• Home Sweet Home

    28. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    We got home around 5:00pm. It was a long drive but the kids did good for the long drive. We only stopped once in Westley for gas and Lisa and Declan had a snack at Carl’s Jr. We are glad to be home but it was a trip of a lifetime. The memories we made will be cherished forever!

    "Day by day and night by night we were together, all else has long been forgotten by me." - Walt Whitman
    Les mer

  • Shasta Stop

    27. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    After leaving Crater Lake, we stopped at the Shasta KOA so we could break up the trip home. Got to campsite around 4:00pm and just hung out. Campsite was full, likely due to the Memorial Day weekend. Cory and Declan took the dogs for a walk around the campsite. We got pizza delivered for dinner and streamed the new Sonic 2 movie. It was a nice relaxing night before the long drive home in the morning.Les mer

  • Crater Lake Stop

    26. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    After our visit to the zoo, we drove from Portland to Diamond Lake. The lake is right above Crater Lake. We stayed at Diamond Lake RV Park. The RV park was very nice and amongst the trees and snow (Lisa’s favorite place we camped). That night we hung out outside under the awning as it was sprinkling a bit. We sat around the propane fire pit and listened to music. Declan smashed cans and learned how to pop the top of an empty water bottle. Cory and Lisa had some Klinker Brick Wine. Cory found it at the grocery store and bought it because he knew it was one of John’s favorite wines. John would have liked the campsite, music, and wine. It was a nice evening.

    Friday morning we headed to Crater Lake National Park. It took us about an hour to get to Rim Village where we viewed the lake. We arrived at around 9:30am and got the last RV parking spot. We got our warm clothes on as it was pretty chilly outside and then headed to the viewing wall. The view of the lake was quite stunning as the snow covered the surrounding rim. The skies were very clear, which was lucky as sometimes the lake can be completely hidden by clouds. We walked around a bit and Declan enjoyed walking around in the snow. We then went to the gift shop to get some souvenirs. We had lunch in the RV in the parking lot then headed to Mount Shasta. By the time we were leaving the fog had rolled in so the view of the lake was not very clear. We were lucky to view Crater Lake when we did.
    Les mer

  • Portland Stop

    25. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    After saying our goodbyes to the Howe family, we headed to Portland. We stayed in Portland at an RV Park for the night to head to the Oregon Zoo in the morning. The RV park was primarily full of people who were long term tenants. It was a true RV park in that the spots were back to back. There was a good dog park we walked the dogs to. The RV park was right next to the Portland Airport so Declan enjoyed watching all of the planes take off and fly over us. He also needed to know where each plane was headed. We also saw a few fighter jets take off. For dinner, Cory and Declan rode the bike to the port and picked up dinner at “The Deck”. We were all going to walk but decided the road was a bit to unsafe with a stroller and 2 dogs.

    The next morning we had tickets to the Oregon Zoo when it opened at 9:30am. We got there about 10 minutes early and parked in the RV parking area. We left the dogs in the RV and headed into the zoo. The zoo was pretty packed even at opening. There were a lot of elementary kids there on field trips. The zoo was a great zoo. It had different sections based on the world continents. We saw monkeys, tigers, cougars, bears, red pandas, otters, sloths, lions, birds, among others. Declan got a big green snake, rock candy, and a green alligator at the gift shop (he was a lucky kid).
    Les mer

  • Camano Island Day 2

    24. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Happy Birthday Lisa! We woke up and had breakfast. Lisa got a Camano Island Washington sweatshirt for her birthday and Declan gave her flowers picked from the garden. We hung around the house in the morning and had sandwiches for lunch. After lunch we walked down the trail at the house to go to the private beach. When we started down the hill we noticed that the tide was still in and there was not much of a beach but we decided to head down anyway. The trek was a bit tough as I (Lisa) did not want to fall carrying Thea in the ergo. I sat on my butt once to avoid falling. Once we all made it to the beach we all walked the beach collecting shells, skipping rocks, and finding clams and mussels. After about an hour we headed back up to the house. For dinner we had cheeseburgers and finished off the chocolate birthday cake from the night before. Declan, Sadie, and Kyle played in the secret room until late at night.Les mer

