Out of the Starting Gate (National Parks Trip #3)

This post represents the first installment in the series documenting our West Coast National Parks trip in the summer of 2017.  We logged a total of 8,513 memorable miles of adventure over the course of five and a half weeks.  Read all about it here – the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly.

Previously, on Reflections Around the Campfire . . . In 2007, one year after we bought our first travel trailer, Alan and I recreated our honeymoon travels with our two kids during our family of four’s first cross-country National Parks trip.  The second followed in 2010.  This third cross-country National Parks trip would be our final one.  Not our final trip, of course, but the last one dedicated to visiting as many National Parks as possible.  Once this trip was completed, Alan and I would have hit all of the Parks designated “high priority” on our Bucket List.  Following this trip, we would continue to visit National Parks and Monuments, but at a more leisurely pace, fitting those visits into future trip itineraries that focused on more than just National Parks.

In 2017, our daughter, Kyra, had just graduated from high school and had no employment commitments over the summer, so the timing was perfect for her to join Alan and me on this third National Parks trip.  It had been on the planning board for years, while we waited until the time was right to execute those plans.  Unfortunately, our son, Ryan, five years older than his sister, was already working full time, and his allotted vacation days wouldn’t cover the extended trip.  This was the only one of our cross-country National Parks trips that didn’t include both kids, and we missed Ryan (and his good luck) immensely.

2007 National Parks Trip #1 - Grand Teton National Park

The West Coast National Parks trip would be our third and final “sampler” trip.  The purpose of these sampler trips was not to linger in any one Park, exploring every accessible nook and cranny.  Quite the opposite, actually.  We were trying to hit the highlights of a number of Parks, and determine which of those Parks deserved a lengthy, more in-depth visit on a return trip.  Many visitors to our National Parks wouldn’t be content with a brief stay of just two or three days stays in one location.  But this plan of attack works well for us, and we’ve logged thousands of miles together as a family of four exploring our National Parks from coast to coast.

In looking back at our calendar for this trip, I’m absolutely amazed at the sheer number of activities and attractions we packed into this rather eclectic itinerary.  In addition to the nine National Parks that were the foundation of the expedition, we also managed to squeeze in a decent number of Route 66 stops, quick visits to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, one National Recreation Area, one National Seashore and countless State Parks along the way.  I believe our success was due to the combination of hours upon hours of planning on my part, Alan’s driving inclinations and abilities, and Kyra’s experience as a seasoned road-tripper – a team effort, as always.  Did I mention that we were really missing Ryan?

To set the stage, I’ll point out that our 2006 Jayco travel trailer was the RV of choice for this cross-country expedition – despite the fact that we had a brand new, never used 2017 Outdoors RV travel trailer sitting on a pad back at home.  Why?  Our new ORV, while it does have room for the kids, requires transforming the sofa sleeper and/or dinette into a bed each night.  Knowing we’d be on the road for more than five weeks – and knowing that making up the bed each morning and evening would get really old, really fast – we decided to use the Jayco with its two bunk beds.  That allowed Kyra to have a permanent bed of her own and extra storage space since Ryan’s bunk would be empty.  So, off we went with our 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup truck towing our 2006 Jayco Jay Flight travel trailer.

Tioga Pass entrance - notice the snow still present in July

Until this trip, the worst trouble we had ever encountered on a vacation was a flat tire in Colorado on our 2010 National Parks trip.  On this trip, we were barely out of the starting gate when the trouble began.  Let me preface the explanation of the trouble with a piece of information: Before every camping trip, I print out a checklist for each member of the family that details all the items they’re expected to pack for themselves.  It is not my fault when other family members choose not to use or adhere to their packing list.  That being said, you have to know that someone is about to get thrown under the bus.  Yes, indeedy, we were just about an hour into our trip when our youngest family member announced that she had forgotten to pack the extra sets of contacts she would need over the course of the upcoming five weeks.  WHAT?!!!!!

After a short discussion during which we considered (and discarded) all of our available options but one, Alan turned the truck and travel trailer around and we headed for home.  That was strike one.

Since I published current photos of our darling daughter in my last post, you know that we didn’t kill her then and there on the highway.  Instead, I just recited one of my favorite prayers (“God, please grant me the patience to endure my blessings”) and moved on.  What comes after strike one?  That’s right.  Strike two.  And that’s coming up in the next post.