SLEEP WHERE? SAY WHAT?

We interrupt the normally scheduled blog post to bring you this crucial update on overnight accommodations.

So yes, one of the many benefits of driving a house on wheels is that in theory it allows you the freedom to pull the tin can over and sleep anywhere, right? If you’ve read any of the past blogs, you might be slightly familiar with the fact that I don’t actually prefer sleeping in parking lots, ie. Walmarts, etc… I know call me crazy and a true glamper! I don’t deny the fact – self admitting that right now! It possibly could have something to do with having small children aboard that can’t protect themselves, strange places, strange people, safety, lighting, security, safety, small children, and if the weather is warm normally the driver wants to sleep with the windows open/cracked – YA NO NOTTA NOT HAPPENING! Not a flying chance! Any questions? Didn’t think so! Okay now that we have that out of the way – back to the topic at hand. Our in-between stop before our next destination landed us in Little Rock, Arkansas. We did not have reservations at an RV park anywhere (odd for this trip) so it was a bit of fly by the seat of our pants. Actually, that’s not true, the driver ‘thought’ we could just Walmart-it for ONE night. Hmmm……… Ya – about that!?!? Honestly, the conversation probably went something like this….

DRIVER – "If you want to find us a place to stay tonight, you can do that, otherwise I’m just heading to the Walmart."

CO-PILOT – "Oh okay, so I should get on that now!"

By the time, I got on the horn and tried to get us a reservation anywhere, everything was already closed and it was obvious by their after-hours message or website that their entrances had gates. That means there is no pulling in late at night, finding a spot and doing necessary paperwork/payment in the morning. I’m sure the gates were just an aesthetic thing, and had nothing to do with safety, right?

{SPOILER ALERT}…. If you are out of time and want the end of the story now, here it is. We stayed at a Cracker Barrel and lived to tell about it (barely).

Sadly, I had to admit defeat in this round. It was dark, late and we were all tired and looking forward to bed. ☹ I’m not determined at all normally {insert sarcasm} but I had to give it up this time. And so to the W-mart we drove. I gave the driver the route and turns necessary to pull us into the superstore. (My co-piloting skills might be judged in a future episode but for now, I still have a job.) Normally, we see at least one or two other tin cans, not real ones, driving ones, but this evening, not a one in the superstore parking lot. Hmmmm………… we’d check the list (yes, there is a real list) and overnight stays were permitted at this W-mart, so that’s not the issue. We drove around the parking lot a few times to make sure we weren’t missing ‘the spot.’ I believe we even passed a security car vehicle {that can go one of 2 ways…. feel comfortable they are there or wonder why they HAVE to be there}. At least, the driver and I were both a little uncertain about our night luxurious accommodations. 

So out of the parking lot he drove and only then did we see a Cracker Barrel across the street. Not so much on this trip, but on past road trips, Cracker Barrel, has been a staple food stop. I mean Cracker Barrel is a family restaurant, right? It attracts only wholesome and upright clientele, right? Just go with me here, I need all the convincing I can get. So I did a quick search and read online that others have boondocked at Cracker Barrels before. They normally have RV/bus parking, which is nice. But some sites suggested just checking in with the manager beforehand. We pulled in and found a spot…. That’s a whole ‘nother rabbit trail – do you want the spot by the big annoying parking lot light for safety or do you want a different spot more in the dark away from said annoying light so sleep is more comfortable? What do you think I urged the driver towards? Well yes, of course, the annoying bright parking lot spot – DUH!!! It does help that I go to sleep in the blink of an eye. The driver put on his nice innocent homeschool father face and went in to speak with the manager about our overnight proposition. He probably had at least 2 minions following him in also, you know, just to help the character development of ‘innocent homeschool father.’ I attempted to get the others ready for bed and driver returned with positive news. 

Obviously, tonight was NOT going to include putting the slide out. I mean a get-away tin can doesn’t have that kind of time. You just gotta get up and go, if necessary! There was one other tin can parked in the parking lot with us all night so that did make me slightly more comfortable, to say the least. There’s a possibility that I did some undercover surveillance work out my small bedroom window as some employees were exiting the back door of the restaurant. But trust me, I was extremely inconspicuous and sly. 😉  Because you know, by this time, the ant crossing the street could have been part of the illustrious plan to harm us.

Our initial plan was to get up and go into eat breakfast with everyone. However, we did want to get on the road and attempt to arrive at our night’s destination while it was still light. And when we got up to leave, all the chitlins were still fast asleep, so it would’ve meant waking them up and dragging them in half asleep. As much as we would’ve liked breakfast, the quiet solitude of morning driving while everyone is still in dreamland, is a sweet peaceful start to a day. So we opted for plan B and just got on the road. The chances of us patronizing another CB on this trip multiple times as a thank you for the overnight stay, was strong, so we ‘checked out’ and said farewell to Cracker Barrel. They were good to us and we appreciated the parking spot.

Phew – possible news story averted...

{“Homeschool Family of 6 on Cross Country Trip Accosted by Gargantuan Orangutan in Cracker Barrel Parking Lot”}

Thanks for being concerned for our safety and coming along on this rabbit trail.

Now back to our normally scheduled posts!