DAY FOURTEEN, part three: Oklahoma City, OK ro Ozark, AR

DAY FOURTEEN, part three: Oklahoma City, OK t0 Ozark, AR


Uneventful drive. Covered lots of ground. We decided to stop and leave just under 800 miles to drive tomorrow. John wanted to get some sparkling juice and a hotel room to ring in the New Year together in a nice way.

The town of Ozark does not have a grocery or liquor store near its exit off of I-40. But it does have a Days Inn. We haven’t had much luck with Day’s Inns since the one in Cleveland had a hooker in the pool and the room smelled so bad Kaylin had a weird allergic reaction that caused her eyes to swell. So needless to say I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

We are 780.7 miles from home. I think we’ll be able to cover that ground tomorrow, barring weird weather or traffic. And we still have Sunday as a buffer if we need to stop tomorrow night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! I wish you all lots of love. The happy, strong, makes you feel dizzy kind of love and the deep-rooted tightly bound family kind of love, too! I wish you all much joy. The makes you want to dance even though people ARE looking kind of joy : ) And I wish you all lots of peace and contentment. The sitting in quiet moments, reflecting on life til the edges of your lips curl up kind of contentment <3 <3

Here’s to 2011!

DAY FOURTEEN, part two: Amarillo TX to Oklahoma City OK

DAY FOURTEEN, part two: Amarillo, TX to Oklahoma City, OK


Just after I composed my last message, we drove past rather unique sight. There were 10 cars buried in the ground in a line standing on end. “Is that Carhenge?” I asked John. He didn’t think so, he thought that was in Arizona. So we consulted our dear friend Google and learned that first of all, there is more than one Carhenge and second, there IS one outside of Amarillo, Texas.

Thinking of my nephews Anthony and Michael, and in the spirit of the Griswold family road trip we turned around to go and take photos. Once we faced westbound, the winds were really something. The shook the RV and it was very hard to get to speed. I think with that kind of tail wind we shouldn’t even have to hit the gas pedal!

We parked along the old highway and stepped out into that wind!! I think Ava might have blown away if we didn’t hold onto her! A long walk down into a farm field allowed an up close and personal look at 10 Cadillacs buried windshield deep into the ground. It’s a shame it was so cold and windy. It made the stop much less enjoyable, but we snapped some pictures and ran back to the warmth of the truckster.

The drive in to Oklahoma City was plain boring compared to the wild ride we’ve had for the past few days. We had made excellent time today! We found the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Memorial. What a sobering experience for New Year’s Eve. The sun was setting and it was a beautiful backdrop for the lit memorials. It is hard to imagine the evil that human beings are capable of committing towards each other.

We drove a bit further down the highway to find a place to eat dinner. We found a Santa Fe Cattlehouse or something like that. This place had the best prices of any place we have eaten so far! John got a steak, and all of us ate for less than what we paid at IHOP this morning! : )

It’s now getting to be 8pm and we have 250 miles to go before we can stop. With the time change looming ahead of us, I will be midnight or later before we stop. This will mark the most interesting way I have rung in the New Year since I spent the night of the new millennium pacing the floor of the maternity ward at Abington Memorial Hospital hoping that Reagan would be the New Year baby!

I am lonely for the parties and friends and family gatherings that so many of my friends are describing and posting about. I know that the experience I am having while vastly different is still enviable to some, so I am thankful. But I’d give an eye tooth just to find a radio station to countdown the Top 100 of 2010! Haha!

I asked the girls about resolutions and both denied having any. Kaylin did concede to wanting to eat better, after some careful thought. I imagine Reagan’s would have something to do with beating a certain level on one of his games, and Ava’s might be to be extra adorable, or something. As for me, I am resolving to be a happier person this year. To continue to leave the jobs, situations, habits, people, and things behind that have made me feel poorly about myself or stressed or sad. I will fight hard to retain those things that bring me joy or contentment, and continue to work hard to figure out what those things might be. Some friends of mine are on the same page, and I am excited for them. 2011 scares the crap out of me, but I think I am ready. I’d better be, right? : )

DAY FOURTEEN, part one: Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX

DAY FOURTEEN, part one: Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX


We checked in to the hotel and immediately developed a pecking order for showers. Everyone took the longest showers of their lives. The girls and I literally scrubbed ourselves with our fingernails. Kaylin emerged and announced, “I feel human again!”

As John showered I ordered pizza for our late dinner. When the lady on the other end told me it would be an hour before they delivered them, it didn’t even faze me. Par for the course. An hour and 20 minutes later, at 10:30pm, we had our dinner.

John sat on the computer visiting and revisiting websites to find information about weather and roads. Apparently when we decided to scrap our plans it wasn’t etched in stone. So imagine my surprise this morning when he announced we were going back to the original plan.

Over breakfast we decided to take baby steps with the original plan and continue our quest for home. According to the GPS we are a little over 1500 miles from home. We’ll make 750 a goal for today and tomorrow. We plan to head to Amarillo, see what kind of time we are making and what the roads and weather look like. The plan is to still head to Oklahoma City and see the Memorial to the bombing there. I have a sneaking suspicion Memphis will be scrapped. The plan for now is to find a nice place for dinner to celebrate New Year’s.

We passed the exit that had forced us off the highway last night. We drove for about 20 miles and commented about how of all the roadways we had traversed, this one seemed the least likely to have the need to be closed. But there was evidence of tire tracks into the snowy median here and there. Then we saw a car hauling a trailer facing backwards in the ditch. Then another in the median. Next was the jack knifed semi truck and the van in the median heading westbound. The traffic jam in the opposite direction was horrendous. Thankfully it looked as though no one had been hurt. About 10 miles down there was another traffic jam heading westward. This time a truck with a 2-car hauling trailer was in the median. It had lost one of the vans it was carrying. The van was on its roof. A second car was involved. There were miles of back-up from this one too. Whenever I pass an accident, I always worry about those involved and have a sense of gratitude that I was spared.

Just past Santa Rosa, New Mexico the snow disappeared! The wind kicked up quite a bit. We actually saw a HUGE tumbleweed blow across the highway! John called it a tumble-shrub! And 70 miles from Tucumcari, we rolled over 5000 miles. No cheering. John actually forgot to tell us! : )

Thank goodness for warmer weather, easier travel, and renewed spirits!

DAY THIRTEEN, part three: Moriarty, NM back to Albuquerque, NM

DAY THIRTEEN, part three: Moriarty, NM back to Albuquerque, NM


So the highway was closed. This caused a major difference in opinion in what to do next. I won. I’m sorry. I’m a bitch, but I want a hotel room tonight with a soft bed. I want a shower. I want to de-stress. I don’t want to sleep in another damn parking lot.

As we waited for the water tank to refill, I went online to try and find hotels. The connection was bad and getting a page to download on one of the hotel websites was torture.

Thanks to some of my friend Kim via facebook I have been able to see what we have been fortunate enough to avoid. The 100 mph winds in the Sierra Nevada. The rockslide at Yosemite. The accidents on I-40 that forced its closure.

I deleted the rest of the trip off of the GPS in order for it to give me the fastest route home. Sadly, it kept us on I-40. So I found a website for New Mexico’s road conditions, and after a painful wait it finally gave me the information I wanted. We are going to head back to Albuquerque, then south on I-25, then cut back over to Roswell and head home through Dallas again.

I gave up on my internet and texted my friend Susan to help me find a hotel off of I-25 south. As she searched we stopped at a couple of hotels near the highway closure. From the looks of the parking lots I knew we were out of luck. At the Comfort Inn, the guy in front of John got the last room.

Susan gave me a list of hotels and even a general vicinity of where to find them. She gave me phone numbers. I called one and we are on our way as I type.

I am so fortunate to have the friends I have. Trapped in a car for 2 weeks with family is rough. I mean, I love them, but it is so nice to have a link to the outside world. People can make fun of facebook or me texting all they want. It has been my link to sanity. And to each and every one of you who has helped me, heard from me, got sick of the infinite postings, or grown tired of your phone buzzing, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, for keeping me grounded and reminding me of my blessings.

I’m obviously really tired. So I’m sappy. Tomorrow the new Griswold roadtrip “Homeward Bound” begins.

DAY THIRTEEN, part two: Four Corners Monument (AZ, NM, UT, CO) to Moriarty, NM

DAY THIRTEEN, part two: Four Corners Monument (AZ, NM, UT, CO) to Moriarty, NM


We arrived at the Indian-owned and operated monument only to learn they charge $3 per person. And do not take cash. Despite my best efforts to ensure we always had cash on us throughout the trip, a miscommunication resulted in zero cash on hand. The lovely Navajo lady told us the ATM was a short 5-mile backtrack away.

John hasn’t showered in about 4 days, nor has he shaved. He looks pretty disheveled at this point. HE looked at the woman, and with every ounce of pathetic he could muster said, “Do you have any idea what we’ve been through to get here?” She smiled and said “I’m guessing a lot.”

She must’ve caught a sniff from inside the RV, or she was taken with John’s greaser look (Bowser from Sha-Na-Na’s hair looks drier), or like the Grinch her heart grew three sizes that day. But for whatever reason, she took pity on us. But this is an Indian money-maker, so in what must be true Navajo style, she said “Just give me whatever cash you have and I’ll let you in.”

We scraped together $9 in quarters, nickels, and dimes.

We took pictures at the monument and froze our butts off. I had originally planned an hour or two there. The fifteen minutes we spent was enough! Back on the road we were graced with clean roads and even some sunshine. We skipped our lunch destination in the interest of time. With all the slow travel from snow it doesn’t seem likely we’ll make our designated stop tonight.

Then in the middle of New Mexico, the roads became treacherous again. Literally they had not been plowed at all. Back to cars stuck in ditches. The only positive was it was no longer snowing and visibility was excellent. But we were right back to me abusing the phrase “slow down John” once more.

We were all so happy to descend into Albuquerque. A big city! With radio stations! And a highway! And plowed roads! We were making great time, and even though calculations had us pulling into our dinner stop of Santa Rosa at around 8pm, we were all willing to wait. We scaled the mountain just east of Albuquerque, and the road was very clean and easily traversed. We came upon the town of Moriarty, 80 miles from Santa Rosa, and flashing lights and road barriers forced us off the highway.

We stopped at a truck stop and asked for information. They have no idea when the road will reopen. It is closed due to multiple accidents from wintry conditions. The side of the onramp back onto the highway is lined with trucks and cars, all with people sleeping in them. We called a local RV park (described as a “dump” by two websites) to see if they had an opening. They are snowed in. The truck stop said they would allow us to fill our water tank. I am so ready to drive back to Albuquerque and drop plastic for a nice room at the Marriott. Screw this. But John won’t be daunted. Ugh.

