Zion National Park

States Visited: Colorado, Utah
Distance Traveled: 426 miles
Time: 6 hours, with breaks

It's hard to decide which day was better, yesterday in Colorado or today in Utah. Either or, one thing is definitely for sure, we made the most of both. Upon leaving the hotel in Grand Junction, it was only another 30 miles or so before we crossed the border into Utah and made our way west on I-70 through the Land of the Arches and Castle Valley to I-15 South. That stretch of land is extremely desolate, but gratifyingly beautiful with the landscape changing dramatically at every single turn. I say desolate though, for the sole reason that there is literally nothing out there for well over a hundred miles, so it's a good idea to gas up at the state border if you need it, because if you run out, good luck to you, because you're going to have to hitch your way out of that desert. Luckily, we were well-prepared for this and left Grand Junction on a full tank.

After heading south on I-15 for about an hour and a half, we reached the small town of Hurricane, just outside of Zion, where we settled down in our hotel. We quickly unpacked the car, made a quick change into some hiking gear, and jumped back on the road for 20 more miles towards Zion National Park. Last time I was in the park, it was out of season and we were able to actually drive our cars all the way through the valley to the end. During season however, once in the park you're required to park your car and shuttle your way down through the canyon. This helps save on traffic in the park and reduces the amount of emissions as well. Plus, although it's very touristy, the ride is fairly quick and informative, giving a fairly detailed history of the entire canyon and it's surrounding peaks.

After parking the car at the Visitor's Center, we hopped on the shuttle and rode it down to the Emerald Pools Trail, an easy to moderate path that switchbacks around a few small waterfalls just north of the Court of the Patriarchs. We started off light, making our way to the lower pools, but curiosity got the best of us and before long we were making our way up the side of the gorge to the upper pools. On our way there, we ran into a young couple piling hiker stones that told us to check out a tree full of Dragonflies by the pool. Once there, we did end up finding the tree, a small sapling absolutely covered in mating dragonflies. Pretty cool. Unfortunately, it was right here that Steph's camera battery died, so we ended up using my cell phone until we were able to get back to the car. Plenty more photos will be sure to be added to the Picasa gallery when I get back to Cleveland since I didn't bring the transfer cable for my phone with me here.

We made our way back down the path and back towards Zion Lodge where we spent some time looking around the gift shop (which was filled with very cool Indian jewelery and art) and grabbing a quick bite to eat before we headed back onto the trails. It was getting a little late now, and we knew we didn't have a ton of time, but I needed to check out the Riverwalk Trail, so we jumped back onto the shuttle and took it to the end of the canyon, otherwise known as the Temple of Sinawava. It's named as such because the area is very circular, unlike the rest of the canyon, and two extremely large rocks jut out from the center of the Temple, much like an alter and a pulpit, so adequetly named. The Riverwalk Trail was important to me because it leads into an area called The Narrows, a series of "trails" that run straight up the river to its source, 15 miles north of the park. The river gets as narrow as 10 feet wide in some parts and the sheer walls on each side rise for well over a thousand feet, the bottom of which I've been desperate to explore for years. Unfortunately, it getting late, so we took the trail to the end where it meets the riverbed, walked up into the beginnings of the Narrows for a few hundred yards, and then headed back. I'll have to hike the Narrows in full another time.

While on the trail though, we ran into Dragonfly couple again and ended up hiking out with them back to the shuttle. Interestingly enough, we learned that they were also on a road trip of sorts, starting in Idaho, making their way south through canyon country, then back up north into Colorado where he (Nolan) would drop her (Reagen) off in Denver for her new job, then fly back home to Idaho for awhile until they were able to figure out where they were going to end up. As much as Steph and I marveled at the coincidence, we talked later about how it was extremely promising to meet another couple that's in the same situation as the two of us while remaining confident that everything will work out the way it should, that a simple thing like distance isn't going to let them ruin their long-term plans. A lot of hikers refer to this kind of thing as trail magic, how odd and coincidentally beneficial instances occur in the most unexpected of times, and could only it label it as such. They were an extremely nice couple and we felt lucky to have run into them.

It's late now and we're back at the hotel, about to crash for the night. We arrive in LA tomorrow to move Steph into her new place, so there'll be plenty to talk about then. Only six more hours of driving to go...

Off to Mormon Country

We're up and ready to go, about to set off towards Zion National Park, Utah, where hopefully we'll be able to get in at least half a day's hiking around the park and trails. It's about a five and a half hour drive, so we're leaving early. It's a great drive through a number of eclectic valleys and rock formations...I'm excited for Steph to see this part because from what I remember of the route eight years ago, it was one of my favorite throughout the entire trip.

