Trip Planning Do's and Don'ts

Our family started planning our big trip starting in June. We grabbed passport forms and filled them out. Then got our photos done. And there they sat. I'm generally not such a huge procrastinator, but for some reason after the forms were filled out I just stalled. We had loads of time to get them done we didn't leave until October. Months turned to weeks then it was days. In September we drove to Kelowna BC to get our passports finalized. That day ended being a wasted trip because D and I didn't have our Birth Certificates and J's wasn't legible. So now we had to order a new one for J from Ontario. That took 2 weeks to get here. So off we go again but this time it was to Surrey BC because it had faster service. We hand the teller all the paperwork. I couldn't finish my application because I forgot my marriage certificate ( when will I learn to listen to the small voice). So mine was put on hold until the following Monday. Did I happen to mention that we started the paperwork in June, and all this stress could have been avoided?

Anyway.... the guys get all their info sent in. I had to go back Monday with my other paperwork and finally get mine processed. Phone call on Shabbat for D saying he needed a new photo. Okay fine he can do that on Monday when we go in with my papers. Then about an hour after submitting my paperwork and heading home I get a call. I need new photos. So we turn around and go back and get mine redone. All we needed to do now was go back to Surrey on Wednesday to pick them up. We arrived at the office and had to wait for D's book to finish being printed. But by the end of the day we left with all 3 passports in hand.

So lesson learned don't put stuff off.

Wait.... there's more to preparing to go to the USA. We were taking our RV with us. So that meant a full on sort out. Anything we wouldn't be using during our Month away had to go to storage. The stuff we were going to use had to stay. We had to book the dog and cat into the vet because they were traveling with us. The cat didn't need a whole lot just rabies and a micro chip and he was good to go. The dog needed both those and I had to fill out an import form going from Canada to the US. But now he is good to come with us for another 5 months as it needs to be renewed every 6 months. When traveling anywhere with your pets make sure to check what the import regulations are.

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Because we were part of a group of people traveling we had to figure out where we were stopping and when. One of the ladies looked after booking hotels and I then out on finding camping spots for us because we had our RV within 10 minutes of the hotel they were staying at. I looked at ioverlander, Campedium and the Nation Park websites for our accommodations. Our first stop in the US was Butte MT, while the rest of the caravan stayed in Butte at the Comfort Inn, my family went out of town about 9 minutes to Homestake dispersed camping (these are generally free sites and have 0 hookups). found a gem of a camp spot for our 2 days. Then it was onward to Yellowstone National Park. I must say that it was truly breathtaking we even got to see a bison up close. Our family stayed at Madison campground the only one that was still open in the Park itself (there was a moderate fee of $35 US per night. No hookups but there is flush toilets and showers), while our friends stayed in West Yellowstone at Three Bears Lodge and motel. The next place we stopped at was a cute little town called Saratoga WY. Our friends stayed at the Sage motel and we found a simple little parking space with full hook ups for $50 a night. We went out for dinner at a wonderful steakhouse and brewery and then ended the evening by slipping into the free hot springs and enjoying the time to unwind from traveling. Our last night before we got to our destination was at the comfort Inn in Hays Kansas. It was here that my family and I were able to stay the night in the parking lot of the hotel which was free for us.

So there you have it our first week of our trip. I will share next about the Feast of Tabernacles and share the highlights of that feast with you. But for now I think I will go and see what my son is doing in school today. Have a wonderfully blessed day friend.

XOXO Kimberley