The Nati, Lexington, and West Virginia

Once again, welcome back for the second of two blasts for tonite. I hope that you enjoyed my travels through bourbon country and Louisville, and are hungry for another bite from the road. Read on, blogosphere, you've earned it!

After a wonderful day on the Bourbon Trail, and exploring Louisville, I spent most of the day touring Louisville before heading out. My tour guide Alex and I went and had a delicious lunch from an Indian buffet, and then went to see downtown. Downtown Louisville is a pretty cool place, and as she explained is a complete anomaly as far as Kentucky goes. Among the sites we saw, some of my favorites included the 30 ft. louisville slugger bat resting against a building, and Churchill Downs - both very cool. After a fun little tour, I headed North and West to Cincinnati.

Cincy is a cool town just North of the Ohio River with a bustling metropolis and a damn good baseball team. After a restful night just North of town, I headed downtown to grab a bite and walk around. I ate at a Cincinnati institution: Skyline Chili. This place has been around since the early 1900's and celebrates and unique variety of chili that is spiced with cinnamon, cocoa, and hot chilis. This results in an interesting but delicious variety of chili - I had mine on what the locals call a five way (pasta, chili, beans, onions, and cheese) - quite good. 

After lunch I took a little walk around downtown before heading to the Krohn Conservatory for a little tour of some beautiful flora. Krohn is a spectacular series of greenhouses focusing on all types of vegetation, both local and tropical. After touring and taking some stunning photos (head over to the flickr site for all the goodies) I headed to the Cincy Art Museum, which was unfortunately closed - bummer. No problem though, I was only a couple of minutes from my other destination: Graeter's. Graeter's is a Cincy tradition for several generations, and is craved worldwide. They have some of the best ice cream that I have ever tasted, and the stuff that was fresh from the line did not disappoint.

After a nice day in The Nati, I headed South to Lexington. Lexington is self proclaimed as the horse capital of the U.S., and there was surely no shortage of proof. After a good night's sleep, I woke and headed out on a tour of the downtown and the historic area that surrounds it called Gratz Park. Although the main drag is pretty torn up due to construction (took me 20 mins to get 6 blocks) the surrounding areas are beautiful, ornate, and historic. They also have a really cool J.Doe project that involves, who woulda thought, horses.  

After a nice afternoon in Lexington (narrowly avoiding a huge downpour) I headed West to Charleston, the capitol of West Virginia. I got in late, uploaded some pics, watched a movie on HBO and passed out. After a nice restful night, I woke for my tour of Charleston. Although there is not a ton to report here, they do have a beautiful capitol building located right off the Kanawha River. Charleston is a small and historic town located in a a gorgeous lush green area, and seems to cater to a slower pace of life. Overall a cool place to visit.

Alright blogosphere, I'm happy to report that once again you are completely caught up on the trip! Tonight I'm in Roanoke, and headed to Richmond tomorrow - I'll make sure to keep you in the loop :)

A.S. Bloom

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The Bourbon Trail and Louisville

Hey there, glad you came back to get your fix from the road! Lots has happened since the last update, so once again I am pleased to announce that you will be getting a double dose tonite, so sit back and enjoy!

Last you heard from me I was headed Westward toward Knoxville for the night. I'm sure there are plenty of cool things to do in Knoxville, but it served one purpose on my road trip: A gateway to the Bourbon Trail. For those of you that don't know what the Bourbon Trail is, it is a hundred of so mile stretch in central Kentucky that features some of the best distilleries in the country (possibly the world!) - for more info go here. So, I woke early, and got on the road to the Maker's Mark distillery.

I arrived in the early afternoon, and quickly signed myself up for the tour, as well as the tasting that concludes some of their tours. The tour was excellent: This place is steeped in tradition, with generations of Samuel's men crafting fine whiskies and bourbons (there is a difference my friends!). Although the Maker's Mark name has only been around since the fifties, the distillery itself has been there since the early 1800's. They share their recipe with you on the tour claiming that the real secret is the water in the area - somehow filtered through the limestone rock in the area - it creates the optimal taste for bourbon -- who woulda thunk it?

