Los Angeles, California - Getting There

Dad said that getting to Los Angeles was just going to be a long drive with nothing to do. NOT! Instead, he decided to go off the highway and down Route 66 for a while. I thought of the movie "Cars". But it wasn't like this. After a few miles we were in the middle of the desert on snakey, cracking roads that almost fell off the edges of the rocks they were carved out of. It was 113 degrees here!

We stopped in the only town for 75 miles -- Oatman, Arizona. When the miners quit working there years ago, they left behind their burrows which are still there. They wander in the street begging for food. I think I fed them three bags of carrots. The signs said that they might bite or kick. But all they did was eat and get petted a lot. Especially by me.

After we left Oatman, I played my Gameboy while Dad drove and drove. When we got to Los Angeles at dark, Dad started freakin' again saying that the traffic was crazy. I didn't notice. Just a bunch of cars like any other city.

When we got to the hotel, the pool was still open. Yay!! There was a couple of other boys swimming, too -- Parker and Ryan. We had fun 'til they had to close the pool.

Tomorrow we go to Universal. I have no idea what that's all about.

The Grand Canyon

WOAH! This is a really, really big hole! Dad said it is 8000 feet to the bottom. He said that a lot. Especially when I got near the edge. Which I did a lot. It was so cool to throw rocks over the sides. I never heard them land.

We rode buses all afternoon and saw the canyon from many different places. But it was all kinda the same for me. Yep. It's still a hole. Yep. It's still big. I mean...I liked it okay, but going around looking at it just wasn't the same as doing something like going down in it or maybe something like that. But Dad said we just didn't have time and that we could go in it next time we came. Okay.

That night, Dad came running in from a short walk freakin' and telling me to come on. He drove us to one of the lookout places...in the DARK! When he told me to look up...I freaked!! There were more stars that I had ever seen! Some places the stars were so crowded that it looked like clouds! Being at the lookout at night was kinda cold and creeped me out a little, but it was worth it. We even saw hikers miles down in the canyon.

Here's a picture of a squirrel that kept coming up to me right at the edge of the canyon. Dad said he was old. But he sure was friendly.

This is a cool place and I'll definitely be coming back. But not to just look. Next time...I'm going in!

Flagstaff, Arizona

On our way to the Grand Canyon, we had to stay in Flagstaff. But on the way to that, me and Dad stopped at Arches National Monument. Lots and lots of cool rocks and trails.

Here I am at Delicate Arch. I'm the dot in the left corner. This rock was really huge and had a sheer cliff on the other side (which drove Dad insane). It was over a 3 mile hike in the desert heat, up rock and next to drop-offs to get there and I nearly passed out on the way back. (Of course, I was just being dramatic to keep Dad on his toes.)

And...that's all we did that day. Since we stayed at the Arches so long, we didn't even get into Flagstaff until after 10 that night and the pool was already closed. SNAP!!

Green River, Utah

I think I'm going to like the desert. It's all about dirt. And I LOVE playing with dirt. Here's a picture of me playing with, yep...it's dirt. Playing with dirt on the side of a huge canyon is even more fun than just playing with dirt. Not really. Playing with dirt is fun no matter what!!

This canyon was on the way to our hotel in Green River, Utah. Dad took us there not only to show me "the middle of nowhere", but also because it's where he said he saw more stars than he's ever seen before. He wanted to show them to me. But, just like with Pike's Peak, the sky wasn't helping out. Instead there was practically a sand storm which was almost cooler than looking at stars because it was so different. I've seen stars.

After dinner, Dad and I drove down this dark and empty desert road hoping to see a star or two. I saw Jupiter for a second behind a lot of haze. But other than that, there was just the sound of wind and nothing else. That was neat. A little scary, but neat anyway.

I like that Dad drove down this road in the "middle of nowhere" at night. I thanked him and he got all surprised saying he didn't know I was such an explorer. Yeah, DUH!! Maybe he might let me explore a little more now.

Granite Gorge / Colorado Springs, Colorado

Here is a picture of me looking up at how much more rock I'm going to have to climb. I made it all the way to the top (with a lot of cheering on from Dad, the climbing teacher and some other climbers.) Dad made it to the top four times. Guess he's not such a scardy wuss after all.

Rock climbing looks like a lot more fun than it is. Actually...it's a lot of work! It sure is cool looking around when you get to the top, though. And, you feel pretty cool about yourself when you make it up there.

After rock climbing, we drove to Colorado Springs through some really, really pretty country. There were some super wide open spaces with giant snow-covered mountains on each side.

Here a small picture. But you gotta go there to really see what it feels like. Ask Dad how to get there.

When we got to Colorado Springs we were supposed to take a train that goes to the top of Pike's Peak that's, like, 14,000 feet up. But just when we got to the where the train was, a storm started and Dad thought we'd better not go. Of course, about thirty minutes later everything was as clear as ever. Another great Dad decision. Actually, he was more disappointed that we didn't go than I was. After all, the hotel had a pool!

Salida, Colorado

After driving through endless flat in Kansas and the first part of Colorado we finally ran right into the biggest mountains I've ever seen! They're huge! They're just huge! They're all pointy and rocky and go on forever.

Soon we were driving through them in a deep canyon next to a rushing river. Here's a picture of me sitting on a rock that's actually in the Arkansas River. Dad didn't want me to play in it. He's a scardy wuss. He finally said it was okay if I didn't go near the current. The water was freezing, but the sand and rocks were great and I had a blast!

We drove on with giant rocks piled on each side of us for a couple of hours until we came to Salida. Salida's a neat little town. I like it. There was a great park downtown where I watched guys and girls in kayaks flipping around on a big rapid next to the bridge. Again I wanted to get in, but Dad only let me put my feet in this time. What's up with him? This is vacation, right!?

Hays, Kansas

Here's a shot of me looking for something to do in Hays, Kansas of which there is NOTHING! It's out in the middle of endless prairie which is kinda cool to see but I wouldn't want to live here.

So...we'll eat supper and, seeing as there is no pool at the hotel (thanks, Dad), we'll watch The Cartoon Channel until time to sleep.

Were going to have breakfast at the Village Inn in the morning. But Dad calls it the Village Idiot saying there's nothing "good for you" to eat there. Aren't pancakes "good for you"? They taste "good for you". "Pancakes, please!"