From Utah to California!!!!!!

Day 11: From Torrey, UT to Bryce, UT

We left Torrey and drove South on a scenic byway to Bryce. The drive was beautiful and a little frightening. Part of the drive had steep cliffs on both sides of the road at the same time, along with curves and steep grades. It was cool to look over and see hawks flying parallel to us soaring through the sky overlooking the ground beneath the cliffs. It was desolate, but in a beautiful way.

The sky was a beautiful blue color that day.

Teá rode with Papa and Grandmere, and Amaryn didn't seem to mind a bit.

We checked into the hotel for a little break from the car, and then headed out to visit Bryce Canyon National Park. The park is so unique and unlike others. It isn't a true canyon as there is no river forming the trenches below, but it nevertheless looks much like one. We drove through the park and stopped at difference overlooks and walked a couple short trails. 

An Arch in Bryce Canyon.

We saw many deer and even almost hit some on the road. 

The end of the park road lead us to a beautiful lookout at an elevation of over 9,000 ft. The sun was setting on the canyon hoodoos and made for a spectacular view. The sunset was once again absolutely jaw dropping gorgeous. 

Day 12: From Bryce, UT to Tusayan, AZ (Grand Canyon National Park)

We spent quite a few days in Utah, and finally it was time to leave and head to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The drive took us through indian reservations and more desert. 

Happily playing in Teá's carseat. I can't remember why she was in it and even where Teá is.

Who's excited to see the Grand Canyon?!! Not the kids so much, apparently!

Not long after entering into the Grand Canyon National Park it began to rain. It was a hazy evening, but that view. The camera doesn't do it justice. It's remarkable and even with our own eyes looking at it, it was hard to fathom the grandeur of the canyon. It's bigger than our minds can truly comprehend. I can't help but wonder in awe at the God who created it. How big, vast, and grand HE must be!! 

We climbed a tower at one of the lookouts. It gave us a quick break from the rain and provided a nice view.

Looking out the window.

Inside the tower.

At points the canyon stretches 18 miles from one rim across to the other and is over a mile deep. In all honesty, it was frightening with children. Not all of the overlooks are fenced in. Even for the ones that are fenced in, only a few short feet away you can go around the fence to where it drops off suddenly. We talked with a park ranger who told us that just about daily they have to make helicopter rescues into the canyon for people who began trailing down into it and couldn't make it out. He had seen people die, often because of trying to photograph themselves and the canyon and then losing balance and falling. It isn't too uncommon, so we kept our distance, remembered our mortality, and kept our little ones close!

That evening, we put the kids to bed in the hotel room and my parents watched them while Jason and I were able to go out and watch an IMAX presentation on the Grand Canyon. It felt a little funny bringing a baby into an IMAX theater at 8pm, but we enjoyed ourselves and the mini-date nonetheless!

Day 13: From Tusayan, AZ to Boulder City, NV:

We began the morning with a visit to the Grand Canyon once again. Dense fog was rising out of the canyon and we couldn't even see a few feet across, let alone to the other side of the canyon. We walked around the visitors center and checked back and the fog had lifted. 

Fog rolling in. Note the trees coming out of the canyon below us.

Those are the same trees...would you ever believe that the Grand Canyon was RIGHT THERE, but you couldn't see anything!! 

Thankfully, it was mostly gone less than an hour later. 

We were pretty excited to see the Grand Canyon, or "the big crack in the earth" as Teá called it.

How Vivi felt about the Grand Canyon.

We drove to Boulder City and made a quick stop at the Hoover Dam along the way. Our hotel happened to be a casino (welcome to Nevada) and Teá was most impressed with the slot machines. She excitedly asked us, "Look at all the shiny lights over there, can we go there and play with those?! That's where the party is!" Jason took the two older girls swimming in the pool instead.

Didn't get a great photo of the Hoover Dam, but here it is from behind.

Where the party's at, according to Teá.

Out to dinner with the fam.

Day 14: From Boulder City, NV to Mammoth Lakes, CA:

The next part of the drive was DESOLATE! Not in a pretty way, either. We both agreed we don't like Nevada very much. We stopped outside Death Valley at a candy shop...the only decent stopping point for miles and miles. It wasn't very pretty and it just felt dirty. Probably the casinos and brothels on the side of the highways contributed to these feelings. We also were so ready to finally get to California by this point and Nevada was between us and home. 

Cactus and desert. 

For miles and miles and hours upon hours.

Day 15: Mammoth Lakes, CA to Sacramento, CA:

FINALLY!!! The last day of the road trip. We enjoyed ourselves and the scenery, but were very thankful to have reached the destination. Well almost...our apartment in Davis wouldn't be ready for another week. BUT, after 4,260 miles and 15 days in a car, we were so grateful to be almost there. Plus, my sister and brother-in-law were super generous to host us and it was fun visiting with them for the week. The kids were thrilled to be able to play with their cousins and their cousins toys. They loved not having to be limited to the confines of a vehicle, and enjoyed playing outside, inside, basically anywhere besides a car or a hotel room.

Prior to leaving CT, I took great care and time to organize the car and make it road trip ready.

Neatly organized and ready for use.

Clean, new trays for coloring on...which turned out to be literally ON the trays. I'm not sure why I didn't see that one coming.

After each day, we would take out the trash, put away the childrens activities from the day, and re-organize the car. Even so, after two weeks in the car with three kids and multiple food and coffee stops, the car was doomed and ended up looking like this:

Our car was as thankful to finally get there as we were.