The fact my littlest love, Henry, has now been on this earth for a full decade as of this past week, just reaffirms that time goes by incredibly quick and as Ferris Bueller so wisely said thirty-one years ago, (31-years ago?!) "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Shown above, Mr. Square Root of 100.
Our house these days is a buzz because what started as a tiny "what-if" idea has ballooned in to what can only be called the most awesome amazing trip, that will have us criss-crossing some of the most spectacular National Parks in North America over the next four weeks. Here's how we're hoping it will all happen:
After much back and forth on this, do we drive - do we take a train - do we take a plane? We finally decided that we'll fly from Houston to Denver this coming Tuesday. Wheels up at 5:30 AM, which means we need to be at the airport, by no later than 4:00 AM so we can check in our huge amounts of gear that we'll need on this trip. Huge amounts of gear … because that's right: WE'RE CAMPING THE ENTIRE TIME.
Honestly, trying to get the kids to bed at a decent hour on Monday, so I can wake them up at 3:00 AM on Tuesday, scares me a little bit more.
Once we land in Denver, we'll be spending a few nights at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. From there, we will drive and spend a few more nights at Dinosaur National Monument which is on the Colorado / Utah border. Unlike last year, when we just winged it and didn't make any reservations - this year, we have reservations (nearly) every leg of our trip. Except in those cases where campsites are only available on a first-come first-serve basis. That's when we have a back-up plan to stay in hotels outside the parks. Or, sleep in the car. Whatever works out.
In my mind's eye - I see us having no trouble. But I also see me being able to sleep peacefully in a tent for 28 nights, so I think this means I'm an optimist?
In my mind's eye - I see us having no trouble. But I also see me being able to sleep peacefully in a tent for 28 nights, so I think this means I'm an optimist?
We will then drive north to Wyoming and the Grand Tetons National Park, where we will camp for several nights … before we drive further north to Yellowstone National Park - and camp for several more. Then it is on to Glacier National Park in Montana where we'll be camping. Yet again.
Now I interrupt this recitation of our itinerary to interject that we will be in the middle of bear country, much to Elizabeth's chagrin. From the moment our daughter heard that this plan was coming to fruition, she was immediately alarmed about the Bear Factor. I don't even know how she knew that we were heading in to bear country - but she seemed highly educated on the habitat of the Black Bear and Grizzly populations; enough to know we'd be smack-dab in the middle of it. I think she's been watching too many PBS specials, and reading far too many National Geographic.
But however it is that she knew about it, it got to the point that every time I'd open my computer, I'd see that she had been searching Google for ways to repel bears. I was finding the whole thing quite amusing, and would give her my suggestions, to which she informed me: "Mom, rubbing honey behind your ears, using a salmon-scented shampoo, and blueberry deodorant are only the things to do, IF YOU WANT TO BE EATEN."
But however it is that she knew about it, it got to the point that every time I'd open my computer, I'd see that she had been searching Google for ways to repel bears. I was finding the whole thing quite amusing, and would give her my suggestions, to which she informed me: "Mom, rubbing honey behind your ears, using a salmon-scented shampoo, and blueberry deodorant are only the things to do, IF YOU WANT TO BE EATEN."
During dinner one night, as she sat nervously chewing a carrot, she asked if she could just spray bear repellent all over herself to keep them away? And those bear lockers that the campsites are purported to have; can she, herself - along with bunny - fit in one at night to sleep?? After hearing from scores of people who have echoed Elizabeth's grave concern and have sternly inquired how we plan to keep ourselves safe from bears, I have since read up on bear safety, and have invested in bear bells, bear bags, and will be purchasing bear repellent when we land in Colorado.
I'd actually purchased several cans of it last week, but it turns out, you cannot bring bear repellent on a commercial airplane. Charlie suggested I check - moments after I'd clicked "order" on Amazon; and was quite glad that I realized my faux pas and was able to cancel the order before it shipped. Alas, I've promised Elizabeth our first stop on this trip, will involve purchasing bear spray.
I'd actually purchased several cans of it last week, but it turns out, you cannot bring bear repellent on a commercial airplane. Charlie suggested I check - moments after I'd clicked "order" on Amazon; and was quite glad that I realized my faux pas and was able to cancel the order before it shipped. Alas, I've promised Elizabeth our first stop on this trip, will involve purchasing bear spray.
After several days in Montana, we will be driving north to Canada and visiting Lake Louise and Banff National Park. We'll be spending - you guessed it - several days there, before driving further north to Jasper National Park. After a few days in the Canadian Rockies, we will begin our drive back south - in to Idaho, through Coeur d'Alene, and along the western side of the Bitterroot Mountains. All the way south to Salt Lake City, Utah we will drive - and then further south to Moab and Arches National Park. After a few days in the Beehive state, we will head east back to Colorado, where we will depart from Denver … at 6:00 AM; four weeks to the day after our journey began.
Four weeks we decided was the appropriate time for this trip for a multitude of reasons, including wanting to have sufficient time to enjoy each of the parks. Also, we have five weeks of summer remaining, and we could either send our children to camp - or take them camping, and we thought the latter sounded much more pleasing. Also (also), after a quasi-cost benefit analysis, I realized that it would actually cost us slightly less to take the children on this trip - then it would be to stay at home and put them in programs each day. We then learned that the cost for renting a car was actually the same if you rented it for 3 versus 4 weeks. And, our flights are at this crazy early hour, because airfare was only $200 RT per person if you depart while 90% of the local population is still asleep.
To add to the cost savings awesomeness, our National Park pass from last year, doesn't expire until the end of August ... and we'll be able to enter all of the Canadian National Parks free of charge because they are celebrating their 150th anniversary. How about that, eh?? Happy Anniversary, Canada!
To add to the cost savings awesomeness, our National Park pass from last year, doesn't expire until the end of August ... and we'll be able to enter all of the Canadian National Parks free of charge because they are celebrating their 150th anniversary. How about that, eh?? Happy Anniversary, Canada!
I love a bargain!
Unless, of course the camping piece of this goes belly-up and we wind up sleeping in hotels for the next month - and then any potential cost savings will have vanished like the morning fog.
Here's a map of our route:
Here's a map of our route:
And here is a partial shot of the bags we'll be taking. Our kitchen (camp stove, utensils, pots and pans) is in the red plastic foot locker, the tent is in the gray bag, our sleeping bags and pads are in the two yellow bags; and all of our camping chairs and additional supplies are in the red bag. For whatever reason I'm not debating, we are allowed two check-on luggages per person. That works out to 12 bags. So I'm hopeful that this haul will qualify - or, won't cost us a small fortune to ship.
Not shown, are the other six backpacks that hold our clothes, which are in the process of being packed (and then re-packed), that we'll be carrying on the plane.
Note to any potential burglars: While we are gone, we will have contractors at our house, nearly every day, doing some work that we'd held off on completing since we've moved in. So an added bonus to all of this, is that we won't be living in a construction zone for a month. Although some might argue, that's better than living in a tent for a month. (I'll let you know when we return.)
Until then: may God bless us and keep us safe and sane… and away from any wildlife that might be so inclined to devour us.
Amen!
Until then: may God bless us and keep us safe and sane… and away from any wildlife that might be so inclined to devour us.
Amen!
