Lauren K, where are you today?

Are we there yet?

2007-10-07T01:24:00.000-04:00

Sept 25-29 - Wrapping up our trip, Tristan and I saw the Chicago skyline, swam in Lake Michigan, fended off rain in Ohio, visited the memorial for Flight 93, saw the Liberty Bell, and ate Philly Cheesesteaks. What a road trip! We're sad to end the trip, but we're excited to take daily showers and have a bed to sleep in. On the way to the airport, we passed the 4,000 mile mark! Man, just thinking about it makes me tired. I just have one last thought: Where should I go next?

Thunder and lightning and tornados oh my!

2007-09-27T20:23:00.001-04:00

Sept 24 - Man, the weather is crazy! It seems like no matter how unlikely clouds and rain are, where ever I am, it'll rain. We went to Scotts Bluff and Chimney Rock in western Nebraska. It was rainy and cold, but it still was cool to see. Scotts Bluff is a cliff that overlooks the North Platte River and the surrounding countryside. Since the bluff contains very soft rock, it erodes easily (about 8 inches in the past 70 years...that's speedy in the world of rocks.) Chimney Rock is down a small dirt road. (I was rocking that dirt road, going about 50 mph.) We thought it looked like Nebraska was giving us the finger. We left the back roads to my dismay to get back on the interstate. Everything was smooth sailing...until we were about 100 miles out of Lincoln. The rain that we were following all day decided to turn into severe thunderstorms with a couple of tornados mixed in. It was scary
to hear the location of the tornado on the radio, then drive right past the exit for that town.

Vee-dah-what?

2007-09-25T17:20:00.000-04:00

Sept 23 - Welcome to Wyoming, the land with 5 people per square mile. The neat thing is that we're 8,000 feet above sea level, and I didn't even feel light headed. Tristan and I camped at Vedauwoo (pronounced Vee-dah-voo) in Medicine Bow National Forest. Vedauvoo has a bunch of cool rock formations (and by rocks, I mean super heavy boulders perched precariously atop of one another.) After we set up camp, we laid out on the rocks to watch the stars. Because of clouds, the stars weren't as vibrant as they were in Utah, but it was still pretty awesome to watch how quickly the clouds moved. The next day, we went hiking despite the impending rain. Tristan decided to climb a huge boulder, but then couldn't figure out how to get down. Smart guy he is, he figured it out and then helped me climb over. We ate our PB&J sandwiches while we enjoyed the view. When the rain picked up, we quickly but
carefully climbed down from the rock (scary!) then scurried to the car (Tristan slipped but is okay.)

Oh Holy Canyon!

2007-09-24T00:24:00.000-04:00

Sept 21 - Yay, Utah! I must say, the scenery is amazingly beautiful. We arrived at our campsite after dark, so I woke up to gigantic red canyon walls. We drove to Bryce Canyon National Park and decided to hike down into the canyon, which was amazingly gorgeous. The canyon walls towered above us as we winded down the trail. With every step, I saw something interesting (sediment layers, mudsicles, and trees that grow out of rocks!) About halfway through our hike, we came across a dry river bed. We followed it up the canyon. The scenic vista before me was amazing. We left the park and headed up north to Salt Lake City. The Mormon temple is in the center of town, and the streets are numbered so that at any corner, you know how far you are from the temple. We ate at Crown Burger, an SLC specialty (a burger topped with pastami, yum!) We camped in Wasach National Forest just west of SLC,
complete with a campfire and smores! Super yum!

Monument Valley

2007-09-23T23:19:00.000-04:00

Sept 20 - I'm really getting used to this camping thing. Tristan and I camped in Mesa Verde National Park in Cortez, CO. It's neat to be this close to nature (a bunch of deer walked right past our campsite.) Mesa Verde is known for its ancient cliff dwellings, which were pretty interesting, but the coolest thing about the park were the outlooks on the way up the mountain. We could see over 200 miles into Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Leaving the park, we headed to the Four Corners to take a few corny pictures before heading down a lonely road into the Navajo Nation in Arizona. We drove through Monument Valley, a highly photographed place in the Navajo Nation. There are no signs, just the massive plateaus to announce your arrival. After finding a place to pull over (easier said than done...there were tons of pointy plants and a good 6" drop from the road to the shoulder), I took some
pictures of the soaring plateaus. Then we were back on the lonely road, on our way to Utah.

We're going the wrong way!

