We're here! And even though I'm still dealing with residual illness, I am ecstatic! Its so incredibly beautiful here, that no picturesa could do it justice. But, I will still post some once I get a chance. The air smells so sweet here, the sun is warm and the breeze is cool. Downtown Larkspur is pretty much the cutest place EVER! Our apartment is cute and in a great location, though it will definitely take some time to adjust back to living in close quarters with all our neighbors. Miya is loving it here and has been such a trooper through all this. I think she's done better than Gabe and I!
Anyway, keep checking in...we'll keep this up for a bit with pictures and updates!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Day 9 - Elko, NV to Truckee, CA
No pics for this day, sadly. I'm on the brink of deathly ill, so I didn't really snap much for pics. But I wanted to mention that coming into CA was a beautiful experience. Suddenly, we were surrounded by hills and trees (redwoods) and the air just seemed a little fresher! Spent the night in Truckee, which is at the north tip of Lake Tahoe...we can't wait to come back for a weekend!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Day 8 - Evanston, WY to Elko, NV
Still on the mend. Blech.
So we wrapped up in Wyoming and headed into Utah, where our pit stop was Salt Lake City. And now our first blogging failure...we were so awestruck while driving into SLC that we forgot to take pictures! It was so beautiful - rolling hills and buttes turned into a dramatic snow capped mountain range, with little towns nestled into the canyons. The houses were chalet style and they were so perfectly matched with the scenery and landscape that it almost seemed like they naturally grew there! We passed the site of the '02 olympic downhill skiing and ski jumping ramps. Then, all of a sudden we were free from the mountains and dropped right into the city.
I liked Salt Lake so much more than I thought I would. It was so well groomed, but not sterile, so full of life and appreciation for the outdoors. We first stopped in Liberty Park. A sprawling park grounds which hold Tracey Aviary (a bird zoo, pretty much), a folk art museum, playgrounds galore and many other things to delight kiddos and parents!
Gabe and Miya having a race in the park...Miya won!
Then we went off to the Gateway, which we think was built especially for the Olympics. Its a HUGE outdoor mall with Imax theater, planetarium, children's museum...Of course, we only stayed for lunch and we sadly had to move on...
Then through the salt flats of the western panhandle of Utah...
And finally into Nevada, where we were greeted immediately with all sorts of gaudy casinos and truck stops. And here we are in Elko, which seems a giant pit stop - all hotels, a couple of casinos and restaurants and grocery. I made Gabe agree to a little bit of a splurge on hotel - in case I was to be spending yet another night praying to the porcelain goddess, and didn't want to do it at another $50 motel...YUCK. So we're at the Hilton, which to me is only cleaner than the other places, but not any more grand. Oh well.
Next stop: Truckee, CA (top of Lake Tahoe)!!!! SO CLOSE!
So we wrapped up in Wyoming and headed into Utah, where our pit stop was Salt Lake City. And now our first blogging failure...we were so awestruck while driving into SLC that we forgot to take pictures! It was so beautiful - rolling hills and buttes turned into a dramatic snow capped mountain range, with little towns nestled into the canyons. The houses were chalet style and they were so perfectly matched with the scenery and landscape that it almost seemed like they naturally grew there! We passed the site of the '02 olympic downhill skiing and ski jumping ramps. Then, all of a sudden we were free from the mountains and dropped right into the city.
I liked Salt Lake so much more than I thought I would. It was so well groomed, but not sterile, so full of life and appreciation for the outdoors. We first stopped in Liberty Park. A sprawling park grounds which hold Tracey Aviary (a bird zoo, pretty much), a folk art museum, playgrounds galore and many other things to delight kiddos and parents!
Gabe and Miya having a race in the park...Miya won!
Then we went off to the Gateway, which we think was built especially for the Olympics. Its a HUGE outdoor mall with Imax theater, planetarium, children's museum...Of course, we only stayed for lunch and we sadly had to move on...
Then through the salt flats of the western panhandle of Utah...
And finally into Nevada, where we were greeted immediately with all sorts of gaudy casinos and truck stops. And here we are in Elko, which seems a giant pit stop - all hotels, a couple of casinos and restaurants and grocery. I made Gabe agree to a little bit of a splurge on hotel - in case I was to be spending yet another night praying to the porcelain goddess, and didn't want to do it at another $50 motel...YUCK. So we're at the Hilton, which to me is only cleaner than the other places, but not any more grand. Oh well.
