The Trip Westward

The Trip started in the farmlands of Indiana. It began to snow on the first night, and the weather persisted for the duration of our time in the state.

One day we visited Trish's grandmother in the town of Hartford City. The place was a beautiful remnant of small town America, and unlike a city in almost every way.

From there, we drove across Illinois and Missouri, stopping off for a trip into the states Fantastic Caverns. Then it was off, across the plains of Oklahoma, following the path of old Route 66 the entire way .

We pulled of at the old Cherokee Trading Post to see some live Buffalo in a nearby coral.

We also met the natives,

and saw a wooden totem pole standing in a grass field.

the prairie lands were bitter cold, especially in the sun set. But the snowy weather was finally over, and we were thankful for that.

Soon, the desert approached, and the landscape slowly changed into the red earth of New Mexico.

In the middle of the state, we found the remnants of an old Stuckeys. I'm a huge fan of these tacky old tourist haunts, and of course had to pull off in order to purchase a jackalope themed souvenir.

Then in Arizona, we headed into the high country to see the marvel of the Grand Canyon. Again, we found ourselves in snowy conditions,

but the country was pretty, and it was hard to complain.

Then we came to Grand Canyon National Park, and it was a stunning sight to behold.

I've seen the Canyon countless times, but it's beauty never fails to astound me.

The pathways were iced over and slippery, and the danger of falling over the short railing added a certain danger to the stunning grandeur of the surrounding gulches.

Thirty or so miles outside the park, we found a Flintstones themed motel and diner, and of course had to stop for lunch.

So, from the beauty of the Grand Canyon, we then found ourselves in a decrepit old diner. Again, I ate a greasy grilled cheese sandwich and fries, probably the thirtieth one of the trip.

We did some sight seeing afterwards.

And again met the natives, this time an enormous Fred Flintstone.

And Trish was attacked by a Dinosaur made out of metal.

America has a great sense of humor about itself, and it's always fun to spend a bit time on it's many roadsides.

We next entered Nevada,

and soon, in the middle of the desert, we found ourselves in the neon city of Las Vegas.

The following morning we crossed the California line, and decided to make a quick stop in the old mining town of Calico in the hills near the highway.

It was a charming little ghost town, with a bunch of old souvenir shops.

Even a Dinosaur themed shop with neat little murals painted on it's exterior.

Outside the shop, I found one of the strangest quarter devices I have ever seen . Encased in a glass box was a ghoulish zombie minor with a sign on it's front that said, Watch Me Suffer. An electronic voice kept prompting me to place a quarter in the device,

so of course I listened. And after paying my twenty five cents, watched the ghoul vibrate and moan for the duration of minute. It was a bizarre attraction.

Then we bought some rubber dinosaurs from the souvenir shop.

And met the natives.

Next we traveled through some mining caverns, and made our way up a giant hill.

A railroad whined it's way around the hills of Calico, and we jumped on board to see the sights.

We saw a house made out of rocks,

And one made out of old green bottles.

Trish slipped on the hillside and skinned her arm unfortunately.

So we decided to call it a day, and headed home.