19 posts · COVID edition
RV Around the US
A four-month trip abroad got cancelled by COVID, so we rented an RV instead.
Follow along below.
It’s late afternoon on a Friday … the skies in Seattle are grey, the Sounders are playing this weekend … but somehow today feels anything but ordinary. On Monday, we Belfiores hit the road for BIG TRIP 2: AROUND AGAIN.
Today (Sunday) was our last day at home.. we’re packing, cleaning-up, getting our last work done, eating sushi & mexican food (kids request) … and we decided it’d be a fun idea to capture everyone’s thoughts and feelings before we fly out of here tomorrow. Enjoy…
When we left home, we knew we’d need to call some audibles along the way given the COVID-19 situation. And our need to be flexible has started earlier than we would have guessed!
We’re getting plenty of people asking us questions about COVID-19 and our trip… we figured it’s best to just tell the story here… there’s “good news” and “bad news”. (Quotes intended for ironic effect.) First.. the Good News We’ve been having a very nice time in London, where the city is vibrant, active … everything … Continue reading Belfiores-in-Europe vs COVID: 4th-down… punt coming. →
Our visit to London was a rollercoaster. As our first stop, it naturally was difficult– adjusting to the time change, accepting the fact that we were going to be with each other for a long time, starting homeschooling, and all the normal unknowns of traveling. However, this visit came with a slightly unexpected challenge: the … Continue reading London: the beginning or the end? Time to go home. →
I remember waking up one day for school back in November or December and seeing a breaking news article about a new virus that appeared in China. When I read that article, I read it more for its entertainment value, rather than reading it out of real concern. I don’t really like biology that much, … Continue reading Mom has COVID-19. Life quarantined just got more complicated… →
As of today, we’ve been back at home for one whole month. In this blog post I will talk about how the family is dealing with quarantine. What it’s like being at home with your family? Is it annoying? Is it enjoyable? It’s nice to be around family most of the time but sometimes it’s … Continue reading One Month Back at Home. →
Why would a 12 year-old make a phone app?! Unlike most families, we have a family rule where in order to get a phone, you have to make a phone app and get 100 downloads. NO exceptions. I’ve been working and thinking about this app since December 2018, but have been working hard on it … Continue reading I Made A Phone App… Need 100 Downloads →
When we had to abort our 4-month trip to Africa & the Middle East, Joe was crushed — he was so excited for 4 months with family exploring more of the world. Since returning home, he has been brainstorming backup options. His parents used to dream about driving across the US in an RV… something … Continue reading YES! We’re On the Road Again! →
Kristina: “Get the 30′ RV, not the 25′ one… it’ll be more comfortable for all of us to sleep in.” Joe: “Whoa… hang on a second… we’re not really gonna sleep in the RV, are we!? I thought you were pushing for an RV just so we’d have a toilet … (because you said you’re … Continue reading Glacier Nat’l Park: Welcome to the wilderness →
There are many different kinds of wildlife in Yellowstone including, bison, wolves, badgers, elk, bears, birds, squirrels, wolverine, lynx, pronghorns, Meese, mountain lions, coyote, and more. Sometimes, you see them from a distance minding their own business, sometimes you see their young almost drown, and sometimes, very rarely, you see them attacking our own species. … Continue reading Yellowstone Wildlife: America’s Serengeti →
Yellowstone is one of the most geothermally active places the world. We explored many areas in the park featuring geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots. Joe, being the kid at heart that he is, kept wanting to touch the run off at all the geysers and hot springs we visited to test the temperature … Continue reading Yellowstone: Geysers and hot springs and mud pots, oh my! →
Hi, I’m Piper and I am going to be writing Part 1 of “RV life” and Alexander is writing part 2, so you can look forward to reading that as well. I am covering eating, riding in the RV, the pros and cons of riding in the RV, and my thoughts, without holding anything back! … Continue reading RV Life Part I: the Struggles of Living in Close Quarters. →
So far, I have to admit. RV life hasn’t really been what I expected at the beginning of our adventure. It really has had its twists and turns (figuratively and literally) every day. So instead of writing a “typical” blog post, I’m gonna do a Q&A. How do you feel about riding in the RV … Continue reading RV Life Part II: Driving, Sleeping, and the Godawful Stenches that make you Sick →
Yellowstone sprawls. It’s the biggest of our National Parks …. and so I found it ironic that there’s another National Park just outside its borders! When I heard this, my first thought was… “that’s so goofy! Why didn’t they just make Yellowstone a bit bigger and include the Grand Tetons?” But .. ah.. the product … Continue reading Grand Tetons… “Moody Beauty” →
We’ve done a lot of interesting things all around Utah’s rocks including Via Ferratas, an off-roading jeep tour, and exploring the amazing towers of Goblin Valley state park. We enjoyed great views of rock formations and canyons and got to experience their beauty first hand while climbing all over them…. and sometimes even jumping off! … Continue reading Utah Rocks! →
Today I am going to be talking about some of the hikes and beautiful sites we saw in Utah (essentially the worst parts of our trip). I will talk about the Delicate Arch, the Double Arch, Mesa Arch and the sunset, and the Little Wild Horse slot canyon. Arches National Park: Delicate Arch
We knew we’d end our RV adventure in Colorado — our rig was due to be returned on July 8 in Denver. We also knew there were a couple friends we wanted to visit near Boulder but we weren’t sure how much time we’d have. A couple days before departing Utah, we booked a rental … Continue reading Loving Colorado, saying ‘Goodbye RV!’ →
I recommend you avoid United Airlines. I mean our flight to Florida was so packed it might’ve just been a “normal” flight if everyone wasn’t wearing masks. And I’m not talking about the “normal” of COVID-19 flying… no I’m talking about what was normal six months ago. I was hoping nobody would sit in the … Continue reading Air Travel in the Age of COVID-19: Puerto Rico, Diving and Puppies →