If you are feeling a bit confused as to what events and places belong to what days then join the club. I have not done well with keeping a journal and managing photos and videos so its all befuddled.
So, on the day we spent time at the mountian lake in S. California we also went to Mammoth Lake. Mammoth Lake is a privately owned place, so everything cost and everything was commercialized. Once there we had to park the RV and take a shuttle up to the trial heads that lead to various scenic points. Some of those points included the "Devil's Post Pile", Minnerat falls, and Rainbow Falls. Coming off the shuttle bus we began to walk toward the Devil's Post Pile but took a small detour toward the "soda springs" (they ended up to be nothing). The trail continued up, but I didn't have the strength to keep going so Mom and I decided to stop and rest while everyone else headed up the trail to see what was there. Well, after what seemed to be an eternity of waiting we came to the conclusion that wherever that trail's destination was, it was not just around the corner. Turns out they were all headed up to the Minnerat falls which were a little more than a mile away. Of course the whole time they thought that it must be just up ahead so they kept going. It took forever!
It must have been worth the hike because Dad, Anni, Ryan, and Steven all came back with excited faces and fun stories of the waterfalls that they got to climb on. Next, we hiked to the Devil's Post Pile which is a natural rock formation that looked liked perfectly straight carved posts.
Then we hiked the two and a half mile up hill hike to the Rainbow falls. We decided they measured the distance of the walk as the crow flies because it had to be more than 2 1/2 miles. The falls weren't even that spectacular, but we got our exercise for the day.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Day 5...I think...
On day five I was still sick. That was the day we went to Death Valley. From what I heard from the family later was that it was hot and dry and low elevation. Apparently, it was so hot at one point that they tried to fry an egg on the blacktop. Anni said there was some white around the edges. I think I believe her.
While driving through Nevada there were several times when I could hear excited exclamations about dust devils. I guess there were quite a few large ones.
Once again, I was too sick to remember any of that day besides what I heard from the family.
I was feeling a bit better that evening to see the campground. At this point we had come to Southern California. The Campground was up a mountain and very primitive. At one edge of the campground there was a gorgeous mountain creek. The site we chose was very private and near some very interesting trees, one of which had a huge burned out hollow spot that looked as if it could fit a bear inside of it. The only pictures I have of this place are of some flowers Anni and I picked on a very short walk.
Here is Anni's account of Day 5:
We saw death valley. It was so hot we cracked an egg on the black top. It didn't cook through, bu it got a small white layer on the bottom. And it got hotter. after a while of driving we had to shut the air off so the engine wouldn't over heat. It was miserable, but we made it.
Our next campsite made up for the heat. It was in the mountains so it was cool during the day and wonderfully cold at night. Rebekah was feeling better so she read to us. We had spaghetti for supper, a Bible study, and then bed. Our site was on the edge of the camp ground and our motor home made a wall between us and every one else so it was very private. IN the morning we walked down to the river. It was like a fairy land. Ancient trees grow on small islands, parting the rocky river. Exotic flowers grow every where and the sun shimmered through the trees and a bouquet of flowers. There's a lake nearby that we are headed to to spend part of he day at.
Dad fished while we sat around. Then we went and saw the hot springs. Mom was disappointed because she was pretty sure this was the place that, 26 years ago, she could swim around in, and couldn't today.
While driving through Nevada there were several times when I could hear excited exclamations about dust devils. I guess there were quite a few large ones.
Once again, I was too sick to remember any of that day besides what I heard from the family.
I was feeling a bit better that evening to see the campground. At this point we had come to Southern California. The Campground was up a mountain and very primitive. At one edge of the campground there was a gorgeous mountain creek. The site we chose was very private and near some very interesting trees, one of which had a huge burned out hollow spot that looked as if it could fit a bear inside of it. The only pictures I have of this place are of some flowers Anni and I picked on a very short walk.
