Day 4 - Angel Lake, NV to Klamath Falls, OR?????

Things I've learned on this vacation.....I like dragging my bed and couch along with me on vacations. ::snort::

When you can't sleep (unfamiliar noises of semi's driving through my bedroom), and you check the computer clock.....it may well say 5:30 a.m. but you DO have more than an hour before wake up call.....because you are not in TX any longer.....I think I've been up since 3:30 a.m.

Expect the unexpected. We hope to make it to OR today. We noted that the sidewalls on our NEW tires was starting to separate. Mike thought he'd wait until Eugene to fix the tires.....but the breaks are growing......so this a.m. we will head to Elko and prayerfully find someone to fix three tires for us....so we can prayerfully make it to Klamath Falls and the KOA pool I've promised the youngers. ::snort::

Day 3 Continued

The Not So Great Salt Lake - not to far from the GREAT Salt Lake

Morton factory and salt hills in the salt flats - the white in the background is a mountain of salt.... Playing in the Salt Flats - While we had no takers this trip to SWIM in the Great Salt Lake, Mike couldn't resist stopping on the side of the interstate and letting everyone taste and play. It was a grand idea and we saw other RV's up the road doing the same thing. Mike's a trendsetter!

Message left by Jared - God Rocks

Jamin left a message about a salt free diet. ::snort:: Hey McDonalds has great salads and fruit....Zander can't eat it...but I'm eating it. Um....oh the fruit has "bht" added for freshness. ARGH.

Day 3 - Green River, UT to Angel Lake, NV

Happy Father's Day Mike!
Not sure why this keeps flipping - $3.34 in Green River

Ah - 420 miles on the interstate (except for about 50 miles) translated to a 9 hour travel day. Much better. Zander was NOT thrilled that there is no pool at this campground. We got a chuckle out of him. We've been traveling the Old Route 66 and every time we stopped the past two days he'd say, "are we camping HERE?" and then "this is good". He said this in the most barren spots....but then last night we did the KOA with a pool. Tonight when he said, "Are we camping HERE" and I said, "yes", he replied, "let's find one with swimming!" ::snort::

It was nice to get in early. We had a laugh about the campground. It's "new". I'll see if I can get photos of it to post. It has some great laundry machines and so I'm doing laundry, the boys are running, Mike is watching the youngers and trying to call the girls and Josiah, and his father.

I discovered this a.m. that the little camera had deleted all our photos. I lost the photos from the first two days of the trip. I have no clue what it was doing. It froze. I left it to go ask Mike what to do and when we came back it said "no images". I was sick about losing the photos at 4 corners. The boys had taken a lap around the 4 states and I had a picture. Strangers had taken a family photo (unusual for us to all be in one)....there were some AWESOME rock formations yesterday and those are gone too. The gas photos are gone - but really - we started at $2.80 a gal and are progressing. LOL

*I* won the mortorcylce lotto today. That means I've won two days and Arielle one....but there are still many days to go. The pot for the overall winner is growing as everyone pitches things in to the bag...it now has a Barnes/Noble card, Coldstone card, Blockbuster card...and some pennies.

Quote for the day - either the one from Zander above...or this isn't really a quote but was notable. Jamin doing sprints at a truck stop to get a workout in.

We are finding that this is NOT camping but this is SUCH an ENJOYABLE way to travel. No bed bugs, we know each night what our accomodations will look like, we're all in ONE spot instead of divided between rooms....we like this. I really had my doubts about buying this thing...but this trip is proving it's worth. AND we are saving that $200 a night room thing..... ::snort:: Remember, we don't FIT in one room...we aren't extravagant...just legal. ::snort::

The first campground Moriarty, NM was amazing. It had NO water and that was a pain...but it had a gorgeous sunset....and llamas, goats, chickens, ducks....and farm fresh eggs for sale. The second ground was a KOA - not a really fancy one...but fun....and it had water!

Trailer hair - playing @ Green River - lots of BUGS!

The view we most often catch of Jamin.....doing windows....lots of bugs!
Typical sight today - gorgeous. Jared is our rock collector and this was a GOOD day for him...

Podunk, UT - wait - PAYSON - that's it - I think

A highlight of their day!Great Salt Lake - last time we were through here we swam - but the olders voted to wait a few years until the youngers would remember - and I guess they'll be gone. It wasn't a highlight adventure. ::snort::

Gas on the North side of the Salt Lake...

I have more fun photos of the day but the connection is wonky or something - it keeps dying on me. I'll publish this before I try more.

Day 2 - EARLY MORNING FUNNIES!

The day began bright and early at 5:15. Stacia woke and needed a bottle. She is sharing the "table" bed with Arielle. Arielle was in a bit of a daze and couldn't find the fridge. ::snort::

That woke Zander. He staggered out to the kitchen area and told me he was looking for a toilet. I directed him. Mike has replaced the trailer door knob with one that LOCKS. Zander locked it so that "no one will see me all the nekkid". ::snort:: The problem was that he panicked and couldn't unlock it. I tried to talk him through it, but this was a job for super daddy.

