Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Big Trip: Days 1-4, Oregon Caves and Murrieta

Every 7 years of employment, Intel employees receive a "sabbatical" which means they get an additional 8 weeks of paid vacation. Mike has been very excited about this, and we've been planning this Big Trip. We bought a camping trailer last summer and decided to take a 6,000+ mile road trip from Portland, to San Diego, to Nauvoo, IL, up through Mt. Rushmore, and then end at a family reunion in McCall, ID. Our plan is to hit most of the National Parks and anything fun along the way.
On Day 1 we drove to the Oregon Caves in southern Oregon. Unfortunately, the height requirement eliminated David, so he and I stayed back at camp and took a nap while the others went in.

The tour guide told them about how it was discovered in the 1800s and some cool stories of some of the first explorers:




I can't help but think maybe Zach was really standing in front of a chocolate fountain!




Some more cool formations:





Some of the first explorers would sign their names to say they had really been there. And now the elements have petrified their signatures:





Brooke enjoying the caves:




Cool formations:






Our campsite had a basketball hoop for the boys to enjoy:






And a nice little river to throw rocks in:




Day 3 we drove south on I5 and stopped at our old house near Modesto, CA. When we lived there, we had cement poured in the backyard to enlarge the patio and had Nicholas and Zach's footprints put in it (age 3 and 1 at the time). So we knocked on the door and told the lady we had lived here 7 years ago and could we take a peek in her backyard to look at the footprints? She replied, "You must be the Nelsons!" She must still be getting our junk mail.



Here are the footprints:


Day 4 we arrived in sunny southern California! Our first glimps of palm trees! They just make you feel like your on vacation:



Mike, Nicholas, and Brooke.

Here's the gang (minus me).




That afternoon we made it to Scott and Ginger's (my sister) house and the cousins had a great time getting reacquainted. Brooke went straight for Emily's clothes and found a matching outfit for them to wear:




That evening we played at the park. Ginger and Scott have 3 boys and 1 girl in the same order as ours, which made it fun for everyone:



Emily, David, Brooke, Sam, James, Robert, Zach, and Nicholas



5 comments:

gmckibbe said...

It's so fun to hear about your trip already. Sounds like you are having fun and things are going well. Can't wait to hear about all the rest! We miss you guys!

Linda Terry said...

the cousins on the slide shot is my absolute favorite.

Dave Terry said...

you guys are getting some good RV experience... what is your most harrowing story to date?

Rachel Tolman Terry said...

I love that palm tree picture from below. That's what ants must see if they can look up. Cool!

Beth said...

We've been missing you! Glad to hear it's all going well so far. At the meet the new principle night it was just Randy and me! We know you would have been there too, if you were here. Zach's name was on the talent show program. Keep us updated!