Category Archives: Western US

epic trip out west – summer 2011

grand canyon - 1 jun 2011

Yikes! When we got home from our epic trip last year, I decided to rearrange all my blogs and then we moved. And then I never created a post linking to all my posts about our super amazing trip. Looking back on all these posts, I can’t believe all that we saw, learned and did on our trip!! I sure wish we could do another one like it this summer, but I fear that it isn’t in the cards. We’ll have to be content with long weekends of camping.

Trip diary:

Other links:

Other posts:

Photo Friday : Dusty Roads (Georgetown, TX > Carlsbad, NM)

On Day Four of our “epic trip out west“, we drove 499 miles, but only one of them on interstate highways! Driving the smaller roads from central Texas to southwest New Mexico, we saw dirt. Lots and lots of dirt. Usually the dirt was on the ground, but quite often it would be whipped up into almost blinding sandstorms. Welcome to the southwest!

texas - 25 may 2011

new mexico - 25 may 2011

koa carlsbad - 25 may 2011

After a day on the long, dusty highways, it felt great to swim in the pool and make dinner at the Carlsbad KOA.

This is an entry for Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.

car parts t-rex - 25 may 2011

Photo Friday: Roadside America (I-20 ATL > TX)

Just a few days before our “epic trip out west“, I was daydreaming about all the “Great American Sights” we were planning to see – Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite. But that wasn’t enough. What about the “quirkier side” of this crazy country?

A very short search (we were running out of time) later, I settled on *gasp* purchasing a one-year subscription to the Roadside America application for my phone. Not only do I rarely purchase apps, I certainly don’t pay for yearly subscriptions! …

In the end, I’m thrilled that I “splurged” on this app, despite its shortcomings. Long stretches of boring road were turned into adventures. Quick photo stops got us all out of the car and stretching our legs and being silly.

Day 1 of our trip took us 942 miles from Pine Lake, GA (Atlanta) to Georgetown, TX (Austin); two-thirds of this long-haul is straight on I-20. Though the girls and I have made this trip to my parents’ house many a time, we’ve rarely taken anytime to see anything other than that ribbon of highway.

While it was fun for the girls to finally get to show Rob “our hotel” (when I try to work while making the drive, we split it into two days). And the girls’ favorite gas station. Seriously. And not only their favorite — go watch First Class Truck Stop: Texas Best Smokehouse (YouTube). And they love it even though we are vegetarians!

This trip was a little different. With Rob along and the help of the Roadside America app, we made a few out-of-the ordinary detours. In Anniston, AL, we made a sidetrip to go see the World’s Largest Chair (Former) and the Yellow Elephant (not yellow). The chair was impressive. The elephant, well, not so much. But in any case, these sidetracks added to our big adventure!

largest chair - 22 may 2011

Yellow Elephant - 22 may 2011

As we crossed from Mississippi into Louisiana, we stopped at the Mississippi Welcome Center to get a view of the flooded Mississippi. While not in the Roadside America listings, it was a sight to behold. Far past its banks, except where sandbags managed to hold it back, the Mississippi truly was mighty. Huge waves, large trees being washed down “stream” in the torrent. Scarily impressive.

Flooded Mississippi - 22 may 2011

Along with stopping at the aforementioned “favorite gas station” near Longview, we also, for the first time, stopped at the Oil Derrick Rest Stop Picnic Tables where Chloe managed to find a particularly tricky geocache.

Oil Derrick Picnic Area

This is an entry for Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.

Photo Friday: Evie

Packed up - 21 may 2011

I can’t believe we did it. We lived in Evie, our PopTop EuroVan, for 38 days. She traveled almost 10,000 miles across 22 states. We traveled and camped almost the entire trip, visiting Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and a million other great sights.

Evie is taking a little break this week, but we are all looking forward to our next adventure with Evie!

This is an entry for Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.

in evie - 22 may 2011

reakfast at KOA - 26 may 2011

Out West Trip: Day 38 (Cadiz, KY to HOME)

Today’s highlights: HOME!

in evie - 28 jun 2011

I worked in the motel room in the morning while Rob and the girls went to get some breakfast. After we left the motel, we stopped at a Starbucks to get some real coffee. And then drove and drove, getting home around 4pm. Home!

