Trip to Philmont

As many of you may know Nick left Camp Yocona heading for Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, NM; immediately after Camp Yocona season ended.
So he was gone on July 10th and I didn't see him again until Sept 3rd.

So we left here on the 1st of September.  We (Dan, myself, Bethany, Abby, Nate and Mary) in the Explorer with a trailer in tow to get Nick.  At first we were making fair time, but by the end of the day, we were behind.  We always seemed to stop longer than we should have.  The kids really had alot of fun at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas.  I must admit Nate made me abit nervous in his climbing exploits.  It was a beautiful view.  They also had a cave and some rock formations that sort of made a cave. And rocks that looked like the backs of turtles.  It seems I am collecting turtles now.  I got 2 at the gift shop.  Maggie is a turtle clan and our OA lodge mascot is a turtle, so turtles now.  Not to mention the 2 adult box turtles, 2 yearling box turtles and 1 slider that I still have from being the Ecology Director at Camp Yocona this year.  I digress.

So the next day, we set out needing to make up some time but still wanting to see stuff.  We got to Oklahoma and the first Nation is Cherokee.  How can we not stop??? We went up to Sequoyah's homestead in OK. And stopped at a store.  Well, we didn't quite make it as far in that day either.  But no worries, we didn't have to be a Philmont until noon.  We made it to Amarillo, TX; plenty of time to get to Philmont, the next day.

Next day, we get on rode really early so we wouldn't have a problem and maybe stop alittle.  Then the text message came; I probably will be done by 10:30.  Okay, so no stopping and put our foot into it.  We get there by 9:30 and it ends up being almost noon before he is done. OH well....

Nick takes us around abit, of course, we can't go out where he actually worked.  Because they drove him out about an hour, then he had to hike in 4 miles. We saw around base camp and the landmarks.  Then we decided to go up to Colorado, to say we went there.  The Explorer didn't like the mountains so we made it short.

The rest of the trip was a bit rushed and it was my fault.  I didn't plan well, got frustrated for a multitude of reasons.  We basically drove straight back.

We got to see the West (which is too brown for my tastes).
We got to see Pranghorn Antelope on the side of the roads and in the fields, just like we see White-tailed Deer here.
We got to see Nick and bring him back and listen to his stories and adventures at Philmont.

He is home and plans to go back next year to work and take his brothers with him.  Abby is going as part of a Council Crew right after summer camp 2011.

So that was our big trip out west.