First Incident

 

On a cold, snow covered morning I took a side rode near Leamington, and I slide off the road as I tried to turn around so I kept going trying to find a place to turn.  I came upon a closed fence so I had to turn where I was.  Sadly, on the turn I slide as I was backing up and hit the van back into a cedar post of the fence.  It barely tapped so I didn't get out to look more than just to see that the fence was fine.  I was able to climb out of the property without too much trouble as long as I kept it slow and steady.  However, when I got home I noticed I had broken the tail light.  We ordered a couple because the other one also had a piece out of it and when they came they were both broken.  Oh, the fun we have.  They made it good, and sent us lights that were not broken.

Shooting Together

 

Between Delta and Nephi, is a great rabbit hunting ground.  It has internet reception so so Taylor can even hunt when he is on call.   He invited all of us to join him for a fun day of shooting.  I do believe I need more practice and I'm not awful at hitting the target.  All of my children are much better than I and at least Taylor's two far surpass me.

Mr. Paxman is a very good shot.  He always shoots a few shots and then he enjoys his surroundings.  Sofie is also a great shot.

Taylor has been very good to invite us to join them on practices and he and Dad always enjoy it.  Sofie and Pax shot for a while and then they play.  I am usually puppy sitting, to keep the dogs calm and out of trouble.  We all seem to enjoy our chosen lot in life.

Heading Home by way of Grandma Mary's Beloved Tetons

 

We drove the loop, but with everything closed for Covid 19, we didn't really have a reason to stop.  It would have been fun to go into the shops of Jackson Hole, but alas, that will have to wait for another trip for each of them.  Dean and I have done that so we will have to rely on our memories of the past.   Taylor and his family had gone to Oregon so they didn't make it.  Nikki had to work.

At the Local Swimming Hole

One of the most fun I think we had was at the local swimming hole.  After we enjoyed a great breakfast at camp, we headed to the river to do some swimming.  We finally had everyone together and everyone had a wonderful time.

Ellie enjoyed time with most of her Wood cousins.  The water didn't seem to be too cold, but I wouldn't know for sure.

 

Near West Yellowstone, We Sat up Camp

Now the party can begin with all of the cousins together.

Each family brought their own tent/van and we were lined up in a row.  It was a perfect family vacation.  We ended up each going our own way a little bit more than I would have liked, but unless you have someone that is serious about the schedule and everyone listens to them, then this is what is going to happen.  Dad had some stress when we weren't able to make connections but we still had fun together. 

 

 

Pizza in Gillette

 Gillette may be the energy capital of the nation, but during Covid with everything shut down we just stopped by for a pizza and ate it out on the street, sitting on the curb. Oh the places we go, the places we see.

Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota

 

We stopped in at the visitors center but didn't take the tour to the site.  I had never even heard about this memorial, and it is still under construction.  With our many trips back to Kansas we decided we would wait until it was further along before stopping to see it close up.

 

From the parking lot, you have a pretty good idea of how much they have left to do on it.

Devils Tower, WY

 As we were passing through Wyoming we went near Devils Tower, protruding out of the prairies near the Black Hills.  

All of these fun sites we can look at in the news or hear people talking about and we will understand better because we have seen them with our own eyes.  

 

Driving and seeing this 'tower' rising from the ground is just an amazing thing.  It is surrounded by prairie and was something totally new to me.  I had heard about it, but I don't think I had even seen a picture before seeing it in person.

Welcome to Nebraska

 

Kim did all the planning of this trip and we were just along for the ride, but what a fun, happening trip it was.  We were able to see so many interesting, quick stops along the way before we met up with the res
t of our family. 

Imagine our excitement when we found Grandma Anne Wood's sugar bowl in an antique store attached to a diner and gas station.  Of course, we purchased it, and have since the first sighting, believed it was actually hers and we just found it.

Geographic Center of the Lower 48

A perfect spot for a quick snack and to stretch our legs and give the dogs a break.  So many fun stops in their home state of Kansas.

 

Just two hours from Sterling, in Lebanon KS, is the geographic center of the lower 48 states.  It's a quick stop and a great place for a picnic before heading on down the road.

Family Vacation from Sterling to Wilson, Kansas

Seriously time for a hair dye, but I have decided to go natural so it's got to be bad sometime.

Easily the cutest, quirkiest roadside attraction we’ve visited is in Cawker City, KS, weighing tons.

 We found a huge Czech egg up in Ellsworth County, not far from where we started.  What a fun little stop highlighting their culture.

We've just gotten started and with a long road ahead, the kids didn't seem overjoyed with the stop, but we thought it was pretty fun and they were good sports about it.

Discovered the Passenger Van was a Waste of Money in Yellowstone

Our trip to Yellowstone was the first of many (reflection writing) where I firmly believed that buying the passenger van was misguided and a waste of money.  Don't get me wrong, I love the van.  I love being able to go to the back seat and fall asleep - everything about the cargo van holds true with the passenger van, except I do love the windows.

But, the main justification for buying a second van was that it would be so great to have the van filled to capacity with little excited people, sharing the experience of traveling together and enjoying the experience.   I hadn't found the third bench yet, but was still looking when I found that everyone wanted to travel as a family in their own vehicles.  

We struggled to meet up with each other at every place we went, so we quickly learned to just do our own thing.  We followed the Sant's around most often, and J and Candice usually found us.  I don't think we ever met up with Blaine until the swimming hole.

The colors were as vivid as I remembered from our trips there from Idaho Falls.  The only other time I remember going was when I was about five or six and Dad pulled the trailer up to Yellowstone.   There were only two beds in the camper, with a sling on top of the master bed, so Mom, Dad, Devon and Kelly stayed in the camper and Fenton and I made our beds on the bench seats of the car.  

In the middle of the night, a bear came into camp.  We heard him messing around, making noise, as he went through all the camping supplies left out.  My guess is that the food was stored in the car, because after we had laid back down to avoid being

spotted in the car, the bear actually come over to the car and played with the handle.  I don't remember how long it was from first watching him in the campsite to him coming over to the car, but it was a sheer terror for both of us.  Fenton must have reassured me that he couldn't get in, and I was able to calm back down enough to lay flat on the bed.  A short while later, Fenton opened his door and ran to the trailer, leaving me alone in the car, I'm sure to be eaten by the bear.  I remembered he said that the bear couldn't open the door, and I knew that he could come eat me while I was running,so I stayed put.

This trip was not nearly as dramatic as that, but it was one of the first times I realized that all of the effort I made over the years to have a close family were not working out as planned.   I was broken hearted throughout the whole trip.  Dean struggles with anxiety that has been debilitating for him.  I truly hoped it would pass but found this trip was difficult for him - and wouldn't be getting better any time soon.