The Grand Tetons

The drive out of Texas is tortuous.  For 10 hours, we battled flat, brown landscape.  The drive into Denver was during the wee hours of the morning, and we weren't able to appreciate the mountains rising over the horizon.  The much shorter drive in the Grand Tetons made up for all 10 hours of Texas.  The mountains were spectacular.  Actually, spectacular doesn't begin to describe the majesty of the country.  As we gasped and awed, pointing out the window at each new glorious scene, we were abruptly stopped.

The bison wanted to cross the road for lunch.  We we not about to disrupt their plans for food!

They appeared to be having enough of their own drama....

The goal of leaving Warren Bridge early in the day was to arrive at  Headwaters Lodge and Campground at Flagg Ranch early enough to secure at walk in camp site.  Folks, these sites reserve up to a year in advance!  A YEAR!  I got in line for a site, and managed to score two out of the last three!  It was 9:08, and the host opened at 9:00. HALF of the campground was booked in 8 minutes.  Geez.  With lodging taken care of, but a few hours till check in, we opted to take a short hike.  

We hiked for over an hour, and the views were...again...no words to describe.  The God I serve has a bigger imagination than I can think of.  From the raging rivers to the deepest canyon to the highest peak of the snow topped mountains, we are BLESSED to live in and experience His AMAZING creation.  

Hiking over, we pitched our tent, showered, and made the hour long trek back to Jackson to meet up with my parent-in-laws and my oldest daughter.  We ate, we laughed, we shared road stories, and when were were done, we headed back to camp.  I was SO thankful for our 20* sleeping bags.  34* is pretty chilly at night!  Tomorrow, we would explore Yellowstone and meet up with an old friend.  Don't miss the next installment of the Jolly Camper!

Carlsbad and home

Our final destination was a rough start.  We had driven to Gallup, New Mexico, and I just couldn't go any more.  We parked in a McDonalds parking lot and slept in our seats.  We woke up late, and the car wouldn't start.  The jump started I had just in case the car wouldn't start, wouldn't start.  The O'Riley's Auto Parts in Gallup didn't open till 9 on a Sunday.  At 9:30 I got a jump.  We headed towards Carlsbad.  About halfway between Gallup and Albuquerque, I got a speeding ticket.  That one was my bad. Once we got off I-40, I let Alia drive for a little bit.  I apparently dozed off and startled up to her running a red light in Roswell.  I took back over driving.  Everyone was tired.  We weren't sure we were going to make it to Carlsbad for the bat flight.  

We just made it, running up the hill to the amphitheater to watch hundreds and hundred of bats coming from the caves.  They came in what seemed like herds.  A hundred or so at a time.  I have NO pictures of this, as phones and cameras aren't allowed AT ALL, and I'm a fairly compliant person.  We watched for over an hour as herd after herd left the cave.  The kids sat silent, just watching.  When an hour was over, Gannon had questions.  Walking back to the car, our path was crossed by a mamma and 6 baby raccoon's.  The experience was very surreal.  

We left Carlsbad after the bat flight to surprise Gordon a day early.  We drove to Ft. Stockton, Texas, slept, and loaded back up for our drive to Cibolo, Texas!

Long Time Gone....and the Valley of the Goblins!

It was pointed out to me this week that my crazy travel blog had philtzered out in Colorado.  I tried to believe that wasn't true....but then I looked and saw.  Yup.  Pikes Peak.  Lame-O!  Coming back from a trip like this, I guess life took over.  It does that, you know.  Work, school, church, kids, husband, dog, more work, my homework, teacher conferences....for whatever reason time just won't stand still for me to write my silly little story!  So here I am, waiting to start an online test, and I find myself with time.  40 minutes to relay my favorite part of our adventure:

GOBLIN VALLEY STATE PARK!

We arrived at midnight, road weary!  S got food poisoning and starting puking around Vale, CO.  It was a brisk 52* with rain as I was cleaning vomit off the cooler.  We ventured on.  For a LONG time.  I think the drive was 10 hours, and it was 10 LOOOOONG hours.  Did I mention it was long?
We crashed in the van without even setting up camp.  None of us slept well, but when we woke up, Wow.  Just Wow.

The sunrise over the Mesas turned the whole world red, and accentuated the layers of Castle Rock.  The sky was as big as it is in Texas, with green specs along the road ways.  The camp ground was almost empty as we ate our breakfast.  The majesty of God was So evident. 

We finished up our breakfast bars, showered and changed, and drove to the Valley of the Goblins.

I can say, that out of our ENTIRE trip, this was the most unique thing we saw.  Hundreds of goblins littered the valley with enormous mesas rising up, encapsulating the land.  They looked small as we approached, but quickly realized how massive they were.

  Hours were spent climbing, jumping, hiding, running, and laughing.  It was amazing.  We left tired, but so happy, and so in awe of Gods creation.

 Next stop: SALT LAKE CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!