tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48011755576341454702012-02-06T11:15:56.004-07:00Follow 19 year old Cody Smith as he travels across the United States full-time with his family in their RV! Lots of adventures are in store, so come along for the ride...Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-87505224055901568042011-11-02T08:47:00.001-07:002012-02-03T08:59:27.766-07:00

Picture a thick aspen forest, with the leaves all bright yellow and golden, and the trunks completely white. Now add beautiful snow-capped mountains in the background, with green, brown, gold, and yellow colored treetops all blending together on the slopes. The weather is perfect – clear blue sky and a temperature around 70. Now, to top it all off, imagine you’re riding through this aspen forest

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-16122053335320723072011-10-06T08:32:00.005-07:002012-02-03T08:41:48.186-07:00

We were between 10,000-11,000 feet elevation, so the rain was ice cold and the temperature was dropping as the last rays of sunlight were disappearing behind the mountains.We had already rode about 60 miles in beautiful weather and were only several miles from camp, but apparently nature didn’t want us to get off easy this time! Monsoon season was in full swing, so random showers and

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-48761503416601950222011-09-02T22:37:00.005-07:002012-01-17T22:43:56.826-07:00

I was nervous as we drove up to the community center. I’d never been to a town meeting – much less one like this. We went and sat at the back, and I got my notepad and pen ready to jot down any important information that I was sure to find out. At the table in the front of the room sat several police officers, someone representing the national forest, and a couple others not in uniform that I

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-58728436200626767082011-08-18T22:11:00.006-07:002012-01-17T22:17:36.287-07:00

Several weeks ago my family and I went to the Rainbow Falls OHV Area. The variety of trails, beautiful view of Pikes Peak, and close proximity to our campground near Colorado Springs, made us want to come back for more – which is exactly what we did!If you read my last post, you probably noticed that I put down what trail numbers we rode on and in what order. Well, there isn’t going to be much (

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-5687752893400086812011-07-27T21:59:00.001-07:002012-01-17T22:06:20.898-07:00

The state of Colorado is almost synonymous with the word mountains. Stretching across about 40% of the state, the Rockies provide most of its beauty, culture, landmarks, and recreation. Colorado has over 1000 peaks that break 10,000 feet, and on top of that (no pun intended) 54 mountains over 14,000 feet – giving it the highest concentration of peaks that height in the Rocky Mountains! I’d never

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-1895840694941655302011-04-20T09:25:00.018-07:002011-08-02T10:42:22.979-07:00

Next we moved to a Corp of Engineers campground on Navarro Mills Lake, located between Waco and Corsicana, Texas. The lake itself is about 5000 acres and only reaches a depth of 49 feet at its deepest point. There’s good white bass, crappie, and channel catfish fishing, and this seemed to be the main attraction at the lake. In fact, a new Navarro Mills Lake catfish record was made a week

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-40398721137573189182011-04-02T07:02:00.025-07:002011-09-10T21:30:06.065-07:00

After leaving San Angelo we headed west, on to a Corp of Engineers campground nestled in the trees along Proctor Lake, near Dublin, Texas. It seems everywhere we go is amazing and unique – but this place was especially so! From the moment we got there, we knew it was going to be perfect. The campground is spread out along the east shore of the lake, and most of the sites are near to being right

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-32664178014547056192011-03-09T15:09:00.021-07:002011-05-11T09:21:52.667-07:00

Located in west-central Texas, San Angelo is the next place we parked our home for a while. It had been about 18 years since any of us had been there, and we all looked forward to seeing the town where so many stories we’ve heard had taken place! Mom and Dad decided to stay at the Spring Creek Marina campground, which ended up being a great place to camp for a month. The sites were nice and

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-875631694688828632011-02-22T10:16:00.000-07:002011-03-28T11:23:04.138-07:00

