Driving Miss Julie. This has become the unspoken title of the trip (thank you Andrea G). For the last post I am including a host of pics that didn't make the cut for the blog...we'll call them B-sides. I also could not resist a few more priceless quotations from the past two days. Our arrival in Colorado has been great. Julie teared up at the sight of another family member when we first saw her sister, Amy, at the visitor center of Black Canyon. On the canyon for a minute...there are really some harrowing views of the steepest canyon walls we've seen on the trip. The canyon has an interesting history, as it was crucial for connecting the Sante Fe Railway to the Pacific. This Uncompaghre Valley was known as 'the land God forgot' because it was so barren and dry...until (in the late 1800's) a pair of explorers floated the Gunnison River flowing through the canyon on a rubber mattress. They eventually diverted the water, and connected the railroad from this one spot, but the canyon is beautiful.

It's been fantastic to get to family. The kids have enjoyed retelling stories to their grandparents and cousins and showing off their humble abode of the past month. We 'had them over' last night for some wine and cheese...actually just wine.

"Ouch Daddy...I just stepped on that...oh yea, it's part of the snake vertebrae". This was Annie stepping on one of Edward's collection of bones/carcasses/dead animal memorials that had fallen out of the ziplock baggie.

"Why do you have duct tape on your nose"? This was Julie turning around and seeing Reed at the table with strips of tape across his nose. A very natural question for the situation.

Bong-a-Thon Cancelled. When we arrived in Colorado, from the Four Corners, we approached Delores, CO and saw this sign. I'm not sure what a bong-a-thon is (though I have some ideas), or what has to happen for it to be cancelled...but it must be bad. It was so bad that it justified a digital road construction sign to be posted on the main road into town.

Here a canyon, there a canyon, everywhere a canyon canyon…geez. We left the Grand Canyon and headed to Lake Powell which is in Glen Canyon. Unreal. The best way to describe this little spot is to imagine a slightly smaller Grand Canyon with water filled in and a lake formation all throughout the rocks. This was a great treat, because you can get in a boat and just explore all over the lake…or in our case, rent a few kayaks and paddle. It was still beautiful and we had a blast, pairing up and wandering around this lake (across the lake). We all got a little bit overexposed to the sun, had a nice arm workout, and then later took in some pizza down by the marina for dinner. 

The back story to the little Grace Trapp video clip, is that she was ‘sharing’ her strawberry lemonade frozen dessert with her Dad. She thinks if she eats at a high speed she will win the battle of “I got more than you did”. I promise this video is not altered in any way. This is her natural overdrive. 

Our evening by the camper was refined, with jack rabbit hunting and a neighbor who’s exterior door light was a multi-colored strobe light (purple, red, green, blue, pink, yellow, white, repeat). 

Julie woke up early to see if anyone was not planning to use the boat they rented a year ago, and we struck out. Being the family that makes lemonade, we crashed the ‘resort’ pool at Lake Powell Resort and anchored down by the shaded cabanas poolside. Not too shabby. The kids had a ball, Julie and I got to read our books intermittently for about an hour, and we went back to the same little pizza spot for lunch (we ordered 'to-go' so as not to lose the primo spots we had secured). 

We left Lake Powell at 2pm or was it 3pm? This is actually on the border of UT/AZ and in a bit of a time warp. Apparently AZ does not recognize daylight savings time (go figure) so when that is in effect, it’s the same as Pacific. It was very confusing to our iPhones (and hence, in our dependence, to us). The time changed several times during the day, depending on which side of the line we were on. The resort clarified for us that they follow Las Vegas time. There you go.

We drove today (through the Four Corners) to Mesa Verde National Park where we will spend tonight and then head to Crested Butte via Montrose and (surprise...the Black Canyon). I think we will try a hike into the cliff dwellings and prehistoric Pueblo ruins within the park tomorrow. I can’t believe the month is nearing its end. I will try for another blog post before making it back to Alabama, but since we’ll be reuniting with family on Wednesday that might be difficult. 

If you are thinking of ever doing anything remotely like this trip, I would highly encourage you to do it. This has been a great blessing to our family, to spend a solid month on the road together. Someone said to me years ago (and I remember it, Carl Carlson) that to have ‘quality’ time with your kids, you have to have ‘quantity’ of time first. I am very thankful to have been able to have this quantity of time with my kids this summer. I know it’s unusual. Most of my best friends and family could not do this and I don't take it for granted. I really appreciate the team we have back in our Florence Merrill Lynch office that’s taken care of everything and stayed in touch with me on the road. I hope to return the favor for some of them. Even for Julie and I, it has been spectacular. We’ve been married for 13 years and this is the most concentrated time we’ve ever had. Granted, there have been 4 kids along for the ride, but it’s been a great adventure to share. 

