Driving Wyoming I80 is BRUTAL!!!!

Well I haven't written for a couple of days so I'm going to start with the trip from Estes Park to Snowbird. Let me just say it was BRUTAL!!!!! I have never been on a more boring drive in my whole life. It is just brown nothing mile after mile. If you need gas you better make sure you have a full tank before you leave your initial destination and then if you see a place with about 100 miles still left in your tank you better get more gas because I think there were 4 gas stops through the whole state. Then to top it all of there was a horrific accident on I 80 and they closed it down. We were very thankful that we got a late start that morning because if we had been on 80 before they had the detour set up we might have been sitting for HOURS!!! It was another day of travel in the car over 10 hours. There was nowhere to stop this time so we just drove and drove.

I hear that going I 70 is much better than taking 80 the problem with that however is it is about 3 hours out of our way. I don't know, Don would like to go home that way... I don't know if I can take the extra travel.

We go to the hotel about 8:30pm and well we were quite impressed. The condo is beautiful and there seemed to be a lot to do. There was a Rock & Blues festival going on that night and Don was down at the bell check with Los Lobos but he didn't know who they were ... he cracks me up sometimes. Well... that's all that really happened on Friday... Nothing but BRUTAL traveling!!!

Everyone's sleeping but me!!!

So we were going to leave tody by 7 yet my family is still sleepinng and I can't bring myself to wake them up. So I thought that I would finish my blog from yesterday and listen to Steve Dahl's podcast. Mac woke up at 5 with a belly ache and 3 icky diapers later he fell asleep for Don. He just wanted me to hold him while he wasn't feeling good and once that left him he just wanted his Dad. Dan and he have become thick as theives on this trip!!! They are really cute together.

I was a bit wordy yesterday but I didn't know how to shorten it, so much happened. The end of the day was not quite as adventurous as the first part of the day. When we returned to the top to begin our journey down the mountain I really had to psych myself up!! You see on the way up for the most part I was on the land side and there were only a few times where I was on the drop off side. Heading down... I could see every drop, bump, slide, and I did not like it. Don was very good to me by staying in the middle of the road when he could but I think I have new inprints on my arm rest and I think if I had been holding Don's hand I would have cut off his circulation. A couple times he tried to take my hand or started to goof a little bit. I was not happy. I wish I knew what my blood pressure was but I know that it was HIGH because I really felt dizzy when we got to the bottom. At least on the way back down ther road construction was finished for the day.

You know I was thinking... There are people who work at the Alpine Visitors Center... THEY HAVE TO DRIVE THAT CRAZY ROAD EVERY DAY!!! Do you think you get use to that ride? I just can't believe I would ever get use to it. Well to be honest I would NEVER drive the road past Rainbow Curve.

So anyway, we actually did make it to the Holiday by 6 and we were able to go to the swimming pool for a half hour, then we went down town and Miss Grace was dolled up in a little skirt, peasant top, and yes her cowboy boots. I often hope that Mac knows that we love him because she just takes so much of our time. We went to this cute little restaurant where we got to sit on the roof and eat. Mac packed in 2 helpings of Mac and Cheese and three of Don's onion rings (hense the upset belly I bet). Yesterday we didn't eat until Grace told us she was hungry. It helped her and she did not tell me half as much that her belly was hurting her.

Once supper was done we went to get a battery for the DVD player and Thank God the video is working again. Our trip today should be ok if we ever get started.

Well I think that I will close for now. Enjoy your day. I have to wake my family.

CAUTION!!! ROAD CONSTRUCTION AT 12,000 FEET!!!

You know I thought the road construction in Chicago was crazy but I kid you not, today at 12,090 feet atop the Rocky Mountains they were laying new road. I just could not believe it. But before I go there... this will be a day I don't think I don't ever want to forget. That is why I am up late blogging so I don't forget...

