The Grand Canyon!

Hello to everyone out there reading our little blog. We keep hearing that a lot of people we know are reading it, which is making us feel super supported! Thanks!!!



SO, it is a New Year!!!! Kate and I went into downtown Albuquerque for a quick drink last night. We managed to find one of the few bars that was not charging a cover (they ranged from $20.00 to $150.00!!!) - it was called the Blackbird Buvette (Kate found out that "buvette" is french for a small food stand). Turns out it was the hipsterist of hipster bars in New Mexico! We were having a few beers and noticed that they were loading in live music...RIGHT behind us. The speaker was four feet away from us. But, we are seasoned bar flies - we could handle a little live music, right? and then the DJ shows up...turns out it wasn't a live acoustic cover band like we are pretty used to in Baltimore. Nope - it was a full on DJ! The music started out kind of soft (as techno / house music is apt to do) and then BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! The bass kicked in - and it was so loud it made our pantlegs vibrate! We actually got used to it, but decided to leave the downtown area prior to midnight.

We flagged a cab and persuaded our cab driver to take us to a liquor store so we could buy champagne for midnight. I made the mad dash into the grocery store while Kate held the cab. I ran in, asked the first bagger I saw where they kept the beer. My expression and haste must have frightened him because he just gave me a wide eyed look and pointed toward the beer room. I grabbed the first bottle of Korbel I found and booked it to the check out. The checker was super friendly. And, as super friendly people often are, was super slow! He wanted to chat about my maryland ID (yes, contrary to popular belief, i DO still get ID'd!) and what I was doing there. I was on a cab meter, so I tried to move him along as best I could. Finally, I emerged triumphant from the store, champagne in hand, and jumped back in the cab. We got back to the hotel and had a nice little Happy New Year, watching Dick Clark on a 2 hour repeat.

This morning we got up and got on the road again. We traveled through the rest of New Mexico and into Arizona. The landscape is really amazing out here. We stopped at the Continental Divide and took a few pictures, which will be posted here very soon! We had Subway for lunch - again. Honestly - the one chain that is constant at almost every stop is Subway. That is my New Years tip for you - buy stock in Subway! But, we were able to have a little car picnic, sitting in the shade with the doors open, enjoying the light breeze. It was in the mid 50s today. We have had unbelievable weather this trip - we feel very lucky!

Oh - and one tip for all you kids out there that might want to take a trip like this someday - bring your own Cottonelle! The truck stop / rest area / budget hotel toilet paper leaves a bit to be desired...

We made it up to our Grand Canyon hotel this evening around 6pm. Our room is very nice - clean and nicely furnished. Kate pointed out that the big difference between this hotel and the others is that this is actually a destination for people, so the budget hotels have to try a little harder. Not that everyone isn't coming from around the world to visit Kodak, Oklahoma or the Memphis Airport, but I think the Grand Canyon is slightly more popular.

Tomorrow we head to the Grand Canyon for a few quick photo ops and then hit the road for Bakersfield, California!!!! It is a little hard to believe that we are about to cross into our next to last state. Yesterday we passed the point where it would take us longer to go back than it would to keep going to Portland. That was a bit of a moment for me when I realized that - I am actually moving. wow.

We will try to check in tomorrow night. We are meeting my friends Jeff and Kevin for dinner, which should be freaking awesome!

love to everyone!

p.s. for all of you that have asked, Alex is being a total trooper on this trip! We have affectionately named him "Road Dog", because he is rolling with the punches. He is in his crate most of the time, but sometimes while Kate drives, I hold him on my lap. He stretches out on the pillow, under the blanket of course, and takes a nice nap. He loves new hotel rooms. His favorite trick is to jump from bed to bed - the little acrobat. He appreciates all the good thoughts coming his way! Pray for him in the Portland rain!!!!