http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Karnen/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Karnen en-us Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:10:43 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:10:43 +0000 We had a blast and now we're home buuuuuuuuutttttttttttt we'd like to go again http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Virginia-Beach/blog-298630.html We drove through mostly farmland again from Kansas City MO to Lexington KY. We crossed the mighty Mississippi River in St. Louis MO where the evidence of the swollen river was all around. This is where we were to pick up I64 from I70 but we were surprised to find signs telling us it was closed. Karen called the Road Conditions number given her by AAA to get redirected. After a few minutes http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Kentucky/Lexington/blog-298563.html The drive from Rapid City to Sioux Falls SD was very interesting but long. We were amazed to see how much of the country is volcanic. The Yellowstone supervolcano comprises nearly all the park but its last eruption spewed ash rocks and lava over many neighboring states. This was no surprise but to see how volcanic forces have been at worked underneath so much of the west was astounding. Fro http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Missouri/Kansas-City/blog-298559.html The morning did improve. Breakfast and showers for everyone were first on the agenda then a thorough cleaning for miniMolly inside and out. She has seen some rough terrain and has been inhabited nonstop for 10 days. She needed itWe packed up and headed out. Next to the campground was a funny little animal farm. That's where we saw the goats clibing the goat bridge. On to Mount Rushmore. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Sioux-Falls/blog-297806.html After a quiet nightrsquos sleep in the WalMart parking lot we were on the road at 715 am STILL headed north to Rapid City South Dakota. Our target there is Mount Rushmore. The rolling green hills of Wyoming were picturesque and covered with wild antelope and deer grazing just beside the highway. It changed very little as we crossed the South Dakota line just before dark. The black hills http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Rapid-City/blog-297805.html Heading east to Albuquerque NM wersquoll hang a left toward Denver. On the road for another very long day of driving. We were very late leaving Williams and made a stop in Flagstaff so our travel time began about three hours behind schedule. Crossing another time zone back into mountain time we took a vote and decided to stop short of our goal. We spent the night in the parking lot at whe http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Denver/blog-297026.html After a yummy French toast breakfast we headed to the train depot for our ride to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Railway Resort is FABULOUS and I highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit. It has a hotel pet kennel the best RV park Irsquove ever seen and five star service. At the train depot we were treated to a shootout by the Coldwater Creek gang. During the show the audience w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-296760.html After a SWELTERING night on Lake Mead we hit the road again. It was over 100 degrees all night and we took a vote a dry heat is STILL heat. The treat was waking up the next morning to the view of the lake. The orangebrown mountains plunging straight down into the bluegreen lake with a band of white dividing the two was a beautiful sight. The lake is 55 feet below its normal level due to a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-296759.html Happy Independence Day We're on the road againhellipcontinuing south on I15 toward Las Vegas. We will overnight on Lake Mead appropriately named the body of water created by Hoover Dam and which supplies Las Vegas and much of the southwest with electricity. At 1015 pm we pulled into Lake Mead RV Resort after a visit through the heart of Las Vegas. Our route took us around the downtown http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Lake-Mead/blog-295508.html Starting out at 700 am we made tracks for Utah. The Bridger Teton National Forrest gave way to rolling hills and beautiful countryside as we made our way to Salt Lake. This seemingly endless drive through ranch land sporting llama and deer farms was interesting yet timeless. These smalltown communities sprouting out of the plains are a testament to the hardiness of Americans. Arriving in Sa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Utah/Salt-Lake-City/blog-295145.html This morning started with another quick breakfast then off to explore the northern section of the park. The plan included Mammoth Hot Springs then taking the loop over to Roosevelt Lodge for horseback rides. Thatrsquos where the plan endedhellipThe drive up to Mammoth was beautiful. I remembered from my trip 10 years ago this particular stretch of road was where we often spotted the most an http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/blog-295141.html After a quick breakfast we headed out to begin exploring the nationrsquos first national park. What a beauty I have told some I was ready to quit my job and become a park ranger on my first visit 10 years ago. Its beauty hasnrsquot changed one bit. We followed the Yellowstone River past the rapids and through rolling hillside pastures filled with American bison. The countryside changes a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/blog-295136.html On the road Mini Molly the motor home with kiddie car in tow and four very excited travelers headed out at 628 am. Our travels took us through a wide variety of countryside including the Columbia River Gorge Hood River the high desert of Oregon rolling hillsides and farmland plains of Idaho and back to desert and farmland before heading into the elevation toward Yellowstone. We crossed http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/blog-295099.html This morning began with a leisurely awakening at 6 am and coffee from the French press. We dressed and visited ldquoThe Original Pancake Houserdquo for breakfast. Now you might say thatrsquos no big deal but this is THE original from which all other locations sprouted and was featured last week on the Food Network. It made for a lovely start to the day.Patty and Karen spent the next t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Portland/blog-295098.html Starting at the Norfolk International airpot our journey began. The kids took us to the airport at 530 in the morning to be sure we made it through the MASSIVE security line in time for our 7 am flight. All went well and after a brief stop at Starbucks I'm predicting the first of many David Karen Patty and Bill all boarded a Delta airplane headed for the great northwest. The fires in the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oregon/Portland/blog-293415.html Suitcases are packed boarding passes are printed and tomorrow morning we head out bright and early for our big adventure The itinerary will have us hopscotching across the USA for 14 days. We'll visit 6 national parks 1 state park several national forests and momuments and will cover over 5500 miles in the process. We'll update you as often as cyberspace is available to us. You keep us po http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Virginia-Beach/blog-292505.html