So as the girls whine for a hotel, John keeps telling me to “find a way home,” and I am ready to walk to an airport and get the Hell out of Dodge. Good fun family times! I am sure one day this will be funny. And I am very grateful we were not one of the vehicles involved in an accident that caused the highway to be closed. But I am having such a hard time with all of this. And no matter what its another 2-3 days til we’re home.

I used to hate it when I was a kid, and people made fun of my name by using Wizard of Oz references every chance they got. But this is one “Dorothy” who is clicking her heels tonight and saying “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

DAY THIRTEEN, part one: Monticello, UT to Four Corners Monument (CO, UT, AZ, NM)

DAY THIRTEEN, part one: Monticello, UT to Four Corners Monument (CO, UT, AZ, NM)


It was so cold last night! But I slept. I think I slept 12 hours. I needed it. I was getting defeated.

Just as we suspected we were snowed in. The RV owner told John he would plow us out but it would take an hour or more. We ate waffles and bacon as we waited for the guy to use his snow blower and his ATV with a plow to clean the lot. We had hoped to leave by 8. We pulled out after 10:30.

The roads in Monticello had been touched by a plow at some point in the night. But the snow had regained its strangle-hold on the road. As we left Monticello, the snow started with a vengeance. And mother nature began to take a full-blown snow laden dump on the Roberts family.

There are no towns along this stretch of road. There is no breakdown lane to pull off in, and in white-out conditions, if you do, a plow can be your demise. We had no choice but to keep on keepin on. More often than not we couldn’t see the road. We watched the car in front of us go off the road into the deep snow of the shoulder. They’re not getting out any time soon. We passed at least 3 semi trucks, and three more cars. Shortly after we came to a car in the ditch (being rescued by a cop and a tow truck) we saw 2 plows on the side of the road. We had to stop as the further one was making a 3-point turn to head back and plow the northern route. We pulled up next to the second plow and asked if he was going to be plowing in our direction. When he said yes we were thrilled. I told him we were going to follow him.

The plow was a blessing and a curse to follow. Yes, his flashing lights and enormous orange body made it easy to see where to point the RV. But the snow he kicked up, when coupled with the right winds cused a complete white out. We were forced to stop numerous times just to regain a visual of the road. I even had to hang my head out the window to grab the wiper and clear the ice from it. I felt like Ace Ventura. I had checked the weather and found there were snow warnings all the way to Tucumcari. At least in Amarillo the snow *should* be done.

The stress and fear wreaked havoc on John and I. He made seemingly ridiculous demands of me (help me see the road, when does the snow end, etc) and I was a complete back seat driver scraping his last nerve (slow down, you’re following too close, etc). When the road was come semblance of clear we bid adieu to the plow and stopped for gas. John and I both think the past couple of days took years off of our lives. I have been amazed that we have not been at each other’s throats. I am trying to keep in mind the close quarters and the front row seat our kids have to our relationship right now.

When we left the gas station and headed further south (and down) the roads cleared and I saw a glimpse of blue sky over the mountain. I can’t tell you how happy this made me. I am ever so hopeful the worst is behind us. It certainly can’t get worse!

DAY TWELVE, part two: Salinas, UT to Monticello, UT (via Arches National Park)

DAY TWELVE, part two: Salinas, UT to Monticello, UT (via Arches National Park)


The drive from Salinas to Arches found us in and out of the snow. And up and down in mountains. It wasn’t a bad drive, comparatively. We just wanted to keep ahead of the next pounding of snow that was heading our way. We also wanted to arrive at Arches/Canyonlands with enough time to appreciate the views.

As we got closer and closer, we realized that the timing of the sunset was working against us. With advice from friends, we decided to skip Canyonlands. It was a huge park, and we had seen the Grand Canyon after all. It broke my heart a little, but I am so appreciative of all the beauty and wonder I have seen thus far. We pulled in to Arches at 3:00. I asked the ranger what time the sun would set, and he said 5:03. Even though we made it to the park, we would have to pick and choose how often we stopped for photos and whatnot.

As we drove up in elevation winding into the park, John noted that it seems everything we have wanted to see in the past few days has been located uphill in the snow! We were in Wile E. Coyote country! The rock formations were gorgeous. Desirae particularly liked “Balanced Rock.” We wondered if in 20 years, if the girls bring their kids here, will the rock still be there? I liked the parade of elephants, but I really wanted to see the namesake of the park, the arches!

We turned down a road to head towards “delicate arch.” As we did, I made hot chocolate in the back of the RV. Quite an adventure to pour scalding hot water and keep three cups of hot cocoa upright as we bounced down the road. But I did it without a single drop of chocolate lost!

We parked at the vista point for Delicate Arch, and Desirae wasn’t feeling well enough to leave and venture to see it. Five of us walked toward the trail. There was the option of the lower vista or the upper vista. The lower vista point was directly in front of us. The upper vista was down a little hiking trail. Reagan said we should do the upper vista. And so we followed.

Shortly up the trail, the red clay became red soup. John opted not to continue. But the three kids and I pushed forward. The snow started to come down in big fluffy flakes at this point. I was concentrating too hard on not slipping into the red sloppy mess on the ground to appreciate it. The trail led to “stairs” and I use this term very loosely. In the summer I am sure they were nice rock stairs. Now they were caked with the clay, snow, and mud from many a hiker.

Just as I thought to myself “this probably isn’t safe” Ava slipped. She caught herself well, slapping her gloved hands into the blood-red clay, and scaring herself a little. Her pants were ruined. Executive decision: even though we were 90% of the way there, we needed to turn around. Kaylin took Ava’s hand, and Reagan navigated them down. I fell behind.

I followed the lead of the small group ahead of me, and left the “trail” to walk in the brush and rock beside it. It was only slightly drier with much less puddles. I realized on the hike down that I had been staring at my feet, carefully choosing each step. I decided to stop and look up. I was in one of the most beautiful places on earth and I had been staring at my shoes! When I lifted my head, my eyes were met with a mountain in the not-to-far distance. It was stunning. So many colors all in one place. The vibrancy of the colors was so much more pronounced with the white stripes of snow highlighting it in all the right places. I took a picture. The reality hit me: even though it wasn’t strenuous, I was hiking in the snow! I LOVED IT.

I got to the lower vista point, and the kids had moved on to the RV and their hot chocolate. I was still alone, and at the lower vista took pictures and took my time. I enjoyed the isolation, the peace, and the beauty. I am going back there, maybe even on my own. : ) I recommend NOT going in the winter. It is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but there seems to be a lot of hiking to be done and it isn’t all accessible in winter. And I imagine summer might be a bit hot.

We headed to the next spot I was so excited to see. Lots of arches to view. The road went up and up and the snow came down and down. Until visibility was next to nothing. John pulled into a vista point to contemplate our next move. Broken hearted I conceded we turn around and leave the park. When three emergency vehicles passed us heading up on our way down I knew we made the right decision.

We were only 50 miles from our campground, so we stopped to enjoy dinner. I had to Kokopelli chicken which was topped with the diner’s famous green chili (the sign at the restaurant said “The Best Green Chili in Utah! It must have been the ONLY green chili in Utah). The talk over dinner was how badly everyone needed a shower (except me!) and we discussed how many days each had gone without one. I looked at the website for the campground and it proudly bragged of its clean showers! John and the girls cheered!

As we headed down the road, we climbed in elevation and the snow fell even harder. We were behind a Wal-Mart semi, so we gladly followed his footsteps and dry road. He was going pretty fast, so we figured he knew the roads well. As we hit a steep incline and approached 7000 feet, the truck slowed to 20 mph. John was tempted to pass him, but I wondered if maybe he knew something we didn’t. And in a few feet we came upon the semi truck that had gone off the road into the ditch. We decided to stay at 20 mph and keep behind the Wal-Mart guy.

We reached the town of Monticello, home of the Bar-TN RV park. Our trucker friend turned onto a side highway and we proceeded to find the park. There were cars stuck in the snow on either side of the road. John mentioned how he hoped the park was plowed or we wouldn’t be able to get in. I had tried their phone numerous times throughout the day and it was someone’s personal cell phone. Who didn’t believe in calling back.

We found the park. A plow hadn’t touched it. John got out to inspect. As he did, we noticed a deer on the side of the road up ahead. Ava noticed it first and all four kids crowded up to the front to look. As they did, the deer ran across the road, and four of its friends appeared on the side of the road, too. Collective “ooo”s and “ahh”s rang out. Until the four decided to cross the snowy road. And a semi came. As the teens shouted “Go! Go! Go!” to the deer, I yelled, “Ava! Reagan! Close your eyes! This won’t be good!” Yet all five of us watched as all of the deer made it in the nick of time out of the path of the truck!

John came back and said there was no way to get into the park. We had passed another RV park a couple miles back and thought we could head to see what it looked like. With GPS up and running I could see there were many hotels in the town. I tried to convince John that with the money we saved sleeping in a parking lot last night, coupled with whatever we were going to pay tonight, we might be able to find an inexpensive hotel for everyone to shower and crash in for the night. Undaunted he headed for the RV park.

We pulled in to the Mountain View RV park on the only stretch of driveway that had been cleared. There was a man on what John called a “Mule” (looked like an ATV to me) that had a plow on the front. He was going to town on that driveway. He stopped and came to the window. John asked if there was any room, and he looked over the snowy field and said, “well, no, but I can try and plow out a pull-thru for ya.”

We watched this man work his ass off in the snow for a good 10+ minutes, all the while we tried convincing John to get a hotel room. But after all the work that man did we felt a little obligated. Plus I could see the shower building out the window, so the girls were somewhat uplifted by that.

The man cleared the spot, and drove over to talk to John at the window. “You can have that spot now. By the way, no water hook ups tonight.” “Ummmmm, ok. How about the showers?” “Nope. We’re remodeling those.” So John pulled in and told the girls that after my shower there was ¾ of a tank of water. That should be enough for the three of them to have a quick wash. He parked, hooked up the electric and sewer, and came in to take the first hot shower. Only to find the tank was empty.

For the first time since we left, John became unglued. I can’t say as I blame him. This leg of the trip wasn’t supposed to have coincided with a blizzard. It wasn’t supposed to be driven in white out conditions at 25 miles per hour. It wasn’t supposed to be dangerous and scary. And it wasn’t supposed to be without water on a cold stressful night.

Depression was gripping me hard. I reminded myself that I could be at work. I could be dealing with the day-to-day grind. I could have missed all the wonderful things I got to see and do. So as John melted down (which again, I do not begrudge him this) I went outside to make a small snowman. Who knows when I’ll have the chance again, right? Powdery snow sucks for snowmen. I had no idea. I gave up. I’ll make one out of sand when I get home. I went inside and went to sleep, nervous we’d be snowed in by daybreak.

