BACK HOME

We got back home at 2:00AM after leaving Sedona at 6:30 PM and a day at SlideRock Park. I was thinking leaving at 6:30 wasn't our smartest move and driving west into the sunset was less than fun. Cole was trying to extend the sun visor so I could actually see the road. The day in Sedona was fun the scenery is amazing and I actually had to pull over a few times just to take it all in. The temperature was HOT but they say it's a dry hot! does that really matter if it's hot or dry hot? It felt like I stuck my head in the oven . . . apparently my oven is a dry hot too! I've never said that the cookies won't cook in my oven because it's a dry heat!

It was surprising that the temperature drop coming up and over the mountains went from 105 in Phoenix to 60 degrees in San Diego at 1:30AM. We had great music from our iPods playing and wonderful conversation but as soon as the sun set the music was replaced with snoring from my passengers. We spend the day yesterday unpacking the car and cleaning the mess. I wasn't as organized as I usually am on these trips and the car really reflected it. I love these roadtrips and I'm sad that this is our last I could write a book on all the things to do and things not to do . . . but being that we only have 4 blog followers I think it's best if I just stick to the blog. If you need any tips or an extra passenger on your roadtrip, contact me and I'll have my bags packed waiting.

Slide Rock Photos

Slide Rock

There is a fabulous place called slide rock located outside of Sedona, Arizona.... Slide rock is a canyon with a rushing river going through it. This river has etched away at the rocks to create a natural waterside. I ran up to go down the slide and I then knew why they called it slide rock, I knew right at that second when i was fully in the air and flying towards the ground. I eventually slide around on all fours to finally get to the slide. I will post a video of my fall and sliding soon so stay tuned. So Jacquelyn and I slid back and forth with a thousand other people we didn't know. Apparently people don't wait because there was always piles of people going down the slides. As well as the slides they have rocks that you can jump off of into the water. Jacquelyn and I both loved to jump off and get the 2 seconds of free fall. Slide Rock was great! My only question is: Is my sunburn or the rocks there more red? Vote... On the far upper right corner you will see a small voting poll... vote...

OR

Lewis & Clark

As we drive across country we notice many signs pointing out Lewis & Clark's trail across country. This is my 10th roadtrip and we've driven to every state in the US (not Hawaii) and I've seen Lewis & Clark signs, parks, hotels, gas stations, gift shops, forests, boat rides up the Missouri River, boat trips through the gates of the Rockies and so many more. Apparently nobody else had a trip worthy of signs and gift shops. I understand that Lewis & Clark made their way across country and provided research about the land but did they ever try to check into a hotel when the town is sold out? Did they ever try to find the internet code and get the WiFi up and running on three computers? Did they ever have to figure out why their GPS insists on sending them East instead of West. Did they ever have to figure out why their flat tire indicator light keeps going off even though the tires appear full? . . . and finally did they ever try to write a blog every day and wonder why they only have 4 followers? NO!! . . . they did none of this and for those reasons and more I'd like a reassessment on the value that Lewis and Clark have brought to us. I'm pretty convinced if good ole Lewis & Clark hadn't made it across country than someone else would have done it instead. Maybe even a mom and her two teen kids. I'd like to bring back Lewis and Clark and have them set up in a mini-van in Boston and just see how fast they could get across country now . . . I bet they wouldn't make it past the Mass Pike!
Could we just take down one of the Lewis & Clark signs and give some credit to some others because we're sick of it!
Day 12 and someone is getting grumpy! when I say someone I mean all three of us. Heading WEST!

Sleepy

We're all really tired so expect a nice blog post tomorrow but not tonight..... goodnight

-Cole

Out of Kansas

I think we got stuck in Kansas! Beautiful fields of sunflowers! We started a night in Topeka and on Friday morning we decided to drive through and stay in Colorado. After only 3 hours of driving we stopped in central Kansas and stayed at the water slide. Then we made a few stops . . . including the greyhound museum. Who knew they had one but it was a greyhound retirement home for racing dogs ~ and it's better than the worlds largest ball of string museum. There were dogs walking around the museum we wanted one for the rest of our trip but decided against it.

