Final thoughts

On our way home after 4 incredible weeks away. I come away with a felling of pride, for the beautiful country we can call our home and for my incredible family. We spent 4 weeks in VERY tight quarters between the camper and the van, put close to 8000 miles on the van, and managed to all come out of it smiling and still talking to one another.  I think in today's world that is an amazing feat. The boys handled all that sitting amazingly well, and Jerry drove us like the trooper he is!!

I love my boys and my husband now more than ever.

I look forward to seeing all my friends and family at home and can't wait to have a fresh tomato from my garden and a dip in our pool.

Thanks for following along on our journey. I hope you enjoyed snippets from our trip.

oxox Laura

Niagara Falls

It was my first time to Niagara Falls. Boy was it powerful. We walked down into the falls taking the "Cave of the Winds" tour. It was amazing and fun to get wet. You really  felt the incredible power of water. 

We then had dinner at Savor a restaurant in the Niagara Falls branch of the Culinary Institute.it was beyond amazing. I would recommend to anyone. And a great respite from all the tacky souvenir shops :)

Suited up ready to brave the falls "Cave of the Winds" tour,. How do you like our stylish sandles?

Jerry's braving the wind.

Boys loved getting wet.

The forces were powerful. It was very cool.

Here is the water rushing at bottom of the American falls. From "Cave of the Winds" viewpoint.

Top of the American Falls

The bridge between USA and Canada

Good view of Canada, Eh?

Boys on Observation deck before dinner.

Good view of both the American falls and Horseshoe falls.

"Maid of the Mist" boat going almost under the Horseshoe Falls.

Horseshoe Falls with a huge flock of birds and the sun trying to come out.

Not a great picture ,but I needed a memory of this place.It was an AMAZING MEAL. Great way to end the trip. We all split Rabbit Benedict with black rice cakes,Boys split Lobster Ravioli with asparagus and Marscapone, I had Sea scallops with carrot polenta and fresh pea shoots,and Jerry had Strip steak with Bourson grits and fennel slaw and the boys split a stone pie with garlic,oil, Asiago, ricotta ,spinach, sauteed onions and scallops!!(Their invention) It was all amazing. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who goes to Niagara Falls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Lakes

We camped on Lake Michigan on Thursday night and on Lake Erie on Friday night. Wow did they resemble the ocean to me. Thursday we stayed at this great stake park within a National Lakeshore called Indiana Dunes. They had a 3 Dune challenge ( a 1.5 mile hike up and down 3 huge dune trails with a 31,  34, and 43 respectively,  degree pitch.) Silly us we decided to try to run it!!!! After all it was only 1.5 miles. Well the boys took off and lost us in the dust, or sand I should say!! Jerry and I got silly and humbled at the same time. It was like running in icing or mashed potatoes. The trail was 8 or 10 inch deep sand that you just sank into. After we finished it was a blast!!

Trying to run up the second hill :)

Second hill down 1 to go

We made it up the multi stair 3rd dune climb ( Wont say how much we ran)

 Grant  and Spence of course ran the whole thing.

Top of 3rd hill with lake in background.

Tip of Lake Michigan. Sure looks like the ocean to me.

After missing the ocean for a month this was a fun substitute. Humbling though, no swimming allowed due to undertow.

Next day at Lake Erie on way to Niagra falls.

A fun game of Mini golf at this great "resort " style Campground on Lake Erie.

Badlands National Park

We left Mt Rushmore and drove through the Black hills into Badlands National park.another beautiful park with incredible rock formations, amazing colors and very funny Prairie dogs.Iwill let Spencer post the prairie dog pictures  :)

First vista in the park. It is amazing how you drive through prairies and then almost instantly this appears

Amazing diverse textures and colors.

Feels like another world.

Just LOVE these colors. Can just feel the passage of time.

Ever changing formations.

How would you like to hike that "Knifes Edge"??


Then we head east!!
Crossing the Mississippi, almost :)

This was our campsite on a island peninsula in the middle of the Mississippi. It was beautiful.

Sitting by the fire, by the river. We saw shooting stars too!!!

Homeward bound now, driving through Wisconsin. Next stop the Great Lakes and then Niagara Falls and  home on Saturday!

Grand Tetons on the way to Mt Rushmore

Driving from Henry's Fork through Wyoming was gorgeous!  The Grand Tetons were amazing. We camped at Keystone State Park on a huge lake and had quite a treat. Here are a few pics.

A great view of the Tetons after seeing them peaking above the landscape in the distance for days.

Jerry took this great "surround" shot to give an idea of  the vastness of  the Grand Tetons. They are bigger than life.

Breathtaking!!!

We arrived at our campsite at Keystone State Park, camped right next to the marina section and this guy Dave drove by in a golf cart and started talking to us. He offered to take us out in his boat to see the sunset . It was so much fun!!

It was also the night of the largest full moon of the year, a "Supermoon" an extra treat.

Forgot how powerful this is. We watched an amazing documentary on how Mount Rushmore was carved. It added such a deeper dimension for us. Most of it was carefully blown away by dynamite. I had no idea. Very cool.

Happy to live in this beautiful and free country!!!!!

Henrys Fork Idaho...fishing heaven

Well the boys all lived there dream here. Beautiful rivers and trout galore. We ended up fishing the smaller streams that lead into the Snake river because the snake was running do fast and had lots of plant life that kept snagging there lines. A kind local fisherman told us about  the " Warm River" ha!! Wasn't too warm but it sure had trout. Boys had a blast and Jerry was so happy to see them so excited about fishing. It was fun for me too, in fact, I've only painted once because it's just too much fun to be with my family and hike and watch them catch fish. I really should have bought a licence so I could have fished with them but....next time :)
Painting will happen back in the studio when I'm settled. I certainly have enough photos to work from... a few thousand I think :)

Here are just a few from fishing there.

Grant Fly fishing, he is really having fun with  it!!

Spencer happy with his catch!

Isn't it beautiful!

There biggest catch yet and with a few minutes of each other. Now that's how mom likes it, everyone's happy :)

Here is a close up .The top is a Rainbow trout the bottom a Brown trout.

isn't the brown a beauty!!!

Lower Mesa falls in the National Forest. Both Lower and Upper falls were breathtaking.

one of our best campsites yet. we got a double site with electricity at Targhee National Forest Grandview Campground. ( and only $20.00 with Jerry's National park pass, the deal of a century. ) It was heavenly.

Sure do look like my birches but they are Aspen , and they are everywhere !

The Grand Tetons, Mount Rushmore and The Badlands soon to come.We finally are getting into cell service area.

Yellowstone part 2....fishing

The last few days we fought a lot of rain.  We hiked  5 hours along a stream and back  in the rain to the backwoods. I was cold and tired but it was worth it to see the smile on all 3 boys faces as they caught over 20 brookies!!

Happy fisherman 1

Spencer's first fish of many

Spencer at top of Mamoth Hot springs

Fishing for Cuthroat at Slough Creek

got one !!!

and another

Hiking to Grizzly Lake. The coolest dead tree I have ever seen.

Spencer taking a break.

Mask or bone.??

Saved some for Grama. The rest were really yummy!!!