tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38891462452249402642024-03-08T11:51:42.930-08:00The Needle and Haystack LifeWe are once in a lifetime alive...Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-44288385221327826582010-04-04T00:27:00.001-07:002010-04-04T03:17:45.930-07:00Dream with open eyes... (29-Mar-2010-present)After a great couple of days in Santa Fe, I headed onto Arizona!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4488015773_0c76291295.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4488015773_0c76291295.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />However, I failed to realize that most of Arizona does not follow daylight savings time. I thought I would reach Sedona before sunset, but I still had an hour left to go after the sun went down:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4488075905_9354d25c3f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4488075905_9354d25c3f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Since I arrived after dark, the beauty of this place was hidden until I could see it the next morning in the light of day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4488734578_e3897cd2b7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4488734578_e3897cd2b7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2800/4488739694_d89e27732d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2800/4488739694_d89e27732d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to experience the fun of Sedona so I went on a Red Rock Jeep Tour!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4488850712_9023afd4c6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4488850712_9023afd4c6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4488857326_0b0982b73f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4488857326_0b0982b73f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We had the chance to walk around a bit mid-way through and experience the flora and fauna (though, the fauna includes tarantulas :P Our cowboy driver made a joke about one being loose in the jeep! LOL! We didn't see any though)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4488216979_95593941a2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4488216979_95593941a2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4488220631_4fbb592e5c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4488220631_4fbb592e5c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This was a big hole in the ground (I can't recall the exact name) but the big bolder that looks as though it broke off did so after an earthquake that happened a few years ago! It was referred to as the grand piano due to its shape. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4488876996_07c9582b20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4488876996_07c9582b20.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here one of the other drivers got a picture of us going over some of the rocky boulders; we had so much fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4488882570_3fef3fe647.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4488882570_3fef3fe647.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We drove back into town after the excursion...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4488895702_a6cb820460.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4488895702_a6cb820460.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The town of Sedona is really great with no shortage of things to do. I just wish I had more time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4488901978_6da938acc1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4488901978_6da938acc1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />But, I did make time for something fun I thought I'd try...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4488255835_3c2b4b0fca.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4488255835_3c2b4b0fca.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Ok no, not chocolate with a teddy bear, but isn't he adorable? I had to take a photo. Anyway, moving on. This is what I did:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4488911342_58a1ce020e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4488911342_58a1ce020e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I had a palm reading and tarot card reading and the medium whom I sat with told me great news for the months and years to come! She said I would be successful in California but that I would need to be patient! Very cool. Apparently, for new age enthusiasts, Sedona is in some sort of mystical "vortex" that has a great deal of energy surrounding the area. Hence, this town has a very strong spiritual side!<br /><br />After spending time in the town, I decided to check out Meteor Crater. I had passed signs for it on the way to Sedona. I had always wanted to see it but I had completely forgotten to look it up. It was a bit of a drive, but so worth it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4488265901_c8116044a8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4488265901_c8116044a8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Ok, backtrack. On my way to the crater I got pulled over for speeding :\. Luckily the officer was very kind and just gave me a warning. He probably took pity on me since I was out of town and didn't realize how suddenly the speed limit changed from 75 to 65. But, I still made it to the crater and museum before they closed for the day:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4488288095_7d1a9db5e2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4488288095_7d1a9db5e2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I got some awesome photos:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4489036722_66fe1bdd8d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4489036722_66fe1bdd8d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4488397211_074235ac48.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4488397211_074235ac48.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here are some fun facts about Meteor Crater you might find interesting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4489066940_ea8dace459.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4489066940_ea8dace459.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This was one of the most interesting quotes posted. After seeing a video at the museum on the threat of comets, asteroids, and meteoroids and watching movies in popular culture, many people don't realize how important these objects were in making our planet the habitable one it has become:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4489071380_dc66d22b07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4489071380_dc66d22b07.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />On a lighter note, I just had to take a photo of these stairs. We had similar ones up in Syracuse at the student center and you either take really teeny tiny steps going one at a time, or really huge steps by skipping every other one. No normal stepping allowed. Maybe someone can enlighten me as to their purpose?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4488438525_488076dcba.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4488438525_488076dcba.