We left Zion after dark and made the 150 mile drive to Las Vegas for a night of boondocking before checking into one of its many cheap, full-hookup RV parks for a few days while we take things a little slower before heading back to Southern California for a friend’s wedding.
We are at one of our most favorite places in the entire country. Southern Utah. When we came through here in 2012, we did not get to see Zion because of the hot weather in the lower elevations. Bryce Canyon is significantly cooler but we knew that we will need to come back to Zion. Today we did.
After such an amazing time in the Tetons, we sadly parted with our friends and started to head south. This loop is winding down to the last few days before we will find ourselves back in southern California. Until then, we will try to make the best of the road between here and there.
We really felt like we rushed through Yellowstone as we headed south towards the Grand Tetons after just 2 nights and 3 days. But we really didn’t have much of a choice as we were lucky to have gotten the campsites we did. But the majestic Tetons have a lot to offer in themselves so we knew there was going to be lots of exploring to be done while we are here.
We bought our last National Park Annual Pass last August at Bryce Canyon and it was well worth the $80. In that year, the girls started to really step up their Junior Ranger game and now we are officially hooked. We might not collect them all but we are damn well going to try. It was another no brainer to buy another pass today at Yellowstone.
We left Coeur d’Alene the day after Mila’s special day and started making our way east into Montana. Just east of town, we stopped for a bite at the little town of Kellogg. We got off of the freeway because we saw a sign for Subway but we decided to eat at Sam’s Restaurant next door instead.
Dear Mila,
TODAY YOU ARE FOUR YEARS OLD! Woohoo! And you have spent half of your birthdays in the Airstream 🙂
This year you requested a My Little Pony party. Ahem, excuse me, a PINK My Little Pony Party. And that is what you got. I hope I never forget the look in your eyes when you first woke up in the morning surrounded with pink balloons and ponies ponies ponies.
We split from the caravan and headed west from Banff in order to make our way back into the United States through the top of Idaho. Our original plan was to head over the Calgary to check it out but not having steady Internet and phone is becoming a bit of a drag. After having been with the group for the last couple of weeks and with the Works before that, it will give us a chance to spend some quality time alone for a change.
During the summer of 2012, we met a few of the folks that we are on this caravan with in Denver for the inaugural Alumafandango rally. Before we parted ways at the end of 4 days hanging out together, we decided that we should try to get together again in a year. Tiffani from Weaselmouth said to us, “Hey! What do you guys think of Banff next year?” We didn’t think much of it at the time. As you might already know, we often don’t even know where we will be next week let alone a year from now. We said, “Sure, if we are around we will try to make it.” My thought at the time was that there is about a 25% chance at best that this will happen. Well, today that chance became 100%.
The drive from Kelowna to Glacier National Park is about a 150-mile drive. Though not necessarily a long one, it takes some coordination for a bunch of Americans, most of whom have never towed a trailer in Canada before.
As we headed towards the border crossing just north of the town of Oroville, Washington, our caravan was already pretty segmented into several groups. One of the rules of traveling with this many trailers is to not all stop at the same restaurant or gas station at the same time so we don’t jam up traffic for any one location.
Last night we parked next to the Works at the Walmart in Omak, Washington. Although they have stayed at Walmarts in the past, this is not usually in their repertoire. Apparently it has been months since they have done this so thankfully last night was nice and peaceful.