  • Camano Island Day 1

    23. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    We woke up and had breakfast with Grandma Joyce and Jim. After breakfast we headed to the State beach to explore. We walked around the beach finding shells and sea creatures. Lisa found a piece of orange and yellow sea glass (rare!). We wanted to take a group photo so Bill made a tripod out of driftwood and Cory set up his camera for a group photo. After hanging at the beach for a few hours we stopped by the RV campsite then headed home.

    For dinner we had pork tenderloin, potatoes, and salad. Then the group sang an early Happy Birthday to Lisa celebrating with chocolate cake.
    Les mer

  • Camano Island Arrival

    22. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    We got to Camano Island around 11:00am and dropped the dogs off to be boarded before we headed to the house. We got to the house that Grandma Joyce and her husband Jim rented just before noon. We unpacked and then Cory drove the RV to the state park to store while we were at the house for a few days. The house was really nice. It had plenty of room, large backyard that overlooked the beach (2682 Se Camano Dr, Camano Washington). We hung out with everyone and explored the inside and outside. Cory, Bill, and Kyle walked to the beach down the side of the hill. They said it was a bit of a hike and the ground was squishy because it was so wet. Washington was beautiful with amazing greenery and scenery. Declan, Lisa, Grandma Joyce, Jim, and Grandma Rise played Sequence. Declan was very competitive and wanted to win. For dinner we had tacos. Kyle cut wood and built a campfire and we all went outside and roasted marshmallows for s’mores.Les mer

  • Whispering Pines Day 1

    21. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    We woke up and Cory needed to do some work so Lisa, Declan, and Thea went on a hike around the river and Declan collected more bugs. We walked to the jumping pillow but it was closed, but lucky for Declan there was a mound of construction sand to play on. We walked back to campsite and Cory rode his bike into town to grab Mexican food for lunch. After lunch Cory and Declan took another walk around the campsite. That night we did some laundry and had leftover Mexican for dinner.Les mer

  • Whispering Pines Arrival

    20. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    We arrived to Whispering Pines RV Park around 2:30pm. We walked to the pond and saw baby ducks then walked along the river on the river walk. The river was very beautiful and moving pretty quickly this time of year. For dinner we cooked lasagna in the RV. We hung out outside but it rained a bit so we stayed under the awning. Declan collected bugs and kept them in a plastic jar.Les mer

  • Spirit Lake Day 1

    19. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    The next day we just hung out around the campsite. We threw Declan some pitches and he used a stick to hit baseballs. We also played some soccer with a foam basketball and colored outside until it started sprinkling a bit. The restaurant where we are camping opened today at 4:00pm so we walked over and had appetizers and listened to the live music. About 6:00pm we picked up Mexican food and headed over to Ethan and Leslee’s house. We had dinner with Ethan, Leslee, and her parents then walked around the property. Declan and Ethan played outside. Their property is very beautiful and we enjoyed our visit.Les mer

  • Spirit Lake Arrival

    18. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F

    We left Missoula in the morning and headed to Spirit Lake. We arrived to our campsite at about 2:00pm. It rained a lot on the way in. It also hailed once we got here pretty good. We stayed at Sedlmayer’s Resort and Restaurant. It was a nice campsite right on the lake and under the cedar trees. The first night we were the only campers as the place had really just opened for the season. It was a small family owned and operated place. When we got there Cory had to look around for someone to check in with. One of the owners was in the restaurant painting a backdrop with her daughter for the play Annie. The owners were very nice and said that the wife was born on the property and a few years ago had the opportunity to buy the place so they did. Memorial Day weekend was the one year anniversary of the opening of the restaurant on the premise. The restaurant was only open Thursday - Sunday.

