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Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va

a travel blog by Sailarmy Family

This is a trip of Firsts..first travel trailer, first cross country trip, first camping experience for kids, 4 @ 6, and mom... travel with us ..!

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The beginning.

Gig Harbor, United States

Thought we should start where our journey started.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on June 30, 2012 from Gig Harbor, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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PCS to VA

Leavenworth, United States

We are a military family and were stationed in WA. Having lived arounf Fort Lewis for the past 6 years, we were given orders to Fort Belvoir, VA. We stayed the first two nights at Penrose State Park. It was a nice park and the sites spaced so you could enjoy the tall pines. It had lots of easy walking trails. Very nice and true to Wa, damp and wet even in early July. We then traveled to Eastern Wa and drier and warmer temps. We arrived at Lake Wenatchee Lake State Park late yesterday. This morning, I was reminded I still was in WA, it was rainy and cool, 56 degrees. To get here we drove over Stevens Pass and Blewett Pass, elev 4100 ft! The snow capped mountains, with waterfalls, even in July, are beautiful. We dropped down into Leavenworth, WA. This Storybook town is full of Bavarian hotels and Shops. We drove along the Icicle River. We are staying at the State Park here. The park is nice and well kept. The spots are not on top of each other. We are staing in the North loop. The South Loop is crowded and all the spots are tight. Today we went to the Fish Hatchery. We grabbed some groceries and headed back. The kids met someother camper kids and were running for hours. It was good to see them having fun. So far we are getting this camping thing!

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 3, 2012 from Leavenworth, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Happy 4th of July

Leavenworth, United States

Happy 4th Everyone! Today was picture perfect ! Sun was shining and it warmed to at least the mid 70's. We took advantage of the beautiful weather and went for a hike. I realize how much of this beautiful state we havent even touched on. Yes, I do admit I am a Sunshine girl and the rain and cooler temps put a damper on my spirit at times, but days like today remind me how much we didnt do in the 6 years in Wa. We geared up and took at least a mile hike with kids and dog in tow along the Wenatachee Lake. We climbed over downed trees and the kids chose "budda" sticks aka hiking sticks. We stopped along the bank for a break and Dawson and Dave skipped rocks and Ali, the dog, even waded in. After a quick lunch at the trailer we headed to the beach. The Lake is Glacier fed, so yes, a tad chilly!! I was watching the kids splash around and the run up the beach to warm up. The sun was bright and warm. The kids found little places in the sand and dug a hole to lounge in and warm up. We are grilling hot dogs and sausages by the fire. Last night in WA. Tomorrow over to Couer DAlene, ID.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 4, 2012 from Leavenworth, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Laundry Stop- RV Park !!!

Coeur d'Alene, United States

We Made it to Coeur d Alene, ID ! After camping with no services other than the 12 volt battery and a tank of fresh water for over a week. We were looking forward to full hookups, a pool and laundry! We arrived full of good feelings, to Coeur d Alene Camping resort. It is located on a hillside and the sites are stacked one on top of the other. We were escorted to our site, wow, how nice of them. Then we found out why.. our site was a back in with a sheer rock cliff to the rear and a drop off of about 4 feet on one side. We had to be guided in as not to fall off one side or scape the utilities on the other side or back in to the rock wall. Well, we got settled and wanted to catch up with family via the internet. They promised free wifi. When I couldn't connect, I decided to do laundry. I went to the office and asked if the wifi worked in certain areas of the park or should I be doing something I am not. The response I got was not one of concern, but annoyance. I was told, "It works everywhere!" I told him, that I was having a hard time getting it to work in my site. He said, "oh, well, when the big rigs and hardsided motorhomes are on the hill, it may not work." Ok.. well that answered that, I think?! I could go on and on about how I would not recommend this place, unless of course you don't have kids, dogs, trash..! Kids: They must only play in certain areas. Right next to the pool is a shower, perfect for the rinse off after the pool. But if you have kids, don't leave the swim diaper there! No, those must be carted up the hill to a "proper" trash can. Really, there is a sign in the bath, next to the showers, no swim diapers or "household" trash, those must be put in the north end trash cans. So haul it up the hill, people!. Dogs, not pet friendly. They must walk in the dog loop, and even if you clean up after your pet, there is a special trash can for that, yep, north end of the park, up the hill. We got the laundry done and had the full hookups, but we would not stay here again. Staff was rude, no one smiled, no one.. ! so much for hospitality!

