We lost internet.....

After leaving Mesa Verde we lost steady internet access and fell out of the habit of posting daily. I hope that we pick this up for future adventures.  I will post photos of our stops - Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, lunch in Las Vegas and finally Disneyland. Falling out of the habit of posting daily killed the momentum so we forgot to post once we were closer to "civilization". 

~Lyler

Mesa Verde - video link

This is what I learned at  Mesa Verde. (read quickly)

~Girlzilla

Mesa verde

Yesterday we went to see the natives cliff dwellings. We got to climb 30 foot ladders and crawl in tunnels that are 12 inches tall and see what life was like back when the natives lived there. I learned that the way they would put prints in the wall was by putting their hand on where ever they wanted their print and spit a mouth full of paint on the wall and their hand would be the only space without paint. It was a lot of fun and I would love to go there again one day.

~Boyzilla

I miss rice.....

~lyler

Standin’ on a corner in Winslow Arizona…

~T

Day 3: The Grand Canyon

I’ve never before seen it in person. Photos don’t do it justice. This one especially. We were lucky enough to get to a vista point at around sunset to take some amazing views. I had Girlzilla block the sun so my crappy camera can actually capture sine of the canyon.

~T

Critter Talk - Grand Canyon

When we went to the grand canyon  we did the critter talk. What I learned was how to tell the difference  between  a raven,turkey vulture,and california condor. When the raven flies it likes to twirl. When the turkey vulture flies it’s wings form the shape of a V & it wobbles around. And when the california condor flies it stays  straight  and steady.                  

~Girlzilla

#Route66ExpressVan visiting the OTHER wigwam motel, this one in Holbrook, AZ.

~T

Mesa Verde, CO - Balcony House

Humbling to walk into the homes of 1200AD.  How did these people climb 3 story ladders alongside a cliff while carrying their children?  How did they know how to build an air vent in their kiva to keep from suffocating? Or to build a wall with a hole in it so that when it comes time to plant crops the sun shines through the hole onto a symbol painted in the room?
After our tours we had fry bread and headed to camp.  For the next 18 hours or so our family of 4 became a family of 5 adults and 9 children (ages 6 to 13).  This is what camping is about. The kids wandered the “forest”, we broke bread together, the kids roasted marshmallows and ran around more.
Over the short period of time it felt like we’d come to Mesa Verde together on purpose.  We all know that nothing is an accident and we hope to come back to visit Mrs. Terri & the kids next year.
~lyler

#Route66ExpressVan doing her best Doctor Who school bus impression.

 

 ~T

Cracked.

It finally happened, I cracked. It took 4 and a half days for me to get to the point of yelling “Will you please be quiet!”.  I was trying to read 2 paper maps and compare to our digital map while giving directions.  All this while the kids were arguing over something unimportant. Was it because we were changing our route after our planned stop in Gallup, NM (approx. 1.5 more hours of driving) or hunger?
I don’t deal well with change.  The plan has always been to get to Gallup, head to Four Corners then into Colorado but in the interest of time we will head straight to Colorado.  We will visit Four Corners on our way into Utah.

~lyler

Kingsman, AZ

When we went in to kingsman we went to the  visitor center. At the visitor center a lady gave us three passports only about Arizona. She said”you can go all over route 66  getting stamps at different places.

~Gitlzilla

Staying true to the original Route

Staying true to the original Route, we have traveled over unpaved roads. Watch out for prairie dogs and cows!

~lyler

Day 2: we left Needles

and immediately entered Arizona for the first time. We spent a lot of time driving through the desert, visiting a couple road-side attractions. Many featured old and dilapidated cars, like this one here. The highlight of the day, however, was visiting Angel Delgadillo at his barber shop in Seligman. We also stopped for a burger and shake at Snow Cap, which was founded by his brother Juan.

~T

We ask the kids “What did you learn? questions as we travel.  Here is Girlzilla taking notes, just in case.

