Stage 3: Nevada to Utah

While Stage 2 took us through debauched and dilapidated Reno, Stage 3 led us to clean and wholesome Salt Lake City. After a good night's rest, we jumped back onto Interstate 80 and starting ticking off the miles for our most serious day of driving yet (~450 miles).

I-80 through Nevada and Utah reminded us that much of our country is empty space. With so few towns, we passed more prison complexes than gas stations. Despite the desolate feel, the drive was entirely pleasant, especially due to the generous speed limits of 75 and 80 miles per hour. We took in distant red mountains, high desert scrub, and milky white salt flats, all while pursuing our first major milestone: 1,000 miles total!

Looking across the salt flats, from the passenger seat

Arriving in Salt Lake City at a reasonable hour, we decided to pass by the State Capitol building and the Mormon Temple of Salt Lake City. We learned a bit about Mormonism, talked organized religion, and viewed historical sites paying homage to Bringham Young and the many pioneers who traversed the plains towards Utah, many pulling their goods in handcarts. The journey of these hearty, brave pioneers really puts our cushy trip, replete with AC, iPods, and rest stops, into perspective. #'Merica

Our happy family with the Mormon Temple in the background

Camping for that night was on Antelope Island, the largest of ten islands on the Great Salt Lake. On the way to our campsite, we saw several bison casually grazing. These large, pre-historic creatures seemed quite accustomed to people, and barely acknowledged our presence.

We're just chillin, bro-ffalo

Krieger, on the other hand, was quite aware of their presence. We're trying to post a video that will show off our view from camp at sunset and then showcases Krieger, a natural born cattle herder, interacting (from a distance) with a large herd that was advancing on our camp. Stay tuned!

Stage 4: Antelope Island to Yellowstone National Park

We've been having so much fun that we've fallen behind on our blog posts--these next two will be shorter so we can catch up! Thanks for following us on our journey.

On Monday, James took a quick dip in the Salt Lake, while MJ nearly broke her toe. We negotiated for our new apartment in Riverdale (a neighborhood in the Bronx) from a Starbucks in Riverdale, Utah. #fate We then pointed the car north toward Yellowstone, the most famous national park in the country.

The driving highlight of the day was route 34 in Idaho, a winding, undulating road bathed in dewy sunlight. It took us past farmhouses, one-room schoolhouses, and a river straight out of a Brad Pitt movie (the one with the guy...with the face...). 

The sightseeing highlight, on the other hand, was the Grand Tetons. We were both completely awestruck, but in a way very different from the Sierras. In contrast with the bright peacefulness of the Yosemite Valley, these mountains were menacing, primal, even sinister.

Stage 2: Big Bend campground to Rye Patch State Recreation Area

We woke up right outside Tioga Pass, on the Eastern border of Yosemite. James took Krieger on a run and was met with this view as he turned around:

The eastern Sierras. We packed up DWABBT for the day's journey, which would include lunch on Lake Tahoe. Part of our daily ritual includes reconstructing Krieger's elaborate pillow throne in the backseat. #itshardouthereforaprince

He seems to enjoy it, though he does spend half the day on MJ's clawed-up lap.

Lunch in Tahoe was amazing. We grabbed burritos at a little cash-only joint called "T's Mesquite," and it was really the best kind of food that we could have hoped for in that moment. But Tahoe itself was pure chaos--a beautiful Saturday afternoon and everyone packing into their cars to enjoy the pristine, HUGE blue lake. James wanted to get a picture of the lake to share with everyone. Unfortunately, his singleminded enthusiasm resulted in us getting pulled over by a local CHP officer. We escaped, scot-free, after the officer made fun of James for the way he pronounced "Neh-VAH-dah" (for those of you out there, it is "Neh-VA-dah"). James insists that it was his "polite charm" that did the trick.

After leaving Tahoe, we decided to make a pit stop in Reno in order to ship a couple of straggling packages (rejected wedding shoes and what seemed like 10,000 tea candles) which had become the bane of James's existence. We couldn't help trying to take a series of pictures of the little Cricket next to this "cricket" sign, but he was more interested in rubbing his belly all long the cool patch of grass than starring in yet another photo op. 

We ultimately decided that Reno was not for us. Maybe it has seen better days...but knowing anything about the Old West, it's probably essentially the same as it was in 1870.

We drove up to Rye Patch State Rec Area after DWABs had a close encounter with a tumbleweed. No joke--this is the photographic proof:

BUT WHO WON?!?

James and I settled in for the night and watched a lightning storm in the high desert as an evening show. It was incredible to see the valley laid out in front of us, mountains on either side, as lightning played on the edge of the horizon.

At night we had a Batdog sighting at the campground. With no chipmunks, squirrels, or cats to chase, the dark canine avenger looked forlornly over his terrain. Bids for the position as his sidekick or a archvillain are now being accepted, for any interested parties with Paypal accounts.

Stage 3, Nevada to Salt Lake City, tomorrow!

Stage 1: Salinas, CA to Yosemite National Park

We just spent 2 great nights in and around Yosemite National Park, seeing the expected: El Capitan, Half Dome, and  Tuolumne Meadows. (Pictures below.) We even saw a bit of the unexpected in the form of a curious and yet strangely apathetic black bear, lumbering through our campgrounds.

Even though we're probably all familiar with pictures of Yosemite Valley's major landmarks, we really were a bit stupified when brought in close proximity to such sublime (as MJ's students would say) prospects. Krieger was unfazed; he thought the mighty glory of one of the most famous national parks in America quite sufficient as a place to take his dinner. 

Heading through Nevada right now after being pulled over in Tahoe, and we literally just hit a tumbleweed. I don't think we're in California anymore...

Full Stage 2 coverage tomorrow!

kickoff party in San Fran

Thanks to a great wedding gift from our brother John, we were lucky enough to see Jay-Z and Beyonce's On the Run tour, just before we take off on the run from CA to NYC. We may not have the Bonnie and Clyde routine, or the extraordinary fashion of Jay and Bey, but they don't have a cute cattle dog.

(enthusiastic fans light up AT&T Park during "Forever Young")

In addition to being a great concert, this gift was especially appropriate because one theme of their tour is marital love; as the show closed, Jay-Z and Queen Bey celebrated their lives as "The Carters," showing reels of their wedding and their young daughter.

On the way there, we enjoyed some final glimpses of HWY 1, taking in the dramatic cliffs between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. We ended up in San Francisco, the western terminus of route 80, an interstate that we will follow for much of our trip, including over the George Washington Bridge and into NYC in about two weeks.

All in all, a very kickoff to the fun vacation and interesting journey ahead.

A Coastal Ride for a Bicoastal Couple

jerseys for geography

Prologue stage: Santa Barbara to Salinas

Santa Barbara (can you spot the Mission?)

Salinas, with morning fog like the lid of a pot

        =====>    






Greetings from Salinas, California. Mary Jane and I completed the prologue to our cross country road trip, having made the drive north from Santa Barbara this past Friday. The car was so full that we practiced driving with only side-view mirrors. It was good training for the pilot/co-pilot relationship, with me routinely asking MJ to check my passenger's side blind spot.

The Batdog himself also had practice at travelling in close quarters. He was calm through most of the ride and really liked the prime location: right in front of the AC.

Now we're getting ready for the big push across the nation, which will begin on Thursday morning. We're fitting bike racks, reorganizing gear, and fine-tuning our itinerary. More to come soon!