That's All Folks...

After a quick stop at Big E's we finally made home for Thanksgiving.  All the way around the country and back. It only took us 14,457 miles, and 10,248 pictures! Who wants to see the slide show of them all?  We saw 28 states and only have about 6 more that we think are worth a visit. And it only took us two weeks to finish our blog once we got back! We don't quite know what's in store yet, but keep checking back for our next ultimate adventure because you never know when we'll hit the road again... Europe anyone???

More Georgia!

We had a great time visiting Richard in Atlanta! While we enjoyed hanging out and had a blast telling stories we  also checked out a few sites like the best aquarium I've ever seen, and the very very scary world of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola with rides that punch you in the back, soda flavors that make you want to hurl and the most horrifying of singing creatures, really made us question that guide book again... However, we did have a few good laughs and see how coke is made and bottled which was kind of neat. The best though was truly the Aquarium I can't even begin to try and tell you about all the great stuff they had so you'll either have to go yourself or imagine from some of the pictures! Heading north and we can't believe that we're almost home. I guess its time we stop deleting all the job posting emails and really start looking.. yulk!

Jellyfish!

This was really cool, an entire wall of Aquarium viewing bigger & better than I-Max

Richard and I and the Fish!

Sea Otters! Got some great videos of him at feeding time so cute..

Spider Crab - Ryan wouldn't even look! :)

Sea Horses!

The Scary World of Coca-Cola

A view of skyline drive as we begin our journey North!

Our southern journey continues!

Well we had a great time driving across the south... Not really. The driving part was pretty bland, lots of fields and not too much to see, but the stops we made along the south were awesome! We stopped at an old iron forge in Birmingham, which was really cool ( and I decided that black and white photos would be the best way to express it!) and it was interesting to see how much work went into the making of iron "pigs" or ingots basically. It was an interesting look into the past and an industry that helped shape the America we live in today!


The other stop that we made was at Stone Mountain in Georgia! Jenn had been there before and had told me that it was like a southern mount Rushmore... Well I was a little nervous that it would be a disappointment after seeing mount Rushmore, but boy was I wrong! It was so much cooler than I had thought mostly due to the fact that you could go on top of the monument! The Tram ride up was a lot of fun and it was nice to walk around a little. It's weird to almost be home... I'm excited but dreading it at the same time. Can't wait to see everyone again!!!

The monument at Stone Mountain!

They have a thing called "Snow Mountain" where they make snow in Georgia and people pay to play in it... A little odd if you ask me!

One of the shovels from the Forge.

Frog buddy from the Forge gate!

The water tower!

Another shot of a shovel!

One of the furnaces at the Forge!

Mother Nature's Got My Back

Somehow we manage to just miss all the earthquakes and tornadoes by just so much. So don't worry we're safe and while by no means do I promote natural disaster it would have been really cool to see out in a field somewhere from a very safe distance. Either way, we continue our journey today with Richard in Stone Mountain (Atlanta), Georgia after our quick visit with Jocie in York, Alabama. Exactly 7 days until Thanksgiving and we can't believe it's almost over! At some point after so long on the road it kinda stops feeling like a vacation and starts feeling like your life. If only we could find a way to make a living off vacationing! For those of you looking to us to find you some good eats on route - we found great thai food in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on University Blvd, and GREAT pizza in Decatur, Georgia to which Richard will attest to almost 30 years of eating. We've certainly left the pb&j's behind for the past few days saving up for the plenty on the ride back north. For those of you lucky souls who live close to us back home, we've managed to take one picture per mile to show those interested when we get back... Any Takers?

Didn't think so.

Ryan outside Ryan's. We ate there just for the name, we shortly regretted it.

Ryan and I on the Mississippi River!

That's a lot of cotton!

Cadillac Ranch - one of two places we went in Texas. North Texas just has so much to offer...

A few more pictures from today!

Here's a few more pictures from today! Since Jenn destroyed her camera.

There's a Pueblo in there if you can see it!

New Mexico is b-e-a-utiful!

Some Mule Deer!

Awesome rock at the hike we did today!

We finally have another picture of us together yay!

Jenn looking beautiful as ever!

Ruins, Relatives, and Recks

We made it to New Mexico! This week we've been having a blast with Mikey and Anita in Albuquerque. We checked out some Petroglyphs, Santa Fe, and ancient Pueblos. Unfortunately however at our last stop today I dropped my camera climbing out of a pueblo and got the black screen of death (that and a giant gap between the front and back) so it's off to Best Buy tomorrow to finally check out the new one Ryan's been telling me to get since I lost the side of it last year. I did manage to save my pictures though, and am currently backing them up just in case! Santa Fe was a blast, although wayyy colder than New York or Boston! We did manage to get into the heated pool for a little while despite the frost bite. We also saw the miracle church and Georgia O'Keeffe gallery. Ryan is finally starting to understand the crazy family he's gotten himself into - and he's loving it (wacko). Now we're back relaxing by the fire and getting our cat fix with Beaumont. Between the clean clothes, breakfast at a real table and great stories we're getting very spoiled. We're having so much fun who knows if we'll ever leave in time to get home for Thanksgiving... 14 days and counting...

An Albuquerque sunset and moonrise.

Petroglyphs!

Two wise guys, you should see the first shot before they decided to play nice!

Ryan Climbing out of the Pueblo.

