Day....? Second Saturday, any rate.

What a week!  We drove from North of Denver to Cheyenne on Monday, and happened to get there for the Grand Daddy of Them All Rodeo Days.  We walked around Lions Park and visited the Pioneer Museum.  Then drove on to Rawlins WY for the night.  The next day we drove to Dubois, WY (Tuesday night), then into past the Grand Tetons and into Yellowstone for two nights.  We actually stayed outside the park in West Yellowstone, and spent Wednesday and Thursday touring the incredible spaces there.  Friday we drove to Cody, WY, and today made it to here, Rapid City, where we are staying the night.  Tomorrow after Mass at the Cathedral we will hit Mt. Rushmore, then on to Huron and DeSmet (pioneer/settler historic towns in SD), and Minnesota.

Sunday night, Colorado Mtns slightly west of Denver

We agree it seems as if we've been on the road for much longer than five days.  We've had so many incredible experiences already, especially compared to the weeks preceeding the trip, during which the girls spend each day on their computers and watching NCIS episodes on "On Demand."  While not much happened from Reno to Grand Junction, we drove such great distances each day that we spent waking to sleeping on the road.

And from Nevada to Grand Junction on we've really had adventures. On our way to Grand Junction we took a detour to see Arches National Park, where we all repeated "Wow." When we caught our breath we said "How amazing!"  We even got out of the RV and walked on some of the shortest trails to see the incredible scenes.

From Arches we went back to the highway and on to Grand Junction. We simply ate, showered and slept, too tired to do anything more.  The next morning we left I70 to swing south.

An hour out from the campground we pulled into a park in a small town and met up with friends we've only known online until now. We had a brief but full time chatting while our kids played together.  Then we pushed on eastward into the Rockies along I50, crossing the Continental Divide via the Monarch Pass. AAA has the route marked as "scenic," which we now know means mountainous with distracting views.  Rob hardly glanced away from the road in front of us, and described the experience as "intense."

Raechan (as daughter Rachel suggested I refer to her in this blog) spent the time taking pictures which she will post on the family travel blog. She actually filled one and a half memory cards with digital pictures - at one point I think she was snapping at a rate of 10 shots per minute.  I'll have her make a fast-moving slideshow and post it as a zip file for those who want to experience the ride without the actual sense of danger.

We ended the day by arriving for a late dinner with friends in Colorado Springs.  I've not had the time to really hang out with them until now, so it was especially wonderful for me. Rob and the kids appreciated both the meeting with friends and the experience of sleeping in real beds again. It felt like home away from home, but better.

After lunch we drove north to Boulder, hoping to meet other 'virtual' friends, but they couldn't make it.  We did however have dinner at Beau Jo's Pizza, which has been billed as "the best pizza in the universe." Rob and I had a barbecue sauce with chicken pizza, which is what we had on our first date in Mountain View 23 years ago(!).

Now we're driving north again into the night.  Rob took a nap while we waited in Boulder and he says he feels wide awake.  We'll stop somewhere before Ft. Collins, and tomorrow take a short drive across the border into Wyoming, zagging northwest towards Yellowstone.

It's an undescribable experience - I can only hope you all have similar ones someday.

First stop: KOA in Reno, NV

We made it through the first day, we're in Reno Nevada, it's about 9am.  Everyone's had breakfast, soon Rob and Rachel Jr. are going off to take showers.

The first day on the road was a bit mixed.  The RV ride is like a train with bad shocks, or maybe like a big rig truck with bad shocks.  The KOA 'campground' is just a large parking lot with hookups, not terribly inviting to look at.  Our space is a little slanted so we list a bit, and the wind hits us broadside and rocks the vehicle.  Very much like a boat, especially at night.

But I made enchiladas and refried beans last night for dinner for Rob and RJ and myself, and we had breakfast burritos this morning,   Gabby and Tea had burritos for diner and cereal for breakfast, and are either surfing the web or playing on their gameboys now.  So everyone's happy.

By the way, I did the previous post from my cell phone - isn't technology amazing?

On the road

I am actually writing this as we leave the bay area. we are on I80 going past Berkeley.

You're kidding, another week already?!

It's Monday, July 17 - where's the time gone?  And yet every day seems as if it's three days long.  We're preparing for the trip by making lists, shopping, and making campground reservations.  So far we're booked nightly through to two nights in Yellowstone.

RV rentals are available for pickup from two to four in the afternoon.  If possible, we want to pick up the RV tomorrow, which is a day early, so as to get on the road earlier on Wednesday.  Our first reservation is in Sparks, Nevada, just outside of Reno Wednesday night.  That means crossing the Sierras about six hours after leaving home. Not a drive I want to make at night.

I also have a new cell phone, so I can take pictures and post fairly easily.  I wonder if I can post the pictures via the web interface on the phone?  That would be cool!

Status update - Sunday night approaching second week of not working:

It's been a great weekend, topped off with seeing "Toy Story III" with the whole family after waking up from a mid-day nap. Oddly enough I don't recall too much beyond the day de jour, but I feel much more connected to everything, more a part of things.  Of course, I actually am, since Rob and the girls are in the middle of summer vacation themselves.

I've thought things through, and after meeting with the outplacement counselor, my pastor, and a few casual acquaintances, I've decided to dive completely in to the experience and have a genuine mid-life crisis.  My options are still somewhat limited:  I already have a red convertible, don't feel the need to trade in my husband or family, and can't affodt my own apartment anyway.  Besides, Rob has a job with benefits. So I've decided to explore major career reset.

I had coffee with an old friend, who was an editor for the Engineering list before her son was born 12 years ago.  Circumstances have tossed her into a role in the public school system's testing program.  We talked about the ways one's 'extracurricular' activities can turn into jobs.  That's what I'll examine in the next few months. 

I will get plenty of exposure to different choices since I am the master chairperson for the year of activities our church is planning as our 50th Anniversary celebration, starting this December with an evening of Christmas Caroling and the Blessing of Creches (Nativity Scenes).  January we are co-opting the church school's Science Fair, dedicating it to St. Albert who happily is the patron saint of Chemists (we plan to blow things up).  And we have the retired director of the city's Youth Theatre on the board, so we'll be staging Godspell, the original full musical, in March.

Of course, nothing much will happen until we return from The Trip.  I'll be blogging here about it, but my oldest daughter has started a family blog as well: rachelsfamilytravels.blogspot.com.  She'll have more pictures than I, but I will have more inspired writing.

Wouldn't you know my daughter would start a travel blog?

I will record as well, of course, but Rachel Emilia has created a travel blog for the family: http://rachelsfamilytravels.blogspot.com/

Enjoy, and we will be by to see you if at all possible!!

Last Day

Made it! work done, papers signed, door key and an ancient card with my conference number on it, computer and blackberry all turned in. Nap time!