Here is Anni's account of Day 5:
We saw death valley. It was so hot we cracked an egg on the black top. It didn't cook through, bu it got a small white layer on the bottom. And it got hotter. after a while of driving we had to shut the air off so the engine wouldn't over heat. It was miserable, but we made it.
Our next campsite made up for the heat. It was in the mountains so it was cool during the day and wonderfully cold at night. Rebekah was feeling better so she read to us. We had spaghetti for supper, a Bible study, and then bed. Our site was on the edge of the camp ground and our motor home made a wall between us and every one else so it was very private. IN the morning we walked down to the river. It was like a fairy land. Ancient trees grow on small islands, parting the rocky river. Exotic flowers grow every where and the sun shimmered through the trees and a bouquet of flowers. There's a lake nearby that we are headed to to spend part of he day at.
Dad fished while we sat around. Then we went and saw the hot springs. Mom was disappointed because she was pretty sure this was the place that, 26 years ago, she could swim around in, and couldn't today.
Day 4
On day three (the day we saw the Painted desert, petrified forest, and Grand Canyon) I went to bed with a slightly throbbing headache expecting the elevation was affecting me in a poor way. That morning I was sick. My head was at this point began pounding at the slightest flinch and I was nauseous. Between states of delirious consciousness I could hear the family talking about entering Nevada. They talked about the Hoover Dam so I figured we must have crossed it. They talked about Las Vegas and a hotel room. I remember giving every bit of my strength to cross the room and find the bed. I remember the room was dark and cool and I lied there for hours. I listened to the family speak about the pool just outside the door and a Circus just down the road. Looking back I think about how pitiful I must have seemed to them, lying there moaning and gripping the edge of the bed till my knuckles were white to distract myself from whatever turmoil was going on either in my stomach or my head. It was a horrible illness that lasted two whole days. Even after it let up I didn't recover fully for another two days. The first day of being sick I missed Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam and the second day, Death Valley and the Nevada deserts. As far as I know, it all went well and was pretty interesting.
Unfortunately I have no photos of the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas and Death Valley and no memory of them either.
Unfortunately I have no photos of the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas and Death Valley and no memory of them either.
Day 1,2, 3 Anni
Day 1
After 1 night and half a day of travel we finally made it to the first inn our long line of camp grounds. We passed through Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and finally stopped in New Mexico. The motor home was muggy and hot. That plus, as always, I felt incredibly guilty for whoever had to stay up and drive made the first night of driving fairly long. So even though it was in the middle of the day I was asleep when we got to the camp site. I woke up alone in the motor home in a strange desert like place, but my last memory was of Steven tickling my feet and so, for the sake of his well being, I was glad for the solitude. I found my family walking toward me from a large lake.
The camp ground didn’t have a lack of vegetation. Just a lack of trees. The ground was green, but not with grass. It was covered with stiff, prickly plants. There were small round cactuses and bigger ones with round flat spiky plates. What looked like stiff, foot long tuffs of grass, turned out to have needle sharp tips. It was fairly hot but there was a constant breeze and it was warm and comforting.
We swam in the lake, ate supper, took showers and sat around until Dad got back from fishing. Then we had a bible study and went to bed.
The night was awful for me. I tossed and turned, listening to a symphony of snores. I wasn’t tired after sleeping so much the day before. But when I did fall asleep it was very soundly and I
woke up feeling good because it was colder.
Day 2
Dad was driving on a road in the middle of nowhere. On either side of us were light green rolling hills that were speckled with dark green tuffs of bushes and an endless clear sky. We stopped at a fire work store and I had a beautiful view of the mountains from the motor home window, but it was obstructed by a big white sign with faded red words that said FIRE WORKS.
We went to a place with volcano rocks that had Indian drawings on them. The highlight of that stop was a lizard I spotted.
Back on the road we passed some sand dunes. I had the window open to see them better and Steven decides he has to rule my life by keeping the window closed. I glared at him till he got board and looked away. Being patient has its uses.