2007-09-22T00:09:00.001-04:00

Sept 19 - My camp buddy Tristan and I are embarking on a road trip from Denver back to Philadelphia. We're taking a slight detour (and by slight, I mean about 1700 miles out of our way) into southern Colorado and Utah. We went to the Great Sand Dunes in Alamosa, CO. Thousands of years ago, the wind blew sediments that were too heavy to cross the Rocky Mountains. The sediments have collected over the past 15,000 years, making giantic sand dunes. The crazy thing is that the dunes have pretty much maintained their shape since the 1800s due to the circular winds. We decided to hike up to the top of one of the dunes (I know, it's totally awesome that it's not off limits!) Every time we got to the top of a peak, we saw yet another higher peak. But we perservered, through the windy sand storms and unsure footing, and we made it to the top! The view of the mountains, sand dunes and surrounding
country was amazing. I'm proud of what we accomplished!

America The Beautiful!

2007-09-12T01:01:00.000-04:00

Aug 11 - My mom and my sister flew out to Denver to drive back to Philadelphia with me. It was a much anticipated trip, with visions of grand sightseeing and girl bonding floating in our heads. I picked them up at the airport, and we headed off to Colorado Springs. The next day, we planned to visit Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. Knowing the cog railway for Pikes Peak sold out quickly, we got there early in the morning. Success! The ride up was beautiful, and we could really feel the change in the air temperature. Unfortunately, right after we took this picture, my mom slipped and broke her ankle. The EMTs wrapped it up the best they could, and we decided the quickest way down was to take the hour and a half train back down. We sang "America the Beautiful" at Inspiration Point, the spot where Katharine Lee Bates wrote the words. We even got applause. My mom is doing well in recovery,
and we're talking about taking a road trip next summer. Keep your fingers crossed!

Elevation 12 000 Feet

2007-07-04T01:42:00.000-04:00

June 22 (cont.) - When we reached the parking lot at the top, we decided to take what looked like a short path to the top of the mountain. We bundled up and started the long ascent to the top. Long, because we had to stop every few steps. The air was so thin and the wind so bitter that it was hard to remember that is was the end of June. Above the tree line, the snow was still a few feet deep, the scenery was incredible and no picture can fully capture its engulfing nature. So we quickly took our pictures and hurried back to the warm car. All I know is that I sure wouldn't want to drive those tiny, curvy roads in the winter. Jessie and Amy had some time to explore Denver before flying home. We're all exhausted but sad the trip is over.

Rocky Mountain High

2007-07-04T01:17:00.000-04:00

June 22 - Colorado at last! We rolled across the border a few hours before sunset and were immediately greeted by amazing cloud formations. Amy joked that maybe it was a tornado. We drove through a quick storm then decided to leave the interstate. The Rockies came into view right as the sun was setting. It was just like I imagined it...these massive mountains rising out of the plains. In the orange-purplish glow, they seemed very surreal. The next day, we went to Rocky Mountain National Park, which was amazing. Even though we chose the short, easy path, we had an amazing view of Alberta Falls to our right and a panoramic view of the mountains to our left. We were thoroughly exhausted due to the high altitude, so we decided to skip the other trails and drive straight to the top. The scenery grew even more amazing and the temperature grew even colder with each passing mile. (Continued...)

I Don't Think We're In Kansas Any More...

2007-06-28T00:39:00.000-04:00

June 21 - Actually we are. Situated in the middle of the plains in western Kansas, Monument Rocks is quite spectacular and totally unexpected. It's also a little known attraction, as we had to drive down seven miles of a small dirt road surrounded by wheat fields (with the occasional cow). The only people we saw were farmers and a geologist (who said to watch out for rattlesnakes). We tried our best to stay on the paths as we walked around. The rocks are actually deposits from ancient sea creatures, proof that Kansas was once under water. On the way back to the main road, we stopped by a group of cows to take pictures (but then Jessie yelled at me to get back in the car before they charged). As with most road trips, the least expected turns out to be the best part. While we were in Kansas, we went to a baseball game, visited Topeka vs. Board of Education, went to Mushroom Rock, saw
Eisenhower's house, and learned that Kansans sure are friendly. And we didn't even see a tornado.

Meet me in St. Louis!

2007-06-22T01:51:00.001-04:00

June 18 - St. Louis was so much fun! We stayed with Jessie's friend, Becca. As a native of St. Louis, Becca was able to show us all around the city. We drove through beautiful Forest Park, caught some Shakespeare in the park, ate pizza St. Louis style (really thin crust and soo good!), toured the Anheiser-Busch plant (free samples), and of course, went up to the very top of the Arch. It is approx. 1/3 mile high, and it completely dominates the skyline. We could see the Arch before we saw the buildings. Word of advice, going to the top is not for the claustrophobic. We ducked through a 3 foot high door into a tiny pod that looked like 1960's view of the future. Four minutes later, we arrived at the top. The top of the Arch was very small and crowded. I squeezed my way to the window, which was approx. 1'x3' and peered out on the cityscape below. The people below looked so tiny! P.S. -
According to Becca, our St. Louis expert, it's pronouced Missour-E and St. LouIS. :)

