Wyoming

June 20^th

Grand Teton has been more than we could have expected. The loop that passes from one end to the other provides ample photo opportunity. Our first night was at the only RV park available. One night was more than enough. The pool and hot tub had been drained and the facilities left much to be desired. The redeeming quality was the beautiful view of the mountains.  After showers and turning in we decided to get up early and head into the Teton National Park for a day of touring, hiking and biking.

The morning was a stark change from Utah and Nevada. We woke to 39 degrees but sunny skies. The evening was so chilly that Ashton hopped into bed with us to warm up. After convincing the children they really wanted to explore and not stay in bed we headed out. We took our time and drove directly through the park until we reached the main entrance. With a quick walk around the visitor’s center we headed into the main park scenic drive. The views were breath taking and we could not believe how much snow was still on the peaks at the end of June. The average height of the trail was 6800 feet and the highest peak, “Grand Teton,” rises over 14,000 feet. The history of the name of the peaks from a French fur trader comes from the French term that actually means three breasts. Later it was modified to “Tetons.”

We tool a leisurely pace and stopped at several turnouts to take photos and enjoy the beautiful views. At one turnout, Ashton saw a small path and followed it into the meadow. It did not seem to go anywhere, however, we decided to follow it since the children needed the exercise and time out of the car. After approximately 30 minutes of walking the path took a turn into the woods and up the hill. We finally came to an opening with large boulders and several fallen and burned trees. It appears we found an area that had been struck by lightning and burned a small part of the woods. After a few fun photos and climbing on the rocks we headed back to the RV.

It was wonderful when we found the loop that gave views of the Jenny River. We headed to the banks where Ashton and Cameron could not resist the urge to strip off their shoes and wade into the water onto the rocks. If you did not guess, the water was beyond cold. Typical fashion, Ashton and Cameron lost their footing and despite their rolled up pants they both ended up with wet pants up to their thighs. They only seemed concerned when they had to scale the path back to the car.

At the next turnout we decided to pull the bikes off the rack and take turns riding with the children. The bike path along the Grand Teton Park is amazing. There were bikers of all abilities. You would see families, racers, individuals, young couples and retirees. The path extends the entire length of the park driving loop. It is a separate path away from the lane of traffic.

Since the route back was a gentle level or slight decline it was easy to take turns riding with the children. One parent would drive the RV while the other rode with the kids. We would drive to the next turnout and wait for the family to catch up. At the final leg of the route, Matthew offered to let me finish with the kids. It was such a beautiful day I was more than willing.

With the final downward hill ahead and the park gate entrance in sight, I reminded the children to take the hill slowly. At the bottom and with only about 200 yards left I stopped to wait for the children to catch up. As I turned my head to the side I heard Cameron yell, “ASHTON, WATCH….” I braced myself for what I knew was coming. Sure enough the impact came. With it came entangles pedals and handle bars as Ashton rammed into my bike. He collided with me and fell to the right pulling me down the slope of the path with him and on top of him. I could not get up as my feet were entangled in the bikes and I tried to roll off to remove the pressure from Ashton. Before I could rise the screaming began. This was not your average cry or yelp. This was full on, blood curdling screaming. As I tried to assess the problem he could only say he thought he broke his arm. I quickly tried to immobilize it against his body and visual see if it was obvious. A large bruise quickly was developing on his upper arm. Once I was able to ascertain the arm was not broken I had to coax him back onto the bike and down to the lower parking lot where Matthew was waiting.

Never mind that I felt as if the handle bars had punctured my hip and thigh. With my own bike’s handle bars at a very awkward angle I was able to convince Ashton he could finish the journey and be in the RV in less than 10 minutes. With some strange maneuvering I was able to ride my own bike back. Upon arrival Matthew was able to take one look at my pants, the bike handle and Ashton’s bloodied hand and guess how the ride went. Without further comment he loaded bikes and people into the RV and headed for a new RV park.

