We never stopped. Except for that time or two in traffic, which lived more up to its reputation after our first weekend of easy navigation. Traffic isn’t impossible to get through, but it does take a lot of focus and energy. After several days of doing the drive into DC (13 miles from our wooded campground), we were ready to call it good. Fun while it lasted (our energy), we accomplished several important stops: National Mall, Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Smithsonian American Heritage Museum, Spy Museum store, Fords Theater, US Capitol, White House from the South lawn & the visitors center, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Holocaust Museum, Old Post Office Tower, and awesome curbside visits of the impressive Justice building, IRS complex, Supreme Court, National Archives, and on and on- all significant buildings that stretch an entire block in some cases. It was not time that limited us on what we were able to see, but a serious case of information overload. In the last 10 months, we have stopped at, seen and experienced an enormous number of new sights.

One of our fun campground projects was replacing the house batteries that were installed when we bought the bus, and we didn't know how long they had been in place before we got it- and they were struggling to keep up with our demands on electric. I tricked Trevor into helping take out the old ones and install new batteries with me- they weighed 162 pounds each! Good news for Trevor, the skate shop he wanted to visit was next door to the battery shop in Annapolis, MD.

We have taken time to learn about everything from 5” banana slugs on the side of the road at Cannon Beach, Oregon to the currency monetization process at the Bureau of Printing & Engraving in Fort Worth, Texas - and everything in between. We have taken on so much info that I believe our sponges are full. You’re right! Learning never ends, however, everything in moderation. We have not taken it in in moderation, and we are feeling the effects of that strange problem more and more each day: “Who wants to go see the Liberty Bell?” (no hands are raised) “Who wants to stay at the campground and play with the Lundy kids?” (all hands go up, except Trevor & Lauren, who are happy watching a movie in their bunks). There you have it: Information Overload.

This is a typical sight in about any campground we have visited. In this case, we heard from Bob about his military service aboard a nuclear submarine, and he demonstrated a cool hillbilly record player for us that he had picked up. It worked just like Edison's early Cylinder Phonograph- but it played aluminum soda cans! The guy that built this player had one that could record onto the can. We are almost intrigued enough to try to build our own. Almost. In a campground you can talk to just about anyone about anything. Step go outside and take a walk and say hello- and you're on your way. Just don't take that walk if you're short on time.

I’ve said it before, but I’ve failed at implementing the policy of only stopping at ‘important’ things. There’s too much to see, and our time is now!

When new friends ask what we’ll do for vacations after ourBigtrip? …we worry that there may be no vacation to beat this experience, although a trip to see family is always fun, or perhaps a trip to just one location would suffice. Maybe it will be a series of staycations at our comfortable home in Colorado now that we appreciate how good things are there, and that the grass isn’t too much greener on the other side of the fence. It has been nice to have missed the snow and wind that accompany the off season in our community (!).

Simon and Henry and Matt (www.lundy5.com) prepare to start their race around the campground loop. Prizes for all, organized by Anya and Lizzy (Lundy). The Lundys are full timers, and promised to visit us in Colorado when they were passing through.

We are beginning to make some transitions for our return back to ‘real life’. Trevor advertised and sold his surfboard, realizing that we were almost headed West- and the value of a board in Colorado might not be what it would be near the coast… I am formulating a plan to offer the bus for sale (call now and beat the crowds!). More and more we will see the return of our previous life take over what has been a dream come true, although we still have plenty of time to take advantage of this opportunity to be a family on the road.

Our rough itinerary is to continue North to New York, then take a left and begin the final leg toward Colorado with stops to see family and probably a few more historical, and comical attractions- which may also describe the family stops…