Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Prologue D-Day minus 3


Last fall we were watching Ken Burn's "America's National Parks" on PBS when after about the 3rd episode, Wanda said she always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Black Hills,etc. and why couldn't we ? So I casually said it'd cost about $150 a day, 20 days, we need $3,000. By the time we got to the end of the TV series, she gave me a list of the major national parks she wanted to see and the promise that she'd start saving $$. Well , I planned the intial 20 day trip and gave her the list of parks & states & rough drive times. I planned 2 days straight drive time to Alb., NM & basic direct routes to the major parks and some long drives to get back from the Rockies. Her comment was , " what about all these other places in between, I want to see them too. "
So what has evolved is 33 states in 44 days and 66 + National Parks tour of, as Ken Burn's said, " America's Best Idea". The Trip will be overwhelming, exhilirating & exhausting. I told Wanda that after the week in Southern Utah , our eyes & brains will hurt from so much sensory overload. Zion, Cedar Breaks, Bryce Canyon,Kodachrome Basin, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley. Canyonlands, Arches, Dead Horse Point. I can't imagine how intense these 5 days will be & even have 4th of July fireworks in Moab UT. How great is that!
I'm new to this blog thing, so I hope I can keep it simple & entertaining with the descriptions and pictures. The hard part will be editing the number of pictures I can post each day. Thanks for following along, check out the web links for the places as we go. Click on the map picture to enlarge the map for trip details.
John & Wanda 6/16


2 comments:

  1. Hey John- I am a fellow CMS teacher and came across your story on the direct line :)

    I am so excited to be following you across the country!!! You are doing exactly what I want to do once my girls are a little older- so please post advice once you get back for others that may want to do something similar to this one day.

    I look forward to reading your blog and hope you and Wanda stay safe in your travels!

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  2. Wow…I’m impressed. Sticking to the schedule and making good time. Keep it up and keep posting the photos, they are great.

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