Waxahachie (wax-uh-hatch-ee), located south of Dallas a couple hours, was our next stop. Since we joined the Mission America Placement System, or MAPS, lots of other volunteers have told us that we just had to visit the Lake View Assembly of God retreat center in Waxahachie! And at last, we found out why they recommended it so highly. The center covers hundreds of acres and has a hotel, indoor

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-73745938114522739032011-01-30T07:23:00.043-07:002011-02-18T13:23:33.412-07:00

 This guy didn't fare so well at the Cowtown Coliseum. The bullfighters are always right in there helping get the cowboy out of harm's way and distracting the bull so the rider can get to the fence after his ride.  Mike Lee. If any of you reading this are bull riding fans, then you probably recognize this name immediately as belonging to the 2004 World Champion who is still one of the top

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-81952512696411129212010-12-28T08:43:00.001-07:002011-02-17T09:33:34.625-07:00

This was the "Christmas Room".  My grandma decorated the walls with lights, set up the tree, and put all the presents in here. Christmas time! What are the first two colors that come to mind? Red and Green. What’s the first song that comes to mind? Twelve Days of Christmas. What’s the first food that comes to mind? Spritz cookies! Yes, Christmas brings lots of unique joys that only come once

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-18911169622146599702010-12-20T09:45:00.018-07:002011-02-17T08:41:32.659-07:00

This is a life-size model of the biggest muskie ever caught on a rod and reel.  The trees kind of give you an idea of it's size... This Winter has been different from the last two we’ve had traveling full-time, because we actually had a regular Winter season! The past two years, when the cold started coming we took off running from it and stayed somewhere down south where we wouldn’t have to

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-80727227893364774972010-11-01T11:25:00.044-07:002012-02-03T08:28:24.357-07:00

 This is my cousin, Cole, standing next to a very pretty 15 foot waterfall on the camp.  This picture was taken during really horrible drought; normally water gushes down where he is standing.  The past several months have been great! We’ve been at the incredibly amazing Camp Eagle Rock, in southwest Missouri. This place is one of my favorites in the entire nation because of its beauty,

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-12059397614478172082010-07-25T22:09:00.001-07:002010-10-16T22:41:48.332-07:00

Grandma's house. That statement probably makes you think of apple pie, right? Sure, apple pies are good, but that's not all my grandma makes! We stayed at my Grami and Grandpa Tom's for seven weeks this summer at their house south of Springfield, MO. I joked that she probably made me gain 5 pounds while we were there. She made us all kinds of big breakfasts, lunches, and dinners all the time. One

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-26750656079046715782010-05-10T19:56:00.003-07:002010-09-20T18:17:53.141-07:00

Did you know that Santa Fe, NM is the highest capitol in the US? Yeah, it sits at about 7100 ft above sea level, making it the "mile and a half high capitol". (ha ha) We actually didn't stay in Santa Fe, but about 30 minutes away at Cochiti Lake Rec Area, a Corp of Engineers managed lake and campground. The lake is very pretty, but not good for swimming. Even if you wanted to, there are signs

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-84813468747076488592010-04-29T12:10:00.003-07:002010-04-29T13:20:30.417-07:00

The past few months we've really been working hard on "advertising" our family.  Between all of us we've got eight blogs, three websites, four Facebooks, one Twitter and numerous other projects we're working on all the time.  All this stuff is a great way to get our family and what we're doing out there, but we've had a problem.  All of us had to share one laptop.  Mom told Hanna and I recently

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-48217881186544305312010-04-27T13:03:00.001-07:002010-04-27T14:22:09.497-07:00

Before we came into north/central New Mexico I'd never even thought about there being volcanos and lava rock.  I think different now. We stayed at the Valley of Fires Rec Area just north of Carrizozo, NM for about a week. It sits right in the middle of a 44 mile long lava bed. The lava came from two vents which covered that part of the valley up to 150 feet deep! The campground is on an island

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-26201543153049730602010-04-12T15:50:00.002-07:002010-04-12T16:34:15.862-07:00

