Shay from Grand Canyon

We went to the Secret Garden at the Mirage.  We got to see white lions, white tigers with black stripes,leopards, and dolphins.  There was a leopard in the tree resting with his paws just hanging down while he was resting.  Then we drove to theGrand Canyon.  We got to see the Colorado River and it looked frozen. Then we went top hike, but it started lightening.  So we took a bus back to the village.

Eli from grand canyon

Yesterday, we rode the bus to the Grand Canyon national park and then we went to the tip of the canyon and saw a group of condors.  Then, it started to storm, so we took a hike.  Then, we took a bus out further and saw some pretty cool view.  Storms started up again so we took the bus back to the visitors center and got some food just as the storm started. Then we took the bus back to our car.

Shay said on July 4th

We went to myster ther was a act that a guy had a iron. Box with his feet.

Eli said on July 4th

While traveling to Vegas we crossed the dessert. Let me tell you there isn't much to see.  
So the desert is pretty boring. It goes for so long and don't see any other living thing for so long if you see a bird your like holy cow it's a real bird!

When we got to Las Vegas you can't see everything at once. At the Mirage it was pretty but it was disorienting with all the slot machines and everything but we managed. The place had about 4000 rooms not including suites. It also had a huge pool that even had a fake waterfall. We were on the 21 floor. It had a great view

The first night we rode a tram to see Cirque de soleil Mystere. It was very cool and funny but there were also very dangerous stunts. Then we saw a fake volcano explode and you could feel the heat from 20 feet away.We the saw a water show at the Belagio.

The next day we went to Freemont St. And saw the Queen show. Afterwards we got our picture with Darth Vader and Chewbacca. Then we went to the real Pawn Stars shop.

Eli says

This morning we went to the beach at first the sand was soft and deep the as we went to the water it was finer and packed down. The air was salty and the waves sounded like thunder. There was a lot of fog visibility was at most 15-20 ft. The waves were about      

10-15 ft. High.

Shay says

We we to Carmel's Bach we saw wavs about 18 feet high.  It was great!

Eli says

Yesterday we went to the aquarium. We saw sea otters.  It was feeding time and they were bonding with their trainers.  They would go where their trainers told them too if they would give them a reward.  The sea otters grew to about 5feet long. And I think they said 90 pounds. We also saw starfish and got to touch them.  Starfish can shoot out their stomachs to eat whatever they want on the ocean floor. When they are done they can retract it.   We saw jelly fish of all types.  There were small ones and huge ones. We also saw a school of sardines. There were small sharks, stingrays, and dolphin fish.  There was live kelp and we got to feel it.  There were shark egg sacks. There is like a half dome inside and you can sit down and a wave would crash over you. There were scuba divers diving looking at wild kelp and starfish.  After the aquarium we went to Pinkberry, which is like Yogokiss.  Then we found Ghirardelli's and got a lemon sorbet anyway!  Then we went to the candy store and got salt water taffy and Harry Potter every flavor Bertie Botts.  The flavors we got were earwax, rotten egg, vomit, worm, and booger.  So far we haven't finished the box.

Then we met up with Joshua at the Chart House and had dinner real late and came back here and crashed.

Gayle says

     We had a great day yesterday. The aquarium was beautiful.  We got to touch sea stars and kelp and I touched some rays in another touch tank.  They were amazingly soft.  We hiked all over Monterey. But the scenery may have been one of the best parts.   You just want to stand and watch as the waves come in.  It is mesmerizing.  The rocky shore is beautifully calm and rythmically disorganized at the same time.

     We got to see Josh for a couple of hours last night.  He looks and sounds wonderful!   He isn't one of the newbies there anymore.   He has friends, plans, direction, just enough freedom, just enough confidence, great attitude, and very good self monitoring skills.  :)  

On to Las Vegas.

Shay says I want to talk about yesterday again too, Then today

       When we went to San Francisco we rided the BART downtown..  We went to the beach and Ghirardelli's.   We stuck our feet in the ocean and me and my brother did this trench thing in the sand.  We used the sand to build walls all around.   We got ice cream too.  I got the cable car sundae.  Shug and grandpa got the lemon sorbet with strawberries.  Me and Eli tried it and it was GREAT!

        Today Grandpa got to see sea otters with us.  We got to see them down in the water and do a few tricks and stuff.  That was at the aquarium.  Then we found Ghirardellis in Monterey too and we got some more lemon sorbet and some more chocolates too to replace some others  and I'll tell you why we're replacing them. Yesterday , OK, Grandpa left the chocolates we got at Ghirardelli's in San Francisco on the cable car with moms sunglasses. And then we went to brunch. It was Great.

Commenting problems

If you want to comment and cannot get the comments to work just send it to Kelly's email and I will transfer it over!   But I made some changes and I think it will be fixed.     Love, Mom

Chris comments

I am sending this text as a post to the blog.  I wanted to say thanks to Eli and Shay for writing about the trip.  I am so happy for all of you.  I bet Ghirardelli was great along with Boudin Bakery.  Shay and grandpa had a great time on the Liberty boat and they got  to see a submarine. I have never been to see the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz and I hope to see them one day.  I would love to ride the trolley one day also.  I want to say thanks to Eli and Shay. Again for posting on the blog.  Both Eli and Shay are my eyes, ears, and senses as I am experiencing this part of the trip through Eli and Shay.  Thanks again and thanks to Kel, Shug, and Grandpa.  Continue to enjoy the trip and have fun.  I look forward to seeing everyone.

Love, 

Dad

Eli says

Today we rode a BART into town and went to the exploratorium. The were tons of weird things. On one thing you walked through a pit of gravel and tried not to make noise. Another thing you used a pedal to produce electricity I powered a radio two lightbulbs and a fan. After that we drove to Monterey Bay.

