- What car activity are you most looking forward to?
z: I am most looking forward to audiobooks and playing car games like rubberneckers with Ellie.
Z: When driving singing along with the Road Trip playlist. I think I might be the only family member who sings along to every song, but that’s really the only entertainment available when driving, so what other choice is there? When riding, playing phone games, there are a few that I look forward to playing in the car since they don’t require internet and that’s The only time I play them. I’m looking at you Bloons TD5 and Guild of Dungeoneering.
e: Annoying my family.
M: Sleeping. It’s been a really long couple of months and I’m looking forward to those car naps.
- What is the strangest thing we bought for this year’s trip?
z: Camping toilet paper – it seems unnecessary, I’m planning on using leaves.
Z: The ResQLink. It seems kind of weird to spend $250 on an item that from the moment of purchase on you are strongly hoping you’ll never actually use.
e: The poop emoji stickers because we’re counting farts, not poops.
M: Poop bags, ewww
- Who’s going to throw up the most?
z: Mom
Z: I think the only person to have ever thrown up is Molly, I don’t see that changing this trip.
e: Mama
M: Me
- Where are you most excited to visit?
z: I’m excited for different reasons. Brown vs Board of Ed because I’m going to learn a lot. Mesa Verde because it’s history and very interesting. Kimptons because they’re luxurious.
Z: There are so many cool places we’ll be it is super hard to pick. Right now I think Bandolier because it’ll be our first backpacking trip of the trip.
e: Arches because it’s exciting.
M: I have a hard time predicting the unknown so I’m going to go with the Berry’s house.
- What will you miss the most?
z: All my neighbors, playing outside, BBQ’s, roof parties (shout out to Michelle and Abe).
Z: The same stuff as Zoe, they biggest trade-off of being gone is that we miss the neighborhood summer fun.
e: Barbecues with the neighbors.
M: Obviously we live on the best block every so I’m going to miss the neighborhood fun too.
- Who will fart the most?
z: Ellie
Z: This will be close between Ellie and Molly.
e: Zoe
M: Ellie will fart the most, but I will claim more of mine making my tally higher.
- What are you most excited to eat on the road trip that you can’t eat at home?
z: Little Debbies, especially the star crunch.
Z: Although we have beer at home I’m looking forward to trying many new local ones. Also Cheetos and tacos from the many taco joints in the Southwest.
e: Hummus at The Spoke.
M: Local cuisine.
- What are you most scared about?
z: Rain and lightning while we’re camping, also dehydrating.
Z: The heat.
e: I’m most afraid of Zoe yelling at me.
M: Bear attacks, flash floods, death ledges.
- What makes Ellie the best person in the family?
z: When she falls asleep.
Z: Her limitless self-confidence.
e: That I’m an amazing princess. And I’m the best.
M: That she has such high self-pride that she would make us answer this question.
- What are your feeling on camping vs backpacking this summer?
z: I like backpacking better because if we’re going to camp it might as well be pretty.
Z: I agree with Z, I also like that we’re alone.
e: I agree with z and Z. I want to see wild animals while I poop.
M: I’ll just say I’m looking forward to the Kimptons.
- How many timeouts will everyone get in the car?
| Zoe | Zak | Ellie | Molly | |
| Zoe’s Prediction | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Zak’s Prediction | 10 | 6 (all whistling related) | 10 | 0 |
| Ellie’s Prediction | 1,362 | 5 | 0 | 156 |
| Molly’s Prediction | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Will we get attacked by a bear?
z: No
Z: No
e: No
M:I’m scared it’s likely.
- What from home are you most excited to get away from?
z: Cleaning.
Z: The heat (although that’s also what I’m most worried about) at least we’ll have A/C some of the time.
e: Not being so close to Zoe.
M: First, I’m questioning Ellie’s response knowing that she and Zoe will be closer when they’re home for 24 hours per day for 46 days. I’m looking forward to not having the responsibilities of cleaning, laundry, making beds, and all those other cumbersome tasks.
- How many times will you say “How much longer” in the car?
z: I think a lot, 75 times.
Z:The answer better be zero for everyone.
e: I’m guessing about 100.
