Alaska2018

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uxSLWPOB4FA This video was taken by our ship captain on our 9 hour Kenai Fjord NP tour.  It was really neat!

We spent some time at our land in south central PA - Abby and one of her friends from Cru Summer Mission joined us!  Then we headed home on Saturday.  We recounted the amazing things we did and what went well as well as what we would want to see more of should there be a next time.   All told, Ken drove just shy of 11,000 miles.  We went through four Canadian provinces, 13 states, 10 National Parks, and had a wonderful time. Our house sitter did a great job here at home - thank you so much, Robin!!!! We made it to church this morning - always a blessing, and were welcomed home by many friends.  

Visiting Ken's brother and family today then heading to our property in South Central PA  before heading home.  Ken worked remote today while we ladies picked elderberries.  Then we played Ticket to Ride: Rails and Sails (so much fun!) and enjoyed some Sheetz MTO for dinner before driving to Happy Handful Acres - our little piece of paradise in the woods.   Ken and the boys are enjoying a campfire under the stars since the rain has cleared and I am reading "On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State" in preparation for the quickly approaching academic year.  We will have a week at home, unpacking, going to appointments, catching up on chores and such before the next homeschool year begins in earnest.  

Back to PA to wrap up he last few days of our vacation.  We met some friends at Kings Resteraunt in Grove City, then headed to visit family in Portage, PA after a quick stop to drop off a baby gift at Maranatha.

We stayed at Huron Valley campground for a couple nights.  Ken and the kids went to Cedar Point evening hours, the next day, we all went all day and closed it down at night.  We did the water park during the day then headed to the Roller Coaster Capitol of the World for the afternoon and evening.  We had a blast!  Sadly, my favorite coaster (The Raptor) wasn't open when we got to it.  But the girls really enjoyed Gemini and Blue Streak.  Apparently, Annie "screams like a girl" lol.  We watched in awe as a newer contraption called "The Top Thrill Dragster" ran - none of us were crazy enough to try it.  

Yesterday was the longest drive yet... Over 800 miles.  We slept in a Cracker Barrel parking lot in Columbia, MO.  There are some businesses which allow camping overnight - Cracker Barrel is one of them, with the idea that you sleep in their RV space then eat breakfast there, which we did.  Cabelas, most Walmarts, and Camping World are others which allow overnight camping. It is interesting how different neighboring states can be.  Kansas is flat, dry, brown, and has few trees.  There are some rolling hills as you approach the Missouri River.  Crossing from Kansas City, KS to Kansas City, MO and into Missouri, it is suddenly green and covered with trees and hills. Listening to J. Vernon McGee on the radio this morning as we head into St. Louis.  Driving east through the time zones has caused some confusion.  We didn't realize that the time changed in KS and that we are only one hour behind now, at any rate, sadly, we missed church this morning. St...

View from our campsite in Estes Park, CO Rocky Mountain NP - early birds. The boys love doing Jr. Ranger programs! Quick mile hike in the NP.  It is pink shirt day.  Ever since the kids were little (we had 5 under 8), anytime we are traveling, at a museum, park, amusement park, fair, etc., we wear the same color shirts to help keep track of each other. The "color shirts" live in the camper -- it makes packing easy as well, S-curves through a canyon. Last glimpse of the Rockies before we turn east to the Great Plains.   Kansas.  Enough said.  Ken and I have both been to Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri, but the children have not.  I was six the last time I was in Kansas.  It hasn't changed except for the massive wind turbine farms - they are almost eerie at night with their flashing red lights.  Yesterday we hit the part of vacation where none of us actually knew where we were, what day of the week it is, or what time zone we are in.  But figuri...

During dinner last night, Ken was speaking with Pastor Knight about our travels thus far:  "On this trip, the Lord has been with us in the car, but two things have followed close behind us - our camper and the heat!!"   The heat is not giving up either.  We stopped at Walmart for produce and a couple automotive things, and when I checked for food and water, I realized that we had already gone through 9 cases of water and were down to only a case and a half.  So, three more cases of water were purchased and stored under the table bed. My guess is we will need three more before we arrive home in a little over a week. We spent the night at Itch-Kep-Pe campground in Columbus, MT.  It was busier than we expected, but was a pleasant no reservation - donation only campground.  There was an informal Bluegrass festival going on.   The morning brought a delicious home cooked breakfast at the  Bickel home!  Krystal and I have known each other for over 1...

It is still quite smoky here, but we will not be deterred.  Quick morning hike at the Many Glacier area then we are headed to Butte. Lake Sherburne Ken and Zeke taking pictures of some falls. Swift current Creek There is a dog in the back herding these cattle along the roadside inside the national park.  All the children started yelling "stampede!" as I watched in disbelief as the lady in the car in front of us got out of her car to take a photo.  Our photos aren't great, but we took them from -inside- the vehicle as the cattle ran past us. This is Lewis and Clark territory -- and Blackfeet Nation. Wheat fields and beehives.   Fields and cattle.   It is 94deg at 1p on the road from Glacier NP to Butte, MT.  We have had a few days, especially on the Alaska Highway, that were in the 70s, but for the most part, it has been hot - even in Fairbanks, AK and Glacier NP.  We expect the heat to continue as we head east and south.  We are very thankful that...