Homeward Bound

We are eating FRESH Krispy Kreme donuts and playing Homeward Bound on the stereo. We have thrown in the towel officially and are heading home a day early. It is just too *&%# HOT to camp or enjoy being outdoors. It was still 90 degrees at 9 pm last night so we stayed in a hotel. It's been a great trip but it is time to head home...where we have a/c!

Last View of Cedar Point

A nice view out over Lake Erie from the Skyview gondola ride on our way out of the park. Oh, shoot, we didn't have time for the ferris wheel...guess we will have to come back! It is WAY past nap time now...

Close up of Millenium Force

Ok...here's a zoomed in pic of Ken and the boys on Millenium Force this morning. We rode rides all day...lots of coasters but other good stuff too. I was worried about the heat today but we were so soaking wet from the water rides that we always felt pretty cool! It's a great park, right out on Lake Erie.

Raptor at Cedar Point

Jamie and Craig rode Raptor - with their feet dangling in the air! - while Ken and I rode a classic wooden coaster, Blue Streak...that was enough coasters for me! ( j & c are not actually in this photo but you can see what a crazy ride it is!)

Bumper Cars at Cedar Point

An old favorite! (and btw Ken, Craig, and Jamie were actually IN the coaster car in that last photo of Millenium Force...Jamie had a teal blue shirt on...can u see them?)

Cedar Point Park ohio

Ken, Jamie, and Craig ride Millenium Force, a 90 mph coaster! The walk to the coaster was enough for me! Lol

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Devil's Lake

We cooled off in the lake after our hike (though it's a gorgeous day and not that hot). See the big rectangular rocks almost at the top of the hill? That's where Balanced Rock is!

Devil's Lake State Park WI

We have this exact same photo at home - of Jamie and Craig in front of Balanced Rock - taken 10 years ago! It's a long climb up here but the magnificent views are worth it!

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Candy Corn in Minnesota?

We couldn't figure out why selling candy corn by the roadside was apparently a popular business model in Minnesota. Turns out they're not selling the multicolored Halloween candy...that's just what they call sweet corn on the cob here! We bought some for dinner tonite : ) Onto Wisconsin!

Last Look at the Badlands

Our last view of Badlands National Park...we spotted a bighorn sheep up on top of the rocks on our way out!

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Castle Trail - Badlands

Ken and the boys hiked over 2 miles along Castle Trail!

Badlands Views

Gorgeous views around every corner! Last night's hike did me in so Ken and the boys are hiking the Castle Trail this morning while I drive down the park road and enjoy some scenic overlooks like this one...the quiet time alone isn't bad either ; )

Beware of Rattlesnakes

Craig DID see a rattlesnake! It was right at the start of the trail. He heard it rattle and saw it crawl into a hole, and we could all see it coiled up in there!

The Notch - Badlands

We arrived at the notch...amazing views of the Badlands and an approaching storm!

The Notch Trail

Hiking our favorite trail in Badlands National Park.

Wall Drug SD

Left the Black Hills today...so sad to leave our favorite place ( and the cool mountains). Had to stop at famous Wall Drug...note the jackalope in the foreground!

Tunnel on Needles Highway

This is a shot of us driving through one of the long, very narrow tunnels on Needle Highway...wow!

On Top of the World!

We climbed to the top of this spire and were rewarded with magnificent panoramic views of the Black Hills!

The Needles

We love climbing among the amazing rock formations along Needles Highway in Custer State Park! See the Eye of the Needle on the far left side of this photo?

In Town - Hill City

We enjoyed a nice evening looking through the gift shops and eating yummy ice cream in Hill City, SD.

Wind Cave National Park

Jamie and Craig 200 ft underground on the cave tour.

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Mount Rushmore

We enjoyed a nice morning at Mt. Rushmore. It's amazing how much detail they created using dynamite and drills!

The Herd is on the Move

There were hundreds and hundreds of bison in this herd, all crossing the road right in front of us and walking alongside us. Amazing!!

Bison Up Close and Personal!

Some of the bison walked right past our car...they are huge! One even walked right up to us and was face to face with the hood of our car! They are amazing animals.

South Dakota Traffic Jam

A baby bison decided to stop for lunch in the middle of the road!

Ken and Sue at Sylvan Lake

I had to prove that I'm on this trip, too! Isn't Sylvan Lake gorgeous?

Sylvan Lake

Jamie and Craig climbing on the rocks at Sylvan Lake, our favorite place on earth! Reminded us of the last time we were here, with the Martins.

Black Hills

Finally arrived in the Black Hills last night after a looong drive across South Dakota. We enjoyed a nic elunch with our friend Tara at Doo Wah Ditty's, a 50s style diner...great food Nd company!

Lunch in the Other Rochester!

We enjoyed lunch at Whistle Binkies on the Lake, named after a Scottish pub.

On top of Mill Bluff

I think Miley Cyrus was wrong...it's not all about the climb...it's all about the spectacular view from the top!

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Mill Bluff State Park WI

Ken and Craig climb the steps to Mill Bluff.

Mill Bluff State Park WI

Craig got a nice fire going at our campsite tonight. We stopped on our way thru Chicago area to visit our friend Katie and her son Miles, and Katie treated us to traditional deep dish pizza...yum!!

Fresh pizza for lunch

How cool! A food truck with a pizza oven parked right outside our campground! Yum

Chillin' at Indiana Dunes

It's so hectic and stressful here...zzz... (sorry about the thumb shadow - too bright to see the screen)

After Mt. Baldy

On the beach with Mt. Baldy in the background. The boys went up and down it twice! I barely made it once...haha

Mt. Baldy

At the summit of Mt. Baldy, a moving sand dune and the highest at Indiana Dunes. Long hike up to the top!

Brrrr!

Jamie and Craig brave the cold water and the rough waves!

Day at the Beach

Wow...totally different lake than last night. Big wind and huge waves! No rock skipping today but perfect for flying a kite!

Skipping Rocks

The boys enjoy a rock skipping contest...beautiful evening.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

We made it! Neither rain nor thunderstorms nor broken glasses keep us from having fun! The campground and the lakeshore are beautiful.

Lunch Stop

Things are looking up! Walmart vision center superglued Ken's glasses and we had lunch at a Chinese buffet for $4.99 each! That's Craig and Ken in front of the koi pond. Now we are back on the road, resuming our journey!

Good Luck and Bad

Actually found a single bag of zapps in a vending machine on the Ohio Turnpike - what are the chances? More problems cropping up...raining so no cedar point today and ken's glasses just broke! Rolling with the punches and staying flexible!!

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Visiting Old Friends!

We had so much fun visiting my childhood friend Michelle and her daughters in Ohio that I forgot to take any pictures! Lots of laughs and reminiscing (and eye rolling from our kids). Now on our way to Cedar Point but may have to go to plan b if the weather forecast is accurate.

On the Road Again

Finally on our way. Just 5 minutes and we've already crossed into another state (a benefit of living in tiny delaware!). Can I relax now??