Finally after a 6 hours of stopping and driving we entered Colorado . . . The weather dropped a bit and the scenery is much nicer. We stayed on the border of New Mexico and Colorado last night and were heading west today with a stop or two in Arizona, we think we'll be home on Tuesday.

Water Slide in Kansas

I'm skipping a day but will go back and fill in later. We stopped at another hotel with a waterslide last night. The rules are you are supposed to wait until one is off the slide before the other gets on the slide! Rules are not being followed. They have to stop every once in a while because they're laughing so hard.

SIOUX CITY IOWA

We spent the day at Pipestone National Park in Minnesota it's a sacred native Indian ground and a beautiful location (I'll post pictures later) . . . . then headed south to Iowa. We wanted to stay another night at our camp and then were contemplating driving up to Minneapolis but when I looked at the map home I couldn't see driving another 5 hours if I didn't need to.
We drove down to Iowa and found a great hotel in Sioux City. The city appeared empty and the hotel was a big 20 stories. We got a room on the 6th floor and for some reason I brought Jacquelyn over and showed her the fire exit . . . I've never done that before. We liked the hotel and were a little concerned about parking the minivan on the street in the city. I didn't like that we had to have the meter fed at 7:00AM. I got up early and stuffed a handful of quarters into the meter and found a cup of coffee. We got things packed up and were almost ready to go at 8:30 and the fire alarm goes off! Never has this happened before. We all stood looking at each other in amazement. Jacquelyn looked panicked that we wouldn't get out in time and Cole looked panicked because he didn't know if he should grab his GoPro camera or his laptop and cell phone and continued to walk between the two! So we go to the very fire stairs that I showed Jacquelyn the night before and we walk quickly down 6 flights. A creepy voice recording stating that there is an emergency in the building and we should quickly get to the fire stairs he kept repeating himself as the alarm was going off and there was a blinding light flashing a beam of light into our eyes every 10 seconds. At one point I laughed and said "are you kidding me?" I grabbed my keys and we all walked down to the lobby, everyone looking at each other not knowing what was happening. We looked across the street and there was a IHOP and Johnny gave us a IHOP gift card so we headed over.

The hotel didn't burn down apparently there was an icemaker overheating so we packed up and headed out of town. The Missouri River WOW! I've seen for months now the flooding in the midwest and the rivers cresting but when you see it for yourself it's amazing. The Missouri River has destroyed land, properties, roads, bridges and everything in it's way. It really takes your breath away. I saw on the news last night that they are now worried about mold problems. It breaks my heart to see what the people have had to go through this year . . . so much worse than my television has brought into my home. I wanted to complain about the fact that the major Interstate from Iowa down to Kansas Interstate 29 was shut down in most places because of the flooding . . . and we had to take these crazy back roads the whole way but I thought after all they've been through here I had no right to complain about a little inconvenience. (that should amaze a few of you)

Camping in Minnesota

So today we tried something new. Rather then doing our usual routine, checking into the hotel, and unpacking the car. This time we pulled into a camp stop, and set up a tent instead. Yes, we were going to camp. We looked up a campground in our AAA camping book, and found KOA. Facilities? Pool, mini golf, wireless internet, nice showers, and really clean bathrooms? All of the above! We typed in the destination on our GPS, and it took us to the ugliest town located in corn central. No Way, this was definitely not the place we were looking for. But while we were there, we might as well just pull into the drive way to see. And out of nowhere a beautiful campground popped up. With trees and a pool, and all the other facilities I told you about! So we went to the front office, and were shown our camp spot! It was perfect, with a picnic table, and firepot. We pulled in our car, and Cole says, “I’m going to try to set up the tent by myself!” So we watched him try to put up the tent, and kept thinking to ourselves, “What is he doing! He clearly has no clue how to set this thing up.” But after about 10 minutes, and big blue tent was assembled behind our car. Wow, I wasn’t expecting that! Sorry Cole, because you did a really good job!!! J So once our tent was up, Cole and I hit the pool. We swam for hours, playing with a big blue beach ball they had. We made up a game, with really stupid rules, that made us both injured and annoyed, but It was probably the most I’ve laughed in a long time(and I laugh a lot). We had so much fun throwing a ball at each others faces!!! After our swimming, we all went to play mini golf! It was really fun, but we all could use some practice. We cooked smores by the fire, and watched our favorite shows on HULU on our computers in the tent! Mom told us it was her first time sleeping in tent, and I have to say, It was pretty good first time! We had so much fun that we wanted to stay another night! So if your ever in Minnesota, go to KOA!!!!!!

