Little Colorado River

Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona

Day 2: North Hollywood to Barstow

We got to Thai Town before anything was open. Breakfast at Denny's Restaurant at Sunset and Van Ness then to Food 4 Less, just down the street.


Somrak was captured by a bookstore right away. All it takes is her native language to keep her captive as much as I by shelves full of books.



Something I noticed.


Now she's content.

If you ever get the opportunity to drive US 89A, in Arizona, between Bitter Springs and Fredonia, do not deny yourself the pleasure. It crosses the Kaibab Plateau with dramatic cliffs at each end.

We drove north (west) past Echo Cliffs, Marble Canyon at Navajo Bridge over the Colorado, Vermilion Cliffs and up the East Kaibab Monocline to the plateau.

Into the Empty Quarter

One of the places my wife and I disagree is tourism. The biggest conflict comes over the population of where we happen to be.

Somrak is from Thailand; a place sufficiently packed with humanity to make some parts of California's urban interstices seem like wilderness. She grew up in the "country", but had lived most of her life, by the time I met her, in Bangkok; as tightly populated a town as seems possible. As a result, I think, she has a very different take on crowds.

A few years ago we drove to San Diego County by way of the back side of the Sierras. We went through Panamint Valley, where we saw only one other vehicle. She turned to me and said, "there are no trees and no people; are you crazy?" She is nervous when there are no other people around. This could be a problem exploring the American Southwest.

I, however, find the press of humanity sometimes disturbing. I'm the one who revels in empty country. I hope to return from our trip to Grand Canyon by way of Utah and US Hwy 50. I suppose I may have to relent and expect to return by way of Las Vegas on the freeway.

Love, and perigrination,
Stephen

The Lincoln Highway

I was channel surfing when I came across a show about the Lincoln Highway on one of our PBS stations. A little nosing around netted some of the following websites:
Lincoln Highway Association
James Lin - Lincoln Highway

My challenges will be finding a year or two to spend on a trip and convincing Madam that she would survive a trip through desolate Nevada and Utah.

Love and wandering
Stephen