SuperCaliFragrantDelicious

Days 4-7: Cali Cali Amazing!!

California is amazing!! Our route North was mainly on the long, winding, Dramamine needed, Highway 1 with some detours on Highway 101. It was so majestic to see the ocean- literally-100 feet to our left and the mountains to our right. We made a stop at the beautiful Redwood National Forest and drove (well walked under) the Drive-thru Redwood tree. 6ft clearance- our truck 8.5". Maybe next time lol. 

Our next stop was to eat, duh! A great first seafood experience on the coast was Fish & Chips at The Harbor at Half Moon Bay, Princeton Seafood Company!! Yummy!! 

Next, the San Francisco Zoo! I LOVE Giraffs!! We spent about 2 hours walking around and having a great time! Then, was the Golden Gate Bridge- beautiful!! I had to drive over it with all the crazy drivers- scary - but we got to stop right after and we walked/ran across it!!! It was amazing!! It was very cold and windy you could barely see Alcatraz..but that's another trip for sure!!! 

Another thing about California that was amazing were all the succulents and flowers that grew there that we Texans pay out the wazoo for!! They just grew in the sides of broken bridges!! Beautiful!! 

California was chilly, windy, sunny, rainy and 50-68* most days. This has been beautiful and the best driving stretch yet! We have stopped at multiple beaches to get out and let the dogs run around and had the WHOLE beach to ourselves. 

On one stop Mack and I explored a cave- where he went in, not me!- I could've sworn there was an anaconda in it lol!! I used "The Wyatt" and said "No Mack you go first!!" We walked on the beach at one stop, climbed huge rocks in the ocean and laid on the sand at another. 

One of our last beach stop the dogs, Mack and I went through a cave, as the tide went out we ran around a rock and ran along the long stretch of beach, we saw a baby whale and let the dogs catch huge crabs! That was probably the funniest sight to watch. Cheyanne would watch them underwater and Jake would dive in head first and stomp on top of the crab then grab it! He got 'em, claws & pinchers waving and all! We met a nice artist painting the tide off a cliff. What a great job!! Ate some lunch then headed North. 

I have to say the people were nice, but the scenery was the best! Our best camp sight was at South Beach campground where we fell asleep to our live sound machine, the ocean!! It was the most peaceful sleep I've has the whole time, I could've slept all day!! 

If you get a chance to drive the Cali coast on 1, do it!! You may have to drive because all the headaches you'll get from the winding roads like me- but totally worth it!! The pictures do not do it justice!!

Now we're off to Portland by morning! Now Portland's on our mind!!

Until next time! Thanks for all your prayers!! 

McGowen's On The Move,

Mack, Lauren, Jake & Cheyanne

God's Creations Great & Small

Howdy Followers!

Wow God is wonderful!! Day 2 has been amazing and full of adventures. We drove all day Monday through New Mexico (not much but desert). But I did have to stop to get some postcards & a travel bag, of course! We spent the night at a state park (which we pulled in around 10:30pm). The next morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise along the desert sands and an amazing campsite with your own shower/bathroom stall! Mack and I took the dogs for a 4 mile hike where there were tons of Jackrabbits!! I have never seen so many! (This was a great chance to teach the dogs to "heel!")

When we got back the 10 minute tent pack up was done and a full day of driving quickly commenced!! 

Day 3: Was an even more beautiful day. I have found every state gets more and more beautiful but each has it's own beauty!! We drove into Arizona-hot! Lots of straight and curvy roads! We headed to the Hoover Dam, not expecting or knowing what was to come. We pulled into a security station (where of course out truck got checked..dogs enjoyed that!) then headed down the hill to what was the most amazing but scariest thing yet!! We got to be in TWO places at ONCE which was neat!! 

I remembered the bridge from Transformers and Miss Congeniality 2! Of course why would there be SO much security for a Dam if not a secret government layer underneath?!! I did watch these kids pour out a water bottle and the water come back up at you, which was awesome and I had to try!! As we gazed out at all the beauty and the drop we were speachless!

