Great American Roadtrip: Part Two, the Westward Journey

This portion of our trip we saw Carlsbad Cavern and Arches National Park.  It was s good trip and the kids did well.  Hannah and Jonathan were so excited about seeing bats at the cave and thankfully the weather was great too. 

Ranger Jonathan

We arrived at Carlsbad around 6 pm on Monday.  We ate dinner and then went to await the bat exit from the cave.  Charlotte and Spencer started to get fussy and tired so I went and stood at the back with them.  Jonathan joined me and then we it was so bad I had to go back to the car.  Unfortunately it meant the four of us missed out on the bat exit though we did see swarms of them from the car. 

Ranger Hannah

Ranger Charlotte

The next day we spent a few hours in the cave.  The kids really enjoyed it and did great walking through it.  Charlotte and Spencer spent most of the walk asleep. 

Waiting for the bats to leave.

Then back to on the road and off to Durango for the evening.  I wrestled a fever that night and felt a little off the next day but by the time we got to Arches I was feeling much better.  We walked around Balanced Rock, up to Sand Dune Arch and the off to Provo.  The kids loved the sand at Sand Dune Arch.  They loved climbing on the rocks.  Jonathan did ask when we were going to a real park where they could play and climb on things.  They didn't really like the idea of "park" in the National Park sense.  They are use to parks with playgrounds.  It was kind of funny. 

New Mexico sunset.

Cool stalagmite.

Formation in Carlsbad Caverns

Sleeping Beauty

Family photo at Balanced Rock.

Hannah and Jonathan with Cowboy Jim at Sand Dune Arch.

Playing in the sand at Sand Dune Arch.

Sand Dune Arch

We got to Provo late afternoon on Wednesday and were very glad to unload at Grandma and Grandpa Allred's house.  It was fun to share those to places with the kids.  We didn't do everything but they are two places that mean a lot to Hyrum and I as we stopped both places and had a good time there before Hannah and the other kids arrived in our lives.  It was fun to share those memories with them.