Our 2009 summer trip - Intro

I've seen this quote in various forms, but this is the most complete version I've run across:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Dr-Pepper in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'

Yep, That sign says 14% grade. Route 12 between Escalante and Boulder Utah	At the Kodachrome Basin near Escalante, Utah. Notice the fancy people mover we installed when our steps broke.

As usual, life and plans change and it's up to each of us to accomodate changes or be miserable. Those are choices that each of us make as we progress through life. We choose to be happy or not, irregardless of our circumstances. Thus the pauper can be happy and content while the wealthy baron may be totally miserable.

In the trip planning, we were to leave Utah on June 5, when Robbie got out of school. We actually left late in the afternoon of the 7th and never were able to make up the lost 2 days. In order to make our commitments, we lopped off the two days I had allotted to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Park.

Like so many of our travels, we're just getting a sip of the 50 gallon drum that is this great land of ours. There is so much to see, enjoy and learn in our short lifetimes..

Anyway, here's the pages related to our travel. Click on the thumbnail to bring up a full-size picture in a new window:

First, here's some pictures of our travel through Idaho, Oregon and northern (Redding) California as well as some other "general" travel pictures:

Sunset near Glens Ferry, ID where we spent the first night.	Zeke on Grandpa Jim's tractor, near Redding.

Sleeping 11 people in a motorhome rated for 5 - RoseMary and I sleep on the hide-a-bed so we can close it up, move the kids on the air mattress to other places, pull in the slide-outs and start driving early.

3 or 4 on the queen-sized bed.	3 on a queen-sized air mattress in the "galley". Notice the kid on the dinette at the right.	2 or 3 on the dinette, made out as a small twin

Of course, there may be some unplanned twists:

So they all rolled over and one fell out ... and everybody slept on.	Ryan chose to finish sleeping across the foot of the bed.

Breakfasts may be cereal, pancakes and eggs, or whatever, just like at home. On hikes we make sure to bring along plenty of water as well as snacks - usually a large bag of trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit or even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Lunch is generally a sandwich and a piece of fruit. Dinner may be spaghetti, sloppy Joes, sandwiches again, hotdogs, macaroni and cheese or once-in-awhile a visit to a restaurant. In other words, just like home - that's one of the advantages of a motorhome or camper over motels or tents.

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