We cleaned up camp and left Goblin Valley pretty early. We stopped and the kids got their Junior Ranger badges. Every state or national park we go to, the girls want to do the Junior Ranger program. It is a really neat little program. They have to fill out a little booklet about that particular park, turn it in to the Ranger and then the Ranger signs it, gives the kids their badges, and they are sworn in. They raise their hands and repeat the 'oath' and they become Junior Rangers. They wear their badges proudly and with honor!
We were on our way to Escalante and had several stops along they way. Our first stop was just outside of Goblin Valley to see some pictographs. They were pretty cool.
Our next stop took us to find some dinosaur bones. Lili fell asleep so I stayed in the van while everyone else got out looking or bones. They found 2, so Mark was pretty excited. I can't remember which bones they were, I think one was a rib.
We stopped at Zions National Park. Holly's ancestors discovered it and there cabin is still there, which we got out and looked at. She was telling us some pretty cool stories about them. We stopped to see more pictographs further in Zions. It was good for the kids to get out and run for a while.
Our next stop was in Capital Reef National Park. We got to the visitor center, the girls did their booklet and the rest of the kids wanted to do it too. However, at that time, most of the parents were too hungry and grumpy to do it with them. So they promised the Ranger they would finish on their way. Our girls were the only ones finished and then got their badges. We stopped a bit after to go on another hike. We got all geared up, everyone left us...hahahha....so we hurried to catch up. By the time we were on our way up, Dave & Sean's families were coming down to leave. Then Mark came back to get us and took the kids and told them to be careful because we were on the top of a massive cliff, so we had to be extra cautious.
Dave & Sean's family went up to the next little town to eat. We caught up to them and waited for them to finish eating. We got the kids ice cream while everyone else was eating. It was a nice little break to be out of the van.
As we drove from Capital Reef to Escalante, the scenery changed drastically. We went from complete desert to lush green forest back to waste land mountains and boulders, to greenery again. We saw many different animals and birds. It was a beautiful drive.
Sean pulled over to show us more pictographs when we first got into Escalante, his old stomping ground for his field school before he graduated college. That is where him & Erika met, both archeology majors. Then off to the camp ground we went. It was nothing like I pictured in my head. I was thinking an archeology field school to be like the Indiana Jones movie kind I guess. I know that sounds silly but it's true. But nope, it was red rocks, greenery, petrified wood everywhere. We camped at the reservoir. After we set up camp, we went swimming. It was like ice water. It was freezing but the kids loved it, even Lili. My kids were purple before they wanted to get out. I couldn't go in past my armpitties. Boy, I sure cooled off after that. I was super hot before but after I was a bit chilly but it was a welcomed change.
That night it stormed all night. I was so glad we put the rain cover over the tent. There was a nice breeze the whole time, so no over heating!
We woke up, everyone taking their time to pack up and leave. I thought the plan was to get out early again, so we were waiting around a bit. Dave & Holly took off for home and didn't stay the last day to see Escalante or Bryce Canyon, but the rest of us did.
However, during the night, Enrique started having an allergy attack, which continued until we left the camp grounds. Then off and on again that morning while we were still in Escalante. There was some weed he is highly allergic too that was around. The one spot was terrible. It was the site Sean actually did his field work. We saw 2 rattle snakes and Enrique had to have his shirt over his mouth and nose 10 minutes into it so he could breath. He went back to the can and he was awful. If he would have been out for another 5 minutes, he probably would have had to been seen by a doctor and get medicine in him right away. I felt bad for Sean at the same time. Here we are, finally at his field school and we had to cut it super short. Once he realized how bad Enrique was, he was ok but we still felt bad rushing him.
We went to the visitor center,Sean had to for a work project, and they had a booklet for the Junior Ranger program. So the girls promised to finish it before they would wear their badges. They gave us the badges early because we wouldn't be back there. After Sean took us to this place that was really cool, we hiked up the mountain a ways to get to it but it was more pictographs. They were really awesome! We went right back down because Lili was sleeping in the van, the others followed shortly after.
Next we were on our way to Bryce Canyon National Park. It was amazing there. Once again the kids & Sean's kids this time got the Junior Ranger booklets. We were in this park for most of the day, 7 or 8 hours or so. I was doing the booklets with my kids and Sean asked if I would help his kids because he kept getting to frustrated with it. hahahha So we drove the entire park length. We went to the end and came back and stopped to see many parts of the Park. We also had to stop to go potty a lot. It was amazing there. It made you feel so tiny in such a huge world.
Just to think, we did 4 state and national parks in 3 days. We hardly heard any English, it was all foreign languages, most every park we were in. To think, it is only a 5 hour drive or so for us and so many people make this their huge vacations, flying from over seas to do what we did. It really made us think about how we need to do more in our own state and surrounding states.
At the end of our time there, we took the kids back and they turned in their booklets. The Ranger asked them questions and they answered. Then they were sworn in and got their badges. Then we thought about how much our girls love doing that program, so we bought them their our Junior Ranger hats. They look similar to the real rangers hats. They were very excited and proud to be wearing them.
We stopped along the way to eat and then got home at 1:30 am. Enrique had to work the next day too. He said it was worth it to him to have done everything we did, it didn't matter what time it was when we got home. This was a very memorable vacation. We all had a great time. I think it is going to become a yearly event...camping with all our families. It would have been so different if it was just us, but it was so much better because all my brothers and their families were able to go. It was a great 4 days! Thanks Sean for putting so much into it! (I'll) post the photos later, our camera died so I have to get them all from Sean, Mark, & Jake's cameras.)