Idaho Highway Blues

Idaho was quite lovely and the highways were in good shape. Our troubles began after a "quick" trip to the Blackfoot Walmart. Just outside Sugar City the left rear trailer tire blew-out. We managed to limp along to a truck stop and a kind gentleman from Liberty, Texas stopped to help us. We got Pawpaws 1995 Goodyear trailer put on the ground for the first time. The gentleman from Texas refused any compensation and said that's what friends are for. Then just 60 miles from our destination, that fine spare tire blew-out. After a call to 911 and another kind gentleman's aid, we were rescued by a tire repairman with a deputy to redirect traffic. Our five hour drive took 10 hours. To top it off when the tire blew-out, it took out the grey water drain line.

Utah

We had a treacherous drive up I 15 to Salt Lake City. We avoided the mountains to make better time, but had to brave the 18-wheelers on the freeway. After we got off the freeway, we had a beautiful drive through a mountain valley up to Bear Lake. We came out on top of a mountain overlooking the lake. It was gorgeous, but I don't think Granny opened her eyes. The drive down to the lake probably took a few years of brake-life off Pawpaw's truck. There are at least 24 kids with the couple next door and they are staying in a trailer smaller than ours. Granny is just laid back with all those kids running up and down the streets.

From Santa Fe to Utah

Today we traveled about 450 miles in 11 and 1/2 hours. The trip would have been shorter, but we ran into a sandstorm at Shiprock. The storm prevented me from seeing the sign for the side road that we were supposed to take to the four corners. Tammy, our TomTom navigator, had never heard of the four corners and refused to cooperate at all. Not seeing the sign led us on a 50 mile detour. Once we realized we were headed way off course, we chose an alternate route. After much delay we finally made it to the four corners, but it was closed for remodeling. We felt like the Griswold's on summer vacation to wally world.

Walkabout Santa Fe

We had a lot of fun today, but we did have a brief scare. Pawpaw wandered off in search of a men's room and didn't show back up for over an hour. Granny, Donna, and Joyce waited on the plaza while I searched the hotel where he had headed. Nobody at the hotel remembered seeing a swimmy-headed elderly gentleman looking for a restroom, but they said see a lot of those. I circled around the downtown area until I finally got a call that he had showed back up from the opposite direction from where he had left. He thought he had left his cell phone at the trailer, but it was in his pocket turned off. He will not be allowed to wander off alone again on this trip.

Santa Fe

We have arrived at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Just shy of 1000 miles from home. Temperature is 90 degrees with 6 percent humidity. Highlight of the day was blizzards from Dairy Queen at Flying C Ranch on Route 66. We got our kicks on Route 66, you should have been there.

Mother Neff State Park

We stayed the first night at Mother Neff State Park, the first state park in Texas. It is just outside Temple. We spent 7 hours on the road and drove through several showers. We did have a nice lunch break in the Walmart parking lot at Lake Conroe. I did take I-10 from Bridge City to Beaumont and Granny was not happy. She's better now.

You can the pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/MilesTheYounger/YellowstoneVacation

Family Vacation

The adventure begins today. We are headed to Yellowstone by way of Santa Fe. Any bets on what time this wagon will roll out of BC?