My Road Trip Adventures

I wanted to start this blog to beable to keep track of all that I do on my adventure across the U.S. I've always wanted to travel cross country and well now I can. Most people think im crazy..ya maybe for going out and traveling alone I am but I look at it more as the adventure of a lifetime. Sure I wish it wasnt about to be winter but no matter what when the time comes to do something no matter what stands in our way we should do it and deal with the obstacles as they arise.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Looking Back on my trip

This blog entry is so hard for me to write. The last couple of days on my trip I kept thinking to myself what am I going to write to everyone who has gone on this journey with me. I know that this is definitely not the last journey I will go on but for it to end makes me so sad. Even now I'm getting teary-eyed just knowing that its over.
I have had the time of my life. I was thinking the other day while driving that if I was to be taken from this Earth at anytime that I would have gone happy. Even without all the stamps in my book. I feel so lucky to have gone on this trip and completed a major item on my bucket list. I don't know if I will be able to write everything I feel or want to say but I will try. Honestly I feel like I just lost a best friend or something. I guess you can say the road is in my heart or my heart belongs on the road. If I hadn't run out of money I would still be out there seeing the sites.
For those of you who say that you could never do this- YOUR WRONG-YOU CAN! Look at me I'm a 33 year old female that just went around the USA on a roadtrip ALONE. I camped out most of the time and yes stayed in motels sometimes too. But I did it and never once was I like I want to turn back.
Thinking about what I saw makes me proud. Think about it I (or we since you all have read along and basically kept me going) have seen 25 states(that's including the 6 I just drove through,including Nevada) and visited 29 National Park. I drove 9,153 miles all together. My only major weapon of defense was a little knife that I never used. Sure I got into a fender bender and that bummed me out for a day but it could have been a lot worse. For driving that far think about it. I never got a flat tire, I only killed one animal, didn't have car problems and only damaged my car twice haha. Not bad I think.
So if you have never left your backyard,city,county or state- DO IT. There is a whole world out there to explore. I feel like I barely grazed the tip of it, and had a blast doing it. This isn't the end of my travels, its just a break. If I could make a living exploring the USA I would. In almost 2 months I made a lifetime of memories.
I want to give a big THANKYOU to my family and friends for you all putting me up and showing me around and for the strangers that I met along the way that made my trip more enjoyable. For those of you who are family,friends,people I just met and gave my blog address to or people who have heard about my blog from others. THANKYOU- thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read about my journey and to come along with me. I want to also say thanks for your emails,comments,texts and calls.
Looking back I would still say that Crater Lake was a big highlight in my trip and that Iowa and South Dakota have the most friendliest people. They treat you like they have known you forever. Yet everywhere I have been will hold dear to me.
Now onto a whole new world of living in a new state, a new town and eventually a new job. So what am I going to do now you wonder? Well first I have to organize and unpack my things in my new room and then give my car a much needed bath. After that its job searching time.
But in my heart am already planning my next road trip. I guess the travel bug will never leave me.
Remember its not the end just a break-With a heart full of memories-Thank You All Again
Darlene

