Next Stop: Hoover Dam
After our van was singled out and checked by the security detail for the dam, we were cleared and allowed to proceed. (Unlike my security check to get onto Liberty Island, this time I did not have contraband such as scissors, spoons and a suspicious container with a "suspicious substance" (wadded up gum from 10 kids)... this security check was quick and easy)
They are building a new bridge to divert traffic off of Hoover Dam. Here is the progress on the bridge...
Next Stop: Las Vegas
With hotel rooms the same price as campsites, we stayed one night in Las Vegas. (Who could turn down seven showers, air conditioning, comfortable beds, and a 28th floor view for 35 bucks?!)
We saw lots of things (and tried not to see lots more), In addition to all the interesting hotels, we took the kids to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage...It was so neat to get so up close and personal with the animals...except this guy, I didn't like the way he looked at me
The dolphin trainers happen to be out playing with the Dolphins! It was so neat to see them so closely
Next Stop: Sequoia National Park
They warned us to keep all food and beverages locked in our bear locker at our campsite, not wanting to temp fate, I unloaded EVERYTHING and put it in the locker. Our neighbors were not so vigilant and a bear came right up and began eating their food! Dale was a super hero, while I grabbed my fajita pan and began banging on it to chase the bear away, Dale was standing guard in the meadow near our kids tent to keep it away. (The kids smelling of candy, chips and fajitas freaked me out a bit) Not taking comfort in the fact that my kid's tent was on the perimeter of a meadow, the point of entry for the bears, and that they smelled so tasty, we opted to put them in the Van for the night. I opted for the safety of the van as well...Dale's choice: a bad nights sleep cramped in the van, or a good nights sleep chancing a bear encounter...guess which he chose? (He is a Kelley, a good night's sleep trumps about everything else in life)
Sequoia Dale and Shawn checking out a "tree"...They said that a 6 foot tall man standing at the base of that tree is equivalent to a mouse standing at the base of a six foot tall man...made me think, "Why the heck am I so scared of the dumb things?!?" Warning to all mice, Winter is coming, stay out of my house, or it is ON
All things are huge in Sequoia, check out this pine cone! It is the cone of a Sugar Pine tree, the largest species of pine.
Trees big enough that my whole family can fit!!
"Huge"
Next Stop: Yosemite National Park
Look closely, this picture has three of Yosemite's sites, El Capitan (the flat faced rock), Half Dome and Bridalveil Falls.
Next Stop: San Francisco
I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do in San Francisco: Park on Hyde St., get an all day pass for the trolley, get off at fisherman's wharf, China Town and Nob Hill, have lunch somewhere and then drive over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way out. But I could see from the very beginning that this would be bad Karma day. Having an oversized vehicle left us with three parking options, A. leave it in a lot and give the guy our keys: no way, we had computers and extra wallets and all kinds of goodies to get into, B. pay 48 dollars a day parking: NOT EVER could I do this or C. park our "commercial" vehicle next to a commercial meter with a one hour time limit...we chose C. I ran back and fed the meter, so we got 2 hours out of it. We walked up several streets, saw Trolleys, walked past China Town and got a little taste of San Francisco.
Next Stop: Pacific Ocean
Coming from the East, when we say ocean our kids envision boogy boards, hot sun and soft cool breezes....When we said Pacific Ocean they, and I, envisioned all the same things. Despite Dale trying to warn me, I was still suprised by the freezing water, the whipping, cold breezes and no swimmers. I guess it's similar to beaches in New England. Still inspiring, but not exactly recreational.
Next Stop: Salt Lake City
We were so blessed to stay with Dale's cousin for three days in West Jordan, Utah. We had a list of things to see,including the Kennecott Copper mine, 'This is the Place' Heritage Park, the Conference Center, Temple Square, and Snowbird. The kids were excited to see it all, but I think they would have been completely satisfied to play with their second cousins the whole weekend. Greg asked all day long "when is it time to go back to their house and play?",Despite not really knowing each other, they hit it off right away. It was so great!
Alex looking at a painting in the Conference Center
We climbed to the top of Snowbird...with the help of a tram.
Alex looking at a painting in the Conference Center
We climbed to the top of Snowbird...with the help of a tram.
Our kids with their second cousins
5 comments:
I loved this post. You guys really had an adventure.
Wow! Looks like so much fun! I would have slept in the van to avoid the bears too!
So fun. I must see those trees sometime.
and I am not sick of these posts... I think they are inspiring.
Keep it coming!!! I think you should have it put into a book when you are finished. It's wonderful reading about your adventures and seeing the sights.
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