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Huff Family SW Adventures
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Huff Family SW Adventures

A 17-day adventure by Huff Family Adventures Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 17, 2016
  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Sea-Tac Airport

    June 17, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Sitting at our gate!! The airport is hopping, but TSA Precheck really paid off! Already forgot something...our walking sticks. Kind of bummed, but we'll live. On a brand spankin' new 737-900 - pretty neat!

    Goodbye sunny Seattle (for the next 16 days!) Off to sunnier and hotter Las Vegas - gateway to our Southwest US adventures!

    Cannot believe our departure is finally here! Let the fun begin!!

    A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Hoover Dam

    June 18, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    Wow!! Amazing feat of engineering! Lovin' the art deco!! Crazy how low the reservoir is...kinda scary! Enjoyed the air conditioned tour 500' below the surface. Pushing 90 degrees by 9:30am - not used to this! Chugging water and hounding the kids to do the same. Ranger warned us that kids dehydrate much quicker than adults. Bought a variety of True Lemon flavor sticks to make water more inviting - no sugar or dyes! Mom win!!

    My scavenger hunt (152 items that I put together before we left) has gone better than I hoped! The boys dove right in and have a nice little competition going. Double mom win!! :-)

    RV is good. Newer model. They've tucked storage everywhere they can - adequate for our stuff, but I've had to be clever stowing stuff. Tom has driven the whole time so far. I unpacked on our way to Lake Mead last night. On our way to Kingman now for lunch, then I'll have my first stint.    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Long First Day on the Road

    June 18, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    Lost an hour in AZ and still felt like a long day!

    Lots of driving - I've never driven anything so big. We are ~8.5' wide and nearly 12' tall. It's like directing a barn down the road! Feel okay on open roads - nervous in tighter areas (anything other than open highway!) Definitely not used to being passed so much!! ;-)

    Really enjoyed the peace of driving down Route 66. Tom had just handed over the wheel and was snoozing. The kids redeemed their screen time poker chips and were enjoying a movie together. Hardly any cars on the road. Struck me that exactly one year prior I was at my first chemo treatment. Particularly reflecting on the shock and sadness of a fellow parent from school simultaneously drawing his last breaths (diagnosed with agressive AML less than two weeks ago), I reveled in my health, my freedom, my beautiful, crazy family, and just feeling very content with life.

    Taking a bit to settle into RV routine! Figuring out where I stowed everything is a challenge. Everything needs to be put away immediately or the place is instantly trashed. Easier said than done with two kids! ;-)

    Been some bickering, bossing, teasing, and antagonizing from the immature humans, so situation normal. L got car sick, which hasnt happened in years! The boys had a very hard time going to sleep in a new, exciting, and close quartered environment the first night. Up until 10:30pm (I took another hour to finally fall asleep.) L was up at 6am yesterday and read until the parental units awoke at 7am and R another 30-45 beyond. Crashed pretty hard last night!!

    Getting used to the quirks of an RV - not having water and electricity until you flip switches is strange. The place shakes anytime someone moves, which is interesting at night. Bumping into one another trying to access stuff, brushing teeth, etc. And the shower is definitely efficient! Thank goodness for the skylight or Tom would have to hunch!!

    Set up camp, Tom and the kids made a fire while I skewered meat that Heather had chopped and marinated and we flew down frozen. So easy and yummy! Fresh corn and spinach salad, plus smores for dessert (of course!) Bathed the filthy urchins and threw 'em in bed - we were asleep soon after.

    Overall, a good first day. Looking forward to staying parked the next two days as we explore the Grand Canyon!!

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    South Kaibab Trail

    June 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Hiked 1.5 miles down into the canyon to Cedar Ridge. Lots of steep switch backs - over 1,100' elevation change. Good shade much of the way down (saw a mule train), but virtually none on the way back. That's what we get for starting more than an hour later than planned (left the trailhead at 9:18am.)

    I struggled MIGHTILY on the ascent. The elevation (South Rim is at 7,000'), carrying 40# extra (excluding my pack), my stamina still not where it was, and record high temps (close to triple digits)! Drank nearly a gallon of water myself, L was nearly two liters as well. Only a light breeze at Cedar Ridge. Tom was the pack mule, carrying our spare water. We would go into 'hybrid mode,' with me holding a strap on his pack for a power assist. At times, R would hold my pack as the caboose! Tom barely broke a sweat!

    Fortunately, we brought over 2.5 gallons of water, plus electrolyte tablets. Shared a liter with a couple hiking rim to rim who were doing poorly and camped out in the shade. Otherwise down to our last half a liter when we finished. Relief to hit AC in the shuttle back to our camp site, but worthwhile hike nonetheless!

    Seen lots of elk, raven, a few mule deer, and some very aggressive geound squirrels...wishing to have seen condors!