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 5, 2012 from Coeur d'Alene, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Montana !!

Missoula, United States

We made it over Lookout Pass and into Montana! We are staying at the KOA in Missoula. After the last experience, we were going to swear off RV parks! But this was on the way and we thought it would be nice, if just for one night. We arrived to smiling happy people. Ahh.. nice for a change. The spaces are large enough and easy to park. We took the kids to the pool, outside the gate was a smiling person who held open the door for us. The pool is nice and clean as the rest of the facilities. They have free wifi, that really works "everywhere" in the park. We enjoyed the drive over here, for the little we saw of Montana so far, its beautiful. The winding rivers are Crystal clear and the mountains are beautiful. We passed several towns that had populations of less than 1000 people. We head out tomorrow for the big haul to Bozeman Montana or farther if the kids patience holds out! This is more than a "Summer vacation" but a life in transition. For the kids, their home is part of their security and that has been stripped away. All the things that they called home were put in a moving truck and hauled away. So, to pack up and keep moving every day or every 3 days is hard on them. We are trying to pack some fun, but even if they know we are going to the "new House", I don't think they really know what that means. I don't even know what that means. So, tomorrow we once again, pack up and move on. We hope to be in Yellowstone by early next week.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 7, 2012 from Missoula, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Almost to Yellowstone

Three Forks, United States

We arrived at the last stop before Yellowstone! Missouri Headwaters State Park. This park encompasses the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers. The Lewis and Clark Expedition anticipated this important headwaters all the way up the Missouri River in 1804 and 1805. We stayed at a "dry" camp, we had only one other camper in the park. The weather was dry and we found a nice site under some trees. The site backed to a large feild and Dawson and Megan went exploring. We took the car down the the "Three Forks" and went for a walk. The River was Crystal clear and cool. Dawson, Dave and Megan went swimming in this historic River. Later that night, Dave took the kids for a walk down a trail. They all came running back, after turning a corner, a swarm of Mosquitos! The "fun" thing on the hike was the "bunnies" they saw.

Heading to Yellowstone in the morning!

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 8, 2012 from Three Forks, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Yellowstone!

Cody, United States

We traveled down hwy 191. The drive into Yellowstone was beautiful. The towering mountians and rivers. We were headed south into Yellowstone and the rivers were flowing North, we found this odd. The rivers we found out do flow North for awhile and then flow south. We were lucky to find a spot at Bridge Bay campsite, across from the Yellowstone Lake. This is an old camp and the spaces are odd and hard to get in and out with a camping trailer. We were able to find a nice double wide space were we could spend 3 days. As soon as we got settled we headed to the Marina. They were boarding for the Lake Queen II. We took a lake tour, it was very interesting. Yellowstone lake is at 7700ft elevation and the whole lake freezes over, up to three feet, in the winter. Dave booked a fishing charter for the next day. We woke up early the next day and headed out. We drove the Grand Loop and saw bison and more bison, they seemed to be everywhere, even in the road! This place is like no other, towering mountians, waterfalls and sulfur springs. Dave and Dawson went on the fishing charter that evening and came back with 9 lake trout! After catching his first fish, Dawson shouted, "yeah baby!" They had a blast. The next day, our last day, we visited the mud pots. It was bubbling muddy water and Dawson said, look its like Shrek! Megan saw a smaller mud pot and said, look mom, its like Shreks hot tub! Its amazing to see so much diversity in one place.
That evening the sky went from Sunshine to windy in a second. Dave and I scurried to put the awning up and put things away. The wind kicked up and large drops of rain started to fall. The rain came down hard with thunder and lightning. The kids were scared, I don't think they have ever been in a thunderstorm. We distracted them by making popcorn, the old fashioned way... on the gas stove with a large kettle. This camp does not have utilities. Off to the Grand Tetons tomorrow.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 9, 2012 from Cody, United States
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Grand Tetons

