4 Wheels 4 Girls

On Thursday, August 4th, we met our friends from Hood River, Lori and Sarah, to go inner-tubing with them on the Little Iowa River.

We met them at Lori’s sister’s house, and then Lori got in the camper with Jean and Dad while the four kids got in the pickup with Sarah. We drove to Decorah, the town where we would be tubing. We met everyone else at a picnic area. I was pleased to see that there were actually people around my age there. There was Gara, who was going to be a freshman in high school, and Miran and Chloe, who were going to be freshmen in college. Then there were Adam and Logan, who were going into seventh grade, and Keaton, who was going into eighth, like me. Lastly there was Summer, who was going to be a first grader. Then there were a bunch of adults, and that’s the people we went tubing with. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Gara had to go to choir practice, so she didn’t get to tube.

We ate lunch, and then we played a big game of Toilet Tag. It’s basically like freeze tag, except when you get frozen, you squat down like a toilet and wait for someone to “flush” you. After we were all exhausted and ready to tube, we took a group picture and then put our tubes in the water. It was freezing cold at first, but it was easy to get used to. At the beginning, the boys and Stel and I were at the front, but then I think she got bored with us and she drifted back to hang out with Lori and Sarah and everyone else. It was really fun, with all of us trying to flip each other over and whatnot. Then we came to our first set of rapids, and they were SUPER fun! Then we passed under our first bridge, and then we realized that everyone was so far behind that maybe we were supposed to get out there. We kinda waited for a minute, but then we finally saw them coming, so we continued down the river.

We came to a rope swing hanging high in a tree and lots of other kids were doing it, so Keaton, Logan, Adam, and I decided to try it too. It looked like a lot of fun! Summer and her dad, Greg, floated up by us while we were watching people on the swing, and Summer did it! She jumped into the water from the rope swing! Well, that just cinched he deal for me. I thought, if a six-year-old can do it, I can do it! So I did it; three times. It was great!

Then we decided to continue tubing, since everyone was way ahead of us by then. We hit some more great rapids, and, just as we were having a ton of fun, we had to get out! Aww, dang. We tugged our tubes out of the water and gave them to the adults, who went to return them while Lori stayed with the kids. We didn’t have much time to play in the water though, because all too soon the adults came back and we had to go. We said our goodbyes and then got in the RV and made our way back to Lansing. It was an amazingly fun day!!! 😀

August 3rd, after hanging out at Aunt Rose’s house, we went with Janice to see her new house. It was fun because it was like seeing a… Well, it was a new place! She showed us all the rooms. There was even a play room for kids! After we got a tour of the house, Janice gave our family two bags of cantaloupe for the road. Thanks Janice!

On August 3rd, we arrived at our aunt and uncles’ house, Rose and Mark, in Rochester, Minnesota.

We went inside to say hi to everyone, which was my aunt and uncle and cousin Cullen, and then Mark told us that he was going to take us for a ride on the four-wheelers. After he got out three quads and he and Cullen gave us quick rides, Mark told me he was going to teach me to drive one. At first I was a little freaked, but then, after I was pretty sure I got how to drive it, I was a little more relaxed. But I guess I wasn’t as good as I thought I would be. As soon as I hit the gas, I went WAAAAAAAAAAAY too fast! I slammed on the breaks and then started again, this time much slower. Then, after going around the yard a few times, we went out on the trail behind their house. The first part was sooooooooooo scary! It was a big downhill and then a big turn. The first time I did it, I didn’t turn enough and I hit a tree!!! Luckily I didn’t hit Mark! He came immediately to help me, and after that I was fine. I had a great time on the trail for the rest of the day, and we even went back out after dinner. I’m so glad I learned how to drive a four-wheeler!!! 😉

Fun! Fun!!!

On August 3rd, we stopped in Minneapolis to spend some time with friends. After shopping and having lunch with Amy and Emily, we went to the lake with some of Amy and Jean’s friends. One friend of theirs, Liz, has a daughter that I’ve been friends with for a really long time, Nicole. She’s my age, and I also met another girl my age today named Anna. They were both really nice.

We got in the lake, and it was a lot warmer than I’d expected. It was a little gross at first because we saw a dead fish on the shore, but we got used to it. We swam in the warm water for a while, and then we got out to hang out and rinse off. Then I gave my friends a tour of the RV, and they thought it was super cool. Then we hung out a little more, and then we unfortunately had to get on the road. I said goodbye to Anna and Nicole and all the other kids, (Emily, Carla, Sarah, Danielle, John, and Jack) and then we left. I had a great time at the lake!!! 🙂

I got to ride on a poney. I had a very fun time i had stormy for my pony. I got a certificate for riding at Peaceful Valley Horse Ranch. Greta took some peters. She was good poney. I licked her. I learned nete facks. Some time the buflo came up to the house and scrach there backse. The pony ride wasn’t very long. It was just around and back. About 10 or 15 minutes. I liked it anyway it was short.

[Editor’s (largely unnecessary) translation:]
I got to ride on a pony. I had a very fun time. I had Stormy for my pony. I got a certificate for riding at Peaceful Valley Horse Ranch. Greta took some pictures. She was good pony. I liked her. I learned neat facts. Some times the buffalo come up to the house and scratch their backs. The pony ride wasn’t very long. It was just around and back. About 10 or 15 minutes. I liked it anyway it was short.

On August 2 when I woke up I new that today was going to be great! Then I remembered that we were going horseback riding!! Mommy said that we would go horseback riding [in Yellowstone] but we didn’t so we went here in Theridoor Roseivelt park. Daddy came and woke up Stella because I was already awake. We got dressed and ate breakfast. We drove to the Peaceful Valley Ranch.

