car, I began to slowly pull out of the parking lot, when I quickly realized that Audrey was NOT in the car. The door open, I said to her, "get in the car." She replied, "I can't." I said, "why not," she said, "because the tire is on my foot." NO!!! I quickly put the car in reverse and then park and then took a lot at Audrey's foot. YIKES! I just ran over my daughter's foot. She was calm. She said it didn't hurt, but that maybe I should get some ice. So, as my level headed daughter suggested, I got ice and then promptly drove to the nearest hospital which was 10 minutes away (Cape Fear Medical Center...REALLY?)

I was a train wreck. I couldn't believe what had just happened. We entered the hospital at 5:30pm and just as quietly as we entered, we left at 6:45pm. NO BROKEN BONES. Just a little bruising. Dodged a bullet. Thank you, Hash-m! My children and I prayed from the minute it happened to the minute the doctor said, "she is fine...and good to go!"

I was unbelievably relieved...and then the next shoe fell. My 23-year-old nephew, Nathan, who was graciously watching my little dogs all week for us, called me two minutes after the doctor gave us our clean bill of health to tell us that "it happened. Copper got out of the yard." And he was nowhere to be found. Stanley immediately erupted in tears. He was inconsolable.

I managed to get out of the hospital and back on the road while sending a Facebook post out to notify everyone that Copper was lost AGAIN! Stanley still in visible agony, I pulled the car over and held him as he told me, "Mommy, I can't live without my dog." And I assured him that he could. After 10

Not broken!

minutes on the highway median, I told the children that perhaps it was best to end the trip and head home. They all agreed.

Then after a series of events that involved some very special people, Copper was found! A nice woman, Kelly, from a nearby neighborhood had found Copper and taken him to the nearest vet where his chip was scanned and I was notified. Simultaneously, my friend Ellen, saw a post on Facebook with pictures of my dog found by Kelly. There was elation in the car when I got the news at 9pm.

Emotionally exhausted, I was still headed for home, but it was not meant to be...at 9:15pm in Fayettesville, North Carolina, the heavens opened up and a rain storm like no other I have ever seen began to beat down on my car. I could see NOTHING. Absolutely, nothing. Inches away from being hit by semi-tractor trailers, I pulled to the side of the road where we were in danger of flash flooding. So I called upon my trusted GPS to find me the nearest hotel just a few miles away which I inched my way towards and checked in for the night!

I was done! I ordered the kids a pizza and went to bed. At 4:30am the next day, I headed home....a little weary, a lot tired, and extremely grateful to all of the people in this world and my life that support me every single day. My girl's foot wasn't broken. My dog was found and my son's heart saved. And I made it to safety in a rain storm.

Thanks for coming along for the ride...stay tuned for my final road trip blog....

Day #7 (June 18, 2015) - Charleston, South Caroline - The Wild Dunes

The final leg of our road trip took us to sunny South Carolina. We stopped into Charleston last night for a quick ice cream and off we went to our beach hotel at the Wild Dunes Resort. We got to the hotel around 9pm and went out to the beach, just to take a quick glimpse. We could hear the guitar playing lounge singer from the boardwalk and smell the fresh breeze in the night air. It was heaven.

On day seven we woke early and went to the beach for a few short hours. I sat under the shade of an umbrella as I watched my three amazing, all-grown-up children play in the water. No more sand castles, no more nagging me to do beach

activities, no more "come with me into the water," I just sat back and watched them enjoy the waves and each other. It was amazing. I breathed in the air and exhaled happiness.

After a few short hours, the kids went for a swim in the hotel pool, and then by 12pm (check out time), we had showered, packed up, and were ready to hit the road for the FINAL leg of the journey...Richmond, Virginia and Kings Dominion. Though it was NOT MEANT TO BE...Stay tuned....

Day #6 (June 17, 2015) Helen, Georgia

We woke bright and early ready for the day. Filled with excitement, we met our bike and hike guide, Ken, a retired police officer, at Woody's Bike Shop. He was personable, and friendly, and quite fit for a grandfather of two. He took us into a local park where we biked for two miles and hiked for two miles. The kids did amazing, and I didn't do too bad trying to keep up. It was a hot, humid day, but we muscled through it!

After two hours of biking and hiking, we slipped into our bathing suits for a 90-minute tube ride down the Chattahoochee River. It was so much fun! Even during a 20 minute rain storm, we laughed and bounced our way down the river. 

The kids are doing great on this trip. They are already planning the next one. After tubing, we showered up and hit the road for the next leg of the journey...Charleston, South Carolina and the Wild Dunes Resort. 425 miles and 6 more hours to go!

