A Short Description of a Few States

We left San Francisco on Thursday, Oct. 5th with a partially loaded Honda Civic and intentions of getting to Phoenix by nightfall. But while we were driving down good ole Interstate 5 we got a call from our pal Brian saying the timing couldn't be worse. So, we changed plans and headed to Vegas instead. Thanks to Hotwire and the coolest internet cafe in Bakersfield we got a decent pad at the Tropicana for the night. After losing 10 bucks between us on video poker and using our coupons for $4 off crab legs and steak we hit the sack, ending Day 1.

To follow are our impressions of the states we visited or drove through en route to the East Coast:

Utah - Unreal post-underwater collage. Chilling, surreal, thought-provoking. Warm people and impressive homespun hospitality. Jon only got hit up to be a Mormon once! Plus, our car has a brand new ignition coil. Thanks Chris, our twice tow guy in Hurricane (pronounced "HURR-e-ken).

Colorado - Good times at the West End Tavern with Miranda and Vic who graciously hosted us only one week after their wedding! Why oh why did the rain follow us there? May we recommend the grits at Lucille's?

Kansas - Snooze fest, but we tried to learn some Spanish on our Spanish-lanuguage CD. Also a snooze fest. Plus, more rain.

Missouri - Plenty of Adult Superstores and fireworks stores along the freeway, intermingled with a multitude of vividly graphic anti-abortion billboards. Bad gas station coffee. We also learned that "K.C. K" and "K.C. Mo" are the way locals refer to the greater Kansas City area.

Illinois - Possibly in the bottom 5 of most lamest states. Horrible radio. Much like a trip to the dentist, painful when there, and easily forgotten afterwards.


Indiana - Props to the family for hanging with us 5 days straight! Thanks to Garrett, Tina and doggie Jack for hosting. Thanks to Pops for helping Jon become a backhoe operator (you drive a car, you operate equipment). Thanks to Mom for awesome cookies. Thanks to Sarah for hooking us up with the corn maze. (See photo above of Mom and Garrett enjoying the maize maze.) And thanks to Mandy her good cheer. Good luck on the law school apps! (Extra thanks to Garrett from Jon for the awesome skeet shooting experience!)

Ohio - Great to see Grandma Dalton and Aunt Nat but really, could the radio get any worse?

Pennsylvania - Two words: Pennsylvania Turnpike! Land of the bizarre town names: Juniata, Husband, Waltz Mill, Belle Vernon, Zediker, Mechanicsburg and the town named for Dave Chambers: Chambersburg. Psst, pass on by the Perkins in Hershey.

New Jersey - Our car's final destination -- the bottom of the Fast's driveway. Lots of yummy carbs (bagels, pizza, etc....) and time to get ready at the Parent's house. Now we have to figure out what we're actually bringing! Plus, time with the Cilantro Dancer and his one and only partner (Alain and Claudia).

Next stop: Honduras. Don't wait up.