Ancient Pueblo Ruins!

Helloooo Anita!

Such Adventures!

Jenn and her AK!

So Jenn already posted about Vegas, but she left out one of the funnest/ most Bad-ass moments we had there! We went to a store called "The Gun Store" (guess what they had there?) where we got to shoot a few different guns! It was a first for both of us and I have to say, Jenn knows how to handle a pink AK-47! She got to shoot that as well as a Glock 19, while I shot a Colt 1911 and a M1A! Both of our groupings were pretty good, and I had a blast shooting them! After that excitment and the other things that we did in Vegas that Jenn posted, we headed out east to Meteor Crater!

Me and my M1A!

Jenn Taking it Easy!

I have been dying to see Meteor Crater since I first heard of it, and I was not disappointed! It's amazing to think that a piece of rock from space was able to cause such a big impact! It was pretty awe inspiring and we had a good time , even if it was a little cold there!  After that we made a stop at a pretty famous corner in Winslow Arizona! We had to drive around for a little to find it, but we got some awesome pictures of it that you can see below! Take it easy everyone! We definitely are here in Albuquerque. It's nice to be able to relax and sleep in a real bed for a few days!

Meteor Crater!

Another shot of the Crater!

Las Vegas and Beyond

Whew! Las Vegas... I have to say they may want to tone it down just a little. The "hotel room" was bigger than my last apartment! And that was a cheaper one - yikes! Can't even imagine what the suites are like. Anyways, we spent about two nights in Vegas. Made it to another show (LOVE that our student ID's haven't expired yet) this time it was Ka, one of the dozens of cirque de soliel Vegas has to offer. Hands down the coolest stage either of us has ever seen, and also a great performance. We also went up in the miniature Eiffel Tower, even half the size of the real one it was plenty for the two of us (I don't think I'll ever convince Ryan to go up in the real one) but it was fun to see the entire strip lit up at night. After Vegas we continued our Journey East to Williams, Arizona where it was 25 degrees and snowing (and we were in Flip flops) who knew Arizona was cold? Waking up with no ice scraper, hats, or real gloves and having our car in 4 or 5 inches of snow we decided to take the train up to the Grand Canyon. After bundling up as much as we could we headed over to the Grand Canyon Railway, also home to the polar express. It was quite the winter wonderland. While we quite enjoyed the whipping winds and icy paths, the Canyon left a little something to be desired. Only Kidding - reverse that. The Canyon is definitely a site that lives up to its fame. Unfortunately, between the snow and lack of reservations we weren't able to hike down and stay at Phantom Ranch which was our original plan so we will have to come back. After a few stops to see old friends, and take it easy in Winslow, Arizona, oh and our Wigwam Motel (!) - we finally arrived in Albuquerque to see Mikey and Anita!  17 days and counting until Thanksgiving - think we'll make it back to Boston?? Wish us luck!

Vegas from the Mini-Eiffel Tower.

The Winter Wonderland that is Arizona.

Grand Canyon covered in snow!

More Grand Canyon..

Ryan wonders if this is where his Dad got him that shirt?

Ryan and Ben with Ben's Mustang!

In Sedona..

Our giant things saga continues, just wait you all haven't even seen the half of it.

Wigwam Motel - inspiration for the one in the movie Cars (if you have kiddies).

Blizzard #2 Begins, Thanks for being warm like you promised New Mexico!

Ryan ponders the great question - if I pee on the Continental Divide will it travel to the Atlantic or the Pacific? Don't worry he didn't test his theory...

I just saw Christmas Lights...

I guess that's a sign that we need to get moving? We just saw several fully decorated and lit up Christmas Trees down here in the south west... we're also supposed to get snow tonight. Luckily  for us we found the plethora of Motel 6 what a score! Sadly we finally made it out of California and have started heading back East. It's pretty scary to think we're starting our journey home! But we're also looking forward to seeing everyone again. The last few days we've been in San Diego, Tijuana, and Death Valley, and as usual we loved them all. Tijuana was another foodie paradise. REAL Mexican food is pretty different and pretty amazing. At our tour guides suggestion we decided to ignore the possibilities of Montezuma's Revenge and enjoy everything they had to offer like frozen margaritas and free shots of Tequila at all the local shops. Luckily enough he was right about things being much better with the water and we were fine! San Diego had a lot to offer and it was hard to leave but we knew we should not before we got to Kayak around in La Jolla Caves next to a community of sea lions playing around! After San Diego we headed out to Death Valley (and made it out alive too!) despite ferocious winds and with the help of about a ton of rocks we got our tent up, however it didn't quite survive being taken down and we lost a tent pole to wind damage. Despite the winds we went climbing both during the day and at night and found quite the amazing spot to see the stars. We hiked Golden Canyon and headed below sea level to the lowest spot in the country called bad water, because it was full of salt. Where the water had dried out there's just salt covering miles of ground, very cool! Haven't slept much in a few days so I think that's all for now, here's a few pictures from our travels!

Baby Panda from the San Diego Zoo.

Pumpkin Carving!

The Sea Lions we Kayaked with.

One of the sea caves.

Ryan enjoying his Mexican Margarita and rooftop views of Tijuana!

Yeah, we thought that was a weird street name too...

Desert!

Ryan's on top of the world in Death Valley!

The salt field- That's all Salt!