After the tour, one gets to partake in a tasting of both the traditional maker's as well as their new product, Maker's 64, which has a bit more spice to it - both delicious. They also offer their tour guests the option of purchasing their own bottle(s) and hand dipping it into their signature red wax - naturally I had to partake. Easily one of the coolest experiences on the trip. After wrapping up the tour, I headed West to the Heaven Hill distillery, to partake in their tour as well. Unfortunately it couldn't even come close to the maker's tour, as it was more of a bourbon history lesson, but it was fun none-the-less. The coolest thing about Heaven Hill is the sheer quantity of different bourbons they produce, and the way they are created in comparison to Maker's Mark - if you're interested head over to their site for some interesting facts on my favorite drink.

After one of the best days of the trip, I headed North to Louisville to meet up with the person I would be couchsurfing for the night. This was a foreign experience for me (at least in the sense of couch surfing with a stranger) but it proved to be quite a good time. My travels had rendered me hungry and thirsty so my host (also named Alex) took me to a local beer haus called Sergio's. This place hosts more than 1300 different varieties of beer, and is rated in the top 10 places in the world (that's right, the world!) to get a beer. I ordered some ceviche (delicious) and tried a couple of local beers, including a bourbon barrel stout(exactly what it sounds like) and a knock your socks off IPA. A great start to the night.

After getting a good start, we headed out on the town, Louisville (the locals call it Louahvahl) style. After hitting the local coffee shop for a pick me up, and the record shop to pick up a special order, we headed to the Rudyard Kipling bar, another pretty cool spot. Alex used to work there, so the beer was free, and low and behold the bartender was from the Denver area - small world! After reminiscing with the bar hop on The Mercury Cafe (his former place of employment) we moved on to the next spot. Here we met up with many of Alex's friends, and drank until hunger once again set in. I indulged in a local specialty - The Kentucky Hot Brown - a meal of epic caloric proportions - a huge pile of toast, turkey, ham, cheese sauce, tomatoes, and bacon! After that, I waddled to bed, satisfied with a truly great day.

Alright blogosphere, Ive crammed as much info as possible into this post - Stay tuned for tonite's second helping.

A.S. Bloom

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North Carolina!

Welcome Back Ya'll! (I think I've been in the South for a while :)...) Checking in here from Knoxville,TN after a beautiful day trip through the Great Smoky Mountains, and a great couple days trekking across the gorgeous state of North Carolina. I've got lots of updates, so sit down, grab a cold beverage, and lets catch up.

Last time you heard from me I was in Charleston, and from there I headed up the coast to Wilmington, NC. Wilmington is a nice little town that straddles the Cape Fear River, and is minutes from the coast. After a great night's sleep, I started the day the day off with a visit to Airlie Gardens - a spectacular area that dates into the mid 1800's. They are most notable for their ancient oak tree (the oldest in America as I remember) as well as their azalea gardens. Although the azaleas had already finished blooming, I was able to visit the oak tree as well as the rest of their spectacular grounds. Beautiful foliage and gardens abound, and one could easily spend the entire day exploring the 55 acres of splendor.

After a great morning exploring Airlie, I headed downtown to grab a bite to eat at the Front Street Brewery. This place is widely known for their delicious brews, but also for their tempting eats. I indulged in a little bit of both, ordering a pulled pork sandwich (coleslaw included on sandwich!) with potato salad and a hoppy IPA to wash it down with. Everything was spectacular, and my server informed me that it wasn't frowned upon to order 2 beers before noon - I laughed, but declined. After lunch I headed down to the beach (about 10 minutes away), jumped in the water, and smiled excitedly having swam on both coasts within a month of each other!

After a great day in Wilmington I headed West to Durham to stay with a family friend who has a beautiful home there, just outside of Duke Woods. I got in fairly late, and after a couple hours of conversation about the trip, I retired for the night. I woke early and put in a couple hours of labor on the property (the least I could do for such hospitality) before heading out into Durham  to see Duke Gardens, another spectacular urban oasis for all sorts of flora and fauna. I spent a good couple of hours exploring every corner of the garden, snapping all sorts of great photos, again words can't explain the beauty of this area - head over to the flickr site for all the goodies.

