Our plans, decisions, and adventures
When we were deciding how to get Artie back to Vancouver and if we could fit in a stop in Calgary to see family, we noticed that Yellowstone Park was roughly on the way from Salt Lake City to Calgary. The only things I can lay claim to knowing about this famous park is that... Continue Reading →
From our campsite at Green River State Park we drove just over an hour to Canyonlands National Park. We thought we would arrive much later than we did, so had planned the afternoon in Canyonlands, a night of camping, and then a full day at very nearby Arches National Park. The drive was shorter than... Continue Reading →
From Bryce Canyon, we headed toward Capitol Reef National Park along Highway 12, the slower but far more interesting route. Highway 12 is designated an All-American Road (a more prestigious designation than National Scenic Byway alone). This section meanders through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument region, into canyons and up along ridges. It is rugged,... Continue Reading →
Next on our itinerary was Bryce Canyon, about three hours from the Grand Canyon North Rim (and only 1 ¼ hours from Cedar Breaks National Monument or two hours from Zion, had we skipped the Grand Canyon). On the way to Bryce Canyon with a very minor detour was another recommended stop, Coral Pink Sand... Continue Reading →
We hadn't included the Grand Canyon in our initial itinerary. But when I read that the North Rim was only a couple of hours away from where we would be, we just had to make the trek there. We decided it would fit best after our visit to Zion National Park. (And, yes, I know... Continue Reading →
It only takes about 1 1/4 hours to drive from Cedar Breaks National Monument to Zion National Park. But driving the 12 miles from the beginning of the park to the visitor center takes at least that again as it is impossible not to stop and gawk at so many incredible viewpoints along the way.... Continue Reading →
Of the several national parks and monuments we plan to visit on this trip, Cedar Breaks National Monument was our first. I had to look up what a monument was since I was envisioning statues of soldiers atop horses or concrete epitaphs. A monument, in this context, is a protected area, similar to a national... Continue Reading →
Bend, Oregon, specifically the Thousand Trails campground nearby, was a week of family for us. We thought we were going to be there for several days before family arrived on Wednesday, so took our time getting there by camping at a couple of Harvest Host locations and arriving on Sunday. Instead, we discovered that cousins... Continue Reading →
After our fun-filled house sit in Metchosin, British Columbia, we returned to Vancouver to celebrate Ken's Mom's 90th birthday. It was a balloon- and flower-filled affair with many friends and family--including a granddaughter from Spain and a son from The Bahamas--sharing memories and laughter. The lovely honoree Our next location was to be a 3-week... Continue Reading →
From Palm Springs, we headed toward the west coast of California. Our main goal was Highway 1 between Santa Barbara and Monterey, a route we had tried to drive many years ago when the road was closed due to flooding. After that, we were going to ease on up the Oregon Coast, taking several days... Continue Reading →
I never thought I'd visit Palm Springs. I imagined it to be too hot and, well, too cliché. And the campground offered by our Thousand Trails camping membership we knew to be a large-rig parking lot—an environment in which we struggle to be comfortable. But then long-lost friends* who were planning to spend the month... Continue Reading →
Just left: Montana
Now: Calgary
Up next: Vancouver