Our plan is to check into our hotel in Hurricane, UT, change, then drive into the park from there. I'm not sure we'll be able to post another update until tonight, but I'm sure it'll be a good one filled with plenty of photos and video. And, we're off.

Colorado Adventures

States Visited: Colorado
Distance Traveled: 290 miles
Time: 11.5 hours, with 6 hour rest at the ranch

Stephanie here! So, this morning we got up bright and early at Brian's Uncle Larry's place (very sweet man) and set out to conquer the Rockies. What a sight. I started off driving so I had a hard time seeing everything... because the locals think it's abnormal to drive any slower than 85 mph around the bends and down the steep hills... so I had all my senses working overtime.

We stopped in Idaho Springs for a quick breakfast and cinnabon melts, then hopped on I-70 and stopped in Vail for a light lunch and some strolling around. It was a beautiful ski resort, kind of deserted right now because it's out of season, but all the better because there weren't any crowds. Think Crocker Park or any other upscale shopping center...but with more of a Swiss/German influence.

After lunch we headed towards the highlight of the day... horseback riding! Yep, don't fall over you Ford family you... I didn't get hurt (the last and only other time I went horse back riding was when I was like 12 on vacation with my family... and my Dad's horse got spooked and my Dad fell down and went boom, shattering his wrist into tiny bits - yea that cut the trip short). I was a bit apprehensive but I've always wanted to get back on a horse and give it another go, so this was my big chance. I can't say horseback riding could ever be any better than around Glenwood Springs. Bair Ranch was absolutely beautiful. They owned thousands of acres of land covered with pines and aspens and a variety of evergreen shrubs, as well as a variety of sheep and well over 50 mustang horses. There were also several dogs running around and one of the breeds (Brian and I can't remember the name of it... even though the woman said it like 3+ times) looked like a mix between a lab and an American White Shepherd. We crept up to the female to pet her and discovered she had a tiny treasure - the cutest little pup I've seen in a while. So we took some pics and giggled at the adorable noises it was making.

Unfortunately, while our appointment was at 1:00, we found out that the guides were up herding sheep or something... and something went wrong or something... and wouldn't be back until like 3:30 (you can see I know a lot of the details). All I kept thinking about was Brokeback Mountain. We killed the extra waiting time by driving over to Glenwood Springs for a while and exploring the town. Plus, it worked out for the better because by the time we did actually saddle up back at the ranch, it ended up being a bit cooler outside!


All in all the ride was so worth the sore thighs, knees, and butts. We started off at the ranch and worked our way up into some sheep pastures, then up the hill and out of sight of all the main roads, all the while being followed by one of those white herding dogs...it was kind of cool that he was looking out for us. It took me a little longer to get up there than Brian and our guide Jeff because my horse Copper just wouldn't stop munching on the surrounding foliage, but it ended up being worth the wait. The views were breathtaking and we were lucky enough to get in some shots while we were up there. After two more hours of winding our way back down to the ranch, we said our goodbyes to Bair Ranch and headed back on the road, west towards Grand Junction.

An hour and a half later, here we are, settled into a Super 8 motel in Grand Junction, full from a meal at Applebees and ready for bed. More updates to come tomorrow as we head into Zion National Park. We're hoping to get an early start so we can spend as much time there as we can.

Sunday Night in Denver

States Visted: Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado
Distance Traveled: 674 miles
Time: 9.5 hours, with breaks

Born and raised in northeastern Ohio, I've been conditioned to have a good deal of animosity towards Denver. I find it impossible to adhere to that kind of outlook when I pass through this city because of how absolutely beautiful it is here, not to mention the family connections I have in the area.

Upon leaving Nebraska and jumping on I-76W towards Denver, the road opened up into some of the widest expanses of land we've seen yet. Although Nebraska had its fields and fields of corn and beans, rows of trees and farm equipment hindered our view from the freeway. Colorado however, offered much more. Speckled with cattle, llamas and sheep, the land dropped away from the interstate in a way that offered us some of the most spectacular view yet. Soon after, about 40 miles outside of Denver, the silouettes of the Rockies came into view over the horizon, magnified by the rapidly setting sun.

We got to my Uncle Larry's house at about 6:45, settled down in his guest room and passed the remaindsameer of the night grilling out a few burgers and catching up over a couple of beers. The last time I saw Larry was pretty much under the circumstances, when a few friends of mine and I passed through town on a cross-country camping trip. While that visit was pretty much over before it begun, this instance was a little more relaxed and casual.

We packed up our things this morning and set out at about 8am, heading west on I70 towards Glenwood Springs. Not sure how many updates we'll be able to post today, but there should definitely be something later on tonight when we stop in Grand Junction. Until then, it'll be a nice scenic drive through the Rockies with a few recreational stops along the way.

