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. That’s where the plan ended… The 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 animals. We were not disappointed this time either. Patty spotted the first, a lone coyote, near the road, a little shy of cars and people, but not too unnerved to change its course. It paused [View Full Entry]

---

---

After a quick breakfast we headed out to begin exploring the nation’s 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 hasn’t changed one bit. We followed the Yellowstone River past the rapids and through rolling hillside pastures filled with American bison. The countryside changes as elevation changes to thick pine forests filled with the Lodgepole Pines, characteristic of Yellowstone. The Yellowstone River exits the lake and over the centuries has carved the Grand Canyon o [View Full Entry]

---

---

On the road - Mini Molly (the motor home) with kiddie car in tow and four very excited travelers headed out at 6:28 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 the Snake River 15 times, giving us a good idea of why they call it the Snake River. The first day was VERY long and we briefly considered making an unplanned stop allowing [View Full Entry]

---

---

This morning began with a leisurely awakening at 6 am and coffee from the French press. We dressed and visited “The Original Pancake House” for breakfast. Now, you might say, that’s 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 two hours buying provisions for the trip - groceries and supplies. Bill and David learned how to use all the functions on the motor home and how to hook-up the tow vehicle [View Full Entry]

---

---

Starting at the Norfolk International airpot, our journey began. The kids took us to the airport at 5:30 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 Great Dismal Swamp were an amazing sight as we headed north and west to eventually go south to Atlanta. The high pressure in the the area held [View Full Entry]

---

---

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 5,500 miles in the process. We'll update you as often as cyberspace is available to us. You keep us posted on what's happening back home. God bless everyone! Karen and David Meads Bill and Patty Bills [View Full Entry]

---

---