After a gorgeous afternoon at Duke Gardens, I was instructed by a reputable source that I had to eat at an out of the way little cafe called Allan and Son BBQ. I was a bit skeptical when my GPS led me out into the middle of the woods and announced "Arriving at Destination", but as I drove a few blocks further I came upon a ton of parked cars crammed into a tiny lot. This must be it, I thought to myself. Indeed it was, and this is the kind of local place that warms the soul and fills your stomach to bursting capacity. A cafeteria style restaurant with about 10 or 15 tables, Allan and Son serves the kind of food momma used to make - Ribs, Potato Salad, Fritters, Lima Beans, Salad w/ Ranch dressing and bacon bits (and don't forget the sweet tea!) -- all for about 7 bucks -- it couldn't have been better!

After filling my tank on southern hospitality and delicious food, I once again headed West to Asheville, a little hippie town on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains. I arrived, strolled around the downtown (Think Boulder without the pretention) and found the last lodging in town at a campground just outside of town. After setting up camp, I headed back into town for the Asheville Tourists baseball game, where a hometown hero, Todd Helton, was supposed to make a rehab start. Unfortunately Todd didn't make it, but it was still a great game, and with dollar beers and hot dogs, I really couldn't complain. The stadium is historic (Babe Ruth played here!) and beautiful. Asheville Tourists 13, Hagerstown Suns 4.

After a great night, I headed back for camp, excited for what the next day held in store: The Smoky Mountains! The night wasn't quite as restful as I would have liked (sooo hot!) but I woke early with renewed energy, ready for my hike! I headed South to Mountains, and selected a nice day hike (about 5 miles) that displayed some spectacular views and led through some really interesting trails. These are not quite the Rockies, but absolutely gorgeous none-the-less. After a great day in the mountains, I headed West once again to Knoxville.

Its that time again blogosphere -- Hope you enjoyed the update -- We'll talk again soon.

A.S. Bloom
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Savannah and Charleston

Welcome Back! After a restful stop in Tampa, it was again time to resume the road trip. I headed North and East to Savannah, a five hour drive from Florida. The drive up was beautiful and relaxing, and before I knew it I was pulling into the historic South. The Western US is gorgeous and wide open, but few areas are as steeped in history as the deep South.

I arrived in Georgia with plenty of sun left, and decided to wander a bit through one of the most beautiful areas in Savannah: Forsyth Park. Forsyth Park is widely known, and it did not disappoint. After a quick bite at a local organic foods coop, I headed over to the park to walk around and snap some photos. Wide open green spaces and marvelous old oak trees abound, with antique civil war memorials and fountains strafing the middle of the park. It was a gorgeous day, and the walk was truly inspiring. The architecture of the houses surrounding the park are also stunning, and a great introduction to the history that defines the area.

After spending a nice afternoon in the park, I did a little cruising around, and then turned in for the night, with thoughts of continuing my journey through the South the next day in Charleston. A short drive from Savannah, Charleston came quickly into view, and I knew I would finally get some beach action in the Atlantic. What I didn't expect was the magnitude of my lodging (I had expected to be moteling it again) -- I was able to finagle a 2 night stay at a magnificent beach house on the Isle of Palms owned by my parent's friends. A ten minute walk from the beach, and right on a canal, I could not have asked for more. 

After a great night's sleep, I headed into historic Charleston to see what it had to offer. Charleston is a magnificent city steeped in Southern charm and tradition, oozing with class. I was able to snag a key parking spot right off the main drag, and subsequently began a walking tour of the area. Although it was a hot day, I hardly noticed it as I was drawn in by the sheer beauty of the area. The first part of my tour took me to the waterfront area, which has several gorgeous fountains and spectacular views of the water. It was beautiful, but nothing in comparison to where I was headed next.

What Charleston is really known for is its historic homes and churches, many of which date back to the 1700s, something no Western state can claim. I ventured down to rainbow row, which garners its name from the historic homes which are painted in all sorts of wonderful pinks, purples, and greens. Right near rainbow row, several old antebellum homes can be spotted, and stick out with their antique architecture and wrought iron facades and gates - truly gorgeous. The churches are also amazing, and remind you of something you might see in London or Paris, not somewhere in the U.S.... My words cannot even do this area justice - Jump over to the flickr page for the full effect. 