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Outside, they had a big "Wall of Fame" honoring American Astronauts:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4489090132_e4171f4b9e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4489090132_e4171f4b9e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And I really liked this photo op. It's a "frame" of the landscape surrounding the Meteor Crater museum:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4489096136_fa8c124b87.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4489096136_fa8c124b87.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After Meteor Crater, it was time for me to head on over to Williams, AZ for the next day's Grand Canyon Adventure! Here is the view from my hotel room shortly after I arrived:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4489100432_370f5ae013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4489100432_370f5ae013.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The next day started early!!! My tour group took a bus ride to our location in Peach Springs, AZ and then an open-air jeep ride to the base of the Canyon right on the Colorado River. The family I was matched with was from England and they were lots of fun to spend time with. Our driver was also really great, he kept pointing out landmarks and told us about the history and geology of the area. Very interesting!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4488463489_62e84dbec5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4488463489_62e84dbec5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4488466927_3fdaca70b9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4488466927_3fdaca70b9.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4488469547_201a190496.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4488469547_201a190496.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It started out a cold, overcast day at the Grand Canyon! Unfortunately, I knew we were gonna get soaked on the rafting trip so I kept my camera in a plastic bag the entire time. You'll just have to believe me when I tell you it was awesome! The rapids on the Colorado River rocked!! We even took a few breaks for hiking to a waterfall and using all these ropes to climb up the different rock formations. It was so cool. At the tail end of the trip, we took a helicopter back to a local airport:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4488473987_cca44166fc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4488473987_cca44166fc.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It was my first time in a helicopter and it was amazing! The view from inside was breathtaking...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4489129200_4d3078759c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4489129200_4d3078759c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2787/4488483761_6494b60ab7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2787/4488483761_6494b60ab7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4488491301_8a57688717.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4488491301_8a57688717.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The Grand Canyon and all of Arizona was so wonderful. I know I keep saying this about every location, but I really do wish I had more time to spend there! There is so much to do and 1 day at the Grand Canyon (and even in Sedona) is just not enough. Luckily, I'll now be living only one state over so a visit shouldn't be too difficult. <br /><br />Later that night it snowed and I had to scrape my car off the next morning. I was in the mountains of Colorado only a few days prior but it snows here in Arizona?? Too funny. <br /><br />That morning I left to begin my drive into California and I took this photo to mark off another point made on the trip:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4488496585_dce502e2c4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4488496585_dce502e2c4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The sky was so clear during this drive you could see the mountains in the distance:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4488500313_021226830b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4488500313_021226830b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And, heh, I thought there were a lot of wind turbines in Kansas, but California certainly had Kansas beat by a long-shot in terms of quantity. There must have been thousands:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4489150864_f435238d17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4489150864_f435238d17.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />My travels brought me to the town of Cabazon where the famous Cabazon Dinosaurs live! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4489164696_14ec88cb15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4489164696_14ec88cb15.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The Apatosaurus' name is "Dinny":<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4489154348_2416b45b6f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4489154348_2416b45b6f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br /><br />You can go inside Dinny:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4488513439_0b73792b20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4488513439_0b73792b20.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And the T-Rex's name is "Mr. Rex" and you can apparently go in him as well but I couldn't find the entrance:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4489157610_e9d5fcee2c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4489157610_e9d5fcee2c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />For those of you born before 1985, you might remember these dinosaurs being featured in the movie "The Wizard" with Fred Savage. It involves a kid with superb video gaming skills traveling to California for a completely different purpose. Check it out if you have time; it's a nostalgic, touching movie. <br /><br />The dinosaurs were originally built over 30 years ago to draw attention to the Wheel Inn Restaurant where I had dinner. It took 11 years to build Dinny the Apatosaurus (who is the largest dinosaur in the world) and 7 years to build Mr. Rex. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4489167116_6bf567d4ae.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4489167116_6bf567d4ae.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />As Cabazon is somewhat east of LA, I still had a 2 hour drive south. I took the inland route and got to see some of the rolling green hills:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4489169418_5972d72a52.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4489169418_5972d72a52.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After almost 2 full weeks of driving, I finally made it to San Diego that night. I was able to get to Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in Point Loma to take these photos of the Pacific:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4488524847_7a99eb0b2b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4488524847_7a99eb0b2b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4488527061_4c73dc0cc2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4488527061_4c73dc0cc2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I want to thank everyone who followed and supported me on my journey westward! It was an amazing trip and I am so happy I finally got to see many things I've always dreamed about. While I am very happy to be in San Diego, I am also kinda sad that my trip is over; a part of me wishes I could stay on the road and be a vagabond forever! I just fell in love with the freedom of it all and I hope to do more traveling again in the future. I've gotten a taste of life on the road and I want more...