Day 22 Friday 7/12

The plan was to take up early today…that plan failed. Only me and sister woke up earlier, her before me. But then she went back to sleep after failing to try and wake everyone else up. I woke up not long after she was out again. But once I was up I…was up. Spent my morning relaxing while waiting for the family to wake up.

And I have to say…it took them a good long while. Yet when we they did they were hoping to it and getting ready for the day. By that I mean back water into the Van and anything else we normally did in the morning.

Once in the Van it was into the nearby National Park again, Zion. Once at the visitor center we hoped out of the Van and into the shuttle they had and got a ride all the way to the top of the canyon here. Where we went on a walk. I refuse to say Hike because it wasn’t even a quarter of a mile, we went a bit in to a spot where we could interact with a river, stayed there for half an hour then came back to the shuttles.

We hitched another ride on a different shuttle to another spot where we went on something that can be considered a hike…a very small hike, not even half a mile round trip, but it was a heck of incline. Then it was again at the shuttle, and got off again at another stop that was at a lodge and where we got our dinner. And then when dinner was done, yet another shuttle ride to a museum did things then yet ANOTHER shuttle ride back to the visitor center where it was back to the Van.

And then when at the Van we drove back to the RV, picked up the dogs then went for a nice long drive. And during this drive we eventually got rained on, and I took a small nap.

I hate to say this, but that nap was the only think I really liked about that whole thing. I mean we brought a good amount of water with us, I was ready to go on a nice long hike, or several hikes for that matter. I’m not talking half mile round trip, I’m talking mile maybe two round trip, oh sure I would have complained about that too. But Come on! I was expecting that, not these insanely long and uncomfortable shuttle rides. After a bit I was actually WANTING a long hike, And instead I got a long drive ride where I got cramp in the back seat because of the mutts….oh what a fun day….now if only I can find a way to do sarcasm right…

Well now that my rant for this post is done, hopefully, I can go on. Eventually our drive was finished because dad didn’t want to deal with the after effects of the rain, so we went back to the RV. And when there we dealt with a few thinks, figured on where to go for dinner and then it was off to dinner. It as a good dinner I have to admit, but that’s a different matter.

Anyways we eventually finished and then back at the RV we again got ourselves a nice relaxing evening…oh who am I kidding? This is the may family there is no such thing as Nice and relaxing, maybe one but usually not the other. So fine, we “chilled out” as one can say and spent what is our normal evening.

Tomorrow is a travel day, a short one is the plan. We should get to Las Vegas and then find a park for the rest of day. We don’t want to travel all the way home thanks to how long that would be, but Las Vegas is a good point to stop for it is closer to home and a much more manageable time. And personally I think it would at least a tad easier to travel during the Nevada desert during that time too. But we will find out. And We really need the knocking on wood, for we are almost home!

Typed July 12, 2013

Day 21 Thursday 7/11

Normal wake up for me, but it didn’t seem that way for the rest of the family. It took us past our normal time before we finally left for the day, with sister being a grouch the whole time.

Before we left the town we were in though, we had to pull over to fill up the gas take on the RV, it never hurts you know. But it delayed us little as we were soon on the road and to our next destination.

A good bit before lunch rolled around we pulled into the National Park we plan on staying at, and as luck would have it, there is literally no internet around. And then at some point we have to get through a tunnel, but since we are in an RV we had to get a special permit and then wait before we could even go through it…so boring. Eventually we got to go through the tunnel…man was it LONG. But amazingly not long after we got some good signal for our phones.

As twelve started to roll around we arrived at the RV park we hoped to stay at. We got a spot, but first we had to unload the Van. And as luck would have it…it started to sprinkle on us, we ignored that mostly. When done with the Van we took the RV to the spot we had and started setting it up…in ever increasing rain. So me and dad got nice and wet while we were getting the RV all situated, fun.

Well when we were done with that we did a few other things then it was into the Van for a lot of driving…and I do mean a lot. A few stops and eventually a mile+ hike. So all in all a long and boring afternoon. But we eventually had our dinner than came back to the RV to relax out the rest of the evening.

