We're home, safe and sound after another wonderful "Building Memories" trip. We came home via Highway 26 at the Idaho/Oregon border ... much more relaxing drive and it gave us an opportunity to stop in Powell Butte to see our dear friend, Dennis and Bonnie for awhile. An added bonus was getting to see their son, Chris, who was visiting.
After our visit with Dennis and Bonnie, we headed over Mount Hood (which we didn't get to see this time because it was cloud covered with intermittent rain for our drive). We were starting to see quite a bit of the Labor Day traffic starting up so we're definitely glad to be home and off the road.
Thanks for all your prayers for our journey. Until next time ...
Love you all ... Garey & Janiece
Friday, August 30, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Winding Down
Our trip is winding down and it won't be long before we're back home (yes, Cheryl, we do remember where our home is).
As those who follow our blog know, we like to go on the "road less traveled" ... we also like to try to find roads we haven't been on before.
After scoping out routes on the map, we decided to go through the Sawtooth Mountains today. We saw a lot of evidence of the fires that were burning in Idaho when we went through 2 weeks ago ... acres and acres of burned forest and sagebrush. We saw several firefighter camps but most of them seem to be winding down now ... a blessing for sure. There were signs all along the way from residents of the area thanking the firefighters. When we saw how close the fires came to homes we can certainly understand their gratitude. There were some that didn't survive the fire but it appeared that most of them were saved.
Since much of our route today was still under extreme fire watch the roads we would have explored were still closed. It did make for a longer day without our usual breaks to sightsee so it will be an early night tonight.
As those who follow our blog know, we like to go on the "road less traveled" ... we also like to try to find roads we haven't been on before.
After scoping out routes on the map, we decided to go through the Sawtooth Mountains today. We saw a lot of evidence of the fires that were burning in Idaho when we went through 2 weeks ago ... acres and acres of burned forest and sagebrush. We saw several firefighter camps but most of them seem to be winding down now ... a blessing for sure. There were signs all along the way from residents of the area thanking the firefighters. When we saw how close the fires came to homes we can certainly understand their gratitude. There were some that didn't survive the fire but it appeared that most of them were saved.
Since much of our route today was still under extreme fire watch the roads we would have explored were still closed. It did make for a longer day without our usual breaks to sightsee so it will be an early night tonight.
Pictures from Today
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Memory Building
Today's road took us through the Big Horn National Forest and through Yellowstone National Park. Pictures will not do justice to this day!
The scenery was breathtaking and we saw a variety of animals including muskrat, deer, elk, buffalo, an eagle and more birds than we can name. The road wound through open range so we also had cattle crossing the road during part of our drive.
When my family moved from Nebraska to California in 1956 my parents made it into a very special and memorable vacation that included the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. Garey and I have gone back to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore several times on our travels but I haven't seen Old Faithful erupt since I was little. Well ... that changed today when our one specific stop in Yellowstone was to go see Old Faithful. You may not know this but it can be up to 2 hours between Old Faithful's eruptions. Our timing was absolutely perfect ... NOT! As we drove into the parking lot it started to rain and Old Faithful was just finishing erupting and wasn't scheduled to erupt again for almost 90 minutes. The "up" side is that we had a chance to walk around the area and take in the sights (umbrellas up for part of it). Thanks, Garey, for making new memories for me today!
As a side note ... there is waaaaay too much to see in Yellowstone in one day so we started scoping out possibilities for a trip with the 5th wheel someday!!!
The scenery was breathtaking and we saw a variety of animals including muskrat, deer, elk, buffalo, an eagle and more birds than we can name. The road wound through open range so we also had cattle crossing the road during part of our drive.
When my family moved from Nebraska to California in 1956 my parents made it into a very special and memorable vacation that included the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. Garey and I have gone back to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore several times on our travels but I haven't seen Old Faithful erupt since I was little. Well ... that changed today when our one specific stop in Yellowstone was to go see Old Faithful. You may not know this but it can be up to 2 hours between Old Faithful's eruptions. Our timing was absolutely perfect ... NOT! As we drove into the parking lot it started to rain and Old Faithful was just finishing erupting and wasn't scheduled to erupt again for almost 90 minutes. The "up" side is that we had a chance to walk around the area and take in the sights (umbrellas up for part of it). Thanks, Garey, for making new memories for me today!
As a side note ... there is waaaaay too much to see in Yellowstone in one day so we started scoping out possibilities for a trip with the 5th wheel someday!!!