Shay says

We went exhibit today and it was GREAT! There was a hair magnet and a sound wave thing.

Pics from San Francisco (Can't get the rafting photos saved or transferedfrom the CD?!?!)

        

         

Eli says

     Yesterday we went white water rafting.  The rapids went up to class  three.  On one rapid Shug got thrown out of the boat and we got stuck on a rock and almost flipped.  Then we saw a dear and a red tailed hawk.  I really want to do it again and if I get a chance to I will.

     Today  we rode a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).  After that we rode the trolley to pier 43 1/2.  Grandpa and Shay took a tour on a Navy boat.  Shug, Mom, and Me went and got food at Boudin Bakery.  After that We met up with Grandpa and Shay.  Then we went to Ghirardelli Square and got sundaes and sorbets.  Then we went down to the beach.  And me and Shay built a sand castle which got flooded from the tide.  Then we went on a ship tour and I didn't like the boat very much.  But I still saw the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.  Then we left to ride the F-line back to the BART station.  After the BART station we took the shuttle back to the hotel.

Shay says

     Yesterday  we went white water rafting.  We saw a dear and a red tail hawk.  And Shug got dumped out of the boat.  It was great!  We had a bucket load of fun and our boat almost flipped upside down.

     We went on a subway train today to get where we were going, and a shuttle.  The system is called BART.  We went on cable cars too for transportation.  It was  great in town.  Me and Grandpa went on a liberty boat.  It was great!  We also saw a submarine too.  We didn't get on it but we could have.  We also went on a boat that went under golden bridge.  It was awesome, or great.  We also took the shuttle back home, and the BART and the subway.  We also went to Ghirardelli's.  We got ice cream and chocolate which we left in the cable car.  The ice cream we ate there though.  I got the cable car ice cream  and I also got just a bowl of lemon sorbet.  They were both really good.

Eli says on Wednesday......

Yesterday we drove mostly :( but we had a good breakfast at a place called Moab Diner. I got a western omelet with wheat toast. The room we got that night was on the 15 floor ( no 13 floor ) it had a great view :). Today we went to Yosemite we were going to hike but spent our time in the meadow skipping rocks on the river my max number of skips was 6. Then we watched these ground squirrels that were like prairie dogs. Then Shay fell in the river and got soaked I did it to. We saw places that forest fires had ignited. The trees were black and twisted. The ones that were still standing were all skeleton like. The road was deceptive and our one hour drive turned into a five hour drive so we aren't  
Going back to Yosemite.

Shay says yesterday

We saw the great Salt Lake it was GRAET! All I saw was salt ,water and seagulls.

Shay's post from Tuesday and a note from Gayle

We went to Moab Diner for breakfast Igot pancakes eggs and bacon.  It was GREAT!  Love Shay

Gayle says
I can heartily recommend the smothered sweetwater potatoes with skirt steak strips.  Oh my gosh!  Their green chili smother was unbelievable .

Gayle says

Long days on the road, but things should settle in now.  Our room tonight is pretty nice,  even a table and chairs.   We have seen some amazing stuff today even though we have really just been on the road.  We saw the Great Salt Lake (that looks almost like the ocean), and the salt flats were very interesting too. The most surprising thing for me has been how different the mountains look in different areas.   I expected differences, but not like this.  Tonight I got to see the sky the way I remember it for a little while. I can't wait to see it for a longer time.   I have missed those stars terribly.  Damn light pollution.  Tomorrow Yosemite!   :)

Eli says

Yesterday we went to Pike's Peak. The tram ride was really slow and we got to see a lot of wildlife. First we saw a mini waterfall. Then we saw a ton of aspen trees. The aspen trees roots are all connected. After that we saw a waterfall about as big as the trees in my backyard. Then we saw the remains of a hotel halfway up the track. After that we saw the tundra. It was littered with rocks and only little flowers grew there. We saw the den of the mountain lion. Then we saw big horned sheep messing around. After that we reached the peak at some 41,000 elevation. The air was thin and Shay got sick. We ate popcorn and donuts up there. The ride down gave a amazing view of the tundra we saw a active gold mine in the distance and three lakes. After the tram ride down shugi got sick and we went to the chuck wagon. We got caught up in traffic and missed the gun fight. But the food was good they had the choice of roast beef or chicken I got roast beef beans applesauce cake a roll and a backed potato with coffee. The staff sang a bunch of cowboy songs then we went to the hotel.

Shay says

Pikes peak was GRAET! I saw the bigist rocks I think I will ever see and I saw a miny  Watryfall. We saw big horned sheep.

Eli Says

Yesterday we got a late start to go from home to Kansas City is a long way to go to start at  1: 00. We
saw a lot of boring road but saw the St Louis Arch pretty close ( not for the first time though ). We drove hard stopping for gas  only two times. We got there at 1:00 in the morning. We got up and ate breakfast at 8:00 then left soon and are trying to get to Colorado Springs late today. We stopped at a salt mine. We took a elevator called a hoist down about 650 feet into the ground in complete darkness  .  After that we saw a lot of cool things we got to take our picture with a 6000 pound slab of salt we saw all the different states of salt like fine dust or coarse. Then we went to the galleries saw real equipment and dynamite. There were a few videos on how  people mined salt. Then we got on a train in the mine by the way the mine is still active and saw a roof sag which is when a roof slowly starts to buckle  and then caves in. Then we got to see a ton of old stuff in the mine that was sent there to preserve it. Original Star Wars film for example. Then was the gift shop we got a free piece of real salt crystal and I got a t-shirt that said " This is really where the sun don't shine!" Shay got one that said "Under Oz ( Tornados  can't reach you here. )."
Tomorrow is going to be busy so wait and see what happens!

Shay says

We wnet to the salt mine today and the train was GREAT!