The US Grand Prix

2007-06-18T15:44:00.001-04:00

Aug 16 - It just so happened that the Grand Prix was scheduled about the same time that we would be rolling through Indianapolis. We decided early on that we wanted to go...not because we're super huge race fans, but because it was an experience of a lifetime on this trip of a lifetime. When we arrived in Indianapolis, we missed our turn, which put us right downtown. We stopped by the War Memorial, then were on our way to the Speedway. Despite a fender bender, yelling cops, and getting lost finding parking, we walked into the stadium just as the jets flew across the sky. I rushed to our seats. Just as I got there, the race cars were revving to go. Vroom! They were off! Boy, they are fast (my neck was sore from turning so quickly) and sooo LOUD! Even with the ear plugs, the sound was deafening. Our seats were really cool because we were right by the start/finish line, the straight-a-way,
and the pits. Crazy!

Denver or bust!

2007-06-17T11:12:00.001-04:00

June 17 - And we're off! My friends Jessie and Amy are driving with me out to Denver, where I'll be working this summer. We left Exton around 6:30 and drove straight through PA, and WV (all 15 miles of it), and crashed at a Motel 6 in Columbus, OH around 2 a.m. Not for long though, because we were up and on the road by 8 a.m. We may be a little exhausted, but the excitement of the trip will keep us going! On this trip, we're going to the Grand Prix in Indianapolis, the St. Louis Arch, and Rocky Mountain National Park, just to name a few. If the first day is any indication, we're going to have a lot of fun on this trip...playing celebrity name games, talking about a white cat, and doing new and exciting things!

Lost in the Big Apple

2006-09-17T20:42:00.000-04:00

Sept 16 - I took a trip to NYC to volunteer for a film conference. (I got to meet a lot of really cool people.) "So, what should I do?" I thought to myself. I decided that I wanted to visit Central Park...but got on the wrong train and ended up in lower Manhattan. I was the only person who didn't speak Spanish at the outdoor shops along Canal Street. A few blocks down, I was the only one who didn't speak Chinese. (Their open air market is amazing by the way. It's surreal to think you can live in one of the largest cities in the world and still buy fresh produce and fish daily.) I accidentally wandered through Tribeca before ending up in Little Italy during an annual festival in tribute to some saint. I may not remember the name, but I do remember the food! Canolis, sausage, and my personal favorite...deep-fried Oreos! They sound so disgusting, but taste so incredible. I did eventually get around to seeing Central Park. Boy, my feet are tired!

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Home again home again riggety gig gig!

2006-09-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

Aug 23 - The world may be getting smaller and smaller, but it still is super tiring to cross the time zones. I wanted to arrive at the airport at 7 pm to combat the hyped-up security (who knew that shampoo was a weapon?!) But leaving Dylan's friend's place around 6 put us in the thick of traffic. And missing the exit that would've taken us AROUND the city put us right in downtown LA in the middle of rush hour traffic. But no matter, we made it to LAX just in time. It took me all of 15 minutes to get my ticket, check my bags, go through security (the lack of lines confused me), and find my terminal. Easy easy! On the plane, I stretched my neck to see the glitter of LA fading into the night. I arrived in good ol' Philadelphia at 6 am aka 3 am to those on the West Coast. Despite my tired limbs (which were surviving on 2 hours of chair sleep), I was glad to be home, where the ocean's to the east, the grayness in the sky is rain clouds, the food is fatty, and everything is real!

The Pacific Ocean!

2006-09-15T08:56:00.000-04:00

Aug 21 - One of the things I really wanted to do while in LA was go to the beach and swim in the Pacific Ocean. We went to Santa Monica, where the beach is huge, the waves are constantly rolling, and the smog creates a nice haze over the mountains. I have to admit...swimming in the ocean while looking out over the mountains is pretty cool. After the beach, we went to the Santa Monica Pier (I think I was there before...and sang Karaoke at a little cafe). We ate really good food at an expensive seafood place that has an obsession with Forest Gump. All in all, aside from the obnoxious seagulls that ate my chips (ate right through the freakin bag!) and the homeless people who shattered my suburban fantasies of the California beach, it was a good day.

Well what do you know...it's the Grand Canyon!

