The best vacation ever (part 1: getting going)

I just recently got back from the best vacation ever. It was full of adventure and challenges!
It all started Monday July 26th the day before our vacation started. We learned the brake booster was out in our van and it would be 3 to 5 days before they could get the part. We decided the vacation must go on and looked into renting a car. After seeing what it costs to rent a car for 12 days we decided that was not an option. We decided my 2 door Jeep Wrangler was going to have to work. We down sized all of our bags and a family of 4 lived out of 2 suitcases and a cosmetic bag for 12 days. The Jeep doesn't have much room left after you put 4 people in it. Monday night I got new tires for the Jeep and it looked like all was going to work out. Its was pretty easy to pack our 3 bags and hit the road on Tuesday as soon as I got off work. California or bust was the plan.
Tuesday I got off work early and we headed out of town by noon headed for our first stop in palm springs.
To be continued.....