On Saturday, June 24th, 2006, the seven of us -- Lynda, Jessie, Kaitlin, Dylan, Donovan, Nik, and I -- left the peacefulness of Saranac Lake an took off on a six week trip out west.  In preparation for the  trip, Donovan had decided to visit a body-piercing shop.  Well, not really, the rings are fake :-)  

We woke up before six and got the boys (Dylan and Donovan) out of bed a few minutes before seven, hoping to be out the door and on the way by 7:30.  Lynda had spent most of the week before packing up the van for the trip, so there was only a little bit left to do the day before our departure.

Our van was packed the day before.	Dylan likes to sit down while brushing his teeth.

Donovan having pizza for breakfast.	Saying good bye	And finally, we're on our way.

Our route passed by Fort Drum, the home of the Army's 10th Mountain Division.  I needed a haircut and Nik needed a memory chip for his camera, so we decided to stop there and have lunch in addition to the shopping. We parked in the division monument grounds for lunch.

Our first sightseeing destination was Watkins Glen State Park in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  I had visited the Glen several times before both as a racing participant with SCCA and a driving instructor for Car Guys Inc.  At right Katelin shows off her climbing skills on the canyon wall.  Far right:  Many many steps in the Watkins Glen gorge.

The trail wound through some waterfalls.

Lynda stopped to cool off and stuck her head under the water spray.	Kaitlin followed suit...	and so did Jessie.

Jessie and Kaitlin overlooking a fall in the gorge.	Lynda at the end of a ROUGH day.	Jessie catching up on  some sleep.

We stayed that night in a Comfort Suites motel in St Charles, Missouri near St Louis. Kids took advantage of the motel's water park/swimming pool.

Days 3 and 4:

		After leaving from St Charles, Missouri (suburb of St Louis), we headed out to Kansas where we stopped for lunch near Lawrence.  As usual, Lynda prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone.

Soon we passed Kansas City and the arch.

		We spent our fourth night in Milford State Park near Fort Riley and Junction City in Kansas.

Jessie and Kaitlin relaxed..	while Nik and Donovan tried their hand at fishing.	At dinner time, Dylan gobbled down his serving of Ramer noodles.

Sunset from our camp site

The next day, June 28th, we found a Sonic drive-in restaurant in Colby, Kansas.

Lynda and a foot-long hot dog.	Kaitlin and Jessie having a burrito and ?	Dylan and Donovan feeding their faces also.

Some swimming pool shots...

Colorado is next!