In Grand Junction, Colorado

So we had planned on leaving this morning at 6:45am, but there was a specific gender, not male, that was late and we finally left around 7:30. We headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park first thing. I tell you, I have never seen anything like this before in my life. I'm not used to seeing things so big and grand in Ohio or anywhere else in the East.

We drove all the way up to 12,000 feet in the air and pulled over to this one spot on the route. We had to climb just a few hundred feet up to find the peak of the mountain we were on, but I tell you, that hike was exhausting! It left many of us feelin a bit dizzy and sick because of the atmosphere. I actually got a bit cranky. But it was so worth it as we were able to see mountains all the way around us for miles and miles. It was quite the sight.

After several hours in the Rockies, we headed back down and went along I-70. The thing is, in Colorado, the sights are just as beautiful along the highway as they are in the parks. We drove through an amazing canyon, drove alongside the Colorado River, saw all types of different looking mountains, saw a natural hot spring, and witnessed a sunset that lit up an entire mountain top.

The best part about the trip thus far though is by far the people on the trip. We've had some great discussions and really grown together already. We had a little argument in the car and then discussed it for a couple hours and learned a ton about each other. Being in Christian community and sharing in this experience together is a blessing.

Tomorrow we are waking up really early to head out to the Grand Canyon. We hope to get there before sunset and spend the night there at a campground. We will be going through some of Utah and then through desert in Arizona. Pray for our cars to keep going strong!