If you were ever wondering who well your children can ride independently on their bikes I have a piece of advice. Do not rely on residential bike play and unchecked brakes as your guide. A vacation on the other side of the country, 45 miles away from a hospital is not the place to find out how you handle emergencies and whether insurance will cover this “out of network” expense. Luckily we made it out with a bruise a bit larger than an grapefruit on my thigh, a couple that cover the length from my hip to my knee and a very bruised arm for Ashton a couple of puncture wounds to his hand.

The day did get better after a trip to the pool and hot tub. A quick change and we were able to walk to Bubba’s BBQ for dinner. Talk about good food. YUMMMM!!! It was a good thing we decided to walk the loop to dinner and then the rodeo tonight. After that food we needed to walk. So walk we did.

A few blocks further down the road and we continued until we found the Jackson Hole Fairgrounds. What a fun night. The children were able to see a full rodeo with bull rides, bare back horse riding, bull roping and barrel races. Ashton was cheering and yelling and you could tell he was having the time of his life. He even wore the cowboy shirt he picked out in Afton, Wyoming.

Cameron on the other hand, had a difficult time watching the bull riding. She would wince and bury her face each time the riders would fall off the bull. She could hardly stand to watch the riders face the potential of being gored or stomped by the very angry bulls. Once we explained to her why the bulls were mad she was even more disturbed by the whole event. Ashton leaned in and told her he would be spitting and jumping if someone squeezed his parts like that.

Overall we had an amazing time. We have some fantastic pictures from the day and the rodeo. For those of you demented enough to wonder, no, we do not have crash photos. Although, a few cars witnessed the scene and pulled off to make sure no one was injured too bad. I am not sure if it scared them or made them laugh hysterically. The only disturbing thing is the park rangers were at their booth and could see the incident and did not bother themselves with us. I suppose they see this every day and were not phased.

As for tomorrow, I am going to stay off the trails with a bike. We plan on heading into Teton Village and taking the sky tram up to one of the peaks. After the sky tram we hope to walk around the town and end the day with a Chuck Wagon Dinner. I am sure there will be plenty to report. After Thursday we have reservations in West Yellowstone and really look forward to experiencing that park also. It is hard to believe we have seen so much in such a short time. It reminds us of how omnipotent and marvelous God truly is. Whether we go outside each night and watch the sun set, He still provides the view. It just happens to be a bonus when we notice and thank Him for it. Today we all had moments of being so grateful for this beautiful world and free country we have been blessed to live in. This trip has done one thing for me that many people could use. It has reminded me of how great God is and if you ever doubt his existence you need only see what we have seen.  

Front Sight

June 19^th

Several days have passed since my last post. After leaving New Mexico we headed to Pahrump, Nevada for Frontsight. Ahh, what a fun place, also known as Shoot-Em-Up-Camp by the kids. Matthew and I took a 2 day handgun class and Ashton and Cameron did the 2 day wilderness/survival camp. It is always a great opportunity to work on safety and skills and have a great time with the family. The only down side was the heat. The first day was hot but there was a nice breeze on the range most of the day. However, the second day was true summer in the desert. Little to no breeze and over 100 degrees did not make for a relaxing day. The day was intense for Matt and I as we entered the “Shoot House” to defend our family. Leading up to that point I had been experiencing diminishing returns on my efforts. Thanks to great instructors and a few minutes out of the sun I was able to eliminate the threats and rescue the hostage. That was a great way to end the training. I still hear “line is set, ready, fire” in my sleep. Oh well, worse things could be running through my head.

The kids were sad they could not stay for the 4 day camp. Cameron even met a few children that live there on site with their family and have parents who are instructors. Hard to imagine raising children out there. Truly makes me grateful for where we live. If I forgot to mention it, I love air conditioning. Even the water out of the faucets was hot. There are just times you can’t escape the heat and dust.

