September 3, 2006
8:54 AM
We depart Auburn.
11:37 AM
We arrive in Mountain View!
Sure, there were no stops, but by the eighth day, I just wanted to get home!
Now, I've got three days to spend with my mom before I officially move down to Los Angeles.
Oh, it feels great to be out of the car!
DAY EIGHT SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 155.8
Number of states driven in - 1
Sunday, September 03, 2006
High Roller!
We visited the El Dorado Casino in Reno so I could take my first shot at gambling.
I won five times working the slots, but then lost it all. I'm out $3! Gambling, it's such an addiction.
I won five times working the slots, but then lost it all. I'm out $3! Gambling, it's such an addiction.
DAY SEVEN: Salt Lake City, UT to Auburn, CA
September 2, 2006
8:24 AM
We depart Salt Lake City.
8:37 AM
I spot the Great Salt Lake!
8:24 AM
We depart Salt Lake City.
8:37 AM
I spot the Great Salt Lake!
10:05 AM
We visit the Bonneville Salt Flats.
I leave my mark on the salt flats of Utah of all places!
10:15 AM
We enter Nevada.
10:18/9:18 AM
We enter the Pacific Time Zone.
10:40 AM
We pass through Elko, NV, the "Home of Cowboy Poetry." Hmmm, I wish we could have stayed to hear some of that...
2:31 PM
We make a quick change of plans, bypassing Fallon, NV and continuing on the road. There's no stopping us now!
3:28 PM
We arrive in Reno.
4:41 PM and $3 later
We depart Reno.
Official Nevada Roadkill Tally
1 skunk
4 coyote
8 rabbits
2 foxes
1 hawk
4:53 PM
We enter California!
We drive through Tahoe National Forest.
6:08 PM
We arrive in Auburn, CA.
DAY SEVEN SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 608.5 (Record breaking!)
Number of states driven in - 2
The Real Golden Arches
When we were leaving the Arches National Park after taking tons of pictures, we overheard a woman say to a friend, "This is going to be one of those 'the pictures don't do it justice' kind of places." She was right. But I thought I'd post some of my favorites anyway.
The Turret Arches.
Imitating nature: mini man-made sculptures like these decorated the pathways up to many of the natural rock formations and arches.
This is at the visitor's center
Giving you a little perspective of just how large the arches are!
The Turret Arches.
The Fragile Arch.
Imitating nature: mini man-made sculptures like these decorated the pathways up to many of the natural rock formations and arches.
DAY SIX: Fruita, CO to Salt Lake City, UT
September 1, 2006
8:26 AM
We depart from Fruita, CO and drive past the Jurassic Museum.
Colorado Official Roadkill Tally:
2 raccoons
1 wolf (?)
1 coyote
3 skunks
3 indistinguishables
8:43 AM
We enter Utah.
We take the Scenic Route 128 and enjoy the view, 43 miles at a slow pace.
10:20 AM
We arrive at the Arches National Park.
1:10 PM
We depart the Arches National Park.
5:51 PM
We arrive in Salt Lake City, UT.
Utah Official Roadkill Tally:
1 porcupine
4 rabbits
1 raccoon
4 coyote
3 foxes
15 indistinguishables
DAY SIX SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 355.0
Number of states driven in - 2
8:26 AM
We depart from Fruita, CO and drive past the Jurassic Museum.
Colorado Official Roadkill Tally:
2 raccoons
1 wolf (?)
1 coyote
3 skunks
3 indistinguishables
8:43 AM
We enter Utah.
We take the Scenic Route 128 and enjoy the view, 43 miles at a slow pace.
10:20 AM
We arrive at the Arches National Park.
1:10 PM
We depart the Arches National Park.
5:51 PM
We arrive in Salt Lake City, UT.
Utah Official Roadkill Tally:
1 porcupine
4 rabbits
1 raccoon
4 coyote
3 foxes
15 indistinguishables
DAY SIX SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 355.0
Number of states driven in - 2
Thursday, August 31, 2006
I've Seen It Rainin' Fire in The Sky
In order to pay homage to the wonderful Rocky Mountains, I felt it necessary to listen to John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" along the way. While we climbed the elevation, we were audience to a beautiful lightning storm. I wish I could have captured a better picture.
DAY FIVE: Colby, KS to Fruita, CO
August 31, 2006 Happy Birthday, Brian!
8:26 AM
We depart Colby
8:42/7:42 AM
We enter Mountain Time Zone.
"So where are the mountains?"
8:07 AM
We arrive in Colorado
"Toby, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
9:56 AM
We drive by a billboard for "Jo Mama's Laundry Mat." I wish I got a picture. It was hilarious!
10:46 AM
We arrive in Denver
We drive by the Colorado State Capital and the Denver Mint.
While in Denver, we drive around catching glimpses of family history.
Here is the house where my grandfather grew up.
This is the corner location across from the University of Denver where my great grandparents owned the University Grill in the late 1930s.
1:09 PM
We reach the Rocky Mountains.
