Road Trip

Road trips are not for sissy's.  Especially "family" road trips.  They can make some good memories, though.  Here is a recap of our recent road trip.

Day 1 - Leave home.  Drive to Boise, where Abriana would like to go show us the capitol building (she has been inside with Grandma and Poppy before, but the rest of us have only seen the outside).  We don't arrive until 7 PM so, of course, it is closed.  We are able to look in the window.  Head back on the freeway to Twin Falls where we are staying for the night.  ALMOST get to Twin Falls when two people motion to us we have a flat tire.  Pull over to the side of the freeway where Tim changes the tire.  Drive to our hotel in Twin Falls.

Day 2 - We were planning to leave early, but have to wait until the tire shops open.  No one in town has the tire we need.  See, we just purchased 4 brand new tires, so we would like to replace the flat with one that is the SAME as the other 3 new tires.  We end up buying a used tire so we will again have a spare.  Head out of town around 10 AM.  Drive through Nevada which is miles and miles of no one.  Not much traffic at all, which was nice.  Finally, arrive in Vegas.  Decide to show the kids all the cool hotels.  Finally, find the right street.  You know the one.  Spend a large amount of time finding a place to park and get out and stretch our legs for an hour or so.  Get back in car and get out of town.  Decide we are definitely NOT going to make it to Yuma this night and start searching for a motel on the gps.  The whacked out gps finally does find us a nice place to stay near Hoover Dam.  Then we search for food and call it a night.

Day 3 - After breakfast at the hotel we make a quick jaunt over to Hoover Dam.  We get to drive accross the top of the dam, as well as get out and take a look.  There is a huge bridge being build so that soon vehicle will not be allowed to drive accross the dam.  After a bit of looking, we head to Yuma.  Upon arriving in Yuma, we meet Great Grandma and Kenny at the Chinese buffet.  I was skeptical, but it was very good.  We all enjoy the meal.  Most of us are ready to go, but Bradyn had decided to try a bit of ice cream, so we wait.  Next thing I know I think there is some sort of machine turned on in back of the wall behind me.  No, Tim feels it too.  EARTHQUAKE!!  We try to get out as quickly as possible and all I can picture is the fallen buildings and crushed people.  Thank the lord we were all fine and there was no damage.  The earthquake was really strong, some of us were scared, and most definitely a memory.

Day 4 - Mostly relax.  Order a tire.  Brave going into the superstore building.

Day 5 - In the morning we get to go see Grandpa Ray for a bit.  Then, trip to Mexico!  We did a little shopping and had some yummy fish tacos and Coke.  The Coke is better in Mexico.  Real sugar.  After returning to Yuma we did a little Goodwill shopping, got our new tire, and took Great Grandma out to dinner.

Day 6 - Say goodbye to Grandpa Ray and pack up.  Visit the "castle park" one last time.  Still, after waiting, Great Grandma's sister and brother have not arrived.  We cannot wait any longer so we take off for the Grand Canyon area.  We miss seeing Montezuma's castle because it is closed by the time we go by.  We do get to go swimming at the hotel.

Day 7 - Abriana comes down with stomach virus.  Tim isn't feeling well either.  I try to entertain the boys with the Grand Canyon for the afternoon.  More swimming.

Day 8 - More of the Grand Canyon.  We also went to see the Imax movie, which everyone enjoyed.  Then, drive to Utah.  More swimming.

Day 9 - Drive to Idaho.  We try to find a way to go see the Great Salt Lake but can't seem to figure out how to get to it so we just look as we pass on the freeway.  Abriana wanted to go see the Utah capitol building but that didn't work out either.  We did see it from the freeway.  More swimming.  The hot tub was out of order which was extremely dissappointing.  Had I known, I would have chosen somewhere else to stay.  We like the hot tub!  In the wee hours of the night, I get the dreaded stomach virus.

Day 10 - We get out late because I do not want to be sick on the road.  Which, of course, I was sick all day but at least there were no emergencies.  Abriana does not feel well again.  Neither does Tim.  We try to get home as quick as possible.  Finally, we arrive home!