Well we powered through Montana and decided to just get home. After 27 nights in 23 different hotels we were ready for our own beds. When we rolled into the driveway there were 53,109 kilometres on the SUV. That means we drove 13,281 kilometres in 28 days. No wonder we're so sick of being in a vehicle lol. That covered 8 provinces (including Alberta) and 17 states.
What an amazing journey. A trip of a lifetime really. I am so grateful that I was able to take this trip with my two teenage kids, and after 28 days in a vehicle we are all still talking:) I hope my kids always remember this experience and enjoyed it as much as I did.
Cassie would like to do a little ratings post, but that will be after tonight since as soon as she got home she was off to see some friends. Can't wait to see some of mine! Thanks to everyone that viewed our blog (over 860 views not bad for having no idea what we're doing lol).
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse
This morning we hit the road for Mount Rushmore. We were bracing ourselves for it to not be what we envisioned after the whole Statue of Liberty thing, but when we got there we were all very impressed. What an amazing area and memorial to the past Presidents. Maybe one day someone will do a sculpture of Stephen Harper in the Rocky Mountains.
Since the Crazy Horse monument was not far away we thought we'd just set the GPS for it. We have had some really great experiences with the GPS. Gone many places we would not have otherwise, and ended up in some pretty cool (and not so cool) places. The GPS had us turn on a different road than all the signs were saying but since we've had so much fun with the GPS we decided to follow it. It took us on a really neat back road which turned out to be a great drive until it asked us to turn on a hiking trail.
Needless to say a little common sense is necessary when dealing with a stupid GPS lol. Anyway, we ended up at Crazy Horse monument eventually and got a pretty scenic tour. Crazy Horse memorial has been in progress since the 1940s. It is quite a bit larger than the sculpture at Mount Rushmore. It isn't completed yet and probably won't for some time because they will not use federal funds to complete the project, and most of it completed by the original sculptor was done by hand. All funds are generated through donations, admission and sales of gifts, etc on site. It is quite an amazing place. The original sculptor died in 1982 and his wife and 7 of his 10 kids have been working on it since.
This is what the monument is going to look like when it is completed.
This is where they are at now. I would definitely love to come back and see it when it's completed, if I'm still alive.
After we left Crazy Horse we drove through BORING Wyoming. I think Saskatchewan is even more exciting, and that is hard to believe. No wonder there are no toll roads, no one would take them. We have set the GPS for home and are making our way back. It has cost less for this whole month trip across country than it cost for us to go to Hawaii for 11 days. That really seems hard to believe, that we could be away from home that long, seen and experienced as much as we have, and for less money. Who would have thought?
Since the Crazy Horse monument was not far away we thought we'd just set the GPS for it. We have had some really great experiences with the GPS. Gone many places we would not have otherwise, and ended up in some pretty cool (and not so cool) places. The GPS had us turn on a different road than all the signs were saying but since we've had so much fun with the GPS we decided to follow it. It took us on a really neat back road which turned out to be a great drive until it asked us to turn on a hiking trail.
Needless to say a little common sense is necessary when dealing with a stupid GPS lol. Anyway, we ended up at Crazy Horse monument eventually and got a pretty scenic tour. Crazy Horse memorial has been in progress since the 1940s. It is quite a bit larger than the sculpture at Mount Rushmore. It isn't completed yet and probably won't for some time because they will not use federal funds to complete the project, and most of it completed by the original sculptor was done by hand. All funds are generated through donations, admission and sales of gifts, etc on site. It is quite an amazing place. The original sculptor died in 1982 and his wife and 7 of his 10 kids have been working on it since.
After we left Crazy Horse we drove through BORING Wyoming. I think Saskatchewan is even more exciting, and that is hard to believe. No wonder there are no toll roads, no one would take them. We have set the GPS for home and are making our way back. It has cost less for this whole month trip across country than it cost for us to go to Hawaii for 11 days. That really seems hard to believe, that we could be away from home that long, seen and experienced as much as we have, and for less money. Who would have thought?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Journey to Mount Rushmore
We drove pretty much all day except for a stop in Sioux Falls at a mall. We try to go to Falls Park but it was under construction and just looked like a giant cement water slide. Hmmmmm didn't seem to be too natural of falls to us, not like you see in the Rockies that's for sure.
We wanted to get as close to Mount Rushmore tonight as possible and ended up in Wall, SD. We have no idea what it looks like because it was dark when we got here. Had a very nail biting drive through the Chamberlain area as the radio was announcing thunderstorm warnings in counties (we had no idea what county we were in, been having a hard enough time keeping track of what state lol). We could see two major storms with a small bright patch in between. The lightening was unbelievable and definitely gave us some tense moments. It was like the storms kept just far enough apart for us to get through before joining and the light show they put on was amazing. Glad we missed out on the hail and winds, and only ended up with a bit of the rain and some close lightening calls. Kept us awake for the long drive that's for sure. Tomorrow we'll be seeing Mount Rushmore and also stopping at Crazy Horse memorial (from the advice of a friend). Justin is very excited about that because Crazy Horse is going to be featured on one of the Deadliest Warriors episodes for season 3. Yippee!