DAY TWELVE, part one: Ely, NV to Salinas, UT

DAY TWELVE, part one: Ely, NV to Salinas, UT


I woke up to the distinctive long, low whooooosh of plow blades along concrete followed by the high pitched squealing blasts alerting everyone they have reversed direction. John got up, and I peered out the window to see it was still dark outside. I fell back asleep. Until I felt I was moving. At first it scared me, then I remembered John said he was going to get gas before heading out.

Once the vehicle stopped I climbed down from the loft and brushed my teeth. The glimpse of my stress-laden tired (and dirty) self in the mirror made me want to add “truck stop with a shower” to our list of stops. At 5:30 the sun has not come up over the mountains we are going to brave today. But since we are both awake, we decide to press forward knowing that each mile will bring more light. We also know there may be another storm at the heels of the one we endured last night and we’d like to stay ahead of that one.

We only went a few miles on the dark snowy road before the blowing snow obscuring our vision coupled with the fact the reflectors marking the edges of the road were covered in snow and not doing their job, made us want to stop and wait for sunrise. We came to a pull-out immediately after a sign flashing that there was a mandatory snow chain requirement.

We waited and debated putting on snow chains. As we did, two semi trucks pulled in behind us. As the sky began to lighten, John decided to put the chains on the tires. What a nightmare. HE had to lay in the snow, as the wind blew sideways at him. IT was a colossal pain in the ass, and I think his blood pressure rose quite a bit. We hadn’t even gone a few miles and he was taking them off. More laying in the snow. They always make it sound like putting on snow chains is so easy anybody could do it. I think that’s BS.

We realized that last night, in the midst of the blizzard, we rolled over 4000 miles. It was not met with fanfare this time. The kids either played, laughed, or slept, completely unaware of the danger. That was one thing that warmed my heart.

The Snake Valley, which spans between Nevada and Utah had wind gusts like I’ve never seen. Its really hard to capture on video, but I tried. You can’t win it seems, but simply hop from one weather extreme to the next. We couldn’t wait to get out of the treachery of the mountains, and to finally drop in elevation. Then, at 5000 feet, there are no mountains around. Therefore there is no barrier for the winds. The gusts were easily 40 miles per hour or more and had thrown drifts across the highway, the height and density of which were impossible to gage. We were both happy and scared to see the road lead straight into the mountains again. Please, God, let this road stay on the valley floor, free of wind, icy roads, and drop-offs.

For a good long stretch on 50 we were in clear roads and low altitudes, free of heavy winds. We were able to make up a lot of ground. I started to crave a shower like nobody’s business. Every pore of my being is in desperate need of a loofa and some flowery soap. The girls are feeling it, too. So I was ever so excited to see a billboard for the Flying J in Scipio, which proudly boasted “Shower Facilities.”

When we rolled into Scipio, the snow started again. But I was so anxious to peel off these pajamas and hop into a warm roomy shower. The girls, too. John went in and asked. $10 per person. Cue the “zonk” music. I turned on the water heater in the RV and told John in 20 minutes when the water’s warm, we’re stopping and I’m getting clean. He is not a fan of this plan, so I had to pull the “well I didn’t want to stop at a pawn shop” card. WHAM!

Its been 20 minutes and we’re back in a blizzard. I’m meant to be completely rank today. : (

Middle of nowhere Salina, Utah. In the parking lot of a Sinclair gas station. I’m taking a shower. Thank you sweet baby Jesus in a manger. 50% was hot, 50% was cold, all of it was soapy and sudsy, so color me happy. Even when I had to step out of the shower into the 30 degree air that was wafting in through the vent. HALLELUJAH! I’M CLEAN!!!

DAY ELEVEN, part two: South Lake Tahoe, CA to Ely, NV

DAY ELEVEN, part two: South Lake Tahoe, CA to Ely, NV


WE’RE BACK TO THE LAND OF STRAIGHT ROADS!!! YIPPEEEE!

Route 50 through Nevada is called “The Loneliest Road in America” and I know why. Tiny towns in wide open tan fields of brush are all we pass through. Carson City was just a small speck. I was excited to see what “Stagecoach” would look like. Would it be like an old west movie set? An old mining town? Nah, it was 5 mobile homes and a fence. Seriously.

We passed Fallon and the range that John has flown to a few times and eventually we came to a huge expanse of flat land surrounded by mountains. As the sunset, we were able to make out that this was desert land. In the final remnants of light I could see that it was dusted in snow. How amazing.

My heart sank as I looked at the mileage until Arches. All the climbing out and around Yosemite took muuuuuuch longer than it should have, and in the dark, at 5pm, we still have 600 miles ahead of us and a time change that will cost is an hour. We had planned to be home on January 1st. We may need to push that to the 2nd if we want to see Arches without rushing.

By 5:30 the sky was black. Sometimes on this lonely highway we were the only car for as far as the eye could see. John wants to pull over around 8 or so and shut off all the lights just to experience the dark of night. My only wish is that the rain stops so that we can see some stars. I’ll bet the sky out here is simply astonishing on a clear cold night.

We spoke too soon, because before we knew it we were back to climbing mountains. In the Shoshone Mountains we were back up to 7200 feet. The snow was falling pretty heavily, but you could still see the road which was a good sign. Over 7000 feet in the Sierra Nevadas was feet of snow. Here in Nevada is was hardly a foot at its deepest. Coming down mountains on dark snowy roads in an RV with someone else in control is very difficult.

But once again I spoke too soon. I don’t want to write too much about the experience other than it was overwhelmingly frightening. The road wasn’t lit nor was it plowed. There was no cell reception in areas, and we hardly ever passed other cars. The towns are very small and very sparse. Even if we wanted to stop, there wasn’t a breakdown lane to park in. The winds blew snow and made it near white out at times. We could see the rumble strip marking the center of the road. John kept that centered between the tires to keep us from blowing one way or another. I followed the map closely, and with each successive peak, John and I groaned. We crossed Robinson peak, over 7600 feet, which was the highest elevation to date.

In Ely, Nevada we stopped to eat and regroup. To my chagrin we hit a McDonald’s. Everything else in the town was closed due to the blizzard. When we got inside, it hit me how sick I felt. My body won’t stop moving and I’m dizzy. John felt the same way. We were operating on high alert for 120+ miles.

We pulled into the grocery store parking lot where some semi trucks had also chosen to stop. It was level ground and we parked facing the wind. The forecast calls for more heavy snow tomorrow. We may be forced to take an extra day on this trip. This was not part of the plan!

DAY ELEVEN, part one: Yosemite National Park, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA

DAY ELEVEN, part one: Yosemite National Park, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA


Anxious to get ahead of any pending snow, morning came early. By 6:30 we were rolling in the RV, still in our pajamas, willing to stop to change and make breakfast once the kids woke up. After carefully planning and reprogramming our trip, I started the computer and Microsoft Streets and Trips once again would not work. What a colossal waste of money. I’d rather have a nice GPS and a road map than deal with this again.

The road we followed out of the park stayed along the valley floor. As I frantically tried to find the program the Microsoft lady e-mailed to me, service kept dropping. When it did work, it was slower than molasses in January. I was pretty certain I remembered the first couple legs of the route, so we pressed forward.

The sporadic service also made it impossible to reach the road conditions hotline. So as we moved ever forward, I literally had no idea if it was going to be the right direction after all. Not a very good feeling, especially for a planner like me.

Route 140 paralleled the Merced River, and the views of the water tumbling over rocks and curving around mountains did quite a bit to sooth my nerves. We stopped to take pictures of another beautiful waterfall prior to exiting the park. Further down the road, signs warned of a detour ahead. Thankfully the detour simply took you over the river then back again in less than a mile. Once safely on the other side of the river we could see the reason for the road closure and detour: an enormous rock slide had completely devoured a stretch of the road. So I guess the “Watch for Falling Rocks” signs weren’t just decorative.

Beautiful little rock outcroppings and tiny waterfalls peppered the landscape outside of my window. IT reminded me of when I was a kid and we would drive from Jacksonville up to St. Louis through Tennessee. My sisters and I didn’t have the benefit of cell phones, movies, and internet, so we would look out the windows at the pretty scenery. I remember Jeanette and I particularly loved it if we saw a frozen waterfall. I found myself feeling like a kid again. Pretty cool.

We pulled into Mariposa, and after being woken up at 6 to “get a head start,” then sitting in a parking lot while the kids and John ate, and spending 3 hours and 2 phone calls to India trying to fix our GPS program I’d had it. I left the computer and the RV as the “fix” from Microsoft to download for its predicted 30 minutes, and I walked around town. I found a Free Mason cemetery, and went in the gates to walk in the peace of the surrounding mountains in a place I was certain no one could disturb me.

Have you ever stood somewhere, and it was so peaceful you could hear the wings of the bird as they flapped above you? It is surreal. I stood looking at grave markers for World War II veterans, all with names you just don’t hear anymore. I came across the markers for a family that had lost both of their daughters within a 3-week stretch in 1889, at the ages of 3 and 11. A good walk and some alone time, coupled with the right find can do wonders to bring things back into perspective.

I walked back to the RV only to find that after 20 minutes, 0% of the “fix” had downloaded. John found the password for the local hotel’s internet, and we moved forward. Program saved, just none of the changes I had made. As John pumped gas, I re-fixed it. Again. If any of you ever buys Microsoft Streets and Trips, I will beat you with your own fist.

The ride up 49 was very twisting, turning, remote, beautiful, and scary. We passed through old mining towns like Chinese Camp and Jameson, that were so small if you blinked you’d most certainly miss them. The town of Angel Camp proudly boasted it was home of the jumping frogs and the county fair’s frog jumping contest. I had no intention of stopping in that town!

When we finally made it to 50 we turned eastward. There were no signs of road closures or mandatory chain conditions. The road was very clean, but the rain at our 3000 foot elevation most certainly meant snow at route 50’s 7500 foot elevation ahead. We climbed and climbed and the roads stayed clean, but the snow on the sides got deeper and deeper. At one point, is was up past the side-view windows of the RV!

We descended into Lake Tahoe, and the low clouds and general greyness shrouded its beauty completely. I wasn’t even able to get a single picture of it, sadly. The snow and the mountains are gorgeous, but all the rocking and turning and the fear I have of heights is doing a major number on my stomach. Ugh.

DAY TEN: Yosemite National Park

DAY TEN: Yosemite National Park


It was a cold night in the camper for me! But I slept relatively well, dreaming nice things. This entire trip I have not had one single solitary work-related dream. This is HUGE for me! : )

Once we got the RV a bit more organized, I stepped outside into the snow in just a T-shirt and sweatpants. The cold gripped me instantly, but somehow it was a bit refreshing to be in the clean cold air. Looking around I suddenly realized we were completely surrounded by mountains. I hope the pictures I take capture in even a tiny way the beauty of what’s around me. And this is just the beginning!