Now leaving Williams, AZ

Seligman, AZ - Mile Marker 121

The RE-birthplace of Route 66.  The most emotional stop for me thus far. To see a town that was literally erased from maps and forgotten.  Had a chocolate malt at the Snow Cap Drive-In. Then to meet Angel Delgadillo, the man who made it happen was surreal.

The Disney Pixar movie Cars was written by John Lassiter after visiting Angel and hearing his story.  This is the movie that inspired our trip :)

~lyler

Pictures won’t do the Grand Canyon justice.  Instead I will post a photo of our breakfast visitors.  While having our breakfast burritos we looked up and saw these guys quietly munching along.  I stalked them for a little while.

We went into the park and traveled the South Rim using the free shuttle they have. Super convenient and absolutely beautiful. It started to rain, not a downpour but enough to keep us from having our steaks for dinner. After a stop in Tusayan (land with no water), we took showers at camp services. $2 for 8 minutes of hot water showers.  8 minutes is longer than you think! We watched the sunset behind the canyon attended a ranger talk and headed back to camp.

Picking up in Williams tomorrow and heading all the way to Gallup, NM.

~lyler

Leaving the Mother Road

We left Route 66 to head towards the Grand Canyon.  We arrived at camp in the dark.  Boyzilla made our fire all by himself.  He shared afterwards “I’ve never done that before.” What?!? Thank goodness he has his flint ;) S’mores before bed, snug as a bug in  rug in the #route 66 express van

~lyler

Williams, AZ - Mile Marker 163

Quick stop for a cowboy street show before making camp at our spot for the next 2 nights visiting the Grand Canyon.

Going to the grand canyon

If you go there it is amazing! It is so pretty that it looks like a painting! After a while you will  get hungry. When we got there  we went to the visitor center. Then we went on the shuttle and sat most of the time. We stayed at the canyon the whole day.

~Girlzilla

Grand Canyon Caverns -Mile Marker 115

The 2nd largest dry cavern in the world.  Only 3% of known caverns are dry.  The photo above is of the room INSIDE the cavern you can rent for the night.  NO thanks!

~lyler

Hackberry, AZ - Mile Marker 80

Stopped at the original building of the general store which is now a knick knack shop for Route 66 memorabilia. We left our mark on the wall of money too!

~lyler

The Grand Canyon

Yesterday we went to the grand canyon. I was so excited to go because i had only seen it in movies or shows so I knew this was going to be great. It was way better than I had expected. It was amazing to be able to go to the canyon and just experience its beauty and history. Nobody was talking in awe of the canyon. It had proceeded my expectation by 1000 and it was one of the best experiences of my life.  Later that day we went back to learn about the  havasupai people. Which is translated into “people of the blue-green waters”.This tribe survived in the grand canyon. But before that we got to see the sun set at the grand canyon and it was the most amazing sunset I have ever seen! The grand canyon was an amazing experience and I hope to take my kids there one day.

~Boyzilla

Elmo - Founder if Bottle Tree Forest

"If you know what you want to do and you are 100% sure of it then go for it with everything you got because you may not get paid much or get much reward but you get happiness and you can not pocket that."

~Boyzilla

Cool Springs, AZ - Mile Marker 33

A 1926 Mobil gas station with nothing around for miles

~lyler

"Standing on the corner of Winslow, Arizona" - Mile Marker 252

 

~Lyler

Oatman, AZ

Where descendants of burros from the gold rush rule streets and are fed by tourists every day.

~lyler

ARIZONA!

First we went to the grand canyon caverns and ate lunch. Then we went 210 feet underground to the dry caverns. After that we went to seligman

~Girlzillz

Needles, CA

 They have this wagon…..

~lyler

Fable and I had a big day yesterday (08/04)

We went to muscle beach first. Then we went to the boardwalk. Then we drove a hour or two and saw the aztec hotel. Then we went to the original mcdonalds and saw alot  of old mcdonald stuff. We also saw the wigwam motel. After we went to the milatary museum. At the milatary museum we  met a nice dog named mimi. The last place we went was  the bottle trees. We met a guy named elmo there who makes the bottle trees. And that was the end of the day.