Alright blogosphere, you are finally caught up with the trip! Its been quite some time since I was able to say that, but it is with great pleasure that I can. Lots more updates to come -- In the next few days I'll be in North Carolina exploring my way to the Great Smoky Mountains and then meandering back to the coast... Stay tuned!

A.S. Bloom
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Tallahassee and Tampa

Welcome back blogosphere! Only four days since the last posting, but there is much catching up to do! Last you heard from me I was headed Eastward after a rockin' time in New Orleans, and head East I did. From New Orleans I proceed through to Mobile,AL, but after being struck with a serious case of wanderlust, I continued on through the Southern tip of Mississippi and headed into Florida. After a bit more driving than I had bargained for, I ended up in Tallahassee (another one of those words like Mississippi with two of everything!) for the night.

I had modest expectations for Tallahassee, as it is mostly known for being a college town home to Florida State University, as well as being the capital of Florida. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Tallahassee is a beautiful locale in most areas, and has a small town charm that is completely unexpected. After arriving, I meandered into a local motel, and promptly passed out, with plans on the docket for the next day, rather than try to go explore after an exhausting 7 1/2 hour drive.

I woke still a bit tired, but nonetheless ready for a day of exploring what Tallahassee had to offer. From what I had read, the downtown area and the capitol building were the real selling points, so that's where I headed. After grabbing a delicious Florida orange smoothie at a local joint, I headed down. The downtown area has a hip small town kind of feel to it, kind of like the Old Market in Omaha ten years ago, while the capitol area was absolutely stunning. Stately, enormous buildings are surrounded by ancient oaks covered in moss -- It truly gave a sense of the history of the area (which is actually quite interesting, for more info go here).

After a nice walk around the area, I jumped back on the interstate, anxious to see the Atlantic coast and jump in the ocean. Well, it wasn't meant to be, as I entered a huge thunderstorm as I approached Jacksonville and the coast. Disappointed, I grabbed a motel room, watched a couple movies on HBO and dreamt of the beach.... In the morning, it was still raining, and deciding this was an omen, I made a pit stop in Tampa to visit a family friend and rest up for a couple days. Within a few hours I was there!

Tampa is a nice little town, with some beachfront access as well (except this was the Gulf of Mexico, not the Atlantic mind you) and a damn good baseball team. Unfortunately I arrived during the all-star break, so Sandi (the family friend) and I had to root the hometown boys on in front of the T.V. rather than in person. Tampa is also known for their world class zoo, which is gorgeous and full of interesting species. The one drawback is that 95% of the zoo is outside, so make sure you bring those water bottles for the walk. Sandi is actually a volunteer at the zoo, so I received the best tour around, and got lots of insight into what makes the zoo tick, as well as learning many of the animal's names. One of the cutest sights in the world is seeing a 2 ton elephant respond to its name, a sight I won't soon forget. 

After a couple days of resting up and seeing the sights, I hit the road again, treading on up to Georgia and the Carolinas... Another beautiful surprise....

A.S. Bloom

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Dallas and The Big Easy

Welcome back to the blog -- glad to have you here! Many of you may be wondering why the frequency of the blogs has diminished over the past few days, and your inquiries are quite reasonable. The answer is quite simple: I had developed a bad case of poison oak a few days back, and after believing it to be fully treated, it reared its ugly head once more. My immune system must have been run down after many days on the road, and the infection was twice as bad the second time 'round. Fear not blogosphere: After a couple days of rest and recuperation I am back to feeling well enough to continue the journey and to keep the updates coming...

Last you heard from me I was in Oklahoma City headed for Dallas. After a rough night of little sleep, I made the 3 hour drive South into Dallas to visit some family for a couple days. Upon my arrival, I was greeted with a cold glass of ice water (greatly appreciated on those hot Dallas days) and news of the evening's activities. My Uncle Norm, Andrea, and myself were to grab some yummy eats at a Mexican seafood joint in Dallas, but before that we were headed to The Bridge ( a local homeless shelter, for more info go here) to serve dinner to its constituents. It was a great experience, and really gave me a good perspective on life, and the liberties that we take for granted everyday. The food at the final destination was quite good as well, and once again we were graced with the good company of Steve and his girlfriend Izzy (last sighting: San Francisco).

