Russell Sage Roadtrip

Day 45 - Monday, July 14, 2008

2008-07-14T21:19:00.001-07:00

Day 45

Jacksonville, Florida to Albany, NY

Touch down. Saw a beautiful sunset and the Capitol when making a stop over in Washington, D.C. And then saw the lights of Wolff Road and Colonie when landing in Albany tonight at 10:30PM.

And that's a wrap on the roadtrip that went for one month and a half -- yup, 45 cross-country days!

I'll be assembling a groovy photos slide show to upload to Facebook soon to highlight some of my 4,000 photos!

In the meantime, if you see the archeologist tomorrow (on Wednesday), she turns into an even older lady, so wish her a happy one!

Cheers,
Jackie Kerouac
RSC Traveling Bear Correspondent

Days 40, 41, 42, 43 - July 9, 10, 11, 12, 2008

2008-07-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Days 40 - 43

Jax (Jacksonville, Florida)

Basically, been spending beaucoup time with the little human in and out of pools and water parks. I didn't know bears could be so water logged! The archeologist follows us where ever we go, and she's starting to develop what passes for a "tan" on her pale, ghost-like skin. She has a real farmer's tan going -- from the mid-bicep down to the wrist and from the mid-thigh down to the ankle. It's something that would cost you extra special at the tanning booth.

Today is the last official day of dawn to dusk vacation.

Tomorrow, we take a plane from Jax to Albany to get ready for the freshmen orientation at both campuses next week. It will be strange to be at home after so many days on the road. And to not get into a pool for a few hours every afternoon. Oh well, it's been a good run.

Can't wait for next year's summer marathon!

Yours in travel and wander lust.
Jackie The Bear

Day 39 - Tuesday, July 8, 2008

2008-07-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Day 39

Jacksonville, Florida

We slept late. We were so bone tired. We could have slept all day.

But we didn't have anything to wear, and we had to do 50 lbs of laundry consisting of a lot of sweaty vacation-ware. So in order to get dressed, we had to do some real bottom-of-the-suitcase scraping. As a result, the archaeologist looked so very fetching in her sultry combo of skin-hugging workout leggings, black socks, and gray long-sleeve shirt. It was about 96 degrees and the V-shaped river of sweat on her back was a real compliment to her ensemble.

Then we went to the craft store to get canvases and paint for an afternoon of creativity by the pool. The little human painted several canvases while the archaeologist worked on one southwest desert scene. When everyone got home, we had a gallery showing and art auction. The little human sold several of her canvases.

Also in the afternoon, the oldest human looked at a house that was going into foreclosure. She's thinking of moving to Florida to be closer to her grandchildren. We'll see what happens.

Day 38 - Monday, July 7, 2008

2008-07-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

Day 38

Marianna, Florida to Jacksonville, Florida

With just a few hours to drive, we pulled into Jacksonville in the late afternoon.

Jacksonville is where the little human lives and her parents were happy to have her back after more than a month.

We all did a month's worth of catching up, and the little human was very excited to show off her cache of treasures and souvenirs from the trip.

We're going to hang here in Jax for a week, and then the archeologish and I are flying back to Albany and Russell Sage.

I'll try to catch up on things a little and start posting more photos on Facebook.

Day 37 - Sunday, July 6, 2008

2008-07-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

Day 37

Natchitoches, Louisiana through Mississippi through Alabama to Marianna, Florida

Granny had a bee in her bonnet and wanted to get back to Jacksonville to see her granddaughter who was about to leave on a trip to Chicago.

We traveled 580 miles in one day, and didn't get off the highway until almost midnight. But along the way we saw a complete rainbow, end to end, after a short rain storm in Alabama, as well as a shooting star, Venus glowing brightly, and the Milky Way. I guess there are some advantages to driving all night!

Day 36 - Saturday, July 5, 2008

2008-07-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

Day 36

Shreveport, Louisianna to Natchitoches, Louisianna

We got the little human to the Sci-port Children's Museum by 11AM and she stayed and played until it closed at 6PM. It was a long, fun, playful, educational day, and two adult humans took turns keeping up with the little human (and me).

