The Journey Home

Pretend for a second that we aren't in California right now..

Highlights from the journey home:

Memphis to Dallas

- Arkansas is not as ugly as you may think...

- Mike reserved a camp site at Cedar Hill State Park ahead of time; however, he did this without knowing it was "chigger season". We arrived to many a warning sign letting us know about the season of chigger. If you don't know what chiggers are, look on wikipedia, they should say something about it. They are like ticks. So, we decided camping in a tent with microscopic burrowing bugs was not for us. We are proud to have donated $33 to the Texas State Park society.

- Alternative plan: Stayed at the home of Matthew Watson's parents in Dallas. They took us in on short notice and entertained us, to say the least. Wayne and Deonne are gems, we had a blast.

Dallas to Artesia, NM

- West Texas is no country for old men.

- Andy Neumann is a hero. He is our friend in Artesia. The only New Mexican we know. He makes the best hot wings ever and we enjoyed hanging out in the DRY heat with him. Keeping with tradition, Andy is mastering another instrument, the dobro. My favorite dough bro. He went on a crazy adeventure last year (http://journeyoutward.blogspot.com/), check it, but don't wreck it. He also is an airplane pilot and plans are already in place for him to fly us around the country next year so as to avoid truck stops, truckers, and everything pertaining to semi-trucks.

Artesia to Grand Canyon

- 11 hours, no stops (okay we stopped a few times to fill one tank and empty another).

- Grand Canyon is worth every hour spent driving.

- Witnessed both a sunset and a sunrise at the Canyon (not simultaneously).

Grand Canyon to Anaheim

- The best thing about California is that truckers aren't allowed to drive as fast as the rest of us. It makes us feel funny when a hundred tons of cargo barrels past us at 77 mph.

- Angels game with brother Rob and sister Darcie and co-worker Nate.

- Witnessed an altercation between two disgruntled Angels fans...it must have been something they were drinking...Moral of the story: don't double cross a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fan or you will get beer tossed in your face.

Now that we are back in the same time zone, we will be sleeping in, for good measure. Can't wait to see everyone's faces...

So long Memphis...

One of Wayne Watson's bucks. This one was old, but according to Wayne, "he was smart". Not smart enough to escape Wayne Watson, however.

Artesians. Andy is the one winking at you.

Proof that we are taller than the Grand Canyon. Ha!

Proof that Mike is afraid of the Grand Canyon.

None of us are Angels fans.