TravelBlog » Stephanie and Andras

Stephanie and Andras - Stephanie and Andras

We've finally arrived in Seattle! Although we are no longer living on the road, we are continuing to post all of our back-logged journal entries from the trip and are currently exploring all the possibilities of the great Pacific Northwest, so stay tuned!

Former Travels: "We're embarking on a summer of freedom as we travel to Ecuador to participate in international service work and then depart on a 10-week cross-country journey as we relocate from Lexington, KY to Seattle, WA with only a tent and Plymouth Neon to protect us from the elements. "

To read from the beginning of our trip, start here: I will miss you, but I am excited to leave
To read about Ecuador, start here: To the Center of the Globe

Or click below on "First Entry" to read all our blogs

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Joined on: April 9th 2007
Last Login: July 26th 2008

Blog Entries: 34
Photos: 406
Recommended by 3, Recommends 1

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Stephanie-and-Andras, order by Date newest first.

By Stephanie and Andras
July 17th 2007

A Breath of Fresh Air

North America » United States » California » Monterey

Highway 101
It truly is a scenic drive, although a bit dangerous at time. Looking north towards Bixby Bridge.

Like pioneers traveling westward on wagon train, we too are thrilled to finally see the Pacific Ocean. It's been a long time coming. The salty sea-breeze, the familiar wail of sea-gulls, the methodical crashing of waves up against the rocky shores below. In many ways the trip seems somehow complete even though we remain hundreds of miles away from our destination. It's almost too familiar. Where are the white sandy beaches, the sun-bronzed Californians hitting the surf? Outside the wind is whipping and it is cold. After pulling off the road at a public beach, we pull out our fleeces, head [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
July 15th 2007

Adapt and Overcome

North America » United States » California » Death Valley National Park

Giant Sequoia
Anyone up for a climb? Even though the tops of many of these giants have succumbed to lightening and age, they are still impressively large.

We snuck into California the back way, so we first realize we’re over the state line when the traffic starts to get worse. It’s not the sheer volume of cars on the road that make this drive so frustrating, it’s the fact that even though we’re driving a good five miles over the speed limit, we’re still getting passed and dodged around like we’re standing still. It doesn’t help that with trucks in the right lane and road-warriors in the left, our loaded down car doesn’t really belong to either. I don’t know who teaches drivers-ed around here, but they ought [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
July 11th 2007

We're Feeling Hot, Hot, HOT!

North America » United States » Arizona » Grand Canyon National Park

Bleached Deer Skull
This is what happens to those who don't carry enough water with them.

You know that feeling when you wake up and for the briefest of moments you don't quite know where you are and have to retrace your steps to remember? That is not the Grand Canyon. First, there's the continuous presence of heat radiating from every angle, from the ground below and the sky above and even the rock escarpments surrounding you. Then, there's the aching feeling radiating throughout your entire body that reminds that yes, you did actually get down here by the power of your own two legs. It is painfully obvious where you are, and how you got there. [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
July 9th 2007

Rock Bottom and Loving It

North America » United States » Arizona » Grand Canyon National Park

Sunrise in the Canyon
Andras and I snacking on trail-mix as we watch the most beautiful sunrise of our lives.

We have officially hit rock bottom and couldn’t be happier. After weeks of planning and a summers worth of training, we hiked down to the base of the Grand Canyon in four and a half hours. More importantly, we eventually hiked out. Over a month ago when we started this trip, our minds kept tricking us, leading us to believe that Yellowstone marked the half-way point, and though it did geographically we'd hardly been on the road long at all. In reality, our "half-way done" moment was celebrated by our arrival into Grand Canyon. On Friday we picked up my father [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
July 5th 2007

Mercury Rising and All Bets are Off

North America » United States » Arizona » Quartzsite

Saguaro Cactus
Symbol of the Southwestern Desert

High temperatures have prompted authorities to issue warnings stating that activity anytime other than the early morning hours could be dangerous. You know, I thought we were really going to enjoy this break from the open road, lounging around in a temperature controlled environment but claustrophobia is quickly setting it. Temperatures here reached up to 116F (47C) yesterday and have reached record highs throughout the southwest. Not quite hot enough to fry an egg (yes, we tried) but pretty darn close. What a perfect summer for a cross-country road trip—record gasoline prices and record heat waves! Talk about good timing. Last [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
June 30th 2007

Livin' on the Edge

North America » United States » Colorado » Mesa Verde National Park

Out of the Earth - Into the Light
This particular kiva has been reconstructed after excavation.

The sun glints off the the bumper of the vehicle in front of us and I flip the visor down to shield my eyes. Andras has the windows rolled partially down trying to find the perfect compromise between the heat and the fumes of exhaust. I would not have guessed that this park would be so popular but there it is, the long line of cars inching closer to the entrance station. Nor would I have guessed that it was so easy to escape the crowds and actually find the relative solitude needed to appreciate where we were, but then again [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
June 26th 2007

In a Land of Shifting Sands

North America » United States » Colorado » Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dune
Early morning light along the crest of a dune with the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the background.

If you think you need to travel to the far reaches of Africa to experience sand dunes, you would be mistaken, but certainly not alone. If anything, our travels thus far have firmly cemented the notion that adventure and discovery can indeed take place in your own backyard. After a fantastic evening with our friend Joseph and his girlfriend, exploring bookstores downtown Denver and trying out new "hip" vegetarian dishes (seitan buffalo wings anyone?) we continued south towards Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, a relatively unknown area of geographic interest that only recently achieved national park status. Rising abruptly [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
June 24th 2007

Foam, Foam on the Range...

North America » United States » Colorado » Fort Collins

Taster Flight at New Belgium
From front to back, Skinny Dip, Abbey, Trippel and a limited release sour-peach beer, all brewed locally thanks to an excellent source of ground water.

Planning requires a leap of faith. In order to plan you must assume you have control over future events. You assume things will play out as you expect. You assume you will not find yourself half-delirious and sleep-deprived, wondering if it's possible to rent a room by the hour in the middle of the night somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. You assume, because you had a plan. And that, my friend, that was your downfall. The Journey Eventually this will be a great story, a testament to our summer of roughing it on the road, but at the time it was [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
June 21st 2007

Desert Aphorisms and a Hint of Sarcasm

North America » United States » Utah » Capitol Reef

Delicate Arch
Some say it looks like lady's bloomers, other say it looks like a cowboy's chaps. Who's to say how long it will last before it erodes away.

Anthropology students are all inevitably subjected to a discussion on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; how we must meet our physiological needs in order to feel the need for safety, love and, ultimately, self-actualization. Four years at a university and I had always assumed that contentedness and freedom could only come when self-actualization was achieved. Four weeks on the road and I realize now that there is nothing more freeing and exhilarating than having no more pressing thoughts other than where to lay our heads at night, and how to prepare whatever food we'll eat. Americans are always hung up on the [View Full Entry]

By Stephanie and Andras
June 19th 2007

"There's a Buffalo in the Bathroom" and Other Tall Tales

North America » United States » Wyoming » Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Pool

The gurgling of rolling water, plops of mud and hiss of steam vents provide the soundtrack to our meanderings along the Mud Volcano Trail. After four days in Yellowstone we found ourselves getting caught up in the mad dash from sight to sight and today decided to scale it way back. It's funny how easily we slip back into the same bad habits we had prior to traveling whenever we stay in one place for a while. Too much activity and we start wishing for something stable. Too much consistency and we start dreaming of the open road. So today we [View Full Entry]