<br /><br />Here's to the next adventure in San Diego as I work to build a life in this beautiful, vibrant city! Thanks again everyone!<br /><br />Dan<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In this needle and haystack life<br />I found miracles there in your eyes<br />It's no accident we're here tonight<br />We are once in a lifetime, alive...<br /><br />~Switchfoot</span><br /><br /><iframe src='http://blogabond.com/BlogMap.aspx?tripID=13589' width='100%' height='300' frameborder=0 scrolling=no></iframe><a href='http://blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=13589' style='font-size:80%;'></a>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-84665519671004849512010-03-29T00:13:00.001-07:002010-03-29T21:04:31.529-07:00The truth is out there... (27,28-Mar-2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4471955923_376081849c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4471955923_376081849c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I arrived in New Mexico Friday evening and the weather was great! The skies started clearing and the landscape was arid with sparse vegetation. It was beautiful:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4472736566_b334f0bebf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4472736566_b334f0bebf.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4471958789_7f31747384.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4471958789_7f31747384.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The next day, I went to the railyard the check out their freight line. Growing up, our Christmas train set was always a "Santa Fe" model and ever since then, I've been fascinated with the beauty of southwestern freight trains...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4472739866_51e73c18b6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4472739866_51e73c18b6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4472741238_0f562efa77.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4472741238_0f562efa77.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4472742386_9175a38c22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4472742386_9175a38c22.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Next on the agenda was the VLA "Very Large Array" of satellite dishes 50 miles west of Socorro. This place is 3.5 hours south of Santa Fe and took the entire rest of the day. Here is an image of the drive so that you can get a sense of the remoteness: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4471966309_2f5aeebd90.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4471966309_2f5aeebd90.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It was so worth it:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4471967035_8947a74c23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4471967035_8947a74c23.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4472749066_1ca86712f8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4472749066_1ca86712f8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here is a description which does a better job of explaining the VLA than I can:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4472757068_f3999ecca1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4472757068_f3999ecca1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I went on a self-guided walking tour outside and found this sign kinda funny:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4472753108_eb594e7636.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4472753108_eb594e7636.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Well, it's funny now knowing that I didn't encounter any snakes on the tour ;)<br /><br />I was able to take some great photos on the tour:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4471981197_8963f66897.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4471981197_8963f66897.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/4471982895_2492b4e3cb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/4471982895_2492b4e3cb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The 27 satellite dishes are set-up in a "Y" formation on top of these railroad ties: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4472764266_0c0df6daf8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4472764266_0c0df6daf8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4472769792_2583214c40.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4472769792_2583214c40.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This enables them to move the dishes around so they could be close-together or really far apart. This area in the desert is so large and remote that the dishes at their farthest expansion are the size of Washington, D.C. I can't recall the specifics, but having multiple satellite dishes arranged closely as in the VLA mimics what a much larger satellite dish can do (collect data on larger objects, farther away) and is much less expensive and more practical. <br /><br />I met a group of radio astronomers from Stanford here. They are trying to save a couple of satellite dishes that Stanford is looking to get rid of and bring them to the VLA here in New Mexico. They were very kind, informative and took this photo for me:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4471989137_732fa2f1c5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4471989137_732fa2f1c5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Do I look cold? It was very cold on this day!<br /><br />If you've seen the movie <span style="font-style:italic;">Contact</span> starring Jodie Foster, part of that movie was filmed here:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4471998033_0f9e7817ac.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4471998033_0f9e7817ac.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4471996387_b858bd61cf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4471996387_b858bd61cf.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />However, the VLA also noted the many technical inaccuracies in the film. The famous scene where Jodie Foster's character first makes "contact" while listening on the headphones is the most telling as radio-astronomers do not "listen" to anything; all of their data is visual. I do still love that movie though!<br /><br />On the ride back I was able to take this photo of downtown Albuquerque, NM. I didn't spend any time there, but would love to experience it someday:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4474772315_98b77f9569.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4474772315_98b77f9569.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After a long day at the VLA, I arrived back in Santa Fe in the evening. I decided to head to historic downtown Santa Fe for some dinner and took these shots:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4472002681_91bd653ce4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4472002681_91bd653ce4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4472782234_6ae7fdcde7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4472782234_6ae7fdcde7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4472005021_0d40c2b2ff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4472005021_0d40c2b2ff.