Today was an amazing day...but this mama is getting a little tired...my whole body is aching from the bike/hike! It's all worth it.

Two more days left...stay tuned.

Day #5 (June 16, 2015) Helen, Georgia Awaits

After an amazing day in Kentucky, we hit the road to Helen, Georgia in search of a Treehouse on the river. It seemed like a REALLY good idea at the time.... Five hours into the trek, we found ourselves in the scenic byway of Georgia...then in the sixth hour as the sun was setting, we found ourselves in Richard Russell Highway...20 miles of never ending twists and turns, no lights, wildlife jumping out on the road. We felt like we were getting further and further from civilization. And this was after I instructed the GPS for "Highways" only. I guess in Georgia this winding back road is a highway. After about 18 miles and in the cover of darkness, I was beginning to get a little unnerved alone in a car with three kids who were sensing my panic.

Finally, we saw the exit to this "highway" and headed to the Treehouse. Only the Treehouse was down and "unverified" road according to my trusted navigation system. We were lost. In the dark, searching for a treehouse. At this point, I was dreaming of a Courtyard Marriott. I called the proprietor of the Treehouse, who intermittently gave me the final directions as my cell reception kept dying. She told us to go down this road and that, passed the "Haunted House" and down the one lane road. My arm hairs were up!

We reached the treehouse...in the pitch dark. And what was beautiful on the Internet all aglow in the dark, we a little creepy in real life. Stanley said as we pulled up, "I am NOT getting out of the car, Mom." Secretly, I was with him, but exhausted and in need of a bed. Our host guided us up the steep hill to the treehouse. With a few instructions, our guide left us on our own. In the dark, in the woods, spooked by the last hour of the journey. I calmed the children down, double locked all the doors, and laid down. The sounds of the night were literally making me a nervous wreck and after over 6 hours of driving, I never fell asleep. All three kids rested peacefully as I watched over them.

Tomorrow is going to be a long exciting day...tired or not!

Dinner at 10pm in Helen, GA

Day #5 (June 16, 2015) - Kentucky Splash Down!

As a single mother of three kids, I appreciate the little accommodations that can be found along the way. After 5 days, the laundry mounts and the available cash dewindles. As fortune would have it, there was a place in Kentucky that washed all of our dirty clothes, a full trash bag full, folded and everything for $7. Total... $7. Talk about heaven! Then when we arrived at Splash Lagoon Water Park, they were having a buy one get one free day, so instead of $127, it was only $64! Serendipity!  I love this day!

Audrey was in her element today!  She loves the water. The slides, the wave pool,  the lily pads, and the lazy river. All three kids had a blast. Always together. Always mindful of one another. I am "almost" nonexistent. I guess that's a good thing. I find myself a quiet observer watching my children become beautiful, sensitive, thoughtful adults.  I have never been so relaxed in a wave pool. I watched other moms with their nervous faces watching over their very young children. I remember those days. So nervous to let them out of my sight. Now...just a distant memory.

After a little Dippin' Dots, and we are back on the road....headed to a Treehouse in Helen, Georgia. Stay tuned.... 

Just a little down time fun before the next leg of the trip.

Day #4 (June 15, 2015) Bowling Green, Kentucky

"We woke" at 5am to start day four of the Dansicker Road Trip. So far, I have seen a lot of smiles, heard a lot of singing, and particularly this morning, a lot of sleeping. Today, we are headed to Bowling Green,

Kentucky, six and a half hours away, 425 miles to the Lost River Caves Boat Tour. The drive was uneventful. We downloaded the soundtrack to "Pitch Perfect 2" and sang it all the way through...two or three times. Everyone took a nap except for me with one stop at Subway.

We arrived just in time to get the 11am Boat Tour into the Caves. We actually gained an hour driving from West Virginia to Kentucky which is Central Time. When you are on a road trip every minute counts, so it was a welcomed surprise. The caves were murky and the boat ride a little scary (for me)...at one point you had to duck down in the boat so you didn't hit your head on the cave ceiling. It was a leisurely 35 minute ride but Mama was definitely ready to rise to the surface. Not a fan of boat rides or being under ground for extended periods of time. The kids playfully rejoiced in my discomfort.

Next stop....Corvette Museum...right up Stanley's alley. As we walked through the museum, we heard thunderous clapping...I wondered what could be going on...someone had purchased one of the cars and was driving it off the museum floor. Apparently, routine for this neck of the woods, I found it strange and mildly disturbing to be cheering on a car as it existed the building. We snapped a few pictures for prosperity and kindly left the building.

Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY

Tomorrow...is Audrey's day! We are going to spend the rest of our time in Kentucky at Splash Lagoon. A day of fun in the sun at a waterpark! Stay tuned....

On the way back to car after Lost River Cave.

Corvette Museum

Day #3 (June 14, 2015) Stonewall Resort in West Virginia - It was a great day!

Fishing. Boating. Swimming. Today everything went according to plan despite the drizzle and intermittent rain showers. We took long walks along the lake stopping at every fishing hole. Armed with disgusting chicken livers oozing with blood and a dozen night crawlers, we, and when I say "we," I actually mean just Stanley, caught the only fish of the day! We also fed a swarm of carp from the dock, like ducks, they approached us immediately waiting to be hand fed. It was a highlight of the day as hundreds of large 2-foot slimy carps reached out of the water with their big mouths open anxiously awaiting our bait shop treats. 

Swimming cooled us down from the sweltering heat. Henry and Audrey enjoyed flipping Stanley in the pool as I watched on. 

The pinnacle of the day came around 6pm when we started on a sunset cruise around the lake. Just me and my three babies surrounded by natural beauty. After about 30 minutes,  Stanley comfortably resting on Audrey's lap, Henry next to me, my children began to quietly sing, "Lost Boys" by Ruth B. First Aud, then Stan, then Henry joined in. It was spontaneous and as natural as the setting sun. It was pure and innocent and touched the deepest part of my loving heart.  Lucky and grateful to have such a moment.

Tomorrow morning, we leave for Kentucky. Stay tuned.... 

Day #2 (June 13, 2015) Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV

Two words. Two words can describe this incredible day. BABY TIGER. That's right, at Horvatter's Wildlife Zoo in West Virginia the children and I were treated to a visit with the 5-month old baby tiger. So adorable. So stinkin' cute. The highlight of the day was definitely holding the baby tiger, but the Horvatter Zoo offered up-close-and-personal visitation with several animals that left us excited and happy. I particularly loved feeding the monkeys popcorn as they pushed their little noses through the cage bars and stretched out their little arms to catch my offering. It was a small little zoo packed with a lot of engaging moments.

Next stop...the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV. Stanley could hardly contain his excitement when we drove up next to the sprawling lake filled with several varieties of fish. But...alas...the good must wait. It is 6pm and we are settling in for the night at the resort with a beautiful view of the lake.

As I sit and write, the kids are getting showered for dinner. I recall one of the best moments after 350 miles. Stanley, Audrey, and Stanely singing out loud and in unison to all our favorite songs including "The Main Event" by Barbara Streisand (Mama's favorite singer). Heaven. Heaven. Heaven.

Longhorn Bull photo bombed my kids!

We are at the Stonewall for fishing and boating tomorrow....stay tuned!

Day #2 (June 13, 2015) Horvatter Wildlife Zoo in West Virginia

We made it! We arrived in West Virginia after a very uneventful 3 and half hour car ride. All three children fell asleep for 75% of the journey. I took in the scenic views all by myself and experienced a short rain shower along the way. With "my" music at a perfect pitch, I sang my way to West Virginia as my sleeping babes rested peacefully.

Last night we check into the hotel and then off we went to a local theater to see "Jurassic World." It was predictable and scary at times, but very reminiscent of the original movie with one interesting twist. The kids really enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching them revel in it.

We ended the low key start to the road trip with a little dinner at Chili's....and of course, the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Just the first of many wonderful moments. And as I am thinking about it, one of the most amazing parts about this road trip occurs in between destinations. The little jokes that evolve out of nothing and make us all break out in laughter. Memories. I love making them!

Today, we are off to Horvatter's Wildlife Zoo. Stay tuned....

Day #1 (June 12, 2015) Headed to Morgantown, West Virginia

Let the adventure begin! I have long awaited the day where my children were old enough to set out on the open road and experience new places and people. Now, Henry, 12, Audrey, 10 and Stanley, 9, are mature enough to make this trip a lot easier with a lot less "stuff." No strollers. No diapers. No pack 'n-play. Just a few snacks, a light suitcase for each, and of course, a few electronic devices with the necessary boundaries put in place for daily use.

I have long dreamed of setting out on the road with my curious, playful, amazing children. My hope is that we find out more about the world and each other with every new experience. For the last six month, the children and I have carefully planned this 7-day road trip across five states (West Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia), that include planned stays and outdoor fun along with hopefully some spontaneous tangents that set the tone for a wild and memorable journey.

All packed and ready to go...our first destination Morgantown, West Virginia. Let the adventure begin!