Along the way, we saw IMAX movies about the Grand Canyon and "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharohs," as well as a short presentation on the Red River. We also took a rest on a bed of nails (!), learning that if your body weight is spread out evenly over the nails it doesn't really hurt.

We also put macroni elbows into different shaped spaces and figured out volume sizes; we watched plasma being created; we designed kites and tested them in vertical wind tunnels; and on and on.

The Sci-port is a great children's museum with two floors full of hands-on, interactive, visual, tactile experiments, toys, and play areas to amuse, entertain, and edify children, adolescents, and adults. The place was packed. And, again, we spent the entire day there.

Not that I'm a boastful bear, but I must say the little human had lots of fun trying different experiments with me and on me -- and occassionally threatened my life. But I just took it in stride -- after all, it was all in the name of science!

Afterwards, we hit I-49 South trying to make it to Alexandria, but we were too tired and only made it to Natchitoches. We got a hotel for the evening and some information about the many local historic sites. We're going to check out the historic downtown tomorrow morning on our way out of town.

P.S. In the synchronicty department: while I was updating my blog tonight in the hotel lobby, the movie "Steel Magnolias" was playing on the lobby TV. That movie was filmed in Natchitoches and there is a "Steel Magnolias" tour listed in the "local attractions" newspaper.

Day 35 - Friday, July 4, 2008

2008-07-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

Day 35

Abilene, Texas to Shreveport, Louisianna

Driving, Driving
We got on I-2o East toward Dallas around 12PM. At our first gas/snack/restroom stop the little human bought us all popscicles with her own money. It was very sweet and thoughtful, and at 100 degrees F, it was also a welcome reprive!

We were trying to get to Shreveport by tonight since we promised the little human that she could have a day playing at the Sci-port Children's Museum there (which she loved so much when we passed through Shreveport on the way out).

So most of the day we were in the car driving and listening to our second Tony Hillerman novel on CD. We like trying to figure out who the killer is and sharing our ideas as to why with each other. It's also really fun to hear names of places (churches, cities, towns, highways, etc.) that we've visited or passed by.

In the ironic department:
a billboard outside of Stephenville read:

"Need directions?" -- God

The sign was sponsored by a local Baptist church. Right on cue, at our next highway exit (Exit 389 to be precise) the oldest human was driving and went the wrong way on a divided highway and drove straight at the grills of two huge trucks. We all had a squeal and then a nervous laugh, and then not too much later, the little human passed the archeologist a note from the back seat that read:

"Really, get directions!"-- God

We all laughed for three exits.

Shreveport, LA

Around 6PM we pulled into Shreveport and made a bee-line to our favorite food stop of all time: the Southern Maid Donuts on Greenwood! Happily, it was after 4PM, so we got the HOT donuts right off the conveyor belt and everyone sucked down two hot glazed donuts like they were air. It was worth the 3,000 mile return trip just to get them again!

Aftwards, we got an over-priced room at a Ramada that had once been quite nice, but was now sliding toward seedy. But since it was a holiday and since Shreveport is packed every weekend anyway with gamblers, we felt lucky to get a hotel room at all that didn't have bugs in it. (Although the box spring in our room looked like it had come from the prop department of a 1950's horror film....)

The oldest human sampled some of the local flavor and entertained herself at the in-house casino, while the little human and her archeologist buddy watched the first Harry Potter film on cable.

If you count the $40 the oldest human lost at the casino, this room was more expensive that our most expensive lodging, the Maswik Lodge at the Grand Canyon!

P.S. The night before we were talking to the hotel clerk about our trip and she kept referring to it as the "Grand Canyons." It made me wonder why it is called Canyon and not Canyons, since there are so many twists and turns in it. It might make more sense to call it the Grand Canyons. But on the other hand, it just kind of sounded like George Bush talking about the "Internets," i.e., someone speaking about something they know nothing about.

Day 34 - Thursday, July 3, 2008

2008-07-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

Day 34

Carlsbad, New Mexico to Abilene, Texas

Well, we are officially on our way home. Ever since leaving the Grand Canyon we've had the leisure and pleasure to meander where the road takes us. That's the best way to travel, I think. We stop when we were tired, we followed the brown signs for historical and natural landmarks, and we explored the towns we were in.