The other gem for us has been more regular time reading our Bible and singing hymns. I have forgotten how sweet it is to regularly hear the voices of children singing beautiful stanzas (Amazing Grace, Come Thou Fount, Bless the Lord). We honestly don’t stop our days or nights at home in Alabama to sing and read as much as we should, but we do out here in the woods. It’s always been a constant in my life, being in nature and feeling more content with who I am in the world. I am also reminded of how powerful music can be. It quiets the hearts of kids after a full day and preserves a memory of a ride or a moment with more clarity. It gives words and a tune to life. It also reminds us that we do not live in a world that’s designed to revolve around me. I am thankful to have been reminded of that over these past few weeks too. 

I have to end with some RV humor. This was one of my favorite memories (if you could call it that)…and I even got a little photo evidence. The other night, the kids were enjoying the hot tub (I know…it’s another theme) and Grace and Annie came running up to me, giggling and pointing (rude). Grace said, “Daddy, that man over there is in the hot tub in his panties”. Well…for all you guys out there who think a speedo is very cosmopolitan, or worse, socially acceptable, please know that to most any 5-10y old it’s basically a pair of panties. There are a hundred other moments like this that happen…on the road.

We left Zion Park yesterday morning and drove to the Grand Canyon (indirectly). Apparently, the first time we made reservations for the Grand Canyon days we thought we would be driving up from Flagstaff (the southern route) and never adjusted our RV park plans to reflect approaching from the north (only an extra 180 miles). It was scenic and it was very desolate. Midway through the drive Julie looks over to me and says, “Maybe people don’t take this route very often”.

We did get some beautiful weather for the drive and the kids made the most of the car time. I also had ample time to talk about the downside of streaming music with Reed and Annie, who are newfound Spotify agitators. We were "offline" for most of the drive and the kids were frustrated that they couldn't listen to music so I went through the whole bit about owning the song, or just renting them. Reed (astutely and soberingly) says, "you mean I have to buy all these songs"? He calculated $28 worth of music that he really considers necessary so he's now coming to terms with that proposition. We'll see what conclusion he reaches.

We did finally make it to the Grand Canyon, and it was breathtaking. It really does seem surreal to be standing on the rim of such vast open air and colors and mountainous canyons. Edward said (properly) "the Grand Canyon is Massive!".

 

The kids also took the time to complete the Junior Park Ranger program (we have badges). The lecture yesterday afternoon by the ranger was on the topic of canyon birds. We have four little experts who tested their knowledge today on our bike ride along the rim (that almost didn't happen).

Last night's dinner was from the Pizza Factory with a great slogan. It's on the main drag in Williams, AZ, which is the last town bypassed by I-40 on historic Route 66 (a nugget and meal we would have missed if we had stayed efficient and approached from the north). When we rolled into town we had a time parking the RV. It was definitely Happy Hour and the locals and tourists were in abundance. I found a little spot on a side street and parked. The weather at that time was still warm but we've learned that when the sun goes down it gets cooler. Stepping out of the RV I said, "I'm wondering if I should get a jacket" and with the same tone and sencerity, Edward said, "I'm wondering if I should get a donut". These happen all the time. That one had us in stitches.

Today we had ambitious plans to bike along the rim of the canyon. We had the option of three trails (easy, moderate, difficult). We chose the moderate course of 11miles (round-trip) and set off this morning from Williams, AZ (about a 60mile drive). We arrived at the main entrance at about 11:50, got to the parking lot at 12:30 and realized Julie's tire was flat. I rode my bike (one handed with the rear tire in tow) to the visitor center where the bike shop got us a new tube and sent us on the way. I got back to the group at 1:15 and we scavenged the scraps of leftover sandwiches and Z bars from the Grit for lunch. It's 1:45 (2 hrs since arriving) and we're finally ready to go (Grace had plenty of sunscreen). Who's got the car keys? Where's my helmet? Have you seen my camelback? Should I bring extra bars? Do you have the trail map? I need to go to the bathroom (not a joke). Edward looks up at me and says, "I thought we were actually going to be riding bikes". Me too Edward.

We finally got going and were greeted with about a 600 foot climb (6% grade) for the first mile. It almost killed Annie. I knew it would be tough. However, we all coached each other a bit for the first little bit and then got to the views. My goodness. It was difficult to focus on the road. The kids had a blast. When we got to the turnaround we had the option of getting on the bus with our bikes or riding back. We rode back. It was a proud moment. Everyone did great. Reed of course was full of excitement, while Grace and Edward had the pleasure of just relaxing (Julie and I have the little pair on our bikes). The real champ today was Annie, who is riding the worst bike (don't tell her) and the front brake is catching. She had a moment when she wanted to quit and we stopped, she got some water, and we talked about Vicky Hulsey and Jon Andrew McKinney, about how thankful they would be for a ride like this and a day like this on a bike. Annie really understood what a great joy this was. Her legs still hurt but her attitude changed completely. She rode back today for them and their friendship, remembering how grateful we are for healthy bodies that can be pushed and for the moment of that canyon ride. It was a sweet memory for me, to see that lightbulb go on and for her to make the direct connection between her attitude about that ride back and the gift of life that she's been given. That's why we ride.