Last Day on the Road

Sorry this is a couple of days late. I just couldn't get in the mood to write yesterday and Tuesday I got in late and was just drained.
So when I woke up in the morning in Grants, New Mexico after freezing my big butt off the night before. I swear it had to be one of the coldest nights. I guess I had to go out with a night to remember. When I woke up and opened my tent I thought man is that snow outside. Then I kept thinking it can't be snow that has to be some heavy frost, but folks I think it was snow. When I was on the freeway it was everywhere that the sun had not melted it yet. I was thankful that I was now in a nice heated car for the 7 1/2 hour ride to Las Vegas,NV.
So once I made it into Arizona I saw a sign for the Petrified Forest NP. I quickly looked on my map and noticed that the visitor center and part of the park was right there off of the freeway. I was so excited that on my last day I get to visit one more National Park. I actually got to see the Painted Desert part of the park. It was really cool with all the reds and whites on the rocks. They also have a place called Painted Desert Inn that use to be made out of Petrified Wood but later was remodeled by the CCC boys. The Ranger said that there is not much Petrified wood left at the park since tons of it has been taken over the years. Back in the day Route 66 ran through the park and people would stop and pickup pieces of the wood. So I only got to see what was on display.
I must say that while driving through New Mexico and Arizona I swear about every 5 miles is a sign for some Indian Souvenir shop. I did get to see the Continental Divide in New Mexico, or at least the sign for it.
I also got to end my trip getting to visit another park in Arizona at the Walnut Canyon NM. It was pretty cool too. Back in the day the Indians built their homes on the side of cliffs in between rocks. I didn't walk down all the way cause it was freezing and once I stepped out of the car I felt like my lungs froze. I thought it would have been warmer in New Mexico and Arizona yet I think they were the coldest states yet. Still what I got to see was awesome.
I had my last freeway sunset again tonight and it made me kinda sad, that this was the last one for awhile. When going through Nevada I went over Hoover Dam but since it was dark I was not able to take any pictures of the Dam or of the Welcome to Nevada Sign.
The trip that was suppose to take me 7 1/2 hours ended up taking me 12 1/2 hours. It was part because I did stop to see the parks but also once I got to Las Vegas I got lost trying to find my new home for 2 hours. I was so tired and upset I just wanted to give up and say screw it, I'm heading back to California. I couldn't believe that I was lost that long but it happened. If I would have written this blog yesterday I would of had some choice words for Las Vegas but now I'm like whatever. It's Vegas what else should I expect. So what started out has an awesome day ended kinda crappy but over all it was an awesome last day.
Miles Gone Today=554

View from the I-40 in New Mexico

In New Mexico

Sign showing how the water flows at the Continental Divide,New Mexico

a view from the I-40 in New Mexico

Welcome to Arizona

a piece of petrified wood on display

The Painted Desert,Arizona

Painted Desert,Arizona

another view of the guess what- The Painted Desert

The Painted Desert Inn that the CCC Boys remodeled

Big pieces of Petrified Wood

do you see the brick in the rock where the Indians made their home?

ya it was high and cold

more homes at the Walnut Canyon NM

and more homes in the rocks at Walnut Canyon NM,Arizona

my last freeway road trip sunset in Arizona

My final mileage on my car

my car at the end of the trip ( the good looking side)