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler
    11

    Sunset Over Grand Canyon

    June 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 31 °C

    Lazy afternoon at our camp site, snoozing, reading, relaxing and recovering after our hike. After an easy dinner, we shuttled back to the rim to watch the sunset. Smoke from forest fire (controlled burn that got out of control) caused light haze throughout the canyon. As awe inspiring as the canyon itself is - as they say, photos don't come close to doing it justice - sunset over the canyon is one of those few breathtaking moments that I'll remember forever. (Tom's camera took much better images than these.)

    L was pretty upset to not have a campfire last night, but afterward agreed that the sunset was worth skipping it.

    We all slept well! :-)

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Desert View

    June 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Bit of RV clean up (tracking in a LOT of dirt!) and egg sandwiches before leaving Mather Campground. Sad to say goodbye, but excited for what's ahead!

    Stopped at Tusayan Ruin for Ranger Tour and kids sworn in as Junior Rangers of Grand Canyon. Lipan Point has far and away the most spectacular vistas, in our opinion. Backtracked for lost waterbottle (mine!) Saw a jack rabbit!

    Lunch at Desert View. Interesting making sandwiches while driving! Climbed the Watchtower, enjoyed the views, and talked with Flood Hefler, who's spent 40+ years in the canyon and authored a book.

    Finally got signal back after 72 hours without (kind of nice and also strange) and worked out the kinks on our missing blig posts!

    On to Page we go!!

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Horseshoe Bend, AZ

    June 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C

    Driving through Northern AZ, the scenery reminds us of Eastern Washington. Pretty barren and desolate, with really cool geology. Surprised there aren't wind and/or solar farms out here. Or farm some buffalo on these wide open spaces!

    Poker chip incentives have worked pretty well for the boys to encourage drinking water, reading, and cooperative behavior. They earn chips toward ice cream and screen time. So far, L is accumulating his screen chips and enjoying navigating. Win!

    Stopped just shy of Page to hike out to Horseshoe Bend. Scorching 107 degrees - IN THE SHADE!!! Tom estimated 120 walking over the rocks. We hiked up and down a hill to reach the viewpoint (1.5 miles roundtrip). Tom and the boys climbed up a giant rock for a better view. I stayed below taking photos - too hot to climb! Thank goodness for a decent breeze off the river! Tom loves the heat - I don't do so well. Never have. L has been doing really great on hikes and even R hasn't complained once!

    Stopped at Sonic in Page for slushies to cool off before heading to our campsite on the shore of Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Lovely view!

    Too hot to have a campfire (L very unhappy!), too hot to do anything. Full hook up meant AC cranked, but could barely keep up. Hung out watching Ferris Bueller and enjoying ice cream floats as a family.

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler
    1

    Antelope Canyon

    June 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Absolutely stunning!!

    After finally cooling off enough to need a sheet around midnight, a fly started bothered me around 4:30am. Already 88 degrees by 8am. Crazy that we arrive during a record heat wave!!

    First tour of the day - light inside the slot was not optimal, but we were able to enjoy it without a hoard of others. Navigated a continuous lineup on the way out. We were all dressed in our Team Aimée shirts. Our guide, Vere ("vair"), was great! She has a daughter spelled Aimee, so she got a kick out of the shirts. She was very knowledgable and we enjoyed leaning some Navajo history as well as the canyon itself. Light was getting good on the way out. Showered off the dust, picked up a few groceries and refueled in Page, then hit the road.

    Stopped at Navajo National Monument - off the planned 'tour,' but well worth it. Watched a great video about Betatakin and viewed the displays. Kids received their Navajo NPS badges!

    Crossed into Utah within the Navajo Nation - lost an hour as they are not on DST. Stopped at Sonic in Keyanta for more slushies. *Only* about 101 today! :-)

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Monument Valley at Sunset

    June 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 30 °C

    Beyond unbelievable!! Loved Antelope Canyon, but Monument Valley is absolutely stunning! Have to say it was a fav. Our guide, Will Cowboy, taught us a lot about Navajo history and customs, movies and shows shot there, his family history (he is 18th generation). We spent three hours on the main 17-mile loop, plus backcountry. Sunset over Grand Canyon was actually nicer, but Monument Valley is a very special place. So cool seeing all of this for the first time. Took hundreds of photos - impossible to pick a handful of the best! Sorting through them this evening, it was magical to relive the experience. The early shots in broad daylight felt less impactful than in real life, but the sunset ones turned out better than I dreamed. Not professional quality for sure, but this was one heck of a day for natural beauty!! :-)

    L is predictably more engaged and interested and asks good questions of the guides. R is still a monkey sometimes and had more fun playing in the sand, beating Will's drum, and climbing rocks, but seemed to enjoy himself as well. Bought himself a neat (supposed) buffalo bone necklace, which he was happy with. Hoping he remembers being here as he gets older!    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Four Corners

    June 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Feels like we've been away from home for ages, when in fact it's been less than a week!!

