To the Pacific North West via South.....

I decided to go south today since west was not looking good. The highway going west was already closed this morning. Albuquerque had no school today. They got any where from a dusting to about 4 inches in the foot hills.

Left early in the morning after cleaning a few inches of snow off my car and using my room key as an ice scraper. Got to Silver City early afternoon. Took the 70 mile mountain pass from the highway to get there. It was well worth the couple hour detour. I was thinking about camping and then going to find the hot springs in the morning. After finding a great camping spot, it started to snow and the temperature dropped to about 25 and was windy. Needless to say a little too cold to camp. Packed up and drove the 4 hours or so to Phoenix. Staying the night here. I will check the weather tomorrow. I have decided to bypass the Grand Canyon, as I have already been there and want to get to the coast of California. So hopefully I will be in Cali tomorrow. That should put me in Oregon by Xmas!

NM Pictures

Alba Turkey

Stuck here in Albuquerque. Can't go west as the road conditions are not good. Looks like I am going to go South tomorrow. Flagstaff is going to get over a foot of snow, so I may have to bypass that whole area. It is currently snowing here!! Maybe a 1/4 inch so far. Not sure how much we are going to get. No worries, no rush.

Map Update

Good bye OKC

I left Oklahoma City yesterday. Stopped by the Oklahoma City National Memorial on my way out of town. This was the site where Timothy McVeigh blew up the federal building. I drove by it the other day and did not realize it at the time. Anyone that drives through should stop by.


Thanks Pepe for letting me crash at your place. On Friday night we went to downtown Norman. That is just a few miles down the street and where University of Oklahoma is located. Classes were about over and finals are next week. I was graduating next week and had no finals. Pepe was a transfer student and trying out for the basketball team. Needless to say no one liked either of our stories.


The only excitement was when I tried to stick up for a girl next to me trying to order a drink. The guy behind her didn't think she was ordering quick enough or something and starting to yell at her and was giving her hell. Me being the gentlemen that I am, I couldn't let him do that. I said something, he pushed me, and wanted to fight. I am guessing he must of saw my huge guns and decided it wasn't worth it. It was time to go after that. Not to mention it was about last call anyways.


I sure don't miss college bars. The only good thing was that was no cover to get it.

Oklahoma

I have been in OKC all week. leaving tomorrow to go to albuquerque. Might get snowed in for a couple days, but no worries. Just relaxing. Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

Bricktown Brewary

Hooters!

Jamming

Day 15, Mile 2,577.9

At my going away party at work, they gave me a retirement card. And so far retirement is going great. I am glad I no longer have 3 Voice Mails, and an email to check on a regular basis. Not for me.

Made to Patrick Pepe's place last night about 10:00PM last night after my leisurely 12 hour drive from Newnan, GA. I think I will stay here for a least a few days. Woke up this morning and went to get some coffee about 11:00AM and damn it was cold out. I had ice all over my car and the wind was blowing. Currently it is 28 and only 13 with the wind chill. I am glad that I did not camp last night. I know this does not sound very cold to a lot of you northern people. But don't forget that my blood has thinned out from Florida. So it felt damn cold to me!

I am glad that I did the 12 hours yesterday because I would not want to be driving through this crap. The people around here are not use to ice on the roads. On the news this morning Oklahoma City said they were ready for any ice because they had 2 trucks ready with sand and salt. WOW 2 trucks for a major city.

So where to next do you ask? Looking to see if I can find some hot springs to get lost at for a day or two.

Some Pictures

Yes I started in the southern most point in the continental US, to go almost the northwestern most point in the continental US.

I took this picture at an old civil war era fort in the keys. See those things floating around. We call those orbs. They are ghosts!

I took this picture on a beach in the Keys, Didn't even notice Portland, OR was on the sign until the other day.

I've Been Everywhere, well not yet

I've been to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, New Symrna Beach, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Key Largo, Marathon, Islamorada, Key West, Plantation, Orlando, Neptune Beach, Lake City, Macon, Newnan, Atlanta, Birmingham, Tupelo, Memphis, Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City

Just drove 860 miles to Oklahoma City. What a long boring drive. It is going to snow tomorrow, so I wanted to stay ahead of the wather. I will have some more random thoughts to put up tomorrow. Too tired. But drinking beer

ATL

Leaving Hotlanta tomorrow morning. Thanks again Karen and Justin for letting me stay here. Good times even though they have the loudest kids in the world. Went up to Emory university and had lunch with Lisa Carboni today. She is going to school to be a minster.

So, I now that I have had more time to think about it, I guess Florida wasn't that bad of a state. Not a dump, just different. I am ready to see some mountains! I hoping I will get some good pictures soon. Once I get to some scenic areas. Also it has been a little cold to camp, but maybe further west??

