From Reed Trapp:

Graceland was so much fun. I thought it was so cool how this couple got married at the chapel. I had no clue Elvis was so young when he bought the house (22yrs). He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. My sisters were obsessed with the penny press. The cars were my favorite part. The planes were also very cool. The RV Park was not as shady as we thought. I didn't know that they kept real horses there. I had no clue he had so many songs. The Peabody ducks were really fun. So was downtown. The Peabody view was amazing.

Crazy Horse was huge. I had no clue that Mount Rushmore could fit on the head. I didn't know the same family was still building it and it was private. I didn't know a college was there either. It was awesome. Last night we went to a rodeo in Cody. We saw bucking, roping, and barrel racing. Most of today we drove through Yellowstone. We went to the Tetons and spent the night at the Hatchet.

From Annie Trapp:

The trip has been so much fun! We have been to Graceland where we was Elvis' house. Then we went to St. Louis and got robbed while we were at the Arch. Then we went to the Badlands and saw the beautiful mountains. Then we went to Bear Country and saw 50 bears, wolves, deer, and tigers. One bear walked right up to our car. Then we went to Crazy Horse Memorial and learned that they are still building it to this day and how they are building it.

Themes that are emerging on the trip: Edward (Deucie) Waltemath is a ham...a little stud muffin...and an all around lover of animals...unless you're an elk/deer/moose...to which he remarks with great gusto, "man I would pull my trigger on that one"! In all honesty I hope we don't encounter a bear. It would require all of his focus and energy not to run up to it and just give it a hug.

We like stops. I don't mean just a quick stop to get out of the RV and stretch your legs. I mean let's stop and go visit the toy store for about 2 hours. Let's stop and get a coffee. Let's go sit in the park for an hour. Let's go to the RV campground so we can relax and the kids can do laps on their bikes. There is no shame in pacing ourselves. We left on July 5 (11 days ago). We are not halfway home. There was a moment on Wednesday that required some family fortitude...one of those, if we don't start treating each other like family and having thankful hearts for this great opportunity...the Grit is going to the graveyard and dropping you off on the way kind of talks. But...the hike was very fortuitous and the little crew proved resilient and determined to change course...much better attitudes since then.

You never go anywhere alone. With the little unit of 6, there's always someone to pair off with. It's been a great joy to watch the kids bonding on this trip. I know it's bringing them closer together...and that's been a main goal of the trip from the beginning. They're starting to anticipate each other's needs and look out for each other. They will also turn a von Trapp 'Climb Every Mountain' moment into a cage fight in a heartbeat.  

 

Lastly, this part of the country is just as beautiful as I had remembered. If you have not been to the Tetons, it needs to be a priority. The views are breathtaking. Julie took this picture of a stream near Jenny Lake from a bridge that was about 6 feet from a 4 foot deep stretch and you could see the bottom like it was just 2 inches from the surface. Tomorrow we will be whitewater rafting down the Snake River and probably getting wet, so hopefully this good attitude and spirit of adventure will continue.

Oh...the Grit will have new tires tomorrow. She got new oil and a brake inspection only to find some early signs of dry rot on the inside tires. Not one to take chances with tires, we've got all new being commissioned in the morning...so we will have confidence when we get back on the interstate Sunday for the journey south through Utah.