Roadtrip Über-blog

So, the last time Old Ken was rappin' at you, these here folks were heading west out to California. But wait a second. I think there were some adventures in between.



First up, they left Ithaca and hit another midwestern liberal arts college. Can you guess which one?




God bless small liberal arts colleges!



Wait a second ... is this picture supposed to be in here?



Back in the car and heading north, but mostly west, they arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There, they stayed with old friends Kerry and Cecilia.



Their kids Jacob and Adrian put on quite a show with the pillows. Fun!

From there, it was on through the midwest. Some nice places. How do you like Joliet, Illinois. Tasty! What about Rock Island, Illinois? Don't try to get off the freeway there - - you may never get back on! And what about Des Moines? Are you ready to rock!?!?



Well, to mix it up after all that partying, a stop was made with Stef, Geoff, and the major rager, Baz, seen here at center.



But the real star of that show was Gary, that feisty feline with legendary nipples. I love you, Gary!



The next day, the road led down through the Rockies to Taos and then out through Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and into Arizona.



Storms were brewing over the Petrified Forest.



But, there was still some time for some sight seeing ...



... some petroglyphs ...



... some massive slabs of petrified wood ...



... and some other lovely sights.



Ooooh!



Aaaaaah!



Ohhhhhhh!



Yippppeee!



Yabadabbadoo!



After a night in western Arizona, we went up into the Grand Canyon in the midst of a rain storm.



Mist swirled upward from the canyon ...



... but then the sun came out, the mist burned off and the canyon became visible.



That night, we stayed in a restored railroad hotel in Kingman, AZ. A highlight: the toilet on the checkerboard stage.



Attractive? Sure. But also conveniently located near to the desk and microwave, so that you can finish off some paperwork, eat a poptart ... all while taking a dump!



The first stop the next day felt like a return to the olde countree. That's right, London Bridge.



Apparently, the old London Bridge was purchased and shipped to Lake Havasu City, AZ in the 1960s.



The centerpiece of an otherwise uninspiring town ...



... the bridge has given name and form (I guess?) to several local businesses. British readers, eat your hearts out!



From there, California was within reach.



And our main port of call was Joshua Tree National Park, a weird desert world of cacti and strange rock formations.



Apparently it is a haven for rock climbers, such as can be seen at the summit of this boulder.



The park got slightly less scorching as the afternoon wore on ...



... but some were already dressed for the occasion. So, eight days, 3500+ miles, and several rather dastardly meals later, we had made it to Pasadena. What a hoot!