We began this morning in Lincoln, Nebraska driving through a storm and we have made it home safe and sound.
After 2,700 miles, 6 hotels, 6 states, 47 license plates and many bags of snacks, it is so good to be home!
I think it will be a really long time before we attempt a long road trip, but it was amazing to see parts if the country we haven't seen before. And, what beautiful countryside it was.
- Jen
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Day 8 - Our last night on the road
Lordy, Lordy I am soooooo tired of packing and unpacking every night! We drove from Colorado Springs to Lincoln, Nebraska.
After a lovely dinner at the Outback Steakhouse we are in our hotel and trying to get the monkeys to at least lay in bed. If they would just hold still sleep would come quickly.
This has been a good trip but we will all be happy to be back home and sleep in our own beds.
I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture or not, but Ben and Nate have awesome orange soda mustaches.
Good night!
- Jen
After a lovely dinner at the Outback Steakhouse we are in our hotel and trying to get the monkeys to at least lay in bed. If they would just hold still sleep would come quickly.
This has been a good trip but we will all be happy to be back home and sleep in our own beds.
I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture or not, but Ben and Nate have awesome orange soda mustaches.
Good night!
- Jen
Rain, rain, go away
This is what we ate driving into. Very ominous looking. The weather radar showed a giant green blob is moving through. I hope it is short lived.
- Jen
- Jen
Day 7
We drove, and drove and drove and drove and 13 hours later we arrived in Colorado Springs for the night. The bed was like pudding, but it was nice to stretch out after all those hours in the car. Now I understand why people fly in and out to get to the GC. The little county roads are windy and hilly and take forever to get to the interstate.
Off to Nebraska tomorrow!
- Jen
Off to Nebraska tomorrow!
- Jen
Day 6
Okay, so I'm a couple days late with the blog. Day 6 started with the most expensive McDonald's breakfast, but ended with a great steak dinner to celebrate Jeff's birthday.
We arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park and hoped on a shuttle and started our tour. We hoped on and off the shuttle at different look out points. It was magnificent, wonder-ful and awesome because of the sheer size. I will post pictures once we get them downloaded from the camera.
I can imagine how the first explorers must have felt when the discovered the canyon.
The rangers were all very nice and the spring water we drank from the canyon wad very refreshing.
We went to the farthest west lookout called Hermit's Rest. This one was shady and had great views. We saw a few squirrels being chased away by a bird.
Thanks to Grandpa the boys were able to buy some souvenirs. Ben bought an Indian flute and a snake and Nate bought a suited raccoon that he named Ratchet and an Indian drum.
We heard just about every major language being spoken. I asked some French folks if they wanted me to take a picture of their whole group but the declined. I hope they didn't think I was going to steal their camera. After listening to them, Jeff thought the guy just didn't want the other women they were with in the picture.
We met some dogs too. One called Sassy who was a poodle mix, one called Nico who was a boxer and one called Shou Shou (which means little dog in Chinese) and she was a Pekinese. All of them were very sweet as were the owners who let the boys pet them.
It was a super hot day but luckily we managed to use enough sunscreen so no one got a sun burn!
- Jen
We arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park and hoped on a shuttle and started our tour. We hoped on and off the shuttle at different look out points. It was magnificent, wonder-ful and awesome because of the sheer size. I will post pictures once we get them downloaded from the camera.
I can imagine how the first explorers must have felt when the discovered the canyon.
The rangers were all very nice and the spring water we drank from the canyon wad very refreshing.
We went to the farthest west lookout called Hermit's Rest. This one was shady and had great views. We saw a few squirrels being chased away by a bird.
Thanks to Grandpa the boys were able to buy some souvenirs. Ben bought an Indian flute and a snake and Nate bought a suited raccoon that he named Ratchet and an Indian drum.
We heard just about every major language being spoken. I asked some French folks if they wanted me to take a picture of their whole group but the declined. I hope they didn't think I was going to steal their camera. After listening to them, Jeff thought the guy just didn't want the other women they were with in the picture.