Now we're in a different mode -- just putting miles on the odometer. Yesterday, leaving New Mexico we hit 6,148 miles on our trip so far.

Here's the skinny on the driving:

We left Carlsbad taking Rt. 62/180 to Hobbes, on the NM side of the NM/Texas border. The land was mostly flat, scrubby desert, with some rolling hills coming up as we went eastward.

Passing into Texas, the land was still mostly flat, but not desert anymore -- there were alternating patches of grass and crops. We could see the clouds and sky for miles, and could even see it raining on the southern horizon. (That was cool.)

We also saw lots oil rigs pumping, and a new mark on the landscape -- dozens of wind farms. Sometimes the two structures were together and made for an interesting juxtaposition.

We passed through the Texas towns of Seminole, Lamesa, and Snyder heading east on 180. At Snyder we took 84 East for a few miles to get to I-20 at Roscoe. Then we headed straight into Abilene, and spent the night swimming and relaxing in the hotel pool.

More miles ahead of us. And because of time, we can no longer take the road less traveled. Sorry, Mr. Frost. We wish we could.

Day 33 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008

2008-07-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

Day 33

Carlsbad, NM

Best Day Ever.

This day ran the gamut from the searing heat the of the Chihuahuan Desert (enjoyed by its panoply of succulents, but not the sweating humans) to the cool, dark wonders of Carlsbad Caverns to the thrilling flight of the Mexican free-tail bats that swarm out of the cave's entrance at sunset.

This bear's paws are wicked tired from all the hiking we did at our two main stops today:

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park

At the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens we hiked the self-guided trail of the surprizingly diverse and beautiful wildlife and vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert, learning about the plants and animals that call the southwestern desert their home. We saw blooming cacti and diamond-back rattlesnakes that were only too happy to shake their tails at us. (while we were happy to be separated from them by three inches of glass!).

The last stop on the tour was "Succulents of the World" in a green-house hot-house that blasted off our skin when we just approached the door. (We admired that exhibit from afar!)

Then we got a quick lunch and drove the 23 miles to Carlsbad Caverns. Here are the impressive stats about the Cavern: it's the largest underground cavern in the Western Hemisphere; it's 750 feet underground; it's one of 2o World Heritage sites in the US; some folks call it the 8th Natural Wonder of the World; some folks say its the most beautiful and spectacular cavern in the world.

I can certainly see why this last claim has been made. Roughly in the shape of a cross and the size of 14 football fields, every view is breathtaking, every formation fascinating. It's like an underground cathedral of beauty and spectacle with infinite poetic turns and scientific wonders. From whatever perspective you tour this wonder -- spiritual, scientific, poetic, artistic, geological, historical, biological -- it does not disappoint. You can't help feeling a sense of awe and inspiration while visiting this unsurpassed, otherly world slice of the earth's inner space.

[Also, for the scatological-minded, there's also a fascinating pile of 45,000 year old bat guano that stands out as a highlight of the tour!]

And then, as if marveling at all the cave formations isn't enough, at the end of the day something even more spectacular happens: a half-million sparrow-sized bats fly out of the entrance to the cave at sunset to begin their nocturnal gorging of insects (they will each consume their own body weight in dinner each evening).

At sunset we waited for the bats to ascend and when they did there was a blanket of awe across the entire human audience gathered there for the spectacle. The bats swarmed out in a cylindrical spiral and then spit out across the desert in one long ebony, organic plume. The rangers told us that the bats may fly as far out as 30 miles and as far up as 10,000 feet. Who knew that there were juicy insects to eat at 9,999 feet -- but apparently there are.

We watched the symphony of bats swirling out of the cave for 30 minutes and then had to leave because the park was closing the gates at 9PM. Even as we drove away, we could still see the stream of darkness beating its palm-sized wings against the purple evening sky.

It's not a sight that we're likely to forget soon. And since we couldn't use our cameras at the site (electronic devices interfere with the bats' sonar), we'll just have to savor the memory in our minds.

Really, between the succulents, the stalactites, and the shimmering bats, this was my favorite day yet as a tourist.

State and national parks rock!

PS Like I said, we couldn't take a photo of the bats, but below is the desert at sunset that they were flying over.

