I know some of you are probably wondering what spending so much time alone with my teenage daughter was like – especially for 70+ hours in the car.

Well, I can tell you that is was fabulous! Char is easy going, and neither one of us are drama people, and all this time in the car, and together in general, allowed for some great topics of conversation. Over the past 10 days we have discussed in detail; eating disorders, boyfriend relationships, friendships, future plans after high school, slavery, the American Revolution (thank you, Hamilton – I love talking history), democracy, liberty, responsibilities of citizens, credit cards, financial responsibility, and how to love people even when they are frustrating.

I won’t say that she wasn’t hard to get up a few days (especially when she had to be on line for school at 5am Pacific time), and never mentioned being tired, but all in all, she was a great sport for the activities and experiences we had planned and game for it all with joy!

Now, I do not want you to think everything is always perfect – I admit to being very blessed in my life with my kids and hubby, and the ONLY point of contention we had was the night of the rodeo. I told her it was 7pm-9pm – so when it was 9pm she had it in her mind that we would be done (and Char is a very literal person) – BUT it was the first rodeo of the season and the schedule was running behind. Well, they hadn’t gotten to the part I was looking forward to most; the barrel racing. So, Char started to fuss about it a bit and even saying she would wait in the car for me (yeah, right!) so I got ticked and we left.

After some reflection and stewing about it, I decided that if there is a situation like this again, I will not cave in. I was not asking her to be unreasonable or unsafe and it was important to me that we stay. And I do think she would have enjoyed it. If this is the only thing I have to gripe about, I will take it gladly.

We all learn lessons through life – and this was one for me and for Char. I hope we find another rodeo!

I am really looking forward to our drive home – and NOT because I am looking to leave my in-laws!!! We just had so much fun on our drive out and I know we will have some even cooler experiences as we make our way home. I hope you’ll join us on our journey eastward. Until then, we wish you a New Year that is full of joy, happiness, and health!!!

Today is our last full day “on the road”, although we really aren’t traveling. We are spending the day in Leavenworth, WA enjoying the adorable town and then going to visit Santa and his reindeer at a nearby farm.

I love traveling because I learn so much….did you know that this cute little Bavarian town used to have a western feel? In the late 1960s, this old western town was severely feeling the loss of income and tourists when the rail industry decided it was done dealing with frequent avalanches in the area and moved their route around the town/region. So, in 1967, the BAVARIAN town was born out of necessity to sustain a booming industry of tourism. And boy did they hit the nail on the head.

I also want to give a huge shout out to our hosts here at Haus Rohrbach Pension. This adorable chalet, dropped right into this little Bavarian wonderland, was custom built in 1978 by the original owners after they toured the Bavarian regions in Germany. They saw an opportunity to capitalize on the thematic genius of this tourist town, bought 13 acres on a mountainside, and built Haus Rohrbach Pension (they were a family with 12 children – the hills are alive with the Sound of Music, anyone?). Mike and Carol, the current owners, visited this little slice of paradise through the years and purchased the property in 2000.

They have carried on many of the traditions that came before them and improved on others (breakfast is Mike’s “engineered” version of the Dutch Baby – his is magnificent with a soufflé feel that is light and airy, yet filling and wholesome! Top that off with Carol’s home made raspberry preserves and breakfast is a thing of wonder). One feels as though they have entered a travel warp when they step inside this B&B – if I didn’t know better, I would think I was in Bamburg or Wurzburg, Germany on my river cruise again! When you step inside the quaint en-suite rooms, you may first get the impression that they are dated – but I can tell you from experience that they are SPOT ON with what you find in the Bavarian/Alpine regions for accommodations for travelers. If you have an opportunity to visit these fine folks, do not miss out! Oh and in addition to the amazing breakfast, they offer nightly desserts! Visit them at http://www.hausrohrbach.com/

This morning we headed to town to get some daylight snapshots of Leavenworth and also pick up a few gifts. We got some gluhwein – mulled wine served warm on a cold winter’s day – and enjoyed an al fresco lunch! I HAD to have bratwurst and sauerkraut (and rosemary sea salt fries) – and even though I am not a beer drinker, when in Rome….or Bavaria.

To top off this wonderful day, we visited the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm and fell in love! Not only were there chickens, draft horses, and reindeer, there were tiny ponies that just wanted to snuggle! Hubby – when can we get a farm?

Tomorrow we reach Babue and Papa’s house (Kelly’s mom and dad) and the “Waning West” part of our journey will be done. BUT, we still have our easterly travels to make – so don’t go far! Also, before the New Year, I’ll post a recap of our westward adventures to include a cost total and my favorite bits and pieces!

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Today’s food expenses – $75.00

Gifts for family and a few souviniers – $309

Reindeer Farm – $42.00

Our full day in Yellowstone. Yellowstone is a place of legend for me. It was a place I never knew I would ever see, but hoped to and when we decided to do this road trip, we had to make it happen. This could be a once in a lifetime visit for me to many of these locations so I had to do it!