Sunrise just out of Sheridan, Wyoming
First part of today's trip
Our roads
The sights along the way
Second Part of Today's Trip
Last but definitely not least ... Old Faithful
(catch the video at the end)
And a spectacular sunset to end the day in Idaho Falls!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Monday Meanderings
We both woke up early this morning and were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise from our hotel room (even though we had to look at it through power lines). After a quick breakfast, we filled our coffee mugs and we were on the road.
Since we were in Scottsbluff, we decided to go to Chimney Rock National Park on our way out of town. Since we were up and out early this morning, the visitor's center wasn't opened yet and we didn't want to wait an hour and a half so we just took pictures of Chimney Rock and the Bluffs at Scottsbluff and then got on the road for our ultimate destination of the day (Sheridan, Wyoming). It's easy to imagine the wagon trains coming across on the Oregon trail!
We had never traveled on Highway 85 in Wyoming and found it to be very diverse terraine that included grasslands, sandhills and the Big Horn Mountains in the distance. Of course, you can't be in Wyoming without seeing herds of pronghorns along the way and that was true today.
Personally, I love it when we're coming into a town and they have a BIG sign that says "quilt shop" ... just before we got to Lusk, Wyoming there was just such a sign. Lickity Stitch Quilts is a wonderful shop! I got some great camping themed fabric and we were on the road again. We got into Sheridan, Wyoming mid-afternoon ... dropped our suitcases off in the room and went to explore Main Street and yes, another quilt shop. It always feels good to do a bit of walking after a day in the car and there isn't anything better than "old town" Main Streets for exploring! We are very definitely in cowboy country!
Tomorrow will be a long day, mostly off Interstate and into Yellowstone National Park, ending the day in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Since we were in Scottsbluff, we decided to go to Chimney Rock National Park on our way out of town. Since we were up and out early this morning, the visitor's center wasn't opened yet and we didn't want to wait an hour and a half so we just took pictures of Chimney Rock and the Bluffs at Scottsbluff and then got on the road for our ultimate destination of the day (Sheridan, Wyoming). It's easy to imagine the wagon trains coming across on the Oregon trail!
We had never traveled on Highway 85 in Wyoming and found it to be very diverse terraine that included grasslands, sandhills and the Big Horn Mountains in the distance. Of course, you can't be in Wyoming without seeing herds of pronghorns along the way and that was true today.
Personally, I love it when we're coming into a town and they have a BIG sign that says "quilt shop" ... just before we got to Lusk, Wyoming there was just such a sign. Lickity Stitch Quilts is a wonderful shop! I got some great camping themed fabric and we were on the road again. We got into Sheridan, Wyoming mid-afternoon ... dropped our suitcases off in the room and went to explore Main Street and yes, another quilt shop. It always feels good to do a bit of walking after a day in the car and there isn't anything better than "old town" Main Streets for exploring! We are very definitely in cowboy country!
Tomorrow will be a long day, mostly off Interstate and into Yellowstone National Park, ending the day in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Today's Pictures
Sunrise at Scottsbluff, NE
Chimney Rock from our "covered wagon"
Chimney Rock
Bluffs at Scottsbluff, NE
Wyoming Road Less Traveled (Hwy 85)
Oh yeah!!!!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Happy 65th Birthday, Garey!!!
We left Ashland this morning around 8:00 a.m. after a great breakfast of Dan's famous "Wilson McMuffins". While Dan packaged up some "birthday" German Chocolate Cake, Dayna packed us a lunch with "Dayna's Special Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches". We can't tell you her secret ingredient but maybe you will be lucky enough to have her make you one some day.
It was a total "road less traveled" kind of day that took us meandering through the farm country and then sandhills of Nebraska. For anyone who has thought that Nebraska is a "flat" state without much to see, we have some pictures that show otherwise.
We're in Scottsbluff, Nebraska for the night having just enjoyed a prime rib dinner for Garey's birthday. Since tomorrow will be a relatively short day we plan on waking up without an alarm, going out to see Chimney Rock and then head up to Sheridan, Wyoming.
Thanks again to Dan, Alaina, Dayna and Annie for a wonderful visit in Ashland! Can't wait until next summer for the family campout!!!
Today's Pictures
With our Nebraska Granddaughters
Hugs good-bye
Dan didn't want to be left out ...
Definitely not Nebraska flatlands ... part of today's "road less traveled"
Wish this showed the fields of wild sunflowers better
Our lunch stop ...
Enjoying Dayna's special sandwiches
I'm sure the GPS said to go this way ...
CARHENGE
Yep ... only in Nebraska
and from our Oregon (Maine and Idaho) family ... birthday wishes for Dad/Papa
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Last Day at Wilsons
What can be better than Dutch Babies for breakfast, special time spent with family and a birthday celebration for Garey that included hamburgers and homemade German Chocolate Cake??
