If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

When your most vivid memories are of the blurry view out the window, it's time to slow down. I am grateful for phone picture reminders, but I also know when I'm pushing my family too hard. It was becoming more about the destination and not the journey.

Within a week, we had traveled to so many national parks that even the rangers gave us the big eyed look of skepticism. The truth is that a drive-thru, visitor center stop and mini hike weren't filling our buckets. It became more about the race to fill in the junior ranger booklet rather than enjoying the spectacular views all around us. We hopped from Badlands to Crazy Horse to Mt. Rushmore to Devil's Tower to Yellowstone and to the Grand Tetons within a week. What we needed was some clarity and pause. 

The flexibility of never knowing where tomorrow was going to bring us became more stressful than relaxing. Yes, we could fit one more place in, but was it worth it? After the Grand Tetons, we decided to have some mini vacations within our big vacation. It was time to slow down the clock.

We stayed at a ranch in Idaho across the Grand Tetons to get in some horse riding, old fashioned soda fountains and pool games. Fun fact, Idaho is NOT just fields of potatoes. I had no idea. Also, the most amazing sunset in the world is on the west side of the Tetons driving down. If I ever disappear, you can find me watching the sun go down over that mountain range.

We then headed to Ada's personal Potato Museum and realized we could ride dune buggies at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. Weirdly, by slowing down the clock, we actually could do more. One day I will go back and not be so terrified of crashing into the unknown while speeding over a dune's crest into mystery lands. I did not roll the buggy, but I can't say I wasn't close at various points. Don't tell Zephyr as I informed her I was fully in control the entire time.

We then headed to the clearest lake I have ever been to, Flathead Lake in Montana. We rented a place on the water and kayaked, cooked, slept in and watched movies. Did we see a teenage grizzly casually walk by us on the dock? Why yes we did. Did I believe Ada when she informed me of this furry visitor? No, I did not. It's hard to believe a 5 year old when she often sings in the car about tarantulas crawling all over her.

We then headed to Glacier National Park to camp and hike and soak in the drive which I like to call "The Scariest Drive Up the Side of a Mountain". My suggestion to GNP is they should sell a shirt that says "I survived the Going to The Sun Road Drive" at Logan Visitor Center. Some free advice, but in return, I would like one in Small. Now we're international, well, we made it Canada. But you know what, Canada does require a passport, so yes, we are country hopping on this trip as well.

Am I burnt out? I mean...sort of. We have about 12 days left. I may lose my sanity a bit, but we will make it home. We're at our last major stop in Banff and I know these days are priceless. I wake up tired, I go to bed tired. I know these memories are going to shape the lives of my children forever.

We stopped, but I'm still tired. There's always coffee to keep me going.