Trip 1, Day 3

Right now we're in Flagstaff, AZ where there is currently more snow than I've seen in my entire life. I never would've expected it to snow this much in AZ, but it's piled high. For example:




See the gigantic pile of snow in the far corner??

We woke up yesterday in NM and got on the road fairly early. We were really afraid of this snowstorm we kept hearing about, but really we only came through one really bad patch for about 20 minutes, then it was sunny. The snow would come and go though...one minute the sky was dark and the snow was falling. The next it was gorgeous, blue sky and the sun was hot beating in the car on you. I guess that's the desert for you.

New Mexico was really, really beautiful. It's really a cross between the desert and the mountins. One side it's nothing but flat brush land, and the other is snowcapped mountains. Simply gorgeous.












Don't know if you can really see the mountains in this last one but it was amazing.

We stopped in Albuquerque at a KFC/Taco Bell combined restaurant to grab a quick lunch. I stuck out like a sore thumb here with blonde hair. Seems the population of Albuquerque is a Latino/Native American crossbreed.

While I was getting my drink from the self serve fountain this homeless lady came up, put her arm around me, and asked for money so she and the other lady with her could get back downtown. Now...I only had a 20 on me so she wasn't getting that anyway, but it was hard to feel bad for her when they had an entire table full of KFC food. So, I politely said I didn't have anything to give and she walked away. Sure enough, every new person who came in the door she went to them asking for money. I was really surprised management was letting her do it and sure enough, someone went and told on her and this teenage manager had to come kick them out. I don't really like being asked for money, but I specifically don't like them touching me then asking for money. Especially when you haven't showered in God knows how long.

We got into Arizona and stopped at The Continental Divide. Honestly, it was a pretty picture, but eh...







Next stop was The Petrified Forest. This has been my favorite so far. There were all these points to stop and look out over the painted desert, which was breathtaking.



















I didn't even take pictures of the petrified wood because to me it just wasn't very interesting and it just looked like old stumps lying around everywhere. Alex took a few though.

After that, we came into Flagstaff, ate at a Mexican joint, then found a hotel and crashed. Today we're supposed to do The Grand Canyon and Vegas but Alex is sick so we'll see what happens.

Until tomorrow...

Location:W Phoenix Ave,Flagstaff,United States

Trip 1, Day 2

Day 2 was a little more exciting than day 1. We woke up in Conway, AR, had a little breakfast at IHOP, then hit the road again. It was a really dreary, grey day, which made driving all day a little more tiring.

We got into Oklahoma pretty quickly, and I must say that OK's roads are really awful. Bumpy, potholes, just awful. The only other thing worth noting about Oklahoma is that there are Indian reservations and casinos every couple of miles. It's a gambling addict's heaven, for sure.

300+ miles later we get to Texas. Our friend Jonny told us of this restauant in Amarillo called "The Big Texan" that's the home of the 72oz steak, and if you can eat the whole thing you get it for free. If not, it's $1 per ounce, so $72 just for a steak.

We get there and it looks like some kind of Old West theme park outside and inside was all wooden with dead animals on the wall, a gift shop, etc. We end up sitting on the upper level where we have a good view of everything.

Sure enough, there's a guy there trying to eat the 72oz steak. They have him sitting at a table up on this platform/stage with spotlights on him. People are walking up taking pictures, like he was the Wolfman at the circus.






When we sat down he had 30 minutes left. I have to say we were pretty anxious watching the countdown clock. When it hit zero, someone came up and asked everyone to give him a hand, handed him a t-shirt and that was that. Problem is, we're not really sure if he did it or not. BUT it figures, he gets up and turns around and he's wearing an Alabama shirt. We ended up talking to him and he was from Huntsville but lives in TN now.

Here are a few pictures:

















After the most enjoyable dinner experience ever, we got back on the road and drove to Tucumcari, NM to stay at The Blue Swallow Motel, recommended by Brie and Jeremy.






Cute little 1950's, neon signs everywhere, hotel on Route 66. This place was fantastic. The lady who checked us in was great. We were the only people in the hotel last night though so I take it this is their slow season.

As we were checking in the lady told us that there's another snowstorm that's supposed to hit tonight and they were expecting another 5-7" on top of what they got last week. We told her we were planning to get to Flagstaff tonight and she said "oh no Flagstaff will be worse! It always snows in Flagstaff!". Great. So that brings us to now. We're on the road trying to see how far we can get. The snowy desert is beautiful!

Here are some pics outside our hotel this morning.

Location:Cuervo,United States

Trip 1, day 1

Well we made it through our first day on the road. Sadly, I had to work yesterdy so Alex was kind enough to drive me to work and pretty much hang out all day so that we could get on the road as soon as I was done. The original plan was to try to make it to OK. Then we decided that was probably a bit too ambitious so we settled on stopping in Little Rock, AR.

This was the only picture I could get while in the car at night.









We ended up stopping in Conway, AR, a small little place about 30 miles or so past Little Rock. Alex has this strange love for Motel 6, probably because it's cheap, an we had seen a sign for one along the interstate, so we get off the exit and drive past the nicer hotels and pull into this tiny, ghetto looking place. Ghetto, but albeit packed out.

We walk into the lobby and it's one of those places where you have to check in through a plate glass window after hours, and there are two guys in front of us. One who is announcing every 30 seconds how much he has to piss. The other whose pants are just below his ass and buckled tight enough so that they don't fall down.

The only first floor room they had (because this is the kind of place where you park your car right outside your room) was a handicap room. Ok, that's fine, except I feel like I was staying in a hospital. Not only did it smell like old person, but this is the shower...






Complete with hospital/old person shower seat!

So now we're getting back on the road. 125 mikes to Oklahoma. Now for a healthy IHOP breakfast.