Aroundtuit
The family that finally got a round to it... the summer adventure that we've always talked about.Aroundtuit
Travel Blog Posts
September 2nd 2006
Day 29 - September 2, 2006 No sleep again. (Very little “quality” sleep the entire trip.) Scott packed some more. We took Austin to IHOP (not any in our area, but one of Austin’s favorite breakfast places). He ordered the “silver five”. He also got a balloon bow and arrow set, which we ended up leaving in the hotel room. While Scott was taking the RV back (a couple of blocks from the hotel), the rest of us got ready to leave. We were supposed to be on the 9:30 shuttle to the airport. All of a sudden, it was 9:29, Scott wasn’t back, and we weren’t down at the shuttle. I sent Krysten and Austin down with some luggage, while Robert and I struggled to get the rest. Not doable. Went down with three bags. ... read more
Drive Again. Today. For the Last Time
Published: September 11th 2006North America » United States » Wyoming
September 1st 2006
Day 28 - September 1, 2006 We stopped in Cheyenne, WY for lunch. We wanted to stop at a local place, but no RV parking in downtown Cheyenne (can you imagine?) We ended up with Arby’s and Quiznos. (We also saw some major police action around the state capitol building.) We drove on into Denver (temp much colder when we got up this morning.) The West must have been mourning our departure, because the weather was gloomy and rainy and cold. We got back to our old friend, Renaissance Hotel, and checked in just before 4 pm. It took about 6 hours to pack, re-pack, and ship 2 boxes. We donated food, ice chest, and 1 indoor/outdoor electric grill to The Crossing on Smith Street in Denver (just a couple of blocks past the RV rental ... read more
August 31st 2006
Day 27 - August 31, 2006 You never know when you might have an interesting experience, and this morning it was in the bathroom/shower facilities at Rafter J. Scott’s was first. He was already in the shower, when two teenage boys came in to clean the facility. They either didn’t notice that Scott was there or didn’t care. They proceeded to start the job. Then they plugged in their boombox. Scott has never heard Def Jam (or whoever the heck it was) played so loud. One was asking the other: “So what do we do?” When Krysten and I ran into the bathroom, we were greeted by country music and two cheerful teenage boys. They had just connected a hose under the first sink, apparently to spray everything. One little problem though, the hose had not ... read more
August 30th 2006
Day 26 - August 30, 2006 Wednesday, August 30 This morning was nice and breezy. We haven’t had really cold weather since leaving Yellowstone (where lows are routinely in the low to mid-thirties). Scott and Austin played basketball, then we ate KOA pancakes (only $2 for all-you-can-eat). Then we played mini-golf, checked out the KOA store, and readied the RV for travel. We left around 11 am and headed for the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. These sites were manned by two Air Force officers 24/7. These sites promised “Worldwide delivery in 30 minutes or less”. Even more impressive than the SR-71 Blackbird. Badlands National Park is probably one of the most desolate, barren places on the earth. Even sand-dune-filled deserts have more life than this place. It was hot and windy. We didn’t even see ... read more
August 29th 2006
Day 25 - August 29, 2006 Tuesday, August 29 Driving from Worland, we went thru Big Horn National Forest. There are many signs on the road dating the rock on the cliffs, some as old as 3 billion years old (or so they say; extrapolation on that scale boggles my puny statistician mind). For example: Granite Gneiss - Pre Cambien, 3 Billion Years Old Interesting names along the way: TenSleep Emporium: More Odds Than Ends; Ten Sleep Pop. 304; Ten Sleep Snowmobile Grass Drags; Crazy Woman Road; Poison Creek Road; Tie Hack Road; and Broken Boot Campground (this one is in South Dakota). (just how does one break a boot?) In Wyoming, most of the highways have cattle guards at their entrances and on-ramps. I guess this is because cattle are free to “range” wherever they ... read more
August 28th 2006
Day 24 - August 28, 2006 First thing in the morning, we took Krysten to an Urgent Care to have her eyes examined. She was diagnosed with corneal damage, and was given a prescription for eye drops. We enjoyed an early lunch at Bubba's Barbecue. The chocolate buttermilk pie was great (Cody is definitely a great "pie" town). But Beartooth Barbecue in West Yellowstone, MT had much better barbecue. From Cody, we drove down to Thermopolis, home of the world's largest hot springs (Hot Springs State Park). Scott and Austin played ball in Thermopolis, at a park. There was lots of lush grass (a rare sight on this trip, we had almost forgotten what is looks like). We saw a small part of the springs, then drove on to Legend Rock (in the middle of oil ... read more
August 27th 2006
Day 23 - August 27, 2006 Today Krysten woke up with red, swollen eyes. We didn't have any place to take her. She took out her contacts, and used her glasses instead. We went for an early lunch at Beartooth Barbecue. It was really good. Then back into Yellowstone. We headed south, then east towards the East Exit. (We had stayed at the West Entrance to the park.) We entered the park before noon, and didn't exit until 7:45 p.m. (We stopped a couple of times along the way.) We ate our lunch in the park, watching the elks with their young. We talked with a couple from Arizona who visit Yellowstone almost every year. They have NEVER seen a bear. Scott and Austin caught a glimpse of one yesterday. We stopped at the brand new ... read more
August 26th 2006
Day 22 - August 26, 2006 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!! Today we went to breakfast to celebrate Robert’s birthday at The Outpost. Our waitress was Hungarian. It’s interesting to hear all these different accents. Robert had the French toast and also the mushroom and swiss omelette, with a side of bacon. Even he couldn’t finish all that food. We enjoyed our breakfast, but the French toast was nowhere as good as what we had at The Country Way in Fremont, CA. We headed back to Yellowstone. It was overcast most of the day, raining some of the day. (First day of rain of our entire trip, aside from some sprinkles in the Canyonlands at the Needles. Refer to lightning strike picture.) Robert has turned out to be quite the quipster this trip. He has been singing and ... read more
August 25th 2006
Day 21 - August 25, 2006 Today we went to Yellowstone. It is amazing. It looks so different from what I imagined. I always thought it was mostly flat and dry, like the pictures you see around the geysers, but it’s not. There are several rivers, meadows full of grasses, mountains, rocky terrain, and of course, the geysers. Even though the geysers are interesting, the wildlife is infinitely more fascinating. At the gate, the attendants hand out brochures detailing the dangers of messing with wildlife. For instance: WARNING Many visitors have been gored by buffalo. Buffalo can weigh 2000 pounds and sprint at 30 miles per hour (three times faster than you can run). These animals may appear tame, but are wild, unpredictable, and dangerous. DO NOT APPROACH BUFFALO (this is accompanied by a picture of ... read more
August 24th 2006
Day 20 - August 24, 2006 Today was the coolest morning yet, around 35 degrees or so. Thankfully, there wasn’t an 8 am whitewater rafting trip, we waited for the 10 am. (It warms up surprisingly fast, so it was in the high sixties by the time we left for Snake River.) Steve, our guide (who also guides fishing trips, skiers, and bartends part-time), was very knowledgeable. The whitewater rafting was a lot of fun, and is recommended by all. (However, Robert said swimming in the 50 degree water was TOO cold and not at all fun.) Austin sat on the front bow of the boat, with his legs over the side for some of the small rapids. He was the only one of our family brave enough to do it. Steve called it "riding the ... read more
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