Travel Day... and The Medicine Wheel

 We broke camp from the lovely Cody, Wyoming  KOA this morning. One item that my Dad had always to do was see The Medicine Wheel. I  didn't take photos  there, it seemed wrong. My brief video for myself is blurry. So, not seeing any signI indicating that  trailers should  not attempt the dirt road... up we went. Reaching the parking lot, a hike remained. 

We had chatted with a number of people  in the parking lot.  One fellow  said we NEED  to take water, as the elevation causes dehydration.  (Thank you random stranger! We normally take water, but didn't  realize it was a three mile hike.

Kids were sent to potty. Water bottles  obtained. People we had spoken to got a good headstart.  Random comments  as we went up the trail: "oh, a field trip!" "Well behaved children! You're  doing good!" "There's  a naked Native American  up there doing his prayers. He saw the children so he's  getting  dressed" "Good for the children that you have brought them here." (This from a fully clothed Native American coming down the trail).

We stressed that the kids should treat the place as sacred, whether they  feel it is or not. To show respect, not climb on everything, nor roughhouse. I wish I had taken a personal item up. As it was, I  carried a small rock and left it on a cairn.

Becky and I  spotted two bears in the far distance.  Nothing else moves quite like a bear... but it was very far away. Becky needed a nap, and had planned to catch a quick 20 winks while Ruby and I fed the kids in the parking area. Unfortunately, we were  smack dab out of water. The meal was peanut butter and jelly  sandwiches.   Not something to eat without a beverage! So we set off to the nearest town. Water and gasoline  were purchased.  We saw a nearby park... so Becky got her nap while the kids played and had lunch.

Kimber and Tyrel  were playing a physics game. Throwing/ catching a ball on a moving merry-go-round. All the kids teamed up to play a round of volleyball. Only Kimber  and Dakota  have actually  ever played. Becky's  kids have been to games, so had a be/er grasp than their cousins. Althea threw a whining fit about not knowing  how to play... I let her vent for a few minutes.  Commented  that I can't  speak Whinese... and  called the kids to load up. Althea whined a bit more. I wasn't  too crabby at first, as she's  probably  missing her family. I did crab at her severely, when 15 minutes  later, she turned on the full scale drama all over again talking to her  Mom.

We saw  several moose today! 

ntelope, elk, and deer. A pika, chipmunks, and the bears. We learned about the Medicine  Wheel.  Many  native American tribes hold it sacred, but all  claim it was in existence  when their tribes came. School on the road has been great.

Grand Tetons... and such a surprise!

 We wanted to see the Grand Tetons. Our original  idea had been a base camp in Grand Teton National  Park. We didn't  have an exact timeline. And failed to account for Labor Day weekend.  The Grand Teton NP was booked. So was every other campground for MILES! We stayed at a KOA in Cody, Wyoming. Day trips to Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons. It was quite a drive, but so grandly  beautiful! (Yet another place I want to visit with Mr. C!)

Forty miles into the drive this morning, the crew demanded a potty break. I was driving, and saw a stop that seemed better than a "vault toilet" stop. It was a National  Park... not sure if it was the Buffalo Bill, or Shoshone? Anyway... it was manned by  a terrific docent ( park ranger?) who was educating us about bear safety. He spoke  at length  about many bear related issues. Then, he asked if we wanted to see a real grizzly bear hide! Of course we did! The kids were allowed  to examine  and pose with the bear hide.

We wandered the Teton National Park until it was getting fairly  late in the afternoon.  With more than 100 miles to camp, and hoping to see a real live grizzly, moose, elk.... we started back. I saw a pull out for a historic  cabin. Becky was ok with stopping... or NOT! I stopped, hoping to see the iconic cabin by the Tetons. 

There was a trail. Becky and the kids decided to hike the .3 mile trail. Ruby was under the weather... I  was staying at the van  with her. As the others took off down the trail.... Katie comes out of that van with her shoes. She's  been warned numerous  times to KEEP HER SHOES ON HER FEET! This time, the rest of the group was well out of sight by the time she got her shoes on. A few other people had stopped, and were on the trail. I  was not about  to let a five year old go running down a trail unsupervised! I forbade her to go. ( Meanest  Granny  in The World competition  points!)

Becky returned to a still sobbing Katie.  She hoisted her onto her back, and ran the trail. While Becky and Katie were gone... another vehicle  pulled into the lot. Becky returned... and looked hard at the vehicle and its  occupants, who were exiting. 

Suddenly, Becky is embracing the woman.... 

Hundreds miles from their homes, Becky and her internet  friend of 15 years met by accident  in the shadows of the Grand Tetons! Sarah and her family were there as much by chance as we were! Their baby had a "blowout" diaper, and they just happened  to pull into this place to change it! (Becky from Central West Texas, Sarah from N E Missouri!) The odds must be astronomical... but God has a sense of humor.  

It was  10:00 by the time we made it back to Cody. Tomorrow is another adventure!

Yellowstone!

 The Best Laid plans... and all that!

We started our morning  by oversleeping. At least we tent campers did. The trailer group set an alarm. (Becky and I have both been up by 6 at the very latest... until today. We were awakened at almost 7:30.) Breakfast was eaten. Lunch packed. Supper put into the crock pot, to await us on our return. We set forth... to discover one kid kept hiking in broken down mocs because they were all she had, other than flip flops. (We have been shopping with terrible frequency  for more than 2 weeks  now. We have purchased  at LEAST 3 pairs of shoes. Said child never once mentioned  a lack of proper  footwear. )

The trip into the store didn't  take long. But, our camp is some 80 miles from Yellowstone.  The kids were "starving" by the time we entered the park. One of our MUST SEE! things was Old Faithful.  A bathroom break, and a couple of beautiful  side stops ( with boardwalk hikes) put us at Old Faithful by a few minutes  past 2 pm. The eruption was supposed to be about 2:

40, give or take 15 minutes. 

