I took a month-long road trip not long ago!! I left the Oregon Coast on April 2nd & drove to Oklahoma to visit my family. I towed my travel trailer & took my dogs & cat. It was a bit of a "family" vacation! The journey was 4,300 miles round-trip. It was an incredible trip filled with amazing scenery & A LOT of soul searching. When you drive for 8 hours a day, you have plenty of time to ponder life.
My adventure took me all the way across Oregon, through Boise & southern Idaho, down to Ogden, Utah & then I took the northern route across part of Wyoming (which was really, really windy). I continued south into Colorado (where I got to visit 2 friends from high school), east into Kansas & finally at Salina, I headed south to Oklahoma!! I stayed in RV parks most of the time. I did have to stay in the Walmart parking lot one night in Rock Springs, WY!
Rockin' Down the Highway :)I was really fortunate to have good driving conditions most of the way. The only real issue I had was with the wind. When you're towing a 19' travel trailer, the wind can toss you around a little bit if it's not blowing in a favorable direction. You just have to go really slow. And, being the rather impatient person I tend to be, that was a total test!! However, when you see big semi-trucks overturned on the side of the road, it reminds you to proceed with caution. Big flashing signs that say, "Advise No Light Trailers Winds Gusting to 55 mph" will also remind you to slow WAY down!
~Photo of an oil well pump in Eastern Colorado. ~I arrived safely in my hometown on April 7th. I managed to detour to a few antique shops along the way, which added an extra day to my trip. By the time I returned home to Oregon, my car & the travel trailer were pretty loaded down with treasures!!
~Photo taken of the sun through smoke in Kansas. ~So, I camped out in front of my parents' house for 3 weeks. I should have known that going to Oklahoma in April would mean I'd experience thunder & lightning. Well, I got some hail too! That was a little nerve-wrecking! Thankfully, my little travel trailer didn't get damaged.
There is really nothing like spending quality time with family & friends. I've been away from my hometown for 13 years now & each time I go back I have a different appreciation for it. I am even toying around with the idea of moving back at some point. I think I just need a little more time to do a few more things though.
I chose to take a different route on the way home. My journey took me across the western part of Oklahoma, across the panhandle of Texas (Amarillo), over to Albuquerque, New Mexico & then up to Durango, Colorado. From there I drove over to Moab, Utah. I have to tell you that one of the highlights of my trip was the time I spent around Moab. I took some extra time & toured through Canyonlands National Park, as well as Arches National Park. I want to encourage everyone to visit the Moab area. It is truly a spectacular landscape. From there, I went up to Ogden & then followed the same route I took on the way down.
It was a spectacular adventure. I really want to encourage everyone to explore this beautiful country we live in. I don't have children yet, but I will, without a doubt, take my kids on road trips so they can experience all of the fabulous things this country has to offer!
Here are a few photos from my journey........
Easter egg hunt for my girls compliments of their Grandma!
Mesa Verde in Western Colorado
Rock formation at the turn-off to Canyonlands National Park near Moab, UT.
Inside Canyonlands National Park.
Inside Arches National Park just north of Moab. Put this place on your Bucket List!!
Delicate Arch ~ Arches National Park
Skyline Arch ~ Arches National Park
Balancing Rock ~ Arches National ParkSince I returned home from my adventure, I have been participating in the local Sunday Market. Lots of people are quite intrigued by glass fishing floats. I have been providing a little education to many folks! It's been a great way to meet new people!
My next post will definitely be about glass fishing floats! Is there anything in particular you would like to know?? I'll try to post something a little sooner! Thanks for following me & being patient with my lazy blogging! :)
Kamichia
That was a fun read! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKamichia-
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful photos of the National Parks! We are headed out west in the fall for a 3 week trip - hiking all the National Parks - our travels will take us to the same destinations that you have beautifully shown here!
ps - you can change the date by going to your editing post section and down at the bottom under options - change the date. If you can't figure it ot - email me~~
Your trip to visit your family was certainly an adventure - one that you could never put a price tag on - priceless I am sure!
vicki
Sounds like a great trip, and love your pictures. The landscape in the southwest is so unique - I love the amazing colours and rock formations.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read a post about floats with interesting characteristics, like embedded objects, spindles, bubbles, etc.
Thank you for your kind words! :)
ReplyDelete@Vicki...I was able to change the date. Thank you for telling me how to do that!
@Kelly...I'll work on a post about spindles next. I have several floats with those!! :)