The Road Trip, part 1

Val has just started her four week sabbatical -- the last of these generous breaks, as company policy has changed -- and we're taking advantage of it, hitting the road before Amalie's school year starts in late August.

Day 0 -- Preparation

Today Val went on one of her cleaning binges, while I plowed through dishes and laundry and all the usual. She emptied out the car, vacuumed it, washed it late at night at our nearby do-it-yourself automat. To add to the splashy fun, she took the kids, who had great fun putting in all the quarters.

The dear wife also lugged down from the attic a car roof rack I didn't even remember us having. It fit her old car, a Mitsubishi Mirage, apparently purchased back in the days when biking or kayaking were intended to be routine activities. Off to the rack dealer, where new fittings for a Honda Civic were acquired, and when she came back the rack was mounted (and, in a pinch, can be quickly modified to haul bikes or kayaks, should the need arise). Along with a new roof duffle, we had more cargo space than ever before.

The USS Civic, fully loaded with roof rack and back window sunscreens (blankets for curtains).