The journey home is always worse than the journey to your destination. On the way to your destination you are excited to start your vacation. You haven't spent hours upon hours in the car and although it is a vacation everyone knows that they wear you out and you need a vacation after your vacation. When your vacation ends with quite a few more hours in the car it seems to last forever.
We had such a good time in Idaho and I know that Elsie had fun with Allie and am so glad that she got to spend some time with her Uncle Tony and Magda. It will be a vacation she will never remember but get to hear about.
So we were on the road by 5:00 AM on Monday morning. We took off and just kept driving. We stopped quickly for meals throughout the day and for short pit stops at rest areas. We were trying to get far the first day so that the second day wouldn't be as much driving and my sister needed to be home for sure by Tuesday evening since she had to work Wednesday. Our initial plan was to stay again in Cheyenne but the hotel we stayed at before was booked so we figured we would just stay in Sidney, NE and get a few more hours in. Even if we went to Sidney we would still get in around 7:30 PM. We promised Allie that we would go somewhere with a pool and she could swim. Well we started calling around to make a reservation and we found every since hotel in Sidney was booked (there was like 5 different hotels). The reason they were booked up was because of all the fires in the Fort Collins, CO area would go up there to stay since they were evacuated from their homes. How scary and sad.
We ended up staying in Ogalalla, NE and we pulled in around 9:30 PM with just enough time for Allie to get in the pool. Elsie and I stayed in though since like everynight I had to wash bottles and pump parts, and get Elsie to bed which can be a challenge with 6 people in one little hotel room.
On Tuesday we once again were up and at em early at 4:00 AM and were on the road again by 5:00 AM. Once again, not too many stops, just enough to grab food and take a bathroom break. We stopped again at the cute little rest area in Shelby, IA but didn't stay for long. We arrived home in Iowa around 3:30 PM, unloaded my stuff and my family was back on the road by 4:00 PM. Thanks again to my wonderful family for such a great vacation. It is a trip I will never forget!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Trip Out West: Day Six- Old State Penitentiary
The Happy "Matching" Couple
Picture of the inside of a cell. Obviously these have not been used in many years.
Whole cell block
After the penitentiary we found a cute little park for Allie to play at and to just relax at. Once again it was just a beautiful day!!
After the park we headed out to dinner. We went to Highland Hollows Brew Pub in Boise. It was really good! I had spaghetti and meatballs and the sauce wasn't your typical marinara. It was a garlic cream sauce and was delicious!!! The beer was especially delicious as well. We then headed home where the rest of the night was spent packing up and getting ready to leave early the next morning. It was a WONDERFUL time in Idaho and thank you to Tony and Magda for being such wonderful hosts!!! We love you!
Trip Out West: Day Five-Anderson Ranch Dam
Today was another beautiful day! The sun was shining just like it had been all week. Tony and my Dad went fishing in the morning and got back early afternoon. As we were trying to decided what to do the rest of the day we decided it was a perfect day for a picnic. So we loaded up the vehicles with a charcoal grill, ribs ready to grill, potatoes in foil, fruit and beverages and headed off towards Anderson Ranch Dam which is just a bit north of Mountain Home on Highway 20. The road to the Dam wasn't so bad. It was paved for the most part but once you turn off Highway 20 it turns to a gravel road. This picture below was taken at a turnout. Beautiful views overlooking the Dam and reservoir.
If you look just to the left of the resevoir you can see the road just on the side of the mountain as it winds along the river. Let's just say there wasn't much of it. :)
As we continued down the road, we crossed over the dam and then the road became a bit interesting. It was single lane with a little bit wider around the curves and was gravel. I was actually amazed at the number of vehicles we met as we drove along. I believe we were trying to find a picnic area to stop at. The roads were very curvy and the edge dropped straight down to the river/reservoir. I am not going to lie, it made me a little nervous. After about 30 minutes in we decided that there was not good place to stop since up until that point, all of the boat ramp/picnic areas were too crowded. Tony suggested we keep going to the next stop up but I think my mom, Tami, and I had enough (all three of us get pretty carsick too). So we turned around and made our way back to Mountain Home.