Next stop: Truckee, CA (top of Lake Tahoe)!!!! SO CLOSE!
Day 7 -Laramie, Wy to Evanston, WY
Please forgive the delayed and brief blog. I have been sick the last couple of days, and am FINALLY on the mend! Boy, traveling while ill is the pits!
SO, we left Laramie and entered very scenic southern Wyoming, aka "cowboy country". Suddenly, we were out of farm country (stinky and boring) and into this:
Our pit stop was in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, which was stunning! The pictures don't really do it justice...it was definitely one of our favorite spots so far!
Gabe and Miya looking at the buttes and playing ponies in the grass.
Beautiful nature girl!
A little off roading adventure. Not really, we took a dirt road for a bit and got out of the car in a place that felt so TOTALLY remote it was almost scary. Hiked a bit to a bluff with gorgeous views where we found evidence a murder! Yes, we found the remains of a rabbit and after a bit of searching and investigating, we also found a few hawk feathers and hawk scat. We deduced that this was the spot where a hawk frequented to bring and enjoy his lunch!
My proud little CSI's, lol.
Next stop: NEVADA!
SO, we left Laramie and entered very scenic southern Wyoming, aka "cowboy country". Suddenly, we were out of farm country (stinky and boring) and into this:
Our pit stop was in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, which was stunning! The pictures don't really do it justice...it was definitely one of our favorite spots so far!
Gabe and Miya looking at the buttes and playing ponies in the grass.
Beautiful nature girl!
A little off roading adventure. Not really, we took a dirt road for a bit and got out of the car in a place that felt so TOTALLY remote it was almost scary. Hiked a bit to a bluff with gorgeous views where we found evidence a murder! Yes, we found the remains of a rabbit and after a bit of searching and investigating, we also found a few hawk feathers and hawk scat. We deduced that this was the spot where a hawk frequented to bring and enjoy his lunch!
My proud little CSI's, lol.
Next stop: NEVADA!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Day 6 - Kearney, NE to Laramie, WY
We are starting to FEEL the trip now! Despite a shorter driving day (thank you Wyoming for a 75MPH speed limit!), we are exhausted and feeling a bit icky - too much crummy travel food and too much sitting.
BUT, we are now in beautiful Wyoming! And so far, it hasn't let us down!
First though, we stopped in North Platte, NE for a quick pit stop at Buffalo Bill's Outpost, where we learned all about the famed "cowboy".
Then we crossed into:
Where, instead of flat sprawling farmland, things started to look more like this:
Then a nice pit stop in Cheyenne at Terry Bison Ranch, which in its peak season offers camping, fishing, bison tours, etc. We were able to set Miya up with a pony ride and as you can see, she was one happy cowgirl!
This was one friendly camel!
Waiting for her pony.
Anticipation
Beautiful
Miya says she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up! "Well, maybe a cowgirl ballerina"
Tomorrow, more Wyoming!
BUT, we are now in beautiful Wyoming! And so far, it hasn't let us down!
First though, we stopped in North Platte, NE for a quick pit stop at Buffalo Bill's Outpost, where we learned all about the famed "cowboy".
Then we crossed into:
Where, instead of flat sprawling farmland, things started to look more like this:
Then a nice pit stop in Cheyenne at Terry Bison Ranch, which in its peak season offers camping, fishing, bison tours, etc. We were able to set Miya up with a pony ride and as you can see, she was one happy cowgirl!
This was one friendly camel!
Waiting for her pony.
Anticipation
Beautiful
Miya says she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up! "Well, maybe a cowgirl ballerina"
Tomorrow, more Wyoming!
Day 5 - Colfax, IA to Kearney, NE
Our longest day yet! Covering nearly 400 miles and driving through torrential rain, it was a tough day.. But at least we were not one state south in Kansas, where the same storms brought tornadoes!!
