RV

So begins our trip out west. I always have this notion that we'll be sitting on the couch at 830 the night before we leave with the luggage sitting by the back door as we relax til bedtime. Then there's reality-up til 1AM finishing work stuff, running mail out to the mailbox, throwing last minute items in the suitcase. We were going to make it with 2 large cases for the 4 of us. However, we ended up with 4. 

The 5AM wake up call came early and I stumbled to the kitchen to make coffee for Beth and I. We were out the door by 7:10ish and were on our way to Atlanta. Traffic was not a problem. It was the time change and offsite parking that stole the minutes we would have needed to catch our flight that would have taken us through Salt Lake City to Orange County. Well, we missed the flight and, with the added fatigue all responded with a little frustrated energy. We were able to confirm 4 seats on a direct flight and would only lose about an hour and a half before landing. 

We are grateful to have the opportunity to use Mike and Trish Rye's motorhome for our domestic Grand Tour which will take us to:

Kingman, Arizona

The Grand Canyon

Salt Lake City

Yellowstone

a couple of nights in eastern Utah

Malibu, California

It's fun traveling with these guys. We have figured each other out and know how to help each other not only get to our destination but have a great time doing it! 

The last time I went to Yellowstone was when I was 5 years old. Mom, Dad, my brothers Rob and Jamie as well as Grandma Ree and Grandaddy J took 2 weeks to drive out and tent camp. I learned to swim at a camp in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and remember 2 things about Yellowstone, rain and bears. On the way back through Arizona, we saw a sign pointing to a movie location and, as I recall, drove down a dirt road and watched a bit of the filming of 'McKenna's Gold' with Omar Sharif and Julie Newmar. 

It was that trip which prompted me to take my family on the same journey. Lot's of driving, but I anticipate great memories in the days ahead.