Ok so the day starts off a little crazy, we want to leave by 8, well you know that's not going to happen when we have to pack up so that we can move to a different hotel because the Silver Moon only had two nights. We are at the Holiday Inn Estes Park tonight. It's not too bad but for the cash I think it is just a little junky. Anyway, we got out and about at 9 or so and we found our new hotel and headed up the mountain. Today our plans were to go up to the Alpine Visitors Center and then come back down again. I was excited about it, a bit afraid because of my fear of heights but I was willing to face my fear and do this. So the journey began. We were able to go up a bit quicker then the day before because we had already made some stops yesterday and I didn't need to take pictures of the same thing twice. So we entered the park about 9:30 and the 1 1/2 journey up 20 miles began.

We drove the road called Trail Ridge Road that every one was telling us that if you are afraid of heights it will be something for you but you can do it. They said that there were no guardrails and that there were 2000 foot drop offs... but as we were driving yesterday and started our drive today we could not understand what people were talking about. The trip was going great. I was not freaking out too bad and I would say not at all, except for the few times I had to tell Don to slow down because I felt he was taking a turn to fast. But things were good. We got out of the car at different lookouts. I took some awesome photos. Some people took photos of the four of us together so they wouldn't all be of Don and the kids... we were having a great time. We were driving up, it was about 11 am, we had just passed the sign that said we were at 11,500 and some odd feet, I had just gotten out of the car to take some photos, gotten back in and Don says in a boisterous voice, OH NO, OH MY GOD, OH NO. Well you can imagine what I was thinking... he hit something, he saw an accident, someone fell over the edge... NO that wasn't it at all... WE WERE ALMOST OUT OF GAS!!!!! You know I had thought about this yesterday. I maybe even blogged about the need to get gas. But you know with everything going on in the morning I totally forgot.

So our gauge says that we have 26 miles to go on our tank of gas. You know going up hill you eat a lot of gas, much more than going down... so me the one who is always cautious, says to Don that I thought we were almost to the top lets go and coast down hill. Well, the wise man that my husband is says no and we turn around at 11,500 and some odd feet in the middle of the road and begin our journey down hill.

The car was pretty quiet. Don was panicking and I was praying to myself. I kept saying... ok Lord you feed thousands with two fish... we need to get down this mountain. Every time a mile would tick off the gauge Don would say it out loud. I told him to quit doing that but he just couldn't... he was worried we were going to be on the mountain without gas. Well we took the easiest way down and when I saw the "Y" from atop a hillside we thought we were pretty safe and we were going to make it... We did with 4 tenths of a tank of gas to go. Thank the Lord!!!

Anyway, It is now about noon. We were going to have a picnic lunch at the top and well... the kids were getting hungry. So what do we do??? We head back up the hill. We figured that we had been almost to the top and so we didn't need to stop we would be there in no time. And we figured because it only took us about 18 minutes to get down the mountain we wouldn't be too late for the kids, we would still be to the hotel by 4:00 and get some swimming and shopping in... We sure do dream big... So we begin back up the mountain. We only made one stop to a place we had been before because as we were coming down we saw a huge crowd stopped to see a large Elk beside the road. The Elk was gone but Grace and Don got some pretty pictures. As we continued up just past were we turned around there was this beautiful look out point called Rainbow curve. Well there were no Rainbows today but it was beautiful. Mac was sleeping so the three of us got out of the car, with the windows down, took some pictures. Don hovered close to the car in case Mac cried and I just went off taking pictures. We saw this cute little squirrel that looked like a gopher and so I wanted Don and Grace to come see it... well I think Don needs a hearing aid at times because when I got over there poor Maci was crying... wondering where his terrible parents were. I felt so bad. Anyway, we got some pictures taken with all of us and we were off. We had to be close we were at 11 some odd thousand feet... like I said I dream well.

We continued on our way when all of a sudden there are no guardrails, stone or the like. And on each side of us there was a 2000-foot drop and no shoulder. Ok I'm starting to freak out but I’m trying not to show it. I just keep asking Don to drive slowly. The next thing I know... we are above the trees. There is nothing but rock and grass and this road. Well the road somewhat changes as we get higher and we come to another lookout point that you walk out onto the mountain to see the views and it's really not so bad. Actually Don and I talked about how it looked like you could four wheel on the area but to be honest I wouldn't want to try it. :-) This is there area that the big horned sheep and the elk normally are... we didn't see many. I actually got pretty bored with what I was looking at and truly could have gone down the mountain. But no it was about 1:15 and so we just had to be close to the top so we got back in the car and continued.

