Our Summer 2014 Road Trip - Part 1

This year for our summer vacation, we opted to take a road trip. A very long one. We started by heading West to L.A. and then by going North up the Pacific Coast Highway. We had great intentions to stop along coastal towns and look for other beautiful vistas. However, we underestimated the time driving the PCH would take. We were trying to get to the Bay area before night fall... so we had to limit our stops along the way.

Thankfully, we were able to stop at Moon Stone Beach. The beach was enchanting. The weather was perfect.

Here is a picture I posted to Instagram:

Just breathtaking, really.

Nico made sure to collect some sand/stones to bring home; it's tradition. Of course, nearly a month later, that "tradition" is still sitting in Ziploc bags in our garage. I need to figure out a project for them.

The kids both had a good time driving up the PCH... and they were pretty patient. Which made the drive easier for Marcos and I.

Even though days 2-5 were full of fun, we would definitely love to do the first leg of PCH over again and make those stops sometime. Maybe just the two of us?

First Road Trip of 2014 [Jerome, Arizona]

I know I wrote a similar post back in the day -  maybe for 2009? Either way, I am very excited to announce that yesterday... we got away!

We decided to head 2.5 hours NW to Jerome, Arizona and from there up north a little more to Flagstaff. This time around, Alex wasn't able to join us; he had to work. Bummer. But let me tell you, Isabel and Nico were on their very best behavior (thank you Mr. Steve Jobs) and we had a blast.

Personally, Jerome was a little more artsy-fartsy than I normally like... I was really missing the history of the place. I wanted more ghosts, less sculptures. But, it is a beautiful town with great crumbling buildings.

After Jerome, we headed out to dinner in Flagstaff. And on the outskirts, we found leftover snow. It's been years since we took the kids to play during the winter. Shame on us. I think we've decided to head up there just as soon as they get another snowfall. Nico was so hoping to build a snowman, but the snow was pretty hard and icy. They were able to make a few snowballs and throw them at each other.

We had dinner at one of our favorite places, albeit new to Flagstaff, Someburros (Mexican food - quick and delish!). We stayed there for well over an hour, just relaxing and eating all the free chips we could handle. After that, we may our way back down to the valley. And after a quick pitstop at Culvers for some frozen custard, we were back home in just over 3 hours.

I will say, for once I wasn't the one asking for all of the bathrooom breaks. Nico had us stop TWICE. I think he drank too much lemonade. :)

While we missed the heck out of Alex, we had a great time. We plan on doing a whole bunch more intra-state road trips this year!! Cheap & fun entertainment! 1 tank of gas and a dinner for 4... not bad! :)

The Finale

Aren't you glad we only traveled from NC to AZ... and not around the world?
I could have gone on forever and ever and ever.

But, to be honest... All good things must come to an end.

Here are a few snapshots from the lovely state of Arizona.

Below is Abby's picture - her first in Arizona in 13 years.
Pardon the back-seat bed head. The trip was long.
We all were tired.

These pics are of the town of Globe and Miami (they are pretty close together, most people call it Globe-Miami).

What is with Arizona?! Always putting words or letters on foothills and mountains?!?!

This is the Queen Creek tunnel. About an hour and a half away from the town of Queen Creek (where we reside just outside of)... Isn't it neat?! The date is hard to see, but it's 1952 (hey - that's the year my dad was born!!).

We were less than 2 hours away from home in the above shot - but boy were we ready!!
We've been home a week now. We are settling in.
The honeymoon is over - and I for real have 4 kids in the house.
But, to be honest... I wouldn't have it any other way.
We love having Abby with us.
Good luck, Jess, trying to get her back!! =)

Marcos & Jaime go to White Castle {or Castillo Blanco} - Part 6

For a moment, the ball to my chain thought he'd made it to his homeland.
Just kidding...

I am talking about New Mexico!

We barely made it into the great state before we came across a cool-as-heck travel center; specifically Russell's Travel Center.

It was night time, we were tired... this was the perfect fix!

 

Besides drinks, gum, post cards and deodorant - it had a MUSEUM!!
For reals.

Photo Dump!

Skurry!!

 

Well, hello Marylin!

This "thing" below actually had a talking voice that said weird things.  

Something about how awkward it was for us to be watching him.

Um. HE left the door open.

LOVE at FIRST SIGHT!!