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I had a great meal of steak fajitas at a local spot :) This town is beautiful and the architecture is breathtaking. I liked it so much that I went downtown the next morning as well. Not knowing parking was free on Sundays, I accidentally gave the city of Santa Fe a little donation to their meters, woops:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4472785736_42bb7167ec.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4472785736_42bb7167ec.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4472786974_c9e04d5b10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4472786974_c9e04d5b10.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4472788100_68328d1653.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4472788100_68328d1653.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This old church was quite beautiful. I completely forgot it was Palm Sunday and decided to attend mass. The inside of the church was very pretty too, but I didn't want to interrupt mass with photos:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4472790436_71f0587224.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4472790436_71f0587224.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4472791288_4b1be71e47.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4472791288_4b1be71e47.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4472013323_b6eef50b9b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4472013323_b6eef50b9b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After having some peach crepes at a local French bakery, I was on the road to Sedona, AZ (and yes the crepes were delicious!)<br /><br />I was able to capture this desert freight train moving across the desert as I drove westward. I love desert trains:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4472794164_8b6011b632.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4472794164_8b6011b632.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Stay tuned for some great Sedona adventures coming soon!Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-24925671886496343982010-03-26T20:59:00.000-07:002010-03-26T23:51:37.831-07:00Rocky Mountain High! (25,26-Mar-2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4466453386_63d20b90c6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4466453386_63d20b90c6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I arrived in Colorado amid a forecast of dangerously snowy conditions on I-70 into Denver. They received almost 10 inches in some places, but luckily the sun came out just as I was crossing the Kansas/Colorado border and the temperature rose clearing the roadways. The plow trucks were out in full-force too. <br /><br />Colorado is very much like Kansas until you reach Denver. There is no sign of mountains and the great plains continue to roll on:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4465681927_fcace46e18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4465681927_fcace46e18.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />My hotel stay was in Boulder and a very short ride to downtown:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4466465410_bfd6b76702.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4466465410_bfd6b76702.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4465691285_9af1035306.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4465691285_9af1035306.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4466468702_1676e7fbb0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4466468702_1676e7fbb0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Downtown is very beautiful, safe, and upscale. Since Boulder is a university town, there are a lot of young people which gives the town an energetic, hip vibe. It was a ton of fun and the views of the mountains were breathtaking. <br /><br />I decided to take a ride to Golden, CO as I have heard it's a beautiful town as well with a more "western" feel. My drive took me deeper into the mountains:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4465700117_4b61ccac56.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4465700117_4b61ccac56.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The roads in the mountains were filled with tunnels:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2706/4466477848_e2651de7e1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2706/4466477848_e2651de7e1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And the views continued to be an inspiration:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4466479772_15808bf1bf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4466479772_15808bf1bf.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4466481060_7396b11069.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4466481060_7396b11069.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, I got lost on my way to Golden. I think I was too distracted with the views and taking photos, because when the road turned to dirt, something just didn't seem right:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4465707593_435255844c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4465707593_435255844c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I tried asking the locals for directions, but they weren't very helpful or responsive:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2699/4466484588_bcef6290a4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2699/4466484588_bcef6290a4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4465710585_7b4cac6ceb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4465710585_7b4cac6ceb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Fortunately, I stopped at a gas station and a helpful guy there pointed me in the right direction and I finally found historic downtown Golden:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4465715659_c104bb4618.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4465715659_c104bb4618.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />You are just surrounded by natural beauty here:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4466495474_dafa34d7fd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4466495474_dafa34d7fd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And of course, Golden is the headquarters of Coors Brewing Company:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4465717465_f09f570c6e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4465717465_f09f570c6e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I continued to walk around downtown and explore this interesting town and accidentally came across The American Mountaineering Center. I've never heard of this place before, but they are also the headquarters of Colorado's Outward Bound program:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4466497068_a045567d3b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4466497068_a045567d3b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4465723023_dba419acbd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4465723023_dba419acbd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The museum inside was really cool and had information about rock climbing