Whole Trip Stats

Total Miles Driven- 4,708

Total Times Zones- 4- Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific

States Visited- 13

State Lines Crossed- 19

State License Plates- 48- the only ones Owen didn't get were Hawaii and N. Dakota

My Cow Score: Me- 95. Mom- 110. Grandma- 115

My Horse Score: Me- 16, Mom- 40, Grandma- 31

Owen’s Favorite Things- Slugger Museum, the playground at The Gathering Place, and the tacos in Santa Fe

Mom’s Favorite Things- Visiting Santa Fe, especially the botanical gardens. Seeing the Grand Canyon. Watching Owen have so much fun having new experiences

Grandma’s Favorite Things- Spending time with Lindy and Owen and having this experience together. As far as the attractions, the Oklahoma City Memorial. 

Days 11 and 12- The Good, the Bad and the Driving

 Hello World- I think it's going to be pretty obvious by now, but we did a lot of driving. 

First we drive from Little Rock to Nashville. Me and Grandma went to an awesome water park called Wave Country. Mom went to the VRBO, and then she went to NAMM. I was a little sad I didn't get to go, because NAMM is great, but the water park was CRAZY. 

There was a giant wave pool, and two big towers of waterslides. The first tower had twisty slides, and the second tower had very high, straight slides. I liked the tall ones best. Grandma went on one, but she didn't want to go again, but I went like 5 times. 

After that, we relaxed for a little bit, and then grabbed pizza!

The next morning- it was just me and Grandma. We drove straight to DC. The drive was 10 hours, and I actually kind of liked the drive, even though it was so long. I liked it because I got to be with Grandma, without "stickler Mom". ("Mom's edit- apparently you earn the "stickler" title by limiting screen time). 

Anyway- this is my last real post for the road trip, so I want to say that it was a pretty memorable experience. I am very happy I went. 

Day 10- An Interesting Day

 Hello World! Today, it was a very interesting say. We did a lot of driving, but a lot of fun stuff in between. 

First, we drove to Oklahoma City- were we went to the Oklahoma Memorial. It was depressing, but very historical. It reminded us of a time that was really hard. But it was really pretty too.

Next- we got pie! It was delicious pie. I got French Silk, my Mom got Banana Cream, and my Grandma got Strawberry. 

Last, we went to the Cowboy Museum. It was pretty cool. It was mostly art at first, but then we got to see a replica of a Wild West Town. I got to sit in the jail and break out, preach at the pulpit and go up to that bar. I wanted to start a bar fight, but no one else was there. 

Then, we drove all the way to Little Rock. It was long. 

Day 10 stats!

State Lines Crossed- 2

State License Plates- 48!

My Cow Score: Me- 95. Mom- 110. Grandma- 115

Windmill Farm Count- 17

Owen’s Favorite Thing- The Cowboy Museum

Mom’s Favorite Thing- The Pie!

Grandma’s Favorite Thing- The Oklahoma Memorial 

Days 8 and 9- Good to Terrible to Good Again

Hello World- you get two days for the price of one. 

On Sunday (day 8), it started out great. We got to sleep in and finish our movie. But then it went bad.

We were driving to a hike and got a flat tire. Oh No! We put a doughnut on and Grandma took us back to the KOA before having to go 30 whole miles to get a new tire. 

We were going to go swimming, but there was a dust storm the night before, so it was still being cleaned. An hour later, they told us it was closed for the day. 

So we went to Albuquerque, where there was a pool. It was an amazing pool. We also went to a cool Mexican restaurant, and they had the hugest portions ever. And the food was amazing, and I got to try Fried Ice Cream, which was delicious.

The next morning- I got to swim again. Then we packed up, and went to see the Petroglyphs. They were kinda cool. 

Then we drove to Amarillo TX. There we had another huge dinner, this time at. BBQ place. We also went to a places and did Go Karts and Batting Cages. There sputtered a lot, but were really fun. 

Then I got to swim again, and started a new movie- Star Trek (the reboot)

Day 7- Mules, Mules, and more Mules

 Hello World- today I mostly just saw the Grand Canyon and went on a mule ride. I was a little nervous going in, but I realized that I’m pretty good in a saddle. 

We got a canteen, and the guy told us to drink LOTS. I was great at drinking my water. My mule’s name was Hondo, and I loved riding him. I liked the “mule motivator”, which is also called a crop. I liked swinging mine in the air and pretending I was a cowboy.

I loved how big the Grand Canyon was- it was awesome. 

Once we left, we got chocolate ice cream, and then drove to our cabin at the KOA.

Day 7 stats!

State Lines Crossed- None!

State License Plates- 43

My Cow Score: Me- 43.  Mom- 50.  Grandma- 62

Windmill Farm Count- 14!

Owen’s Favorite Thing- The mule ride

Mom’s Favorite Thing- The Mule Ride and Prickly Pear everything!

Grandma’s Favorite Thing- How different the Grand Canyon looks at different places, and different times of day 

Day 6- Time for Trains!

 Hello World- it’s me Owen, I’m back on my blog.

Today, we were in Durango. We waited to get on the train. It was pretty good, about 5 hours in total. The views were breathtaking. I got a hotdog, so the food was great too. I got to hang out with the break man, who told me all about how he uses flags for safety.

Then, we left Durango and headed to the Grand Canyon. We drove through a pretty boring. Everything is the same in the desert, rocky and hot. (Mom interjecting- the thermostat read 112 degrees at one part)

Then we arrived at the Grand Canyon! When when I laid eyes on it, I thought “Wow, that’s one heck of a canyon!”

Day 6 stats!

State Lines Crossed- 2we hit the corner of New Mexico driving between CO and AZ

State License Plates- still 42

My Cow Score: Me- 43.  Mom- 43. Grandma- 61. Not many cows in the desert 

Windmill Farm Count- 14!

Owen’s Favorite Thing- Swimming at the hotel pool

Mom’s Favorite Thing- The views from the train and seeing the Grand Canyon at Sunset

Grandma’s Favorite Thing- Meeting up with some family in the area 

Day 5- Special Guest Blogger

 Hello- we have fallen quite behind in this blog because Owen’s priority is the hotel pools, and we have not had service during our drives. 

So I’ll get things caught up, because that’s what Moms do.

Santa Fe was magical. We went to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. The art was amazing, and we learned a lot about the history of the region. 

Then we went to the Botanical Garden, which was also amazing. We had a pretty awesome lunch The Pantry, visited one of my very favorite music stores, and then hit the road to Durango CO.

Owen got to go swimming, so all was well with the world.

Day 5 stats!

State Lines Crossed- Only 1

State License Plates- still 42

My Cow Score: Me- 43.  Mom- 43. Grandma- 61

Windmill Farm Count- 14!

Owen’s Favorite Thing- Lunch at the Pantry

Mom’s Favorite Thing- The Botanical Gardens and visiting Candyman Strings and Things

Grandma’s Favorite Thing- The Botanical Gardens