Then, to the Grand Canyon we went!! We found a TON of license plates we didn't have. Walked into the park, saw an elk, didn't know where to go-all trees then BAM, the GORGEOUS Grand Canyon!! It was SO BEAutiful it looked fake!! It was hard to picture how amazing it was and how far it went. We looked over the edge and tried to hold tight to our phones as we took pictures! We met some nice people (and I got some postcards & a bag along the way!) 

AND across the next state line we went to Nevada! Hot, but a dry hot which wasn't bad. We stayed a La Quinta, free dogs, wifi and breakfast! Not too shabby! Headed out to Vegas that night!! Yes, Wheel of Fortune was fun but not my friend that night, did pretty good, only lost $7! The Strip lights were AMAZING!! I'm a light FANATIC!! We watched the Bellagio water show to the Pink Panther song, walked around, ate at Serendipity 3, saw the pirate show, took TONS of pictures then headed back! 2 1/2 hours on The Strip was enough for us!! 

And on to Day 4 we GO!

Thanks for all the prayers & following! Stat tuned in for CALIFORNIA!!! 

McGowens on the MOVE,

Mack, Lauren, Jake & Cheyanne

Onward & Upward!!

Day 1: Tyler, TX ~> Wichita Falls ~> New Mexico ~> Arizona

Wow! What an adventure we have had already! We stayed the night with the Hydes, woke up, ate breakfast, went for a walk, saw Wyatt's future school and played a bit. It is such a blessing to see where God is taking them!! The new house is gorgeous and I can't wait for cookouts!!

Then off we went! We drove for a couple hours and stopped at the Cadillac Ranch and signed our names on the cars! We stopped for lunch under a bridge, went for a stroll in a dry river bed and then blitzed through New Mexico!! We are keeping track of all the license plates we see! We're up to 20 already!! I did make Mack stop & turn around so I could take a picture with the New Mexico State sign!! It's a tradition we've done since we were kids traveling with my Gigi & Papa!! 

But it is BEAutiful!! All the mesas and mountains, rain and all!! It is chilly here, low 48 high 60-70's but amazing!! I can't believe it's July 15th! We have made it to Arizona and then will head out in the morning for another day full of adventures and driving!!

Stay tuned!! Thanks for the prayers and following!!

McGowens on the Move,

Mack, Lauren, Jake & Cheyanne!! 

The Shake Down Cruise..6 more days!

Howdy All!!

The tent is Awesome! This past weekend was full of adventures. Marissa, Chelsea, Elise and I went to Shreveport, LA on Friday night to celebrate Marissa & Elise's Birthday. It was fun but no money was won. 

On Saturday: Mack and I did a shake down cruise, took the dogs and all the gear to Broken Bow, OK and stayed in Beavers Bend State Park!! It was beautiful!! Swimming, hiking, fishing and testing out our gear was a blast to make sure we have everything for the West Coast..BIG Overland Adventure!! The potty/changing/shower tent worked great, we have our own little sink for morning & night and the tent was super comfy!! Mack brought all the right "bright lights" for me to see in the dark and really made camping for us "In Style!" 

The tent takes about 10 minutes to set up. After everything is unzipped it folds open, we hook on the ladder, I climb up and fold out the bedding, hook up the fan, take down the bungee cords and Mack puts the metal rods in the side to make the "window shades." Then "Finito!" It's Finished!! I am so glad Mack found this CVT "Cascadia Vehicle Tent" out of Oregon!! I cannot believe we ever slept in Mack's camper shell after getting this rooftop tent! I'm spoiled now!! 

So it's almost here!! 6 More Days until Mack and I embark on our great Overland Adventure!! Thank you for all who are praying and staying connected as we are about to FINALLY LEAVE!! Stay tuned for more as we finish packing and say "So long for now.."

McGowens On The "6 more days" Move

-Mack and Lauren