JULY 5-17: Utah & CO

JULY 5-17:  Utah (SLC, Moab, Zion) & Colorado (Mesa Verde)

The gang in Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Arches National Park, Utah

MOAB (Moab, Canyonlands NP, Arches NP):

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Sebbie discovering an ancient granary in Canyonlands National Park

Gabo in Arches National Park, Utah

Gabo:  I'm thirsty.  I'm hot.  I'm tired.  I see curvy yellow and red rocks all around me.  I nap, play, and hike.  I play at the campsite in the pool and at night time I play under the arches.

Max and Gabo on the rim of the "Double Arch" in Arches National Park 

Max and Kari at the "Double Arch" in Arches National Park

Hike to Negro Bill's Canyon, Moab

Kari:  Julian and I were in Moab in 2002, when Moab still catered to dirt-bags with little more than tents and bikes, and our lives had yet to be transformed by children.  We were awed by the sublime beauty of the canyons and desert landscapes and looked forward to the day when we could share this place with our children.  Fast-forward to 2016.  In heat that exceeded 100 degrees for most of the day, we took our kids to all of our favorite places...and continued to be greeted with, at best, bored faces and, at worst, expressions of incomprehension.  What did we think was so amazing about Canyonlands, they wondered.  More tall red rocks, they lamented.  Mountain biking in Moab is too tiring, they complained.  We were so sad!!  Then one night we defied convention and set off for Arches National Park at 6:30pm, late enough that the entry gate was unattended, visitor center closed, and parking lots relatively empty.  We started our adventure at the so-called "double arch".  The boys ran up the red rock and immediately found their way under a gigantic boulder pile that hid a small cave where they happily created an explorer game.  Eventually they emerged from the cave and started scrambling up the sides of the natural amphitheater to the rim of the arch...and were amazed.

Campsite #2 in Moab, along the Colorado River

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO:

The climb up to Balcony House, Mesa Verde NP

After successfully climbing up to Balcony House, Mesa Verde NP

Gabo:  I became a junior ranger in Mesa Verde by doing a big packet and saying the ranger's pledge.  I climbed up into the Balcony House, one of the buildings in Mesa Verde.  I felt scared because I'm afraid of heights and it's high up.  But I did it anyway and felt happy.

Julian, Kari, Sebbie in Mesa Verde National Park (look to the left of JP's feet)

Sebastian, Mesa Verde NP, Colorado

JULY 1-4: Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Wyoming

Jenny Lake, Teton National Park, WY

KARI:  Wyoming was new territory for all of us and exceeded all of our expectations.  We started our adventure in Jackson, where we landed an incredible campsite at Shadow Mountain with a stunning view of the Teton range.  (The only criticism we could make about this site, besides the lack of a toilet, was the prevalence of biting flies.  I've never seen anything like it!  Julian's theory is that these two things - no toilet and swarms of flies - are connected.  I'm not so sure.)  We explored Teton NP on foot and by bike, and spent an afternoon and evening walking and driving through Yellowstone NP.  After Jackson we hit Granite Creek hot spring - a highlight for the boys.  We loved the place so much that we spent the night at the campground there in another amazing site.  That captures how we felt about Wyoming in general - so amazing that we wanted to stay just a little bit longer...

GABO:  When we were at the tetons we saw mountains that could touch the clouds.  And we also saw these things that looked like prairie dogs but were actually ground squirrels. And we also saw lots and lots of deer.

And also there was this big storm that started sprinkling, then raining, then pouring them thunder and then we went into the tent and it was hail!!!

MAX:  The Tetons were so cool. They were these mountains that touched the clouds. They looked so cool.

Sebbie at Shadow Mtn. campsite

   

Granite Creek, WY

Sebbie at Granite Creek, WY

 

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

GABO:  Then we went to Yellowstone and there were actually yellow stones, well, they weren't actually yellow atonement was just pollen on the stones which made them look yellow which is why I guess they call it "Yellowstone".

And we also saw these geysers and we saw old faithful blow up and hot water came out and steam coming out and it was really cool.  Then we got ice cream and we saw a wild bird inside and it was really cool!

MAX:  Yellowstone was so cool. We watched old faithful blow up!!! We also saw tons of geysers they were so cool. There were also tons of Yellow stones.

JUNE 27-31: Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Badlands National Park

Bison jam in Badlands

GABO:  My favorite part about the Badlands was seeing all the animals like the buffalo and the prairie dogs.

We saw a dead prairie dog in the middle of the road.  It was so sad I started to cry. 

On our first day, we got a campsite but didn't see the part that said, horse area. And for the first two days it was fine but on the third day there were horse people there and they kicked us out of our site even though we were there first.  That wasn't very nice.

And also when we were there we went to the Wall Drug and papa gave us ten dollars to buy something and I bought a pocket knife with a saw, and scissors and a cheese knife and a nail filer and a bottle opener and a can opener.

MAX:  The Badlands were so awesome. I liked them because they looked so cool. They had these jagged edges.

Bison in Badlands National Park

Bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park 

Badlands National Park

Kari and Gabo in Badlands

Max, Papa, and Gabo in Badlands

Storm in the distance, near Badlands, SD

Mt. Rushmore

Mt. Rushmore

Gabo at Mt. Rushmore

American Heartland

JUNE 25:  Columbus, OH to Sioux City, IA (16 hour day!!)

We were in the car for too long yesterday!  We listened to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, played "Guess Who," and played on devices.  When we looked out the window it looked plain and dull and GREEN!  We saw the Mississippi River; it goes from Canada from the Gulf of Mexico.  And now we're in Sioux City, Iowa, heading to Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  The weather is perfect! Today we are going to South Dakota. - Max

Iowa?  Illinios?

Mississippi River

Heading west...

Crashin' at the Tanguay's

JUNE 22-25:  Columbus, OHIO

It was boring in the long car ride but it was worth seeing the cousins. We saw Charlie, Miles, Mose, Cash, Royal, Lola, and Milla.  Thanks to the Tanguays for letting the gang of 12 crash at your house!

("What if they made 'Angry Meals,'" wondered Gabo at a lonely Burger King in PA.)

Family Visits

DAY 2, JUNE 21-22:  Colton, NY to Rochester, NY

After a late-night arrival in Colton, NY, a mid-morning repacking job (thanks Bones and Omis!), and a bonus birthday celebration for Grandma Sal, we hit the road.

We started the Rochester trip at the Jobson house.  We only see the O'Brien side cousins twice a year, but each time it's a blast:  playing in the pool and trampoline; eating lots of yummy food; and participating in an wild sleepover.

  

The next morning we toured the elevators at Golisano Children's Hospital with Uncle Brian and got to hear the messages that Max and Gabo recorded at each floor.

We wrapped up the Rochester leg of the adventure with a visit with [Great] Grandma Hoose.  Thanks for satisfying the boys' "fruit tooth"! 

Amazed and concerned

And so the great American road trip begins!  We've found that people have two basic  reactions when we tell them that we're embarking upon a two-month road trip with our three kiddos:

1. The amazed. Wow!  That's so cool, how fun!
2. The concerned. Whoa, not sure I could handle that much time in the car with my kids and my spouse.

I think it's safe to say that we feel both, more of one or another depending on the time of day. Already our own stress over packing, spats between the guys or the endless whenarewegoingtobetheres have tested our patience and our creativity. But the open road and good times with the  cousins in Rochester and soon in Columbus Ohio are early wins!

So keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned! California here we come!