all around the world:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4466501074_859aedeb6d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4466501074_859aedeb6d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4465727277_af5d7070b6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4465727277_af5d7070b6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I love rock climbing, unfortunately I've only done it a couple of times in my life (and all but one of those times were in rock gyms which can be expensive!) From what I learned at this museum, Colorado offers some of the most diverse climbing conditions in the world. Modern climbing is beginning to shift its focus from height to unique challenges such as free climbing (climbing with minimal safety gear to only be used to catch you if you fall!) Luckily, the ropes used today are made with nylon and are able to "give" a bit if you fall; hemp rope was the old standard and it wasn't very strong. I read that while steel cables are extremely strong, they are not used for climbing as they do not give at all and if you fall, the cable will snap your spine! Yikes! <br /><br />Colorado is certainly the place to be for climbing with 54 mountains in the state over 14,000 feet high! (the Fourteeners)<br /><br />With a long day of exploring behind me, last night I went to check out Downtown Denver. I also saw <span style="font-style:italic;">Alice in Wonderland</span> in the Regal downtown. It was pretty good and sooo Tim Burton:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4465730591_d7a33cabab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4465730591_d7a33cabab.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4466507382_935d6dccfa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4466507382_935d6dccfa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4465732995_c27679655c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4465732995_c27679655c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Needless to say, I was very tired last night! Fortunately, I got a very good night's sleep last night and was ready for the drive south to Colorado Springs today:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4466509908_668af25363.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4466509908_668af25363.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Garden of the Gods came highly recommended so I made a trip:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4465736895_b9ed6386b0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4465736895_b9ed6386b0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This place is a geological park that was promised by its founder to be free to the public forever:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4466515964_c7c8cdd982.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4466515964_c7c8cdd982.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4465741681_334fa9decb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4465741681_334fa9decb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It was very cold and the snow began to fall as I walked some of paths in the park but I was too enthralled to notice or care. The rock formations were incredible and of several varieties/colors:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4466519014_f3bcdaf178.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4466519014_f3bcdaf178.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4466522536_33b6cc81c5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4466522536_33b6cc81c5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This one is called Balanced Rock and has a great view from its base:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4465747955_4470c4eefa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4465747955_4470c4eefa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4466526624_561d740aec.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4466526624_561d740aec.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After a short visit to Garden of the Gods, it was time to continue south to Santa Fe. There were even more snow-capped mountains to see:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4465752757_59aa455fcd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4465752757_59aa455fcd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And the sky began to clear:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4466532380_df67ee6525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4466532380_df67ee6525.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />There is so much to see and do in Colorado! My only regret is not having enough time to experience it all. I was lucky that my visit occurred between two big snowstorms and that driving through the mountains was safe. I definitely want to come back in the summertime to take full advantage of the outdoor activities and the less-fickle weather; I had a hot-air balloon ride scheduled that had to be canceled due to the windy conditions. <br /><br />Even with my short taste of this amazing state, I now understand its appeal. The natural beauty and endless recreation are simply too good to pass up. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I guess he'd rather be in Colorado,<br />He'd rather play his banjo in the morning when the moon is scarcely gone...<br />In the dawn the subways comin', in the dawn I hear him hummin'<br />Some old song he wrote of love in Boulder Canyon...<br />~ J. Denver</span>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-66790402221200928852010-03-25T23:52:00.000-07:002010-03-26T00:53:33.017-07:00I have a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore... (23,24-Mar-2010)Woah, kindof a late entry here; these past few days have been a whirlwind of new places and new experiences!<br /><br />After departing St. Louis, I eventually reached Kansas City, MO:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/4463248637_8005346c9e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/4463248637_8005346c9e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Now, this has always confused me, but there is a Kansas City, MO and a Kansas City, KS and they're both situated at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. Kansas City, MO is the larger of the two and is the one pictured above. Unfortunately I missed out on some highly recommended Kansas City barbecue, but hopefully one day I'll get to try it. <br /><br />After passing by Kansas City, I made my way into Kansas:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4464026988_a6605d5315.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4464026988_a6605d5315.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Passing through Kansas was hillier than I expected at first, but as I got further into the state, the terrain began to flatten out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4464038336_d7ee7d0e5f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4464038336_d7ee7d0e5f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I was able to see some of the old technology seemingly still in use:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4463253109_e10e9647ab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4463253109_e10e9647ab.