We have passed through New Mexico, Land of Enchantment

It's hard to believe that Monday we were in Washington, it's even harder to believe that we were in Napa Valley two days ago. We now find ourselves in Argyle, TX, just north of Fort Worth in eastern Texas. The last two days we've moved like bats out of hell. Monday we left Portland to go to Crater Lake. Crater Lake is, from my understanding, where an old volcano caved in and is now filled with melted snow. It's amazing how blue the water is, I don't know if I've ever seen water so pure. I attempted to capture the lake in picture form, but this is an impossible task. I don't care how good the picture is, there is no way to help someone understand how vast it is until they stand on it's banks and gaze into the blue themselves. We camped just shy of the California border. The next day we headed west to Crescent City, California and south along Hwy 101. In this drive we passed through but a small section of the Redwood forest. We continued on to drive California 1. I've heard many times from many people that everyone in their life needs to drive this road. I wouldn't recommend it. It was nice but not worth the detour we were forced to take. We finally arrived at Napa Valley. Our expectations were a little different than reality. A minimum of 10 dollars was required for a tasting at the vineyards. We ended up just buying some local wines from a small store we found:a Pinot Noir, a Merlot and a Mourvèdre. I want to go back someday with more money and sample a number of different wines from the valley. That night we slept in the valley. The next day was started by touring San Fransisco for an hour or so then we headed south. I attest to this, never in my life will I again travel to south eastern california. America's butt crack? It was 101 degrees as we drove through the vast nothingness. We would travel for 40 miles and not see any sign of civilization. But in 1 day we traveled from Napa Valley to a small town south of the Grand Canyon. Since Washington we had been waking up at 5 30 to get a good start on the day, but south of the Grand Canyon we woke up at 3 45. Because we were up so early, pulling in at 4 45, we entered the park free and drove to the edge to watch the sun rise in the canyon. Beautiful. We left the park at 7 o'clock and arrived last night in Argyle at 1 o'clock in the morning. So in two days we drove from Napa Valley (just north of San Fransisco) to Fort Worth Texas, half the country. We're staying with a friend here for the next few days, then it's on to Jackson, Mississippi to stay with another friend, then Anniston, Alabama to stay with my grandparents for a night or so, then home to the QC.

From Powell's Bookstore in Portland

A quick analysis of the title reveals our location. The last two weeks of our trip deserve a more adequate description than previously given. When we arrived in Wenatchee, we spent three nights living in a nursing home with Grandma Fishbourne. It was a great time, complete with 7:30 breakfast dates. The first Saturday there we landed an invitation to a wedding of a family that we would get to know over the next few weeks. Most succinctly described, it was Grandma Fishbourne's family. Grandma has 7 children (all now in their 40's, 50's and 60's). The wedding was of her Granddaughter Katie to a guy named Danny. I must admit it was a bit strange b/c Katie is not yet 21 (a few months shy). But at the wedding I danced with family as if I was on in the same. Apparently a girl in the family (the sister of the one newlywed) was taken aback by me. Too bad she is 16. Perhaps in the future we will marry and I too may join the Fishbourne descendants. We then worked for two weeks for a couple named Aubrey and Austin(Aubrey is a grandchild of Grandma Fishbourne) in Ellensburg, WA. Austin broke his foot a couple weeks ago and needed help to finish renevating a house that he has been working on and is and preparing to sell. So we painted, did yard work, put in an irrigation system and did various tasks around the house to spruce it up. During the two weeks we lived with Aubrey and Austin and their two kids Kaelynn (3 yrs ) and Halle Mae (5 1/2 months) . We got to know the family really well and had an amazing time living with them. It turned out to be harder to leave than we originally thought possible. The stay seemed to last but a few days but it seems like we've known the family for longer than a mere two weeks. We then went to Seattle and had an amazing dinner and were honorary firefighters for a day as we rode the Lake Washington on a fireboat and waved to the people ashore.

Last few days in Washington

A lot has happened since I last updated. We took up residence in Ellensburg, Washington and worked construction for two weeks. We stayed with an absolutely amazing family with whom we got to know and become good friends. I don't have my computer at the moment so I can't put pictures up but I will as soon as I am able. Our plans have changed since I last wrote. We aren't staying in Washington for the summer but are in fact leaving this Monday. We're going to head south through California then east through Texas, Miss, Bama, etc. until we arrive back in Charlotte. We have a few people to stay with along the way and should be on the road for a little over two weeks. The trip is shaping to be far more epic than we originally planned. Right now we're in Seattle. When I have access to my pictures I'll write more about our time in Ellensburg complete with pictures.

