Diary Update - Drive across the USA
How can I summarise the last month & a half?
SCENERY!!!
We drove through Death Valley. Or the bits of it that weren't closed due to flooding. We drove to snowy Utah;
Cashier:"So, is the weather like this in England?"
Us:"Yup, pretty much. Is the weather always like this in Utah?"
Cashier:"Oh no, never seen it so bad, and I've lived here all my life!"
Red rocks. White snow. Invisible trails that turn into "Guess the Crevasse" games in 4 feet drifts.
Las Vegas, too many bright shiny things. Played a poker tournament; lasted for about 3 hours, then discovered the free drink rule. I lost, but I think I recovered my losses in booze, barely able to stagger away from the table. Hell, a good few dozen people went out before me, and many of them were sober!
Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, meteor crater, sunset crater, petrified forest, yadda yadda yadda. On through Arizona & into New Mexico.
For the non-Americans out there, there's this thing called the "Continental Divide", which is a sort of line on which any rain that falls to the West ends in the Pacific, and any rain that falls to the east ends in the Atlantic. New Mexico straddles it. Its notable feature that became apparent to us is, it's high. Really high. At 10,000 feet, it can get tricky drawing breath after a flight of stairs. Hell, closing doors was strenuous. So, we went Skiing, up to 12,000 feet.
Now we're in Texas. This place is a paradise of meaningful road signs and breathable atmosphere. Compared to the rest of the States, anyway. Or the bits we've seen.
Next stop, Austin. Home of GURPS. I feel like a very geeky pilgrim.
All you folks have a great Xmas, & New Year if I don't update again. And if anyone knows anyone in Austin who we just have to drop in on, let me know.
Take care, y'all.
SCENERY!!!
We drove through Death Valley. Or the bits of it that weren't closed due to flooding. We drove to snowy Utah;
Cashier:"So, is the weather like this in England?"
Us:"Yup, pretty much. Is the weather always like this in Utah?"
Cashier:"Oh no, never seen it so bad, and I've lived here all my life!"
Red rocks. White snow. Invisible trails that turn into "Guess the Crevasse" games in 4 feet drifts.
Las Vegas, too many bright shiny things. Played a poker tournament; lasted for about 3 hours, then discovered the free drink rule. I lost, but I think I recovered my losses in booze, barely able to stagger away from the table. Hell, a good few dozen people went out before me, and many of them were sober!
Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, meteor crater, sunset crater, petrified forest, yadda yadda yadda. On through Arizona & into New Mexico.
For the non-Americans out there, there's this thing called the "Continental Divide", which is a sort of line on which any rain that falls to the West ends in the Pacific, and any rain that falls to the east ends in the Atlantic. New Mexico straddles it. Its notable feature that became apparent to us is, it's high. Really high. At 10,000 feet, it can get tricky drawing breath after a flight of stairs. Hell, closing doors was strenuous. So, we went Skiing, up to 12,000 feet.
Now we're in Texas. This place is a paradise of meaningful road signs and breathable atmosphere. Compared to the rest of the States, anyway. Or the bits we've seen.
Next stop, Austin. Home of GURPS. I feel like a very geeky pilgrim.
All you folks have a great Xmas, & New Year if I don't update again. And if anyone knows anyone in Austin who we just have to drop in on, let me know.
Take care, y'all.