Thursday, June 29, 2017

Finally Arriving in Yellowstone.

We left Jackson Hole around 9 on Tuesday and anticipated a two and a half hour drive to West Yellowstone.  Oh my, that was not what was going to happen.  We turned onto the highway and right
away saw a sign that vehicles over 6000 lbs were banned because of construction.  I called the RV rental company and sure enough we were well over 6000 lb so we had to go with plan B which meant a 3 and a half hour trip.  The first 50 or so miles were amazing.  We drove along the Snake River which ran in a canyon and another river until we reached the flat land of Idaho.  We did add another state for the kids and we saw potatoes growing.  We finally arrived here at 1:00 in the middle of a huge thunderstorm.  Thankfully it was short lived.  At 2:00 they came and brought the rental van and then we had to decide what to do for the rest of the day.  We all decided it was going to be a trip to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  There job is to rescue Grizzlies, wolves and Raptors that have either been injured or causing a problem.  A great place for sure.  Everyone loved it and the rain held off.  Of course every great place has a gift shop so we had to get a few things.

Sam the biggest Grizzly



Bald Eagles


Fun with the gift shop bear.

After the Grizzly center, I dropped the kids off the check out the four blocks of downtown West Yellowstone and I went to do laundry.  There was sure plenty to do.   I fixed some dinner of Spaghetti and meatballs and then we had a few card games before the day was done.  

Again, I am sorry to be behind but I will continue to try to catch up.  Check back.


Wednesday, June 28, 2017

A Day in Grand Teton

Well, I will once more try to catch up some.  Monday we made it to Grand Teton.  It was a bit crazy as it seems often we have unexpected road work but we finally made it.  We had our first buffalo sightings and then drove to Jenny Lake for the beautiful view that is so famous.  Well, the problem was that we were not able to go to it easily as they were improving the area so we walked about a mile or more to get there.  Great little hike after leaving Ralph behind to watch people at the Visitor Center.  As the kids said, it was worth the walk.  Of course as they went down a steep slope to the lake, there were horse flies that completely freaked them out but made me laugh.  Such fun with these four.

The sun made it hard for Lucy to see.


Riley took most of the photos I am posting today.  He does a great job!!!


Hiking to Jenny Lake.


Just having fun together!!


Not the best shot but Riley hurrying away from the horse flies


Mia Brave enough to stay for the photo


This scene is why we made the hike.  Amazing
After leaving Jenny Lake we drove into Jackson Hole and had dinner which was pizza and pasta
from Pizza Hut delivered right to the door of our camper.  Our campsite was right in town and not really that nice even though it was the most expensive.  After dinner we decided to go into town via the shuttle.  That never happened so we just walked.  We had our photo taken in front of the arch made of elk horns and ate some ice cream and then decided that we were all pretty tired and did not want to walk 1.5 miles home so we would again look for the shuttle.  We never found it so we just walked.  That made a total of 6 miles for all of us.  They sure went to sleep quickly.



I think it is nearly midnight which is my bewitching hour so I will sign off but keep checking back as we continue the adventure.

An Unexpected Stop

As we were driving on Monday after leaving for Douglas and heading to the Grand Tetons,  I happened to see this sign.  What could resist.  We had been traveling through high prairie, with grasslands and antelope and then this.  Of course we stopped.

What an amazing place.  A deep gorge with many different formations.  The kids really liked it so that made Ralph and I so happy.  A great time to hop out and see another little slice of the USA.


Lucy was having trouble with the sun but is wearing her new necklace she bought.  Riley was off somewhere pointing the camera.  He takes great pics.

More from Monday later.  The laundry is done and I am on my way to fry some bacon for breakfast. 




Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Finally Wifi


I now have figured out that the hotspot of my phone will allow me to publish.  I am leaving McDonalds and will finish tonight.  Until them, the adventure continues.

The photographers


The view from the top at Scottsbluff


On a hike to another vista.


Enjoying the sights and reading the info.



Sometimes we are just silly.

After a great day, we drove to a small town called Douglas, 
Wy where we spent the night at a KOA.  A wonderful campground.  The kids had fun on the playground (yes they are not too old) and played mini golf while I fixed dinner.  After dinner the kids played some more and then we ended the day with our devotional.  Pop and I shared some of our favorite verses and why and then we sang a song and thought we would end then but the singing continued.  If I figure out how to do it, I will post the video of Father Abraham.  So much fun to watch the four of them just enjoying each other.
Well it is 1:00 am so I will have to do more catch up tomorrow.   I played Dutch Blitz with the kids way too long.  Tomorrow they will be sleeping in until 10:00 am and then off to Yellowstone at 11:00 or whenever it happens.  More adventures tomorrow now that the wifi issue is solve.