After getting dressed I walked to the small ranger area for the Upper Pines Campground. It must be the rebel in me that cannot resist making footprints in a fresh blanket of snow. : ) The kind old man talked to me about the free shuttle that stops at all the sites in the park. He also warned me about the bears. I prefer to think they’re all sleeping. Please don’t tell me any different! : )

We got all bundled up and walked to the bus stop. The signs all said the busses ran every 10-20 minutes depending on season. We waited 30 minutes for a bus and decided we would drive around in the RV instead. I never said we had a plethora of patience.

The first stop on the driving tour was the Yosemite Village. We walked to the deli under the watchful eye of the Upper Yosemite Falls. It is so hard to come up with the right adjectives to describe all we are seeing. “Beautiful” and “amazing” just don’t seem enough. It honestly seems unreal. The dusting of snow and ice on everything makes it seem almost magical.

We headed down to view the magnificent El Capitan. It is hard to imagine climbers scaling its sheer face in warmer weather. We looped back and saw the 3 Brothers Mountains, the Cathedral Mountain, Bridal Vail Falls, and Half Dome. It was a wintery paradise and some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life.

When we stopped at the Visitor’s Center I was able to talk with the park ranger about the road conditions heading eastward. Most every east-bound road between us and south to Bakersfield is closed. We would seriously have to backtrack to Las Vegas. North the first few eastbound roads are closed. But there are a couple of options between us and the dreaded Donner Pass. Plus the snow is not due in until the evening, and we should hopefully be inside Utah before that hits.

I am enjoying the beauty of the snow and cold much more than I thought I would. I realize though that I really would like to have better gloves than the ones I have, were I to ever venture into the great white north again. Also, the fact my touch screen phone doesn’t work through my gloves is a bit angering. My picture taking hand is soooooo cold!! : )

As we looped around on the only road deemed passable this time of year, John was shocked when he saw what appeared to be a stray dog running loose on the side of the road. As he slowed down and it loped closer, we could see it was a wolf! John stopped and we all scrambled for our cameras and camera phones. The wolf stopped next to the RV to pose for the pictures. He was beautiful.

We went back to the campground for a bit so John could figure out how to attach the snow chains (apparently some of the highways we are taking tomorrow have a mandatory chain condition set) and I played with the GPS to find a safe, time effective, and OPEN route to Arches National Park. Tomorrow will be a marathon of driving, plus we have the time change working against us. We may just stop when the mood hits, and wake up early to hit the park. Only time will tell.

For dinner we drove to the Yosemite Lodge and passed some beautiful sunset scenery. The sun disappears behind rock so early here, that the sky is both light and dark at the same time. And when it dances off of the sheer rock faces, it is nothing short of breathtaking. Tonight some low clouds or fog decided to participate with the many children in one of the designated “snow play” meadows. It created a gorgeous gauzy hem at the base of the mountains.

I had hoped to make a snowman with Ava at some point, but the opportunity never materialized. Throughout the park, though, it was apparent that many other parents had the same idea. Snowmen dotted the landscape everywhere we drove.

I predict an early bed time for me tonight. A nice cup of hot chocolate has been made and consumed. Even though I am a bit cold, I am grateful for this camper and my jammies and sleeping bag. Mostly, I am grateful that I am not the people in the site across from ours who are sleeping in a tent! My sense of adventure only goes so far, afterall!

DAY NINE, part three: Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park

DAY NINE, part three: Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park


The drive from Sequoia to Yosemite was dark. And winding. And twisting. And frightening. And nauseating. But I’ll bet in the daylight its gorgeous!

In light of information given to us at Sequoia, the plans had to change a bit. Tomorrow’s dinner plans became tonight's dinner plans. No harm, no foul. We pulled up to the Tenaya Lodge. I got out of the camper and stood in the cold night air. I could see my breath. The ground was covered in snow. I looked up to the tops of the majestic pine trees all around and saw the huge diamond clusters of stars in the night sky. Sometimes the beauty of a moment is more gripping than the scenery.

The lobby of the lodge had a beautiful Christmas tree and one of the warmest fireplaces I have seen. There was a schnauzer in the lobby, and a lab, and talking with the owners we learned the lodge is very very pet friendly.

As we waited for our food I went to the concierge for a map of the park. She gladly obliged, and began to mark off the many roads that were closed due to weather. I watched as she crossed off our eastward route towards Moab. Talking with her about options, she informed me that we could exit the park, head north, and go through Donner Pass, or we could head south to Bakersfield, cross over to Vegas and head up to Utah. She gave me to run down of all the frightening things about travelling through Donner, with the icing on the cake being that a huge snowstorm is due the day we plan to leave, and we need to cross our fingers that we’d stay ahead of that weather.

We left the lodge and headed to the campground. That was the longest 35 miles of my life. The roads were pretty clear, but they wound and wound up to over 6000 feet and then dropped to around 4000 feet. The GPS kept losing us sporadically, making it an even more eventful drive. As we neared the campground, the map showed we were passing the famous “El Capitan” which was now shrouded in complete darkness. But I’ll bet we passed some amazing views. We’ll have to check them out tomorrow.

The campground was seemingly in the middle of nowhere, blanketed in a good 4-6 inches of snow. And yet, there are numerous tent campers! Someone at the Grand Canyon told me acclimation is the key. But I’m not sure. Even if you’re from Siberia, sleeping outside in the snow without a fire seems a bit nutty to me. But I’m dying to know what their coats and gloves are made out of!

The kids fell asleep on the winding ride in. The rocking of the car had to have been like a medicine for them. I’m jealous. The plan for tomorrow is to sleep in and to drink in as much of the park as possible.

DAY NINE, part two: Visalia CA to Sequoia National Park

DAY NINE, part two: Visalia, CA to Sequoia National Park


We reloaded at the local Wal-Mart in Visalia before heading to see the giant trees. The Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance are so very beautiful. Its hard to believe we will be crossing those eventually.

Outside of Three Rivers, we stopped at the Last Chance Shop. John went in to see if they sold bungee cords, and told me the majority of the people inside were renting snow chains. Luckily we purchased ours before we headed out (the National Park Service website made it abundantly clear they were required this time of year). As we approached the entrance to the park, traffic began to back up. The “Snow Chains Required” sign and the fact that the ranger was turning people around made John nervous. The chains must not simply be precautiary today.

Now, we took all the precautions with the snow chains. We read up on the park. We planned a route in and out on the way to Yosemite. We did not, however, prepare for the fact that our vehicle is too long to go more than 6 miles into the park due to the heavy snow. Well, shit. We can’t even get near the Sequoias due to the snow. Dammit. We *can* stop at the visitor’s center for information before we double back on our route and enjoy all the wasted time. Yay. I guess we wouldn’t be the Griswolds if we didn’t hear just once “Sorry folks. Park’s closed.”

At the Visitor’s Center I asked the woman just what we would see were we to venture 6 miles into the park. Her answer? Nothing. But the roads are closed so no one is seeing General Sherman today. But General Grant, the #2 sequoia in the park is visible if we want to venture to the more northern less-mountainous section of the park. We just have to back track about 45 miles (I had intended our northward journey to Yosemite to be through the park).

I searched frantically and found some back roads to keep us from back-tracking too far. It was a pleasant surprise that these middle-of-nowhere roads took us through the middle of Sunkist orange groves. Not overly scenic, but pretty interesting nonetheless. Miles and miles and miles of orange groves in all directions. John swears they’re the same groves that are featured in the Soarin’ ride at Epcot! : )

We began the ascent on 180 up to King’s Canyon. Cars coming down often had large clumps of snow on the roof. The road winded and climbed with severe drop-offs right outside my window. The twisting, turning, climbing and fear started to make me feel nauseous. Ugh.

When we passed 4000 feet, we began to see snow. By 5000 feet there was quite a bit of it. By 6000 feet, the drifts were as high as the window. The roads were very clear. Kudos to the National Park Service for the fantastic job of keeping the roads clear!

As we pulled in to Grant’s Village (home of General Grant, the tree) John went inside to show our park pass and I sought to take a picture of a very excited Ava in the snow. That is until John shut her finger in the door. Then the poor baby just wanted to cry. No broken bones or skin, but I’m sure it really hurt. Her first snow picture would wait.

Snow chains were required in this section of the park, but only required to be IN the car, not on it (yet). The park guide felt the road to General Grant might have a mandatory requirement, but he wasn’t sure. We were so relieved to see the road was clear with no requirement for chains.

We parked the RV and bundled up in winter gear. This time Ava was a little more excited to be out in the snow. John and Reagan went ahead to see the tree. Desirae and Kaylin started to amuse themselves throwing snow at each other. I held Ava’s hand and helped her walk. I told her we should make a snowball to throw at the girls. “I can’t!” she said, “I don’t know how!”

A quick lesson, and she was a pro in no time! We walked slowly and she talked about how pretty it was, all the while one of her siblings would go screaming past with another one in hot pursuit carrying a mound of snow in their hand. Ava got in on it and pelted John : ) She made me smile when she asked me, “Mom…can I see what snow tastes like?” Reagan shouted, “Don’t eat yellow snow, Ava!”

We trudged back to the RV with the hopes of getting back down the mountain before the sun went down. As Ava got nearer to the car and her hands got progressively wetter, she began to cry. She didn’t want her gloves off, but she didn’t like the cold! It made me laugh.

As we broke back below the snow line at 4000 feet, we were treated to a beautiful sunset over Fresno in the distance. Now we head to Yosemite, in the dark, and I am hopeful for another wonderful surprise at sunrise!

DAY NINE, part one: Disneyland to Visalia, CA

DAY NINE, part one: Disneyland to Visalia, CA


Cleaning up a Christmas explosion in a hotel room takes an act of Congress. Or a very stern dad giving commands and obedient children carrying them out! : ) Slowly but surely the room came together, and dirty things got packed and clean things got worn and toys got placed where they needed to be to ensure playtime once in the RV.

Everyone showered. I’m not sure but I think the girls whimpered as the water was shut off for the last time. Or maybe that was me. The bell hop came and loaded the gross tonnage of things onto his cart, and John started his hike to get to the RV.

