http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/3cs/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from 3cs en-us Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:28:43 +0000 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:28:43 +0000 On Wednesday July 8 we woke up in Gillette WY and saw the Devils Tower National Monument which is more properly called the Bear Lodge National Monument. All the Indian nations called it something like Bears Lodge and the caucasian explorer just came up with his own name but claimed Devils Tower was the Indian name. Devils Tower was the backdrop for the movie Close Encounters of the Th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Black-Hills-National-Forest/blog-418092.html I am trying to update as much as possible but time keeps geting away. I have posted some new pictures to older posts and 1 video to day 5 the Grand Canyon Rafting day. Check it out it's really cool Anyway it's about midnight and I need to check on the laundry and get some sleep. On to Devil's Tower and Mt. Rushmore tomorrow I'll try to upload more pictures as I can so please check the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Gillette/blog-416353.html Day 13I have forgotten what day it is. Sunday Monday whatever day we're having a great time. Today we moved from the north of the park to the south. Before leaving Mammoth Hot Springs we drove around the top of the upper hot springs. We then went over to Roosevelt Lodge for lunch. After lunch we continued going south to the Tower Falls which are 120 feet. Then we went to the Grand Canyon http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-416335.html On day 10 Fourth of July we drove through Jackson WY and then through the Grand Tetons. We entered Yellowstone NP and drove right to Old Faithful just in time to see it erupt. From Cray but never mind he's dying to go try his new Yellowstone slingshot now Sunday evening as we are writing this....So from Colleen still on Friday day 9 we then saw Fountain Paint Pot Grand Prismatic Springs http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/blog-415586.html Today we started out in Idaho Falls. We stayed in a hotel down the street from the actuall falls. They're not that big but still pretty to see. We drove east towards Jackson WY where we had a great lunch at the Snake River Brewery. They have a great brown ale called OB1. I had to get a shirt with that on it. In the town square there are arches made of thousands of elk antlers. We left Ja http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/blog-415579.html Day 8 Utah Driving DayToday we started out in Monticello UT. We drove up to Moab and found a grocery store where we loaded up on supplies for lunches snacks and drinks. We then went to Arches National Park and had a great picnic lunch under the Tower of Babel. We did not see much of the park as we wanted to get on the road. The rest of the day we drove through most of Utah. The mountain http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Utah/Salt-Lake-City/blog-414669.html Chris woke up early this morning and saw a beautiful sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Later in the morning we all loaded back up and drove across the South Rim to the Desert View Tower and then out the East Entrance. We have now seen the Grand Canyon from bottom to top and west to east. We headed north east to go to Four Corners Monument. Along the way we ran into a lot of road construction more http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-414447.html Today we started in Seligman Az. This is the town that the movie Cars was modeled after. We actually saw Mater We had a big breakfast at the Roadkill Cafe Colleen had Smeared Deer and then drove to Grand Canyon National Park. We got there right around lunchtime too early to check in so being the adventurous types that we are decided to try hiking the Bright Angel Trail. We hiked down a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-414443.html We went white water rafting on the Colorado River. They had 2 class 7 rapids one of their names was honeymoon rapid. I could barely hold on but it was so fun and hard. We went on a helicopter my mom shut her eyes. We went to Roadkill Cafe. It was so good I was full but I had to have their chocolate cake. My first bite and in my mind I was like this is the best cake in the world. CrayThe f http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-413736.html We visited the Hualapai Nation pronounced Wallapie also called Grand Canyon West. We went on the Skywalk. I was not afraid but my mom was my dad a little. It is 4000 feet above The Colorado River. We also visited Guano Point which was 4700 ft up and my dad and I climbed to the top. Earlier we went to Oatman it was a ghost town. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Hualapai-Reservation/blog-413215.html Day 2 Well we were planning to go out on the boat and go to the gorge just past Needles CA. However the river level was too low. We went to the Avi Casino Resort for a great breakfast and decided that today would instead go to the Hoover Dam. After a long ride through some mountains and countryside we got to Boulder City and ran into lots of traffic. Then we saw the dam. Wow We stopped a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-412721.html Day 1We started today at 430. Thank you Oana for bringing us to the airport. After 14 hours we finally arrived at Doug and Lloyd's house in Mohave Valley. We landed in Phoenix and drove through Lake Havasau City and saw the famous London Bridge. After we got here we took a short boat ride with Bill and Carmen and Doug and Lloyd and of course Skypper. Cray and Skyper became fast friends and t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Phoenix/blog-412549.html dear friendsI hope y'all will log on every night from june 26 july 11. so you can see what i have done that day. we'll post short videos pictures and stories....................................................................................................................................... stay tuned friends.from cray http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Carolina/blog-404738.html This is a map of where we plan on going out west. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-404084.html On Saturday we brought the Wallaces on a short boat ride to have a picnic and maybe see some dolphins. We stopped at a quiet island on the Stono River. We thought the tide was almost all the way out. We were wrong. We dubbed the island Stuck Island after being stuck there for four and a half hours. This did provide both Colleen and Dorie some much needed forced relaxation. It also allowed the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Carolina/Charleston/blog-402140.html We are seeing a number of the National Parks and Monuments out west. 3Cs General Itinerary Activities25Jun Thurs Arrive PHX 945AM Go to Dougs26Jun Fri Doug and Lloyds27Jun Sat Doug and Lloyds28Jun Sun DougTravel to Hualapai Indian Nation 29Jun Mon Grand Canyon Raft30Jun Tue Grand Canyon National Park 1Jul Wed 4 Corners Nat Monument Mesa Verde National Park 2Jul Thu Moab http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-401402.html The 3Cs have a terrific trip planned this summer in June and July. We're visiting Uncle Doug and Lloyd in Mojave Valley Arizona before seeing the Grand Canyon and 4 Corners then heading north to Yellowstone for 3 days and the Mount Rushmore area for 4 days before flying out of Denver. We welcome your thoughts on must see stops. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-381384.html