Flashbacks and Gratitude

A post trip wrap-up has been on my mind. Flashes of memories from our trip keep visiting me, whether it is quad riding with my Dad on my Aunt Natalie's farm, running from one barn to another in the pouring rain out at the Gilmore Auto Museum in Michigan, or the laugh we shared in Bayard, Nebraska at the worst motel I've ever slept in.

I'm remembering and marveling at the astonishing number of Fireworks for Sale signs and stores we saw in every state but California. I'm thinking of all those dead raccoons and bloated deer we passed on the roads. I'm beyond grateful that when I was driving, and did come upon a buck, that I didn't hit it!

I'm thinking how lucky Dad and I were to travel so well together, that we both like to read before sleeping and again when we wake up. I didn't know that. I didn't know that we liked so many of the same foods or would so often both decide on the same meal to order which became an amusement to us both.

One of the pieces of furniture we brought back from Kentucky is now in my living room. It was a favorite of my Grandmother's - I used to get into all its little drawers when I was a kid, which drove my Grandma crazy. It looks really lovely in my home, is full of memories of my Grandmother, but now also provides me with memories of how it arrived to my home and this adventurous time with my Pop for his 70th birthday.

I won't be able to see Peanut M&Ms, Red Vines Licorice or Diet Pepsi without thinking of my Father ;)

I'm grateful for the time and freedom in my life right now that allowed us this shared experience. I'm grateful too that Dad was able to find the time to spend 2 weeks away from his family and his endeavors. Time is very much a blessing.

This weekend is Father's Day and I feel like I was just given the best Father's Day ever: a deeper friendship via this road trip adventure with my Pop.

Home

It's a little bit odd to be writing a blog post about our most recent adventure, from my couch. Yes, we are back!

The day started with a smoke choked breakfast of Starbucks (thank you Las Vegas) and a quick stop at the Pawn Stars: Gold and Silver Pawn Shop.

Dad really likes the television show but the actual shop was pretty dull. Boring merchandise, over priced merchandise and mainly branded swag about their show.

We were thrilled with how comparatively quiet Las Vegas was in the morning and that we could find our way to the freeway and begin our trek home without all the crazies that were out the night before!

We'd driven nearly to Bakersfield, to a town called Tehachapi, when I saw a guy coming up really, really fast behind me. A large truck was on my right and this guy was going faster and faster, with 2 police cars chasing him! I tried to go faster so I could pass the truck and move over but instead the guy pulled off at an off ramp and the cops followed. This was a Podunk town! Where did this guy think he was going to go? We watched from our rear view mirrors as the guy drove his SUV over the freeway with the police and their sirens following. Drama.

It was a long drive of 524 miles! We finished the 3rd Harry Potter book though and we are glad to be back and grateful not to have had any mishaps!

Tonight Dad walked Barley with me, we talked about how grateful we are and how lucky we are to have been able to have this trip together. We shared our favorite bits and agreed that we are happy it all went so smoothly and without any incidents!

Tomorrow we'll unload all the furniture from Kentucky, decide where it will go. Then Pop will head home and I'll recap our trip in a final post :)

Home! No matter how great a trip, how wonderful the company... It is always great to come home! To sleep with your pillows, in your bed, love up your dog, hug your family. Home!

Red Rocks and Bright Lights

This day was so jam-packed, my mind is a blur!

We began by heading south; destination Las Vegas. It was hot and it was windy, all day. Dad and I have been listening to Harry Potter books and we began book 3, which really helps pass the time on these long stretches of emptiness. And middle of Utah is definitely empty!
We were making great time and were passing by St. George, so made a side trip to Snow Canyon State Park.

I have probably visited Red Mountain Spa 5 times. It is right next to St. George and the Park. I love it there; you hike on these fantastic red rocks and the views are spectacular. So, what a treat to share one of my favorite places with my Dad! We even went into the Park and did a bit of hiking! Dad agreed that it is a beautiful, and unique spot ;)

Onward to Vegas. Hit some traffic but made it to town and found our hotel after circling the block, missing it, calling the hotel and getting the cross streets and discovering we were 2 blocks away. Hello Golden Nugget!

On the drive of course Dad figured out we were going to Vegas... (did I mention this was a surprise?) well, Dad told me he hadn't been to Vegas since the late 70s!!!!

A quick change and we caught a cab into city center to Aria. (The second part of the Vegas surprise was that I had tickets to see Cirque du Soleil ELVIS!) Well, I did not know this but my Dad had never been to a Cirque du Soleil AND he watches it on TV whenever it is on! He's always wanted to go, YES! We picked up the tix at the box office and he was so excited ;)

We walked a few blocks south to where a friend of Dad's worked, New York, New York. She wasn't in, but would be later (we learned via a quick phone call) and she recommended a place there for dinner called Nine Irishmen. It was very good! A Guiness, a pale ale and 2 steaks later, we headed back to the Aria for Elvis.

This was a special show: part Cirque, part dance review, part theatre... More so than other Cirques I've been to. Dad particularly liked when the acrobats did a tumbling, bouncing, trampoline performance dressed as Super Heroes, me too.

I couldn't help but buy the photos that were taken of us both in the theatre and in the lobby, I've taken a photo of the photos and included them here.

We walked for about an hour and a half up the strip, total madness! Hoards of people, bizarre people, under-dressed people, over-dressed people... you know, Vegas!

Our last night!

Driving, driving, driving

That's what we did today: 8 hrs, 406 miles.

Time for breakfast, a few town photos and a quick look at the photos from our river rafting the other day ($80 for a digital download!) then we took off. (Dad and I have the blue hoods on in the river photos.)