Driving Day and Oregon Trail Day

Yesterday was a long driving day but that was ok.  The kids are great travelers and always seem to be either doing something on their phones or bantering back and forth about something.  It is great just to listen to them.  We camped in North Platte Nebraska and enjoyed a dinner of chicken and noodles. That sure disappeared quickly.
Today, after a good breakfast, we headed out with our first destination in our mind.  We arrived at Chimney Rock, which was a landmark along the Oregon Trail.  We all watched a short film, looked at the little museum and then took lots of photos.
As you know by now, this post was from several days ago.  Weak service at campgrounds would not let me download anything so now I will catch up.  So here come the photos from Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff.
Well once more, I have failed at finding wifi.  I will try my hotspot since Mc Donald's failed.  Until then.  Keep checking back for photos and I will keep trying.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Day of Many States

After an early start, and a stop at McDonald's for breakfast, we were off.  During a long day of driving, there was singing, music playing, lots of laughter, many made up rap songs, a few games played and many snacks eaten.  What fun these four are!!
After Tennessee we drove through Kentucky

Then Illinois and stopped near Metropolis the home of Superman.





Then one of my favorite times of the day is Door Prize Time.

Then finally camping in Columbia Missouri.  A nice dinner outside and fun times for the kids ended our first day.  As always, stay tuned to share our big adventure.





Monday, June 19, 2017

Dance Recital and more in Austin

It is always good to be with children and grandchildren.  The dance recitals on Friday and Saturday evenings were amazing.  Of course why wouldn't they be if Mia and Isabella are dancing.


On Sunday evening dance continued as the Mia tried to give me dance instruction in Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap and finally Modern Line Dance.  She worked really hard but after an hour and a half finally gave up.  Of course there were many laughs as I tried hard and failed each and every one.
Sunday morning we went to church with Mike and Shannon and heard a wonderful sermon and then even though it was father's day, Mike cooked both lunch and dinner with some help from Shannon.  Delicious!!!!!!  Game night followed dinner and that was so much fun.  One of the interesting sightings while we were here was a Little Screech Owl that decided that front porch above the door was his place to roost.  What an interesting little bird but when dark came he was gone.


Today, packing continued for the girls and we will depart early in the morning to come back to TN, pick up the RV in Franklin and get it ready to leave on Friday morning.  Stay tuned for the adventures to continue.  Until then, pray that we have safe travels as we make all these memories.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Arrival in Texas

We spent yesterday driving the rest of the Trace.  I must say that after so many miles at 50 and little scenery except trees, we were ready to be on other roads.  Of course, it was on our bucket list but now we never need to do it again.  The history was great, especially the parts about the Chickasaw Indians and the tribes who built the amazing Mounds.  We did have a really cool sighting near the end of the trace when we saw white pelicans on a huge reservoir.


After an overnight we were off this morning to head to Texas.  We arrived in Kemah, Tx which is right on Galveston Bay and visited with Marcia, Les and their family and finally were introduced to our new great niece Ella Grace as well as seeing Harper a three year old great niece.   Sweet Sweet.  It was a wonderful afternoon and now we will rest and head to Austin in the morning.  Dance Recital Weekend.  That is always great fun for us

Check back soon for the Dance Recital pictures of Isabella and Mia

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

First Day on Natchez Trace

Today was the beginning of the trip before the trip.  We left early and arrived at the Natchez Trace around 10:30 am.  What a beautiful drive even though you can only travel 50 mph.  We saw several sections of the old Trace that dates way back but had its earliest usage in the early 1800''s before steamship travel left it almost abandoned.
We also saw a memorial at the site where Merriweather Lewis died.

Lunch was a picnic at a quiet spot near a small creek.

We ended our day at the visitor center near Tupelo, Mississippi.  Of course we got into Tupelo too late to visit Elvis's museum and go inside his birthplace but we did go to the grounds and took a few photos. Elvis sure came from some humble beginnings.  Tomorrow we will get back on the Trace going south.

Friday, June 9, 2017

Gathering All the Stuff



Well I just had to add a photo of something at the ultimate destination.  But as I look at the photo of Old Faithful, I am really very busy with prep work.  Ralph and I are renting a 32 ft. class C RV so I am trying to anticipate what we will need to live in this traveling home for two weeks.  The lists are ongoing and now I am putting some checkmarks on the lists as I gather the things and set them on the dining room table and on a bed in the spare room.  It is food, binoculars, snacks, drinks, sheets, pillows, pots, pans and much much more.  Really if one did not know what I was doing, it would look like a big mess!!!  My deadline for this prep is next Tuesday as we leave on Wednesday for the "trip before the TRIP".  We will be traveling to Texas to be introduced to a new great niece in Kemah, TX and then on to Austin for dance recitals with Isabella and Mia as our stars of the show.  We will bring the Texas girls back with us and pick up the RV in Franklin, TN on our way through.  At home for one day, we will pack it up, await the arrival of Riley and Lucy from Virginia and then we will be off on the adventure.  Stay tuned as I share here some of the memories we will be making.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Two weeks and counting

I am beginning a new adventure called writing a blog.  I am doing it so that family and friends can follow our trip to Yellowstone that we will be taking with 4 of the grands, Riley, 15, Isabella, 14, Lucy, 13, and Mia, 12.  We will pick up our rental motor home in two weeks on June 21st and leave on the big adventure on June 23rd.  Our goal is to make some memories that will last for a lifetime.  Stay tuned for a great ride as we tour some amazing parts of our beautiful USA.