The Great Expanse of Corn

After taking advantage of the hotel's continental breakfast, we stepped outside into a fog as thick as I've seen in a long time. We repacked up the car and crawled out onto I-80 west, making our way out of the suburbs of Des Moines and towards the Nebraska border.

It wasn't long before the fog burned off and left us with a very peculiar revelation about Iowa, at least the part of Iowa that we were traveling through; it's actually very pretty. Both of us had a preconcieved notion about this state that it was all cornfields and flat, boring land. Completely untrue. Iowa is covered with rolling yellow speckled hills and magnificent, isolated trees, giving it the sense of an English moor with the fog that surrounded us. It was very serene, and I'm sure in full sunlight it's even moreso. We tried taking a few photos, but again with the fog, they weren't coming out the way we wanted them to.

We're now in Nebraska, which is about everything we originally expected Iowa to be and more. Gone are the rolling hills and gentle sloping fields, the serene trees and the twisting rivers and lakes. Nope, now we're looking at corn in every single direction. It's endless. Though we both know that it'll get more interesting in a few hours. We should cross the border around 4:00 Mountain Time and once we hit Colorado, we'll be able to see the Rockies. It's pretty much consistent sightseeing from there.

Iowa Smells Like Poop

States Visited: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa
Distance Traveled: 662 Miles
Time: 11.5 hours, with breaks

It's true. They should nickname this state the Poop State because of the overwhelming smell that hits you as soon as you cross the Mississippi. I slightly remember encountering this while driving through Oklaholma back in college, but those instances only came in short, nearly-forgettable spurts. This is different. It doesn't go away. I'm convinced they manufacture enough manure here to fertilize the entire union. That's a lot of poop. And we still have three more hours left here to go.

As we got into Iowa, we stopped for a quick break at the Iowa 80 rest stop, the largest truck stop in the world. It was insane. They had a dentist's office in there. You know, in case you need a root canal on the road and you happen to be in Iowa, you're in luck. We took about a 20 minute break and shot back out on the road, non-stop to Des Moines.

About three hours, a thirty minute traffic jam, and two "breaks" later, we arrived at the Econo Lodge in northwestern Des Moines, off of I-80. We unpakced the back seat of the car, got all settled in our room, and headed down the street to have a short, quiet dinner at Flannigan's. Both exhausted, we were in bed by ten, falling asleep to Man vs. Wild's near-deadly encounter with a honey bee.

Today we're off to Denver, where we'll stay with my Uncle Larry in Aurora. It's about a nine to ten hour drive through lots and lots of corn. Should make for some edge of your seat blog entries. :)

Stopping in Illinois

If you've ever thought about going out of your way to visit the Illinois countryside...don't. Why? Because there's nothing here. There's barely anywhere to stop for food and when you do end up actually finding something...gone are the roadside diners and local cafes. Nope, it's all Burger King and Taco Bell. ...We settled on Burger King. Good ol' American.

After a quick lunch, we made our way into town and tracked down a Border's bookstore, where I am now. We wanted to find a book that would give us something to do on the road, some kind of highway game or the like that would allow us to keep our sanity amongst the cornfields to come. Surprisingly, Borders has no such book. I mean, nothing. So, I think we're going to pick up a word search or pun book and be done with it.

-- Stephanie here! I ended up buying the book Twilight, the first in a 4 book series. So hopefully I'll get well into that by the end of this trip. It's a vampire story, how could I go wrong?

We're about to leave and drive on through to Des Moine now, where I'll be able to upload the rest of the photos from today. Another five hours to go!

Cleveland, Ohio to Des Moine, Iowa

The day started early, around 6:30am while the both of us checked around the house one last time to make sure we had everything we needed. After a quick, dry breakfast (Steph drank all the milk, which I found out after I poured my bowl of Frosted Flakes), we said our good-byes to Kino, took one last look around our home and stepped out on the road to head west.

Today's goal is Des Moine, Iowa, a good 10 1/2 hours or so from Cleveland. As it goes now, our little Garmin friend is telling us we'll be there around 5:30 central time. Tack on another hour or two onto that for breaks and lunch and I'm guessing we'll check into the hotel just in time for dinner. It'd be nice to find a local brewery or the like to eat tonight, as most of the fun of a road trip like this is experiencing the local culture in the towns you pass through.

We're just about to pass into Indiana, but I probably won't be posting this until later today, so goes the infinite search for a wireless connection.

The Night Before...

The car is packed and ready to go, save for a small dufflebag and two laptops which we'll cram in there in the morning before we leave. Fortunately Steph packed up all of stuff this week while she was home, so it was nice not to have to do any late night packing this evening. We can just relax, watch some TV and go to bed at a decent hour so that we're set to go early tomorrow. We made quick work of it and were pretty much done with loading the car in about 20 minutes. And believe it or not, we can actually still see out the back window.

