Evergreen, Colorado

From the moment we stepped wearily out of the mini-van we were treated like royalty. What a wonderful feeling to unfold legs and arms, unbuckle the kids and tumble into Kev's sister's house. Nate rushed by both Aunt Andrea and Aunt Gail to hug Uncle Loren, and declare, "I like you so much." We each had our own bed, the showers were wonderfully hot and the food was amazing. Shrimp with freah bread when we arrived, homemade gourmet pizza the next night (and let me tell you this is pizza that torments your taste-buds even in memory it is so fantastically tantalizing, and after years of team meeting pizza we are pretty good judges!) and mexican lasgna with stuffed mushrooms on the third evening. Kev and I celebrated our anniversary in style (14 years), surrounded by family, eating good food and laughing into the wee hours of the night. Our kids got to hang out with their older cousins (who they hadn't ever remembered meeting before), learn how to play poker, and veg in front of a big screen TV while they played with Gail's new dog. All in all a welcome respite from life in a tent. Kev's brother is set to get married this August, so knowing we would see each other again soon, we hugged one last time and headed off for Kansas.

Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse

"We are experiencing ground water problems... Wash clothes at your own risk." Hmmmm. So that explains the murky brown water pouring out of every faucet at the Mt. Rushmore KOA. Sigh. Which, of course, reminds me that I've been fascinated by the road signs on our trip. I love the "Rest Area. Watch Out For RATTLESNAKES," "Dangerous Curves Ahead," "Steep Decline," "Limit 6, No Running or Jumping," "Strenuous Trail," "Susceptible to Windy Gusts" and "Danger During Storms." Somehow I have started to treat them like merry, good natured fortunes posted right along the road for all to see and heed. And I find myself wishing that our life, our spiritual journey came with such advance warnings. (Kev thinks I'm insane about this.) I even like the "speed limit 55 and Go Slowly Construction Ahead." That seems to sum up our journey these days, go slowly- construction ahead. As we see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, we are well aware that our trip is mostly over, that we have yet to see any writing on the wall of what our future holds... (I keep waiting for red spray paint on the side of a mountain or something.) That we will need to proceed even more slowly this next year, that there will surely be time for construction in our lives- emotional, spiritual, mental, physical.
Meanwhile, Joe and Louisa have correctly identified all four presidents on Mt. Rushmore (Core Knowledge would be proud,) found the NC flag on the walkway, learned about Crazy Horse and even gone on a 1 1/2 hour horse ride (without us!). They've jumped on a huge jumping pillow, slid on several long slides (Nate's favorite) and made quick friends at almost every stop. Blessfully unaware of any future angst, they live in the present the way I want to, enjoying every stop at full speed.
Our only hiccup (Cheds you will appreciate this.) was realizing hours down the road that we LEFT BABY at the Crazy Horse memorial. Near the end of our time there, we turned around and Savannah wasn't with us. After several long minutes of screaming her name and dashing around to all the potential places she could be, I ran back to the viewing platform and there she was. I should have known to go backwards first. For several weeks now we have dubbed her the "Pokey Princess." She strolls along at half speed where-ever we go enjoying things that no one else sees... a bug, a butterfly, the light dancing on the trail. Sometimes she just plops herself down and plays in the dirt. Sigh. So anyway, by the time we had re-located her and herded all four kids through the pottery-filled gift shop (I swear designed for people to break things) my nerves were a tad frazzled. I simply forgot to include Baby (Nate's very very VERY precious baby doll) in my mental head count. By the time Nate realized that Baby was not with us, we were far to far to turn around and get him. I was just sick. Nate was wailing. Everyone in the car was trying to problem solve. Finally, we called Crazy Horse and after several hours of looking for him (the description was a very well loved pink and purple cloth doll who had just had Dr. Pepper spilled on him and then was dragged through the mud) they found him in the theater wedged between two seats. He got a first class ticket to Nana's house via USPS. To make sure he wasn't scared or lonely those kind ladies even tucked in a small stuffed buffalo to keep him company. For now, we are filling Nate's head with stories of Baby riding on the airplane, eating peanuts, drinking soda and looking out the window. He's terribly sad and misses Baby tremendously, but is fascinated that his doll is having his own grand adventure.