After a good night's sleep, I awoke and headed out on a whirlwind tour of Dallas courtesy of a seasoned tour guide, my Uncle Norm. We hit all the hot spots in and around Dallas, all the cool neighborhoods, American Airlines Arena and the downtown area, and my personal favorite, the $1,000,000,000 Stadium that Jerry Jones built. This thing is absolutely massive and you can barely get past the gift shop without ponying up the cash for a full tour. After all that touring, we had worked up quite an appetite which we squelched with some delicious BBQ from Rudy's (some of Texas' best!). We got a huge platter of food, and within minutes did our magic on it and made it disappear.

After a quick pork induced nap, it was again time to go eat, and I met up with more relatives for more Mexican food. The food was great, as was the conversation, and as soon as the day began it was coming to a close. This night, though, was as restless as I'd had on the entire trip as my mind stirred with anxiety for my upcoming trip to New Orleans - The first part of my trip where I would be venturing into completely unknown territory, and the prospect of that excited me greatly. By dinner time the next day, I would be in The Big Easy.

I woke early the next morning, gathered my belongings, said my thank yous and goodbyes, and got on the road. New Orleans is a good 8 hour drive from Dallas so I got on the road early hoping to be eating a Po Boy by nightfall. The roads through Louisiana wind and dip through varied country, starting in the arid North, and ending in the swampy marshlands of the South. The route that my GPS led me on was not on the main interstate, but rather the rural highways that stretch through little towns with signs extolling their Po' Boys, Crawfish, and Gumbo. I couldn't have been hungrier upon arrival, and my wishes were granted: A huuuge shrimp Po Boy for dinner -The perfect end to the day.

After meeting up with Steve and his girlfriend Izzy in Dallas, he suggested that I come stay with him at his Aunt's place in New Orleans and we could paint the town: How could I say no? A good night's sleep behind me, my belly full of yummy gulf shrimp, we headed out to do a little touring of the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain. We visited the lake's shore (which was high due to gulf winds, but beautiful), an antique graveyard, and the Abita brewery (very cool, and sustainable, check them out here) among other sites. After a quick tour of the North Shore, we headed back to home base for a little rest before a night out on Bourbon Street.

What can one say about Bourbon Street? There just isn't an accurate way to sum it up, but it's an experience that everyone should put on their bucket list. Its a party atmosphere with Southern charm, and here the party never stops. There are bars for just about every type ranging from karaoke and cowboy to rap and blues and few strip clubs thrown in for good measure. It is truly a feast for the senses with music blaring out of every window, bouncers gesturing for you to come inside, and of course the relentless NOLA heat that is ever present. Truly one of the best nights of my life -- and it was all capped off with a visit to Cafe du Monde for Beignets -- Absolutely spectacular.

After a truly amazing time in New Orleans it was regrettably time to move on. Once again I packed my things, and headed Eastward.

A.S. Bloom

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Albuquerque, Amarillo, Oklahoma City

Well hello there stranger, its been quite some time! It feels like its been months since I've blogged last, but in reality just a few days -- a few days too long. I've missed broadcasting the trip, and I'm sure some of you have missed the updates as well. Well, finally after a busy few days, I have a chance to update the word on the goings on of the trip.

Last time you heard from me, I was in Santa Fe after a glorious day at the Grand Canyon. After a late start from the motel, I got on the road to Albuquerque. I got into town, and quickly headed to the Frontier Cafe for a bowl of Green Chile Stew and some homemade guac and chips. Absolutely delicious. The Green Chile was burn your mouth off hot, but still managed to be one the best bowls I have ever had. After fueling up I headed to set up camp just north of town. To my dismay, it began raining halfway through the set up process, so I decided to forge on, finish setting up, and go from there.

After a bit of posturing, I decided to head down to the ballpark to get my baseball fix. The local team, The Albuquerque Isotopes, were playing The Oklahoma City Redbirds, and it seemed like it would be a fun outing. For the minimal cost of $12 (Beer was still $7) I was able to procure box seats on the 3rd base line, which provided an excellent vantage point for the game. The game was hotly contested for the entire 9, with the match being sealed in the final frame by the Isotopes closer. Topes 7, Redbirds 5. After the game, I headed back to camp, and passed out for the night.