I think my favorite part was stepping over to the range next to mine and watching Cameron and Ashton get a chance to shoot an Uzi. Cameron was the brave one and decided to do a full standing pose and emptied her magazine. She was slightly disappointed when the instructor said it was someone else’s turn. Ashton was not quite as brave and opted to have the instructor hold the weapon for him. The photos don’t capture the fun they were having but it was still great to get to watch them.

We returned to the RV Resort and regrouped on Sunday to plan the next leg of our trip. From Pahrump we headed north to St. George, Utah. After a quick stop and dinner we continued on toward Provo, Utah for the night. Once we made it to Provo we bedded down for the night and enjoyed a cool evening. That was a great relief from the heat. The next day was about 82 degrees and breezy. Matthew had been battling a sinus and respiratory infection so we found a local Urgent Care near BYU and headed in for a quick visit. A couple of hours later and a prescription from the pharmacy and we were headed to campus to pick up a t-shirt and enjoy some BYU Creamery ice cream.

Cameron had a chance to see the younger youth who were on campus attending various sports camps and EFY. It was nice to see her get excited and really see the joy of college. She said she could see herself at school there one day. The thing she noticed most prominently was how the students were dressed modestly. She even commented on how nice it would be to go to school somewhere that you were not the minority for dressing appropriate and not to worry about that.

From Provo we headed up toward Montpelier Creek KOA in Idaho. The route was very rural but amazingly beautiful. The roads were terrible at best and I am surprised there is a screw left in the RV that did not wiggle out. In fact we did lose a couple of drawer mounts due to all the shaking and banging. Thank goodness for Matthew and his handy dandy tool box. The wide open spaces and beautiful  land made me understand why people are willing to live out in the middle of nowhere. Our past visits to Utah and Nevada have always been in the winter so we have not had the chance to see the beautiful spring and summer in bloom. It is a sight that you will never forget.

As we left Utah and headed to Montpelier we crossed the Utah/Wyoming border a few times before coming to the KOA in Idaho. The weather had definitely taken a favorable turn. It was breezy and cool. We woke up this morning to 39 degrees and a sunny morning. The campsite is truly the nicest facility we have been to so far. They had tee pee rentals and immaculate facilities. It was tempting to just stay here a few nights. Alas, we have our sights set on the mountains of Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

By noon we were winding our way through the small town of Geneva and heading through another small town known as Smoot which has a population of 100. We made a few scenic stops to take pictures of the breath taking views and stand amazed at how far you can see. The air is crisp and very cool. I think we may be a bit under dressed for this part of the adventure.

We are looking forward to settling in for a few days of fishing, rafting, joining the Chuck Wagon and going to a rodeo. Look out Jackson Hole, here come the Davis’. There will definitely be more to report and add once we arrive at our next stop. If the views there are anything compared to the ones we are seeing on the way, we are in for more wonder and amazement. 

White Sands

Sunday, June 10^th

Yesterday brought a variety of interesting and unique experiences. We left Carlsbad after finishing a mountain of laundry and headed north to Roswell. This is the town most widely known for its alleged alien crash. A quick stop in the town revealed a street fair and street vendors. We took a quick trip through the alien museum and spotted a few cute yet unrealistic samples of the non-earthly creatures. With a few photos snapped we headed down the street to see what the town had to offer. With two sick kids the visit was rather limited but their spirits rose when they found the snow cone vendor. A couple of snow cones later and we were headed back to the RV.

Back on the road, our next destination was Bottomless Lakes National Park. Exactly where it was is a mystery to me even now. We drove for about an hour into nothing. If we had not had a GPS I am certain I would have voted to turn back. As far as the road stretched and the eye could see was mile upon mile of dusty scrub brush and cacti. We were at approx. 3,000 feet in elevation and we could see for a rather long distance and I was not seeing a lake of any sort.