So to get to my title... as we continue we see a long line of traffic stopped and so we figure we are almost to the top. We turn a corner and we see tons of people parked, walking around, and still a long line of traffic... They were stopped by a flagman and yes we are in a construction back up at 12, 090 feet in the air on a mountain and we still have farther to go... and we are going down to one lane. I just could not believe it. I was ready to turn around, but I didn't say anything... I needed to do this for Don and the family. So we continued, about a half a mile and we finally made it to the Alpine Visitors center.

It was 1:45, we got out, got out lunch, we ate right on a bench in the middle of everything. Don brought out Mac's high chair and hooked him to the bench and we were good to go. A turkey sandwich never tasted so good. When we were done we took Grace into the visitors center and we bought a couple souvenirs and well we were going to be on our way. We were going to go down the shorter trail to get home... the old road and it looked on the map to be shorter so we thought ok good we will be on schedule, maybe even earlier and that was good. Everyone would get a nap. Life was good. So we started down.

I should have known that we were in for trouble when I saw a sign at the top of the Rockies that said "To Estes Park" and Don said he knew it was there but he thought we had to go this other way to go down the back road, Old something Road... I can't remember the name of it. So I said ok. Looked at the map, thought he was right and we were off.

We didn't stop too much going down. We stop once for Grace to go potty at the Continental Divide... we didn't take a picture. I don't know why I have a picture of everything else, but Mac was asleep so we just kept going. At one point there were many cars along the road. This generally means there is an animal to be seen and sure enough... a Moose. The kids were sleeping so I let Don go take the pictures. While Don is gone Maci wakes up and I try to put a movie on for him and what happens... NOTHING. The DVD player is not working and we have how much more traveling to do I'm thinking to myself. I am figuring and hoping that it is just the battery and I tell Mac I'm sorry I can't play it and he just looks at me with the sweetest "I'm bored to death" look on his face. Don comes back and we are on our way.

About 10 minutes after we are on the road again Don says... I see a park entrance... we are not in the right spot. I see the sign that says Grand Lake and nope we are not in the right spot. We are on the opposite side of the park and we have two options. Go back the way we came or take a 3 1/2 hour drive to get back to Estes Park. What I haven't told you is half way down Don says that he thinks we are going the wrong direction but the compass read SE so we just kept going. That was the direction we were supposed to be going.

When we get to the bottom we have to decide... we know that it is only 48 miles to Estes Park from Grand Lake, but we have learned to believe people when they tell us it will take you a certain amount of time to get where you are going... so we have no other choice. We have to go up. The Ranger tells Don that the Old something Road... IS A ONE WAY AND THE ARROWS ON THE MAP SHOW YOU THAT... Well who thought to look at the arrows...

So... we have to go up.

I'm going to stop for today. The adventure is not yet over but... I will write more tomorrow and hopefully add some pictures. We need to leave for Utah in the morning so I should get some sleep... See you tomorrow

Bear Lake and our first day at Estes Park

Today’s adventures… After getting in so late last night Maci did not have a very good night. He had us up at 3:00 so Don made him a bottle and we were able to sleep then until 6:30. Maci was so wide-awake and I didn’t want to wake Grace up so I took him out and we walked the streets of Estes Park this morning. Too bad I don’t drink coffee I could have stopped at Starbucks and had a cup. Anyway, we walked all around and I took pictures. I love to take pictures and I have an ok camera but it’s not necessarily the best for artful photos. Anyway we were gone for about an hour, we stopped to find out what there was for breakfast, and then went back to the room. When we got there Grace was looking out the door waiting for us. We watched some cartoons and by 9:00 we were ready to walk.

So my list for today…
1. Grace was excited to be walking… Mac he needed to nap but wasn’t having any of that. We finally put him in the big stroller and he napped for almost 2 hours while we walked around town.