I feel completely surrounded with different colored mountains. Some are red, some are green with plants, and in the distance there are white cliffs. Some cliffs are all three. Their white faded into red which was over taken by green. It was beautiful.
We went to a mining museum which was fun because there were no employees down stares where they had a mining simulation. We were the only ones in the whole museum so we goofed off a lot.When we got back to the motor home a fat, stinky, dirty man approached us and asked for money. We gave him a sandwich, a cookie, and a few slim-jims. He asked for something to drink and we gave him a soda. He complained about not getting money then we left.
We went to a Mexican restaurant and I got a hamburger and fries. After that we went and saw a volcano crater. Dad was a little high off the mountain air. He climbed up and around the crater till he was nearly opposite of us. We watched his figure; a speck on the tip of the ridge of the crater; run back toward us. Then we walked to the ice caves. It is 31 degrees in them. It was such a relief to be in the cold that we hung out there awhile. Dad (still crazily happy) hopped the fence, walked across the 20 feet deep pond of ice, took off his shirt, and hugged a giant ice pillar to cool down further.
Our next camp ground was nicer. It had trees, a lake, paved roads, and a beautiful valley with a sheer cliff walls almost all the way around it. Steven didn’t go and when we got back he was packing up our chairs. Dad told him to stop and that we were going to have a camp fire.
“Not here we’re not.” He told us, “This place was reserved.” We explained to him that the green card on the sign meant it was open and he pointed to an angry looking lady in her car. We ended up having to move to a place with no fire pit.
We road bikes for awhile then we went to an empty camp sight and had a fire, sang songs, and had a Bible study. After that it was showers and bed. It was cold and I didn’t sleep well.
Day 3
Today we made it to Arizona. We saw the Painted Desert stretch endlessly in front of us. The different shades of red capped with white sand and scattered with green vegetation was beautiful.
Next we saw more ancient Indian drawings scratched on more rocks. Then we saw (from a distance) a petrified forest. Then we went to the place where you walk through the petrified logs. It was cool.
After a few more hours of diving we made it to the Grand Canyon. I’m so glad we went. Even though I’ve already seen it, it’s not something you get used to. The first time we went that day it was crowded. We tried to wait for the trolley but the lines were long and when we got to the front on ambulance pulled up to pick up a girl laying on the bench. She got up and walked right into it. But that wasn’t the worst part. I think the doctors were trying to convince her she was ok or trying to treat her right there because the ambulance sat there, right in the way of the trolleys, forever. Eventually we just left. We came a second time to a less crowded spot and then a third time to watch the sun set.
It was Sunday morning so we went to a church service. Three girls only a little older than me led it. One played the violin while we sang. They talked about how God doesn’t take sides. Rebekah didn’t go. She was feeling sick. We made it to Las Vegas and got a hotel room. Dad, Ryan, and Steven went to see the sights and accidently got in on some action. Some guys got in a fight and Dad went to go break it up, but by the time they got there it was over.
Rebekah was throwing up sick. She had 100.1 temperature, but that's after she was given a ton of medicine.
After 1 night and half a day of travel we finally made it to the first inn our long line of camp grounds. We passed through Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and finally stopped in New Mexico. The motor home was muggy and hot. That plus, as always, I felt incredibly guilty for whoever had to stay up and drive made the first night of driving fairly long. So even though it was in the middle of the day I was asleep when we got to the camp site. I woke up alone in the motor home in a strange desert like place, but my last memory was of Steven tickling my feet and so, for the sake of his well being, I was glad for the solitude. I found my family walking toward me from a large lake.
The camp ground didn’t have a lack of vegetation. Just a lack of trees. The ground was green, but not with grass. It was covered with stiff, prickly plants. There were small round cactuses and bigger ones with round flat spiky plates. What looked like stiff, foot long tuffs of grass, turned out to have needle sharp tips. It was fairly hot but there was a constant breeze and it was warm and comforting.