When we got there we went to go get in a line so they could pick our horses for us. I wanted a paint horse which is a spotted horse. Stella got her horse first out of me, Daddy, and Mommy. I bet you’re wondering where Ana And Greta were? Well Ana was too small and Greta is allergic to horses and to all animals that have fur.

Stella and her horse, JB

Stella’s first horse was named Poco but then they let someone else have him so she got a new horse named JB which stands for Jaw Breaker. I won’t tell you the story [of his name] because it would be too long!!! Then Mommy’s horse came and his name was Bridger. Then mine finally came!!!!!!! He was so so so so pretty. He was the color kinda like yellow but a different shade. His name was Jake-o. Then daddy’s horse came and her name was Mesa.

Ready to ride out into the badlands!

We waited and then were led into the corral. We had to walk around and not go outside the guide-poles. I loved turning. We did that for a few minutes and then we started our trail ride. It was so so hot and I felt like a melting popsicle. It started to get cooler and it felt so good. We rode and then I heard Daddy talking to Mesa. I looked over my shoulder and saw Mesa eating grass and she was not allowed to eat for some reason. Me and Stella laughed and so did our parents.

We walked though a prairie dog town. We heard them barking really loudly. It was fun to see them run across the fields. They were kinda fat but they were still cute.

When we went down hills we leaned back and when we went up we leaned forward. We crossed a creek. I loved that that splashed in the water and how we got wet. We rode though the grass and I could of fallen asleep. It was so quiet and was so fun. We started climbing up hills more often. When we got to the top of the hill Daddy was still having problems with Mesa. It was so funny to watch. We were all looking for wild horses. We saw none.

After that we started our way back, we walked though the cool forests and that felt so good. We saw the ranch and were sad. We were almost there when Katelen said THERE’S A FAWN!!!!! I saw a quick look at it and then it was gone. When we got there Ana and Greta ran up and said hello. We dismounted and we talked about how much fun we had and by the way THANKS FOR TAKING US HORSEBACK RIDING!!!!!!!

August 1st, we arrived in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It was pretty late, and we had to go to the horse back riding place to make reservations for the next morning. After we did all that, we headed back to the main part of the park to go to our campground, but on the way, we saw three herds of wild horses with two foals nursing, a buffalo herd with two calfs WITH a herd of horses with it, and to add to it all, there was an amazing, hot pink, sunset. Wow!

A beautiful wild horse along the road

I was a great night and to make it BETTER, we got to have Popsicles and then, when we got to the campground, I got to practice sitting on Jean’s lap and steering the RV around the loop in the campground. In case I haven’t screamed this in your face before, I R-E-A-L-L-Y, really want to be able to drive. So that was really fun, and, I know, it’s just about impossible, but the night got better. When we finally pulled into a slot, since it was so hot, we got to have our windows wide open for the whole night for some cool, fresh air, AND we got to listen to the coyotes yipping and howling. Whew. I probably shouldn’t say this, because I’ll make you jealous, but I slept great, only to wake up to horse back riding in the morning. Amazing day!

The amazing pink sunset over the North Dakota badlands

In Theodore Roosevelt national park we saw some wild horse foals. It comes from its mother that is wild and it is a wild baby horse. We saw them when we took a 36 mile loop drive in the park. We stopped when we saw another car stopped. We saw some bison, and then I saw some wild horses, too. We saw a foal drinking from it’s mother. We ate dinner there, watching them. Then we drove on. Sometimes the bison get too close to the horses so they hate it. The end.

A wild foal drinking from its wild mom

July 31st, we took the Beartooth Parkway out of the Rocky Mountains and into the prairies of Montana. The Beartooth is basically a 60-mile two-lane road that winds up and over a mountain ridge. It is steep on both sides, the drop-offs are spectacular, and the views of the surrounding mountains and plateaus are stunning.

Looking down the beartooth parkway

Atop the Beartooth Parkway on the Wyoming/Montana border

We stopped overnight in Billings, where we replaced some well-used front tires on the RV. Those tires covered more than 20,000 miles, traveling over several mountain ranges and riding many miles on dirt and gravel roads.

Hanging out at the campground in Billings, Montana

Having fun on a simple, old swing set

July 31 was our last day in Yellowstone National Park. We made our way toward the northeast exit and our next adventure, which was waiting just outside the gates.

But before moving on, Yellowstone deserves a few more words. At this point in our trip, we have been traveling for six months, and we have seen some incredible things: the highest mountains, the biggest parks, the tallest trees; oceans and canyons; volcanos and lava fields; seemingly unending forests; amazing animals and, as Ellie would say, a ton of deer.

Leaving Seattle, we knew we were beginning our journey back east and we were already feeling the strong pull of family and friends. One might say we were in go-home mode, big time. But, with a couple thousand miles to cover, we picked some parks along the way to break up the journey. Yellowstone was an obvious, almost obligatory choice, partly because we had never been there, but also because it is the iconic Yellowstone, the first and largest national park in the lower 48. We were excited about it, but also weary and ready to move on.

Yellowstone was simply incredible. After all we have seen, Yellowstone still had us gasping in delight and wonder, over and over. The geysers, the springs, the formations, the rivers, the canyons, the animals,… the fact that almost the entire park sits atop a massive, living, breathing volcano. Even with the crowds and crowds of people pouring through every corner of the park, Yellowstone was one of the most impressive places we visited on this trip, if not the most impressive.

So, goodbye Yellowstone. You are worthy of many return trips, and we hope to return again soon.

Goodbye Yellowstone! We will miss you!