We Golf

Minnesota ~ We made it.

South Dakota really seems to be the biggest state! We thought we would never make it to Minnesota. We did back track a few times and head North and South instead of straight East to Minnesota for a while but finally we got back on I90 and saw the huge sign on the highway. Getting to that sign was no easy deal . . . we had to hike through tall grass and over hills and through an overgrown field. Probably to prevent people from climbing on the sign. If you see pictures of your friends on this sign you now know what they've been through.

Thunderhead Underground

Cole Posting: South Dakota, Alright now I'm going to try not to be mean but what is there besides Mt. Rushmore. Well apparently there is a Underground waterfall. Sounds impossible, i thought the same thing. Alright here's a quick background on it.... So in the 1880's a mining company bought the land and started to mine for gold.. they did it all by hand and as they continued they hit into a river running by above of them and it then broke through and created this amazing massive amount of water that pours out of this old gold mine.... They never told me what happened to those unfortunate miners who struck into that river but i imagine it was something like this...

+=

Anyways so the place is called thunderhead falls and it is this great quaint little place with no people and you enter the gave and walk about 2-3 blocks through this mine to see this incredible waterfall with so much power it honestly was stunning! I recommend it to everyone. Checking Out...

Cole Driving . . . FAST

So he's only had his permit less than a week and here he is driving on a highway in South Dakota!
And he's driving 75 mph!

Crazy Horse

I've been told by more than a few friends (and you know who you are) that I need to see Crazy Horse . . . and a few people were shocked that we didn't see it when we were at Rushmore years ago. So today I make the decision that no matter what we're going to see the Indian carved into the mountain. We were told that Crazy Horse is on the other side of Rushmore . . . well that was a lie . . . it's actually a 20 minute drive and more than a few turns. We get to Crazy Horse and I fully expect to see a beautiful carving of an Indian riding a wild horse . . . but NO!!! They only have the face completed and the rest of the project is sitting there in stone waiting to be carved. The artist started this 55 years ago and they are continuing to work on it. What??! It's not finished? I decided I'm not paying $30 to go see a project that's not completed . . . if I want to see incomplete projects I could just walk around my house and look at them all . . . hell if I charged everyone $30 I could actually get started on some of them. So for 55 years they've been charging people to view Crazy Horse and they don't have the funding to finish it? AND it was packed there . . . apparently everyone else has friends who have guilted them into seeing this. We did a U turn in the parking lot and drove on to the most amazing cave we've ever seen. I'm going to attach the photo that I've seen for years of Crazy Horse and if you note in the background you can see a profile that's all that's carved so far.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore

That Water Slide . . .

I'd like to comment on the water park slide. I decided only to go once so they would stop bugging me and stop telling me that all the other mom's would do it. I reluctantly put on my bathing suit and decide to go just once down the easy slide . . . because there are two slides one difficult and one easy. I watch a few people coming out of a tube into the pool and they all seem to be really enjoying it. I climb up 20 flights of stairs (maybe less than that but I felt my ears pop) I'm not thrilled about looking down and there's the entrance to a water slide. Can't be that difficult to do. I sit and slowly push myself forward . . . THE TUNNEL IS COMPLETELY DARK!! I'm slapped right then left when I feel I'm turning to the right I get jolted to the left instead. This water slide had it's way with me . . . I can't see a thing! when will it end and what kind of ending will it have . . . can Cole drive home from here alone because I may not make it. BAAAAAM I hit the water and I'm down 20 feet . . . OK follow the bubbles so you'll know which way is up. I finally find my way to the top of the pool only to see Cole & Jacquelyn falling over laughing at me. Big Laughs . . . Oh I certainly made their day. Jacquelyn said this was the best day of her life. really?!! happy there are no photos to follow.