Uneventful - which is a good thing when you are driving out of the forest and around a curving river and through Wyoming, then Idaho, then Utah, back to Wyoming and finally back to Utah. Past Park City, through Provo and miles of nothing... Uneventful is perfect.

Who knew how excited you could get finding a podunk, podunk 'town!'

We've arrived in Fillmore, Utah and settled in for the night at a Best Western. I'm wiped.

Whoa!

We started the day with breakfast at a local fave 'The Bunnery.' Famous for their breads and pastries and that everything is made on site, homemade. The Bunnery did not disappoint. Yum.

After our hearty cowboy breakfast we made a quick stop at the Jackson History Museum which had photos and items from the town's earliest settlers.

Then the main event! Horseback riding! Drove about 15 minutes out of town to Spring Ranch where we signed the mortal waiver once again and then literally saddled up. We were so lucky and so surprised to discover that it would only be the two of us and the guide riding, a private 2 hr adventure.

Our guide was Charlie. He leads rides, packs and hunting trips by horse all year long. My horse was named Neon and my Dad rode Randy. We started off fairly slow up a steep climb on a narrow trail. Sage, boysenberry bushes, wild roses, multiple varieties and colors of Paint Brush (the Wyoming state flower), wild mint and groves of Aspen surrounded us as we continued our climb. Climb we did! Charlie told us at the top we were at 11,086 ft! The day was clear and warm and we had outstanding views across to the Tetons and down at Jackson.

We moved a bit faster after that, working our way across a ridge and then through a small wood and out again into foothills. I began to feel much more comfortable riding Neon and even though it wasn't a full gallop or even trot it was still faster than when we began! Dad's horse veered off trail at one point, apparently to a trail that headed back to the stables! Dad turned him around though and did a really great job as it was a pretty tight and narrow spot - so glad it was his horse and not mine that decided to pull that trick!

Towards the end a photographer from the ranch showed up on a crest and took photos of Dad and myself on our horses, we bought the CD but can't add those here until the trip is over :(

We barely had time to grab our jackets and re-spray our bug repellant and we were off for a Chuck Wagon dinner and show. It was very touristy. It was set up by the hotel and while it was fun to ride in a covered wagon and I did enjoy the live music, it really was cheesy and mostly for families with little kids. The food was 100% ugh. The horses that pulled the wagons were Belgians and were very big and beautiful however. Our wagon (there were 7 I think) was being pulled by horses named Tom, who was purchased from the Amish, and Jimmy who came from Canada.

Oh well, it was just another part of our adventure! Which by the way is winding down... We say farewell to Jackson tomorrow and work our way down the western border of Wyoming and south into Utah. I will miss this beautiful area, I love this type of landscape (but I think I'd change my mind come winter!!)

S S S Snake!

It certainly sssstarted off vvvvery cold this morning and Dad and I were bbboth pretty concerned about being wet on a river when it was only 37 degrees outside.

But hey, good news, it warmed up to 45 degrees!

We drove to the Sands Whitewater Rafting company, signed the waivers where you take full responsibility for any mortal mishap, received our wetsuits and neoprene booties, changed into said body girdles and set off with a bus of strangers for the unknown... Under the guidance of our river guide "Tom" who was born and raised in Wasington DC (which Dad commented isn't his first choice for a river guide.) Tom (whose real name is Alex, I learned later) is a DUDE. Not in the masculine/cowboy/jock kind of way, but the Big Lebowski/Fast Times at Ridgemont High kind of way! Doooood.

Dad and I had the dual excursion option of half day scenic and serene rafting followed by lunch and then whitewater rapids on the Snake River. On our serene portion we saw a bald eagle up in its nest, a group of large white pelicans hanging out on the shore, some magpies (very pretty black and white birds) and a few Peregrine falcons.

After sandwiches on the riverbank we met up with a few other boats to all go down the whitewater section in stages for safety. Even a kayaker came along and went ahead of us to grab hold of anyone that got tossed. We were a bit concerned that two of the other boats all wore helmets and we didn't .

For the scenic portion, Dad and I sat in front, 5 other rafters and the guide sat in rows behind us. Later for the rapids, Dad and I chose to be nearer the guide and let other people sit up front... and that was SMART!! There really was no leverage or way to hold yourself in the boat up front and further back you could wedge your foot under the seat bench in front of you for stability. Off we went with the 'Dude' yelling "forward!" "Backward!" "Take a break!" throughout. Most of the rapids were class 2 or 3, but due to the high water and the volume of water (18,000 cubic feet per second!) the biggest rapid was now a class 4.

And did it feel like it! It is called 'The Lunch Counter' and I was certain the first two rows of people were going to fall on top of me or get tossed. Personally, I had my leg shoved so tight between the seat in front of me and the wall of the boat, completely determined not to end up in the water. Loads of screams, splashes, 360 spins and vertical launches, we made it out intact. The two front people were drenched and we did a high five with our oars in celebration ;)

Continuing the birthday celebration we went to The Blue Lion and had the best dinner. As has been happening a lot, nearly every meal strangely, Dad and I ordered the same thing: Buttermilk Halibut with Asiago over a red pepper purée. Divine!

So now I'm not sure if I'm just crazy full from dinner or if the day of paddling and pulling river water is catching up on me, but either way it all was wonderful and worth it. So grateful that the day warmed up even a little bit, that neither of us ended up in the river and that I have this fabulous memory of today with my Pop.

Bonus post, BRR!

Usually I recap the day's adventures at the end of the day... but today I'm writing a bonus post :) BEFORE our adventure begins!

Dad and I are headed out for a day on the Snake River. Half day is scenic floating and the other half rapids!

Oh, yeah, and we have to rent wetsuits! Why? It's June, right? True, but it is also currently 37 degrees and expected to be a high of 55!!!

Whoa!