After a quick rest (shortened by screaming kids @ 5 AM) I set out on the long haul to Amarillo. There was nothing in particular that was drawing me to Amarillo, but it made a good stopping point on the road, and is said to have particularly good BBQ. After doing a little research I decided to go grab some food. To my dismay, the restaurant I had chosen had signs posted in the window reading "Gone on Vacation -- You'll have to wait till July 12 to get yer fix." Well, I couldn't wait until then, and jetted off to another BBQ restaurant that my GPS had suggested. I got a platter with pulled pork, sausage, beans, coleslaw, texas toast, onion rings, and potato salad. A small portion in Texas. Everything was pretty good, with the standouts being the homemade onion rings, and extra tender pulled pork. Stuffed to the gills, I retired for the night.

After a good nights sleep, I departed and once again made a long drive across Texas and Oklahoma into Oklahoma City. I'm sure there is plenty to do in OKC, but I was road weary, and simply needed some time to rest and recover. I grabbed some fast food, settled into a marathon of stand up comedy on T.V. and that was it for the night. I was snoozing before I knew it, with dreams of hot summer nights in Dallas on my mind.

A.S. Bloom

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L.A., Lake Havasu, and The Grand Canyon

After a good nights rest in the AC, I did a bit of laundry, and headed off to L.A. Los Angeles is only a few hours drive from Vegas, so I anticipated getting a little beach time before meeting up with my cousin Debbie for a bite to eat. Well, plans change, and a flat tire on the way caused a slight delay in my course of direction. Getting a flat tire in L.A. can be a scary ordeal, especially when you are on the side of one of the busiest highways in the area. Luckily I was aided by a very kind tow-truck driver, and the staff at the local Pep Boys, and I was on my way in no time at all.

After my tire so undutifully gave out, I headed over to Debbie's with my tummy rumbling. She suggested that we grab some Middle Eastern cuisine, which was plentiful in her neighborhood. Just a few blocks away we arrived at a local joint called Haifa. A discrete little hole in the wall, the restaurant was not much to look at from the outside, but the food was fantastic. We ordered a falafel plate that came with huge helpings of Israeli salad, hummus, baba ganoush, and other delicious fixings. That would have been enough food for both of us, but we also got a spicy fish dish (a specialty) that was spectacular as well. It was probably the best Middle Eastern food I have had outside of Tel Aviv - a real compliment!


After a quick driving tour of L.A. (including UCLA, Beverly Hills, and some other ultra trendy areas) we headed back to her apartment to get some rest. I woke early, did a little putzing around on the computer, and then got on the road to Lake Havasu. I was surprised by how temperate the weather was in L.A., but Havasu was quite the opposite. I arrived to temps soaring over 113 degrees, which all but suffocates the life out of any normal individual. It is quite a good thing that the city is located near the lake, or the climate would be absolutely unbearable. I chuckled to myself that evening when the forecaster on the local news was predicting a big cool down for the 4th of July - all the way down to 104!

I woke early after retiring fairly expediently, and headed out to grab some pics before the heat was unbearable. After taking a few pictures by the lakeside, I jumped in the car, barely able to contain my excitement for what came later that afternoon: The Grand Canyon. There is very little that is more iconic of America than the GC, and it proved to be just as spectacular as I had expected it to be. It was packed with tourists from every conceivable nation, all oohing and aahing at the grandeur of its beauty. I couldn't help but to join them.

It took about 5 hours to drive from Lake Havasu to The Grand Canyon, and it was possibly one of the hottest drives I have ever experienced. Temperatures on the road soared to nearly 120, and even the AC in the car struggled to keep up with the heat. After arriving, I quickly parked and walked as fast as my legs would take me to the rim of the canyon. A huge smile broke across my face as I was standing before the most incredible sight that had ever passed before my eyes. There are very few words that can aptly describe the GC, but if I was awestruck by Zion, The Grand Canyon was a completely different level.