First stop was:
Where we saw lots of:
Yes, these beasts were THAT close! While we cowered in the safety of our car (as strongly advised by the park), these massive creatures, some as big as our car, came within about 5 feet of us! They seemed quite curious, stopping to stare/glare as they passed in front of, or behind, our car. Despite feeling very vulnerable, we enjoyed every second, snapping photos and delighting in the calves' frolicking. Miya, unimpressed by their size and strength, was still totally fascinated, and practically hanging out of her window, squealed with glee and snapped away with her own camera! It was a once in a lifetime experience, and we realized just how lucky we were to get so close, when we noticed that the herd was passing through and heading way out onto the prairie where they'd be practically invisible from the roads. Poor tourists who we passed later on would not see what we had...they surely didn't even know what they'd missed!!
So then on to Kearney, NE (pronounced Karney locally) where we happily collapsed into bed without taking advantage of the Ramada Inn Tropical Paradise's indoor "fun dome" (a totally cheesy indoor pool area with faux tiki bar and run down mini putting green).
End day 5...whew
First stop was:
Where we saw lots of:
Yes, these beasts were THAT close! While we cowered in the safety of our car (as strongly advised by the park), these massive creatures, some as big as our car, came within about 5 feet of us! They seemed quite curious, stopping to stare/glare as they passed in front of, or behind, our car. Despite feeling very vulnerable, we enjoyed every second, snapping photos and delighting in the calves' frolicking. Miya, unimpressed by their size and strength, was still totally fascinated, and practically hanging out of her window, squealed with glee and snapped away with her own camera! It was a once in a lifetime experience, and we realized just how lucky we were to get so close, when we noticed that the herd was passing through and heading way out onto the prairie where they'd be practically invisible from the roads. Poor tourists who we passed later on would not see what we had...they surely didn't even know what they'd missed!!
So then on to Kearney, NE (pronounced Karney locally) where we happily collapsed into bed without taking advantage of the Ramada Inn Tropical Paradise's indoor "fun dome" (a totally cheesy indoor pool area with faux tiki bar and run down mini putting green).
End day 5...whew
Monday, April 23, 2007
Day 4, by Miya
Mommy tells the GPS where to take us.
Good morning White Bear!
Chicago:
These men were playing chess by the street!
Day 4 - South Bend, IN to Colfax, IA
Wow, what a long day today!! It is about 7:30pm, central time, and we've just arrived at our hotel. Of course, we got kind of a late start this morning...slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, did a little grocery shop...you know.
First stop was Chicago!
Whoever said Bostonians and New Yorkers were crazy drivers obviously NEVER drove in the windy city! Holy cow, between the endless construction and psycho drivers, we were lucky to make it into the city center unscathed. But after dumping the car in the first garage we could find, we had a beautiful lunch in Millenium Park. The weather was sunny and warm, the people were out and happy, and the scenery was gorgeous and ultra futuristic...like the park of the future, with its interactive fine art and security guards patrolling on segways...well, we'll let the photos do the talking...
passed out
So here we are in Colfax, IA...population, very small. The highlight tomorrow morning will be the Neal Smith national Wildlife Refuge, where we hope to see herds of buffalo! Then, it's off to Omaha, NE - which you'll read all about tomorrow. Nighty night!
First stop was Chicago!
Whoever said Bostonians and New Yorkers were crazy drivers obviously NEVER drove in the windy city! Holy cow, between the endless construction and psycho drivers, we were lucky to make it into the city center unscathed. But after dumping the car in the first garage we could find, we had a beautiful lunch in Millenium Park. The weather was sunny and warm, the people were out and happy, and the scenery was gorgeous and ultra futuristic...like the park of the future, with its interactive fine art and security guards patrolling on segways...well, we'll let the photos do the talking...
Miya near Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa
Climbable art.
Cloud Gate by British artist Anish Kapoor
reflections in Cloud Gate
Then, we hauled it across Illinois as fast as the law allowed, mostly because the stench of the bovine emissions were almost too much to bear!Climbable art.
Cloud Gate by British artist Anish Kapoor
reflections in Cloud Gate
passed out
So here we are in Colfax, IA...population, very small. The highlight tomorrow morning will be the Neal Smith national Wildlife Refuge, where we hope to see herds of buffalo! Then, it's off to Omaha, NE - which you'll read all about tomorrow. Nighty night!
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