2. Grace got her first pair of cowboy boots. They are white with pink trim!!! She LOVES THEM!!!

3. The whole family went swimming.

4. Have I told you that Mac has no fear? He loves to be in the water with his floaties on and by goodness don’t be touching him he wants to be on his own. He would kick his feet to the get to the steps and he was climbing all over them and then figured out how to jump off the steps into the water. He is something else. I think I need to get the both of them into swimming lessons.

5. We all took a two-hour nap this afternoon. It was great.

6. We paid $9 for a subway sandwich that we just wanted to meat for the kids… there was a grocery store two blocks away and we could have gotten a pound of turkey for that price. Then… the kids wouldn’t even eat the meat.

7. Grace keeps telling me her tummy is hurting her. I’m a bit concerned and we are praying for healing but I think I’m going to have to call the doctor when I get home.

8. We decided to go to the Rocky Mountain State park in the afternoon. We started to do the Trail Ridge Road… 20 foot drop offs with no guard rails. Once we got there we stopped at one of the lookouts and someone told us since we were there so late that we should do Bear Lake and do the other tomorrow. So that is what we did.

9. Did I mention that Grace wore her new cowboy boots to Bear Lake and decided she wanted to go climbing? She got pretty far but I made Don go get her before she slipped bad and fell.

10. Grace had a grand time at Bear Lake. She was going along the trail making up stories and finding the bear paw clues along the way. It was a great lesson for learning her numbers. We called them clues, like on Blue’s Clues, too bad we forgot the handy dandy notebook in the car.

11. Mac road atop Don’s shoulders for most of the trail. Around 7:00 he got fussy and well that really was his bedtime. Poor guy with this trip we are throwing off his schedule. Poor Don isn’t going to have any hair left if he forgets to wear a hat when Mac is on his shoulders. Mac uses Don’s hair as his reins.

12. We went to grocery store to get lunch for tomorrow and we are going to take a sack lunch on our trip so that we don’t have to worry about what the kids eat. It is an hour and a half to go up the dangerous Trail Ridge Road. I am VERY scared of heights but I’m going to do it and it will be ok. I think that we are going to do the whole park and that is 3 hours around and then 3 hours back. It should be beautiful.

13. I love the hotel we are in but we will be moving from here to that Holiday Inn in Estes Park tomorrow night. It should be fun it is a Holidome so after the long wilderness venture we can relax with the kids at the hotel before we travel on to Utah.

14. Remind me that we are not going to deviate from our plan, up to Cheyenne over to Utah. Don wants to go through Vail and Aspen but that is a two-day trip in itself!!!

15. I asked a lady today at a quilt shop who has moved here from Chicago if she ever took the mountains for granted? Did she ever wake up and not appreciate the beauty. She said NO she notices it every day and thanks God she is where she is. I have always wondered that. It is really laid back here and I like that but I don’t think I could live without running water.

Three things I forgot that are out of order…

16. Mac is learning how to tease Grace. It is really pretty funny and I actually said today… Knock it off the two of you.

17. We were driving down the mountain and Don said… “I would like to see the big Sequoias someday”. I told him that would be fine and fun when a little voice from them back seat said, “With me Dad, you’ll take me?!!” Which Don replied, “ Of course Grace I will always take you.” And he got all teary eyed that made his so happy. We are so blessed.

18. Grace told us the whole time we were going to Bear Ridge… “I’m going to march on the trail in my cowboy boots!” And you know what, she did. She just loved it.

Have a great day… we will.

Nebraska is not near as boring as the enterance to Colorado

I was really shocked to day when we started on our journey through Nebraska and Colorado. Driving through Nebraska is no different than driving I88 from Chicago to Sterling and or as far as the Quad Cities. It is just the same. I wasn’t bored… UNTIL I GOT TO THE ENTERANCE OF COLORADO!!! Oh my goodness there is nothing but these hills with nothing on them because they can’t plant anything because it won’t grow. There aren’t trees… there’s nothing. Maybe every 40 acres a farm but otherwise NOTHING!!!