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And the newer technology. In fact, there was a huge field of these giant wind turbines. I've heard you can hear them turn as they cut through the wind but the weather was so windy/rainy that I couldn't hear anything else. Still very cool to see:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/4464032364_b1b01f5946.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/4464032364_b1b01f5946.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The rolling fields of Kansas had a certain charm and beauty to them which I felt even on this rainy day. I hadn't planned to do much else besides take in the natural beauty of this state when I accidentally came upon this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4463263977_0f02e95253.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4463263977_0f02e95253.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I saw signs for it as I was heading west on I-70. I figured, why not check it out? It really was well-worth the side-trip, everything was put together so well and they had all these little exhibits of all different versions of the Wizard of Oz from all around the world:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4463265765_646ed35d7b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4463265765_646ed35d7b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4463267573_ede7e02cff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4463267573_ede7e02cff.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4463269251_30b38d30b2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4463269251_30b38d30b2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4463270395_f599fbf45b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4463270395_f599fbf45b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4464049468_8d6cdc74a7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4464049468_8d6cdc74a7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />They had the 1939 movie playing continuously in a special room and I learned quite a bit about the movie that I never knew. Apparently, Judy Garland wanted to adopt Terry (the dog who played Toto) from the studio as she had become attached to him, but her request was denied as Toto went on to star in other movies. <br /><br />After a brief stop in Oz, I continued my journey westward. I needed to stop for gas and I happened upon this memorial right next to the gas station:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4463273631_b89e477a46.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4463273631_b89e477a46.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br /><br />I've looked this up online and I can only surmise that this is an unofficial memorial commemorating those fallen in this battle of WWII (it was the only battle in WWII where the American casualties exceeded Japanese). I believe this one was to honor local soldiers from the area. In any case, I'm glad I had the chance to see it. It reminded me of the freedom I have to just get up and move, unhindered across this great country. It is a freedom that I take for granted far too often but deeply appreciate. <br /><br />This ends this chapter of my voyage. I am currently in Colorado and will update you all on my adventures here from today and tomorrow, tomorrow evening. <br /><br />Thanks for reading!<br /><br />-DanDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-69959707160209243582010-03-23T17:53:00.000-07:002010-03-23T20:58:03.587-07:00Way out west... (22-Mar-2010)This day was spent in St. Louis at the Gateway Arch Riverfront/Jefferson National Expansion Memorial! This monument was erected to honor Lewis and Clark and the westward expansion of the United States. At 630 feet tall, it is the tallest monument in the world and is situated right in front of their old courthouse on the Mississippi River. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4458897910_6fe8808478.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4458897910_6fe8808478.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4458900762_a581d4f000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4458900762_a581d4f000.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4458950664_9fb719cbca.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4458950664_9fb719cbca.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4458903032_356dd606cb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4458903032_356dd606cb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I actually didn't know you could go inside the Gateway Arch until a few years ago. I'm so glad I finally had my chance to do so! You take a really tiny tram car to the top that only fits 5 people and 8 of these trams go up at a time. Here is a photo of the observation deck all the way at the top:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4458136023_e4b8532900.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4458136023_e4b8532900.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And of course, the fantastic view from the top. I really lucked out with sunny weather that day as you can clearly see the impressive shadow the Arch casts: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4458922246_d16cb455bc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4458922246_d16cb455bc.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Just seeing the Arch in-person was so surreal. I remember seeing pictures of it in my first grade social studies book and I always told myself that I would see it one day. However, my experience on the Riverfront became so much more that day. I had no idea the who, how, and why about this structure until actually visiting. <br /><br />I was able to view a documentary about the building of the Arch and all the planning, reinforced concrete and 900 tons of steel involved. The stainless steel actually came from Pennsylvania and triangular pieces were assembled and then extensively secured upon one another and welded together. I was able to take a photo example of a welding seam:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4458132651_817d0cbc0e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4458132651_817d0cbc0e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />For you math geeks out there, the Arch is actually one giant hyperbolic cosine function: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">y = A(cosh(Cx/L)-1)</span><br /><br />and it is a bit of an optical illusion with the width of its base equaling its height (it appears taller than it is wide). <br /><br />There is a whole museum underneath called the "Museum of Westward Expansion" featuring artifacts from the Lewis and Clark Expedition and photographs and and quotes inspired by the idea of Westward Expansion and American curiosity and wonder... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4458144967_3cb18f2ccb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4458144967_3cb18f2ccb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here is a map featuring the Lewis and Clark Trail which began here in St. Louis, Missouri: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4458146817_8d0544f149.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4458146817_8d0544f149.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After touring the Arch and museum, I walked around the whole park area and down the steps to see the Mississippi River: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4458956964_2c565ea68d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4458956964_2c565ea68d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I also had the chance to walk down to an older part of town where some of the restaurants are...