Val and Mary's Road Trip: August 2010

Salt!

As we drove past the Salt Lake, we had to stop to walk out into the salt. Karen and I drove by this last year, but we actually never walked out into it. It's a pretty amazing thing to see and to feel. My mom can attest to the fact that it's definitely salt. . . she tasted it!

Utah: Dinner with Kelsey and Lynelle

Well, I guess it's a tradition now, to stop and see the Callahans at the end of every road trip! Kelsey and Lynelle Kindly drove to Salt Lake City the night we were driving through, and took us out to some yummy pizza at this cool little pizza place next to her college. Like I said, Lynelle never lets me go hungry!

We stayed in a really neat hotel, the Little America. It was across the street from the Grand America, where the president stayed when he was in Salt Lake City, and quite a bit less expensive.

Windmills and Memories in Wyoming

We enjoyed the drive through the windmill state (Nebraska) where we saw hundreds of big, beautiful windmills set against the backdrop of a gorgeous blue sky and green grass.

We stopped for lunch one day in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Karen and I went to Cheyenne on last summer's road trip, but I had no idea where. It just so happens that as we pulled up to the little Mexican restaurant for lunch, I looked across the street and recognized the Safeway straight across from us. I looked down the street, and saw this:

This is the bar that Karen and I went to last year and started a beer pong tournament (see 2girlsonaroadtrip.blogspot.com entries Day 28: Beer pong in Cheyenne and Day 28: Finishing the night in Cheyenne). I couldn't believe that we just happened to be in the same spot! Ah, the memories. . .

And this is the safeway that we walked to from the bar to get ping pong balls so that we could start a beer pong tournament at the bar. Again, see the other blog for the full story! :-)

World's Largest Truck Stop

Well, after a quick 9 days in New York, we were pretty exhausted and, though sad to leave, ready to be home. We made it home in just four days, so we didn't stop for too many things. However, one of our highlights on the way home was. . . wait for it. . .

THE WORLD'S LARGEST TRUCK STOP!

This place was HUGE and we didn't even go upstairs! Apparently, the "trucker's loft" upstairs included showers, laundry, barber, movie theater, restrooms, library, tv lounge, dentist, chiropracter, and a "road king kiosk." Cool!

New York--Cutest Grandpa EVER! Part 3

Every year, my grandpa gives me LOTS of pens. Then I sell them to my students. . . thanks grandpa!

So he was not the best dressed on this day, but he's still cute! He tried to make me rub his belly, which was not so cute, though. . .

Grandpa hugging Draven

The morning of our departure, we had breakfast with the family

We bought a couple of cute outfits for grandpa, because he has some trouble picking out his own outfits. This is one of the cute outfits we got him!

New York--Cutest Grandpa EVER! Part 2

We went to MANY diners with grandpa while we were in New York. Boy, does he love that diner food!

These little chicks hang out at grandpa's house. He feeds them bread.

This cat, Muffy, is my grandpa's LIFE. One day he got out and tried to eat the chicks.

Grandpa tried really hard to give us just about every can of food in the cellar. We took some, but tried our hardest not to let him give us all the old canned corn, peas, and pinto beans that he had!

New York--Cutest Grandpa EVER!

On the third day we were in New York, we went to church with the family then had grandpa, Bobby, Sue and Sue's mom over for hot dogs and a walk to the lake. Grandpa was exceptionally cute in his little yellow outfit.

New York--Jewelery time!

My Aunt Linda, Uncle David, cousin Brian, mom, and I had a good time looking through all of grandma's old jewelery. . .

New York--Even more of the kids AGAIN (I forgot some!)

Lilian was cuddled up in bed. . .

but the first night, this is the bed she preferred (on the ground)

Rhianna and Lilian dancing on the deck:

New York--The Aunts

By far, our favorite meal of the trip was when we went to my great Aunt Fannie's house for dinner. She makes the BEST food, and most of it is fresh from her garden. The meal was topped off by fresh, hot strawberry rhubarb pie made with strawberries from her garden. . . yum! A few of the other Aunts joined us, and we had a great time catching up.

The group:

Linda Lou

Aunt Fannie the cook (on the left) and Aunt Marion (on the right)

New York--The Lake

Our camp was just a short walk to the great Sacandaga Lake. Unfortunately, we were so busy for our 9 days that we were in New York, we only had time to go swim in the lake once! But we enjoyed it.