We swam in the lake, ate supper, took showers and sat around until Dad got back from fishing. Then we had a bible study and went to bed.
The night was awful for me. I tossed and turned, listening to a symphony of snores. I wasn’t tired after sleeping so much the day before. But when I did fall asleep it was very soundly and I
woke up feeling good because it was colder.
Day 2
Dad was driving on a road in the middle of nowhere. On either side of us were light green rolling hills that were speckled with dark green tuffs of bushes and an endless clear sky. We stopped at a fire work store and I had a beautiful view of the mountains from the motor home window, but it was obstructed by a big white sign with faded red words that said FIRE WORKS.
We went to a place with volcano rocks that had Indian drawings on them. The highlight of that stop was a lizard I spotted.
Back on the road we passed some sand dunes. I had the window open to see them better and Steven decides he has to rule my life by keeping the window closed. I glared at him till he got board and looked away. Being patient has its uses.
I feel completely surrounded with different colored mountains. Some are red, some are green with plants, and in the distance there are white cliffs. Some cliffs are all three. Their white faded into red which was over taken by green. It was beautiful.
We went to a mining museum which was fun because there were no employees down stares where they had a mining simulation. We were the only ones in the whole museum so we goofed off a lot.When we got back to the motor home a fat, stinky, dirty man approached us and asked for money. We gave him a sandwich, a cookie, and a few slim-jims. He asked for something to drink and we gave him a soda. He complained about not getting money then we left.
We went to a Mexican restaurant and I got a hamburger and fries. After that we went and saw a volcano crater. Dad was a little high off the mountain air. He climbed up and around the crater till he was nearly opposite of us. We watched his figure; a speck on the tip of the ridge of the crater; run back toward us. Then we walked to the ice caves. It is 31 degrees in them. It was such a relief to be in the cold that we hung out there awhile. Dad (still crazily happy) hopped the fence, walked across the 20 feet deep pond of ice, took off his shirt, and hugged a giant ice pillar to cool down further.
Our next camp ground was nicer. It had trees, a lake, paved roads, and a beautiful valley with a sheer cliff walls almost all the way around it. Steven didn’t go and when we got back he was packing up our chairs. Dad told him to stop and that we were going to have a camp fire.
“Not here we’re not.” He told us, “This place was reserved.” We explained to him that the green card on the sign meant it was open and he pointed to an angry looking lady in her car. We ended up having to move to a place with no fire pit.
We road bikes for awhile then we went to an empty camp sight and had a fire, sang songs, and had a Bible study. After that it was showers and bed. It was cold and I didn’t sleep well.
Day 3
Today we made it to Arizona. We saw the Painted Desert stretch endlessly in front of us. The different shades of red capped with white sand and scattered with green vegetation was beautiful.
Next we saw more ancient Indian drawings scratched on more rocks. Then we saw (from a distance) a petrified forest. Then we went to the place where you walk through the petrified logs. It was cool.
After a few more hours of diving we made it to the Grand Canyon. I’m so glad we went. Even though I’ve already seen it, it’s not something you get used to. The first time we went that day it was crowded. We tried to wait for the trolley but the lines were long and when we got to the front on ambulance pulled up to pick up a girl laying on the bench. She got up and walked right into it. But that wasn’t the worst part. I think the doctors were trying to convince her she was ok or trying to treat her right there because the ambulance sat there, right in the way of the trolleys, forever. Eventually we just left. We came a second time to a less crowded spot and then a third time to watch the sun set.It was Sunday morning so we went to a church service. Three girls only a little older than me led it. One played the violin while we sang. They talked about how God doesn’t take sides. Rebekah didn’t go. She was feeling sick. We made it to Las Vegas and got a hotel room. Dad, Ryan, and Steven went to see the sights and accidently got in on some action. Some guys got in a fight and Dad went to go break it up, but by the time they got there it was over.