    Leslie and Ethan stopped by the trailer and visited for a bit in the evening. Declan and Ethan played outside and Declan loved playing all the games with Ethan.
    Les mer

  • Missoula Stop

    17. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    We left Yellowstone after breakfast to head to Ethan and Leslee’s. We stopped in Missoula on our way to visit Ethan and Leslee to break up the drive. We spent the night at the Missoula KOA. We got to the campsite, setup, then went for a little walk. Declan and Cory played mini golf at the park. Lisa tried to play but Thea wanted to be bounced in ergo so Lisa held the dogs on the leashes and watched the boys play. We ordered Outback Steakhouse for dinner and Cory picked it up on his bike.Les mer

  • Yellowstone Day 2

    16. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    For Day 2 of Yellowstone we decided to head north. We didn’t have a specific plan but decided to drive to spot more animals. It started to rain pretty good and the road we were on had a lot of twists and turns. We were almost at Tower-Roosevelt and saw a herd of bison headed east. Cory followed them and lucky that he did because when we got into the top part of Lamar Valley there were hundreds of Bison with their babies on the move. The bison were on the road, crossing rivers, and moving quickly. It was a sight to see! We saw a few other animals on the road, including moose and elk. We continued to drive for a bit and then headed back to campsite after a long day of viewing the park. That night we watched a movie (Lego Batman) and looked at the Super Flower Blood Moon of 2022, the longest total lunar eclipse in 33 years.Les mer

  • Yellowstone Day 1

    15. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    We woke up pretty early and headed into the park. The first stop Grand Prismatic Springs. Lisa carried Thea in the ergo carrier up the pathway. Thea was a bit fussy but Lisa tried to bounce her as she walked. It was a bit overcast when we got to Prismatic Springs so we could not see the colors of the springs the best. We then got back in the car and headed to Old Faithful. We spotted a few animals on the way and Declan got to ride in the front seat of the RV so he could spot animals and view the park. We arrived at Old Faithful just as it was going off so we had to wait about another hour and fifteen for the next showing. We hit the gift shop for souvenirs and garb. We made lunch in the RV then packed it up and walked to Old Faithful. We then ate lunch waiting for Old Faithful to blow. We waited in anticipation, along with hundreds others, to see her blow. Talked to a nice couple from Maine who were retired and on a 6 month road trip. Old Faithful finally blew and we all oohed and aahed! We then continued driving around the park. We stopped at West Thumb Geyser Basin to look at the Fishing Cone. That area was very pretty as Yellowstone Lake was iced over and there was snow everywhere next to the hot springs. We then headed to Upper Falls to the waterfalls which was also very beautiful. We continued on and tried to spot more animals and took in all the beauty of the park. We spotted a Grizzly Bear eating an animal on the side of the road. Cory passed it and we had to make a long loop to head pack and find parking. Cory and Declan got out of the car to go look at it. While they were looking at the Grizzly, Lisa spotted either a Wolf or Coyote in the road. That night it rained pretty good back at campsite and we sat in the trailer looking at the lightning and listening to the thunder.Les mer

  • Yellowstone Arrival

    14. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    We left Springdale around 8:30am. On our way to Yellowstone, we passed through Salt Lake City. We both agreed that we thought it would be bigger. Overall, we were not too impressed with Utah. It felt like one step above a desert the whole way. We stopped at the last Walmart before Yellowstone which was about an hour away. We were making good time as we had not stopped since we left, but spent 2 hours in the Walmart parking lot. We ate Panda Express which was close by. The Walmart was a super Walmart with groceries, which was good because we needed more groceries. The Walmart was packed but Cory also spent like an hour shopping because we had the most random stuff on our shopping list: Water hose, space heater, formula (if they had it), leather seat conditioner (because the dogs scratched the pleather dashboard), and finally a toy for Declan (because this kid doesn’t go into a Walmart without getting a toy).