(the car, not the dude)

Check out the bathrooms...

Well, I guess I should clarify - the ENTRANCE to the bathrooms.

After grabbing a few things, we were on our way!
Marcos had scoured the maps looking for a good way home. There a few ways into the Phoenix area and most had us go through winding, steep roads. Yuck.

So, he found a SHORT CUT.
dum, dum, dummmmm.
Right?

The issue? The gas station at the opening to the shortcut was CLOSED. Even though it was completely lit up - there were parking gates that were closed. No one was there. That should have been our first clue.

The car said we had about 70 miles left of our tank. We couldn't turn back.
We took the short cut. And prayed.
It was PITCH black.
And scary.
Thank gosh we couldn't see our surroundings - it was probably crazy.
We had no idea how long this short cut was. Exactly.

You know what I just thought of, as I am trying to make this part intense?!  We are home, so evidently we survived. Darn. Sorry for the spoiler.

As Marcos and I watched the tank drain and the light come on, we were super quiet. Abby was asleep. Would we make it?! (grr, of course we do.)  We passed downed signs, curious elk and not much else.

Just as we thought the car was going to stall, my stud made it to the end of the long road (aka shortcut)... It took us into a small town.

A small SCARY town.

Have you ever heard of Quemada, New Mexico?

Us neither.

OMG. I just learned that it means "burned" in Spanish. Dum, Dum, Dummmmm!

Marcos and I were able to breath again when we saw a gas station (using the term loosely - hey, it had gas!). The building was locked up tight. No lights. But the pumps were on!

As we gassed up, Abby awoke. Both of us concluded that every small, scary town, ever talked about or filmed was mushed together into Quemada. Abby says she was just waiting for an old man, complete with overalls, no shirt and a toothless grin to come out and get us.

The town was DEAD.

This was our view from the front seat, while Marcos filled up the tank:

As we rushed to get out of Quemada, we noticed a building off to the side, where there had to be at least 40 cars parked outside. Very Stephen King and the Hills have Eyes-ish.

But alas, we survived.
Which is how I will be able to bring you tomorrow's conclusion!


Boo!

Marcos & Jaime go to White Castle {er, Cracker Barrel?} Part 5

Oh the great state of Texas. Or Tejas as we like to pronounce it in this family.
We knew were halfway home... we wanted to boot scoot it right through there... Not because we don't LURVE the lone star state, but because we were tired!!

Is this not the GREATEST?! As in EVER?!
The leaning tower of water.
Love it.

Hey.
Hey.
Heyyyyy.
Hay.

Abby and her Monty Python bunny slippers. Outside of Cracker Barrel in Amarillo, Texas. Not to be confused with the Cracker Barrel in NC or OK. I think we stopped at quite a few CBs. But, we only ate at the one in Texas. For dinner. It was delish.

By the time we were done eating and souvenir shopping, night had fallen and it couldn't get up.
My camera is a morning person, so I couldn't get the best shot of the flag, but you get the idea.
Right?
 

New Mexico is up next - and boy were there adventures to be had.
More on that tomorrow.

Marcos & Jaime go to White Castle {Part 4}

State number 4 has a play named after it...

Because we went through the top half of the state, it was one of the longest periods of our car ride. I can tell you that OK is pretty. And pretty flat.

I am not normally so ditzy, but during this leg of the race trip, I learned why a panhandle is called a panhandle.

Because it looks like the handle of a PAN! Can you believe that?! Genius.

Moving on...Towards Oklahoma City!

But those blue skies go on for ever and ever and ever.

Love this. It was sitting out in front of a restaurant called Pig Out Palace.
For the record, we gassed up near there. We did not eat at the Pig Out Palace.
There was no pigging out on our road trip.
Unless you count White Castle. Then there was some.

Decisions, decisions. 

I love me some Garth Brooks. First concert I ever went to. Early 90s. Kentucky State Fair.
I love me some Garth Brooks.
Oh, I already said that.

These things I've never shown you before are WATER TOWERS.
{duh!}

And this here is a certain 16 year old, text, text, texting her way across the great {flat} state of Oklahoma.

The one thing I LURVE about Oklahoma?! They give you SPECIFIC instructions on what they expect for you to do on their freeways. Don't go over 70 mph... and doggonit - DO NOT go UNDER 40.