AN ORDINARY LIST OF EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES

We wandered in the sand dunes of the Southern California desert

We saw the Saguaro cactus flowers during their once a year two-week bloom and watched the fruit bats feeding on their nectar

We soared above the mountains in the wicker basket of a hot air balloon

We soaked in the heated waters of a natural mineral hot spring

We got pelted by hail during the same soak

We walked through history in the Puebloan villages of Mesa Verde

We cheered on our favorite cowboys and cowgirls at a real Southwestern rodeo

We stood in four states at the same time at Four Corners, Utah/Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico

We stood next to a John Deere harvester with wheels bigger than Gene

We tracked dust devils

We swam in the Pacific Ocean

We hiked a mile down into the Grand Canyon

We bicycled on Route 66

We crossed the Rocky Mountains

We drove right through the end of a rainbow (sadly, no pot of gold awaited us)

We observed the graceful flight of rescued-from-the-brink-of-extinction California Condors

We got sworn in as Junior Rangers in two National Parks

We marveled at the beauty of Colorado’s Treasure Falls

We fed wild chipmunks right from our hands

We basked in a glorious sunset over the Grand Canyon

We laughed through the familiarity of a real country auction

We ate Navajo tacos, fry bread, vegetarian burgers, amazing homemade pies, and melt-in-your-mouth ribs from the back of a truck

We rooted on the contestants in a boot race

We got sprayed with water from a fire truck

We wondered at the magic of a double rainbow from the balcony of our cabin

We had a close encounter with an elk

We reunited with an old friend and met a newly found relation

We stayed in cheap motels, funky inns, National Park lodges, historic stage stops, and cabins

We met expatriot New Yorkers, New Jerseyites, Californians, Texans, Floridians, Australians, and Canadians


And we’re only one quarter of the way through this adventure!



For Gene's very different view of the same journey, check out his blog at www.ConnorsArmy.blogspot.com
To learn more about Connor's Army go to www.ConnorsArmy.org
To see exactly why we're doing this go to www.SunriseDayCamp.org
To make a tax deductible donation go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056

REDEMPTION

We walked into the room and I held my breath waiting for the onslaught of whining.  Luckily, the kids were too caught up in the initial surprise of actually staying inside a National Park and in exploring the room to notice the lack of television right away.  By the time the TV issue arose they’d found the balcony overlooking the glorious hundred mile view of Mesa Verde (translation – Green Table) and the point was gratifyingly moot.

And the air conditioning? At 8,000 feet we were just grateful there was a heater!

We spent our first evening playing a cutthroat game of UNO, and our second watching a vicious lightning storm followed by an incredible double rainbow glowing in the rain-washed sunset.

Television.  We don’t need no stinkin’ television.



For Gene's very different view of the same journey, check out his blog at www.ConnorsArmy.blogspot.com
To learn more about Connor's Army go to www.ConnorsArmy.org
To see exactly why we're doing this go to www.SunriseDayCamp.org
To make a tax deductible donation go to https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=1809&id=1056