A family, an RV and an open road

By ALINE MENDELSOHN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2000

The Bunburys of St. Petersburg are in the midst of a five-week jaunt across the country, with no particular plan in mind except to see and to learn.

ST. PETERSBURG -- For years, Elizabeth and Brian Bunbury envisioned their dream vacation: One summer, they would rent a motor home and cross the country with no set itinerary, just a goal of experiencing as much as possible.

It was one of those vague plans for the future, something they would do after the kids left for college, when Elizabeth and Brian retired.

But the future is now.

With her job as an art teacher at St. Paul Catholic School and his construction business, their summer schedule allowed for an extended vacation. And 13-year-old Tom, 10-year-old Hannah and 8-year-old Mack all had the long summer break from St. Paul, in St. Petersburg.

So, after months of saving money, about two weeks ago the Bunburys jumped on a rented recreational vehicle and began their five-week trek across the country.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime vacation," Elizabeth said before the family left. "The kids will probably never forget it, and we won't either -- and we probably will never be able to do it again."

The Bunburys were not certain where they would end up after their first and only planned destination, the Grand Canyon. After the long drive through the Southwest and a brief visit to Sedona, Ariz., they spent several days at the Canyon's North Rim in mid-June.

By postcard later from Mesa Verde, Colo., Elizabeth wrote: "If you ever get the chance for a trip like this, TAKE IT! What an amazing country we live in."

Who knows where the family might be right now? The road is theirs, and so is a travel guide detailing 2,000 "must-see" American attractions: Hoover Dam, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, the Continental Divide, Mount Rushmore, Zion National Park. . . .

Before they return to Florida, they might venture as far north as Canada and Maine.

"It's more fun not to know where we're going," Elizabeth said. "Wherever we decide to go, we'll go. And if we don't like something, we can move on."

After about 45 minutes of loading on the day of departure, 8-year-old Mack Bunbury flopped on a couch in the RV and asked his mom Elizabeth, at right, “How long before we leave?”

They eliminated the worry about finding motels and restaurants every night, though at a price: For $1,100 a week, the Bunburys rented a 37-foot luxury RV, furnished with a kitchen, a washer and dryer, a double bed, two pull-out couches and a television. The most important feature? The bathroom.

"This way, we don't have to stop every 20 minutes to go to the bathroom," said Brian, who is doing most of the driving.

Added Elizabeth: "When I was a kid and we went on vacations, my dad would only stop for the bathroom when we stopped for gas. We're not going to have that problem."

The trip is a real adventure for Tom, Hannah and Mack, whose other vacations have consisted of visiting family in Maine, New Jersey and Wisconsin. These beach-bred Floridians have had few opportunities to explore mountains. That is changing.

The day before they left, the Bunbury kids were filled with adrenalin, excited about their special vacation. The three agreed that they most looked forward to seeing the Grand Canyon.

Their parents, who have arranged for house sitters, hope the trip will provide an educational experience for the children. Every night, each Bunbury writes in his or her journal and sends at least one postcard to a friend or family member. They are also working on putting together their photo albums. They took just six rolls of film with them but plan to buy many more along the way.

During the long drives, the kids are not allowed to just watch TV and play games. They are catching up on their summer reading: Mack likes the Boxcar Children series, Hannah prefers Harry Potter and Tom enjoys Dean Koontz.

The lone teenager, Tom intended to be engrossed in his books for the entire trip. And in the event that a sibling annoys him, he noted, he planned to retreat into his music: He took about 15 CDs, including Everclear and Matchbox 20.

Even though the kids are out of school for the summer, they have homework assignments, not from their teachers but from Mom and Dad. Mack isn't too happy about this idea. When his mom mentioned his math book, he faked a gag.

Before they left, mom Elizabeth still had not given up the plan for another long trip during the couple's retirement.

"This could be a dry run, to see if we like it," she said.

Though their RV is relatively spacious and luxurious, it is possible that the five Bunburys might get on each others' nerves at times.

Dad Brian shrugged that off, saying, "We live together already." But he conceded with a laugh, "I think we might not be talking to each other for a few days when we come home."

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