Our “Missouri Trail” adventure took us across eight states, three time zones, and into the homes of four friends. To my delight, we followed much of the original Oregon Trail route, through the Columbia Gorge, across Goodale’s Cutoff, and along the Platte River. The trip was fun, exhilarating, boring, desolate, terrifying, and wonderful. Here are a few highlights:
One of the many potty breaks along the side of the road, with our modern covered wagon.
Lava beds, in Idaho.
The remote Centennial Valley in southwestern Montana, close to the headwaters of the Missouri River!
Yellowstone National Park. This was one of the scenic highlights of the trip for me, and I cannot wait to go back some day and explore the backcountry!
Old Faithful!
Driving through a herd of bison in Yellowstone. Bison and bison poop might have been the biggest hits for the kids.
At Firehole Falls. Happy to be out of the car! I regret to say that I did not take a single photo of anything east of Yellowstone. It was SO windy. Windy to the point of tipping over semi trucks on the interstate!
And then onward through Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, an itty bitty bit of Iowa, and into Missouri we went, where we are unpacking and settling in!
Wonderful pics! Thanks for sharing. What an amazing adventure all around–the preparing, getting there, the being there… <3
Thanks Jackie! It has been quite the adventure, that’s for sure! And more to come…
Great pictures, Teri! You’ll enjoy looking back on these and remembering such a pivotal point in your lives. I hope you’re settling in nicely. We miss you already as Thanksgiving nears. But I’m confident that we’ll see you all soonish. It’s on our list.
We miss you guys too! It will be a strange Thanksgiving. I think the only other one we missed was after Everett’s birth (and as he was due on Thanksgiving Day, that was understandable!). Lots of adventures in the weeks ahead. We’re working on settling as best as we can, and happy to see so many of our good friends here in MO.
Oh, I love the new pic at the top! Is that your shop? And YOUR trees! And YOUR land! It looks beautiful! Your pics make me want to pack up the new mini-van for a road trip!
Yes, it is the shop! And the trees, and the land. It is a very pretty piece of property. Nice rolling hills and open forest, plus big sky with ever-changing clouds. It’s a nice spot.
Oh I do love big-sky country in the middle of this big country! I can’t wait to see more as your Homestead unfolds!