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4458960570_b430227570.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4458960570_b430227570.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And I sampled some of the famous rectangular pizza! It was delicious and for you Rachael Ray fans, there was a note on the menu which mentioned that this pizza was featured on her show:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4458184291_23aa462d4e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4458184291_23aa462d4e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Today was really special for me. Getting the chance to see and feel a part of something I've always been curious about really touched my spirit. While I wouldn't dream of comparing my current experience with Lewis and Clark's, I did feel connected to them in my own journey westward that day.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-34507748770183624712010-03-21T20:55:00.000-07:002010-03-21T23:23:54.824-07:00"A grand, gloomy, and peculiar place" (21-Mar-2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4452622925_718e2cbca4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4452622925_718e2cbca4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Okay, so that picture above was supposed to be the "Welcome to Kentucky" sign, but I didn't quite take the picture in time as my car passed. I would have just pulled over to take the photo, but there was a surprising amount of road construction in this part of the country, so oh well; it was nice scenery and a sunny, warm day though.<br /><br />Driving through Appalachia these past few days has filled me with so much wonder and awe. Our country is so beautiful and I was feeling bit envious at those who lived in this region. Being surrounded by the mountains and rolling hills really brings you back to life and does wonders for the soul.<br /><br />Today I explored Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky! It was discovered by the Native Americans more than 4000 years ago and is the largest underground cave system in the world. In fact, our guide told us that if the second and third longest caves in the world were joined together, Mammoth Cave would still be the planet's longest cave and have nearly 100 miles left over! Crazy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4453410750_19749ab910.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4453410750_19749ab910.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4453414938_aac853cb6e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4453414938_aac853cb6e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here is the entrance:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4452647951_9ac07073c5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4452647951_9ac07073c5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This room is called "Rotunda" due to its round shape and is the 6th largest "room" in the Mammoth Cave system. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4452651699_ca1867f043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4452651699_ca1867f043.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4452657713_6a56e6fe3d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4452657713_6a56e6fe3d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This rock formation is called "Giant's Tomb" and using a flashlight and shadow techniques, our tour guide was able to "lift" the lid off of this tomb :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4453473712_544372fe54.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4453473712_544372fe54.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Also, our tour guide described how tours were first conducted back in the day and he turned out all of the lights then lighted a small lamp. I don't recall experiencing anything that dark in my entire life. <br /><br />This sign was funny. They actually named this section "Fat Man's Misery" due to how narrow it is. The ceiling also drops significantly so if you're taller than 3 feet, you'll be crouching. I hit my head pretty badly while taking this picture due to not watching where I walked :P<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4452664361_825592075f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4452664361_825592075f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />In this large room, our guide elaborated about the history of the cave when this part of the country was still under water (LONG ago; Mississippian Sea). The hard body parts of sea creatures made mostly of calcium carbonate settled into the sea bottom and pressure and heat transformed these sediments into limestone. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4452667545_4aa81c6e17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4452667545_4aa81c6e17.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br /><br />We also learned about the bats in the cave which are no bigger than your thumb. Most of them were hibernating this time of the year though. There didn't seem to be many insects or sources of food for the bats inside the cave so I asked the tour guide what the bats fed on while in the cave and he jokingly replied "lost tourists..." :) But then he said that they come to the surface at night to feed on insects while following the same flight path, night after night. <br /><br />Here we got to see some stalactites. This part of the cave didn't feature many of these formations, but rather was focused on the vastness and history of the cave. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4453476530_ca0e5fdfbd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4453476530_ca0e5fdfbd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This last part of the cave was the way out. We had to climb this very large, high staircase to reach the surface as we had traveled more than 300 feet underground. I took that second picture near the top of the staircase as the group ascended. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4453457388_0e8acb3a99.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4453457388_0e8acb3a99.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4452685253_eebedf78e7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4452685253_eebedf78e7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Surfacing...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4453465464_5fd3c4fb76.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4453465464_5fd3c4fb76.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This last photo describes the cave system as a "honeycomb" formation, but our tour guide described it as a large bowl of spaghetti flipped upside-down. The hard, bowl dome is the surface and all the strands of spaghetti randomly weaving in and out of each other are all of the tunnels. We only did a 2 mile tour of this 367 mile cave system, so there is much more to discover. The quote title of this post was recited by our tour guide as the conclusion of the tour. An early guide named Stephen Bishop described Mammoth Cave as "A grand, gloomy, and peculiar place...". I definitely felt the "grand[ness]" of this place, but perhaps the gloom he describes was associated with the lack of lighting back in the early days?