The Grand Canyon is just over a tenth of a mile wide in its shortest area, but nearly 18 MILES wide in its largest. I'm not sure how wide it was at the South Rim where I was at, but lets just say cavernous does not even start to describe it. Not only is the canyon incredibly wide, but it is also more than a MILE deep in most places! In many areas, this is a sheer drop, and the people that venture out onto the cliffs are truly gutsy. The sheer size of the GC is really tremendous, and cannot be conveyed in its full accuracy through photos (I did my best, but this is one that you have to see to believe!).  If you haven't yet, you must head over to the flickr site to see the pictures though - They are truly stunning.

Alright folks, its that time again - you are completely caught up on the journey across the states. Today I will head off to either Albuquerque or Santa Fe to hopefully camp, and devour some delicious Mexican cuisine. The next update will likely be in a couple days, but do not fret, I am sure there are lots more epic tales of adventure and breath-taking photos to come!

A.S. Bloom

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Nevada and Zion National Park

A busy few days it has been! Again, camping and Internet availability have proven to be obstacles to daily blogging, but once more you will have the pleasure of multiple blog posts today! Last you heard, I was in Reno for the night and headed to Zion National Park. Well, as the situation dictated, I didn't quite make it to Zion the next day but did make it to another beautiful area.

The mountainous areas around Ely (Pronounced E-Lee) Nevada proved to be a real surprise in my trip: I figured it was just another little town in the middle of Nevada (which it is!) surrounded by nothing but desert. In fact, the area has many gorgeous rolling hills, rocky crags, and flora. Unfortunately, others have realized this area's beauty and the local campgrounds were brimming at capacity. After arriving in the area, I drove around to 3 campgrounds before settling on a KOA just outside of Ely. Not getting a prime camping spot was disappointing, however I was not disappointed by the pictures I was able to snap in the time I was wandering about. 

After an early start the next morning, I headed to my intended destination from the previous day: Zion National Park. For those of you who don't already know, Zion is a beautiful location in Southern Utah which is highlighted by massive red rock formations. After arriving at the campsite, I headed out for a nice walk around the park area to grab some photos. The area is just so unbelievably perfect, its truly hard to describe the awe-striking nature of Zion. With towering red rock on either side of you, its hard not to feel isolated in one of the most beautiful places in the world. This is definitely one of those times where you should pop over to the flickr site to get the full effect!

I wandered about for a bit, but the extreme heat in this area forced me to retire to camp a bit earlier than I had wanted to (It was a balmy 107). The large red rock formations on either side act like an oven, retaining heat for hours after the sun disappears on the horizon. So, after my walk, I put away the camera, changed into a pair of board shorts, and headed for water. Apparently I wasn't the only one with such a plan, as it seemed the entire campground was splashing about in the stream that abutted the area. The water was bath temperature, but still provided a well deserved reprieve from the heat. After a quick soak, I retreated back to camp, grabbed a bite to eat, and passed out.

After a couple days of camping in 100+ degree heat, I needed to find a place with AC to chill out for a couple days. I headed to Las Vegas, where I met up with a couple friends from college. Not only did they have air conditioning, but a pool to boot! What a score! After cooling down a bit, we did what most responsible Vegasites do: Go somewhere that they crank the AC down to unreasonable levels, and literally chill out. We went to go see the movie "Get Him to the Greek" which was pretty funny, a lot of "American Pie" type humor, but definitely good for a few laughs.

The real highlight of the Vegas expedition was a little West-Coast fast food joint called In-N-Out. Now let me preface this by saying In-N-Out is not your average McDonalds or Wendy's. This place uses the freshest ingredients available and doesn't skimp on quality or quantity like the other joints. There is no dollar menu, or any shenanigans of that sort, but the food, well, is absolutely fantastic. Mouth-wateringly tender beef patties, fries with cheese melted all over the top, and a chocolate shake to boot! Although it wasn't the most gourmet meal of the trip, it definitely won't soon be forgotten...

Alright blogosphere, that catches you up on a couple days of the past week, but there is lots more to come. After Vegas, I hit L.A., Lake Havasu annnndddd (drum roll please!) the Grand Canyon! Ill leave you now with a teaser from the GC...

A.S. Bloom

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