We met some dogs too. One called Sassy who was a poodle mix, one called Nico who was a boxer and one called Shou Shou (which means little dog in Chinese) and she was a Pekinese. All of them were very sweet as were the owners who let the boys pet them.
It was a super hot day but luckily we managed to use enough sunscreen so no one got a sun burn!
- Jen
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 5
We had a wonderful time at the Antelope Slot Canyon today. Before the tour we were treated to a dance done by a Native American dancer and drummer. It was really cool to watch him and listen to the drummer. Our indian guide was Tammy and she was super. She took us to the entrance of the canyon by car and we went through some serious sand to get there. Once we arrived, we entered the canyon and we couldn't believe our eyes! The lines on the sandstone walls show how deep the water was when it comes through the canyons each year. The monsoon season is July through September, so in October when they go back into the canyons they are never sure how much sand will be there. It's so hard to explain how it looks so enjoy some of our pictures. The one that looks like there is a rabbit head painted on the rock was taken by Nate and the rabbit was made by the sun as it shone down through the rocks.
After lunch we traveled down to the Grand Canyon. We checked in at the Grand Hotel. Along the way we stopped at one of the lookouts and this is what we saw.
Dinner was yummy especially the extra cheesy artichoke spinach dip and cheesy croutons. Yum!!!
We decided to turn in early so we can get a nice early start tomorrow. We are taking the shuttle from town into the park and away we'll go.
Good night!
-Jen
After lunch we traveled down to the Grand Canyon. We checked in at the Grand Hotel. Along the way we stopped at one of the lookouts and this is what we saw.
Dinner was yummy especially the extra cheesy artichoke spinach dip and cheesy croutons. Yum!!!
We decided to turn in early so we can get a nice early start tomorrow. We are taking the shuttle from town into the park and away we'll go.
Good night!
-Jen
Happy birthday!
The boys turn 6 today! Ben said he feels older. Older than what I'm not so sure. We are off to the cantons today - Antelope and Grand. Happy birthday sweetie pies!
- Jen
- Jen
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 4
What a day! We woke up early so we could make it to the boat trip on the Colorado River in time. We took a bus to Glen Dam and went through the access tunnel that was drilled through the mountain. It was pitch black in the tunnel except for the square windows that were cut out of the rock.
We boarded the pontoon boat for our excursion. Our guide's name was Nick and he was so fun and told us all about the dam and the rock formations. We came upon some lizards sunning themselves on a rock. He pulled the boat over, caught a lizard and let the boys pet it. They of course thought that was awesome. Then he put the lizard up to his ear and the lizard held on! Sadly I wasn't fast enough to take a picture.
The rocks are so beautiful and breathtaking. Being on the river and looking up was so cool! I hope you can get the scale from the pictures. Luckily we all stayed in the boat and no one fell in.
At one spot we got off the boat to see some petroglyphs dating back from 300-8,000 years! Our guide said it is estimated that there are 20 more panels below what can be seen today. I hope someday they excavate them.
It is really quiet on the river and very peaceful. It was nice to have the wind in my face and watch the water. Our guide is half Hopi Indian and treated us to music from his Indian flute. It echoed throughout the canyon and had a nice low sound.
My descriptions and photos don't do the canyon justice. It's probably one if the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
After having lunch at DC's Backyard BBQ, we went swimming in the hotel pool.
For supper we decided to gave a pizza party in our room since we were all so tired.
Tomorrow we are off to the Antelope Slot Cantons with an Indian guide and then on to the Grand Canyon.
The boys fell asleep in record time - literally in about 45 seconds!
Good night!
- Jen
We boarded the pontoon boat for our excursion. Our guide's name was Nick and he was so fun and told us all about the dam and the rock formations. We came upon some lizards sunning themselves on a rock. He pulled the boat over, caught a lizard and let the boys pet it. They of course thought that was awesome. Then he put the lizard up to his ear and the lizard held on! Sadly I wasn't fast enough to take a picture.
