Near the Foothills of the Ozarks

I spent the past two days at Harding University (my alma mater) getting my son registered for college. A lot of memories came back as I walked the campus. So much has changed and grown, just like my little boy. It’s hard to believe my baby will leave the nest in just a few weeks, but today is his 18th birthday, so I suppose it’s time.

Valentin will have a busy first year. He’s chosen Biology as his major and will be in the pre-optometry program. His secondary major will be Vocational Ministry with an emphasis in Missions, which means he will take a lot of Bible classes once he completes the pre-reqs for optometry school. His goal is to become an optometrist and do mission work a few months each year.

He has chosen Spanish as his minor, and passed a test that allowed him to totally skip two semesters of Spanish. If his grades in Spanish 201 and 202 are high enough (crossing fingers), he’ll get 8 free hours credit for the year he skipped. Val’s roommate will be a young man from our church, and they’ve been great friends for several years.

Val has spent most of the summer involved with Missionaries for America and is currently on a mission trip to Rio Bravo, Mexico, with our church’s youth group. It’s been a busy summer for him, but mission work is his passion, so he’s had a great time.

I’m very proud of you, son! Happy Birthday!

Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail

One of the highlights of our trip for me was stumbling across a book titled Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail. We’d stopped by the Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho, to experience their interactive Oregon Trail exhibit.

Upon our arrival, the hostess led us to a wall of paintings by the talented artist, Gary Stone, who happens to be from Idaho. (He illustrates for Disney.)

Stone’s delightful works depict events recorded in diaries of those trudging the trail, and Stone painted each of the 40+ illustrations on site at actual trail locations from tales written in diaries. Plus, he has hidden within each scene his wife’s name (Bev) as well as other hidden items that make the book fun.

The book’s introduction and commentary were written by Stone’s wife, Bev, who writes a newspaper column on Idaho history. Together, this couple has produced a fine and fun project that any American history or trail buff would love to browse. Yes, it’s a bit pricey (I picked one up at the bookstore on sale for $45), but it’s well worth it!

There’s No Place Like Home!

We made it home safely last night at about 9 p.m. (central time). When time permits (hopefully this evening), I’ll upload some pics from the trip.

We had great weather, mild traffic, and probably less than 25 miles total road construction. We were VERY blessed! It was a great trip, and we were able to view some of the most beautiful country I’d ever seen.

Total mileage: 4575. Whew! It’s good to be home!

Day 9: Hurry Home!

Like day 1, today we’ll have a LONG drive home–over 700 miles are scheduled for this day. Add that to how tired we’ll be after our trip, and…well, I dread the drive already!

But, I’m sure by this time, we’ll be ready to get home, see the kids & the critters, and, of course, our beloved Arkansas. As beautiful as the other sites we plan to see on our trip are, I’m sure few compare to Petit Jean State Park, located just a few miles from our back yard.

I’m blessed to catch a glimpse of this beautiful mountain every morning on my drive to work.

Ah, home sweet home!

Day 8: Arches National Park

If our legs hold up, we hope to hike to view Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. After spending just over a half-day enjoying the awesome Utah scenery, we’ll have to head several hundred miles east before bedtime.

We have reservations near the Colorado/Kansas border. (What’s the speed limit in Colorado?)

Day 7: Lamar Valley, then off to Idaho

This morning’s plans include an early rise to (hopefully!) view the wildlife of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and Hoodoo Basin area. At the head of the Lamar Valley stands an assortment of bizarre volcanic hoodoos in a region an early park superintendent dubbed the Goblin Labyrinths.

It concerns me that most Internet references to these “secret” areas of Yellowstone include the words “back country” and/or “backpacking,” but I seem to remember reading somewhere that these awesome lava structures are accessible by road. Another finger-crossing item!

A replica of old Fort Hall stands in Idaho’s Shoshone territory, about 150 miles from our morning adventure. We plan to make a quick stop there and travel on to the Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier.

Three hundred miles more, and we’ll stop just short of the site of tomorrow’s tour: Arches National Park, located near I-70 in eastern Utah.

Day 6: Yellowstone’s Upper Loop

Day two of our Yellowstone tour will focus on the Upper Loop. This loop includes Mammoth Hot Springs, the giant Norris Geyser Basin, impressive rivers, and water falls. According to the tourist sites, this loop provides good opportunities to see wolves, bears, elk, moose, Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goats.

The difference between today and yesterday is that we do have an appointment–a horseback riding/wildlife viewing tour at a Gardiner, Montana, ranch overlooking Yellowstone. Following our evening ride, we’ll head back to the cabin for another night in the park.

Day 5: Yellowstone’s Lower Loop

We are well aware that our travels through Yellowstone will be akin to a pilot’s “touch and go” practices. With only two and a half days in the park, it will be impossible to see much, but we hope to hit the highlights (a.k.a.–tourist traps) during our visit.

The Lower Loop area contains the following features: Firehole Falls, Firehole Canyon, the Fountain Paint Pots, Firehole Lake Drive, Old Faithful Geyser, Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone Lake, the Lake Hotel, the Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (South Rim), Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Crystal Falls, and Gibbon Falls.

We plan to head out early and drive until something strikes our interest. We may spend the entire day at one site, or we may make the whole loop and see many or most of the above list. Today, we have no set itinerary–just the words: Lower Loop.

Day 4: The Grand Tetons

We’re planning to take an early morning shuttle boat ride across Jenny Lake, touted to be one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the country, and enjoy a hike to Hidden Falls.

During the afternoon, we have reservations to take a rafting tour down the Snake River. It’s a 10-mile float down the “calm” part of the river. We’ll see!

That evening we have nothing booked. I figure sitting on the cabin’s porch, staring at the lake will be a nice way to relax after the hectic pace of the past few days. If we want, we can go into Jackson Hole. There’s an old west shootout every evening at 6 p.m., and several people have suggested great eating joints there. I figure if we’re in Wyoming, a big steak would be in order. Yum!

Day 3: Welcome to Wyoming!

Just for fun, we’re starting this morning with a little train ride through the Black Hills. Our transport will be the 1880 Train.

Late in the evening, following a long trek across Wyoming, we’ll arrive at Colter Bay Village, across Jenny Lake from the majestic Grand Tetons.

We’ve never been to Grand Teton National Park, but it’s been on my “places I hope to visit” list for a number of years. We look forward to seeing God’s majesty and creative power all along this trip. (Not that our home state of Arkansas doesn’t display His glory, but it’s always fun to see His endless imagination at work.)

Today’s stops include Fort Casper, built during the trail’s later years to protect the telegraph office; Independence Rock, where emigrants carved or used axel grease to display their names; Devil’s Gate, a narrow canyon through which the Sweetwater River flows (click the Devil’s Gate link to hear about one emigrant’s harrowing adventure there); and, time permitting, the National Big Horn Sheep Interpretive Center in Dubois. It’s open until 7 p.m., so we might make it!