Kaylin and I waited with the bell hop on the curb. We started talking and he was amazed with the trip. He told me he’s not much of a traveller. He lives 5 miles from Disneyland, where he’s worked since the early 80’s. Other than a few trips to see his favorite baseball team play, he hasn’t left southern California. Now, I know I’m blessed with a job that has afforded me things in this stage of life that years ago were completely unattainable. But I just encourage people to go see and do things. This country is full of beauty and things to see and places to eat and people to talk to, and some of it is within an hour of your front door. I remember saving up my unemployment checks when Desirae was a baby, so that we could go on a scenic train ride in Maine. At the time it may have seemed like a foolish expense given our financial picture, but I don’t regret the memories of the beautiful fall foliage and scanning the woods hoping to see a moose. : )

Our northward drive on I-5 pushed us past the 3000-mile mark. This was only met with cheers from the kids when John said “We’re halfway through our trip!” I think the spaciousness of the hotel and the theme park dampened their spirit of adventure just a tad. The drive through the mountains meant wonderful scenery of fog rolling over valleys just before we’d dip into it like a ladle. It also meant more wind! Even 2 nights in the hotel didn’t do enough to convince my vestibular system that I’m not still in motion when standing still or sleeping! And my ears!! OUCH!

We exited Interstate 5 and headed toward Visalia. We were excited about eating at In-N-Out Burger. Thanks to my friends, we were informed of trying one “animal style.” The first thing that struck us was how simple the menu was! Just burgers, fries, drinks, and shakes! And was that place CROWDED! The kids ate at their own table, and John and I had to eat on our own. We shared the table with a mother and daughter. Mom was a local, her adult daughter was from LA. They shared their RV adventures with us from when the daughter was a teen, and it sounded eerily familiar. We ate and talked throughout the meal. We have really been fortunate to meet some wonderful people!

We were given a word of advice for our upcoming 2 night stay in Yosemite: don’t make any bacon! Good to know…I think I’ll save the bacon for another day. : )

DAY EIGHT: Disneyland (Merry Christmas!)

DAY EIGHT: Disneyland (Merry Christmas!)


I had every intention of writing about the hotel last night, but I lay down on the pillow and that was all she wrote. I fell dead asleep in my clothes and didn’t wake up til morning. Rumor has it I was sawing some serious lumber last night. But I was exhausted!! As I slept, Santa came. : )

Ava woke me up, excited that Santa had found us in the hotel. She knew he had because he had brought her the pillow pet she had requested! We are now the proud owners of Princess Pretty Unicorn. The kids checked their stockings and then the opening of the gifts commenced. Ava got a lot of pajamas, and the kids got lots of little things. Santa brought Ava a Zuzu pet (I have no idea if I spelled that right), Reagan got Wii games, and the girls got new phones. Everyone was happy. Afterall, the trip itself was a major gift!

We ate breakfast and headed into the park. Rounding the corner to Main Street USA, we got our first glimpse of the castle. And it was TINY! I think Desirae’s reaction was “awwwwww….its so CUTE!” Literally it seems to be less than half the heighth width and depth of Cinderella castle. We rode Pirates and were impressed by the difference…this one was so much longer than Orlando. Same for Thunder Mountain. It was faster and cooler. The haunted mansion had been taken over by Jack Skellington just in time for Christmas, and Desirae really enjoyed that.

After riding those three rides, the crowds suddenly poured in. And the waits grew and grew. When we got lunch at the walk up burger place, the lines periodically had to shut down and it was a 20 minute wait from time of order to getting your food. The lines for the rides were 60+ minutes, and the Matterhorn broke down twice creating 2 hour lines. We waited 2 hours for Space Mountain, and it was faster and better than the one at Disney World, too. I would love to come back when the crowds are less dense to ride everything!

We all wore our matching “Griswold Family Vacation” t-shirts, and got a lot of attention. People mostly asked if Griswold was really our last name. A few asked why we were wearing the shirts. It was a nice conversation starter with some pretty interesting people!

We left the park and ate in Downtown Disney. Christmas Dinner was at a Jazz-themed New Orleans style restaurant. I ate turducken for the first time! I chatted with a nice family at the table next to us. The mother and father were from Detroit, the daughter was from Fort Lauderdale (her best friend lives in Green Cove Springs!) and the son was a local. She was fascinated by our trip and it was wonderful to talk to such great people.

The rain started lightly right as we finished eating. John wanted to see the fireworks, but I was willing to skip it. There is a Basin store here at Downtown Disney that sells bath balls that fizz and foam and smell so pretty. So John bought me my favorite one, and took the kids to see the fireworks in the rain. As I got ready to jump in the bath, the firework booms began. And I went onto the balcony and got a private viewing, under the cover of the hotel, complete with the music being piped in to the hotel atrium. It was magical. But not nearly as magical as the hot bath I took!

Now John passed out cold early (which is good since he’s the driver), the girls are playing with their phones, and Ava is playing with her toys. Tomorrow we are heading north, and I am excited and nervous all at once about the prospect of snow and the mountains. I just want us to be safe! So keep us in your thoughts : )

DAY SEVEN, part two: Calico Ghost Town, CA to Hollywood, CA

DAY SEVEN, part two: Calico Ghost Town, CA to Hollywood, CA


Pulling in to the ghost town it was impossible to tell whether it would be boom or bust. As we started to walk around I realized that had I drove hours specifically to see it, I would have been disappointed. But as a chance to stretch my legs and get some fresh air, it was a huge success.

The town of Calico came into existence as a silver mine. We looked at the old buildings, rode a train, and ate in the restaurant. One last vestige of peace before heading into the city and an overly crowded theme park.

Two small casualties occurred today. First, the camera was dropped inside the mine shaft. And it busted. While the majority of the pictures are safe on the memory card, a small funeral will be held for the camera, as it will no longer be with us on the trip. It is currently tied to the roof to be left on a porch. And at the next Target, the dropper of the camera will find her bank account debited the cost of its replacement. We are the meanest parents in the world, but responsibility means taking ownership for the costs incurred, even if its accidental.

Then, somewhere outside of Barstow, California, the Christmas tree fell off the wall. The irony that it waited until Christmas Eve is not wasted on me. I teared up a little only because Ava’s “baby’s first Christmas” ornament broke. John says he’ll super glue it, but it still hurts my heart a little.

Getting into Hollywood was easier than I thought it would be, with much less traffic. We got into the city 2 hours ahead of plan, and drove right passed Warner Brothers studios. Getting in early meant more time to walk around! We found a nice lot to park in that allowed for RV’s a block from Hollywood Blvd. Forty dollars to park! Holy cow! But, we’re in California, specifically Hollywood, so everything is going to be overpriced (and overrated I’m assuming!).

We walked to Hollywood Blvd and headed towards Mann’s Chinese theater. It was so cool to see it. For those of you who haven’t been to Disney World, there is a replica at MGM/Hollywood Studios where the Great Movie Ride entrance is. So Ava kept asking if we were going to ride the ride! : ) She’s too cute.

We took some pictures of famous stars on the walk of fame (ok…a lot of pictures with stars!) and walked all the way up to Hollywood and Vine. Not a great part of town, but I was having so much fun reading the names on the stars and thinking of friends and family who would love to see that particular star. We turned around at Vine and walked back on the opposite side of the street.

Then things fell apart rapidly. I had chosen a Russian restaurant for dinner tonight, not far from Mann’s Chinese theater. John is part Russian, and whether or not that has anything to do with it, he enjoys Russian food. So I picked it in the hopes of having a nice Christmas Eve dinner together. But he and the kids were getting hungry. And complaining. And looking at every crap restaurant we walked past with wide eyes. Then John brought up the idea of the Hard Rock, and the teens jumped on it. I convinced them to at least walk the 2 blocks to see what the Russian place had to offer, and they agreed. Then the criticism of the part of town began. And of Russian food began. And of “why can’t we just eat at the Hard Rock?” etc etc etc.

I concede that I am less flexible than most. I will even accept it if someone wants to call me inflexible. But I have TRIED very hard to not get upset. My tears tonight were not about the fact we did not eat at the damn Russian restaurant, but that I sat up til 2 and 3 am planning this trip to make sure everyone got to eat and experience and do and see. I searched countless websites and then spent hours entering everything into a computer program. And at every turn, when things go slightly awry I have been the butt of jokes and criticism. And I get it…make the situation funny and I’m an easy target. I can laugh at myself. But this just went too far and made me sad. I hate feeling unappreciated and I hate that my kids have no idea how much hard work went into making this seem easy.

So on Christmas Eve, I abandoned any hope of doing something nice or special and walked back to the Hard Rock. Where they left us sitting for 15 minutes without taking a drink order. So we abandoned that as well. The kids ate leftovers in the truck. John drove. I cried.

So we made it to Disneyland just fine. I have no idea what the night has in store other than Santa is coming. And I will soak in a hot bath until I feel like my old self again.

DAY SEVEN, part one: Lake Mead NV to Calico Ghost Town CA

DAY SEVEN, part one: Lake Mead, NV to Calico Ghost Town, CA


I sat and typed last night with a flashlight tucked under my chin lighting up the keyboard while the rest of the family passed out cold behind me and above me. It was kind of nice to have a small moment to myself, even if I was so tired I couldn’t stay focused. I looked at my watch (which I have never reset to local time) and it was after 2am. Happily I trudged up the ladder to bed.

I didn’t sleep very well last night. Lots of odd dreams, most that I can’t remember, but they were odd enough to wake me. We woke up and took an extra-long time getting ready. I’m nervous about today’s journey, as we are headed to Anaheim. My GPS tells me we’re not that far, but the likes of Google Maps (and a few friends) have warned me that traffic can more than double the time it takes to reach our destination. Stop and go traffic in an RV is not fun. It is literally nauseating. But at the end of the line is Disneyland (and a hotel!!!).

Ava popped up quickly and easily. I told her that Santa comes tonight and we’re heading to Disneyland, and it seemed to energize her! Watching the sun come up over the mountains in front of me is so beautiful it doesn’t seem real. I thought I would have loved to stay in a hotel last night, but walking along the Strip and taking in all its energy and light, I realized that the campground was the right choice. I wouldn’t wake up to beauty like this in a hotel in the city. Although one of these years I would love to stay in the Bellagio with a view of the dancing fountains. I want to take in a show. I want to play poker and slots. I have even wanted to have Elvis walk me down the aisle just once (typically I’m dressed like a showgirl in this fantasy…and a size 4). Three out of four won’t be bad I suppose.

We entered California about 70 miles from Lake Mead. We stopped to take pictures. Ava was so happy! Every time we count down to a state line, she has either asked us how many more states until Disneyland, or she’s said “yay! We’re in Disneyland!” So you can imagine her joy when we told her we were finally in the state that houses Disneyland. “I can’t wait to see Sleeping Beauty’s castle!!”

Crossing the Mojave Desert we noticed lots of little muddy lakes where I can only imagine flat sandy land was only a mere week ago. The rains that passed through here a few days ago must have been legendary. The mountains and landscape here are very grey, pale green, and brown. But they are beautiful in their own way. We went up and down in those mountains quite a bit. The highest so far has been almost 5000 feet and the lowest being almost 900. The ups and downs make me feel like a nosebleed is just around the corner. But so far, nothing yet. I am so sensitive to changes in elevation and temperature. I’m not proud of this. In fact it pisses me off!