I will be heading to Oklahoma City next and crashing with Pepe for at least a few days. Not sure if I am going to stop some where else yet before I get there. Maybe Memphis...... I can go see Graceland! haha.

That is all I got for now.

Random Thoughts

I was at the book store the other day looking for some books about driving across the country. I was looking for places to stay, things to do, see, etc... After a few minutes I realized that these books are junk. These books are about someone else's trip what they did. This is my journey, not someone else's. I am going to find my own adventures. When I was walking away to go to another section I walked by a big book on how to blog. I just looked at the cover it gave recommendations on how to blog, and proper blog etiquette. I got to thinking do people really need a book on how to do everything? Can't people just do things they way they want to do it? Does there really need to be a wrong and right way to do everythig? So I bought no books.

If I am writing this blog wrong please don't let me know!

Hello Georgia

Well, I have finally left FL! It has taken me 12 days and about 1500 miles just to leave this state. I hope some of the other states go a little quicker. I am staying for a few days in Atlanta with Justin, Karen, Dillion, and Sara. It already feels good to get out of FL. I did have fun there, it was just time to go. Where to next, not sure yet. I think I might stop in Memphis, TN on my way to Oklahoma City. I will figure that out in a few days. Thanks to everyone in FL. Maybe some people will come visit me some day and I can pay back the hospitality.

I have not shaved in almost a month now, the beard is getting a little crazy. I will post a picture in a few days. Can't believe that it is December already. I can't wait to get further west. I want to see some mountains! I was planning on doing some camping but it has been pretty cold every where. It is only going to be 27 here tonight.

Found out the fish that Randy and were ctacching are Mongoose Snapper, but the ones were catching were way to small to keep.

Good bye Florida

Leaving Florida today. I hope I do not come back any time soon. What a dump this state is. Hello Georgia

Where am I?

Lets see stayed at Randall's and Sara's place tuesday night. thanks again. Before I went over ther stopped by Riddle campus and saw Woody. I almost didn't even recognize him as he has lost 50 pounds. Anyways, Wednesday I spent the day in Orlando hanging out with Claire. I got the grand tour of the city. I believe we did a big triangle driving around. Ate some thai food!! Had some beers. And almost feel down the stairs when they broke on me. Concerete steps, what the hell.

That night went up to Jacksonville Beach and drank way too many beers with Evan Lawton. I was told I had a great time. Went to bars, and drank until last call, went back to his place and drank until about 4 am I think. Slept on the couch until noon which felt great. and did nothing for the rest of day.

Tonight I am in Lake City and will be finally leaving FL tomorrow. About damn time. Up to Atlanta (aka Hotlanta) tomorrow for a few days.

Fishing

Thanks Jeff and Kelly for letting me crash at your place! Went fishing today with Randy Ebersol. We caught some huge fish! I think the I got the biggest one, about 5 inches. We are good. Maybe I should be a professional fisherman? At least we caught a buzz thanks to the bottle of vodka I had stashed in the car. I think tonight I am going to stay in New Smyrna with Randy and Sara. I have gone about 100o miles since my journey has started and I have not even left FL yet. damn, this trip is turning into a 4000 mile trip now.

Ormond Beach

450 miles later I have left the keys and staying the night near Daytona with Jeff, Kelly, Chloe. I was going to stay the night with my cousin Jason in Delray Beach, but I never heard back from him. Jason where are you???? Talked to Chris Johnson and he said I could crash at his place but I just wanted to get out of South FL. I stopped in Plantation to drove by the old apartment. Weird. Drove by Jacaranda pizza, and Anthony's coal fired pizza. good times. So up to Ormond Beach for me. What to do tomorrow? I think fishing with with Randy. Maybe stay the night in New Smyrna Beach. Wednesday up to Jax beach to stay with Evan Lawton. I should be in Atlanta by the weekend.

And so it goes.........................

Mile 0 of 3000

Key west

Key West

Well, the last few days I have been fishing, boating, swimming and watching football. Today I am in Key West to hang out for a few hours. Then most likely back to Marathon for the night and then on Monday to West Palm beach area to see cousin Jason for a few days. It is actually raining here today. Not too many crappy days in the Keys, but looks like the next few days will be. Here are a few pictures...

Black Friday

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I drove about 425 miles to Marathon, FL and had turkey with the Willis family and the Bleocher family. Justin is still finishing up the 2 million dollar house. Little did I know that they needed some help, so they put me to work. I think today we might be going for a boat ride. A little fishing, snorkling, etc.... I think I am going to stay for another few days. Maybe make it down to Key West before I go back north. I will post some pictures soon. I won about $50 playing poker the other night! Looks like I found my calling.