So it was quite a day and I am once again sitting in the dark enjoying the quiet… or the silence around the snores of my husband and son, Gracie makes a sigh every now and then… I thought that I would write a short summary again of the days events so I can then get some sleep but I’m hoping we get to sleep in because it was a long day…

So here it goes…

1. Grace woke up ready to “Go to the Mountains Mom”

2. Did I mention that a guy thought I was pregnant yesterday… told that story to my Mom, she thought it was funny, told me that I did need to lose weight… oh wait that is a subject for my other blog… therapy blog as I call it… http://fnoa.blogger.com
3. The kids were really good for the first 3 hours. Maci slept and Grace watched movies. She wasn’t feeling the best today but we did ok.

4. We visited The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument which was going to be an hour stop that turned into three.
5. I have to learn not to take the kids to slow restaurants when they are really hungry. Also, I don’t like new waitresses when I’m in a hurry. They are stupid.
6. I’m knitting another Hedgehog and I had to take the whole thing out. That wasted some time.
7. Maci and Grace slept a lot today. The trip was not too bad but we were in the care for 12 hours. That is nuts.
8. Did I mention Colorado is boring!!
9. Had the worst ice cream ever at the tourist center when you enter CO. Both Grace and Don dropped their cones. Maci had a great time eating!!!
10. I was a good Mom and remembered the wipes!!
11. Visited Sterling, CO so that the kids could burn off some energy. They played a a McDonald’s playland for about an hour. (now we are 4 hours off schedule)
12. Grace had to poop so we pulled off the side of the road because there is NOWHERE to stop in CO, and she would not go. Don even tried to make a chair in his arms for her. He is such a good dad.

I had to come back a edit this because I forgot to write that it rained... and rained... and rained. Colorado is having a drought right now and it rains just for us. Isn't that nice?

13. Finally got to a bathroom and shocked this lady waiting when the WHOLE family comes out of the ladies room.
14. Did I tell you that Colorado is beautiful?
15. When we got to the town at the bottom of the mountains Grace wanted to turn the TV off and just watch the mountains.
16. Oh by the way I’m driving and I’m afraid of heights.
17. I took almost an hour to get 22 miles but boy was it beautiful.
18. Grace told us all about the mountains and that she wanted to play with the Dinosaurs, and that she was sorry that their weren’t going to be fireworks for her Dad, and that when we stay at “the hotel” she would ask for the fireworks, and well she just kept talking about nothing and then all of a sudden it was quiet. They both were asleep.
19. We got here at 9:30 mountain time, checked in, brought all our stuff to the most beautiful hotel… www.silvermooninn.com with a babbling brook right outside the door.
20. We went for a walk into town to tire the kids out again and when we returned everyone went to bed.

I can’t wait to write about tomorrow. We are just going to stay right here. We are not going to get in the car we are not going to do anything but swim, walk, shop, walk some more and then Thursday we are going to the Rocky Mountain National Park… I know that I am going to have to deal with my fear of heights but today I’m going to go to bed, get up in the morning and enjoy the scenery!!!

Have a great day where ever you are….

Cross country with a baby and a toddler what was I thinking...

Well right now it is great. everyone is sleeping and I have a few quiet minutes to myself so I can jot down a few things that happened...

1. We left at 4 am and Grace woke up with out a care and talked for the first three hours about going to a hotel. "Are we going to the hotel Mom?"

2. I don't know if it was the excitement or what but she threw up all over the floor at McDonald's on Brady street in Davenport. I think she just had too much food in her mouth but... ICKY none the less.

3. It rained and rained and rained.

3.b We went to this Train place where they had their basement set up with Lionel Trains... it was neat, until the guy asked me when I was due ... I didn't want to be rude right back so I said "oh not for a while" and he replied... "Geez Must be twins then." Not good... not good at all.

4. Poor Grace peed her pants.

5. We saw the REAL Bridges in Madison County... that was a mere 4 hour detour.

6. Mac cried.

7. Mac fussed.

8. Mac HATES to ride in the car.

9. The Holiday Inn in Lincoln NE has laundry services so I was able to do all the laundry that got dirty on day one ...

10. We swam and ordered in Pizza. It was a crazy night. Don is a real trouper to put up with me. I am stressing out way too much. This is a vacation right?

I will try to write more when we get to Estes Park, CO.