1:49 PM
We enter the Eisenhower Tunnel and pass the Continental Divide.
3:46 PM
We cross the Colorado River for the first time. We will later cross it a few more times and then follow its path for much of the rest of our drive.
4:20 PM
We spot a forest fire in the West Rifle hills. We wonder if it will make headlines in the evening news.
5:29 PM
We arrive in Fruita.
Our hotel is located next to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.
DAY FIVE SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 500.9
Number of states driven in - 2
Note: The Cookie Eating Record was set today. I ate 9. (Oh, come on. They were small, and we didn't stop for lunch until after 2pm!)
8:26 AM
We depart Colby
8:42/7:42 AM
We enter Mountain Time Zone.
"So where are the mountains?"
8:07 AM
We arrive in Colorado
"Toby, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
9:56 AM
We drive by a billboard for "Jo Mama's Laundry Mat." I wish I got a picture. It was hilarious!
10:46 AM
We arrive in Denver
We drive by the Colorado State Capital and the Denver Mint.
While in Denver, we drive around catching glimpses of family history.
Here is the house where my grandfather grew up.
This is the corner location across from the University of Denver where my great grandparents owned the University Grill in the late 1930s.1:09 PM
We reach the Rocky Mountains.
1:49 PM
We enter the Eisenhower Tunnel and pass the Continental Divide.
3:46 PM
We cross the Colorado River for the first time. We will later cross it a few more times and then follow its path for much of the rest of our drive.
4:20 PM
We spot a forest fire in the West Rifle hills. We wonder if it will make headlines in the evening news.
5:29 PM
We arrive in Fruita.
Our hotel is located next to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.
DAY FIVE SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 500.9
Number of states driven in - 2
Note: The Cookie Eating Record was set today. I ate 9. (Oh, come on. They were small, and we didn't stop for lunch until after 2pm!)
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Dude, just get the postcard!
I must admit, I am not a big fan of Kansas. There is not much to keep you occupied as you travel the miles and miles of prairie land. You know it's a bad sign when the following takes place only about an hour and half into the trip:Me: "This is boring. I am having trouble staying focused on the road."
Dad: "You're probably just tired."
Me: "Yeah, TIRED OF KANSAS!"
My dad spent the day trying to capture a picture of a windmill on the prairie. Of course this was while I was driving 65-70 mph! Suffice to say, he didn't get one. After a few hours of failed attempts, I told him he should just give up and go find one on a postcard. He laughed, but didn't consider that an option. He just kept on trying. Silly Daddy!
DAY FOUR : Emporia, KS to Colby, KS
August 30, 2006
8:24 AM
We depart Emporia to begin a long day of driving through the Kansas prairie lands.
11:51 AM
We visit the World's Largest Hand-Dug Well in Greensburg, KS. Yes, folks, this is the type of excitement you find in Kansas!
This is the water tower that guided us to the famous well.
This is the view looking down the well. You had to pay admission to climb down it. Not quite worth my money, I must admit.
12:30 PM
We take a detour to visit Fort Dodge.
1:10 PM
We arrive in Dodge City.
We soon find out the stop was a waste of our time. No gun fights at Boot Hill until 7:00pm. There is no way we are going to wait that long. Letdown #2. So we head to Arby's for lunch, then "get the hell out of Dodge!"
3:40 PM
Due to construction we were forced to take a detour down a "Scenic Route."
I thought all Kansas highways were "scenic routes."
5:20 PM
We finally arrive in Colby, KS.
Official Kansas Roadkill Tally:
1 raccoon
2 armadillo
1 hawk
1 opossum
1 turtle
5 "dark, brown, and fury" (aka indistinguishable)
DAY FOUR SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 417.8
States driven in - 1
Toby, I don't think we are ever getting out of Kansas!
8:24 AM
We depart Emporia to begin a long day of driving through the Kansas prairie lands.
11:51 AM
We visit the World's Largest Hand-Dug Well in Greensburg, KS. Yes, folks, this is the type of excitement you find in Kansas!
This is the water tower that guided us to the famous well.
This is the view looking down the well. You had to pay admission to climb down it. Not quite worth my money, I must admit.12:30 PM
We take a detour to visit Fort Dodge.
1:10 PM
We arrive in Dodge City.
We soon find out the stop was a waste of our time. No gun fights at Boot Hill until 7:00pm. There is no way we are going to wait that long. Letdown #2. So we head to Arby's for lunch, then "get the hell out of Dodge!"3:40 PM
Due to construction we were forced to take a detour down a "Scenic Route."
I thought all Kansas highways were "scenic routes."5:20 PM
We finally arrive in Colby, KS.
Official Kansas Roadkill Tally:
1 raccoon
2 armadillo
1 hawk
1 opossum
1 turtle
5 "dark, brown, and fury" (aka indistinguishable)
DAY FOUR SUMMARY:
Total miles driven - 417.8
States driven in - 1
Toby, I don't think we are ever getting out of Kansas!
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