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: None. (Total: 29)
States: Kentucky. Tennessee. Georgia. (Total: 22 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT, SD, MN, IA, MO, KS, IL, KY, TN)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 353 (Total: 9014)
Gallons of gas bought: 17.9 (Total: 556.5)
Poptops Spotted: None. (Total: 53)
National Park Stamps: None. (Total: 16)
Miles walked: None. (Total: 76)
Dollars saved with NP pass: None. (Total: 205)
Continental Divide Crossings: None. (Total: 8 )
Time Zone Changes: None. (Total: 10 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT, CDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)

Out West Trip: Day 37 (Onawa, IA to Cadiz, KY)

Today’s highlights: Entering MO through the back door due to the flooding in IA. Buffet lunch in small town MO. Getting closer to home.

iowa flooding - 27 jun 2011

After a quick (not vey good) breakfast at the Super 8, we headed south on I-29. The flooding was quite visible; sandbags on the highway were holding back the water. We had to take a detour around Omaha and managed to find a Starbucks – I really needed the coffee after the crappy motel breakfast. We drove south, but eventually had to leave the highway due to flooding. We never managed to find a way into Nebraska. As we drove lots and lots of backroads on the detour, we got to Missouri and had lunch at a friendly little Italian buffet in Marysville. After we rejoined the highway, we took a little detour around Kansas City in order to pay a quick visit to Kansas. We sped across Missouri, headed through Saint Louis and then into Illinois and Kentucky. The weather turned bad, so we ended up stopping much earlier than planned.

iowa flooding - 27 jun 2011

iowa flooding - 27 jun 2011

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: None. (Total: 29)
States: Iowa. Missouri. Kansas. Illinois. Kentucky. (Total: 21 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT, SD, MN, IA, MO, KS, IL, KY)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 812 (Total: 8661)
Gallons of gas bought: 50.1 (Total: 538.6)
Poptops Spotted: None. (Total: 53)
National Park Stamps: None. (Total: 16)
Miles walked: None. (Total: 76)
Dollars saved with NP pass: None. (Total: 205)
Continental Divide Crossings: None. (Total: 8 )
Time Zone Changes: None. (Total: 10 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT, CDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)

Out West Trip: Day 36 (Custer State Park, SD to Onawa, IA)

Today’s highlights: Eating pie at Wall Drug. Cob-shaped popcorn balls from the Corn Palace. A short detour to visit MN.

wall drug - 26 jun 2011

After some coffee and chatting with our friends, we packed up the car and headed out. As we headed east, our first stop was at Wall Drug. Chloe asked what was special about Wall Drug and I told her its signs. She walked in and asked “Where are all the signs?” Oops. We had lunch and dessert in the cafe, then wandered around the store for a little while before heading further east. We stopped again at the Corn Palace. The girls got cob shaped popcorn balls. Instead of heading south in Sioux Falls, we continued east in order to buy gas in Minnesota, then went back west to go south. The weather got worse and worse. Thunderstorms and high winds were making it hard to drive. We stopped for a while to give the storm a chance to blow through, then went further south for a little while. We finally stopped in Onawa, IA, at a Super 8 that was actually not too bad.

corn palace - 26 jun 2011

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: Wall Drug. Corn Palace. (Total: 29)
States: South Dakota. Minnesota. Iowa. (Total: 17 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT, SD, MN, IA)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 557 (Total: 8374)
Gallons of gas bought: 36.4 (Total: 488.5)
Poptops Spotted: None. (Total: 53)
National Park Stamps: None. (Total: 16)
Miles walked: None. (Total: 76)
Dollars saved with NP pass: None. (Total: 205)
Continental Divide Crossings: None. (Total: 8 )
Time Zone Changes: 1 (Total: 10 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT, CDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)

Out West Trip: Day 35 (Custer State Park, SD)

Today’s highlights: Hanging out with friends. Horseback riding. More game playing.

custer sp - 25 jun 2011

We had a nice breakfast in the campground. Since the only open spots for the horseback riding were at 2:30, we decided to change our plans and stay another night camping. We had to pack up to change campgrounds, though. We went to the lake, where the girls swam and played in the sand for a couple hours. We had sandwiches at the cars for lunch, then Rob took the four girls off for a horseback ride. We all gathered at the new campground, and the girls worked on making ice cream with the rolling ball. Chloe took a little nap, then joined us for dinner. The sky turned dark and we had a real rainstorm. Everyone crowded in the camper, except for me. I took a nap while they all played games together until bedtime.