We wanted to get as close to Mount Rushmore tonight as possible and ended up in Wall, SD. We have no idea what it looks like because it was dark when we got here. Had a very nail biting drive through the Chamberlain area as the radio was announcing thunderstorm warnings in counties (we had no idea what county we were in, been having a hard enough time keeping track of what state lol). We could see two major storms with a small bright patch in between. The lightening was unbelievable and definitely gave us some tense moments. It was like the storms kept just far enough apart for us to get through before joining and the light show they put on was amazing. Glad we missed out on the hail and winds, and only ended up with a bit of the rain and some close lightening calls. Kept us awake for the long drive that's for sure. Tomorrow we'll be seeing Mount Rushmore and also stopping at Crazy Horse memorial (from the advice of a friend). Justin is very excited about that because Crazy Horse is going to be featured on one of the Deadliest Warriors episodes for season 3. Yippee!
Pictures from Chicago
Pictures from Hershey
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Chicago
Don't get to excited people, Cassie is making a post.
We ended up staying in a town called Hammond just outside of Chicago. It was some random Hotel that used to be a Quality Inn but then it got too dumpy so they changed the name to something else.. :) So we left at about 10 am to get to Chicago. We booked a river boat tour for downtown Chicago. We were told it was kind of like Venice so we decided it would be worth going on a boat tour down the river. We parked in a parkade a few blocks away and walked to the boat. By the way, just so you all know it is like 41 degrees here...you step outside for 2 seconds and it feels like you've ran a marathon, competed in weightlifting competitions, followed by extreme yoga and finished will a light sprint around mirror lake. Imagine how sweaty you would be after that. Yep that's how hot it is here. The boat ride was really cool, it took us through to see lots of architecture and the tour guide explained what they were and when they were built and such. We even got to go through a boat lock through to lake Michigan. I got a little sunburned my shoulders are a little crispy :) After the boat tour which lasted about 2 hours, we got the heck out of Chicago. If only it was that easy!! One thing that people don't realize about GPS's is that when you go underground they lose satellite reception, and in Chicago there are tons of streets underground, leaving you to drive around aimlessly looking for a way to get a signal :) fabulous. So now this leaves us in a hotel where I don't even know where we are lol. We are on our way to Mount Rushmore. The place with peoples faces are carved in it. oooo aaaaaa :) We are pooped from this vacation! But it has been more than well worth it :)
~Cassie
Still can't get any pictures on because of crappy internet. Will post when we get a better connection.
We ended up staying in a town called Hammond just outside of Chicago. It was some random Hotel that used to be a Quality Inn but then it got too dumpy so they changed the name to something else.. :) So we left at about 10 am to get to Chicago. We booked a river boat tour for downtown Chicago. We were told it was kind of like Venice so we decided it would be worth going on a boat tour down the river. We parked in a parkade a few blocks away and walked to the boat. By the way, just so you all know it is like 41 degrees here...you step outside for 2 seconds and it feels like you've ran a marathon, competed in weightlifting competitions, followed by extreme yoga and finished will a light sprint around mirror lake. Imagine how sweaty you would be after that. Yep that's how hot it is here. The boat ride was really cool, it took us through to see lots of architecture and the tour guide explained what they were and when they were built and such. We even got to go through a boat lock through to lake Michigan. I got a little sunburned my shoulders are a little crispy :) After the boat tour which lasted about 2 hours, we got the heck out of Chicago. If only it was that easy!! One thing that people don't realize about GPS's is that when you go underground they lose satellite reception, and in Chicago there are tons of streets underground, leaving you to drive around aimlessly looking for a way to get a signal :) fabulous. So now this leaves us in a hotel where I don't even know where we are lol. We are on our way to Mount Rushmore. The place with peoples faces are carved in it. oooo aaaaaa :) We are pooped from this vacation! But it has been more than well worth it :)
~Cassie
Still can't get any pictures on because of crappy internet. Will post when we get a better connection.
Ohio
Okay yesterday was a bust. We went to Cedar Point park got out of the car and walked across the parking lot. By the time we bought tickets it felt like we had wet our pants because of the humidity. Stood in line for a ride for an hour and a half and decided we had enough torture. Walking back to the SUV Justin said now I know how people feel when they're lost in the desert lol. He also can't understand how people can live here with the unbearable heat.
Anyway we decided to try and get through these states that are so hot and headed for Chicago. I've heard from a friend that downtown Chicago is beautiful so we're giving it a try. Have an Architectural boat tour booked for today. It will help us forget about yesterday.
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