A Night In South Dakota

After a long drive, for both of us. Yes I drove yet again, but this time i went on the freeway to reach a total of 75mph which is quite scary, my question is am I more nervous or is Mom? I drove for a hour and a half and learned how hard it is to drive for long periods of time. I only drove for an hour and a half and my eyes were bugged out and my feet were numb. I have no clue how mom can drive so far shes really got some talent there.

We settled into Rapid City, The town is good sized and about 30 minutes or so from Mt. Rushmore. We unpacked the load that we appear to need for a single night. To our pleasant surprise the hotel brought us in a mini fridge for the night which was perfect. Jacquelyn and I later walked down the the pool area where we saw a massive indoor pool and a small attached indoor water park. Jacquelyn and I hit the slides and it was quite fun and refreshing after having a hot day in the car. Mom even came in for 3 slides! it was so much fun and I'm so happy mom came in with us because i know she isn't a big fan of water slides. I got a little video of the slides on my camera. The majority of the video is too dark to see due to the dark tubes but i'll cut out the good parts and post a video soon.

All Day in Wyoming

Day four: We're up again ready to attack another day on the road. We packed up our car, and off we went. While we were driving down the highway, there on the right hand side is a sign saying Coalville! So of course Cole says in the loudest voice possible, "COALVILLE! mom we have to stop!" So we did. We pulled of the exit, and into the lovely Coalville. And let me say, Coalville is maybe the ugliest town I've ever seen! As we drive into the main part of the town, we past lots of shacks, which I suppose were meant to be stores, but I'm not sure. But to Cole, Coalville is just perfect! For such a small town it had the largest sign we've ever seen.

My only question is why does Cole have a town, and mom has Coralville Iowa, and I don't even have one! Not fair. I'm just waiting for the day I see a Jacquelynville, or even Jackie Town, I don't know, anything would work.

So once we left Coalville, we continued driving down the road exiting Utah, and entering Wyoming. Once in Wyoming, we pulled of the road where we had lunch by a river! And that was pretty much most of the day. Wait no, i forgot something. Okay so as we were driving down the road and little bird flew right in front of the car, and no we didn't hit it, it hit us with a gigantic bomb! The poor little bird left bird smudge on our window! After we got over how sad it was, we began laughing. We laughed for like 15 minutes. It was possibly the funniest thing ever! It wasn't the smartest bird.

Sundance Utah is Beautiful

Roadtrip 2011 day three: This morning we woke up bright and early, well kind of. I woke up a little later, but nevertheless we began our day on the road! Driving through beautiful Utah. As we pull off to get some gas, mom jumps out of the car, and Cole got out too and jumped into the drivers seat. Now imagine me, little innocent Jacquelyn in the back seat, feeling all safe with my mom driving, and then my 16 year old brother decides he wants to drive! Not a chance! Not with me in the car, but I didn’t have much of a choice, unless I want to walk. So I checked my seatbelt to make sure it is as tight as possible, and grab all the pillows located in the back, and begin creating a giant pillow wall in front of me! Worst case scenario I hit a wall of pillow, who knows, it might be fun to bounce off a ton of pillows! So here we go, Cole turns the key, and puts the car into drive. Then to my surprise smoothly drives down the road. I’m less scared now, actually more so happy, now he can drive me around! Well we smoothly pull into the gas station parking lot, and he gets out to pump the gas. Then mom gets out to, and sits in the front, and we drive off. Now lets just fast forward through all the driving stuff and go straight to when we land at the hotel.

