This post is long past due! The B Team experienced such an abundance and variety of adventures and our minds are so flooded with memories, that it is difficult to put it all down on paper, esp. in one small blog. I will start with everyone's favorite(s) (probably the most asked question since returning). Alexis' favorite was Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the 1st National Park we visited on our trip. This was her favorite because it had our best campsite. We overlooked a meadow of grazing Elk, several even visited us up close! Ryan's favorites were Great Sand Dunes NP and Zion National Park. We were all giddy with delight as we ran up and rolled downed the monster sand dunes. His favorite memories from Zion were the 7 mile hike (swim, wade, float) thru the Narrows and our 2 mile bike ride thru the park. David and I both loved the Upper Northwest- Glacier NP and Olympic National Park. We loved the landscape of Glacier NP. The Northern Rocky Mountains in Glacier were so rugged and majestic. Hiking along the glacial lakes (encountering a grizzly bear!), feeling the cold spray of a waterfall on our skin after a long uphill climb, and having snowball fights at the Continental Divide were great adventures in spectacular surroundings. Another favorite was Olympic NP. The variety of the landscape here is what we will remember the most. We camped in a Rain Forest surrounded by 4' tall ferns with a canopy of trees overhead, and picnicked 1/2 hour away among the driftwood along the Pacific coastline, exploring the tide pools.
Even as I write this, I'm struggling not to mention the wonderful solitude of Theodore Roosevelt NP with the sight of the majestic feral horse on the hilltop as we first entered the park, getting caught in bison rush hour in T. Roosevelt NP, hiking among the colorful rock spires of Bryce Canyon, flying downhill on our bikes toward the edge of the Grand Canyon, slip sliding down the river at Slide Rock, and many many more memories tripping over themselves to get out of my head. Probably the best thing to do would be for to re-read all our blogs and relive our adventures again and again!!! I know I will.
Things about the trip we will miss.... the amazing sleep we all had every night in the fresh air after long fun-filled days. The simplicity of life. The time together (constantly!). Being so proud of the kids and how they hiked and biked through it all with smiles on the faces and wonder in their eyes. No TV!
The B Team would like to thank all our great friends and family who allowed us to stay with them along the way. The Laubach's in WI, the Grundy's in MT, the McLernon's in Portland, the Kellogg's in Santa Rosa, the Lachmann's in SF, the Haines' in Laguna Beach, the Hackmann's in KY. We are grateful for your hospitality and friendship.
It was an amazing adventure that we will all remember for a lifetime. On to the next one!!!!