 

Just so we end properly with some good RV humor, I'm giving you a few gems from the RV park tonight. Make sure to read the pool rules carefully. There are some serious health concerns we have about the water. You could not have paid me any amount of money to jump in there tonight...did I mention it's indoor? That's right...there's a shuttle to take you to the pool...in the hotel across the street. Did not phase the kids though so we will be observing them closely for the next 24 hours. 

Just in case you can't make church, there's a Wild West show in the lobby of the Pet Resort in our RV Park (that's not a joke...I did not make this up...it's a real thing). We are going to try and leave before the shootout at the OK Coral. Lake Powell awaits.

WOW! That was the one word most commonly spoken by our members during the hikes in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park today. The drive over from Ruby's Inn yesterday happened after a gorgeous hike along the rim of Bryce Canyon. We had great weather and the group was very enthusiastic for more hikes. The drive down to Zion National Park was also memorable. Apparently, if your RV is longer than 30 feet, they close down the tunnel and give you a ranger escort so you can drive down the middle of the road. The kids thought this was great fun. I was just ready to get through.

The hike along the rim had wonderful views and was also broken up by little stops along the way. Some had restrooms and water. Others had snack bars and gift shops. According to Annie, two of this family's favorite things. We met another family from Alabama at the Bryce Canyon general store. They are walking from coast to coast (5,000 miles). You can follow their adventures at their website backpackingbelievers.com. It certainly helped to put our little month long RV road trip in perspective.



The first time we actually watched a movie was last night in the RV park. The kids had a big time popping popcorn and watching McFarland USA. It does not get dark here until after 9:30, so getting them to be before 10:00 is impossible. We've also had some crazy fluctuations in our temperature the past two days. When we woke up in Bryce Canyon it was 45 and when we went to sleep in Zion it was 88 (at 11pm).

Just chilling in the RV park.

This morning we managed to get on a shuttle and head to the visitor center which is essentially base camp for Zion hikes. We decided to take a 3 mile hike (increasing elevation of about 1,500 feet) to a series of pools on the canyon wall. It took a good bit out of the crew so we headed back this afternoon for swimming at the RV park. I'm convinced that these kids would be just as happy staying around the RV parks and swimming, biking, s'moring, and exploring as they would go to these national parks. Tomorrow we head south to the Grand Canyon. It's starting to sink in that our trip is nearing the end. It's been a great month.

A few choice quotes from today (which apparently are a big hit with the family)

"That's definitely NOT on my bucket list" (Julie) This was her reaction to seeing a woman climbing a technical and very difficult face of rock in Zion Park.

"My fish is delicious cause it's totally bass" (Edward) We were having a hard time remembering what type of fish was in Edward's taco and he cleared it up for us by claiming it was bass (it was actually mahi mahi).

"Unless you're using the toilet the lid should be closed" (Will) This was another personal development opportunity. When finishing this morning I moved a millimeter closer to the sink to rinse my hands and knocked over the family shampoo...that's right...into the toilet. Why do so many of my moments from this trip have to do with the bathroom?

Tonight at dinner we had a visitor right outside our window. This was not some petting zoo. It was just in the backyard of the restaurant. Edward, of course, went looking for a gun or anything he thought might down the beast. We explained it wasn't 'in season' and he calmed down long enough to enjoy the view. He told me a few minutes ago that this was his favorite part of the day. Go figure.

If you've made it this far, you're a real fan of the blog. I have to share these little observations too. In the same way that there are certain RV types, there are also certain RV sites. These are RV's occupied by certain types of people. I'm not sure if there's any relationship to the bathroom personalities yet, but from what I can tell the 'Cousin Eddie' and 'Resident' are basically the same. 

The variation on the grounds is from the 'Party Unit' and the 'Unabomber'. 

As you can imagine, the 'Party Unit' doesn't have much regard for 'quiet hour' policies. They assume that as long as they brought enough for everyone, they're good. (They're not) This is Bob from Ohio who's traveling with his 2 sons and their girlfriends. They made a stop in CO for a few essentials and they're usually right outside my window at 11pm (not fabricated at all). 

The Unabomber is a different animal. It's the one unit in the corner (usually near the dumpster) of the RV park that looks abandoned...only it's not. The staff was astonished when they saw someone come out of the unit, for the first time in 3 weeks. They thought it belonged to an estranged employee who was too embarrassed to come back for it after he was fired last month. In a few months there will be a feature in a local paper about this resident, only no one will connect the dots. He'll be back when he posts bail. 

'Cousin Eddie' is the guy/girl that thinks you have a great deal of interest in their dog's family tree. They stop going (and coming) for bathroom breaks during the day just to talk. How was the hike? Did you see the waterfall? Did I mention that Roxie has a liver infection? She's got medication that runs me about $500 per script, but it's OK, I found out Obamacare covers my pets too. I'll be by in the morning about 6. She has to go out every 3 hours. I'll bring you some meatloaf, it's going to go bad if no one eats it. Everyone loves Cousin Eddie. How can you not?