The plan is for all to wake up at 5:40 a.m. - which I think is now and for us to get another early start. We have about the same mileage to cover today but most of it will be interstate. I hope that means this will be an 8 or 9 hour day rather than another 13 hour travel day.

Happy Father's Day, Dad....will call.

Day 2 - Green River, UT

We made it. Today was a 13 hour day of driving. WOW. Yesterday was 11 hours and when we arrived at our campground they had had a water main break. We were too tired to drive any further.

We are loving all the family time to visit. Let's see....Quote for the day yesterday....Zander said: "Ummm....Jamin's asleeeeepp" in a sing song voice...."should I wake him UP!"

Today, we visited 4 corners - the spot where CO, AZ, UT and NM meet. We weren't on the interstate until the last 30 minutes of the day - which explains the much LONGER day of travel than expected. Not a lot to see but dirt and rocks today. LOL Really, we drove through some truly ugly land today. I tried to convince everyone that it was "majestic in it's stark details" but between you and I - it was plain ole ugly! ::snort:: I will say that once we got into Utah we did see some AMAZING rock structures. We had fun "seeing" things in them.

We are at a KOA tonight. Swimming pool and all.......Stacia had a huge meltdown that lasted well over and hour. She was overtired and DID spend 13 hours in her car seat today. Mike and the other kids went swimming and I settled her down.

Poor Mike is looking exhausted. This is a LONG trip. We still have 3 days of driving before we reach his parent's home in CA. I sure hope I can share photos by then. They live RIGHT in the Redwoods and it is gorgeous...soon.

We forgot the software from our cameras for uploading photos - so no photos yet. Mike says we'll figure it out - not sure how - but maybe. LOL I'm taking lots of photos.

WOW it is HOT in this part of the country.

We have a family contest to see who guesses the correct number of motorcyclists the most days on our trip. Arielle won yesterday. I won today. Everyone is contributing to a pot of winnings. We saw hundreds and hundreds last year but we took the northern route and it was Sturgis time frame.

Josiah - we miss you.

Day 1 - STILL HERE in W TX...

Mike told me I had time to go write a blog post. ::snort:: ::gasp:: ::chortle:: I think that translates to, "step away from the trailer, cease and desist". I told him I had no time to upload photos from the camera and post them...but he said to go write a post...and I'm oh so submissive...so here I am....keeping out of the way while the men do whatever it is men do when it seems to the women that all is ready.....and of course there will be the last minute flurry to the bathroom while the women are strapped in the car. ::snort:: With 5 boys this phase alone takes a bit of time.

He told me to get an A bag and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what he wanted. I keep walking out to the trailer, standing there, starting for the house, forgetting what I'm getting, going back to the trailer and starting all over... is it any wonder he told me to go write a blog post?

I remembered that I needed a book for the VAN....but my bag is somewhere in the bowels of the THE REALLY BIG THING (Bertha, The Bus, The Turd)......I had to run and pick another book for the van - ended up picking 3. ::snort::

Water bottles are filled, pillows in the van, lap top stowed, jump drive located, check book balanced, all spreadsheets in file, copies printed for Cy, cell phone charged, cases of food in the trailer....somewhere.

We are now 1 hour and 55 minutes behind schedule.....I wonder if we will make it to NM....I'm thinking I should have gone ahead and fed everyone....the plan is always to drive a few hours and stop for breakfast.

The children are really getting wild now as Jamin and Mike run around....I hear an air compressor.... The dog is really sulking...tail between the leg, rear haunch planted firmly on the ground, a "hang dog look". She knows we are leaving and always gets like this. We usually take her but Cy will be here for 2 weeks...and then one of Arielle's friends is going to take care of her...she'll be happier here than in a kennel in WA.

Really there is NOTHING to write about.....ARGH did I pack the Benadryl??????? I need it now! And we've not left our house. Sleep is for wimps! But sometimes wimpy is good, Lisa.

Hey- have you ever wondered what the deal is with SPF SWIMWEAR???? That's the only kind they had when I picked up a darling, modest two piece for Stacia. Last night they had all kinds of one pieces...but no white sandals....Mom if you see girls, size 8 white (or tan) sandals with STRAPS on the heel for Stacia, please pick them up and I'll pay you. ANYWAY - I got to wondering.....WHY SPF on the clothes. I don't usually burn on the parts of my body that are COVERED?

I think I'll go read in the van......

Day 1 - ARGGGGGHHHH

We should have left an hour and half ago - can't you tell? But the littles are waking and the trailer is being connected...soon.

I do have a new lap top - when we figure it out I'll post photos...

CY is home - darling photos of he and Stacia. He's meeting us in SEA in July to fly to AK.

More later.......