~Girlzilla

Observation from the Observer

Walking away after asking for directions at the front desk of the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn Girlzilla whispers loudly “the lady you were talking to watches Dr. Who”. The young lady at the desk calls out “I do!”.  I asked how Girlzilla knew that and the lady pointed at her TARDIS earrings. Nice job Girlzilla!

~lyler

#Route66ExpressVan visiting the Wigwam Motel in Rialto, CA

#Route66ExpressVan looking hella majestic under the Arroyo Seco Bridge in Pasadena, CA

~T

Just found this under the Santa Monica pier sign

Link: http://www.motherroadrevisited.com/home/theroute/

-T

Lastly, this is Route 66 Express Van

She’ll be getting us to where we want to go and keeping us safe on the way and, sometimes, when we’re there. Yes she’s a Mercedes, and yes she’s comfy. Ish. She’s still a van. More importantly, she’s big, strong, and reliable.

-T

Today’s travels brought us from Santa Monica to Needles, CA.

Highlights: 
Aztec Hotel, Wig Wam Motel, Original McDonalds, Bottle Tree Forest & several abandoned gas stations.
What would have taken us about 5 hours via interstate without stops, took us the whole day. It has been an adjustment for me to not feel like I needed to be somewhere “right now” or not having designated stops at every turn.  Its only been 2 days but the time with the family has been amazing! Taking the road less traveled with the ones you love doesn’t have to be scary :)

Things I Saw/Experienced:
-The original McDonalds no longer sells food. It is now the site of the Unofficial McDonald’s Museum.  The original concept was like Sonic and they had car hops!  The curator is passionate about MacDonald’s.
-Elmo started creating the Bottle Trees from his dads bottle collection,13 years ago and hasn’t stopped since.  The forest has treasures like old war guns, radiators, typewriters and sewing machines hidden in every corner.
-Most of these little towns have fast food places (Taco Bell, KFC & McDs) but have yet to have their logos updated
-Boost Mobile is a big thing out here and its weird to see em in every town
-Some parts of Route 66 are so unkept that the vibrations made my hands numb

~lyler

We made it!

      ~Boyzilla

And I’m T. The pilot.

The wheel man. The transporter. Call it what you want, I’m usually at the helm of #Route66ExpressVan. I also carry heavy stuff, reach high things and I’m a leaf on the wind.

~T

Having fun in Hollywood!

~Girlzilla

Things Mama (Lyler) Learned on the 1st Leg of Our Road Trip

• You need to face the person you are speaking to in order for them to hear you, even if they are right next to you.  Right next to you in this van still means 3 to 4 feet away
• The kids won’t have anything to say, fight over or be hungry unless you are trying to take a nap.  Not a new lesson but something I was fooled to think they had outgrown. Silly Lyler!
• Don’t underestimate one tiny fly when you are at the wheel going through the Grapevine
• Elmo is a smoker

~lyler

Meet the crew

First, my first officer, Lyler. She’ll be navigator, reserve driver, organizer, and trip commander. (Pretty sure she didn’t know I was taking this picture…)

-T

Second, is Boyzilla

 Runner, catcher, comic relief, magician (he can make money, food and silence disappear).

-T

Next is Girlzilla

The observer and meal planner. She will spot stuff from miles away, especially if it’s food and she’s hungry.

~T

Day 0

Lyler is in for her first stint in #Route66ExpressVan. This is a road well traveled for us, but we’ll be doing and seeing things later that the kids have neither done nor seen. Our destination today is L.A., our official starting point.

-T

Getting ready for the trip

We are here double and triple checking our luggage and are so excited to go on the mother road! I am really excited for this trip to get closer with family. I really want to see places that I’ve only heard of. Such as the grand canyon and four corners AND of course route 66. Let’s go!

~Boyzilla

Day -1

 

Picking up #route66expressvan  @bandago apparently they call her Penny Lane.

 

~T