Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Weekend Travel Inspiration: Go West, Young Man

Go West!    Ms Toody Goo Shoes


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.

Go West!    Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Rock Climbing in Estes Park, Colorado

Go West!    Ms Toody Goo Shoes
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 Traverse - Estes Park, Colorado ---    Ms Toody Goo Shoes
"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!

Go West!    Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Rafting on the Arkansas River, Colorado (Photo by Camp Counselor)
 
Go West!   Rocky Mountains, Colorado ---  Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Driving the scenic route through the Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Go West!    Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Snowball fight in July atop the Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Maroon Bells, Colorado ---  Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Maroon Bells, Colorado
There were record-breaking temperatures 
when the kids got to Utah...
118 degrees!

Landscape Arch, Arches National Park  --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Landscape Arch - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

 Arches National Park  --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park  --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Delicate Arch - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park  --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
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 ---    Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Lake Powell, Arizona (Photo by Camp Counselor)


Horse Shoe Bend, Colorado River, Utah --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
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 --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
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, California --- Ms Toody Goo Shoes
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

35 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It really was a wonderful opportunity for him. Thanks for visiting!

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  2. What amazing pictures and that zip line... holy cow. I am sure he must just have so many amazing stories - what a wonderful experience. Reminds me of sending my oldest off with a group to Europe after HS graduation about 15 months ago. Heart failure. Glad JGS had fun!!

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    1. My heart practically stopped when I read Europe! OMG, that's huge! JGS will want to go to Europe next, I bet (he's a chip off the old block!)

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  3. I would love to go West one of these days. What an awesome trip for Jr!

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    1. Me, too, Eileen. My husband's been (year's ago), and now Junior GS. Who will I go with???

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  4. Amy, I love the photos Junior Goo took. He must take after you. I know what you mean not being able to hear stories like being stuck under a raft, but at least he's telling it! It sounds like a wonderful trip. Aren't we so luck in the US? Thanks for linking up with Weekend Travel Inspiration!

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    1. He did take good photos, didn't he? I need to take some lessons from him! Yes, we are lucky, here in the US, Corinne, aren't we!

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  5. Such gorgeous photos - and such an incredible life experience for your boy -
    Terrifying - but incredible !
    Oh to be young and have no fear
    xoxo

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    1. Terrifying, yes...I don't think I slept for most of the four weeks he was away, LOL!

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  6. I find these landscape utterly fascinating... But admiring them is enough for me, I wouldn't want to climb or see if the waters are really wild by canoeing!

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    1. Me, too, Magali! I would like to go, and simply admire! I'm not the adventurous type at all!

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  7. That zip line looks amazing! Not sure I would have the cajones to do it though :/.

    I believe we rafted on the same river as your son. I think it was a class 4. Rafting is one of my favorite things to do. Such fun!

    This summer will be an experience he won't soon forget. Great memories!

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    1. Yes, he said it was class 4. Good thing I didn't know that when I signed the waiver! You are one brave woman, Doreen! I am just not the rafting type, unless it's in a pool!

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  8. You are a very brave Mother to sign that waiver! I don't like my son getting on a school bus to go on a field trip! But wow, was it worth it! Now you are a wonderful, brave Mother!!

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    1. I hear you, AnnMarie! I agree about those school trips! Oh, and the wonderful, brave mother thing lasted all of about a day!

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  9. I hope that your son is old enough to appreciate the gift that y'all have given him to get to go on these amazing camp trips! It's like a trip of a lifetime for anyone to get to do all of that for the whole summer. Not a care in the world, just be taken from one place to another with all of your best buddies. How great is that?! Loved seeing those gorgeous pics.

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    1. I know, Kelly! I wish I could have that experience (except for the rafting, and the zip line, and the camping!). It surely is not something I ever got to do as a kid, not even close. I think he does really appreciate it!

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  10. Wow - what an amazing trip.

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  11. lovely photos, I've never been to the USA and I doubt you'd get me doing some of the things in the photo but it's somewhere I want to explore at some point :-)

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    1. I hope you do get to the US, someday, Amy (and I hope I get to New Zealand!). I wouldn't do any of those adventurous things!

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  12. Great pictures of an amazing landscape!

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  13. Wow, such beautiful landscapes, and great pictures! I've never been to the USA, but your photo-series made me want to... I think I would love Colorado - so very different landscape from what I'm used to!

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    1. It is beautiful! I have not been to most of the places that my son went too on this trip. Colorado is very beautiful (I have been there), but there is so much I haven't seen. I just visited your blog to see where you are from, but I can't find a "translate" button. Your photos are spectacular, though!

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  14. You have some really spectacular shots. I especially like the lake reflection ones.

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  15. Wow…what a fantastic trip. Truly memories that will last a lifetime.

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    1. I think they will, Karen. I'm so glad he was able to have this experience.

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  16. WOW I'm in ahhh, what an amazing adventure and memories had. He so will look back on that for years to come.

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    1. I know, he is fortunate to have had this experience. I want to be him when I grow up!

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