Wenatchee

We have arrived. It's been a while since we have had internet access so the blog to follow has been a long time coming. Since last posting we have traveled through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and arrived in Washington yesterday (Thursday). South Dakota was beautiful. A strange scene arrived as we passed over the Missouri river in the middle of the state. As we crossed the bridge the land before us seemed to swell in rolling hills that has been lost in the past miles of flat open land. The prairies lay beyond the hills. We pulled into Fort Pierre National Park (the site where Dances with Wolves was filmed) and attempted to find a place where we may be able to venture further into the open grasslands beyond the highway. Turning onto a dirt road we soon were interrupted by a man in a pickup truck telling us, very kindly, that we were on his land (and retrospectively it would appear in his driveway). Leaving the Fort Pierre behind us we continued into the Badlands. It's hard to describe the Badlands for anyone that has never seen them. It is honestly as though from the calm and stagnant plains an eruption of clay appears on the horizon. A side road and $15 allowed us to see the area further. Layers of shaded clay were stacked in upon each other, jagged at the top. Some of the most beautiful scenes were those where a plateau of grass lay on this sharpened clay. The 30 mile highway swayed through the clay and we exited with a proper farewell from wild mountain goats sitting atop some of the final formations. Wyoming was cold and we stayed in Gilette, though the country side was a series of hills and plains. Montana was to be a 500 mile route. The highlight was unquestionably the battle site of Little Bighorn. My only problem with the site was the question of the condolences that I was or wasn't supposed to have. I felt as though I was supposed to feel pride in Custer's Last Stand. Pride in a man that slaughtered the Sioux, the Crow, etc.? But atop the highest peak was a monument to just this. And scattered throughout the plains were the markers for fallen soldiers. The only monument to the Native Americans was a circle found on the opposite side of the hill, seemingly hidden by the much more visible American Soldier monument. We spent the night in Butte, Montana; a strange town that had a small town feel but was spread out to be somewhere around 20 blocks. The next day we drove straight to Wenatchee, Washington, spent the night at a camp site. Though some nice connections we are now living (for the next few days) at a nursing home in the nicest room we've occupied in a week. Tomorrow morning we have a 7:30 breakfast date with Grandma Fishburne and a 9:50 coffee and cinnamon rolls date with the same. So home for the next few days is the Colonial Vistas.

Pretty Girl from Wisconsin Dells

I don't feel like I gave her the encore she deserved. To describe her as merely a girl who brought me my mashed potatoes would bring her short of her due applause. She was radiant. Like I said previously, for 20 minutes we lived in Wisconsin Dells. Over dinner we had to weight the cons of why we should leave. She assured us we could get jobs in the area. But alas, in the end we had to venture further west. A note with my number was left on her car as we waved goodbye. Honestly, if she were to call I would catch a bus back to her quaint town and spend the summer with her. Today we crossed the Mississippi into Minnesota and found, quite possibly, one of the most life fulfilling land marks of my life, the Spam Museum. It's hard describe the place. Luckily it was free entry so I AM given the chance. We watched a video about how Spam is made and the history of it. James and I found out the Spam is cooked inside the can. We continued on our way and drove straight through the rest of Minnesota (though we believe we hit the landmark) and halfway into South Dakota. The drive was filled with pictures of farm land, rolling hills, silos, etc. The sky is huge, it seems to never end. How did Lewis and Clark make it across this vast wilderness. Tomorrow we're going into the prairies, which I'm really excited about. It should be beautiful. We're currently in Mitchel, South Dakota, home of the one and only Corn Palace. It's an entire building constructed of corn. It was closed when we got here but we're going to go see it tomorrow morning. It should be a delightful treat. I couldn't imagine living in a town like this. The town seems dead, with the only glimmer of hope surrounding the Corn Palace. I enter tomorrow expecting to find the Holy Grail.

Wisconsin, land of paradise

Up until today, I seriously did not believe that there was a state worth leaving North Carolina for, but today those misconceptions were laid in the grave. Today we drove through Wisconsin. Wisconsin is the best state we've been through so far. We took a great tour the the Dells. And for 20 mins we seriously considered living here for the next 2 months instead of continuing to washington. But in the end we had to say goodbye. Despite the fact that our waitress at the Paul Bunyon restaurant was really good looking and I wanted to marry her.

Chicago

We awakened in the morning to our neighbor yelling obscenities and her children crying and a hearty breakfast of muffins was enough to get us going for the day. So we drove into the city and after spending 45 minutes looping back and forth on the highways, we were able to find the parking garage. 3 hrs were spent in the Field Mueseum. To be honest, some of the exhibits we saw were nothing of special. We did, however, wonder upon an exhibit displaying a number of different animals found around the world. In the exhibit we found the lions in the film Ghost in the Darkness. The lions were guilty of killing something like 40 people, a strange feat for animals that normally aren't guilty of devouring humans, but these man-eaters owned a proud trophy room of human bones to be found in a cave. We then ventured to Pizzeria Uno which is the original home of the deep dish pizza. James and I shared pepperoni pizza (which was delicious). Chicago was nice as a whole. I was blown away the concept of Lake Michigan. When you look at the lake, it's like an ocean; as far as you can see is the lake. It looks exactly like the ocean. We are now on the border of Wisconsin and Illinois. The room we are in is... a downgrade from last night? The door to the outside doesn't really close all the way. There isn't a door to the bathroom. I'll post a picture of the room when I can.

Carolina to Tennessee to Kentucky to Indiana to Chicago

Going to bed last night at 2 o'clock in the morning was a poor choice. Come 5 45 the next morning, fatigue unquestionably set in as we pulled out of Waxhaw and began the voyage. Highlights from day 1 would include, stopping for lunch at a half built gas station in the middle of nowhere. A trip to Acres of Land Winery (quite possibly one of the dumbest names for a winery anyone could possibly think of). I wasn't very impressed with Kentucky. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful; enveloped in rolling hills and lush green trees, but my fears about the rainforest were set aside after the 3rd hour of seeing nothing but tree after tree. I was also disappointed in Indianapolis. To put it mildly, what a trash dump. Why anyone would want to take residence there is beyond my comprehension. We managed to pass the 12 hr drive with music and talking with the occasional nap as well. Phone calls from Elizabeth and talking with Cecil for about 30 mins also helped pass the repetitious roads. We're in the perimeter of Chicago now at a hotel that's... shady at best. We're hoping our car doesn't get broken into. Tomorrow we're going to spend the day in downtown Chicago.

Outta Here Suckahs

I am currently posing James in creating this blog. It do aspire for it to serve as a practical medium however. We're leaving Charlotte in 7 hrs to head out west. Hopefully this time 24 hrs from now we'll be basking in the glory of Chicago. If I figure out how to post pics on here I will surely do so.