COVID as certainly changed the landscape of tourism in the US. Yellowstone was open all summer although not all the properties were available. One staff member we spoke to said that visitor numbers were the highest ever in July, but staff was reduced because of COVID, so it was a wonderful but busy summer. Check out the Mammoth Post Office – bears COVID ready, along with the specialized vehicle tracks used for winter travel! Oh, and this is a magpie – isn’t he GORGEOUS!!! We have seen many of his kind here in the northern territories!

When I investigated a stay at Yellowstone, I never dreamed I would actually find accommodations ON SITE in Mammoth, but because so many are leery to travel, we lucked out and began our two night stay on the first night of Yellowstone welcoming winter season visitors (this is a normal thing – having summer and winter season separated by weeks at time and closing down in between). We stayed at the Mammoth Hotel and Cabins in the quaint and historic town of Mammoth at the North Entrance to Yellowstone. The hotel was comfortable and had a lovely Victorian feel including creepy “The Shinning” hallways!

Our internet was TERRIBLE (we have T-Mobile service and Yellowstone is a black hole) but that wasn’t so bad!

We ate our meals at the dining facility they have across the street from the hotel and breakfast was delicious (our second morning Char had buttermilk pancakes with huckleberry butter and huckleberry sauce!) as well as the one dinner we had there. I enjoyed Wild Boar and Char had steak. Overall, the prices were what I expected (slightly higher than average for dinner but breakfast was average) and the service was great – our breakfast server the fist day was from Brunswick, Maine!

After breakfast, we walked to the Mammoth Hot Springs and Terraces and got a nose full of sulfur and an eye full of wonder!

Currently and every year, other entrances are closed due to weather conditions and the only way to get to Old Faithful was via Snowcoach – at a VERY hefty sum (over $500 for both Char and I if we wanted to see Old Faithful – a full day’s journey there and back), so we scratched that idea and went for a cross country ski tour instead.

Again, because of maintaining a 20-30% capacity, our cross country ski tour ended up being a private tour and it was spectacular!!! We did 5 miles round trip from the Roosevelt Ranch area to the Tower and back. We saw buffalo while on the trail and on the ride to and from the drop off point, we saw elk, an eagle, coyotes, more buffalo (traffic jam) and an absolutely gorgeous black wolf. He was magnificent!

After dinner, we enjoyed ice skating at the small rink built every year at Mammoth and lovingly maintained by their night maintenance man, James, who came to Yellowstone 26 years ago and never left. EVERY person we met from our servers, our ski tour guide, Cache, and the barista in the Map Room of the hotel all came to Yellowstone and fell in love with her beauty and never saw fit to leave. I admire their passion!

Anyway – the rink – adorable and the skates are free and you help yourself to find ones that fit in a little cabin next to the rink. I love the free spirit of this opportunity – explore and enjoy at your own risk – more of life should be this way! We enjoyed a sit by the fire afterwards and chatted with James, then moseyed off to bed. Our day was the stuff of dreams!

Our experience at Yellowstone was nothing short of magical! We are so thankful it was open and took this opportunity to explore this breathtaking place!

Total Cost of food during our stay (2 breakfasts and 1 dinner) – $185

Total cost of cross country ski tour and ski rentals plus tip – $150

Souvenirs bought – $170 (things are expensive here!!)

EVERYONE was masked up in proximity to people outdoors and always indoors unless eating or in our rooms. We did have to wear our masks during the ride to our ski trip but during the skiing outdoors, we could take our masks off.

Departing our Bed and Breakfast in South Dakota was another gorgeous start! We loved the porch of our Bed and Breakfast – White Tail Ridge.

It had snowed overnight (like the previous two nights on our trip) and while the roads were a little slow going at first, a drive through the Black Hills was breathtaking and worth the extra time! Our first stop shortly after leaving our B&B was Mount Rushmore – we did pay the $10 to park at the monument to get a few great pictures. Mount Rushmore looked like it had been sprinkled with powdered sugar.

We hit two state borders – Wyoming and Montana.

The drive to Yellowstone through the Black Hills was amazing, but as we approached Livingstone, Montana on I-90, the winds were high and there was a lot of concentrating going on! We were happy to reach Yellowstone just after dark and begin our two nights and one full day enjoying American’s oldest National Park!

Total Miles = 565

States = South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana

Hours on the road = 10 (including stops and sight seeing)

Average Temperature = 28

Coffees = 1

Playlist = Hamilton the Musical (three times), The Best of the Beatles, James Taylor and 80’s hits. We also began listening to a book – Slathbog’s Gold – the first book in the Adventurers Wanted Series by M.L. Forman

Major Landmarks = Mount Rushmore, Black Hills National Forest, Crazy Horse Memorial, we wanted to do Custer National Park but many of the roads were closed because of the snow the night before, Yellowstone National Park.

Speed Traps passed = 1

People not wearing masks in public places = 3 (in small town South Dakota at a gas stop but all employees wore masks.

Gas bought = $44.00

Extras = $19.40…parking, post cards, coffee and ice cream

Hotel – total for TWO nights at Yellowstone – $400.00 at the Mammoth Hotel and Cabins. We stayed in the main hotel and it was GORGEOUS! Very classic Victorian era style and our room was comfortable, well appointment with a sweet bathroom! I would absolutely stay there again.