Our next scheduled stop if in Calico Ghost Town. I stumbled upon this when planning the trip. I had zoomed in on Google Maps to find a town that might provide us with sustenance at the lunchtime leg of the trip. And this little gem was not too far off the highway. I looked up pictures and it seemed pretty cool. An old ghost town from gold rush days gone by. This could either be a hit or a dud. It’s something to see in the middle of a boring desert drive, anyway.

DAY SIX, part two: Las Vegas, NV

DAY SIX, part two: Las Vegas, NV


The drive from the Hoover Dam to Las Vegas is about 30 miles. It is uneventful, but that just makes the first glimpse of the city that much more spectacular. The first landmark we spotted was the Stratosphere, which of course Reagan knew from the ride at the top. Then slowly, the Luxor could be picked out, and New York New York, and on the list went.

As we drove, a light suddenly clicked in John’s head that the TV show “Pawn Stars” is filmed in Las Vegas. He wanted to see if we could drive by it. Well, the city is pretty big, so I was hopeful that they would be nowhere near the strip or anything we were planning to visit (I have seen the show. I am not a fan). But when I Googled it, it turns out they were on Las Vegas Blvd (AKA “The Strip” only beyond the Stratosphere hotel. We voted. Kaylin and John wanted to see it. Reagan, Desi, and I did not. Then Ava cast her vote with John, and since he’s the driver the tie went in his favor

Rather than take the highway around and in to the Treasure Island casino (where I had picked a restaurant for dinner), I diverted us onto Las Vegas Blvd. We turned right at the MGM Grand and began our adventure rolling down the Las Vegas strip in a Winnebago. And yes, we got some LOOKS!

We cruised beyond the Stratosphere, and into the land of crack whores and pimps, inching ever closer to this famous pawn shop. It came into view and John was happier than I’ve seen him on the entire trip. When we nearly had to park in the Peep Show lot next door, my amazement and wonder ceased to be. So we made a quick turn into the alley that ran behind the pawn shop (so we could make a u-ie and park at the meters across from the lot marked “showgirl parking only”) and we came headlight to headlight with the Old Man and his Jag. I snapped a quick pic of him, les none of you believe me. But it wasn’t with my phone so you’ll have to wait til we download our family camera! : )

We wandered around the shop, and learned that the “stars” aren’t there after 3pm usually. John picked a magnet or some such souvenir, and I looked around at the amazing items for sale, and the crowd of hillbillies that mingled there.

We drove back down the Strip, wondering where we might possibly find a lot to hold the RV. Thank God for the internet! Once again Google saved the day and I found that the Paris casino offered oversize parking, but you had to call security first. I did and the kind lady told us where to park, how to get there, and said there wouldn’t be a charge.

We parked and walked the block and a half back towards the Strip. We stopped and talked with a couple of bicycle cops to find out where the Fremont (or is it Tremont?) Street experience was located. They told us that it was pretty far away, back up past the Pawn Stars location. Which, by the way, they cautioned us was in a bad part of town and they didn’t recommend walking around there with kids. Good to know. So we started walking up one side of the street with intentions to go down the other.

First stop: the Venetian. These casinos are huge. And I mean HUGE. We went in to find the canals with the gondoliers, and walked past shops and more shops and sky painted ceilings all lit up with a warm evening light. At times you couldn’t believe you were indoors! We then walked to Treasure Island. While walking we noticed that the little pirate show area seemed to be under construction. We hoped by night fall they would have whatever problem they were working on fixed so the kids could see the show. But our waitress at Kahunaville inside the casino told us otherwise. Routine maintenance until Monday. Oh well.

Inside Kahunaville, some little fountains danced to music and entertained Ava. I instantly knew she would love the Bellagio when we made it down there. Kahunaville is known for its bartenders and their “flair.” Not Office Space flair, but more Tom Cruise in Cocktail flair. The kids and I watched a guy juggle 3 bottles of liquor and make free shots for everyone one the rowdiest side of the bar. It was so cool. Afterward he poured the remaining shots directly into patrons’ mouths. I got one too!! : )

We took a tram to the Mirage, and got out in time to see the fountain become a volcano. We walked into Caesar’s Palace, which was the most beautiful and BIGGEST casino I have ever seen. We got lost at one point. I wish we had more time to take it all in. I think we only scratched the surface. After Caesar’s was the Bellagio, and the awe-inspiring dancing fountains. They are a must-see (and Ava’s favorite). We then went to New York New York and let the older kids ride the Manhattan Express roller coaster. Reagan gave it two thumbs up. : )

At this point, our bodies were telling us it was getting very late, even though it was only 9:00. So we crossed the street at the MGM Grand, walked quickly through there, and up the road. The porn pushers were out in droves, but they were much less aggressive than I remember them being when I was in Vegas back in 2000. Maybe its because we had the kids with us. I like to think it was because they knew with a woman like me in tow, John had no use for those anorexic orb-breasted minxes in their literature. Only the peddlers in the “976-GIRLS” shirts know for sure.

By the time we were back at Paris, even the beauty of the Eiffel Tower was wasted on the kids. Reagan’s feet hurt. Desi wanted to call her boyfriend and was tired. Ava was on a sugar high from the cotton candy her daddy bought her, and my eyelids were fighting gravity big time. I know John was tired. He had walked up that block at mach 2. Kaylin seemed to be the only one eager to stay and see more. It just wasn’t her night.

Las Vegas is amazing. Bright lights, lots of places for food and shows, and nightclubs and music and alcohol. I would be in heaven to spend a weekend there and just forget who I am for a few days! : ) What I can do without, is all the bare assed women and topless stuff everywhere. I know it’s a money maker and I know sex sells, and I’m not a Puritan by any stretch. Its sheer jealousy and the deep seeded desire to return to this world as a showgirl in my next life. : )

DAY SIX, part one: The Hoover Dam

DAY SIX, part one: the Hoover Dam


After arriving at the campground the girls and I decided to walk to the showers. We bundled up our clothes and toiletries and walked a couple of blocks in the dark to the bathrooms. Only to find them locked and key-access only. Dammit. Defeated and deflated, we walked back to the RV to join the boys in chips and salsa (from El Pinto!) and TV. Not long after Desi tried to hop into the shower did the RV Village after-hours welcome wagon arrive, bathroom key and internet code in hand!

A second trudge up the hill opened the gateway to a sweet oasis of spacious tiled showers and steam (and most likely athlete’s foot, but I forced that out of my mind). The girls jumped into the only two showers while I stood green with envy in a veritable sauna. My pores have never been more open, I am sure. They offered to wait for me to take my shower, and after a microsecond of contemplation I assured them I’d be fine on my own and to go back to dad. : ) Since the first cavewoman stood naked in the rain and scrubbed herself with some sort of flower concoction on a branch, there has not been a shower more enjoyed than the one I took last night. Color me relaxed, clean, and happy.

I slept like a baby. No dreams of floods or being blown over. Nary a mudslide invaded my subconscious. But I learned a valuable lesson about RVing: do it with someone who has similar sleep patterns! The girls, obviously are sleepers. The little ones, ditto. Me? God do I love to sleep in. I’ve always said I’d rather stay up til 4 am than wake up at 4 am. John? The polar opposite.

So at 4am, he was up. Light on, keeping himself busy in the back. He also read by flashlight up in the loft, woke me up to ask me a question, dropped something large and heavy, and took a shower and shook the camper like an earthquake. : ) I’m trying to convince him to force himself to sleep. Now, he has traveled a hell of a lot more than I have, but I always thought it was best to force yourself to accept the new time zone, and eat and sleep when the time zone tells you to. It worked in China, even though it made me feel so sick. To each his own, I guess, but I really wish he would either take a walk, or an Ambien. : )

Once ready to roll we proceeded to Hoover Dam. John was very excited about this leg, because of all of the History Channel and Discovery Channel shows he has seen. As we rounded the mountains toward the Hoover Dam exit, we got a glimpse of the mountains we had driven through the night before in the weather. And then the O’Callaghan-Tillman Memorial Bridge came into our sites! This is the new bridge constructed just this year for better traffic control at the dam. It also prevents semi trucks from crossing the dam in the post-9/11 era. We had wondered why we had seen a sign warning “heavy crosswinds next 1 mile” last night.

To get to the dam, you have to pass through a security check point. John had to show the security guard the underbelly of the RV, while a female guard had to come on board and inspect the interior. I hope she didn’t breathe in too deeply. 6 days of 6 Roberts is not a good thing!

Thankfully, we were still allowed to drive across the dam. They are strict about stopping on it, and there are a lot of pedestrians and gawkers to watch out for. I can see why the new bridge was a must, not just for security, but also for traffic flow. During heavy tourist seasons, I can only imagine how congested that route must have become!

Walking to the dam was incredible. What a feat of engineering! We ate lunch in the café, then headed down to the Visitor Center. We had 2 options for the tour: a general tour and the Dam tour, which allowed more access and a more in-depth look at the dam. We wanted the in-depth tour, but Ava wasn’t old enough by 3 years. : ( Again, another reason to come back!

The tour took us down to see the diversion tunnels and then the generators. The room we were viewing showed the top 30 feet of the turbine generator, with the rest of it being 7-stories beneath! It was inconceivable! Afterwards were a museum area and an overlook, with breathtaking views of both the dam and the bridge.

We walked across the dam and crossed the state line. We were a bit dismayed that there wasn’t a line painted on the roadway, like we had seen in a movie. But it was fun to watch Ava jump back and forth between Nevada and Arizona.

Once back in the RV, we drove back towards the bridge to see if we could walk on it. But the parking lots for the bridge (and now for the dam) were overcrowded. So we drove over the bridge and back again, all the while planning to come by in the morning to walk on it and view the dam from it.

DAY FIVE, part two: The Grand Canyon, AZ to Lake Mead, NV

DAY FIVE, part two: The Grand Canyon, AZ to Lake Mead, NV


We bid adieu to the beauty of the Grand Canyon as snow turned to rain and back again. As we headed south, we listen to the weather reports call for 3-6 inches of snow to fall on Flagstaff and the region as a whole. We decided it was good that we got underway a bit early to head westward.

Making the right hand turn onto highway 40 sent us due west. John has noticed that the winds are more fierce when we are heading west. True or not, the winds whipped the shit out of us. I give John credit, as I watch his hands shake back and forth on the wheel just to keep us in a straight line. The noise of the tires on the edge markers in the shoulder rattling through the RV has become commonplace. But as I watch semis veer off onto the edge markers as well, or other RV’s pull to the side of the highway, I know that he is doing everything he can. I just wish the rocking and swaying didn’t make me feel so sick. : (

As we drove I looked online for room rates in Vegas. I remember once seeing the Excalibur for as little as $40 a night, which is the same rate our campground is going to charge. I feel a little bad. John wants to stay in a hotel while we’re at Disney, and I gave him a hard time. We are RV-ing it! But he asked for the room as a Christmas gift, and considering that will pretty much be it from me, I obliged. And now here I am looking for a hotel room again!