M: 97
- Will we actually get to the top of my Elbert?
z: Yes
Z: Whether we do or not I hope everyone enjoys whatever part of the hike we do finish.
e: Yes
M: Well, I got winded going up a set of stairs the other day, so I’m a little nervous.
- How many Taylor swift songs will we hear?
z: 30
Z: Her new album doesn’t seem to have produced any big singles, so I’m going low – 20
e: Since Zoe stole my number of 30, I’m going to going to go with 29.
M: 73
- How many comments will Zoe have on her hair?
z: Too many. I don’t understand why so many people think my hair is so cool, I was just born with it. 40.
Z: 92
e: 1. My hair is way better.
M: 53
- What will our surprises be for saying the Kimpton social password?
z: Wine and more wine and maybe a free movie or upgrade.
Z: Fingers crossed for free parking.
e: Wine. Mommy and Daddy get a lot of it.
M: I’d be grateful for anything. Just being at a Kimpton is special enough.
- How many tacos will we have?
z: Too many.
Z: Oh god, I hope a lot. Whatever the number is, it won’t be enough.
e: 15
M: I have no idea, but I hope we get lots of good guacamole with them!
- Will Grandys live up to its expectations?
z: I have no expectations. I’m planning on eating beef jerky for dinner that night.
Z: My expectation is that we’ll go in, buy a four piece gizzard, take some selfies, and tweet them to Brian Thompson. I’m expecting it to meet my expectations exactly, no more, no less.
e: No. My expectations are high.
M: The livers sound intriguing, but I just wish they had pizza. Maybe they did and one point. I wonder whatever happened to the pizza at Grandy’s.
- Who will get the most speeding tickets?
z: Well, dad got one last time, so I guess it is mom’s turn. I think they are both qualified to get one.
Z: I planning on driving five miles under the speed limit this year, which only leaves Molly as an option this year.
e: Mama
M: Definitely Ellie.
- Who will have the most injuries?
z: I’m going to overreact for the most minor injuries.
Z: Zoe always seems to have injury right before bedtime.
e: Zoe because she is always crying before bed and throughout the day.
M: Ellie is the most daring, but Zoe seems to make mountains out of molehills, so I’m going with Zoe.
- Who will have the most severe injury?
z: Mom, she’ll probably fall off the side of a mountain or something.
Z: I hope no one. We have avoided all major injuries so far and there is no reason to start getting them now.
e: No one.
M: No one.
- Will Zak clip his fingernails anywhere other than the Kimptons?
z: Yeah, he seems to clip his fingernails at every hotel.
Z: The Kimptons aren’t spaced out very well on this trip, so sadly I think I’ll be forced to.
e: He is going to clip them other places than Kimptons.
M: I have only ever seen him cut them at Kimptons, so I have no reason to believe this year will be different.
- Who’s the best ranger we will see?
z: Ranger Mike
Z: Ranger Mike because we have gotten to know him and I’m excited to see and hike with him again. We’ve also met a ton of other amazing rangers along the way and I’m excited to meet more this year.
e: Ranger Mike because he is very special. He helped me with my Genius Hour project on how arches form by giving me research. Also, he gave me my Ranger hat and it means a lot.
M: Of course, Ranger Mike, I can’t wait to reconnect with him at Arches.
- Who will read/listen to the most books?
z: I will, that’s one of my favorite activities to do in the car.
Z: Molly goes through one a day, so it’s got to be her.
e: Zoe
M: Zoe, but only because her books are shorter than mine.
- How many regional loyalty grocery store and gas station cards will we acquire.
z: Two, one in the Southwest and one in Mountain States.
Z: We already have a City Market card so that’ll get us through Colorado and Utah. I’m not sure where people get groceries in Arizona or New Mexico, so maybe one more?
e: One
M: All of them
- What are you most looking forward to?
z: I’m most looking forward to bonding with my family, going on hikes, and meeting new people.
Z: Spending time getting to better know our family. These six weeks are usually the happiest of the year, I can’t wait to get them started!
e: Hiking because we only get to do it in the summer.
M: Being witness to us all growing emotionally and growing stronger.