Hi all --
If you're interested, here's the US in 2 minutes. I crossed the continent in 3 and a half days--a smooth 900 miles per turn of the planet. Hence the photos are mostly in windshield perspective, shot down Interstate 80.
My trusty companion, waiting patiently while I bought an ipod charger at Circuit City. Yes, I had one already. Yes, it was in some box somewhere in the truck.
My other trusty companion, wondering as he often does, what on earth is going on.
Rolling down the highway, somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Little known fact: after staring at the road for hours on end, your eyes begin to glow.
Phil kept the truck safe while I grabbed a healthy hot dog for the road. (I include this one mostly for Kasturi and others who fear cats. They may have a point.)
Larger sky. Smaller trees. A general phenomenon as you move away from the coast.
Sun rises and falls, and still I am driving. Phil begins to sense that something is seriously amiss.
Here's my favorite GPS moment. My sultry voiced Garbin instructed me to turn in 521 miles. Which perhaps begs the question of why I used a GPS. It's really about the calm assurance that the voice conveys. When you miss the turn, she calmly pauses and then says... Recalculating. She retained her patience the entire trip. Mostly I did too.
Here we are establishing independence from foreign oil. At least for the people shown in the photo.
Somewhere in Nebraska, Iowa and Wyoming, I began to feel that I was one of the truckers. Don't kid yourself; they're all listening to their ipods too. The truck stops are electronics superstores with ATMs and burgers.
First snow. I took the southern route so I wouldn't see too much of this stuff. Fun to play in. Not fun to drive in--especially with moving truck and car in tow. Later in the year, the fences keep the snow drifts back from the freeway.
Phil begins to ponder an age old question...
Why is it called Little America? I have no idea.
Still working on that energy independence. The windmills made me think of some sci fi landscape--Ray Bradbury cover art. Where are the geodesic domes and robot dogs?
Mountains! You know you have crossed into the west when the "Steep grade ahead" signs and runaway truck ramps appear on the interstates.
If only it were that easy.
Back in the land of hydroelectric. And my former backyard. I crossed the Columbia River into Washington on Highway 82. This dam used to be a marker when I drove between Idaho and Oregon in my college years. All so very long ago...
Washington apples anyone? Here's why you care about the price of diesel.
And here we are about to cross Snoqualamie Pass. Large rocks. Hemlock, pine, and cedar trees. 40 minutes from downtown Seattle.
Aaron takes refuge from the mountains of boxes with Grandma Sue (aka my Mom). He LOVES the tall windows and shouts "Bird bird bird" every time he sees a crow. There are many crows.
Is that a pensive Jordan with a mug of Guinness? Merely a trick of photography. In fact, he is (mostly) excited, and drinking orange juice. Youth is so uncomplicated. I could do with a mug of Guinness. I thought I saw a friend's car today and then remembered that the car and associated friend are 3000 miles away. That said, Seattle is beautiful and thus far the details of life are falling nicely into place. Hope you all are well and that your journeys burn less gas. Next time: pictures from the Emerald City. (That's Seattle's nickname; no reference to ruby slippers.) Cheers all. --d