Once again, more stops along the Oregon Trail.
When we got back to Mountain Home we decided to grill the ribs back at my brothers. We sat out on the deck and enjoyed the beautiful evening. Oh we also enjoyed the delicious ribs and the yummy homemade BBQ sauce my brother made.
Tony and Magda have a swing in the backyard so I decided Elsie and I need to spend some time on it and she loved it, as you can ssee in her facial expression!
Trip Out West: Day Four-Boise
One thing I noticed while in Idaho is that there are A LOT of Rose bushes. People had them everywhere in their yards and a lot of the places we went to see had them around the buildings and what not. Well this was no different. They had a beautiful Rose Garden in the park.
After strolling through the Rose Garden and the park we spent the rest of the afternoon at Zoo Boise. It was smaller size zoo but perfect for us! Although it was in the 90's that day there was so much shade throughout the zoo that it was absolutely a beautiful afternoon.
It is hard to tell what this thing is through the pictures but it is a Rock Hyrax. The thing that is most intersting is that it's closest living relative is an elephant!!!
While at the zoo we did the Giraffe Encounter where you can get close and feel the giraffes. This particular Giraffe's name was Julius. Allie was a little hesitant at first but ended up loving it!
Allie giving Elsie a little love in her stroller.
They had a carousel there and of course Allie wanted to go on a ride. After she went a couple of times I decided Elsie might think it is fun too! So on she went. It was so cute. She grabbed onto the pole with both hands like she knew what to do! haha after a few times around she got distracted and wanted to reach for everything else. Looking at these pictures I know realize what a scary monkey she is riding haha
Another big hit was the prairie dog exhibit. They had this area where you could crawl through tunnels and the pop your head up like you are a prairie dog. Allie loved it.
As we passed by it again she wanted to do it with her mom this time. We were all surprised when this time, the prairie dogs wanted to come check them out! I don't think we even realized before that there were actually animals there.
One of Elsie's favorites spots was the area where you could feel the goats. I put her close to the fence where the goats would stick thier heads through and she got so excited, would squeal and kicker her legs up. It was so fun to see her get excited about the animals.
AFter the zoo, we grabbed a bite to eat at a pizza place in Boise. It was called Wise Guy Pizza Pie. It was thin crust and delicious!!! After dinner we headed home and relaxed for the evening. Another wonderful day!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Trip Out West: Day Three-Air Force Base and Three Island Crossing State Park
Well after our late night, we slept in a little bit later than normal so we got a late start to the day. When Elsie and I crawled out of our room we found my brother and Magda making breakfast for the day-French Toast and Bacon. It was delicious! I set Elsie in her high chair and attempted to feed her cereal as everyone else was eating. There were so many distractions though that it did not go as well as I had hoped ;). After breakfast and getting ready we set out for the day. We first went to the base where Tony is stationed at watched a few planes take off and grabbed Subway for lunch. Then we took off east towards Three Island Crossing State Park. It was just beautiful!!!
Once again this park had historical significance to the Oregon Trail.
Snake River
Surprisingly we were one of very few people in the park. The weather was perfect as it was most of our time in Idaho. It was in the 90's, sunny, and breezy. 90's in Idaho means something a lot different than 90's in Iowa. We spent the late afternoon/early evening lounging around, playing, and doing some fishing (well at least Tony did)
Cousins!
Sisters!!
Grandma playing with Elsie
The best we could get with the two girls
Tony and Magda had some fun in the sprinklers in the park
Lena had so much fun running around and playing in the wide open spaces.
This is a picture of the original ferry used to ferry people, animals, and goods across the Snake River
These ruts are from the ferry being dragged up and down the bank of the river.
The Snake River showing the islands that the Pioneers would use to cross the river before the Ferry was put in place.
My Little Pioneer Baby
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)