Devil's Tower

Do –do –do-do-…do. Did anyone out there guess where we were today? Hint: the music is from a movie… a Steven Spielberg movie. .. “Close encounters of the Third Kind”. We were at Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. Our campground was built on the land where they filmed the movie. In the summer, the campground shows “Close Encounters…” every night. How fun !

We spent the morning at Devil’s Tower and the kids earned their junior ranger badges. My favorite part of the day was these little guys :

Then we headed to Custer, South Dakota where we will be spending the next several days.

See more photos of our time at Devils Tower National Monument in Photo Gallery #2!

Learn more about:

Devils Tower: http://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm

Prairie Dogs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_dog

Running With The Sheep

Ranger Don

Yesterday we returned to Rocky Mountain National Park. The kids received their junior ranger badges, we explored more of the park, we watched a documentary, and we hung out with a cool ranger who helped us identify some scat we saw (turned out to be elk).


The ranger also could tell they were homeschooled; he said there was a difference (he taught in the public schools for 30 years). It was a good difference ;0).

Today we drove through Colorado on our way to Wyoming. We saw Bighorn Sheep! It was so exciting. They were on the side of a mountain near the road. And then they were in the road. Everyone was stopping and taking pictures. Then we pulled back onto the road, and I think they thought we were chasing them, because they took off running. We were running with the sheep. 

We are now in Wyoming. If you want to know exactly where we are, Ted has left a clue on the "Where Are We?" page. Take a guess in the comment section. (And if we already told you, no giving away the answer.)





Be sure to check out more cool photos from our last day at Rocky Mountain National Park in Photo Gallery #2!!!

Rocky Mountain National Park

Yesterday we changed campgrounds and moved to a place right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Since it was Mother’s Day, and mommy needed a rest we hung around the campground and went to dinner at a restaurant called The Other Side. It had a great view of The Rockies and we watched Elk while we were eating dinner. 

It’s a good thing we rested yesterday! Today we went to Rocky Mountain National Park, the kids worked on getting their junior ranger badges and we all went hiking. O.k. I know some of you are snickering (those who know me well) but this was a hike. 1.1 miles down the mountain. It was a gorgeous walk down to Alberta Falls. Let’s just say that on the hike back UP the mountain (remember we were at an elevation of about 9,800 ft.) I wasn't focusing on the scenery. If Ted and I can still walk tomorrow, we plan on going back to the park. 

After our hike, we went to Estes Park and visited a glass shop and watched a demonstration on blowing glass. We ended our day at the old-fashioned penny candy store where we rewarded ourselves for making it back up the mountain.

Learn more about:
Estes Park Colorado: http://www.estesparkcvb.com/
Rocky Mountain-NP: http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
Rocky Mountain-NP Junior Ranger Program: http://www.nps.gov/romo/forkids/beajuniorranger.htm

A Drive Through The Clouds

Yesterday we drove to Vega State Park in Colorado. It was a beautiful drive as we watched the landscape change. On long trips, we usually don’t stay at state parks because they don’t always have water and electric. We had a great site across from the lake with views of the surrounding mountains. 

This morning Ted went fishing (he never gets a chance to go by himself) and the kids and I hung around the campsite. Chris worked on writing a story (it might be more like a book… he’s on page 10 typed) and the girls “helped” him.

We spent the day driving to Denver through the Rocky Mountains and the clouds. Our RV is getting a much deserved rest tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow we’ll still have brakes and a transmission left.

Up the mountain... Now Down the mountain... Now up...
Wheeeeee!

The Arches

Yesterday we spent the day at Arches National Park in Utah; truly amazing. We walked some of the trails (o.k. well not the long ones :o)). There was one called “The Fiery Furnace” and you needed a permit to hike it. We skipped that one. My favorite was the trail to the Sand Dune Arch. You had to walk through these massive rock formations and it was like you entered a secret courtyard. If I had my beach chair, a book, (and minus a couple of kids), it would have been perfect. ;0) Speaking of kids… the kids earned their Junior Ranger badges from The Arches. Now all they want to do is to go to places where they can earn badges. There are over 300 places in the U.S. where kids can earn Junior Ranger badges.

After the park, Ted went to the grocery store and I went to the laundry room with the kids. The kids were really excited because there was a game room next door with air hockey, pool table, chess, and video games.

After our busy day yesterday, we decided to slow down a little today. We went to “A Hole in the Wall”. It is a 5,000 square foot house inside of a “rock” that took 20 years to build. They don’t allow photography so I only have a picture of the outside. It’s only a 12 minute tour, but Ted says it was the longest 12 minutes of his life. 

The Sunset Grill  - High Above Moab, UT

The sun sets over Moab and The Arches

We then went back to the campground to swim and ended our day at The Sunset Grill in Moab - Breathtaking sunset over the rock formations and really good food.















Learn more about:
The Arches: http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm
The Hole: http://theholeintherock.com/house.html
The very interesting history behind
The Sunset Grill: http://www.sunsetgrillmoab.com/history.html

ALSO, Be Sure to Check out The Photo Gallery #2 for more Arches photos as well as updates for Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
(Our blog technical team has acquired the latest MiFi technology so campground WiFi issues will hopefully be a thing of the past!)