It's always bittersweet when it's time to go home and we leave our Nebraska family but we did our best to make today special until the next time! Now that Dayna is getting a little older we're hoping for some special time Skyping when she gets home from school.
While Dan and Alaina were gone for the afternoon and Annie took her nap, Dayna and Nana washed and scrubbed an extra hamster cage and accessories we found at a garage sale so Humphrey will have an expanded play area. While the hamster accessories were drying Dayna helped Papa wash our car and their Ford Escape.
After Annie goes to bed tonight we will probably play a round or two of Uno or another game of Dayna's choice. She's quite the game player and her sweet smile even gets her Papa to play games!
We'll be going as far as Scottsbluff tomorrow ... looking forward to being on the road less traveled and off the Interstate.
It's always bittersweet when it's time to go home and we leave our Nebraska family but we did our best to make today special until the next time! Now that Dayna is getting a little older we're hoping for some special time Skyping when she gets home from school.
While Dan and Alaina were gone for the afternoon and Annie took her nap, Dayna and Nana washed and scrubbed an extra hamster cage and accessories we found at a garage sale so Humphrey will have an expanded play area. While the hamster accessories were drying Dayna helped Papa wash our car and their Ford Escape.
After Annie goes to bed tonight we will probably play a round or two of Uno or another game of Dayna's choice. She's quite the game player and her sweet smile even gets her Papa to play games!
We'll be going as far as Scottsbluff tomorrow ... looking forward to being on the road less traveled and off the Interstate.
Papa and Dayna at the carwash
Fun Time Friday
Our visit is winding down so we are doing our best to fill in every minute! After Dan and Dayna went to work and school today, Papa made Annie some more "special" Papa-treats ... Nilla wafers spread with peanut butter. Now that Annie is two peanut butter has been introduced into her diet ... does she love it? Oh yeah!!! She licks the Nilla wafer until there's no peanut butter left and only then does she eat the cookie!
Garey, Alaina, Annie and I took a drive to Mahoney State Park and Memphis Lake to check out the camping facilities (you never know when we might be back with the 5th wheel!!!).
While we were at Mahoney we stopped and let Annie (and Papa) play on the playground equipment. Not really sure who had more fun ... Annie or Papa ... but the giggles were definitely infectious!
A few weeks ago Dayna's hamster "Hammy" died and although she really misses him, she decided it was time to get a new hamster. Last night, Garey, Alaina, Dayna and I went into town and Dayna found a cute, loveable little Chinese Dwarf Hamster whose name is Humphrey. He's spent the day getting used to his new surroundings but it won't be long before the bonding will begin!
Tonight we went to watch the University of Nebraska Marching Band Exhibition at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The band had just finished a week of camp and they put on a free exhibition every year for the fans. We got to watch their halftime show and hear a variety of music including the Nebraska fight song "There is no place like Nebraska".
All in all a great way to spend the end of our time here. On Saturday we'll get the laundry done, pack the suitcases and the car to leave Sunday morning. In between the pack up detail, we'll stay with Dayna and Annie while Dan and Alaina get away for a rare time alone.
Garey, Alaina, Annie and I took a drive to Mahoney State Park and Memphis Lake to check out the camping facilities (you never know when we might be back with the 5th wheel!!!).
While we were at Mahoney we stopped and let Annie (and Papa) play on the playground equipment. Not really sure who had more fun ... Annie or Papa ... but the giggles were definitely infectious!
A few weeks ago Dayna's hamster "Hammy" died and although she really misses him, she decided it was time to get a new hamster. Last night, Garey, Alaina, Dayna and I went into town and Dayna found a cute, loveable little Chinese Dwarf Hamster whose name is Humphrey. He's spent the day getting used to his new surroundings but it won't be long before the bonding will begin!
Tonight we went to watch the University of Nebraska Marching Band Exhibition at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The band had just finished a week of camp and they put on a free exhibition every year for the fans. We got to watch their halftime show and hear a variety of music including the Nebraska fight song "There is no place like Nebraska".
All in all a great way to spend the end of our time here. On Saturday we'll get the laundry done, pack the suitcases and the car to leave Sunday morning. In between the pack up detail, we'll stay with Dayna and Annie while Dan and Alaina get away for a rare time alone.
Enjoy today's pictures
Dayna and Humphrey
Annie LOVES Peanut Butter!!!
Time at Mahoney State Park
Some boys never grow up!
You gotta love this video of Papa and Annie!!!
Go Huskers!!!
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