Yellowstone National Park

I completely underestimated Yellowstone. Months ago, I put it on our "map" as one of the cultural sights that the kids simply must see. Even though I knew it was the first National Park in basically the whole world and that many people had already described it as a place of great beauty and wonder, I mistakenly thought it was a smallish touristy type place largely dominated by Old Faithful. On the day we arrived we marched straight up to the massive viewing area about 3 minutes before an eruption. Indeed, within 3 minutes the geyser erupted and shot an amazing amount of steam and water high up into the air. The kids were shocked, spellbound and eager to stay to see the next eruption 80 minutes later. I thought, "Great, check this off the list and on we go...." But first we headed back to the visitor center to get all of the Jr. Ranger and Young Scientist worksheets. At Yellowstone, we discovered you can also check out a backpack which has a supercool thermal radar like thermometer. This gun like device allows you (or in this case the kids) to zip close to a high spring, geyser, or mud pot, aim the red laser light from the gun at the target, mash the button and presto the digital read out displays the temperature. I can't describe how neat this was. Right beside Old Faithful is a huge serious of thermal oddities right alongside a boardwalk. The kids zipped up and down going from geyser to mud pot to hot spring recording their temperatures. Even the ground near the geysers were hot AND many of the geysers changed temperature just before eruption. Nate, of course, was less than enthralled... the whole place smelled a bit like day old, slightly rotten boiled eggs. He kept yelling, "STINKY VOLCANOES!" everywhere we went. It was pretty cold here, snow still on the ground in places, so Joe and Louisa gloried in standing in the midst of various warm (but stinky) steam showers. In one place getting so steamy that their hair was wet afterwards! That first day we managed to see Old Faithful erupt three times, a definite highlight of the whole trip. But what to do the next day? More geysers! Nate was horrified, but on we went mile after mile of eruptions and bubbling brews. An amazingly huge fairy tale land of steam and brilliant blues, greens and whites. And then, on a lark, we stopped to see the upper and lower falls. It was as if time stood still for all of us. A beautiful canyon of yellow stone. I had no idea. At the far end a huge beautiful waterfall. This was one of those scenes to stare at for hours and still not be satisfied. So we saw no bears, not even one. But hundreds of buffalo and just like the cows in BGO, they ended up on the road stopping traffic! Yet another taste of home for the kids as we continue to connect with God's creation on this side of the ocean.

Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming

In all of my dutiful research of the past several months preparing for our Great Adventure, Jenny Lake Campground in the Grand Tetons was the epitome of tent camping in the national parks. In season, this campground often fills by 7am. One guidebook even described the before dawn “ritual” needed to obtain one of the coveted spots in this beautiful secluded campground. All of the campgrounds in the Grand Tetons are first come only, no reservations and we were arriving at the cusp of the busy season early June. Our dream (of course) was a spot at Jenny Lake, our realistic goal was a spot anywhere in the park. After all we were driving from Utah, a 7 hour drive that meant we would arrive no earlier than 4pm. What joy and delight when we arrived to find several prime spots still open at Jenny Lake. (by the next day the campground was full by mid-morning) We couldn’t believe our luck as we pitched our tent in a big site, with a variety of beautiful trees all around, a view of the Tetons as we opened our tent door and the sun rising on our backs. The highlight of the day was Louisa’s ability to correctly identify the two piles of skat as Moose without first consulting her “Scoop on Poop” book. What a Jr. Ranger! The next day we took the ferry across Jenny Lake and began to hike up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Still feeling energetic after 2+ hours we started on the trail into Cascade Canyon. We meant to hike only 10 minutes in and then turn around. An hour later we were still hiking in, fascinated by the sights and the trail that was completely covered in snow. I’m sure we looked quite bizarre, we saw so few people attempting the hike. Joe and Louisa had elected not only to wear their more comfortable crocs, but also declined the offer of warm socks. So there were my African children clamboring around nearly barefoot in the snow and loving it. By the time we turned around to begin the hike back down to the lake, Joe and Louisa were making ever larger snowballs and balancing them on their heads as the walked. It was a truly magical hike and we collapsed weary but satisfied that night in our little home under the stars.

