life: the epic road trip

Stats:

duration: 23 consecutive days
driving distance: 6747 miles
longest single day: 856 miles, 15 hours driving (not including breaks)
total hours driving: 112
average mpg: 29.1
gas consumed: 321 gallons
number of kids upon departure: 5
number of kids upon return: 3 (2 left at college)
family groups visited: 9

Monuments / Parks / Museums visited:

Frazier History Museum: Louisville KY
Gateway Arch: St Louis MO
Keeper of the Plains plaza: Wichita KS
Mesa Verde National Park: Cortez CO
Canyon De Chelly National Monument: Chinle AZ
Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial: Gallup NM
Petrified Forest National Park: Holbrook AZ
Meteor Crater: Winslow AZ
Historic Route 66: Winona & Williams AZ
Grand Canyon National Park: Grand Canyon AZ
Cedar Breaks National Monument & Brian Head Mountain: Brian Head UT
Bryce Canyon National Park: Bryce Canyon UT
Capital Reef National Park: Torrey UT
Goblin Valley State Park + Little Wild Horse slot canyon: Hanksville UT
Arches National Park: Moab UT
Colorado River rafting: Moab UT
Mountain biking + horse ride: Moab UT
Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast: Salt Lake City UT
Field Museum: Chicago IL

My favorite moments:

Standing at the top of Brian Head peak, 11307 ft elevation, 53 degrees fahrenheit on a sunny August day (not including a significant wind chill), able to see for 100+ miles in every direction.
Hiking across amazing landscapes.
Laying on a blanket on a cloudless moonless night in Arches NP looking at the stars.
Enjoying the dry air (low humidity). It really does make a difference.
Driving on a section of historic Route 66 while the kids watched Pixar’s “Cars” movie, and in the end credits the song “Route 66” played while we were driving through “don’t-forget” Winona Arizona.

We flew my oldest daughter home from college so she could do the trip with us. I’m thinking it may be the last time we have all the kids together for a big trip like this. Even after being in the minivan for 3 and a half weeks, at the end I told my wife that I could keep going if there was no need for me to have a job and earn money. The kids did really well. It was work, but it was fun, and we saw amazing sights, and I got to spend quality time with my family.

The following pictures were taken with my phone, and are untouched.