A fabulous day at Arches National Park

There is just no way to describe the surreal beauty of Arches National Park.  It's otherworldly.  We got up early so we could be at the park entrance shortly after they open at 7:30 a.m. and there was already a line to go in.  But we scored big!!  The ranger asked me if anyone in our party was 62 or older and of course, Jeff just turned 62.  So we now have a lifetime pass to all National Parks, monuments, etc. and as long as he's with us, we all get in FREE!  She even refunded our fees for Carlsbad Caverns because we paid full price there.  So we made money:-)  

Jade loved this sign:-)  There are reminders
everywhere to drink plenty of water.

I've never taken so many pictures in my life.  The park is a wonder and the view changes as you drive along depending on the angle of the sun and what direction you are looking at things from.  Totally amazing.  We got to drive through all of the park and then at the Devil's Garden we parked and hiked.  I only wish we were more prepared.  The long hike back to some of the arches is just over 7 miles.  The best thing to have is one of those camel-back water carriers and a wide-brimmed hat.  By the time we got to the Devil's Garden it was noon and really blazing hot.  Probably the best time to visit that park would be May when it's not quite so hot.  Someday I hope to go back and spend more time hiking.  So awesome.  

"Balanced Rock" - "Chip off the Old Block"
 fell in the winter of 1975-76.

We only drove a short way from there to Green River - about 50 miles. So strange - this green oasis in the middle of the desert.  We stayed at a place called Shady Acres and it had TREES!  There were robins there!  I haven't heard a robin sing since we left Alaska.  So beautiful to hear them sing. I forgot how big they are.  Much bigger than our Texas mockingbirds.  

We had a longer driving day today.  Wanted to get out of the desert.  We are done with desert for now.  We drove on HWY 15 (freeway) so we could make better time and drove about 325 miles today.  We are in Idaho!!!  It's so green!  Jeff has been doing most of the driving but I drove today - probably drove Jeff nuts. He's so bossy when I'm driving - lol!  Sheesh!  We are in a KOA in a quaint little town called Lava Hot  Springs.  We've been for a walk tonight and decided we need to come back through here on our way home.  They have a little river that you can go tubing on and a little hot springs park.  It reminds me of Eureka Springs, the place I loved in Arkansas we visited on our way back from Iowa.  

Jeff and I have been debating which way to head north but I think we will go through Idaho Falls and into Montana but maybe cut back into Idaho.  We're not sure.  Still trying to decide if we should try driving the Cassiar Hwy.  Spoke to someone today (from Alaska!!! there were two people from Alaska in Shady Acres in Utah - go figure!) who said the road was good but no center line and very narrow roads.  So I'm going to let Jeff decide that one.  I am getting tired of moving every day though.  We need to find a nice quiet place on a lake to stay for 2 or 3 days.

This is how Mya is experiencing the good ol' US of A.  She actually
 has a great view from here out the front window!!

The girls are doing great so far.  They do have a sense of adventure and both of them take turns sitting up in the passenger seat talking to Jeff as we go along.  We are learning so much as we travel through all these places.  I LOVE Google!!!  As we travel down the highway, I look things up on my phone and read it to everyone.  Today my phone seized up and I felt like my right arm had been cut off.  Thank goodness Jeff was able to fix it!!!!  I look up the population of towns we pass through, the crops that grow in the area, the history of a place, etc.  Interesting stuff!  

We are sitting outside at the moment.  We are just off a highway so there are lots of trucks going by and their is a railroad within spitting distance of this KOA.  Reminds me of White Fish, Montana where mom and I and the girls stayed on our trip down to Texas.(Remember that Mom??)  Dang! that train was loud!!! I told Jeff the sound of the train makes me want to be a hobo -hopping trains!!!  It's supposed to get to 41 degrees tonight - yeah - no more heat!

Hope y'all are well.  If you ever get the chance to travel like this, I highly recommend it!!!