Sky to (below) Sea

Here's a shocking and unexpected statement: California is incredible.

I know, I know... it's an unpopular sentiment. It's such an underappreciated state that people avoid at all costs, but bear with me here.

In the course of a few hundred miles, I went from Tioga Pass in Yosemite at 9,943 feet (which is occasionally still closed at this point of the year due to snow), down to 200 feet below sea level in Death Valley. While I didn't go to the lowest point in Badwater Basin (282 feet below sea level), I did get deep enough in to enjoy a refreshing 123 degree summer solstice. Now that is summer.


Got to 123, but image capture gave way to driving.

What does 123 degrees feel like? Let me give you the best anecdote I can. I decided to top up the tank, to avoid any 'stranded in death valley' scenarios. I hang my shades on my shirt so I can see the display. Now, I expected to burn my hand a bit given the dispensers at Stovepipe Wells are not covered. What I did not expect was to put my sunglasses back on after pumping the gas (2 minutes or so) and have them burn my nose. Ouch.

I forgot to buy an egg at the Stovepipe store and cook in on the asphalt. Next time.

More pics, you say? Here you go.

A map of the route thus far, you say? Here you go.

Connecting the Dots

My goal is to keep this trip loose and see what strikes me on any given day. However, I've been asked a number of times about where I'm going, so I thought I'd share a rough 'could-be' path.

The map has a number of points that I will definitely hit, and many others that will depend on mood, weather, etc.  There is so much to see in the southwest that my path is, well... meandering... and still the route above does not get me to everything I'd like to see.

If all goes well, Tuesday is the day!

A Work In Progress

Many people have pointed out to me that it's a little strange to tell people you're reviving your travel blog without actually having a post on it more recently than 2007. Fair enough.

It feels a little weird to come back to a blog 5 years later. Since I was last here we've elected a new president and are about to do it again, the Giants won a world series (while the Blue Jays provided some consistency, placing fourth in their division every single year - go Jays!), The Wire ended, Game of Thrones began, Zynga was founded, and there were probably a few other things, but we're getting off-track.

As you can see I've spared no expense in redesigning the blog for 2012. White. Modern. Okay, off-track again. I admit I'm rusty.

I'm working on an extended roadtrip that will commence in a week or two. Has a loose agenda and a loose end date, but I am laying down some ideas largely informed by many helpful friends. It takes a community.

Here's the work in progress:


View Road Trip USA - Potential Stops in a larger map

... and in more visual pinny form...

So, tell me, what am I missing?