Staying overnight without water was rough. We conserved so we could use the flush. I washed my face and teeth but am in desperate need of a scrubbing. And I’d give my arm to stand in the full-on spray of a hot shower right now. Or a bath….mmmmmm….a baaaaaaaattthhhh (cue dreamy sigh).

Word to the wise: when the websites for hotels tell you the Excalibur, Luxor, or Stratosphere are only $27 per night, this doesn’t include 13% tax, resort fees, and per person surcharges that more than double the cost. Grrrrrrrr.

Scrapped the idea of a hotel. I’m going to rough it like I said I would. But man, do I have a spa date all planned out in my head for when I get back! : ) As we turned north in Kingman, the sky opened up. I was finally able to get my phone to connect to a radar picture of the weather and it appeared the worst was ahead. When I checked the status of Boulder City, NV it had 3 flood warnings and an avalanche warning. I made an effort to call the RV Park. Nobody answered the phone. If worse comes to worst we’ll park on the side of the road and rough it again tonight.

Looking at the RV Park one more time online, it butts up to Lake Mead. It should be another beautiful sunrise tomorrow. If I’m up for it, which I hope to be! As we drove onward, we realized from TV shows, movies, etc, that the state line will be on the Hoover Dam! I am going to try and get a picture in the blackness and the rain, but if not, tomorrow’s visit to the Dam should allow for a better shot.

As weird as it sounds I am so excited for the kids to see Vegas tomorrow. Now that they’ve seen Bourbon Street, there’s precious little they can see in Vegas that might be deemed offensive. I want to show them the fountains at the Bellagio and the gondolas inside of the Venetian (where Jessi and I stayed in 2000!) and the pirates at Treasure Island (yes, I will keep my eyes peeled for Capt. Jack Sparrow and if I find him, you shan’t find me again!).

Driving down to and across the dam was all new roads. I guess due to terrorism they had to build a bypass. Thanks a lot, Bin Laden. As we drove, the black clouds and winds were hellacious and I was a bit frightened. However, being the mom one has to stay positive and reassure the kids “we’re fine” at every question and concern. We are a mere 4 miles from the Hoover Dam visitor center. We exited the highway and drove down a long winding road to the lake. At one portion, you couldn’t see the road for the rocks and mud that had slid across it. “Oh, no, Reagan…that’s nothing. We’re fine.” And he believed me until John said “Oh the road washed out. They must’ve had a mudslide.” Nice.

When we pulled up to the RV Village, it looks like the nicest one so far. Lots of permanent residents. People walking dogs. So at least we know they didn’t evacuate everyone! The office was closed, but they left packets of information in zip lock baggies for each available site. We chose a lake view site, with the hopes of catching the sunrise. We’ll be here 2 nights and it will be worth the extra $10 to have the lake view. But I’m nervous about the weather and the proximity to the water. : /

Our awesome friend Penny called me to check and see how we were doing. Thanks to some updates from friends via e-mail and facebook, I knew the weather was rough. But Penny called to make sure we were okay and told us that the weather had made national headlines. Holy cow! We drove through it in an RV and lived to talk about it : )

I don’t anticipate sleeping well tonight. Once I have an irrational fear in my brain I tend to ruminate on it (hush now, Susan) and invent horrific impossibilities and worry they might come true. But to be fair and balanced, I also do that with the good stuff, too. Wander around in my psyche a while…it’ll scare the bejeezus out of you!

We crossed another time zone, so Its only 630pm, pitch dark, and my brain says its 930pm. I’m normally up to 1am. Why am I so exhausted?? It must be from all the butt clenching on the drive out. Had we driven much longer, I think you could bounce a quarter off of it.

DAY FIVE, part one: The Grand Canyon

DAY FIVE, part one: The Grand Canyon


After our dinner at the Bright Angel Lodge, we headed back to the Mather campground and parked the RV as close to a restroom as we could. Ya know, just in case. We were hoping to watch a movie, but sleepiness got the best of the kids, who decided they wanted to lay down.

I grabbed a few good old fashioned paper maps and began to plot the journey from the South Rim to the West Rim, and no matter how hard I tried, it was always a 5 hour drive. So I went online to find out the hours of operation for the Skywalk so we could plan to leave accordingly. One thing I didn’t want was for the time at this beautiful national park to feel (or worse, actually be) rushed.

Once online I found some different websites about the Skywalk. We were aware that it would most likely cost us about $40 per person to walk out on it. But what we weren’t aware of is that you cannot drive to the Skywalk yourself. You must park and have a shuttle take you. And therein lies the problem. The only way to buy shuttle tickets is to buy a “gold package” from the Indian tribe, at about $40 a pop. This does not include admission to the Skywalk. For $80 a person, I found an ad stating we could ride in a helicopter over the canyon. The crazy thing is both are more expensive than a ticket to Disney.

Other websites confirmed that the best way to see THE Grand Canyon was to stay at the south rim. The west rim is not owned by the National Park Service. So in an effort to see as much of the beauty of this place as we can, we made the executive decision last night to skip the Skywalk.

I woke up before the alarm, and John was already awake making coffee. It was pitch black outside still. Rather than he and I sit there and look at each other, I asked him if maybe we could drive to a lookout and watch the sunrise. You remember from previous postings, that I am not a sunrise kinda girl. But an opportunity to see the sunrise over the Grand Canyon just seemed too wonderful to miss.

While the kids slept, John drove and I navigated. In the absolute darkness, it was impossible to tell what view would await us at each turn off. So we’d venture down each, and if it seemed too “tree-ish” we would keep going. At Moran point, we could see a clearing in trees with complete darkenss beyond it. So we parked parallel to the darkness and began to wait for the sun to do its thing.

As the light began to turn the shadows purple, I took my camera outside in the freezing cold, and set it on its night setting. And got an amazing glimpse of what was to come. Mother Nature didn’t reveal much in that shot, but like a burlesque dancer, as the time went on, she kept showing off more and more of her wonders.

The sky went turned blue, and the greyish red rock formations started to come into focus. And the depth of the canyon was apparent. As the sky went pink, we took more photos. The canyon kept a cloak of clouds and fog around her shoulders, and it made for some beautiful pictures. But I hoped the sun would burn off those clouds by midday.

We were all still in our pajamas, and desperate for photos for facebook and friends. : ) So we began the dance and shuffle of everyone changing. The views were amazing. The colors were amazing. The light on the rocks was amazing. The clouds on the rocks…yes, amazing.

I went back in the RV and we had a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and sausage at the table with the sun still taking its place over Zuni Point out of our picture window. After eating, we went back outside to take more pictures. Photographers with huge cameras and tripods began to show up, and neglect the safety of the rock walls to get a better shot. I snapped a picture of John out on the rocks with one of the photogs, and got a beautiful picture. Kaylin and I wondered if I was able to grab such a fantastic picture from a cell phone through the window of an RV from the safe side of the wall, why do those dudes need to be out on the rocks with their thousand dollar equipment? : )

We drove back to the point of entry into the park to see all of the things we missed driving in in the snow and dark. The first lookout was the Watchtower, and the fog and clouds rolled in so heavily that it was very hard to mask our disappointment. We walked out to the overlook and started to take pictures of us in the clouds. I snapped one of Kaylin, and then the clouds started to clear. And for 5 minutes, we saw what the Watchtower lookout had to offer. It was gorgeous.

We climbed up the watchtower, and the numerous windows surrounding the cylindrical structure offered numerous views of white paper. Clouds and more clouds. It reminded John and I of the time we were in Switzerland and we ventured up to the Schilthorn to eat at the revolving restaurant offering views of the mountains. And the clouds stole the show. But we can say we were there. And for me, it offers and excuse to go back. Just like I want to come back here, but in warmer temps!!

At Lipon Point, again the clouds obscured the view, until we stopped. Then God smiled. The pictures prove it! And again at the next turn-off. It looks as if we may get to see the canyon after all! If you’ve never been here, it is a definite MUST! Please look at all the pictures we have posted. They only do it a small amount of justice : )

One thing we were all amazed by is the amount of trees here. When I pictured the Grand Canyon in my head, I pictured rocky desert, very flat and very barren, with lots of wide spaces to walk. The Rim Drive, is very tree-lined. It is heavily forested offering a rare glimpse of the canyon at intervals of a couple miles or so. There are turn-offs, with places to park and then small areas to explore. It is fun to walk out on the rocks, knowing from our vantage point the complete safety we are affording ourselves by the next ledge a couple of feet below. But from the eye of the camera, the pending “danger” is almost palpable.

The eyes play tricks on you here, too. Depth is so difficult to gage. But the mountains and rocks and trees seem to go on forever. Even under a cloudy sky. The clouds add an heir of mysticism to the scenery. Like little grey ghosts the wispy clouds drift in and out of view. I personally loved taking pictures that had a little smoky cloud haloing a rock or billowing up from the canyon floor. It does give a haziness to the photos, but I think its beautiful.

For lunch we found a market near the lodges (and I found a post office too to mail the rest of my Christmas cards!) and bought sandwich fixin’s. We enjoyed sandwiches and potato salad and the like all from the comfort of the RV. It cracked me up, though. We sat in the parking lot, enjoying a slide show of all the pictures Desirae has taken so far. It was fun and we laughed, but with all the scenic vistas nearby that we could have eaten at, to sit in the parking lot made me smile.

After lunch we headed to the final lookout of the trip. Desirae and Kaylin stayed in the truck. I suspect it was partly to text, but I also think the cold weather may have been to blame. Reagan, Ava, John, and I took pictures, went into the observation station (a warm windowed building with the most unbelievable views ever), and marveled at the colors and the way the light danced on some rocks but not all.

I went outside and when I lifted my camera I noticed snow falling on my coat. The ranger said a “huge” snow storm is expected tonight. I had asked what time the sunset, because I had read Hopi Point was a favorite for watching the sunset. She informed us 5:16pm, but recommended that if we weren’t planning to stay the night in the park, that we head out to our next destination. So these tiny little flakes were simply precursors of the white blanket to come. I realized I do miss the big, fluffy snowflakes just a little. But I think I need to invest in some Gortex before I meet up with that again. : )

QUOTES:

“I coulda made better tortellini. I mean, how do you f**k up a noodle?”

