An Attempt to See the World with New Eyes
National Parks of the US give their visitors a park map and newsletter as they enter. The contents usually cover the local flora and fauna, popular hiking trails and park history, as well as recent goings-on like nature walks and seasonal advisories. Newsletter introductions are proud ones, affirming the importance of the park — Mesa … Continue reading Petrified Forest: The Little National Park that Could
When the buffalo came to camp I texted my mother — It was one of those “just in case” reactions where I figured that if a trampling happened, it would be better for the family to know sooner rather than later. It was early evening when they arrived. Dozens of buffalo, or bison, whichever you … Continue reading South Dakota Isn’t Boring
Let’s get something straight before we dive into this — my “ranking” of parks stems from my being somewhere at a specific time and under specific circumstances. This does not mean you will not enjoy or find infinite value in the “last place” park. This should go without saying, but I once saw a popular … Continue reading Utah’s National Parks Ranked (Somewhat Arbitrarily)
There is a place so flat and so barren that land speed records are shattered on its grounds; where you can go 600 mph in a turbojet propelled vehicle. Where no vegetation grows and the horizon line is the curve of the earth. At the Bonneville Salt Flats there’s nothing to “do” but it’s worth … Continue reading The Earth is Flat! Bonneville Salt Flats and the Land of Pure Horizon
Jack’s Travel Plaza advertised “big burg rs” and “espres o” in skewed letters, next to a sign hocking packs of Montclair cigarettes for $3.20. In the distance stood a hillside painted in numbers, a pattern John Nash himself couldn’t break: 63, 29, 50, 48, 06, 86… My initial guess was I was counting the numbers … Continue reading Walking on the Moon (In Idaho)
At dawn we found ourselves in Page, Arizona. Twice. Once in November heading North towards Zion National Park, and once in August, driving South into Sedona. Page is a place that when mentioned usually begets a raised eyebrow or a “Where?”. While not considered to be a destination in and of itself, there are sights … Continue reading Hot Air Balloons, Energy Vortexes and Other Arizona Stories
The e-book we’d been listening to on-and-off for the last two weeks on the road had finished. After reading through the same downloaded Spotify album list at least thrice daily, I needed a break from going “Tell me when: alt-J, Anne Clark, Arab Strap, Beastie Boys, Beirut… tell me when… Black Mountain, Bruce Springsteen, Buffalo … Continue reading Rocky Mountain High: Part I
In the last census Jay Em Wyoming’s population went down as a whopping sixteen. 118 miles Northeast of Cheyenne, in a region where cows outnumber people and the roadside is lined with tumbleweeds, you wouldn’t expect to pass thousands of cars on a Monday morning. August 21st 2017 though, total eclipse day of the sun … Continue reading Eclipse Chasing
California: Home to movie stars and hippies, destination for beatniks and stoners, bordered by ocean and desert and within whose boundaries lie palisades and redwoods, Legoland and Golden Gate. Carl and I have added over 1,500 miles to our odometer in this state alone. Whether you’re behind the wheel or in the passenger seat … Continue reading The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist: California Edition
Fastball’s voice assured me that Anyone can see the road that they walk on is paved in gold as we snaked up a mountainside somewhere in California. Our tiny trinket of a car chugging ever up at a steady speed of 15 miles an hour; 35 and we’d be airborne. I’ve been known to cry … Continue reading Yosemite’s Playlist