Monday, November 8, 2010

Leaving my mark in Amarillo,TX and passing through New Mexico

Well folks after getting up this morning I headed back over to the Famous Steakhouse to take some pictures during the day. Then after leaving there I headed over to Cadillac Ranch, home of the 10 Cadillacs buried head first in a field. It was pretty cool to see. They encourage you to spray paint your name on there or other work of art. Since I didn't have a can of spray paint I thought I wouldn't get to but someone up above thought heck lets let her have some fun. So guess what I found a spray paint bottle that was blue (my favorite color) and it still was like a quarter full. So I got to write my initials on one car, just my name on another and my name and date on a 3rd car. Then I told these old people that were there to do the same thing haha. If you are headed on the I-40 east it is on the right hand side of the road right before you would be getting into Amarillo,TX. I guess I should have hung around longer cause after that it was pretty boring. It was a 5 hour drive from Amarillo,TX to Grants,New Mexico and boy was it Boring and Hot. The only exciting thing that happened on the whole drive was that I got picked up on or whatever its called by a truck driver, haha. Well I don't know what its called but I went to pass him and then he sped up and honked the horn and waved at me. I just waved back and then took off. He stayed even for alittle bit and I thought o' great my Kia has no balls to even pass the semi but then a hill came and I got ahead. After then he was behind me and I never saw him again. It was funny. I have gone this whole trip and seen tons of semi drivers and when I'm almost home one has to catch up and honk at me. I did drive on parts of the old route 66 but there was nothing cool to see, it just ran parallel with the I-40. I did go through some small Indian towns but nothing big. Most of the old route 66 is broken up in chunks so when you get alittle ways then you have to get back onto the freeway or turn around cause its a dead end, haha. I watched the sun starting to set again from the freeway.
O nuts I almost forgot today I would swear that I left my brain back in Texas. I stopped at this gas station to get some gas and they have this brick wall next to the pump and when I was leaving I thought I cleared it and NOPE I whacked my back passenger door into it. Ya I know if I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck, at least these last couple of days haha. I smacked myself for that one. My first car (which was also a kia) got ribbed by a fence and now this Kia got ribbed by a wall. I made it my whole trip almost with no accidents or problems and then I do that. So dumb. Then at another gas station I left and when I was on the freeway I noticed I forgot to close my gas pump. Whats with me today?
So now I sit in my tent freezing (its suppose to be 30 degree's tonight) and not very good signal (sorry Grandma I didn't call, I will try and text). I can't believe this is almost over. I was just about broke so I want to thank my mom for loaning me some money to make it home so I'm not just stuck on the side of the road somewhere.
I forgot another thing, see I remember while I'm driving all this stuff I want to blog and then when it comes time to blog I forget then when I get back on the road I'm like o'crap I forgot to write about..whatever it is that I was going to write about.
I just wanted to say that every day since I have left for my trip I always say a pray to my Grandpa's that they watch out for me and that I arrive safely to my next destination. What I forgot to tell everyone a few days ago is that the day I got hit in Louisiana I forgot to pray to them. I just found it weird. So I pictured my Grandpa's up in heaven drinking around the whiskey fire maybe playing cards not paying attention and then they looked up right when the accident was about to happen and made it less then what it could have been haha. Just a thought. Don't worry through I have made sure since then that I say a pray and not forget. It's something I do every time I travel on the road no matter where I'm going. Maybe I need one of those road angel's for my car.
Miles Gone Today=389

the last Texas longhorn steer I will see

the steak house during the day

Cadillac Ranch,Amarillo,Tx

Car #1 just initials

Car #2 name and date

Car #3 just my name (I didn't write the stuff underneath it)

some of the cars at Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch

more cars at Cadillac Ranch

Passing through New Mexico

The semi truck who honked and waved ( I took the picture so I can scrapbook it haha)

some place on Route 66 where I got gas

my car after I hit the wall at the gas station

leaving the gas pump door open

a view I saw from the freeway in New Mexico

Sunsetting in New Mexico

Getting Caught up November 6th and 7th

November 6th- Well folks I am leaving the state of Louisiana today and heading towards Texas. I wont make it deep into the heart of Texas just the border. I have come to the conclusion that Louisiana is mostly all swap area. While driving to Baton Rouge it was like one very long bridge that went right over the swamps. I looked for an alligator but didn't see one. But now I know where the guys from Swamp People look for their gators. There was one swamp that looked really pretty but since I was on a bridge I couldn't stop to take pictures. It was called Henderson Swamp. My drive was pretty uneventful, which was good and bad. I am getting down to the last of my money so I wont be probably doing anything to fun on the way home, unless its free and on the way. Sorry these last couple of days may not be has enjoyable to read. Like they say though like all good things it has to end sooner or later. I wish I didn't there is tons I want to still see. I went to this one town called Boyce for gas and right along the freeway was a cemetery just right there next to the off ramp. It was tiny but cool to see. So even though I didn't get to go on the cemetery tour in New Orleans I got to see some a above ground cemetery anyways. Then in the gas station they had cracklin (pig fat that's fried then seasoned) so of course I had to get me some to try. It was really crunchy but good. It was hard to bite some pieces but if you get it good and wet in your mouth they its easier to bite into haha. Tonight I am staying in Marshall,TX at a Motel 6 and I must say it has to be the cleanest motel I have stayed in. Like it even had vacuum marks on the floor(I never see that they have vacuumed). One funny thing in my room is a non smoking room yet it has a ashtray with a sticker that says no smoking. It's Ironic don't you think? haha I was thinking that when I was driving is most of Louisiana able to be covered by water? In so many places the water is right there not just in New Orleans but all that I drove by, even the bigger cities. People always worry about California going into the Ocean but next time someone tells me that I'm going to tell them they need to worry about the whole state of Louisiana first. Looking back I'm glad that I got to go to New Orleans and once I sucked it up(has my Grandma basically said) I did have a good time. O' and I tried to go to another national park there today but there was no sign for it off of the freeway so I wasn't able to go to the Cane River Creole NHP.
Miles gone today=414

