Mammoth Cave...The End

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky was our next stop. Here are the kids furiously working on their ranger programs to earn their badges.

Our kid-friendly excursion into the longest cave in the world is about to begin.

Inside, it was too dark for the camera to focus, but it is clear that the 54 degree temperatures are too cold for shorts and t-shirts. Next time, we'll be wearing jeans and coats!

At our campsite, the kids got to play on the playground and pet mangy deer while we organized the camper for drop-off.

We landed in South Carolina to return the camper to this man, the hero who loaned his marvelous camper to part-time gypsies for a magnificent summer of fun. 

Thank you, Brad!

From South Carolina, we set the GPS for home. And drove for hours in traffic that looked like this, except sometimes it was 8 lanes that looked like this.

This summer we drove nearly 12,000 miles through 30 states and one foreign country.

Would I do it over again? 

In a heartbeat.

Southern Illinois

After leaving the Grand Canyon we drove two long days, camping first in Grand Junction, Colorado and then Salina, Kansas. Our next stop: Southern Illinois and family.

Whenever we pull into the driveway, the excitement hits a fever pitch.

We landed at 4 pm, my sisters' boyfriends arrived later that night. The next day, Aunt Rachael rented a bounce house. Between exhausting ourselves with banqueting, bouncing, and badminton, I could hardly move.

Kyle, I'm sorry. But this is the best picture I got of you.

Although I FAILED to take a picture of swimming in the lake, we did and now I can consider my summer complete. Saying goodbye never gets any easier, though.

Grand Canyon

From San Diego, we set the GPS to the Grand Canyon.

We passed spectacular vermilion cliffs along the way.

We set up our camp, had dinner and just enough time to see the sun set on the canyon.

It was even grander in the morning.

We camped at the North Rim and it was fantastic because it isn't as popular or crowded as the South Rim.  We also enjoyed the North Rim campsite because it's just steps from the canyon, it's dark and quiet, and the sites are huge with plenty of space. We LOVED this stop.

San Diego

It felt so good to shower off the dust of Yosemite. We have heard it said that if you are ever to visit this national park, it should be done in the spring or not at all. I'm not sure what it's like in the spring time, but summer is definitely NOT good timing. We woke up early and eager to leave. This time, family lay at the end of the road and we couldn't get there fast enough. We had a quick, easy breakfast of oatmeal, loaded our bags and our blisters into the car and away we went.

We pulled in to see a happy site:

James, in your absence, Violet has moved on and found a new crush.

We got to see Grandma, and had lovely visits together.

The master of all things really, really, really good looking cleaned up the boys' shaggy camping hair.

The kids also got to visit the Marine base air museum. 

Violet stuck to her great Auntie like a starfish. 

After this, the camera was forgotten as I was absorbed with my family. Some things are too enjoyable and important even for pictures. 

We miss you guys.

Yosemite

After hiking around the redwood forests, we hopped back into the car and took off for Yosemite. We had peanut butter and nutella sandwiches and oranges for lunch. My lap has looked like this for a thousand lunches along the way.

I adore the style of bright, vintage California signs.

For dinner, we followed the angelic voices and heavenly glow to the very first In-N-Out in our path. It was GLORIOUS.

We witnessed a magnificent California sunset just before we pulled into our camp.

Bright and early the next day, we entered Yosemite National Park.

We realized when we tried to get to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and every parking lot was FULL, that this was not going to be an easy day. We had to back track 4 miles and take a shuttle.

The kids were tired from all the fun we've been having, but still in good humors while we waited for our bus. 

The sequoias are big trees, but I enjoyed the prehistoric setting of the Redwood Forests more.

And then we started walking. It was a long, crowded, dusty, hot, sweaty, gritty, dry, thirsty, rocky, steep, difficult and miserable hike. 

This is a tired, dusty foot that wore a Dansko because I didn't realize this was going to be such a difficult day.

When we finally reached the end of the walk and a drink of water, the mood picked back up.

Everyone was very relieved we took the easier road back. 

We couldn't leave Yosemite fast enough. Back at camp, an intense game of Go Fish ensued. 

My favorite Yosemite picture: