THURSDAY
hit the road at 7 am after a quick breakfast
drive to Las Vegas, Nevada
lunch and splash pad at a cute, little park
make super speedy visit with a friend
back into the car for the last leg of the day
arrive in Hurricane, Utah just before dinner
play and play and play with our cousins
chat with my second oldest sister-in-law
don't eat dinner until 9:30 as a result of chatting
go bed around midnight
FRIDAY
leave Hurricane at about 8 am after pop tarts
drive to Orem, Utah
lunch with another friend at another cute, little park
play for a while before hitting the road again
smooth sailing until we pass the Idaho state line
all hell breaks loose
'engine coolant hot' pops on
engine starts overheating near Malad, Idaho
get off the highway, check coolant level
ZERO coolant
add 1.5 gallons and continue on our way
hit construction - one lane for miles and miles
hit more construction - one lane for miles and miles
travel 100 miles in 4 hours while engine temp creeps
arrive at Rexburg, Idaho at 7:30 pm, stressed
decide to stick to plans and see youngest sister-in-law
head to Beaver Dick park for bonfire
cry because of stress it took to get there
comforted by sister-in-law's awesome friends
get to our Airbnb home out in the middle of NOWHERE at 9 pm
go to bed around midnight
SATURDAY
up at 6 am
navigate my sister-in-law to my middle of nowhere Airbnb
neighbor friend stays behind with littles
drive into Rexburg to bring my car to a shop
get a couple of uninterrupted hours with my sister-in-law
walk around BYU-Idaho campus
hang out and have deep conversations in the garden
car is finished so pick it up and return to Airbnb
slam quesadillas for lunch
hop into the car and head to Yellowstone Park
pass through Montana and Wyoming to get there
Artist Paint Pots - pretty cool
Grand Prismatic Spring - my absolute favorite
Old Faithful (which neighbor friend misses because babies have to pee)
picnic dinner in Yellowstone Park
drive back to our Airbnb - GLUTENED
lay and the floor and die a little
go to bed around midnight
SUNDAY
wake up to the sounds of irrigation sprinklers outside the window
pack our stuff, load the car, clean the Airbnb
leave Rexburg at about 10 am
take back roads and lesser highways
avoid construction on the I-15 at all costs
wind in and out of Idaho and Wyoming for hours
picnic lunch at a gas station in Thayne, Wyoming
wind in and out of Wyoming and Utah for hours
skirt Salt Lake City traffic - a win
travel through the most gorgeous scenery all day
arrive in Hurricane, Utah just before dinner
eat dinner and play with cousins for hours
go to bed around midnight
MONDAY
leave Hurricane at about 9 am after pop tarts
drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
let the kids marvel at the beauty of the Grand Canyon
hike a 1.4 mile loop with terrifying cliffs
eat a picnic lunch near the edge of the Rim
hop in the car for the drive home
engine light pops on - zero cellular service
grip the wheel and pray while driving along Marble Canyon
hit the 89-A and feel a bit less stressed
stop in Cameron to gas up
'check oil level' pops on - I cry
add a quart of oil and continue on
grip the wheel and pray we make it home
arrive home at about 7:30 pm
walk in the door to a Soda Shop drink from the mr.
collapse from exhaustion
I will never forget this trip. Despite the difficulties along the way (and just how much it will ultimately cost us), it was unforgettable. We were able to do new things and explore places we've never visited. I was able to share my love of travel and geography with my children. And I learned how to focus and respond in the midst of a seemingly overwhelming trial. I'd gladly do a trip like this again
2,500+ miles. 50+ hours in the car. 6 states. 5 days. 4 nights. 8 relatives. 2 friends. Trip of a lifetime.
FRIDAY
leave Hurricane at about 8 am after pop tarts
drive to Orem, Utah
lunch with another friend at another cute, little park
play for a while before hitting the road again
smooth sailing until we pass the Idaho state line
all hell breaks loose
'engine coolant hot' pops on
engine starts overheating near Malad, Idaho
get off the highway, check coolant level
ZERO coolant
add 1.5 gallons and continue on our way
hit construction - one lane for miles and miles
hit more construction - one lane for miles and miles
travel 100 miles in 4 hours while engine temp creeps
arrive at Rexburg, Idaho at 7:30 pm, stressed
decide to stick to plans and see youngest sister-in-law
head to Beaver Dick park for bonfire
cry because of stress it took to get there
comforted by sister-in-law's awesome friends
get to our Airbnb home out in the middle of NOWHERE at 9 pm
go to bed around midnight
SATURDAY
up at 6 am
navigate my sister-in-law to my middle of nowhere Airbnb
neighbor friend stays behind with littles
drive into Rexburg to bring my car to a shop
get a couple of uninterrupted hours with my sister-in-law
walk around BYU-Idaho campus
hang out and have deep conversations in the garden
car is finished so pick it up and return to Airbnb
slam quesadillas for lunch
hop into the car and head to Yellowstone Park
pass through Montana and Wyoming to get there
Artist Paint Pots - pretty cool
Grand Prismatic Spring - my absolute favorite
Old Faithful (which neighbor friend misses because babies have to pee)
picnic dinner in Yellowstone Park
drive back to our Airbnb - GLUTENED
lay and the floor and die a little
go to bed around midnight
SUNDAY
wake up to the sounds of irrigation sprinklers outside the window
pack our stuff, load the car, clean the Airbnb
leave Rexburg at about 10 am
take back roads and lesser highways
avoid construction on the I-15 at all costs
wind in and out of Idaho and Wyoming for hours
picnic lunch at a gas station in Thayne, Wyoming
wind in and out of Wyoming and Utah for hours
skirt Salt Lake City traffic - a win
travel through the most gorgeous scenery all day
arrive in Hurricane, Utah just before dinner
eat dinner and play with cousins for hours
go to bed around midnight
MONDAY
leave Hurricane at about 9 am after pop tarts
drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
let the kids marvel at the beauty of the Grand Canyon
hike a 1.4 mile loop with terrifying cliffs
eat a picnic lunch near the edge of the Rim
hop in the car for the drive home
engine light pops on - zero cellular service
grip the wheel and pray while driving along Marble Canyon
hit the 89-A and feel a bit less stressed
stop in Cameron to gas up
'check oil level' pops on - I cry
add a quart of oil and continue on
grip the wheel and pray we make it home
arrive home at about 7:30 pm
walk in the door to a Soda Shop drink from the mr.
collapse from exhaustion
I will never forget this trip. Despite the difficulties along the way (and just how much it will ultimately cost us), it was unforgettable. We were able to do new things and explore places we've never visited. I was able to share my love of travel and geography with my children. And I learned how to focus and respond in the midst of a seemingly overwhelming trial. I'd gladly do a trip like this again
...it's all worth it. Blood, sweat, prayers, love, and tears. It's the good that stands out the most at the end. Looks like a trip of a life time. (gives me encouragement to finish strong for this trip of a lifetime that we're - still - on)
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I love your blog leigh! you radiate such positive energy! seriously! its always a pleasure to see and read what you have been up to
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