http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Lawson/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Lawson en-us Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:51:34 +0000 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:51:34 +0000 Jackson Hole Wyoming and the Grand Teton National Park was not really on our agenda when we took off from Maine at the beginning of the month but I had heard from so many people that it was worth the trip that we traveled the extra miles to get there just before darkness fell. We actually found one hotel room available in Dubois Wyoming next to the Bighorn Sheep Museum. Luckily the local restaur http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-361456.html Today we toured through Olympic National Park our sixth national park on the tour. This was my final national park before I head back to Maine on Sunday but Kris still plans to hit a few more on her journey back to New England. Olympic NP is in the Northwest corner of Washington on the opposite side of Pugeut Sound as Seattle. We took a ferry early in the morning over to the peninsula and began http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Olympic-National-Park/blog-315234.html After a lot of rain in the great north west we decided not to try and brave Mt. Saint Helen's and face the fog again in Washington. I still haven't seen a mountain peak in Washington as the clouds seem to just hang around at 6000 feet above sea level. With the weather not cooperating with us we headed for Portland Oregon just an hour and a half south of Chehalis. Our great host and chauffeur Ca http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Seattle/blog-314822.html We crossed over the Idaho border and headed straight for Mt. Rainier. I have heard so much about this mountain and the northwest weather so we prepared for the worst. Well not exactly We were planning on getting in a couple of hikes and then camping but the rain and fog were so thick that it was almost impossible to see on the twisting and winding roads on the mountain. We did get a few hikes http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Mt-Rainier/blog-314325.html A golfer's dream is to enter a golf course that has been or still is a location for the PGA tour. I have played Torrey Pines in San Diego with my dad after placing our golf bags on the deck at 400 am sleeping in the car for an hour and a half in the parking lot just to hear our names called to the tee for a 615 tee time. Three summers ago I visited the home of golf St. Andrews to see Tiger http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Idaho/Coeur-d-Alene/blog-313361.html We spent the day in Glacier National Park on the Canadian border of Montana today. I have been to Banff and Jasper park and Glacier is right up there with some of the most spectacular views of glacial lakes streams waterfalls and of course rocking peaks. We drove up the Going to the Sun road and had another beautiful day for wandering around the parks. There was no signs of any bears or moose b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Montana/Kalispell/blog-313035.html I'm on the road now heading north in Montana up toward Glacier National Park. Kristen and I spent the last two days in Yellowstone and even camped out by Lake Yellowstone so I didn't have Internet access. When we find a motel tonight I will try and update the pictures but they are packed in the back of the car right now. I also have heard from some of you that the videos are not accessible. I tr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/blog-312593.html We woke up in the beautiful black hills of South Dakota and headed to the old gold mining village of Deadwood. You may better know this city from the movie and the famous Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. We visited Saloon 10 where Wild Bill was shot in the back of the head holding two aces two 8's and a nine. Today the city is much like it was back in the 1800's only with a fresher look. There http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Jackson-Hole/blog-311890.html Today we went through the Badlands National Park and hiked many really cool paths around rattle snake country looking for animals and great views. I brought along the Flip Video camera and edited a short movie. Check it outAfter the Badlands we headed for world famous Wall Drug. Yes we got the free ice water and checked out all the wonderful eats and souvenir stores but I didn't buy anything th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Black-Hills-National-Forest/blog-311113.html We traveled 545 miles today from La Crosse Wisconsin over the Mississippi River into the southern part of Minnesota over the Missouri River over into Sioux Falls South Dakota and finally ended up in the small town of Kadoka SD near the Badlands for the evening. There really wasn't much to see after the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota. I would like to explore the lakes and Minneapoli http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-310718.html Today was a travel day through the land of cheddar Wisconsin. It seemed fitting after hearing that Brett Favre was traded from the Packers to the NY Jets. We did see a lot of signs wishing him well and certainly the pubs were ready for the first game for Brett. Come join us for Favre vs. the Dolphins. We stopped first in Lincolnshire Illinois to play a great minigolf course. It was a classic http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wisconsin/Madison/blog-310338.html We spent a day and a half in the windy city. We visited a high school friend Dom Mascis who lives in the center of the city. He was a great host and tour guide for our first part of the weekend. We sampled some local beer and great deep dish pizza on Thursday night. We even had a few more local beverages on the top of his apartment building looking over the city after the feast.Friday we hiked up http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-310163.html I have had a great couple of days here in the Cleveland area. Two nights ago we stayed in a small town on Lake Erie just west of Cleveland called Lakewood. Kristen had a bad cold and some pink eye so we visited the local hospital in the morning to get some antibiotics but she is fine now. We then rolled over to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I honestly thought that we could motor through this m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Ohio/Cleveland-Area/blog-309214.html We had a great day yesterday in Westminster Massachusetts visiting with the McAdams family. Jeff Roger and Joyce hosted the family reunion at my cousin's log cabin not far from Mount Wachusett. It was good to catch up with all of the family and fill them in on our little trip. We didn't have any further requests to bring anything or retrieve anything for that matter out on the west coast.We dr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Ohio/Cleveland/blog-308414.html We are all packed and just about ready to head out on our adventure. My sister just purchased a MacBook and will be blogging too. Her link is at httppastryroadtrip.blogspot.com After I leave her in Seattle to fly back to Boston she will tour the southern part of the country and make it back to Maine in October. Tomorrow we will head to our Family reunion in central Massachusetts and then bu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Maine/blog-307671.html Before the trip I had to play in one more golf tournament with coach Peloquin. One more day to pack and then we'll start our trip. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Worcester/blog-307330.html Today I rolled down to Boston to move my sister out of her apartment. We moved her stuff into storage up in Maine. See video. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-306842.html Finishing up the planning stages. My sister and I will travel across the country taking a northern route. We will be starting in Southern Maine and make it to Seattle Washington in 21 days. I will fly back to Boston on August 24th but my sister will continue traveling first up into Vancouver BC Canada and finally taking the southern route in the United States and back up the Eastern Sea Board http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Maine/blog-306453.html