So we check in to our hotel, and unload all our necessary, and completely unnecessary things. Now before I tell you what we did next, I should tell you this. Mom told me a few days ago that since I wanted to go on the road trip so bad, that I should find something cool for us to do, so after hours of research(okay it was only like five minutes of research, but it felt like a long time), I finally found a perfect scenic drive for us. So that was where we were headed, to the Alpine Scenic Loop!!! It was only about 20 minutes from our hotel room, and the drive was just beautiful. There were beautiful Aspen Tress, with ferns growing between the trees. After our lovely drive, we drove into Sundance, a town on the way back from our drive, and we took a chair lift to the top of the mountain. The view from the top was spectacular! So, all I have to say now, is something to my fellow car and hotel roommates, good luck beating that!!!! :)

Las Vegas

Hello, it's Cole and I'm checking in for the first time this year. I'm so very excited to be off on yet another adventure, so here we go.....We pulled into Vegas to pass the towering buildings, lights, and TV screens to fight the hotel employees for a room but it seemed like Vegas was all sold out, we drove down the strip to arrive at a newly renovated Stratosphere. thanks to dad's online search! We checked into our room on the 20th floor and after looking out the towering window (which gave me a little vertigo) we went to the strip to explore the architecture and shops of these hotels that appear to be getting crazier and crazier. Alright now let me fill you in... 2 or 3 years ago I heard about a new hotel called city center and I guess you could say I have a had a mild obsession with going there and looking around. I'm not fully sure why but i have and when i drove in and saw that big massive towering beautiful building i suddenly knew what i was doing that night. The three of us drove on down to The hotel and snagged a AMAZING perfect parking spot and we walked up and checked out the extravagant hotel from head to toe and all over and wow it is truly amazing! we later went to a small secret pizza place in the hotel and got a big pizza which we then carried back through the halls to the car and back to the stratosphere, and through the journey our noses cried and sobbed and whined while the delicious smell filled our noses as we waited to get to our room to chow down. The Roadtrip so far seems to be going good. I'll be checking back in soon!

Day One ~ It's Hot Out There!

This is our 10th Roadtrip. Ten summers packing the car and heading out across the U.S. The first few years I was so prepared I spent months checking maps and picking routs . . . each year we get a little more comfortable with the packing and procrastination prevails. This year takes the cake. We planned the whole thing in 3 hours. We started packing on the day we left. We decided to go on our roadtrip leaving Monday . . . but Monday came and went and I had work to do and we didn't have anything packed or even a map yet. Tuesday arrived and we talked about leaving but decided to leave on Wednesday instead. Tuesday night I was too tired to pack and had too much work to do with a shipment that needed to go out. Wednesday morning is here and I wake up realizing that we can't push it off anymore and I still don't have a thing packed. Cole and Jacquelyn pack their stuff and packed food, water, maps and an air mattress. One third of the stuff we normally pack . . . We decided to leave at 10 AM and were in the car pulling out the driveway by 11AM which was pretty shocking to me. I know I left something if not many things at home. We get all the way to Del Dios and I realize I left my bluetooth at home. So we flipped it and went back to get my bluetooth. Now it's 11:30 and we were planning to get up to the Zion area. I'm starting to count the driving hours . . . won't get to Vegas until 5:00.

It's 73 degrees in San Diego and sunny and beautiful. It's been the most beautiful summer and we're leaving why? I saw the weather report today and I think I heard 112 degrees in Minnesota! We're going there why again? Each hour we drive the temperature goes up another 10 degrees or more! We pulled over along the way and it was 109 degrees . . . that's HOT!!! And I'm not sure I want to go to Minnesota! Also how in the world did we not go through Minnesota on the 10 previous trips? I want a recount ~ I want to go back up to the North West and visit Washington again.


At 5:00PM we pulled into Vegas and found a place to stay because I wasn't driving anymore . . . only 5 hours in and I'm tired already. We were sad that the MGM had already sold out and a few other places we wanted to stay. We ended up at the Stratosphere in a newly remodeled room that we loved on the 20 floor with great views. Day One is over.

Welcome to our 2011 road trip adventure. Where will our white mini van take us this year you might ask. Well to our very last state (the last state you can drive to) Minnesota. Follow us as we travel again across the states. Thank you for coming along with us on our travels.