Weekend Travel Inspiration: Go West, Young Man

How much of the United States' natural beauty have you seen?

 I've been "from sea to shining sea"... 

"over hill and over dale,"
and "from California to the NY island,"

But as much as I've traveled, I haven't seen 

many of our country's national treasures.  

This summer, Junior Goo Shoes was fortunate to go on a 4-week tour with his camp, that literally took them from the mountains...to the prairies...to the ocean, white with foam.

Well, maybe not the prairies.

They went to Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California,

camping out half of the time,

and staying in motels the other half.

Most of these photos were taken by Junior Goo Shoes;

a few were taken by the camp counselors.

There's no way I'd have had the stomach for some of the things they did...

and by that, I mean I couldn't have even watched.

Take the rock climbing trip, for instance.

"Oh, guess what happened? I dropped my camera from the top all the way down the mountain. Luckily, the guide saw it and brought it to me." 

OK, it was just the camera,

but hearing about anything falling off that mountain was something I really didn't want to think about.

Rock Climbing in Estes Park, Colorado

Somewhere near Estes Park, Colorado

I would have fainted watching Junior GS do this zipline...
the "Edge of Time" traverse in Estes Park.

His thoughts: "It was AWESOME!!!"

 That's not him in the photo, by the way.

As much as I thought this was terrifying,

I did want to see a picture of him doing it.

I think the counselor got every kid but him. 

"Edge of Time" Estes Park, Colorado (Photo by camp counselor)

 I didn't have to be there in person 
to be stressed out about the rafting trip.

Just signing the waiver back in May did a number on me.

And then, there was this phone call:

"I've got such a story for you.
When we went rafting, at first it was fun.

Then it was really fun.

Then, one hour in, the boat in front of us hit a rock,

and we hit them...flipped over,

and we were stuck under the boat. 

It finally lifted off.

The current was so strong, I didn't think I was going to make it, but somehow, I finally got to shore."

I nearly had heart failure listening to that, 
and it was three days after it happened.
No, I'm not cut out for this stuff!

Rafting on the Arkansas River, Colorado (Photo by Camp Counselor)

 

Driving the scenic route through the Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Snowball fight in July atop the Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Maroon Bells, Colorado

There were record-breaking temperatures 
when the kids got to Utah...
118 degrees!

Landscape Arch - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

Delicate Arch - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

Delicate Arch - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

It was also beastly hot in Lake Powell,
but at least they got to be in the water all day.

Lake Powell, Arizona (Photo by Camp Counselor)

Horse Shoe Bend in Colorado River, Utah

There was a lot of moaning about getting up super-early to see the sunrise at the Grand Canyon,
but it so was worth it!
"Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light?"

Grand Canyon, Arizona

By the time they got to California,
the kids were ready to be back in civilization.
Aside from enjoying the cooler temperatures,
they walked around San Francisco,
took in an Oakland A's game,
visited Alcatraz,
and walked the boardwalk in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz, Califonia (Photo by Camp Counselor)

It's been fun listening to "tales from the trip,"
but mostly, it's been great hearing about how much 
the kids bonded during their travels.

The memories of the trip will last a lifetime...
but so will the friendships, I'm guessing.

Linking With:
Weekend Travel Inspiration
Our World Tuesday