Random photos from my last fortnight in Cali. [View Full Entry]

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Reece: Unfortunately, as cozy as I was in my sleeping bag, nature took it upon herself to call on me in the middle of the night. I was forced to an early rising, probably somewhere around four in the morning, and saw that there was almost two inches of snow already on the ground. This was definitely cool, I thought. Caitlin woke me up again in the morning and we both undertook the not-so-pleasant task of cleaning last night’s dishes and packing up camp with numb hands. Yet, the whole time I was doing so, I kept thinking how worth [View Full Entry]

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Reece: For once we were able to sleep in a little bit in the tent, finally both rising at around 11:30 am. We had no real plan for the day, besides doing some laundry and eventually heading towards Yosemite. For lunch we cooked the rest of the soup we had bought. I played the mandolin for a bit longer and then we eventually packed up and left the campsite at around 3:00. We drove into Tahoe City, a small town lined with outdoor stores and coffee shops with wooden facades, and made our way to the coin-op laundromat right next to [View Full Entry]

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Caity: Upon waking up this morning and exploring the luxury of the mini in-room coffee pot, I hurried downstairs (or glass elevator, really) to the craps table. Joke. I couldn’t wait to get up & out of there… though, Reece & I did take advantage of the breakfast buffet for half price….and, much to the vexation of the omelet-lady, I enjoyed a tasty egg-white concoction including tomatoes, spinach and cheese. Reece & I attempted to thug a few extra tasty items for later, however, selection was limited since our route was taking us straight across the deserts of Nevada&hel [View Full Entry]

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Cait: Today was a day of contrasts. Our trip has, so far, allowed us to see and experience many of the dramatic differences in lifestyle all contained within our country. The ticking of the odometer however, has provided an ease of transition between these lifestyle segments, whether it be in mile-markers passed by on an interstate or mountains climbed in-between. Today however, was different. To wake up in the Mormon capitol of the world and retire to sleep 14 hours later in a glitzy hotel-casino is certainly something the mind struggles to understand….particularly when both of th [View Full Entry]

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C: Today we woke again in the backcountry of RMNP as Reece has taken to calling it. The sun was already rising high but rain was misting from the sky in parts….I decided to climb the “rabbit ears” as Reece had done yesterday….it was an adventure I didn’t want to miss. The wind was crazy & I certainly questioned my senses and sanity at certain points but after pausing to gain the final bravery to step over small cravass before the last boulder I knew it was worth it. Time stopped (just not the wind). The sun to the east shining [View Full Entry]

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Caitlin: Well folks, allow me to apologize in advance—for I am lacking the beautiful diction and syntax that Reece possesses. Let’s be glad that it is he who is studying English at the fine State University of NJ and not myself…. That being said, Reece does think that I take better photos….so I suppose we make a good team. Make sure you keep your eyes open for when he publishes his Kerouac-esque chronicle of our adventure. Monday was a glorious day all & all. Waking up in backcountry is an experience that rivals all. Anywhere. For those who have not experienc [View Full Entry]

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Reece: Waking up early, eager to see the mountains that were now no longer cloaked in darkness, we set off down scenic Route 34 towards Estes Park. (P.S. We got the cinnamon buns. They should not be, and probably are not, world famous.) Even before arriving at the Rockies we were greeted with a spectacular drive through the Roosevelt National Forest where a winding road led us through a canyon following the Big Thompson River. The sides of the canyon were so tall and so sheer we couldn’t even see the sky until we made our way out. Arriving at the [View Full Entry]

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Reece will be guest-authoring this entry because of his uncanny love for the seemingly boring, but beautiful state of Kansas. Kansas, the sunflower state. Sunflowers seen during trip: 0. Ever since the early stages of planning for this trip, Caitlin and I had a prejudice towards Kansas that entailed a long, straight, monotonous drive on Interstate 70. Originally we planned to simply drive from St. Louis directly to Denver all in one day. When it comes down to it, that is what we did essentially, but to me it has been the best drive so far. Instead of becoming desensitized to [View Full Entry]

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Today began in Kentucky…. Following our free “breakfast” (doughnuts OJ & coffee) we departed, once again on route 64W. Louisville was a “must see” according to the lady at the desk. I’m still not sure what was there…except a bunch of nice bridges across the Ohio River. Still, this was the first city we really drove through so it was exciting in that right. Indiana was…well…as Reece so eloquently put …”it started off like Kentucky and ended like Illinois. Illinois & Missouri were much the [View Full Entry]

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