Rock Springs, United States

We left Yellowstone through the south Entrance. We want to travel through the Grand Teton National Park. The drive south was an easy one and we got to see the south end of Yellowstone. We easily could of spent a week in Yellowstone, but now its time to get moving as our date to be in Va is quickly approaching! The moutians were beautiful and snow capped. We stopped in Jackson, Wy at the visitors Center. It was a nice stop, they had displays on Wy wildlife and things for the kids to touch and listen to. It was a good break to get out and the kids got a break from the driving. Its been really hot and the driving hard through all the moutians. We decided to push it and get to Rock Springs, Wy. It was a haul, but we made it and stayed at the Rock Springs KOA. We needed to do laundry and it would be nice to have hookups after 5 days. The Rock Springs KOA was OK. It was not like the webpage. The webpage said, "you may see a band of wildhorses from your lawn chair." I don't see this happening. It was a large gravel parking lot behind a power plant. The game room was small and half of the 5 games didn't work. The pool was not open due to cleaning. The people were nice and they escorted us to our site, but the park was not like the web description of the camp. We did get our laundry done and cooled off with the hookups. It has been blazing hot, 90 or 100 degrees for days now.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 12, 2012 from Rock Springs, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Terry Bison Ranch

Cheyenne, United States

Well, we hauled it today over to Cheyenne! We made it over the highest point on HWY 80, over 8300ft. Luckily there was a rest stop just over the top. It was a nail biting climb and the little GMC made it! Whew! This is the last of the big moutains we will have to climb! We decided to stay at the Terry Bison Ranch. Based on the website, it was a working ranch and had kids pony rides and a "carnival" type rides and playgrounds for the kids and a steakhouse. This seemed really fun and a different thing to do. We arrived to the ranch. It was just off the interstate and yes it was a Bison Ranch. The ranch was lacking life. It was more of an off the interstate RV park. They did offer pony rides $8.00 for 15 minutes around a little Circle. I saw the corral, but no ponies. All the activities and "life" was missing. The playsets were old and the slides were metal and by the afternoon came, they became to hot to play on. The sites were in an open gravel parking lot with no trees and at night you could hear the drone and the lights of the semi's buzzing by. The bathrooms and laundry areas were clean. They did have Bison roaming the fields. I guess at one time this used to be a busy place and as much fun as the webpage, but now, its more of an RV park.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 13, 2012 from Cheyenne, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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Nebraska!

Gothenburg, United States

Nebraska! This is a huge state! I thought that it would be all flat and farmland. Just outside of Wy we got to Nebraska and the wind started to howl. This made the driving difficult and the semi's flying by didn't help either. We stopped at a rest stop about Halfway through and had a snack and the kids got to run. We are traveling around 260 Miles a day from here on out, so the driving is difficult when the winds are powering and the weather has been blazing hot, 99 today. We pushed on through and made it the Gothenburg, NE. We were hot and decided a pool and hookups would be great. We arrived at the Gothenburg KOA. We made reservations on the way and the person taking the reservations was really nice and helpful on the phone. Located just a block off HWY 80, we drove up to the KOA. We drove up the the registration desk, that is located next to the gas pumps, the "office" is the convience store next to the gas pumps. We didn't know what to expect. We just wanted a pool and a/c ! We were given our spot and directions. What a nice Surprise..! We drove around the back of the gas station and over a little bridge that spans a creek and back into the woods. The campsites are large spaces with green grass and tall shade trees! This is great. The only sound you heard was the wind in the trees and it had a large thick border of trees that blocked the hwy noise and view of traffic. The pool was clean and the restrooms were spotless. We don't have one complaint, this is a little hidden gem off the HWY!
The kids swam and played in the park. After dinner they went back to the park and played till dusk. Dusk and time for sleep came an hour early as we now are in MTN time. Off we go again tomorrow for another 260 mile trek, we hope the wind will die down and the driving will be easy.

permalink written by  Sailarmy Family on July 14, 2012 from Gothenburg, United States
from the travel blog: Travel from Gig Harbor WA to Fort Belvoir Va
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