Antelope Island State Park, Utah

Another primitive campsite, another vault toilet but this time we were surrounded by the mirrored beauty of the Great Salt Lake of Utah. The remains of the great inland sea stretched before us at our beachfront site, in the background the majestic snow covered peaks of the Wasatch Mountains rose all around encasing us in a surreal peaceful beauty that not even the numerous lake flies could distract us from. The kids headed down to the water while we pitched the tent. “Mom, we can’t possibly get into the water. It is covered in POOP!” Joe announced nearly an hour later. All Nate would say was, “AHHHH, STINKY! STINKY!” Hmmmm. So off we went on a hike up to Buffalo Point, climbing a smallish looking hill, that in reality was quite steep, rocky but beautiful. The top outcroppings covered in wild flowers and wild celery with moon like rocks jutting up and out. A café at the bottom of the trail sold icy drinks and buffalo burgers. Delicious! Next we hopped in the car and headed to the visitor center where we discovered that the water was NOT covered in poop, but algae and brine shrimp. It was however pretty odorous and definitely salty. “Can we swim here?” we asked the gal behind the counter. She looked quizzical as an older woman laughed. “You can’t really swim… but you can float, just don’t put your face in the water.” Okay, then. Off we went to put on our swimsuits and join the thirty or so other folks that were playing at the water’s edge. The salty content was shocking. We walked out about 100 yards and were still not quite waist deep, but we decided to give it a try. We each sat down and quickly lifted our feet up and WOW, with absolutely no effort we were floating along the surface of the water with our heads up. Now, I love the twins, but my body has never really recovered fully from the sheer size and volume of their collective pregnancy. My abdominal wall separated, and my last visit to the OB/GYN confirmed that only surgery could repair the inch wide damage. Since their birth, floating on my back is possible just not enjoyable. Ahhhh, but here no problem. We each drifted apart, effortlessly floating on a peaceful sea with the reflected beauty of the mountains and the snow surrounding us. It was spiritual somehow. I won’t try to explain it all here, but this is the place for me that calmed my soul… floating unrealistically in a sea of long ago, not needing to tread water or exert any energy beyond just being still and enjoying the beauty all around.
Okay, but was it stinky? Yes. Even as I floated in my calm, peaceful bubble of tranquilty I only had to gaze down to see countless little brine shrimp (think Sea Monkeys) and big chunks of slimy green algae floating serenely next to and over me. Hmmmm.

Great Basin National Park

“You can drive up to the trailhead to the glacier this time of year, but the trail itself is still covered in several feet of snow. So unless you brought snow shoes….” Baker campground at around 10,000 feet had just opened the day before but still seemed to be covered in snow. Lower Lehman Campground at 7,000 feet only had sites left that were too small, unlevel and rocky but Upper Lehman Campground at nearly 8,000 feet was BEAUTIFUL. So we pitched our tent in a huge site surrounded by aspens and pines, across the way from a rushing creek and multiple tiny bridges. Our kids opened the door to the bathroom and looked quizzically at the vault toilet, until Louisa said, “Oh! This is a cho with a toilet seat! No problem.”
One of the reasons we stopped to explore Great Basin National Park was the free 25 pounds of pine nuts campers could harvest here, but alas, the season was not until September! Sigh. Instead we explored our campground (a wonderful nature hike itself with rushing streams, rocks to climb and limitless paths to explore as we gathered downed dead wood for our fire). We did indeed go to the glacier trailhead where Kev surprised the older kids with an impromptu snowball fight. Great Basin also has one of the more beautiful caves in the nation. Who knew? We spent the afternoon touring the cave with a very helpful and patient Ranger. The cave itself was so ornamental that at several points along the way we had to slide sideways through the openings of stalagmites and stalagtites. Carlsbad Caverns had impressed us by its sheer size and large scale features. Lehman Cave captured our imaginations with its otherworldness. Plus, the kids had a real life Ranger almost all to themselves and spent the tour bombarding him with endless questions and comments. He in turn had questions for them, which they took turns answering while we fell back a few steps and just looked at everything with amazement. At one point in the tour all of the lights were turned out and we got to pretend we were explorers a 100 years ago, looking at the cave by candlelight. All very cool, and the stuff which causes dreams to be fuller and richer for years to come. The nights were cold, bright and clear. We had wondered whether the sky here could possibly show us more stars than in BGO. Both have little to absolutely no light pollution, but the altitude and the air quality at Great Basin really showcases the night sky. There were SO MANY stars visible that even picking out the familiar constellations was impossible for us. We just gazed in amazement.

Sparks, Nevada--- Pop-Pop's Place

After a wonderful, but cold Memorial Day strolling amongst the coastal redwoods at a local state park and putting our toes (or in Nate's case most of his legs) in the Pacific Ocean, we headed through Donner Pass, down past Reno and into Sparks, Nevada. The welcoming arms of Pop-Pop (my Dad) were wide-open as he ushered us into his apartment and right up to a table loaded with fresh hot pizza. The kids bounced all over the place, Nate and Savannah examined (read unscrewed) all of the door stoppers, while Joe and Louisa plopped down on his sofa and began to try and tell him all the various things they have learned as Jr. Rangers. We must have shown him about a zillion pictures of our travels, while our bellies were full from chinese food and ice cream sundaes piled high with all the good stuff. (He is currently working (short term) at a power plant in the local area, so it was fun to get the chance to visit him while he is "outwest." Mom heads out there next month!) Chocolate face pancakes and other more adult food from IHOP were on order for breakfast. So with full tummies and a solid night of sleep we hugged one last time and then set off across the state to our next destination....