custer sp - 25 jun 2011

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: None. (Total: 27)
States: South Dakota. (Total: 15 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT, SD)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 19 (Total: 7817)
Gallons of gas bought: None. (Total: 452.1)
Poptops Spotted: 1 (Total: 53)
National Park Stamps: None. (Total: 16)
Miles walked: 1 (Total: 76)
Dollars saved with NP pass: None. (Total: 205)
Continental Divide Crossings: None.Total: 8)
Time Zone Changes: None. (Total: 9 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)

Out West Trip: Day 34 (Devil’s Tower, WY to Custer State Park, SD)

Today’s highlights:
Standing in the World’s Largest Log Chair. Visiting Mount Rushmore. Driving the Iron Mountain Road. camping with friends at Custer State Park.

log chair - 24 jun 2011

We woke up slowly and started to pack up. We decided to eat breakfast at the KOA cafe, but it ended up being quite expensive for a very mediocre meal and terrible coffee. We finally headed out a bit after 10 and made our way to the highway and then into South Dakota. We stopped at the grocery store in Spearfish. We stocked up on fruit, which was all eaten before me made it to Mount Rushmore. On the way through the Black Hills, we stopped at the World’s Largest Log Chair. Mount Rushmore was very crowded. We looked at the mountain, then walked down to the sculptor’s studio before watching the short film.

mount rushmore - 24 jun 2011

We went back down to Keystone, where Rob and the girls road the chairlift up to the top of a mountain and then rode the slide down to the bottom. Chloe went too slow and wanted to go again, so she and Rob went back up and rode back down together.

alpine slide - 24 jun 2011

We then drove a crazy, twisty road over to Custer State Park and found our campsite. Before too long, our friends arrived. Everyone quickly got to know each other (again) and we all had kebabs for dinner, then the kids made s’mores over the fire. A little later, the girls played various games before heading to bed.

custer state park - 24 jun 2011

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: World’s Largest Log Chair. (Total: 27)
States: Wyoming. South Dakota. (Total: 15 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT, SD)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 154 (Total: 7798)
Gallons of gas bought: None. (Total: 452.1)
Poptops Spotted: 2 (Total: 52)
National Park Stamps: Mount Rushmore (Total: 16)
Miles walked: 2 (Total: 75)
Dollars saved with NP pass: None. (Total: 205)
Continental Divide Crossings: None.Total: 8)
Time Zone Changes: None. (Total: 9 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)

Out West Trip: Day 33 (Thermopolis, WY to Devil’s Tower, WY)

Today’s highlights:
Swimming in the World’s Largest Swimming Pool. Eating at the Utter Cafe in Buffalo, WY. Watching “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in the shadow of Devil’s Tower.

buffalo pool - 23 jun 2011

I woke early to attend my conference call, but could not connect, so I went back to sleep for a while. Camille got up early and took a shower, then we worked on packing up. After coffee and hot chocolate, we headed out of Thermopolis. The road was steep and full of switchbacks as we headed up over the pass. The creeks and rivers were swollen with water. In Buffalo, WY, we stopped at the World’s Largest Municipal, Concrete, Outdoor Pool. The girls shared the pool with about a dozen other people. After a short swim and a number of jumps off the diving board, they got dressed and we headed into the downtown to have lunch at the Utter Cafe.

utter cafe - 23 jun 2011

After lunch, we got on the highway east towards Devil’s Tower. The girls did not want to take the short walk around the big rock, but did want to wander amongst the prairie dogs in Prairie Dog Town. Our KOA was right at the gate to the National Monument and had a great view of the tower. We swam for a while, then the girls had ice cream. We did laundry while watching “Close Encounters” there in the shadow of the tower. Unfortunately, the weather turned bad while we were watching the movie on the deck, so we didn’t get to see the end.

devil's tower - 23 jun 2011

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: World’s Largest Pool. (Total: 26)
States: Wyoming. (Total: 14 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 271 (Total: 7644)
Gallons of gas bought: 26. (Total: 452.1)
Poptops Spotted: 2 (Total: 50)
National Park Stamps: Devil’s Tower (Total: 15)
Miles walked: 1 (Total: 73)
Dollars saved with NP pass: 10 (Total: 205)
Continental Divide Crossings: None.Total: 8)
Time Zone Changes: None. (Total: 9 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)