swamp land while driving to Baton Rouge,LA

Henderson Swamp in LA

I just realized this picture has either a old building or something people sit on(all taken while driving, I just snap then look later) in LA

the cemetery right when you get off the freeway in Boyce,LA

the rest of the cemetery in Boyce,LA

me driving and eating my cracklin(pretty good no hands while driving, o and don't worry I was like the only one around)

my ashtray that says no smoking in a non smoking room

Welcome to Texas

November 7th- So this morning I woke up and decided though I'm down to the last of my money I still want to enjoy my trip. So I decided instead of taking the main freeway of I-20 that I would take back roads to Amarillo,TX. When looking it up it was only 45 minutes longer and 19 miles longer (weird huh, but its because you go through so many small towns). I am glad that I did. I ended up taking the 59 to 49 to 271 to 82 then to the 287. There are some really old towns back in there and the drive was really pretty. Most towns were less then 1,000 people. I saw some really big houses also which was funny cause the rest of the town would be falling apart and here was this mansion type of house. I got to see Paris everyone, Paris,Tx that is. It was cool and thanks to my Grandma for looking it up I got to see the Eiffel Tower wearing a cowboy hat. When I was leaving Paris I noticed that they have a Campbell's soup factory there. I went through a town called Saint Jo and all the buildings are in the form of old western. Some of them looked like that is how they had always been there. Some businesses were still in these old buildings. If you ever go through there you can't miss them. Then while I was about to leave the town of Nocona on the right was a house full of old cars just sitting there rusting away. I wish I knew how to fix up cars I would have so taken one. I didn't see a long horned steer for the longest time. I saw donkey, tons of cows and goats and a few llamas. When I finally saw a long horned steer I couldn't have missed it if I was blind. So I pulled over to take some pictures. While almost to Amarillo,TX the sun had set and it was really cool the colors in the sky with the clouds. They say that Montana is big Sky country but I believe that the northern part of Texas can give them a run for their money. I'm sure the pictures wont do it justice, like the fall colors on the trees but it was way cool. Once in Amarillo,Tx I hurried up and made camp at a KOA and then headed over to the Big Texas Steakhouse. It was on the travel Chanel and also on Man vs. Food. Its home of the 72oz steak with all the fixins challenge. I got this thing called the BBQ Sampler and O man it was tons of food. I will be eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow. They also have a store, bar, a old time band that comes around and plays songs for you and a huge rocking chair. It was really cool. I want to go back tomorrow and take some better pictures of the place, since it was dark when I went. The food was really good and I have to say that the Texas BBQ over the South Carolina BBQ was way better. I guess in my heart I like BBQ sauce thick, haha. When your in the restaurant they seat you family style( I guess that's what its called) When all the tables are together and you sit right next to other people. This group of guys got seated next to me and one of them was debating if he wanted to do the steak challenge or not and when he asked the waitress how much it was if you don't eat it all in an hour she said $72.00. I was like dang $72.00 for the steak and this dude says to me actually if you think about it, its cheaper then getting a smaller steak cause this comes still with all the fixins and its only a dollar and ounce. Whether he did it or not I have no idea. I left when he was till thinking about it. Now that I'm full am back at camp just relaxing and trying to plan for tomorrow.
Miles Gone Today=544