July 1, 2014.
“Oh no!" (shouting) "Get ready everyone!! THE BUS IS PULLING
OUT!”
These words are the signal for a flurry of activity. Radiant
grabs the keys and runs to the driver’s seat, Emma starts the roll call, Mom
quickly pulls up the step and locks the door. Then the motorhome starts, and
things just get crazier. As she pulls out, we usually hear a few yells from the
people in the back, who most likely didn’t hear that we are pulling out. Then we hear a
rattle or two and a couple crashes from the cupboards. When we go around a
corner, we see the sliding door slam shut, and the shower door swing open.
Luckily, we took a few small trips in the motorhome before we started on this trip, so we already have our ‘sea legs’. So we can operate pretty well (though, when we walk at all, we weave like we are drunk). Before we were accustomed to the motorhome, we had plenty of painful lessons on what not to do in a moving motorhome. More memorable among these was the time when Expressive was thrown from the top bunk to the floor as we went over a particularly bumpy bump. The one I remember most is when I was up, getting ready. I was walking past the door when we turned suddenly. I lost my balance and kinda freaked, thinking I was going to be thrown into the door and out on the street. So I lunged forward, and hit the all-too-convenient corner. I earned myself a nice bruise. What upset me most is that I tore my leggings! Right before a Mock Trial tournament! I was pretty mad.
There was also the incident when Emergent was cutting some celery and carrots to have with lunch, when we went around a corner, (as you can see, corners are our downfall) and the whole mess, cutting board, knife and all, ended up in her lap!
Today we had an even more crazy start than normal. We pulled out only a few moments before the bus, and then we had to fill the motorhome with gas. We lost the bus, and it took us all the way until our first stop in Martin’s Cove, before we caught it.
Luckily, we took a few small trips in the motorhome before we started on this trip, so we already have our ‘sea legs’. So we can operate pretty well (though, when we walk at all, we weave like we are drunk). Before we were accustomed to the motorhome, we had plenty of painful lessons on what not to do in a moving motorhome. More memorable among these was the time when Expressive was thrown from the top bunk to the floor as we went over a particularly bumpy bump. The one I remember most is when I was up, getting ready. I was walking past the door when we turned suddenly. I lost my balance and kinda freaked, thinking I was going to be thrown into the door and out on the street. So I lunged forward, and hit the all-too-convenient corner. I earned myself a nice bruise. What upset me most is that I tore my leggings! Right before a Mock Trial tournament! I was pretty mad.
There was also the incident when Emergent was cutting some celery and carrots to have with lunch, when we went around a corner, (as you can see, corners are our downfall) and the whole mess, cutting board, knife and all, ended up in her lap!
Today we had an even more crazy start than normal. We pulled out only a few moments before the bus, and then we had to fill the motorhome with gas. We lost the bus, and it took us all the way until our first stop in Martin’s Cove, before we caught it.
I loved it. We saw Devil’s Gate from a distance…
Had
a very fun visit to the visitor’s center…
 |
Cute Enchantress! |
 |
Example of the small amount one pioneer could bring. Us girls (missing Emergent). |
 |
Rough, with a wolf skin. |
 |
Grandpa |
 |
Photogenic Expressive! |
 |
We got some pretty cool rings made out of horseshoe nails, right at the blacksmith's shop. They are known as prairie diamonds. |
And met some unsavory
characters...
 |
A bandit (Raconteur). |
 |
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE: reward 10,000 dollars! |
 |
Look at that scowl! |
 |
A hardened criminal, sneering at the law. |
 |
Caught red handed! |
 |
And some creepy dudes (I have seen so many creepy statues on this trip...) |
 |
Scornful.... |
 |
An experienced bandit; gold tooth gleaming. |
 |
And just plain outright... something.
We had a blast. It was very fun, one of the best so far.
Then we headed over to Independence Rock. It was so beautiful! There was a flat, sagebrushy plain, and then a magnificent rock rising out of nowhere. It was so cool to see, touch, and marvel at a sight that I know some of the people I have read about saw, touched, and marveled at. Plus, it was really fun to climb!
   
The next stop was even cooler. Register Bluffs. Amazing.
Thousands of names. Old. The history of the plains. Beautiful. Imposing.
Bird-infested.
Register Bluff is a cliff, again rising out of a mostly flat
area. What makes it so amazing is the graffiti. Thousands of names are carved
into the rock. Names from about 1823 to 2013. Some of the first white people to
go out west carved their names into rock. They started a trend. I think
everyone who passed that cliff wrote their name in it.
   
So you western fans,
listen to this; I actually touched, felt, read, and took pictures of Kit
Carson’s signature. I could almost see him. He put his signature in a place
where he could carve, have a rock at his back and a good view of his
surroundings. Typical mountain man!
Then we stopped at another cool, rocky place. We saw a place
on the Oregon Trail where the wagons and men had worn down solid rock. We could
see and touch the ruts made by the wheels. It was a very beautiful spot….if you
wanted to look. I couldn’t imagine trying to bring wagons up that pass.
 
Next, we stopped briefly at Fort Laramie.
Then we went to the hotel. I am writing this from Scottsbluff, Nebraska!
Ttyl |
No comments:
Post a Comment