Once we left the Tucson area we went over to Quail Ridge RV Park north of Huachuca City, AZ.  It's a nice campground with big sites and pretty views.  Our main reason for going there was to be close to Tombstone.  If good pizza comes to mind before Wyatt Earp, then you've got problems. : )  We went there for almost a full day.  Gabriel locked Mom, Hanna, and Tytus in the Tombstone jail (pic on

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-34216392343869045062010-04-02T15:46:00.022-07:002010-04-02T16:08:33.509-07:00

The past week has been a blast! We stayed at the Gilbert Ray County Campground which is only about a mile from the Sonoran Desert Museum. We went ahead and bought year passes because we went to it four times this week and will probably be able to use it next winter too. The museum is incredible! It's unlike any museum you've ever been to. There are dozens of animal exhibits, a walk-through

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-65661657511494307922010-03-26T23:36:00.002-07:002010-03-27T08:27:26.283-07:00

The last week and a half have been great.  We went to Apache Junction, AZ and stayed at the Lost Dutchman State Park.  The park is at the base of the incredible collapsed volcano, Superstition Mountain.  There is a lot of history surrounding the mountain, most of which I don't have time to tell about. : ) The most famous story is about the lost dutchman, Jacob Waltz.  He traveled up into the

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-83555481912736999832010-03-16T22:37:00.000-07:002010-03-16T22:37:25.595-07:00

Well, today and yesterday we've just been getting ready to go.  Yesterday we said goodbye to my aunt and uncle.  I'm going to miss them.  I've learned so much about wood working from my uncle while we've been here.  We also went around and said bye to most of the other MAPS volunteers.  They've started to feel more like aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas instead of just friends.  The picture

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-31576146226056366512010-03-14T22:48:00.001-07:002010-03-17T21:28:07.045-07:00

This morning we went to the PBR church service, put on by Riding High Ministries.  It was great.  They played some great country worship songs first and then had one of the Brazilian bullriders preach.  He couldn't speak very much English, so he had a translater.  The service was held right by the gates and the bull pens!  Once it was done we went and talked to Mike Lee for over 30 minutes.  He's

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-39413383919280970512010-03-13T21:23:00.002-07:002010-03-17T21:31:56.125-07:00

Today was great!  The Royal Rangers program at the church we're staying at had the Sectional Pinewood Derby this morning.  I thought we'd be gone by now and so I didn't worry about making a car to race with Gabriel.  Well, an hour and a half before the race was going to start I decided to make a car!  I used a couple tricks I picked up at James River AG in Springfield, MO.  Dad and Mom made a car

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-26004737659372251102010-03-12T00:12:00.004-07:002010-03-16T20:50:45.927-07:00

Well, I've been busy the past couple days.  I cut out about 50 bread knives from boards of cherry on the 9th.  That took all afternoon, but I got it done.  Dad said I can't bring any boards along when we leave here, but if it's made into something then we can't leave it. ; )  I also "refurbished" a knife that one of the guys here found in a fire pit.  I polished up the blade and put a yellow

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-28277789282081727302010-03-08T22:17:00.001-07:002010-03-08T22:22:35.913-07:00

Well, we finally did it.  Mom and Dad having been saying for a while that Hanna and I should switch beds.  For the past year and a half I've slept in my queen size top-bunk in the garage area of are camper with almost everything I own on it.  My bed and the one below it are on an electric lift so when 4-wheelers are in there we can raise the beds up out of the way.  Hanna on the other hand has

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801175557634145470.post-63172538302768757832010-03-06T22:08:00.000-07:002010-03-06T22:08:21.321-07:00

Today I did some fun, but unusual things.  First we decided to clean the back room (where all the kids toys are).  We piled all the toys up in the middle and started the daunting task of putting away everything, down to the little barbie crowns and every little toy soldier gun.  Amazingly I was saved by Mom from such a horrible fate and instead was given the job of building a desk.  After

Codyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08986419239147480909noreply@blogger.com0