'Cross Country 2001
Schedule:
Map Overview:
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| An overview map of our entire trip |
A closeup of the Southwest portion of our trip |
Day 1:
Today we left for our first stop of our 5 week trip across the country at 6 AM. We arrived at a KOA at Washington, PA around 3:30 PM. It took 9 1/2 hours. After we set up we spent the remainder of the day at the pool.
Day 2:
Today we left for our second stop around 9 AM EDT. We had a picnic lunch at a rest stop in Ohio. We stopped at a KOA in Richmond, IN at 3 PM EST. (Indiana doesn't observe daylight savings time.) After setting up the camper we went to the pool. Afterwards we went to the playground and I played basketball with Allison and Dad. After dinner we went back to the pool. We had it all to ourselves for a couple of hours.
Day 3:
Today after we hitched up the camper Mom found a big hole in the camper's tire. After putting the spare on we found two more holes in the tire. We left the campground around 9 AM EST. After a few minutes we stopped and got a new tire in New Castle. A couple of hours later we stopped and had lunch at another rest area. We arrived at a KOA in Granite City, Illinois (East St. Louis) around 4:30 PM CDT. After unpacking we went to the pool. After a few hours we heard thunder and went back to the camper. We heard there was a severe thunder storm warning for our county and a tornado warning for the county north of us so, we quickly put the camper down and waited the storm out in the car. We saw a lot of spectacular lightning and big hail. After the storm we were all ready to go to sleep after a long day.
Day 4:
Today we left the campground around 9 AM. When we stopped at a Visitors' Center we received information on the St. Louis Arch. So, we decided to check it out. The arch, or Jefferson Expansion Memorial, was a lot larger than I expected. It is 630 feet high and 630 feet wide. The view from the top was spectacular. We could see most of the city and the Mississippi River. After driving for awhile, we came across a storm. It was getting hard to see so we stopped and had pizza at a gas station convenience store. We arrived at the Oak Grove KOA near Independence, Mo. around 5:00. The heat index was around 113 degrees so we spent some time at the pool cooling off.
Day 5:
Today we took the day off from driving. We were all able to sleep late. It was just as hot as yesterday so we went straight to the pool after breakfast. For a couple of hours we had the pool all to ourselves. After our lunch we went food shopping at a Wal*Mart in Oak Grove. We took our time because it was nicely air-conditioned inside. When we got back to the campground we went to the pool again. After a few hours in the pool we played mini-golf at the back of the campground. Afterwards we had to go back to Wal*Mart because Katie's sandals broke and we needed to get her a new pair. When we got back we all got ready for bed.
Day 6:
We were back on the road by 8:45 CDT. We stopped for lunch at another rest area in Kansas and had sandwiches. We were planning on staying at a state park near Ellis, Kansas but we decided to keep going to our next destination in Limon, Colorado since it was so hot and the car was so cool. After driving for a few hours we had dinner at a Wendy's. We reached another KOA in Limon, Co. 11 hours later around 7:45 CDT but only 6:45 MDT in Limon. After unpacking we spent about an hour at the pool.
Day 7:
Today we had to stay in Limon because we would be a day early at Rocky Mountain National Park. We all slept later. After breakfast we rented 2 bikes that you had to lay down on your back in and steer by leaning to one side. We all had a chance to ride around the campground. Mom had trouble starting. She rode around in circles for awhile. After returning the bikes we went to a Colorado Gifts store, the post office, and grocery shopping. Afterwards we went to the pool until a storm came in. So, we went to Pizza Hut and had lunch. When we were done it was still raining so we went back to the camper and played card games. Once it stopped raining Allie and Katie went in the pool even though it was very cool outside. After dinner we played horseshoes and Dad and Katie played mini-golf. After the golf we all played card games. Tomorrow we head to the Rocky Mountains.
Day 8:
Today we left Limon, Co. around 9:00. After driving for a few hours through fields and farms we were able to see the Rocky Mountains off in the distance. As we got closer they seemed to grow and become larger. They appeared to come straight out of the ground. Before we went into the mountains we stopped for lunch at Wendy's. We got to the Moraine Campground in the National Park near the town of Estes Park around 2:00. From our campsite, 155, we had a wonderful view of a mountain peak with some snow on top. We hung out the rest of the day at the campsite to rest and get used to the higher elevation of 8,000 feet.. We walked around the campground and the visitor center.
Day 9:
This morning after breakfast we went on a short walk to Alberta Falls. The walk up had many nice views of the surrounding mountains and a nearby river. The falls were beautiful. We found another waterfall on the map not far from there so we started up the mountain again. But Katie was tired so we went back down. We were first going to have lunch at the Moraine Park Museum but it started to rain so we visited the museum. Then we went back to the camper for some lunch. After lunch we drove along Trail Ridge Road for a bit. We stopped at a few overlooks but we couldn't see much because it was very cloudy. Afterwards, we went to Estes Park for a few groceries. We spent the rest of the night at the campground.
Day 10:
This morning, July 24th, we started up Trail Ridge Road right after breakfast. The road goes up into the heart of the Rocky Mountain National Park with breathtaking views along the way. At "Many Parks Curve" there was a walkway along a cliff giving a beautiful view for miles and miles. The road went up to 12,183 feet. Towards the top there was a trail through the tundra and to a peak which gave a spectacular view of the surrounding peaks with some snow and glaciers. We stopped at the Alpine Visitor Center. We visited the Gift Shop and had lunch in the car at the Visitor Center parking lot 12,000 feet above sea level. The high elevation made our soda super fizzy. After our lunch it was becoming overcast so we decided to head back down looking at the wonderful scenery along the way. At the bottom we went to the Visitor Center and saw a half hour movie about the Rocky Mountain National Park. After an early dinner we were on our way to Sheep's Lakes when we saw a couple of elk cross the road right in front of us. At the lakes we saw bighorn sheep from a distance. On the way back we saw a coyote and a few deer. Tomorrow we have to leave Rocky Mountain National Park.
Day 11:
Today we are leaving the beautiful Rocky Mountains. We left the campground around 9 AM. We stopped at another Wendy's for lunch. We arrived at the Colorado National Monument, near Fruita, CO, around 3 PM. The monument is the site of a big mesa. We drove up a winding road along beautiful cliffs and canyons. The campground is right on the edge of the mesa. Our site, number 32, has a wonderful view of the city below and the mountains and mesa beyond it. After we set up we drove back down the road stopping at the overlooks. There was a view of a beautiful canyon that was just breathtaking. Once in the town we stopped for dinner at a Burger King and got groceries across the street. When we got back to the campground we watched the view of the city's lights come on from the top of the mesa in the sky.
Day 12:
his morning we left Colorado National Monument around 9 AM. We arrived at Arches National Park, near Moab, UT, around noon. We set up the camper and had lunch. Afterwards, it started to rain so, we went for a drive. We stopped and went for a short walk to the North Window Arch, South Window Arch, and Turret Arch. Then, it started to rain, again, so, we went into Moab and got ice cream. On the way back we went to Skyline Arch and the beginning of The Devil's Gardens. After dinner we found a trail leading to the back of Skyline Arch. We climbed the rocks and sat inside the arch. Allison and Katie didn't come up because we were so high up. The view from inside the arch was beautiful; we could see for miles. We then walked around and sat on some other rocks and watched the sun set.
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More Information
Links:
NPS: Rocky Mountain NP
Wikipedia: Rocky Mountain NP
NPS: Colorado National Monument
Wikipedia: Colorado National Monument
NPS: Arches National Park
Wikipedia: Arches National Park
Maps and Directions:
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Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado National Monument
Arches National Park
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