Leaving Arizona

We have no wifi here so I'm using the ipad which means no pictures. Sorry...Yesterday we spent our second day at The Grand Canyon. We went on a geological walk with a park ranger and the kids completed their junior ranger badges. We also drove along the desert view route and explored different parts of the rim. We finished our day at The Arizona Room Restaurant and were able to eat dinner and watch the sun set on The Grand Canyon. A perfect ending to our Grand Canyon Adventure. Today we left Arizona and drove to Moab, Utah. The drive was amazing. We saw part of The Painted Forest and drove through Monument Valley. I took tons of pictures so as soon as we get wifi we'll upload them. I don't know why Utah isn't more populated. It's gorgeous! Tomorrow we are going to Arches National Park in Moab. The kids are really excited because they can earn another badge.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is all of the adjectives people use to describe it. It really is breathtaking. But it’s not what I thought it would be. I expected to crest a hill and there it would be. I expected to stand there and commune with nature and hear the wind whistling through the canyon, the birds chirping, and maybe even a little silence.

Five million people visit The Grand Canyon every year. And they were all there today :O). The pictures that I took today, really do not do it justice, and we only saw a fraction of the canyon. The kids worked on their junior ranger badges for The Grand Canyon. They will probably finish them tomorrow.

One of our favorite parts of the day was seeing the elk. We saw at least 20. Most of them we saw in the park, but our favorite ones were the three we saw in town outside of the Mexican restaurant we had dinner at. They have such sweet brown eyes. Traffic was stopped, and everyone was taking pictures.

Tomorrow we plan on seeing some ranger programs and some more of the canyon. We saw a movie today about the canyon and now Katie and Chelsea want to ride the rapids :O). I’ll keep you posted.

Learn more about:
Grand Canyon NP: www.nps.gov/grca
The Arizona Elk: http://www.arizona-leisure.com/arizona-elk.html

Change in Plans

Junior Rangers!

Our original plan was to drive straight to the Grand Canyon. However, after looking through our guidebooks again, I convinced Ted that we couldn’t miss The Painted Desert and The Petrified Forest. So last night we stayed in Holbrook, Arizona and went to The Petrified Wood Company. Although it was a store, it really was more like a museum. They had the most amazing examples of petrified wood (taken from private lands) and lots of rocks, minerals, and fossils. I could have happily spent several hours there (I have a thing about rocks).

The Painted Desert

After seeing all of the petrified wood at the store last night, we were really excited to go to The Petrified Forest. For those of you who may not know what petrified wood is, it is wood that has turned to stone. Really, how cool is that? (I’m sure Ted will put a link for you to learn more about the process). The colors are just amazing. Also inside The Petrified Forest is part of The Painted Desert with beautiful multicolored rock formations. 

Petrified Logs - Everywhere!

We also saw remains of an ancient pueblo from 600-800 years ago and some petroglyphs (ancient drawings on stone).There were also two museums with very helpful rangers. 

Ancient Petroglyphs

Speaking of rangers, the kids completed the national park book for The Petrified Forest and earned their Petrified Forest Badge and were sworn in as junior rangers today.

After we spent the morning at the park, we headed to Grand Canyon Village.

Learn More:

Petrified Forest: http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

Petrified Wood: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrified_wood

Leslie's Favorite Store: http://www.petrifiedwoodco.com/

Sandia Peak

First a Daisy update: Daisy is back at "home" with us. She doesn't need surgery. She is not back to normal yet, so we have to monitor intake and "outtake". That means we (me) have to syringe feed her 4 times a day. Any of you ever syringe feed a bunny with three helpers?

Katie and Chelsea are especially happy to have Daisy back with us. They wanted to spend the day with her, but after we settled Daisy back in her cage in the camper, I thought that Daisy might appreciate some peace and quiet after her ordeal, so we went on the Sandia Peak Arial tramway (the longest tram in the world). I know I ooohed and aaahed over the view from The Gateway Arch, but this was amazing. The tram ride is a 15 minute trip in each direction.

 There was still snow on some parts of the mountain. At the top of the mountain, it was 45 degrees, when we got back to the bottom it was 86 degrees. We were at an elevation of 10,000 feet. At the top we ate lunch at The High Finance Restaurant. Afterwards, we walked around and met a nice older couple who told us about the time they went to dinner at the restaurant and the tram was shut down because of a thunderstorm and high winds. There was a wedding to take place there that night and the groom and groomsmen made it up on the first tram but the bride and bridesmaids were still at the bottom when they closed down the tram. They bussed everyone down the mountain on a service road at 2am. We talked to this couple for awhile and Katie and Chelsea performed a ballet show for them. (no, they do not take ballet lessons :0)

The ride back down in the tram was just as amazing. We were at the front of the tram, it was almost like a roller coaster except slower. We were in sight of the tram station, and we stopped. I looked over at the tram operator and said, “That’s supposed to happen, right?” Nope… Fortunately it was a power outage and it only lasted for a long 5 minutes. Then we were on our way.

Tomorrow we are driving about 440 miles to The Grand Canyon. It is also our 21st wedding anniversary so there will be no post from me tomorrow.
More great views from today in the Photo Gallery #2!

Daisy Update

Daisy spent the day and is spending the night at the animal hospital.  They took x-rays and gave her barium to watch her intestinal tract movement.  By morning we will hopefully be able to take Daisy "home".  She may have a hairball or soft foreign body in her stomach.  We'll keep you updated.