Grand Canyon

Today we visited the Grand Canyon. It was a perfect day with sun and temperatures in the seventies. The canyon was a beautiful sight to see as we walked around the rim. We had a great train ride to and from the Grand Canyon with funny cowboy actors and animals on the way. Upon our return to Williams Junction, we ate at a 50s diner. There were yummy burgers and a Ford Crown Victoria out front. Williams, Arizona is right along the famous Route 66. It was quite the classic Western town. The cowboy actors performed a Wild West Shootout after dinner on the street for all the tourists. Now we are about to head on the train overnight to San Diego. What a memorable, scenic day.

HN

Schlitterbahn! (say it correctly and don't drop the l.)

After a day at the water park on New Braunfels River

Me, dog, crate

Today was sick! We went to Schlitterbahn, and saw Pops in shorts, sandals, and a t- shirt for the first time in my life (and yours too probably). Bella the dog locked me up in her crate. Back to Schlitterbahn. We did quite a few rides and you'll never believe it! Pops actually got wet! He did all the rides with us except the mat racer. We couldn't get any pictures inside the water park because water and cameras aren't exactly friends. Tomorrow we are going to Phoenix. It is hot here in Texas and the Oordts have 2 armadillos living in their yard but we haven't seen them yet.

Trevor

Alaskans at the Alamo

We met the Oordt family for breakfast yesterday.  As it turns out, it was Mark and Ruth's 20th anniversary and it has been that long since we were last here. Kipp was the best man in their wedding.  They took us to visit the Alamo.  The story reminded me of the freedom fighter story of Bunker Hill in Boston--75 volunteers holding off thousands of soldiers, losing, and inspiring others to carry on and win the war.  

We spent the afternoon staying cool and swimming in a local pool.  The kids are enthralled with an outdoor pool that's warm!  It doesn't take long to dry off in 105 degrees.  Great Italian dining at the Oordt house.  Mark is a doctor in the Air Force and the family recently returned from Italy. 

Ann

St. Louis Arch, from the train.

We see a lot of these.

Remember the Alamo!

hot, Hot, HOT!!!!!!

We’re on the train to San Antonio right now about two hours away. We have been traveling on the train since about 1:00 p.m. yesterday. We all had a good night’s sleep and had oatmeal for breakfast. So far this has been my  favorite train ride yet. Today I saw 3 cardinals, a few cranes, LOTS of cows and cornfields (one cow was loose from its pasture and in a cornfield), and mom, Sam and I just saw 2 deer. 

Rylee.

Now it’s Tuesday morning in San Antonio. We’ll meet up with my friend, Mark, for breakfast. Then he will show us around.

Kipp.

All-American Father's Day

Kipp’s Father’s Day gift was a day in Chicago.  There’s a million things to do here so we told him he could do whatever he wanted with the whole day (and we wouldn’t whine or complain).

Choice #1:  Church at Moody Bible Church.  After fumbling through public transportation for a while—we made it!  This is one of the Sunday services we hear on Moody Radio in Valdez with Dr. Erwin Lutzer.  

Choice #2:  We stood on the sidewalk in front of the church waiting for the inspiration for choice #2 to hit when a guy with a big blue and red “C” on his shirt walked by.  

“Hey, are the Cubs playing today?”

“Yes.”

“What time?”

“About 1:00.”

“Do you think we can get tickets?”

“Sure.”

“Can we get there from here?”

“Go catch the red line subway….”

 Next thing you know we’re sitting several rows up behind the catcher.  What a hoot!  I’ve never been to a professional game of any kind and there I was singing with the crowd, passing beer and money and hot dogs back and forth for whoever was in my row.  Perfect weather, too, totally comfortable to sit in shorts all afternoon.  The Cubs pulled off a win over the Indians—what more could you ask?

Choice #3:  We took the sardine-ish subway back to where the Magnificent Mile begins and walked to the hotel.  

Kipp says he had a good day.  Sam ran into two posts while gawking at the city and Rylee fell off her seat while bouncing in Wrigley  Field.  Other than that, it was a splendid day.  Mission accomplished.

