Inyo National Forest

Seven Weeks Across America

As we left Nevada, we decided to skip Death Valley National Park.  It was hot - very hot - and that park does not offer electricity at its campground.  We figured we'd just be miserable, so we changed the plan.  The fastest way to our next stop, Sequoia National Park, was to drive Tioga Road through Yosemite.  However, that put us looking for a campground near Yosemite in the evening, which is a near-impossible score.  Luckily, our route took us through the Inyo National  Forest.  It was beautiful in the late evening light.  As we neared Mono Lake we found a spot to boondock (that's camping legally somewhere other than a campground - our national forests are great for this).  We found welcome relief from the heat.  And it was the cheapest night of the trip (free!) and put us in a great spot to hit Tioga Pass early the next morning.  Though I have to say, there is no good time to try to get through Tioga Pass, the eastern entrance to Yosemite, on a weekend.  We sat in traffic for at least an hour to get through the gate, but at least the view was lovely.  If you like meadows, then Tioga Road is one of the prettiest drives you can take.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Seven Weeks Across America

Despite its less than attractive name, Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah has off-the-charts views.  We camped at both the campgrounds (for lack of a four-day block at either) and I am really glad we did.  It allowed me to get some sunrise shots.

The story goes that wild horses were rounded up on the point.  The best ones were taken, leaving the rest corralled, in view of the Colorado River below but without access to any water, so they died.

You know who's not going to go without?  The ravens.  They kept watch over the dumpsters and we were warned to make sure what we deposited was entirely under the lid or the ravens would liberate it.  I also had the pleasure of seeing several desert cottontail rabbits and one jack rabbit.  I would have gotten a photo, but, don't you know, he was too fast for me.

Road Trippin' - Day 1

Seven Weeks Across America

Missouri had some beautiful roads and to offer.

And we're off!  My family is on an epic summer trip, what you might call "The Great American Roadtrip."  We started at our home in Pittsburgh, picked up my father-in-law, and have headed to Colorado. 

W enjoys "The Muppets Take Manhattan."

We planned two hard days of driving, traveling through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.  There were red-winged black birds perched in nearly every bush or atop every fencepost in the last two states.  They are one of my favorite birds and I enjoyed seeing more of them than I could count.  We really enjoyed our first campground at Long Branch State Park in Missouri.  It was lush, with bunnies everywhere we looked.  That last detail made my daughter so very happy (and who am I kidding, me, too)!  

We convinced my daughter to try sleeping in the top bunk, which my husband made safe with an improvised net.  And a restful night's sleep was had by all :)