2006-08-23T16:38:00.000-04:00

Aug 18 - Dylan and I made the four hour trip from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon (he called it the big hole). It was amazing, but since I was expecting it to be, it wasn't my favorite part of the trip. Becoming somewhat of a road trekkie (or not...), I've come to appreciate the unexpected back road adventures. Anyways, back to the Grand Canyon... We got there around 5 and went to the most popular spot. There were Buddhist monks taking pictures of themselves. We asked the park ranger about a less crowded place to watch the sunset, got on the wrong shuttle, but made it to Yaki Point right on time. It was great to watch the sunset without looking through heads (although we did have the pleasure of listening to bad singing...I guess it echoes). I got some really great pictures. When we went back to the shuttle stop 15 minutes later, we realized we were the only ones left. Man, that place cleans out fast! Moral of the story: good views, good pictures, good times.

I can't believe this is summer in New Mexico.

2006-08-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

Aug 14 - We drove the long descent to the top of Sandia Peak, NM. The fog was dense, but luckily it dispersed enough for us to see the gorgeous view. But a mountain-top view has drawbacks...it was freezing! Turns out the temperature was a cool 45. New Mexico in general is such a beautiful state. The landscape is amazing, and I really want to come back. The wierd thing about it is all these towns that must have been attractions at one point but now are nothing more than deserted motels and closed gas stations. I-40 travels along what used to be Route 66. So I guess back in the day when highways were slow, cars were less efficient, and you didn't have to sell your first born to fill up the tank (I'm talking about gas tanks, not the SUVs that take up a lane and a half), more people stopped at roadside motels with cutesy neon signs.

It's amazing we were in Arkansas just yesterday.

2006-08-15T16:57:00.000-04:00

Aug 14 - I'm standing by an old gas station somewhere in New Mexico. Last night, we sat in a Denny's in Tucumcari, NM, a town full of deserted motels. And to think that the night before, we ate at a Salvadorian restaurant in Danville, AR... This cross-country business is crazy. We stopped in Oklahoma City to visit the National Memorial for the bombing. It was an in incredible tribute to those who had lost their lives in the tragedy. Rows of bronze, stone, and glass chairs stood in front of a large, shallow reflection pool. Leaving OK City (which is a much greater feat than it sounds), we headed west through the rest of OK (very flat, dry and hot) and on through the pan handle of Texas. The landscape in Texas changed so drastically from one mile to the next. It was so amazing.

I bid farewell to ol' Kentucky...

2006-08-14T17:23:00.000-04:00

Aug 11 - Despite our good intentions of leaving at 6am, we finally hit the road around 8:30. Heading south towards Nashville, we listened to Bluegrass as I bid farewell to "The Bluegrass State". While in Louisville, I visited Churchill Downs (home of the Kentucky Derby), Old Louisville (noted for row upon row of Victorian houses), saw a four stories tall baseball bat, ate some incredible home-cooked Southern food (fried catfish and hush puppies, yum!), and sang lots of Karaoke. Ol' Kentucky, it was fun, but it's time to move on. Hello Tennessee!!

Hello Memphis the city of blues bars and The King!

2006-08-14T17:21:00.000-04:00

Aug 11/12 - We arrived in Memphis around dinner time and headed straight for Beale Street, famous for its bars and live music. Along the way, we stopped at Sun Studio. While Dylan got gas, Sarah and I ran across the street to take pictures. We were stopped a few times...twice by homeless men, another time by a man calling out of his pick-up, "You wanna take a picture of me?" Despite his big smile, we declined and were on our way. Beale Street was awesome, with its neon lights and drunk people. We ate at the Blues City BBQ. I had the most incredible ribs, beans, coleslaw, fries and Texas toast. Yum! The next day, we visited Graceland. The house would hardly be considered a mansion by today's standards, but it was pimped out with a shaggy green wall, mirrored stairwell, 3 television sets in the TV room, and crazy fabric covering the pool room walls. The King lived in style...by 1970s standards. =D

There's more to the man than Kentucky Fried Chicken.

2006-08-11T15:31:00.000-04:00

Dylan and I visited historic Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, KY. After wandering around in the rain for 2 hours, we finally found Colonel Sanders' grave. Colonel Sanders was, of course, the founder of the chain fast food joint, Kentucky Fried Chicken. But he was also a philanthropist, supporting children's causes. But back to Cave Hill...in the older section stands the white, uniform graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War. Soldiers from both sides lie next to one another in death, despite their ties in life. The cemetery also displays magnificent statues, some dating back 100 years. (Statues in rain make for good pictures!)

Leaving Pittsburgh

2006-08-09T13:07:00.000-04:00

You can see I was devastated by the move. I won't miss Pittsburgh, but I'll miss the excitement and freedom of my first apartment. I won't miss the poorly planned roads or the accent that I'm starting to pick up (yins want some pop?), but I'll miss the city that I called my own. Not my parents' city, not friends'...Pittsburgh was mine. But heck with that...I'm moving on. Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, HERE I COME!!