Niagara to Chicago (Friday & Saturday)

I see Kipp summarized our long day rather cleverly.  It ended with a six hour train ride bound for Niagara Falls.  Ah, the train is so calming.  We all catch up on naps and this time took in the scenery of New York State from east to west.  One of the nice things about train travel is that there’s no asphalt, no billboards, and no temptations for fast food stops.  Believe me, there’s always someone who’s hungry in this bunch.

We used our morning to rest and take full advantage of breakfast and the pool.  The afternoon was spent in the Niagara Falls State Park. It was is lovely and allows visitors to get very close to the American Falls.  It apparently wasn’t close enough for us because we were all pumped up to get in the Falls.  We did the Cave of the Winds tour which lets you go into the Bridal Veil Falls and get just as wet as you wish—as you see pictured.  Fortunately the day was warm and sunny and wet clothes kept us cool.  At 9pm the lights lit up the Falls, and then at 10 there was a fireworks display. We hustled back to the hotel just as soon as the fireworks ended and caught our cab to the train station.

We taxied to Buffalo and boarded the train at midnight and arrived here in Chicago about 10 am. We slept, more or less, and found some food at Union Station just before catching a bus to our hotel. We were very sell settled in by noon and the kids jumped in the pool for an hour or so. The real highlight of Saturday was our visit to Pacific Garden Mission. We toured the facility. They are equipped to handle aver 500 people a day and their ministry focus is to help hopeless men of the street. They do assist women and children as well, but given their location, men are naturally the focus. We were also invited to watch the production of the 3,065th radio drama program, “Unshackled.” All the kids loved it. Watching the sound effects man was especially fun. Now  it’s Sunday morning and we are about to make the decision on which church to attend. Our best to all.

Ann and Kipp. (Can you tell where Ann stopped writing and Kipp started?)

Kipp is texting someone.

They provided the rain gear.

Fireworks at Niagara Falls.

Made the train, can't Champlain

Right now I have the laptop plugged in on an Amtrak car. After several hours of driving today, we covered the 150 miles between Burlington, VT and Albany, NY. Burlington lies near Lake Champlain, which is really big. We traveled along its southeast shore crooked mile after crooked mile, before crossing into NY via a tiny ferry just outside Fort Ticonderoga. Ann suggested we go by road map, instead of using the GPS, and as I was quite taken by the numerous small farms and their old fashioned barns, it seemed fitting to go “old school.” We saw a covered bridge, a new town about every third mile boasting its own neatly appointed church, and several stone bridges. The roads wind up and down a lot and are slow, but promise something new and unique around each corner. The kids were behaving themselves, and I really enjoyed the drive. It wasn’t until early afternoon and after a wrong turn somewhere in the Adirondack Mountains that I realized making it to Albany in time for the train was going to take some help from above. Indeed, I became panicky.

Somehow, we DID make the train (with less than 5 minutes to spare) and are now headed west to Niagara Falls, where I hope to post this blog. We are steaming along about 90 miles per hour in the right direction now, and it’s a fairly smooth ride, so I can relax and reflect on the day. Looking back, I’d have to say it has been plenty eventful, due mostly to my poor execution of Ann’s great planning. Often, I learn from mistakes, so today’s events have lots to offer me. Here’s a list of my mistakes.

Mistake #1 Slept in at Burlington, VT.

Mistake #2 Looked all over Burlington for a good cup of coffee.

Mistake #3 Lost time taking pictures of barns along the way.

Mistake #4 Chose to have copilot use road map, instead of listening to GPS.

Mistake #5 Took scenic route.

Mistake #6 Misunderstood “Highway 8 West Closed Ahead, Follow Detour” sign.

Mistake #7 Rented Toyota mini van, instead of Dodge Viper for panicked trip up, down, over, and around Adirondak mountains.

Mistake #8 Mentioned mistakes 4 & 5 to Ann.

Mistake #9 Failed to check and re-check the rental car prior to final turn-in. Trevor can’t find his glasses.

We have about an hour to go, then we’ll settle into a hotel close to Niagara Falls and spend tomorrow (Friday) there.. Tomorrow night, we leave for Chicago at midnight. Our best to all.

Kipp

Just one of the many barns we photographed.