Vosslings Adventure Book: Ramsey IL

Day 28 HOMEWARD BOUND

Day 28

Homeward Bound

July 5, 2015

Today is a bittersweet day for us. This was the last leg of our journey. We were HOMEWARD BOUND! Josh and I decided to let Chandler get some student driving in because the reason we needed to get home was due to his student driving course set to start on Tuesday for the month of July. What better time than the present to put in a 3 hour drive home. It was time to leave the reunion and we made it back to Ramsey after an hours drive from my parents just as family was departing the reunion. We were able to get in our goodbyes and sent our love to all as they drove off to their next adventure. Many people asked about our travels and we spent much of the reunion laughing and reminiscing about our trip. The younger college age cousins were very inquisitive and I presume there will be travel in their future. It was a successful reunion. There were just over 82 people there. It was so wonderful to visit with everyone. There never is enough time to sit and converse with each person but there is certainly something very special about seeing their beautiful face and watching them interact with their loved ones. The power of presence.

We shoved off at 12pm. Josh took Colin, Charlie and co-pilot Carmen in his vessel while I shot gunned in my car with Chandler, our student driver, behind the wheel. Chandler did an amazing job. I only fought back an explosive scream once (hehe), impressive if I do say so. He will do great with his driving instructor.

On the quiet ride home, I was able to reflect and soak up all the joy I felt in my heart. We have covered over 4000 miles in 28 days and visited 14 states. I got to see parts of this beautiful USA I never thought I would see in my lifetime. There was bonding and laughter and memories abundant. This was indeed the trip of a lifetime. It ended so very bittersweet with family to help us relive the adventure. We covered so much ground and saw so many things. The photos and notes taken along the way is what's going to keep this last month alive. I hope in the many many years to come my children will look back and be able to tell their children and grand children that it was a trip they will never forget and they too should pack a bag and head out on this very adventure. There is no time to get caught up in planning, just tell the world you' re on your way, pack a bag and go.
That's what the Voss Family did.

Day 26 Park it in Ramsey

Day 26

Park it in Ramsey

July 3, 2015

Today we had to pack everything up after sleeping in the RV in the driveway at the machine shed at the Family Farm. We needed to get it hooked back up to power instead of running the generator. We made arrangements to stay at the local Ramsey State Park. Josh had to watch the kids, prep for his day at the reunion as well as pack up the RV to move it. I had a wedding shower and baby shower to attend for 2 lovely ladies. I had a wonderful time visiting with all the wonderful Aunts and Cousins at the double shower. Time got away from us and Josh and I were down to the wire when it came to moving the RV and rushing back in time for the family photo and lunch. Off we went...

The Park was beautiful and full of Forth of July Campers. There were kids all over the park riding bikes, playing games, playing on the playground and even made a makeshift lemonade stand. It was the most festive park we have been to yet. Everyone there was gearing up for a pretty awesome 4th of July celebration. After we wiggled our way into our camping spot, we ran back to the reunion in time for lunch but unfortunately we missed the family picture.

Later we did some fishing, ceramic art, games, pogo stick contest and many other activities. Tonight was the big night for Fireworks. We took a 20 minute drive to the next town over called Pana. They have a great Firework show for the 4th of July. We all arrived at the Pana Park where we played at the playground, played frisbee and chatted amongst ourselves while eating sack lunches waiting for dusk. As dark was upon us, we drove over to a family friends house where we packed their back yard for a spectacular firework show. It was a blessed day.

(Uncle)Grandpa and grandson fishing

Pogo Stick contest

ceramics

Wedding shower

cousin time

double trouble

Day 25 HERITAGE DAYS

Day 25

Heritage Days 2015

Depart- Lawton, Oklahoma
Destination- Ramsey, Illinois
670 miles and 10 hours

July 2, 2015

We had a very busy day ahead. We had come to realize the Voss family reunion starts TODAY! My planning was a day behind. The only location we had to skip was our stay in Joplin, Missouri. A few years ago we took a trip to visit Grandma in Oklahoma and stopped for the night in Joplin, Missouri just after the tornado had ripped through town. We vividly remember the experience of driving through the devastation. It would have been a nice trip to go through there a few years later and compare the rebuild. I hope we get the opportunity at another time. We departed Lawton, OK at 6am in the middle of a rain storm. Josh was soaked after closing up the RV so we can get on the road, it was dark and wet and not the best start to our day. We had a good 10 hour drive ahead of us to arrive at the Family Reunion in time to hitch a ride on the firetruck in route for ice cream at Dairy Dee.

When we pulled into Ramsey, IL., we were ahead of schedule and really excited to set up camp at the WJLY Radio Station. As we pulled onto the lawn, the front tires sank into the ground, Josh stopped immediately. We were STUCK! We drove over 4000 miles and got stuck on the last leg of our trip. It was a bit of a fiasco but thankfully we were at the farm with family and were able to get immediate assistance. First we tried to pull it out with Dad's truck. It was unsuccessful. Then we tried to pull it out with a tractor, the tires just spun until there were spin out holes in the gravel drive. Lastly, we used 2 tractors to pull the RV until it started to roll back. SUCCESS! We had a good laugh at this. I'm just thankful we had access to equipment and a few family farmers to pull us out!

After we got ourselves out of the front yard, we drove up to the machine shed to park for the night. We were so happy to have made it to the reunion in time for dinner and the traditional firetruck ride to Dairy Dee for ice cream. When the firetrucks got back to the machine shed, Josh and his dad tired unsuccessfully to find us power for the night, the generator would have to do. We had a slumber party in the driveway. So be it!