The Adventures of Gypsy-Jackie

MILES: 7,780 STATES : 15 Missouri Kansas  Colorado  Wyoming  Montana  Idaho Washington  Oregon  California Nevada  Utah Arizona  New Mexico Texas Oklahoma  TRIP PHASES: 4 To the west coast Pacific Coast Highway  National Parks Beach Vacation FLAT TIRES:  1 ECO SYSTEMS:  20 Prairies Foot Hills Mountains Geysers  Sulphur Springs Lakes Continental Divide Rain Forests Ocean Beach - Pacific Ocean  Redwood Forests Vineyards  Almond groves Yosemite El Capitan  OK, not an eco system, but unlike anything else! Sequoia Forest Desert Death Valley (see El Capitan note) Canyons...some of them even grand Gulf of Mexico  Beach - Gulf of Mexico  NATIONAL PARKS/FORESTS: 15 Yellowstone National Park Olympic National Park Hoh Rain Forest Redwood National Forest Yosemite National Park Stanislaus National Forest Sierra National Forest  Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Inyo National Forest Death Valley National Park Zion National

More lazing on the beach.  You'd think it would get boring...you'd be wrong!  We slept in and lazed on beach for a few hours before heading out to lunch.  Correction, we went down to the beach after sitting on the balcony watching the waves, beach and people.  We are both so happy with our condo!  We're on the 5th floor of a 5 story building and it couldn't be more perfect! After lunch we set out to do some shopping.  When we began this odyssey, I had decided I was going to buy a silk scarf (large square...and nothing else will do) and Mindy had decided she wanted a set of unique windchimes.  We've looked on and off over the weeks and hadn't found anything...so today was the day!  We first went to several shops on the island (where Mindy found some really cool windchimes), then Port Isabel, then we headed to Brownsville.  Success!  I found what I was looking for after only going to 100 stores :) Tomorrow is our last day on the island and we're refusing t

Beach, beach and more beach...with a break for a late lunch.   A storm blew in this afternoon which was fun to watch.  Other than that, we didn't do much of anything, which was kind of cool.

First of all let me say how nice it is to be back on Central Standard Time!!  One day we got a call at 8 CST when we were on PCT (6 am!!).  Another issue was our own confusion as to how many hours we drove as we kept crossing time zones.  Annoying.  Another good reason to travel with a smart phone!! Ok, so we drove over 17 hours to get to South Padre Island.  We have a condo on the beach for 4 nights!!  We both love the beach so we're thrilled!!!  And after a 19 day roadtrip we are ready for a vacation!!😁 From our balcony...The waves are SO close. Ok, I tweaked the colors... this is much closer to what the ocean looks like.  Blue/green beachy colors.   Sand art gator Gorilla? Sun is headed down Tomorrow we sit on a beach and relax!!  Yes!!

Driving, driving, driving and more driving.  Long day of driving and listening to audio books!  But tomorrow we arrive :)

Today we went to Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Parks.  We are officially done with Phase 3 of our trip - the National Park Phase.  And frankly...we're both relieved.  The National Parks, while beautiful and awe inspiring...were also kind of a bummer.  They were crowded, had limited parking and generally felt like a tourist attraction.  Mindy went to several of these when her boys were young...35+ and 20+ years ago.  Hearing how the parks have changed over the years was kind of a downer.  That being said, I'm so glad I went and was able to this countryside, it is truly unique and majestic. Now that we're done with Phase 3, we both feeling a little energized!  We're ready to get up early tomorrow and begin Phase 4...which we've decided to keep secret.  If I told you what we're doing, you'd think we're nuts.  Better to keep quiet than to confirm that thought! First view of a canyon on the prairie   First overlook into Gra