    We arrived in Yellowstone around 5:00pm, set up shop, and then planned out our first day in Yellowstone park. The campsite had some snow on the ground so Declan enjoyed jumping around on the snow pile.
    Les mer

  • Springville Stop

    13. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    We left Zion at noon and arrived in Springville, Utah around 5:00pm. This was our stop before Yellowstone. The Springville KOA had a cool arcade where Declan got to do some bowling. We did laundry. Cory was surprised that the speed limit is 80mph and didn’t seem like there are any trailer or big rig speed limits as we were being passed by big rigs going 70.Les mer

  • Zion Day 2

    12. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Zion Day 2 was an easy day. Cory did a bit more work in the morning before we started the day. The whole family including the dogs went for a walk on the Pa’rus Trail. It was about 5 miles round trip. Declan saw a deer up close and a lot of squirrels. We learned everybody loves golden retrievers as we got at least a dozen compliments and twice as many aww’s on the trail. On the way back we stopped at a gift shop to pick up souvenirs and stickers for Declan’s water bottle. Declan and Cory picked up pizza for dinner on the bike from Zion Pizza and Noodle Co.Les mer

  • Zion Day 1

    11. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Cory walked the dogs before the sun hit our valley then got caught up on work. The whole family took the trolly to the Temple of Sinawava trail. We took the car seat and stroller because we thought it would be easier with Thea. Cory had to fold up the stroller and carry it on the trolly but it worked out well. The stroller was able to go on trail no problem. The end of the trail is the River Walk Narrows. Cory and Declan hiked a bit through the Narrows so they could say they did it. Cory carried Declan so was careful not to slip on the slippery rocks. Declan and Cory both got their shoes wet and had to hike back with soggy shoes. Declan got tired of walking and sat on the front of the stroller. We saw a lot of squirrels on the trail. Lisa and Declan went to get ice cream when we got back. Declan got birthday cake flavor and Lisa got rainbow sherbet. Lisa’s tasted really bad and Declan agreed something was wrong with it because he said it tasted like throw up. For dinner we walked to the Zion visitor center and had dinner and beers at the Zion Canyon Brew Pub.Les mer

  • Zion Arrival

    10. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    We left Vegas about 9:00am and arrived at Zion at around 1:30pm. Declan got to ride out of his car seat for the first time while we pulled into Zion. We set up camp then Cory rode his bike into the entrance of the park to purchase tickets for the next day and to get some information from the rangers. That night we just hung out by campsite. Cory and Declan roasted marshmallows until Cory noticed there was maggots in the opened marshmallow bag (we think they were from Easter on farm and a fly must have laid eggs - so gross).Les mer

  • Vegas Stop

    9. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    We made it to Steve and Gayl’s house which is on the west side of Vegas around 4:00pm. The dogs were itching to get out and so were we so we took a walk with Gayl and Juno to the park and got some energy out. We spent the rest of the night visiting, playing, and Declan teaching us how to karate. Thai food for dinner was delicious! It was a good visit with family. I (Lisa) told Aunt Gayl that it was fitting she was our first stop as I took many roads trips with her when I was young and she was one of the reasons I fell in love with the open road!Les mer

  • Departure

    9. mai 2022, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    It took us most of the day Sunday (Mother’s Day) to pack but it was worth it so we could leave bright and early this morning. We hit the road at about 7:30am. Stopped for breakfast in Lost Hills and topped off the gas tank. Gas isn’t cheap we’re about $425 into fuel but we’ve still got a half tank so it should get us to Zion. Just as Cory was starting to get comfortable with driving the RV we hit the Mojave desert and the Mojave wind. It was pretty white knuckle all through the desert and when he wasn’t fighting the wind he was fighting the drafts of the semi trucks either passing or us passing them. We stopped just past Barstow to eat lunch and let the dogs pee. Then back on the road and headed to Las Vegas.

    “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West
    Les mer

Få din egen reiseprofil

Gratis

QR code

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android