Due West

Though so beautiful, I left Wyoming a day earlier than planned due to the fact that I wasn't feeling so great. Incredibly road weary at this point. And physically weary as well. Thanks to Airborne and/or Zicam, as well as my own forethought to pack such items, I staved off a cold and was able to enjoy the last leg of my adventure to its fullest.

First stop, Salt Lake City. Learned some more about Mormons. I wasn't aware how integral they were both to westward expansion and the development of the transcontinental railroad. AND when they headed west they did so mostly by hand-cart. No horses or covered wagons. Say what you will about the Mormons, those folks are hard-core. Loaded up their stuff and PULLED it across the country. I keep getting out adventured. The Cancun 10 are... well in Cancun. The Guiri is walking across Spain as we speak. And now the Mormons... So they get to Utah and say, yup, this'll do. And built this:
Didn't get much of the history of the building. Apparently I missed out not touring the Tabernacle, but it was hot as balls and I felt like ass so I continued on until I got to the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Walked on it barefoot. It was crunchy. And salty. Very weird. Like nothing I'd ever seen. Also the site of the World Land-Speed Record Runs. Speaking of Utah, who's in next summer for camping in Southern Utah? Supposed to be amazing. Anyone?

Since you asked, the opposite of Yellowstone is this:
Sexy boy texted to remind me to have a beer in Utah. Missed it by about a mile, but stopped here for one anyway because, well, beer is nearly always the answer. Talk about culture shock. Lost 20 bucks. By the way, traveling hint: If you find yourself in Elko, Nevada, keep driving.

One day later I found myself here:
My hometown! First time since Tucson that anything looked familiar. I could finally abandon my GPS and my maps. Of course, this did not mean the adventure was over. It began with a hometown sunrise:
I grew up with this. Be jealous.

Then Bird and I did something I had never done before, despite growing up here. We drove all the way around the lake, stopping to eat and gamble and see the Nevada state capitol. Bird won $150 on nickel slots. I lost another $20. It was great fun. See:

Then we did something we had both done many many MANY times. Tahoe City pub crawl. Oh what a night. Specific details cannot be publicly revealed, but I'll share a couple pics:

The following night we saw English Beat at Truckee Regional Park. One of the coolest venues to see a show that I've ever experienced. The band was awesome. We danced for hours. Such a good time. Ben and Joe, you guys totally missed out.

And now I am home. Sitting in MY coffee shop, about to go to MY apartment, spank MY kitty and sleep in MY bed. For my next entry I will be including stats, best of's and worst of's for the whole adventure. Any suggestions? i.e. Best Rest Stop, Worst Chiggers, etc.

Yellowstone

After carefully considering many travel routes from Omaha, I settled on the offer from Viking Dave to stay with him in his tee pee in the middle of Wyoming. Remember him? We met him in New Orleans one crazy night:


We went up to see the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. I was able to take some beautiful pictures:









Thank you so much Dave. You are one of the kindest and most generous people I know.

Mo' maha

The beauty of visiting so many people is the unique access I've received to see things I would never see; that you will never see. (Note use of ;!) Girlfriend's older sister is an air traffic controller and invited me up to the tower to experience that. She and the other guys were really nice. I got to listen on the headphones as they controlled the air traffic. I got to see the radar and learned about how its all done. I never thought an airport would be a destination on this journey, but it was so awesome.

From the tower:

Big ass plane:

Tower from afar:

In other Omaha adventure news, I saw a poser Campanile:

More wiener dogs:

And while I have your attention, see the dog on the left? That's Sophie. She was a puppy mill mom that girlfriend's older sister rescued. She has had over 100 pups intended for pet stores and such. She is nine years old, abused, and virtually untrainable as far as "going outside" is concerned. Please my dear friends, if you intend on getting a pet, support your local animal rescue. Do not acquire pets at a pet store. They may be the unholy spawn of one of these puppy mills, and if they have papers, they may be falsified. There are breed specific rescues all over, and there is no need to financially contribute to such a horrible practice. My mom got her wonderful dog, Buddy, from a poodle rescue in L.A.. And if you are super hard core, be like this woman and adopt a special needs pet. Just saying...

On a lighter note, this is what we looked like immediately following the Beijing Opening Ceremonies, which were amazing by the way:

Awesome gift I got for Girlfriend in Manhattan. Had to share it with y'all.

This is the halfway point between Boston and San Francisco, or so they say. I guess there is a museum in there. I was in no mood that day.

Creepy Abe Lincoln

Homesick:

Yup.

Through multiple strands of communication (text, blog, myspace, facebook, yeah technology!), y'all have inquired where I am, in that I haven't posted in a while. I feel so loved. To sooth your souls, I've been living here the past couple of days:
More on that next time....

Things to do in Omaha

Get chigger bites:


Learn about CHIGGERS because you grew up in California and are so sheltered you've never heard of these nasty things. Then school everyone on all the myths about chiggers so you don't have to cover yourself in nail polish or bathe in bleach.

Play Rock Band:

I particularly rock the drum kit.

Eat the best corn you've ever had, the best baked beans (sorry Revolution) and big ass steaks:


Hang out with weiner dogs:


Party with Girlfriend:


Learn about air traffic control:
(no picture. Haven't done it yet. So so busy...)

But ask anyone what to do in Omaha, and they will say "You gotta go to the zoo." Actually, since I've now been, they say "Well, you've pretty much done everything. Drive home safe." And they are both right. The zoo here is AWESOME! Its got the largest cat complex in North America, the largest nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp in the world, the largest indoor rain forest in the world, the largest indoor desert in the world, and the largest geodesic dome in the world. Look:

Tapirs are weird:

Pretty birds:

My favorite birds:

Mammal:

Scary rhino:

Go bear:

GO BEARS!!!

Look mom, he chills like buddy does.

This guy wanted to eat Girlfriend:

Klipspringer:


Desert Love:

This is a Leafy sea dragon. There in the middle. See it? Best camouflage ever:

I heart the Henry Doorly Zoo!!!