Summer Vacation 2003 – Part 2 (AIC)

If you read my previous blog, you already know we started our summer vacation on May 19th. Our original intent was to leave Texas and head up to Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, then on to visit Devil’s Tower, travel north through the Dakotas, east across North Dakota, continue south and east through Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and back home via the Natchez Trace Parkway. It would have been a two and a half month journey taking us through the end of July, as that’s how long it would necessitate to do it all.

But, best laid plans are often interrupted, and you just have to go with the flow. 🤪🥴

When our daughter-in-law went into preterm labor at 28 weeks and was put on bedrest, we decided to cut our trip in half so we could go home and help out. We came straight home after the Rally, saving the rest of the road for another time, ending our trip just before Independence Day.


“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21

Our seventh grand baby Olivia Jade was born on June 30th, over two months early (29 weeks gestation). It happened the day we left Rock Springs Wyoming for home. She was 2 pounds 14 ounces at birth, and 11.5″ long (the size of a sheet of paper). She is soooo tiny. She’s a fighter. All her APGAR scores were normal, her lungs were strong, and she was born with hair. It is mandatory at this point to share her sweet little picture. 🥰🥰

Olivia Jade

Happy Campers, 66th Airstream International Rally in Rock Springs Wyoming.

Back to the trip. Everything after the baby pales in comparison ❤️❤️❤️, but maybe you’d like to hear about the second half of our summer vacation.

This was our first Airstream International Rally and their 66th! It was quite an event. Over 1,100 Airstreams were lined up in the Sweetwater Events Complex parking, with full hook-ups. We met a ton of new friends, attended conferences, learned about products from various vendors, saw foxes and osprey and bald eagles, drove the Wild Horse Scenic Loop (yes, there really are wild horses there! We came upon a bunch!) We saw the White Mountain Petroglyphs, and watched some amazing sunsets. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our week in Rock Springs.

Wild Horses of Pilot Butte on the Wild Horse Scenic Loop

Wild Horses of Pilot Butte, Wild Horse Scenic Loop
Wild Horses of Pilot Butte, Wild Horse Scenic Loop
Pronghorn in the sagebrush. Wild Horse Scenic Loop.
Looking down from the Wild Horse Scenic Loop.
Airstreams fill the entire Event Complex, and look like shiny jewelry from up here.
Picnic lunch overlooking the city with my favorite caregiver. On the Wild Horse Scenic Loop in Wyoming.
We saw a lot of mule deer on our various excursions.

While Tim was working one day, I went on a day trip with the Swarovski binocular vendors. We saw a family of foxes, osprey, bald eagles, and more mule deer. They loaned us binoculars and let us look through their high powered scope as well. Very cool excursion! Here are a few pictures from that morning adventure.

A pair of foxes are coming back through the fence to their den where they will check on their pup.

I’ve never seen a fox this close. I could have stayed there all day.

Checking on the pup in the den.
There’s the cute pup!
The foxes built their den near a construction site. They didn’t seem to mind the people.
I would have never thought to look here for a fox’s den.
Parents looking over their pup.
Mule deer. Doe with her two babies crossing the water.
Osprey feeding their young.
Bald Eagle
Osprey chick in another nest.

Tim climbed on top of the Petroglyphs

Cactus were blooming in the White Mountains

At the White Mountain Petroglyphs. A very hot day, but nothing compared to Texas heat!
Light up the Airstreams

LOTS of decorated golf carts.

Sunset ride over Rock Springs.

On the way home, we boondocked at a Harvest Host farm stay in Gothenburg Nebraska. it was probably one of the best Harvest Host spots we have been to. The hosts were so kind, greeted us when we arrived, gave us a tour of their working farm, and fed us popcorn from the crop in their corn fields. They provided a gathering spot where we sat and chatted, played with dozens of cats, and met the other campers around their fire pit. This was a great way to end the trip. We ended up driving straight home from there…a long day indeed.

Our hosts!
The only house cat on property. Many, many barn cats (and a dog) as well.
Good night sunshine!

À la prochaine…hasta la próxima vez…until next time!

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