2016 The South and The East Coast

This years adventure is going to take us into the Southern States and up the East Coast. We are looking forward to another trip of new sights and will also be seeing our Godson Connors Graduation. The first couple of day were lots of miles to just get down into the South. Per the recommendation of my cousin Jaydee we did spend a day in Memphis seeing Beale Street, the Peabody ducks, and then added in a few stops, such as the tram to Mud Island and the Bass Pro Shop. From there we headed to Chattanooga where we spent some time seeing the sights. We are now in Tennessee and will head into the Great Smoky Mountains today. 

Carhendge outside of Alliance Nebraska

Adam crossing the bridge of the Mississippi River Exhibit on Mud Island Tennessee

Adam on the swinging bridge at Rock Park in Georgia

7 State view from Rock Park

Standing on the lookout platform ~ for about 3 seconds. That was enough!

Adam saw the "worlds largest knife store" so he had to check it out. He also got to go into the Biggest Bass Pro store that was in a pyramid shaped building so he is pretty excited. 

Just a few flowers from yesterday 

Wrapping up with bears and the Tetons ~

We spent some time watching this mama bear and her 3, yes 3 cubs from about 50 yards. We had 4 Rangers around us and felt safe the whole time but it was really fun way to wrap up the trip, Alex got this photo with his phone!  

This little guy crossed the street in front of us. 

One of the Elk we saw

Adam at the Dragons Tongue in Yellowstone

More elk 

The mama bear and 2 of the cubs

We have stayed at this campground for several years in a row and across the street is this waterfall. It is amazing to see how big the waterfalls are this year. 

Hiking around in the Beartooths ~ 

Craters of the Moon National Monument and into the Tetons

Starting the day out right with this little guy at the coffee shop ~ He is so cute! 

Most of my flower photos are not good as my camera has officially taken its last smack. But, the photo of these little flowers growing in the black lava fields came out ok. 

The boys climbing the cinder cone 

Inside one of the lava tubes

Mark coming out of one of the lava tubes

One of the pieces of lava rock  ~ it is very opulescent

Into the Tetons this morning

Beaches, California and Crater Lake ~

Warming up on Cannon Beach 

One of the  many different jelly fish we saw

Cool Pirate ship kite 

Driving down 101

From the cherry stands along the way 

We spent two days laying on beaches down the coast and then got a pretty rainy day ~ so, we decided to get Adams feet on the ground in California so he could mark that one off the map. This is what it looks like inside while we are driving down the road..... :)  

Top of the Redwoods National forest 

Crater Lake National Park

We now have to pay the price for adding on the miles South. Planning a couple of days of driving with stops to see what we can. There doesnt seem to be much to see in Eastern Oregon but are planning stops in the fossil beds and then on to the Tetons. The time will be spent doing the important things ~ 

Uno Tourney on the road!

Mt Rainer and Mt Saint Helens

This was the place Alex really wanted to visit on this trip ~ SO glad we decided to fit it in! 

Making dinner in our campsite under Mt Rainer

We got up, Mark headed up the hill on his bike and the boys and I headed up to the visitors center. We stopped here to see this amazing waterfall ~ It was one of the most stunning we have ever seen,  even for Adam, who says "what is so amazing about waterfalls? They are just water!" :)    

First Bear of the trip ~ on the way up to Mt Rainer

Mt Rainer

Alex

We finished off the day by going through the Mt Saint Helens Visitors Center and viewing the Mountain. Pretty interesting for Mark and I as we remembered it ~ And then, on to Oregon!

Olympic National Park

Entering the Park to head up to Hurricane Ridge 

The boys enjoying the view at Hurricane Ridge

Some of the drift wood trees we encountered on a walk up Rialto Beach

The boys hiked to the hole in the wall 

We camped at the campground on the beach and when we went down the stairs this guy was waiting for us. He swam along and played on the beach while we gathered sand dollars.

Mark at Ruby Beach after his ride

.....and just for fun ~ We drove through the town of Forks and started to see all of this vamptire stuff ~ Then I remembered that Twilight was set here ~ Kind of funny to see all of the cute signs.