Finally, we turned onto another remote and less than well paved road. As we followed it for another 7 or 8 miles it wound its way around a rising rock formation. Sure enough there were the 8 little lakes naturally formed. Bottomless Lakes was the result of sink holes in areas they had been mining gypsum. The natural springs filled the sink holes and you have a lovely blue green lake that you can see deeply into. The lakes range from 8 feet deep to 90 feet deep. The water is very cool and refreshing for the 102 degree day. It is just not the sticky heat we have back home. Thanks goodness because there are not adequate facilities for miles around. Once again I am thankful for the RV and AC, running water, and a clean potty. Nothing makes mommy grumpy like the need to use a restroom and you don’t have one available.

The great part about the lake was the fun we had on the paddle boards. Matthew, Cameron , & I rented large surf board shaped floats and paddles and took turns ferrying Ashton around. Cameron even braved the board standing up and paddling. I don’t think I have seen her laugh so hard in a long time. It took several attempts but she managed to find her balance and cover some distance before toppling over. The only regret was not being able to take photos while we were on the lake. It was beautiful and very packed. Obviously it is one of the few sources of water recreation in the area and everyone seemed to be there that day. Luckily there is room for all of us.

That evening provided one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen in my life. The children were not feeling well so we gave them medicine, fed them dinner, and put on a show while Matthew and I walked back to the lake to enjoy the view. With a very restless night of sleep we packed up and headed back toward Roswell so we could make our way to White Sands, New Mexico next.

Along the route out we found a wonderful scenic overlook that afforded some beautiful views and a couple of wonderful pictures of Lake Lea where we camped. Next stop will be White Sands They say the view is amazing but the heat is a killer. We will certainly have an opinion in a couple of hours.

8:00pm and we are back on the road. The White Sands Monument and Dunes were a sight that are difficult to describe. You have a 16 mile loop that passes through and around the dunes. At several locations you can stop and climb or even sled down the dunes. Yes, I did say sled! The visitor’s center sells round snow sleds and people purchase them and climb the dunes and sled down the hills. For 102 degree day we were all pleasantly surprised that the sand was cool to your feet. We made the loop about half way and pulled over to climb the dunes and take a loop from above.

The sight was rather beautiful as you could see nothing but swirling, snow white sand all around. It took effort to climb to the top since your feet and hands sink quickly and it causes the sand around you to rush down the hill. After a small effort we all made it to the top and snapped a couple of very fun pictures. The wind was blowing rather strong and while standing on the top it felt a bit like small needles trying to bore into your legs. This did not stop the children from running, playing and jumping around the dunes. Ashton loved the chance to try and body surf down the hill.  Once we loaded back into the car we made a quick stop at the welcome center to collect the children’s national park endorsements and search for a few gifts.

Back on the road we headed toward Las Cruces and searched for dinner. After several attempts to find an authentic Tex/Mex restaurant we discovered that most of the town closes down on Sunday at 2pm. With a final location programmed into the GPS we headed toward a downtown location. Soon Matthew found himself navigating the narrow residential roads of Las Cruces. Soon we discovered that this also as not a restaurant to be had.

With frustration and growing hunger we decided to head back to the main route. A stop at a local chain restaurant and dinner was finally in sight. But no, Ashton does not feel well and proceeds to lie down in my lap and then want to be held. Matthew returns to the car to retrieve Motrin and Sudafed and as luck would have it just about the time we finished dinner he perked up. Back in the car and headed for Benson, Arizona. Benson is a small south central town near the border of Mexico. The plan is to spend the night, get up and head toward Tucson and find someone who services RVs and have a quick oil change before heading to Williams, Arizona to explore the Grand Canyon.

We are heading west on I-10 and the sun is slowly sinking in the sky. Ashton even commented on how beautiful the sunsets are out here. The children are lying on the foldout couch and trying to relax while we make the 3 ½ hour trip to Benson. The silhouette of the mountains frames the skyline. We look to be driving into a permanent watercolor painting. Hard not to want to drive when you get such a fantastic view. I guess sunrises and sunsets are the rewards for rising early and taking notice in the evening.