    Left Monument Valley fairly early. Neat stop at Goosenecks State Park. Viewpoint right next to the parking lot, which was nice vs. hikr to Horseshoe Bend. Made an unplanned stop at Bluff Fort, based on the recommendation from some people at Goosenecks. Neat video and displays of pioneering the area in the 1800s. Kids answered questions on a worksheet and received a couple of polished rocks. Most/all of the volunteers were descended from the early settlers

    Four Corners is highly touristy - a bunch of little shops, very little shade, and a queue to take photos. Kind of neat to stand in four corners at the same time (even though the actual spot is a couple miles away). 96 in Teec Nos Pos.

    Staying up too late while on vacation, but having the time of my life!!    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Respite from the Heat!

    June 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Campground inside Mesa Verde is great! We're off the valley floor, in a greener area - temps expected into mid-50s overnight. Don't need AC, so our mouth and nose won't feel like Triscuts! Real grass and trees with leaves!! L was thrilled to grill hamburgers and smores for his birthday over a campfire. Saw a couple of deer, heard some lively song birds, more lizards, and even a wild turkey.

    Stopped for ice cream in Cortez, CO to celebrate L's big day. (Also, picked up tix for tomorrow's tours and refueled.) He was feeling melancholy about turning 12...

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Mesa Verde

    June 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Our elder Junior Ranger, proudly wearing his NPS vest with badges, was given jobs assisting the ranger on the Balcony House Tour. Our second tour of Cliff Palace, the younger wore his vest and we happened to get the same Ranger, Larry. He was fantastic - great story teller, good sense of humor, and very knowledgable, having lived with Pueblo Indians.

    Blessedly cool overnight! All of us crashed and slept hard. Over slept in fact! Scrambled for the pancake breakfast offered at the campground cafe prior to our 9am tour. Visited the museum between tours. Tried some fry bread - with honey and cinnamon, it was a hit!

    Enjoyed Mesa Verde very much - wishing we had another night here!    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Hello, Moab!!

    June 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Smooth drive up. R and I napped after leaving Mesa Verde (3 Junior Ranger badges down, 5 to go!), which we needed. Was hoping to go to Newspaper Rock to see petroglyphs, but we didn't feel like the hour plus detour. Entering our fifth and final state!

    Only 96 when we arrived Moab around 6pm. Decided to grab dinner out - Paradox Pizza it is! Pretty good! First time ordering a beer in Utah - an interesting experience.

    Hit the pool at the RV park for a nice cool down. Given the temps, we're aiming for early to bed, early to rise, to beat some of the heat.

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Arches National Park, UT

    June 25, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We went on a 3 mile round trip hike to Delicate Arch and had a 500 ft elevation change and hiked over Slick Rock and my Dad, Rowan and I climbed up a to an arch that form in a wall which from far away looked like a shady alcove and not an arch. My mom took a detour to see some petroglyphs. Saw frogs under the bridge.

    ~L    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    Landscape Arch

    June 25, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    After our AM hike, we retreated into the RV to cool down and have lunch. Trekked up to Devil's Garden with easier 1.6 mile hike to Landscape Arch. I had more built up in my head, but it was still nice. Wearing our Hawks shirts, we pulled out our 12th Man flag for a photo. Decided we were all hiked out, so we headed down to the Visitor's Center for requisite Junior Ranger badges and small souvenirs.

    The boys dropped me off at the laundromat, while they went for a swim. Eight days of clothes for four people ended up being a lot!! Fortunately, large capacity commercial washers meant I was done in under 90 minutes. Opportunity to write some postcards. High of 104 in Moab today!

    Grocery shopping afterward. Tom went to replace his flip flops, which were on the verge of a blow out, while I grilled up steaks, corn, and asparagus poolside. Finally my turn to take a cooling dip!

    The days are very long, but the trip is racing by all the same!!

    ~A    Read more

  • Huff Family AdventuresHuff Family SW AdventuresTraveler

    RV Update

    June 25, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    RV has been working out well. Figured out most of the quirks. Big enough that we're not on top of one another. Surprised at how quickly I've become used to driving it - all except for the crazy long wheel base (found a few curbs!) A bit scary how wode we are and tough to remember we have mirrors oirlt anither 18". Speed around turns is critical. I even parallel parked the sucker! Only one bowl broken from bumps so far (I wasn't driving!) Have to be a bit clever, but all our gear fits fine. Not too impressed with Thor build quality - definite rental stock - but no major complaints. AC works well, which is priority #1 these days. Amazing how quickly it becomes a mess - somehow the kids aren't as concerned about putting things away. Tracking in red dirt every time we go in/out doesn't help either!

    ~A    Read more

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