We slapped  together  sandwiches  on a picnic blanket  next to the van in the parking lot. Hurried  the kids to the bathroom, then the geyser. Becky kept the kids together as I stopped to assist  an elderly  trio. Well, asked if I could assist.  I stood with the 87 year old mother, and 91 year old father as the daughter hurried back to lock their car. We talked until the eruption. I tried to stand guard just a bit, as thoughtless tourists all but trampled the  folk. They are on a 5 week tour of America, visiting family roots and genealogical  connections as a birthday  gift to the Dad.

We had several beautiful  stops. A few of the kids were fascinated by the science of Yellowstone. They were not rushed as we spoke to Rangers and read informative plaques. For other kids, the park was " stinky boiling mud, and more trees!" Their highlight was the gift shops.

We hiked to the brink of the Lower Falls. Becky is training for a Spartan race,  so ran back up the STEEEEEP path, then on the rim trail to the brink of the Upper Falls. The kids went ahead of me. Ruby and Ty kept a laconic pace that was too much for me. ( I did say steep, didn't  I?) Little Katie stayed  right with me. We were 6/10ths back up the eyebrow switchbacks... when a guy called out to us that Katie was doing far better on the ascent than he was doing on the descent! I saw his shirt and had to jibe back at him.... "That's  because you're  from Michigan! .... O-H!"... "We laughed and moved on. (If anyone reading is unaware... Michigan and Ohio State Universities are arch rivals. Ribbing is required at any opportunity.)

We discovered the drive from Lower Falls parking to Upper Falls Parking is not close. Not even remotely close. Becky was to the Upper Falls  long before us. We had intended to be at a meadow in the N.E. part of the park by dusk... Bear, wolves, elk and other wildlife frequent the meadow. We pulled in to a parking lot at the kiss of dark... still too far from o intended meadow! Because we saw many people looking at something.  A mama bear and two cubs. I  only  saw Mama, far down the steep hillside. We didn't  make our meadow! It was part dark when we started back. Pretzels and tortilla chips were handed our as snacks as we began the loooong  journey back to camp. Kids were sleeping, wanting only a bathroom before falling  into beds. (Cots!) I put the delicious smelling roast beef into the fridge. So much for a hot dinner on our return to camp. We were willing to feed the kids a burger... hot dog... gas station fare.... but there was NOTHING available. They will be ravenous  in the morning. 

Good thing the kids love KOA

 We hired our KOA slots to be a base camp as we do day trips. First night in... the jack that raises the camper off the hitch just does not work. Being a creative  bunch, we began troubleshooting.  It got too dark to see, so we improvised a solution.  The van jack!  But instead of sightseeing, we are still troubleshooting  today. We have ruled out the battery, the fuse, and several other items. 

While out getting the batteries  tested, we super stocked up on groceries.  Take out pizza for lunch, reinstall the batteries, then test ground 

 wires. If that doesn't  work, we will find an RV dealer for a new jack. We're  hoping to salvage the afternoon  for a sight seeing trip.  Meanwhile, the KOA has a playground, swimming  pool, bowling... and the kids do have some school stuff to accomplish. 

Setting Down (Shallow) Roots

 

This is a mix of photos  from the past few days.  We traveled through Craters of The Moon area. Tyrel met a Deputy Sheriff's of Picabo, Idaho. 

Katie did a swim hair-do. Ruby self-documents our stops, puts together fun little  video collages on her Facebook page. 

And we crossed paths with Daniel! None of us had planned to be in a major tourist area on a holiday weekend.  We found the last camp site in the region (according to our camp host). 

While Becky and Ruby got our camp set up, made supper, and got the troop ready for bed, I drove half an hour  to get Daniel. He had been unable to se ure a camp for the night. It was a great little catch-up. Daniel  was quickly  satisfied with society, and quite ready to get on the road when we dropped him off where I had picked him up. Our paths diverged, with us heading in the direction  Dan has just covered.

Tonight, we will set up a base camp for three nights, making day trips several hours away.  It's  easier than dragging the camper along, plus we have beds set up for when we get back, so we don't need to cut our day trips too short. 

May days be as blessed as ours!

On the road again!

 The van is fixed! Maintenance is done. Vacuum cleaned, and washed. We were in a KOA in a town! Who knew they had KOA in towns? The kids caught up on some school work. They swam, we cleaned and reorganized. Much needed  rest for everyone. 

Our path may intersect with Daniel's today or tomorrow. Thus far, we have been to a few of the same places, but not on the same days.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC8mNVAk6hShPmXanh2VduMQ. Daniel's Bike Tour

Today is a longer  travel day, arriving late at our camp. We got a later  start, due to the dealerships wait for our part.

Well... it's  publish without pictures... or not post! Be blessed!

Minor derailment!

 We started towards our next DESTINATION yesterday. The van made it clear that we should  get it serviced with all alacrity.  Becky found a *brand* dealership that was only moderately out of our way, and we changed course. 

The van went to the dealership for evaluation this morning.  They will have it repaired by tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, we are  slightly  stranded. Not that we need to get anywhere in particular.  So the kids have enjoyed  the playground, the pool, and we deep cleaned the trailer again. The kids did school.

Tyrel set up the TV, creatively  running the wires outside. 

We had bean soup for lunch today, after bean burritos  for supper  yesterday, and chili bean frito pie for lunch yesterday. Sitting outside is a blessing! (Snacks are fruits and vegetables, so the day balances out.) Tonight's  menu is TBD!