The goal for tomorrow is Des Moines, Iowa. That pretty much means ten hours of nothing but flat plains and cornfields. It's sure to be an exciting opening day for the blog, but I'm sure we'll have plenty to make of it. Too bad the Field of Dreams is almost 150 miles out of our way...

Steph's Surprise Farewell Party: The West End

About three years ago this December, Steph and I had our first date at a bar called the West End in Lakewood. We sat at the bar for a while and nibbled on some appetizers and hot soup and talked about our jobs, our families and music, during which she handed me a Kaiser Chiefs CD that she burned for me, specifically for our night out. Three years later, here we are still together and going strong, and that bar has held a special place in our hearts this whole time, a place we revisit each year on our anniversary and other special occasions. So when I first concieved the idea of throwing a surprise going away party for Stephanie, there wasn't a single other venue that I could've thought of that would've been more appropriate.

I spent the past few weeks getting in touch with her friends and family and organizing the party with the bar, making sure everything was perfect for her when she arrived. I pitched the idea of going there as simply a nice dinner to have before she left, and not surprisingly, she agreed. So, with a little help from her sister Tiffany (who's working the camera talent when we walk in) everything was set up and ready for us to arrive. I took my time getting ready at home, much to the chagrin of Steph who was claiming to be dying from starvation by the time we walked out the door. It all worked out to be perfect though, and following a text warning to Tiffany warning her that we were a minute away, we walked in the door at about 6:40 to an overwhelming greeting of surprise.



Emotions ran high throughout the night, especially when Steph opened up her mom's going-away present; a little stuffed dog named Compass (with an actual compass attached to his collar), "So you'll always be able to find your way home." We stayed through most of the evening and ironically enough, never got a chance to enjoy a full meal. But I think both of us were too excited to eat, and ended up taking our untouched meals home with us later that night. It wasn't until we arrived at home did the events of the night really soak in and Stephanie was able to take a good look at the six-foot long banner we had hanging in the bar, as well as the picture frame of her headshot that everyone signed throughout the evening.

It really did go off without a hitch and I don't think Steph could've been happier. Huge, huge thanks to Parnell, the owner of the West End, along with everyone that was able be there. I'm fairly certain that last night was a night that Stephanie will never ever forget, and she can go out to LA now, not only with the peace of mind that she was able to see everyone she wanted to see before she left, but also knowing that she has the love and support from everyone around her to strengthen her decision to do this even more.


Tomorrow at 8am, we hit the road. LA is only six short days away.

Steph's Going Away Party: The Garage Bar

To start off this new venture right, Steph wanted to have one last blowout with her friends. So, off we went to the Garage Bar in Cleveland, where Steph and I have spent many many Fridays and Saturdays over the past three years. It's a great hipster kind of place near downtown that has great music, an eclectic crowd and of course, Blavod.

Five very short hours and about a half dozen shots later, the bartenders yelled last call and lights went on. Among the groups of friends that came out to give their farewells to Stephanie, a few were left hanging around and offered their final goodbyes as we walked out the door (well, I walked, she stumbled.) Luckily, the hangover the next day was tolerable and Steph was able to function at a moderate level. Alcohol in any form was completely out of the question the following night at our friend's wedding, although that night's Coca-cola diet didn't dissuade her from teaching the entire hall The Cuban Shuffle on the dance floor, elevating her to "Hero" status among those attending. Maybe this kind of trend-setting will follow her out to California by way of the latest Cleveland craze; thigh-high argyle socks and a pirate shirt. ...maybe.

As we get ready for our trip this week, hopefully we'll have the chance to send our goodbyes to few others that we missed. Saturday's coming up quick and before we know it, we'll be on the road. As before, links to more photos and videos can be reached by clicking on the slideshow on the right side of the page, sponsored this time around by Google's Picasa Web Albums. Look for more updates on Friday, then each day after that as we head out on the road.

From Cleveland to Los Angeles..

So it's official: Stephanie is moving to LA to pursue an acting career.

She's giving herself six months, from the beginning of October until the end of March to find her place in the industry out there. If she does it, great. If not, at least she'll go on knowing that she gave it a worthy attempt, and can live the rest of her life without that one single regret. That, above everything else, is what's most important.


The rest of this week we're going to spend getting everything together for her move out west. So far she has an apartment set up and only a few other minor details (including obtaining a refridgerator) to tackle before we leave Friday morning. There might be an update or two before then, but Saturday should kick off the official start of this blog, and this new adventure in our lives. Stay tuned.