“Oops. Desirae has to stay outside. No pets allowed.” “But dad, I’m helping the disabled”

“That would have been an awesome picture…if the snakes hadn’t screwed it up”

“What kind of trees are those, Reagan?” “Pine trees, dad.” “Thanks smart ass”

DAY FOUR, part two: Holbrook, AZ to the Grand Canyon

DAY FOUR, part two: Holbrook, AZ to the Grand Canyon


We stopped for gas not too long after leaving Holbrook. Turns out I was so hungry I could eat a sandwich from a gas station. Thankfully no dog wet on the picnic basket. But John is keeping his eyes peeled for a hot blonde in a Ferrari.

In my previous note I forgot to comment that as we exited the Petrified Forest, we clicked over to 2000 miles travelled! A less enthusiastic cheer this time! We are 1/3 of the way through the trip.

As we drove I noticed an alternate route we could take to get to the canyon that would allow us more time along the south rim to view the canyon. When I plugged it into the GPS, it only added 10 miles to our journey so we decided to try it. And then the sun set. : (

We drove on into the sunset, catching glimpses of lesser canyons that even in the dim light were impressive. As we drove the man on the radio informed us that the sno line was at 7500 feet. We were at 7200 at the time, and had only seen snow up higher on nearby mountains. We figured the anyon was at lower elevation anyway, so we were in the clear.

We entered the park at dark, and stopped to take pictures of the sign by the light of the headlights. As we kept going, the GPS showed we were climbing higher and higher, and then the snow started to fall. At first it was just a little bit, and we were struggling to have Ava recognize it in the headlights. Then, it really started to come down, and there was even a dusting of accumulation on the roadway and the shoulders of the roads.

Much to our dismay we drove past a few “scenic overlooks” that in the pitch blackness of the night all looked the same. Close your eyes and you can see it too!

The “fun” really began when we turned towards the campground. And immediately the map and the actual roads did not match. Cue the sound of screeching cats as frustration mounts. John trying to drive an unfamiliar vehicle on dark unlit roads desperate for his navigator to give him some sort of directions. Me trying to figure out where the heck we are by locating a street name on an unlit dark road marker so that I can give directions to the driver. After looping around a couple of times, we found it.

The campground is filled with mostly people sleeping in their cars. There is no water or electric hook ups here. We are operating on generator power and Cardinal Rule #1 of the RV (no pooping in the RV). Everyone is a bit nervous, but it should be somewhat fun.

We drove to the Bright Angel Lodge for dinner. It was less fancy than I expected but fancier than John expected. And “fancy” would not be a good descriptor. Comfortable would be.

Dinner was okay, and more expensive than El Pinto, for much MUCh less food. Now I need to plan the day tomorrow. The Skywalk is nowhere near the South Rim. It is considered the West Rim, and closer to Vegas. This is why we will be camping at Lake Meade tomorrow. But the GPS now shows the trip to the Skywalk as a 5 hour trip, but I think Google had it at 3. So I’m going to sit with the good old fashioned map and plan it out that way. : )

DAY FOUR, part one: Albuquerque, NM to Holbrook, AZ (via the Petrified Forest)

DAY FOUR, part one: Albuquerque, NM to Holbrook, AZ (via the Petrified Forest)


It was cold in this camper last night! And the worst is yet to come, so I’m going to be in trouble! I wish I packed warmer jammies, or Johnny Depp to keep me warm. : )

Another early wake up, and a last shower before camping in the Grand Canyon which might not provide the option of a hook up. I was better able to regulate the temp this time, but I washed in a veritable trickle. By day 15 I should have the hang of this shower thing!

We parked in the complete darkness last night, so it was a wonderful surprise to wake up and see the beauty of the mountains in the distance. I even caught a bit of the sunrise (imagine that!). Coffee is in, and we are prepping to roll towards the Petrified Forest (and yes, Shawn, I spelled it right) and the Grand Canyon. I cannot wait!

As we wait for the propane guy to show up, I open up the GPS/Streets and Trips/Entire-Trip-in-a-File-That-Took-Weeks-to-Create and it WON’T OPEN. I can’t breathe. I call Microsoft for help while John goes to get propane from the filthy dude with a dog. Microsoft needs to connect to my computer, which has now decided it won’t connect to the internet. The filthy dude with a dog tells John he doesn’t have a connector for the propane. He is the propane guy at an RV park. Go figure. But he sends us to the Flying J up the road.

As John moves from one broken pump to another, I struggle to connect to the internet and follow the step Microsoft e-mailed me to fix the issue. As John goes in to find out the Flying J did not have anyone there licensed to pump propane, Norton antivirus continually deletes the download that is trying to fix my issues. Finally FINALLY the software is fixed and we are able to get back on track. Sans propane. But we will find a truckstop somewhere that can help us out.

The day’s negativity is behind us and we drive through amazing scenery and head towards the Grand Canyon. Even with set-backs, this is still the trip of a lifetime, and fixing these kinds of problems beats the grind of the hectic work/house/4 kids daily routine anyday. I am trying to take as many pictures as I can. It is hard to drink in all the beauty around me. I think that my brain will melt at the Grand Canyon.

The drive towards Gallup was filled with breathtaking views of red rock buttes and mountains. We took so many scenery pictures. I actually turned evil and forced the girls to wake up. There was just too much of America rolling past as they slept. It made me happy to see Desirae snap pictures out the window and appreciate what she was seeing.

At the Arizona border we stopped for propane again. This is quite an undertaking it seems. Eventually the tank was topped off and we were back on the road towards the National Parks. But we were now waaaaayy behind schedule, which isn’t a big deal other than it will cut in to our Grand Canyon time. : (

We arrived at the Petrified Forest and the questions began about where the trees had gone. We were offered a National Park Season Pass, and when I rattled off all the parks we were going to visit, the lady assured us it was a deal. Yay to saving money! I wasn’t sure what to expect here, and quite honestly my plan was to simply drive through it, but from the first overlook, when Desirae commented that it looked like God had spilled a can of paint, we knew we wanted to take it all in. The Painted Desert is spectacular. Even under an overcast sky you could see every color imaginable. The mountains literally were purple in places! This was worth every extra minute. We even decided to skip lunch so we could spend more time seeing the beauty of the park.

In Holbrook, we decided to bypass lunch (to make up some lost time) and as luck would have it, the restaurant I had picked wasn’t even there anymore! So it was meant to be. But in a really cool twist, the Wigwam Hotel on Route 66 (you know, the one with all the teepees!) was right there next door to the closed down restaurant! They had parked old cars in front of each of the wigwams and the hotel looked almost frozen in time. I was so excited about this little accidental find!

Now I am just hoping we make it to the Grand Canyon before the sunsets. I want to sightsee a little tonight. But if not, it might just be fate’s way of telling us to get some rest. And I am slowly learning and accepting that you can’t fight fate. : )

DAY THREE, part three: Roswell, NM to Albuquerque, NM

DAY THREE, part three: Roswell, NM to Albuquerque, NM


What a difference from the crowds and congestion of the big cities of the northeast! When we would travel from Philadelphia to New York City, there were buildings and people and people and places. Now, driving northwest through New Mexico, we see nothing but fields, speckled lightly with cows. No homes or buildings or people all the way to the horizon, it seems, in any direction (with the exception of the highway). We have speculated how beautiful the stars must be at night here. There isn’t a single streetlight on this stretch of road. I envy the view of God’s handiwork those few cows get at night. It must be spectacular.

Brochure in hand, we are planning to try and eat and see Old Town Albuquerque. I am hopeful we can find a little taste of New Mexico quaint restaurant. If it were a touch warmer I’d be game to eat outside, knowing the cold temperatures and even the snow that must lie ahead. But once the sun goes down, I’m guessing even Albuquerque will be rather chilly.

As we drive northward I am again reminded what a Floridian I am. My ears are killing me! We are currently driving at 5000 feet, and my poor ears are used to sea level. Its been a snap, crackle, pop fest for the past hour or so! : )

The sun has started to set, and what it does to the sky is indescribable. I don’t know how but somewhere along the way I became a huge fan of sunsets. Maybe its because I’m rarely up early enough to appreciate a sunrise : ) but I think it has more to do with the a sunrise indicating its time to work or be busy and a sunset indicating its time to rest or play. And on the nights when the sunset is followed by a diamond-filled sky, I’m in heaven. It looks like the clouds may prevent us from seeing too many stars tonight, though. But just seeing this sunset over Dallas and over the vast expanse outside of Vaughn, New Mexico makes my heart a bit happier.

And there’s a full moon tonight. : )

Our journey took us onto Historic Route 66 about an hour east of Albuquerque. When we got into the city, we could tell by the shadows that we were surrounded by beautiful mountains. But they were so hard to see. Thankfully, a small stretch of highway 40 is the only part of the trip where we will double back on ourselves later. So we WILL get to see the beauty of that stretch of highway in the daylight!

The restaurant I picked from the visitor’s guide was located on NW 4th St, so we took the exit and went into the city and found the 1000 block. The restaurant was in the 10000 block. This meant a lot of driving to find it. As we headed north up 4th St, things got a bit sketchy. Then the tempers started to flare. You see, as the planner I can only select based on what I read or see in a photo. I have no control over its prices, or if its open, or where its located. But the non-planners forget this and begin to sharpen their daggers. As the argument began to die, the sign for El Pinto restaurant came into view. We pulled into the driveway and saw a beautiful 3-tiered adobe covered in luminaries. It was beautiful!

When we walked in it looked a bit fancier than we were hoping. We checked the prices and decided that if everyone chose economically it was doable. Then we met Ronnie, the manager. He asked us where we were from and we began to tell him about the Griswold family trip we were on. He was so happy that we chose his restaurant for our brief stay in Albuquerque that he hooked us up with 6 various jars of salsas and sauces and even some chips for the trip. He seated us at our table, and when our waiter arrived, Ronnie told him to bring us a sampler appetizer platter on the house. The food was fantastic, and even with the drinks John and I had, it was the most affordable dinner thus far. Ronnie gave us his e-mail to keep in touch. I gave Ronnie a big hug. : )

We left and headed to the RV Park. Now prior to this trip I had called a few of our planned stops for the night to try and reserve a spot for the tenement on wheels. Each place I called said this wasn’t busy season and a reservation wasn’t required. Now, I did not have the phone number for tonight’s stop. When we pulled up at 9pm the office looked closed. I 411’d the number and called it. Just an answering machine. No after-hours instructions on the door. So we are parked, and will check out in the morning. This place hasn’t been the slightest bit rude, so I have every intention of doing things on the up-and-up in the morning.

Looking out past the few campers parked behind us and the fence just beyond, there is a sea of twinkling city lights engulfed by the shadows of the mountains. Up above a big bright beautiful full moon is casting a bright glow onto the city. I sure would love to visit again, especially in October when the skies over Albuquerque are filled with hot air balloons. I’ll add this to the list of places to see again! : )