It was supposed to be a short-drive day…

June 2, 2015 | Stacy

As we left Focus on the Family at noon we only had a 6.5 hour drive to our next stop in Rock Springs, WY. We’d hoped for a nice dinner, time to swim, and bedtime by 9 P.M. It was supposed to be easy. But it wasn’t.

Traffic.

A 20-minute stop that turned into 55 minutes thanks to – traffic.

Construction.

Some SERIOUS wind in WY that had us drop our speeds for more than an hour.

It was after 8 P.M MT when we finally dragged our bodies into Applebees. Lunch had been more made-in-the-car sandwiches. It was steaks and shrimp all around, but we were almost too tired to enjoy it.

We got into our Homewood Suites at 9-something P.M. The service at this one was excellent and the hotel was beautiful. I didn’t think to take any photos as the kids scurried to get their swim suits on and I made camp. Katriel cried when John took the older 5 to swim, but I had planned to put her down. However, I realized we had left Minnie Mouse in the car. So instead, she and I watched something called Doc McStuffins until John and the kids came back. It was kind of cute.

They returned. John collected Minnie. Kids were asleep when their heads hit the pillows.

Wyoming is pretty. I’ve heard about their winters, however. I’m not sure I could live here.

Focused on my Family

June 2, 2015 | Stacy

OKAY – how was it that a stop by Colorado was somehow included in a trip from NY to OR, you ask?

For over 27 years, Focus on the Family has been producing a radio drama centered on the people of the fictional town of Odyssey. The main character of the program is John Avery Whitaker, but most folks call him Whit. Whit is a former agent in a government group similar to the CIA. He is now the owner of Universal Press and also owns and operates an ice cream shop called Whit’s End. Over 60 albums, hundreds of books, and dozens of movies have been created about the people in Odyssey.

And we own an awful lot of them.

At the Visitor’s Welcome Center an entire level is dedicated to the folks of Odyssey. It was a beautiful place of awe and wonder, and I’m so glad we went.

Were there other things we could have done in Colorado Springs, CO, 80995? Sure. But for this van of fans Pike’s Peak couldn’t hold a candle to walking into the Imagination Station.

The exhibit opened at 9 A.M.
The three story slide opened at 10 A.M. Stewart, Nigel, Marie, and Tabitha seriously enjoyed zooming down that slide!

At 11 A.M. Whit’s End Ice Cream Shoppe opened. I ordered Connie’s favorite – a Raspberry Ripple, and everyone else got Wodfamchocsods. (World’s Famous Chocolate Sodas).

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

June 2, 2015 | Stacy

(You knew that was coming, admit it.)
As we moved further west in Kansas into Colorado the land did indeed get flatter and had fewer and fewer trees. There was a lot to look at, however.

We drove through a storm. The rain wasn’t terribly impressive, but the winds certainly were. We witnessed tumble weeds. Lots of them. But we could catch none on the camera. They were moving too quickly! It was raining sideways, which was demonstrated as we passed on the left side of a larger vehicle and all the noise from raindrops hitting our car stopped completely!

Thankfully, it was short lived and we pulled into Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995 around 6 P.M. or so.

As our bellies are still on EST we were STARVING. Finding an eat in Pizza Hut caused great frustration, but was finally accomplished. AND – another cool story. The young lady brought me our bill for $55.00 for three large pizzas and 5 drinks. As I went to pay, she started playing with her register and looking back and forth to the receipt and informed me there was a special offered somewhere and she was applying it brining our bill down to $44. Yeah. I tipped her 20% of the original amount.

I think the Residence Inn from our first night spoiled me a bit. But my review of this Homewood Suites only earns 3.5 stars. And really all that saved it was the size of the room and the hard work of the kitchen steward. Our pack-n-play was not only not there, but the reception clerk send John to the basement to get it himself. I was glad I’d brought my own sheets for it as it wasn’t showroom quality. No toy for the baby like at Residence Inn, either. BUT – the size of the suite’s two-queen-bedroom was large enough to set up both the pack-n-play and Johanna’s travel cot, so we ~~corralled~~ secured all the children in the one bedroom, allowing me to stay up late in the living room to mess with my blogging.

Another day, another waffle maker. And again we were happy to find it was safe for Stewart. The powdered eggs were revolting.

I don’t know how Stewart ended up alone at a table… but he wasn’t complaining.