Lauren, Keith, & the Yellow Car

After driving across almost the entire state of Wyoming, we've still to find a single reason why people live here.I'm starting to think the entire state has a population of seven. You leave Colorado, cross the border, and everything seemed to become more monochromatic, boring and empty. (sorry wyomians, but prove me wrong! That's why you were all in colorado at new belgium!!) We drove three hours without seeing really any sign of life and literally rejoiced when we saw those giant golden arches at ten pm. But what made the experience whole was at the counter ordering was a true life cowboy....spurs and all. Yes, he had spurs on his boots. I have a feeling that may be the only time we ever see spurs in mcdonalds. We're now in Cody, the home of buffalo bill, and close enough to yellowstone to not have to wake up at the break of dawn. Sent from my iPhone

We Just left the new Belgium brewery and we're on our way through Wyoming...we passed through Cheyenne and hardly noticed. It's now pouring like mad outside and there's absolutely nothing to see. Everyone drives big trucks and some of the little boys are rockin' serious mullets. Really, they are. Wyoming is just like you'd imagine...big trucks, big bugs (a few less now that we've been here), and a big lot of nothingness for miles. Let's just say that it's good to know that there is still empty space in the u s of a. New Belgium was great, we made it in time for the first tour of the day at 1pm and it was only 20 people big. A little different than the hundreds at coors yesterday. The employees at NB definitely love their jobs and try for up to ten years to get their foot in the door doing anything at all, any type of job. At their one year anniversary each employee receives that year's custom made cruiser bicycyle which look incredibly a...

We visited with Max in Denver for the night and played guitar hero- good times. Keith rocked the guitar while max and i tried to master the drums and vocals. :) Max has an awesome place across the street from the Rockies stadium with an incredible view of the Denver skyline. Keith and I both really liked Denver and are looking forward to visiting max in the winter for a ski trip. Thanks for having us max! We've just arrived in fort Collins to see what's up at new belgium brewery...

Stopped in golden co at the coors brewery. Good tour and 3 free beers. Best blue moon I ever had.

Vail is cold and rainy and green. If I had tennis shoes that weren't wet and muddy, I'd probably put them on. Oh well...maybe it's time to get some new shoes.... Sent from my iPhone

...Brings up thoughts of wonka's chocolate river

We stayed in a b&b - this fabulous home high on a hill overlooking the city. Watched the lightning off to the west last night and woke up to a yummy breakfast. I decided I want a big house overlooking a city...just not overlooking rancho Cordova. :) Off to Denver we go!!

Totally awesome. I always dreamed of mountain biking Moab and now I have. Definetly would come back and do it again. I asked the ranger what the chance of rain wad and she said she thought it wouldn't rain. So game on. Ok it rained a little. But what's a mountain bike ride without a little mud and risk of death. Lauren may not have enjoyed biking it, but was a great ride for me. Thanks to Lauren for not complaining even when the rain was stinging and lightening was crackin. Also bought a growler of beer at the Moab brewery. Good stuff. Moab gets 2 thumbs up

Just left arches national park and are eating at the Moab brewery. Good times

It went something like this... K: let's go mountain bike riding L: I don't have a mountain bike K: your bike is fine L: my tires are skinny K: they're fine L: well, what about that looming lightning and rainstorm right there? K: we'll be fine. The ranger lady said it wasn't going to rain. Needless to say, it rained. There was lightning. And there was mud. And we got drenched.

...and landed on the moon. Let's just say that southeast Utah isn't somewhere you'd want to run out of gas...or water. Heading towards Moab.

Homemade granola and yogurt. Yummy!!

Last night we sat on the grand canyon lodge veranda watching the sunset go down over the canyon . We met ranger George who talked to us for a while and then got out his giant telescope. We saw the craters on the moon and saw the space station fly overhead...it was incredible. Today we spent the day at Bryce canyon national park where there are giant red rock hoodoos which are slowly eroding cliffs that form the shape of pillars when the ice melts during the spring. There are european tourists everywhere and we hear less English than other languages. Apparently a town outside the grand canyon is a popular German site because they had a lot of westerns filmed there! Tonight we're staying in the smallest cabin ever in the town of escalante Utah. It's about four feet larger than the bed. We're off tomorrow for grand junction colorado.

We left Zion this afternoon because we could no longer take the weather. It felt like 110 easy. Drove a little while to the north rim of the grand canyon. Weather has dropped at least 15 degrees and it's time for ice cream. The drive to gc was surprisingly green with several forests that appear to have burned recently. Rained for a few minutes on the way and may rain on us tonight. We'll relax on the sundeck of the gc lodge and then head over to our campground for a shower. Yay!!

We went to sleep with heat and lightning and woke up with wind and giant black ants...hopefully our day goes better than our night.

An entirely different kind of beautiful

Just left the Hoover dam where it had to be at least 110 outside. Went on the tour into the dam and saw the giant generators which run the massive pile of concrete. Keith and I were both amazed that the entire dam was built in only 5 years back in 1930. today it would take over 20. Off to Zion...

Just finished Vegas buffet breakfast and headed to the Hoover dam. Red rock casino is great, very laid back clean and modern. Lost a few bucks gambling but had a great time

Life is good

Possibly the only thermometer over four inches long. Baker, California 106 degrees

The central valley left us with smells of garlic and miles of grapes and orange groves. We left reed and Brooke this morning with tons of projects to finish on their new house. We're now somewhere between Barstow and Vegas. This place makes even Sacramento feel cold.

The road trip starts tomorrow! We're completely unpacked, totally unprepared, and totally ready to go! This week was nuts at work and Keith has take far too many naps this week. We'll head to Reed and Brooke's new house tomorrow afternoon and stay the night before taking off to Vegas! The forecast of our next few stops is rainstorms, rainstorms, and more rainstorms. Wish for sun, but not heat!! :)

For a while I thought George liked me. Then he pooped in my parents' living room. Then he barfed in the bedroom. Then he pooped in the living room, twice. I'm starting to reconsider the feelings he has towards me.....it's either that or he misses Keith and hates fireworks. Oh well, I hope he likes amoxicillin.

Our vegetable garden is still alive!! If you know anything about my love-hate relationship with plants and goldfish, you're just as amazed as I am. I'm just glad Keith doesn't like tomatoes - more for me!! :)