Rebekah was throwing up sick. She had 100.1 temperature, but that's after she was given a ton of medicine.
Day 8
Just to let y'all know, we are in San Fransisco at an RV park right in the middle of the city. (that makes me laugh). At this point we are getting ready to leave the RV to spend a day in the city so I can't spend the time updating the blog as I would like to until later on tonight. So, until then...
Monday, August 2, 2010
Day 2
Day 2
Cool breezes on a summer evening, the laughter of children playing, the view from the top of a mountain, and waking up in a moving motor home are among some of the best sensations known. Mom and Dad woke early, packed up, and began driving as we slept in comfort. Upon waking we were met with views of red mountains and the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. The drive this morning was quite nice and we did not cease to stare out the windows the entire time. Grandma should be proud as we have not played one card game all day for the fear of missing some spectacular view.
Our first stop was at the Petroglyphs National Monument in Albuquerque.
The short hike among large black volcanic rocks was interesting enough, but we were a little skeptical when it came to the 130,000 year old spiritual Indian drawings as it was difficult to tell which were real and which were modern day scandilisms. That was a short enough stop.
Driving through Albuquerque was an adventure in itself. Everything was beautifully landscaped with colored rocks, painted and mosaic walls, and native plants. Mom and I were, of course, very interested in the houses here and their Mexican style.Next we drove on to a little town called Grants. This is a very Mexican/Indian population and it shows. Here we visited the National Mining Museum which was fascinating in many ways. The small upper portion had great information and a short video explaining how the town found prosperity through the discovery of large amounts of Uranium in the area. The Lower portion of the museum consisted of a mock mine with tools, little railway cars, and the works. We were the only ones there so we felt free to explore and climb around to our hearts desire.
Coming out of the museum we found a quaint little Mexican restaurant for lunch and then headed off for El Malpais.
Twenty nine. Twenty-nine fire spouting, lava gushing volcanoes occupied this particular area. The road was not gravel, but fine black sand. On one particular hill, the volcanic soil prevented all but a few desperate trees from growing making it a rather interesting sight. We came to this place and began a half mile hike up to see the largest volcano in the area. The walk itself was worth stopping for as we passed a canyon full of huge rocks, gnarled trees of the most twisted nature, and a lovely blue sky. At the top of the path we saw what appeared to be a huge sunken hole. By huge, I mean bigger than at least two football fields across. It was a great sight.
After the warm walk up to the volcano, of course, we had to cool off, and what better place to do so other than an underground cave of ice! It was such a strange sensation to come down the stairs and suddenly hit a wall of cold. Deeper in the cave it was a refreshing thirty-one degrees.
You know those “Stay on the Path” signs? Well, my Dad has no respect for these slight rules as he climbed to the volcano rim and ran around it to a ridiculous point, and then at the Ice cave, he jumped the railing to hug a column of ice. Silly, silly man.
Carrying on we decided the day shall come to an end at the Bluewater campground near the edge of New Mexico. The “blue water” of the lake here is not too impressive. Actually it is not even close to being blue as it is pretty dirty. But, there is a canyon here with a creek coming through it that looks great. Mom, Dad, Anni, Ryan, and I took an adventurous little hike down our own pathway to the valley of the canyon. It
Cool breezes on a summer evening, the laughter of children playing, the view from the top of a mountain, and waking up in a moving motor home are among some of the best sensations known. Mom and Dad woke early, packed up, and began driving as we slept in comfort. Upon waking we were met with views of red mountains and the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. The drive this morning was quite nice and we did not cease to stare out the windows the entire time. Grandma should be proud as we have not played one card game all day for the fear of missing some spectacular view.
Our first stop was at the Petroglyphs National Monument in Albuquerque.