The rocks are so beautiful and breathtaking. Being on the river and looking up was so cool! I hope you can get the scale from the pictures. Luckily we all stayed in the boat and no one fell in.
At one spot we got off the boat to see some petroglyphs dating back from 300-8,000 years! Our guide said it is estimated that there are 20 more panels below what can be seen today. I hope someday they excavate them.
It is really quiet on the river and very peaceful. It was nice to have the wind in my face and watch the water. Our guide is half Hopi Indian and treated us to music from his Indian flute. It echoed throughout the canyon and had a nice low sound.
My descriptions and photos don't do the canyon justice. It's probably one if the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
After having lunch at DC's Backyard BBQ, we went swimming in the hotel pool.
For supper we decided to gave a pizza party in our room since we were all so tired.
Tomorrow we are off to the Antelope Slot Cantons with an Indian guide and then on to the Grand Canyon.
The boys fell asleep in record time - literally in about 45 seconds!
Good night!
- Jen
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 3
Well, it's been a LONG driving day. We traveled from Pueblo, CO to Page, AZ and we have arrived safe and sound at our hotel. Tomorrow is our boat trip that I really hope is fun.
Peace out for today.
- Jen
Peace out for today.
- Jen
Lunch
We just stopped in Sante Fe for lunch. The interstate sign listed a place called Jalapeño's so since we are in the southwest we thought sounds good.
Wow! It was awesome. It might gave started as a food truck because thus was a new restaurant and there was a food truck advertising it.
Everything was homemade and fresh. I got a chimichanga burrito with homemade green sauce. I mistakenly thought green sauce was less spicy than red, apparently I was wrong. It was HOT, but oh so good. Jeff got a shrimp burrito that was enormous and very tasty.
If you ever driving through Sante Fe, do yourself a favor and stop here!
- Jen
Wow! It was awesome. It might gave started as a food truck because thus was a new restaurant and there was a food truck advertising it.
Everything was homemade and fresh. I got a chimichanga burrito with homemade green sauce. I mistakenly thought green sauce was less spicy than red, apparently I was wrong. It was HOT, but oh so good. Jeff got a shrimp burrito that was enormous and very tasty.
If you ever driving through Sante Fe, do yourself a favor and stop here!
- Jen
Good morning
So we are driving south down route 25 and I looked out my window and there was a cow just walking down the access road next to the freeway. It looked happy as a clam just walked around. I hope it gets back to his farm soon.
- Jen
- Jen
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 2
Wow! What a day. We woke up in Nebraska and here we are going to sleep in Colorado.
Outside of Lincoln we passed under this cool archway. There is a small fort here that you can tour.
Nebraska is a beautiful state with lots of cattle farms. We went by a massive one and Nate and Ben discovered the aromas that only farms can provide. Needless to say we couldn't get away fast enough for it.
As we passed into Colorado, the landscape changed immediately. I've never seen that happen before. The foothills popped up and we could see forever. Word to the wise: gas up before entering Colorado because gas stations are not as plentiful as we are used to. This is Nate visiting the Sinclair Oil Company's dinosaur in Sterling, CO.
We decided to take a side trip to Red Rocks Park to see, the red rocks of course! They are massive and red and awesome!
It is in Morrison, CO and the town is really cute - lots of shops and restaurants and yummy ice cream!
Once we fortified ourselves, we drove through town to find us some big red rocks. Ben was convinced that they didn't exist, but now he is a believer.
This was our longest driving day with our side trip so we had bickering, fighting, biting and grumpiness that it was taking so long. But, that happens when five year olds are tired and cranky and refuse to sleep.
We ate dinner at IHOP and that was what everyone needed. I mean you can't go wrong with a pot roast sandwich! The boys had funny face pancakes and we teased Ben about meeting his first girlfriend at the ice cream shop today. She had fire engine red hair, lots of tattoos and she payed Ben a lot of attention. But sadly, he didn't get her phone number or email address so we'll never know! :-) Ben gets embarrassed and giggly at the mention that he has a girlfriend which makes it that much more fun to tease him.
