Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 10

Well then -- after 3000 miles and 16 days, we're home! Here's just a bit from the last couple of days of our 2009 Road Trip Vacation.

We spent the morning driving through (and stopping often) the Badlands. What a beautiful place to visit -- I can't imagine trying to cross it before there were roads.

After the Badlands - we really got into gear to travel some longer hours to get home. We made a stop at The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. While we were there, Matthew, who had been napping, said "Where are we? You said we were going to a corn palace and now we're in an auditorium with a basketball floor with a store on it! I'm so confused!" Lots of people who have played the Corn Palace have been confused, as well.

Final stop? Ehlenbach's Cheese Chalet in DeForest, WI. I got some 12-year-old sharp cheddar -- definitely the "bite you back" type. Highly recommended - (The Cheese Chalet as well as the 12-year-old cheddar!)

And then we were home. Today's unpacking and clean up day!

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 9 - (Peaceful Valley 5)

In the last few days we've wrapped up our stay at Peaceful Valley and started the 2nd part of our road trip -- this time headed home. Here's a bit of what's been going on:

The rodeo -- We got to participate in a few events that would take place in a rodeo for professional riders. Lots of folks ran pole bending and barrel races. In the adult division I got a second and a first place finish. (There is some controversy over the 2nd place finish, as my sister's scores were inadvertently omitted for that event -- and she beat me, so I guess I really got third in that one. :)

Road trippin': Our travels took us to Rapid city, where yesterday we experienced the Crazy Horse Memorial as well as Needles Highway and Mount Rushmore.

Following the carved mountains portion of the day, we arrived in Wall, South Dakota and visited Wall Drug -- complete with the weary traveler chapel.

And we spent a little bit of time in the Badlands as well. Cassie was very nervous while taking this picture -- she was sure we were going to fall.

More Badlands today -- followed by a trek to the Corn Palace!

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 8 - Peaceful Valley 4

The last few days at Peaceful Valley have been filled with horseback riding -- running, camping and more running!

We took a run-filled ride towards our overnight campout site -- where we stayed out in tents. This campout has become one of my favorite events of my stays at Peaceful Valley.

The following day we undertook and "all day" horseback ride (it was 7 hours long!) I took some
jumpy, but still cool video footage of a run through a meadow. At the end of the day I was in pain and completely exhausted from the past two days of riding and camping. It was totally worth it. (I went to sleep about 8:30 PM -- but woke refreshed in the morning)

Today we took a very quick (read: fast) ride over to the Jamestown settlement for a group picnic, river tubing and lots of picture taking. And then on the way home several riders took to a soft road for a long stretch of running before heading back to the ranch. I learned the basics of fly fishing and then we had a chili cookoff for dinner (Didn't win this week, but our chili was excellent!)

Rodeo tomorrow morning!

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 7 - Peaceful Valley 3

Things are just marvelous out here at Peaceful Valley Ranch. Here's what's been happening over the past couple of days.

We wrapped up the Moore Family Reunion with a packed house at the Peaceful Valley Memorial Chapel for worship. I had fun with the children's sermon (we shouted "Hey!" like James Brown and talked about how God gives us those times when we feel good down to the deepest part of us) and also preaching (S0ul)

We started off the dude week with several rides and lessons -- Marianne is a children's counselor, Matthew has started spending some time helping out the wrangler staff and Andrew has been having fun fishing, riding and spending time with the 10-12 year olds.

We've been playing some fun family games at night. I think our favorite has been "Hit or Miss"

Today we experienced another Breakfast on the mountain and then a long horseback ride afterwards

Tonight's the overnight campout followed by and all day ride tomorrow!

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 6 - Peaceful Valley 2

The Moore Family Reunion - 2009 has begun! We spent much of the day yesterday helping folks check in, moving cars, carrying luggage and getting re-acquainted (and in many cases just acquainted) with Moores from all over!

Some highlights over the past day and a half

Breakfast on the Mountain -- and a Moore, Marrs and Caruso family picture-

The 20-minute period in the late afternoon when the trout in the pond started really biting -- we caught more than a dozen fish in less than a half an hour.

Dinner on the mountain -- complete with family song time! (My dad Fred, son Matthew and I all too turns leading songs)

The Moore Family Reunion 2009 group photo session. We'll get the official picture soon -- but here's one of the setup!

This morning's short horseback ride -- Andrew, Uncle Carl and I were on the same ride.

And there's more to come! Lots more tonight and worship in the mountaintop chapel tomorrow!

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 5 - Peaceful Valley 1

Lots of fun today on our latest Road Trip Vacation adventure!

We started the day at Denver's Downtown Aquarium. We loved the aquarium restaurant and saw the biggest Giant Grouper ever!

After a bit of fun at some stores just north of Denver, we headed to Peaceful Valley to being a little more than a week of mountain beauty. First up, a chili cookoff (the team I was on won -- Cassie's team was second) and then I officiated a wedding on horseback!

Tomorrow it's our first Breakfast on the Mountain of the year and the Moore Family reunion 2009 begins!

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 4

Today was largely a travel day -- but with a few stops along the way. Our travels took us into Downtown Denver.

On the way there we passed by some sort of silo part on a trailer. I don't know what it is -- anybody have a guess?

We spent at least a few minutes at the 16th Street Mall

From the mall we went to Casa Bonita restaurant. Decent food, fun (though not spectacular) entertainment in a restaurant that looks great from the outside and kind of 'weathered' from the inside.

We're spending the night at the Comfort Suites in Westminster -- heading to the Downtown Denver Aquarium in the morning before the short-ish trip to Peaceful Valley Ranch tomorrow afternoon.

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 3

Update on the Western Inn Motor Lodge -- the 'continental breakfast' included biscuits and gravy this morning. Very cool.

Now onto some thought and pix from today. We spent several hours at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

And ate a great dinner at the restaurant rumored to be John Madden's favorite, Skeeter Barnes in Kearney, Nebraska.

And didn't go into the Great Platte River Archway, but I did take this picture - as well as one of this giant-sized "chiuffalo"

Tomorrow's mostly a travel day -- and we're going to spend the night in Denver.

Road Trip Vacation 2009 - 2

A few memories from our first day of the road trip vacation 2009 - pictures and a few words:

And swimming (twice) in the little pool at the Western Inn Motor Lodge in Council Bluffs, Iowa -- a nice roadside motel that doesn't cost too much, but also doesn't make you feel like you're staying in a cheap roadside motel.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo today!

Road trip vacation 2009 - 1

Tomorrow morning the Moore family begin a 16-day road trip vacation to Colorado and back. We’ll be spending most of our time at Peaceful Valley Ranch in Lyons Colorado – participating in the annual Moore Family Reunion (with about 70 family members from all over the US descending on the dude ranch for the weekend of July 10-12) and also spending a week riding horses, hiking, and experiencing the beauty all around. Though we’re not traveling with my oldest (she’s 19) we will spend at least half of our vacation with her, as she’s spending the summer as a counselor at the dude ranch.

There and back we also have plans to experience many ‘vacation musts’ – based on a myriad of recommendations from friends. Here’s some of what we plan to experience:

• Quaker Steak and Lube
• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
• Denver Downtown Aquarium
• The Black Hills
• Mount Rushmore
• Custer State Park
• Crazy Horse Memorial
• The Badlands
• Wall Drug
• The Corn Palace

I’ll post some while we’re on the road and at the ranch – and you can keep up with our adventure on my twitterfeed as well!

Road-trip vacation, here we come!