2007 Discover America Tour

Later, Vail.

It's frickin' freezing here, Mr. Bigglesworth. Turn on the heat!

If it were January or February, we wouldn't leave Vail. But seeing as how it is nearly June and there isn't much to do, we guess we'd better hit the road. It's another 900 miles to the City of Angels ...

dad takes a mountain shot...

while nodnarb takes an artsy road shot...

Westbound:
Leg 1 (Boston to Lewisburg, PA)
Leg 2 (Lewisburg to Des Moines)
Leg 3 (Des Moines to Vail, CO)
Leg 4 (Vail to LA)
Destination

Eastbound:
Leg 5 (LA to The Grand Canyon)
Leg 6 (The Grand Canyon to Roswell, NM)
Leg 7 (Roswell, NM to Memphis, TN)
Leg 8 (Memphis, TN to Roanoke, VA)
Leg 9 (Roanoke, VA to Boston, MA)

a very rural lowes

ugh! why is that song stuck in my head - "colorado rocky mountain high, blah blah blah"

thanks a lot, Henry John Deutschendorf!

methinks these rim-house people are insane

our destination (is not Wally World)...

Utah Saints
Utah Saints
U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U
Utah Saints

You're outta here, John Denver!

somewhere not far from Arches National Park

guess i didn't pay attention in geology class. cuz i just don't get how these rocks were formed!

starting to warm up a little, Mr. Bigglesworth

cool tunnel shot, dude

assorted rock formations...

dad takes a picture of brandon taking picture...

brandon takes picture of dad taking a picture of brandon...

What's wrong with this picture?
Hint: Do you think there is really a city somewhere nearby?

I-70 biker gang

welcome to arizona, aka the "we don't need no stinkin' daylight savings time" state

winding through glenwood canyon

huh-huh, beavis, check it out - beaver in 20 miles.

jeepers, mr. bigglesworth, it's really friggin' hot here.

weird place, nevada. home of the epicenter of excess, top secret military installations, extreme heat, and assorted stuff that isn't legal anywhere else.

the other kind of mirage - the vegas variety

one kind of nevada mirage. and notice the cool 75 MPH speed limit sign that we easterners don't typically get to enjoy.

Brandon, keep your eyes on the road!

hey, let's take a trip down the strip...

And Brandon wonders why Dad starts playing "Yours is no Disgrace" by Yes on the iPod.

Until he hears:
"Yesterday a morning came, a smile upon your face.
Caesar's palace, morning glory, silly human race" (isn't Dad clever)

bye bye, cheesy funville

and hello california, brandon's home for the next few months...

of course, the ipod playlist becomes:

So Cal Loco - Sprunk Monkey
Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger
LA Woman - The Doors
California Girls - David Lee Roth
Beverly Hills - Weezer
Say Goodbyte Hollywood - Eminem
Going to California - Led Zeppelin
Kalifornia - Fatboy Slim
Speed Home California - Sugar Ray
Sweet Dreams My LA Ex - Rachel Stevens
Old School Hollywood - System of a Down
Lost in Hollywood - System of a Down
... and lots of Beach Boys songs

cactus closeup