The short hike among large black volcanic rocks was interesting enough, but we were a little skeptical when it came to the 130,000 year old spiritual Indian drawings as it was difficult to tell which were real and which were modern day scandilisms. That was a short enough stop.Driving through Albuquerque was an adventure in itself. Everything was beautifully landscaped with colored rocks, painted and mosaic walls, and native plants. Mom and I were, of course, very interested in the houses here and their Mexican style.Next we drove on to a little town called Grants. This is a very Mexican/Indian population and it shows. Here we visited the National Mining Museum which was fascinating in many ways. The small upper portion had great information and a short video explaining how the town found prosperity through the discovery of large amounts of Uranium in the area. The Lower portion of the museum consisted of a mock mine with tools, little railway cars, and the works. We were the only ones there so we felt free to explore and climb around to our hearts desire.
Coming out of the museum we found a quaint little Mexican restaurant for lunch and then headed off for El Malpais.Twenty nine. Twenty-nine fire spouting, lava gushing volcanoes occupied this particular area. The road was not gravel, but fine black sand. On one particular hill, the volcanic soil prevented all but a few desperate trees from growing making it a rather interesting sight. We came to this place and began a half mile hike up to see the largest volcano in the area. The walk itself was worth stopping for as we passed a canyon full of huge rocks, gnarled trees of the most twisted nature, and a lovely blue sky. At the top of the path we saw what appeared to be a huge sunken hole. By huge, I mean bigger than at least two football fields across. It was a great sight.
After the warm walk up to the volcano, of course, we had to cool off, and what better place to do so other than an underground cave of ice! It was such a strange sensation to come down the stairs and suddenly hit a wall of cold. Deeper in the cave it was a refreshing thirty-one degrees.You know those “Stay on the Path” signs? Well, my Dad has no respect for these slight rules as he climbed to the volcano rim and ran around it to a ridiculous point, and then at the Ice cave, he jumped the railing to hug a column of ice. Silly, silly man.
Carrying on we decided the day shall come to an end at the Bluewater campground near the edge of New Mexico. The “blue water” of the lake here is not too impressive. Actually it is not even close to being blue as it is pretty dirty. But, there is a canyon here with a creek coming through it that looks great. Mom, Dad, Anni, Ryan, and I took an adventurous little hike down our own pathway to the valley of the canyon. It
Day 1
Day 1. Thursday.
It would seem we have come to an entirely separate world, than that of our dear home state. By separate would, I mean it is so vastly different, and so extremely far away, that I may even go to the extent of saying that, though it is absurd, our motor home has driven into some odd force that has shuttled us off to a distant planet.
Now, of course I am exaggerating for, thought it is a different shape and texture and have little nasty thistles hanging off the tips; the grass is still green here as it is in Illinois. And, though it is a shocking red hue, the dirt is still dirty. And though it has spread, engulfed, and in every way you look at it, has taken over 90% of the view here, the sky is still blue. Maybe the sky is not the same shade of blue, or the clouds do not take on any familiar cloud shapes, for, it does seem reasonable to speculate that the mammoth monstrosity that is the looming New Mexico sky is unusual. May I add that the wind here is completely the same as it is in Illinois? However, it is here that I have discovered that at the moment of a large gust, if you hold up your open soda bottle it will whistle and howl as if in mourning. The crying sound almost caused me to pity the poor bit of plastic to the point of relinquishing the beverage all together.
How we came to this barren, treeless, dry, windy, prickly, lovely place was neither exciting nor worth mentioning aside from the simple statement that we drove many, many hours.
Now, I have described the place and our means of arriving, but I feel the need to enlighten you on the things we have done here at Ute Lake State Park, New Mexico. We rode bikes, being extra careful to remain only on the designated pathways due to the eminent danger of an attack from the aforementioned burrs that so decorate the grass. We swam in the lake which was not cold, but rather a funny lukewarm temperature. And, in our exhaustion from the enormous day and night of driving, we relaxed.
So, there is day one. We will leave the campground in the morning the same way we came, by driving, and we will look ahead for a new day, more interesting views, and a great deal less sky.
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