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4453470250_ee0fe2c3da.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4453470250_ee0fe2c3da.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />If I had more time, I would have done one of the longer tours where you get to use helmets with headlamps! I highly recommend visiting this park if you are able. There are all sorts of different tours for all ability levels and interests. <br /><br />I am now in St. Louis, MO and will write more tomorrow night! <br /><br />-DanDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-53709041975545894232010-03-20T19:41:00.000-07:002010-03-20T21:12:32.312-07:00Almost Heaven, West Virginia... (20-Mar-2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4448895083_b31979c231.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4448895083_b31979c231.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I made it to West Virginia kinda late last night due to missing a turn. The scenery was amazing though, you are literally "in" the mountains when driving here. This morning I woke up, had the continental breakfast at my hotel and then drove to Point Pleasant! Why Point Pleasant? The Mothman of course! If you've ever seen the Mothman Prophecies with Richard Gere and Laura Linney, this is where that movie takes place and is based off of actual events. <br /><br />When I arrived in town, a very friendly local asked "So...are ya in town to see the Mothman?" Apparently it's their claim to fame. She went on to tell me about lots of things to do in Point Pleasant, from the Mothman Museum and statue to biking along the flood wall (this town is right on the Ohio River). Here are some photos of the river and the mural on the flood wall:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4448919521_d03d493b28.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4448919521_d03d493b28.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4448937641_7dd2c44e30.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4448937641_7dd2c44e30.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4449721494_112e3f5d96.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4449721494_112e3f5d96.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Across from the Mothman Museum was the Mothman Statue:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4448956407_b287b65869.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4448956407_b287b65869.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4449745124_100703794a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4449745124_100703794a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After a short lunch was the Mothman Museum where they had actual props from the movie, eyewitness accounts and police reports, and a documentary. All very cool!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4449837880_f4fb0a8820.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4449837880_f4fb0a8820.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4449759108_048fd57e05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4449759108_048fd57e05.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4449775416_2db3a1b0cb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4449775416_2db3a1b0cb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And of course, I couldn't leave without a T-shirt. Super-rad!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4449007835_5f14913604.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4449007835_5f14913604.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After Point Pleasant, I drove to Kentucky which is where I am now. Tune-in tomorrow night for some cave exploring! <br /><br />-DanDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-957541720715014342010-03-20T18:26:00.000-07:002010-03-20T19:40:21.808-07:00Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you... (Friday, 19-Mar-2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4448745703_f99184bf8f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4448745703_f99184bf8f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Well, I made it to Virginia! It only took me 4 hours and change to reach Shenandoah National Park and it was well-worth the drive. I met a nice couple there who took my picture in front of the entrance and I did the same for the two of them. Another guy on his bike saw my bike attached to the back of my car and asked if I was planning to bike Skyline Drive. I really wish I would have had time; he highly recommended it! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4448764447_56fe9e5c6b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4448764447_56fe9e5c6b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />There are more than 70 overlooks within the park and even though I only drove a small section of Skyline Drive, I got to see some pretty amazing views. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4449557396_cbde528b2d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4449557396_cbde528b2d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4448806193_b46e130112.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4448806193_b46e130112.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I really liked this one. There was a professional photographer at this one overlook and he pointed out the contrast between the blue of the mountains and the sky. The beautiful Blue-Ridge Mountains...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4448791585_96065bd0dc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4448791585_96065bd0dc.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After spending a few hours in Shenandoah, it was time to head to West Virginia for a good nights rest...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4449602460_b5ff4ca085.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4449602460_b5ff4ca085.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3889146245224940264.post-22527251858283948832010-03-20T18:09:00.000-07:002010-03-20T21:35:31.188-07:00First Entry (Friday, 19-Mar-2010)Hey everyone! Thanks for reading my blog. If you don't know already, I am driving cross-country from Montgomeryville, PA to San Diego, CA. This is my first blog and I am very excited to share my trip with you! Here are all the stops I am making on the way:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Shenandoah National Park, VA</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Point Pleasant, WV</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Mammoth Cave National Park, KY</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">St. Louis, MO</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Junction City, KS</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Boulder, CO</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Santa Fe, NM</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Sedona, AZ</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Grand Canyon National Park, AZ</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Cabazon, CA</span><br /><br />I ended up leaving this past Friday (19-Mar-2010) due to having more to do to prepare for my move than expected. Luckily, my itinerary didn't suffer too badly as a result.<br /><br />Today (Saturday, 20-Mar-2010) is the first day I have internet access so I apologize for the delay!<br /><br />Enjoy!Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789952846054615798noreply@blogger.com0