Road Trip - Part 2

Going on a road trip like this is not something I would typically do. Usually if I go on a trip, I have everything planned out - where we're going, where we're staying, etc. And I have never been on a trip where we stayed in a different place every night. When I started talking about it, the kids thought it sounded like a fun. As it started getting closer, I started wondering if I wasn't completely looney for planning it (or not planning it, depending on how you look at it). But by then, it was too late to turn back.

So,we are now on day 6 of our road trip and having a great time. The kids are travelling better than I expected - even the 15 month old and 8 month old. Of course, the DVD player in the van helps with the travelling. But we turn it off when we hit the National Parks and other scenic areas. They enjoy that also. Elijah notices everything even while the video is playing. He is often heard exclaiming things like, "Look at that mountain." or "Look at those cows!" Anything that catches his eye really.

The first day was just a travel day. I got Jim ready to fly to Israel and then we hit the road. We drove to St. George Utah. The next day we drove through Zion National Park, which was pretty. Then we drove through Bryce Canyon National Park. That was spectacular. We loved it. The kids are dying to hike there. Since we were two moms and 8 kids, including 2 babies, we didn't do very strenuous hikes. Footpaths only, really. But I told them we would have to come back with Daddy and camp and go for a hike. That night we slept in Provo, UT.

The next day we drove through Idaho, which we found pretty boring until we got to the Montana border. It was at the border that we pulled over so the kids could play in the snow. We were parked right between the Montana and Idaho signs, so we weren't sure which state we were in. The kids thought that was awesome. Then we pulled into West Yellowstone for the night.

The next day we drove through Yellowstone. Incredible! We basically saw from the west entrance, through the geyser basin, to Old Faithful. We were all amazed at the sights - landscape and wildlife. Words can't even express it. You have to see it for yourself. That night we travelled to Cody, WY. a little tiny town. We found the best place to stay. It was at the Western 6 Gun Motel. They have a lodge that has four queen beds and a couch. Tons of room. The kids could run around. No chain hotel here. The staff was the best and the lodgings were great. Everyone wished we could stay a couple of days here.

But the next day we headed for South Dakota. We drove across Wyoming. I'll tell you, that was one boring drive. It's as bad as the drive up the middle of California. The middle of Wyoming is same old, same old, boring. And there are no people around. All the freeway exits lead to dirt roads. Definitely not my kind of place. The big horn mountains are beautiful, though. We stopped at a waterfall and checked it out. We pulled over to the side of the road while we had lunch and the kids played in the snow. And then we drove on to Rapid City. We were told we had to go to Mt Rushmore at night, so that's what we did. We went straight there and got there a little before it closed. Then we went back to the hotel and went to sleep.

Now we are on day 6 and we'll see what adventures await us.