Tomorrow is more driving and exploring this national park…yea so much fun…HELP!

Typed July 11, 2013

Day 7 Thursday 6/27

It seems I can only sleep in rarely, case and point, I woke up before seven again. I didn’t mind all that much, why? I was the only one up and I wanted to go for a jog, and I did. It was toasty sure, but it was nice enough that I was able to jog .5 miles straight….I think. Well it was close enough, and with one of the dogs along I didn’t mind it all that much. But the day I can jog a MILE straight, well that will get me happy.

Now after jogging I of course was back at the RV, so I got in and got myself comfortable for the morning, the family SLOWLY got up and we did a few different morning things, we didn’t feel like doing much and we weren’t going much of anywhere. Eventually though all were awoken.

And even though awake we got to relax, at least a little before we left. We had the convention after all, but by the time we got there it was lunch time, so we had our lunch at some Italian place. And something slightly interesting, our waiter was a Square dancer as well, and yet she had no idea the convention was going on. We had a good time talking with here and me and dad had some fun writing slightly random things on the paper that covered the table.

After lunch we walked over to the convention center, in the blasted heat, still not fun. And once there, well we went separate ways, I went to the Youth Hall and the rest went off and did different things. I did have some fun dancing the tips I did. Eventually I was dragged away though.

The dragging was to go find some dinner, which was at some odd place. What I got…well let’s just say it set my mouth on fire but it was good. And after dinner it was back to the RV to change into proper attire and right back at the convention center where we all separated yet again.

I spent the rest of the night in the Youth Hall, dancing several tips and eventually playing some Phase Ten, I had just pulled ahead when I was picked up by the family. As we were leaving I had to rush back to the hall to pick up a prize I had won, it wasn’t much just some speakers.

Well anyways after leaving it was again back to the RV were we dealt with the pets and settled in for night. A short day mostly but it was a good one, hope it the next ones stay like that.

Typed June 27, 2013

Day 6 Wednesday 6/26

Oh what a fine morning this time around, I actually slept in…till about 8:30, then I sort of had a rushed wake up but I didn’t mind. We really didn’t do THAT much.

After waking up we hoped into the Van and drove to the nearby convention center, and in Oklahoma city…you ain’t got many choices. Well anyways we had to drop/set up something there so that was why we had to be up nice and early. We had to spend a good amount of time doing so, so much time in fact that we even got to go around and get some lunch…..crap I forget where that was…or right it was a Mexican place.

While at the Mexican place I got two types of food mixed up…don’t ask me to spell them out I would butcher them so badly spell check would curse at me.

Well anyways we had lunch and had to walk around, do a few things and them split. And I mean go separate ways. Mom and sister went into a meeting while Nana, Dad and me went to the Airport. No not to run away, though at times I wish. We went to pick up Grandmother, that took a good bit.

With her picked up we drove back to the convention center, did a few more things and then went off to a Memorial. Now normally I don’t mind going to these types of things, but let me get a few things straight: One, it was outdoors, Two it was sunny, three it was HOT. Thermometers marked it in the 90s but things were saying it FELT like 100s, and I AGREE! So long story short, I hated being there and LOVED when we got back in the car.

And with being back in the car we were off to lunch, how that much time had gone by I will never know. But anyways we had to drive a good bit before we reached dinner, but man was it good and cool.

Once done with that it was again back to the RV, where Mom, Dad, Sister and Nana got changed into some different close and was back to the convention center for…well I have no clue. Want to know why? Well I was back at the RV with Grandma relaxing and enjoying well relaxing…sort of. I will not go over that because it MAY cause some problems for myself…so shutting up about this…

On a different note we get to swing into the full blown event that we came here for, our National Square Dance Convention.  This goes from basically tomorrow till Sunday morning, so the RV is sitting tight, but don’t stop knocking on that wood, because we need all the luck we can get…I’ll tell you why when we get done with this…trust me it’ll be easier on us all if I DON’T think about it.

Typed June 26, 2013