I've been keeping track of all the license plates we have seen and yes there's an app for that in case you were curious. We only need 13 more to gave all 50!! We got most of them yesterday including Alaska! I'm guessing we won't get the east coast states, but we'll see.
Tomorrow we will drive to Page, AZ so we can rest up for out boat float trip on Monday.
Adios and sleep tight!
- Jen
Outside of Lincoln we passed under this cool archway. There is a small fort here that you can tour.
Nebraska is a beautiful state with lots of cattle farms. We went by a massive one and Nate and Ben discovered the aromas that only farms can provide. Needless to say we couldn't get away fast enough for it.
As we passed into Colorado, the landscape changed immediately. I've never seen that happen before. The foothills popped up and we could see forever. Word to the wise: gas up before entering Colorado because gas stations are not as plentiful as we are used to. This is Nate visiting the Sinclair Oil Company's dinosaur in Sterling, CO.
We decided to take a side trip to Red Rocks Park to see, the red rocks of course! They are massive and red and awesome!
It is in Morrison, CO and the town is really cute - lots of shops and restaurants and yummy ice cream!
Once we fortified ourselves, we drove through town to find us some big red rocks. Ben was convinced that they didn't exist, but now he is a believer.
This was our longest driving day with our side trip so we had bickering, fighting, biting and grumpiness that it was taking so long. But, that happens when five year olds are tired and cranky and refuse to sleep.
We ate dinner at IHOP and that was what everyone needed. I mean you can't go wrong with a pot roast sandwich! The boys had funny face pancakes and we teased Ben about meeting his first girlfriend at the ice cream shop today. She had fire engine red hair, lots of tattoos and she payed Ben a lot of attention. But sadly, he didn't get her phone number or email address so we'll never know! :-) Ben gets embarrassed and giggly at the mention that he has a girlfriend which makes it that much more fun to tease him.
I've been keeping track of all the license plates we have seen and yes there's an app for that in case you were curious. We only need 13 more to gave all 50!! We got most of them yesterday including Alaska! I'm guessing we won't get the east coast states, but we'll see.
Tomorrow we will drive to Page, AZ so we can rest up for out boat float trip on Monday.
Adios and sleep tight!
- Jen
Good morning
Thank you to the nice folks at the Best Western Lincoln for a good night's sleep and the fresh crispy waffles this morning. We'll see you on the way back.
Today's adventure is crossing Nebraska to arrive in Colorado this evening. Woo hoo!!
- Jen
Today's adventure is crossing Nebraska to arrive in Colorado this evening. Woo hoo!!
- Jen
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 1
So, here we are at the end of day one in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our drive was uneventful and beautiful. We had no idea how hilly Iowa is. Everything is so lush and green.
We crossed the mighty Mississippi river and saw some flooded farms. I don't think the corn crop is going to do so well this year.
After a yummy and sort of relaxing dinner, the boys (all three of them) went for a swim in the hotel pool. Nate and Ben could touch the bottom and still have their heads out. They splashed around and had Jeff pull them around the pool. They are going to be great swimmers, especially Ben.
Nate was the question man today. He asked what's fire made of? And some others that I can't think of right now.
We were talking about why we are staying in hotels instead of sleeping on the side of the road and Nate said, "yeah sleeping on the side of the road is the worst thing I've ever done." I asked him, "when did you sleep on the side of the road?" to which he replied matter of factly, "May 4." we all got a giggle out of that.
Ben continues to work on his jokes and comedic timing. He's getting better, but the jokes still don't make much sense, but he had to start someplace and we laugh anyway.
It is now bedtime for the boys and they are having trouble settling down which is a shocker I know. With any luck we will get some sleep and be ready for another 500 miles tomorrow.
Peace and love to all!
- Jen
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