Got a slightly later start than we were hoping out of Moab. It was nice to know we’d see Anna and Co again soon in Montana.
Sleepy mountain town along the highway. Lucy started having serious car sickness. Realized all the games had suddenly disappeared from the kids’ tablet and spotty cell reception. This day was the first day that felt challenging.
We had a LONG way to go from Moab to Boise. We had identified several stops along the way but many required significant detours. We made do, listened to a LOT of Harry Potter on tape. We almost ran into our next door neighbors who in part inspired this trip. They have 3 kids similar ages and had made versions of this trip successfully a couple of times.Thanks for the push K family!
We finally made a decision to stop at a "national historic site". Chance to stretch, kids could earn a badge. What we didn’t realize was this stop was in the middle of nowhere in the desert nothing around except weird campuses that looked like defense contract facilities. We were so off the beaten path I grew weary there wouldn't be any staff at the site. Many of the signs along the way were full of bullet holes. It was creepy you guys.
(Below: top secret government defense facility?)
Miraculously when we arrived there were more than a couple cars and a few staff. Golden Spike is a monument dedicating the place where the transpacific and central pacific railroads met to connect the west coast with the midwest. It was a feat of engineering, cartography, physical labor, etc. There was a peanuts cartoon that explained it all. There is a small museum. The kids dutifully completed their worksheets and got another junior ranger badge. There was a re-enactment of the train making the inaugural trip out of the station.
Review: meh. The snoopy video was the highlight. For every coolish looking thing there was a sign telling kids not to have fun on it. They weren’t allowed to touch or play on the actual trains (they get too hot in the desert apparently) they aren’t allowed to walk on the wooden bleachers where they give the lecture, they are even discouraged from turning the crank on the swish a penny machine. Also, the golden spike isn’t actually there, it’s in Stanford. The first replica isn’t there either as it went on one of the space shuttles. The railroad doesn't even go through here anymore. The only railroad is a small bit of track that they use for the re-enactments. The actual railway was moved to a more populous locale. The other highlight was that Lucy turned a corner and finished her Gatorade.
We made one other stop in Idaho near the Shoshone Falls. It looked amazing but the kids were so done with sight seeing by then that they didn't even really want to get out of the car. We will try again some day. During dinner they changed into pjs so we could roll into bed at the next hotel.
Here is the view of those last 100 miles.
Listening to Jim dale read Harry Potter. Tired but content. These parts of the trip were relaxing and calm. I was really proud of them hanging in there on a not so exciting day.
I have no memory of this hotel room. It was really nice to sleep.
Is it crows or a black panther?
This place is bonkers beautiful. It was hard to leave. But we will be back someday!