Day 32 - Tuesday, July 1, 2008

2008-07-01T22:40:00.000-07:00

Day 32

Roswell, NM to Carlsbad, NM

This morning we took the little human to a local children's medical practice because she had been complaining of stomach aches for several days. A very thorough and nice doctor examined her, and found her basically to be fine. Maybe having some growing pains and some altitude sickness or car sickness. They took an x-ray just to make sure she was okay and everything was fine.

We celebrated the good news at the little human's favorite buffet chain and then began the drive down 285 South through Artesan to Carlsbad. We're planning on seeing the Living Dessert Zoo & Gardens in the morning and then the famous Carlsbad Caverns in the afternoon, and of course the famous sunset bat flight afterwards.

In preparation for our big day tomorrow, we called it an early day today. We got a hotel room around 4:00PM, and swam and played games in the hotel room and then ordered in a pizza and watched Disney movies.

In general, it was a low key day after the busy morning of making sure our little human was okay. Thank goodness she is!

Day 31 Aside - Monday, June 30, 2008

2008-06-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Day 31

Roswell, NM

The sun rose over Roswell and as the rays illuminated the streets and byways, we, too,were struck by the rays of TRUTH about what happened in Roswell in 1947.

And all it took was one trip to the International UFO Museum & Research Center.

There, we learned all about the Roswell Incident timeline, the field research, the newspaper reports, the government cover up, the "Top Secret - EYES ONLY" report from the Majic 12 to president-elect Eisenhower, and on and on.

Also, we saw a compelling documentary about the footage captured by the Space Shuttle in 1991 that pretty clearly shows several space craft leaving the earth's atmosphere at incredible speeds. That footage was being broadcast live from the Space Shuttle exterior cameras. Immediately afterwards all live broadcasts from the Space Shuttle were discontinued and the signal was encrypted and scrambled for military and NASA usage only.

Makes you wonder.

But I also wonder this: if there really are visitations from other planets, why would the government continue to go to the trouble of covering it up? Haven't enough people seen movies such as "Contact" and "Men in Black" and "The X Files" to already believe in such things.....or at least keep an open mind about the possibility of other intelligent life in the cosmos besides homo sapiens?

I mean, what's the big deal these days? Will the fundamentalists implode if "little green men" are confirmed? Will the Holy Sea evaporate if God has touched fingertips with someone other than Adam and his progeny?

Can't we just cut to the chase and forget about all the arguing about the validity of crop circles and cattle mutilation and alien abductions (and probes and implants), and just agree that in an infinite universe with infinite numbers of galaxies and infinite numbers of stars and infinite numbers of solar systems and infinite numbers of planets, that somewhere, sometime, someplace some little green mankind will figure out how to propel themselves here and it's about time our little corner of the cosmos came to terms with that possibility (or probability)?

Open the files, open the Blue Books, open the FOIA requests, open the archives. Let's see who really killed Kennedy and what really happened in the desert in the summer of 1947. Really -- what are we afraid of? Or, more to the point, what is our government afraid of for us?

Do we really care if we are the only ones in the universe? Does it really make us special or not special if other beings can make vehicles and visit other places? How is that going to change our daily lives? Will gas prices go up or down if EBEs are confirmed? ("Extraterrestrial Biological Entities"). Will you adjust your own personal metaphysics if "we are not alone"? What will it mean to you psychically or spiritually? Can your concept of God handle other beings from other planets? These are the interesting questions, to this little bear's mind. Not the supposed cover ups and the supposed crashes in the isolated desert patches.

ET either does exist or does not. ET either has visited earth or has not. Who has proof about ET and why or why not they share it with other is not particularly interesting to me. The interesting thing about ET is how your concept of the universe changes, expands or collapses when and if ET is shown to exist.

Remember, the center of an infinitely expanding universe is you. Roswell isn't about ET. Roswell is about you. And what your concept of reality can contain.

Day 30, Sunday, June 29, 2008

2008-06-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

Day 30

Socorro, NM to Roswell, NM

We entered Roswell around 9:30PM under the cover of night, just like all the other aliens....

The VLA
Along the way from our starting point of Socorro, we also stopped at the Very Large Array radio telescope where the SETI projects is housed (and which was made famous by the film "Contact" starring Jodie Foster).

Trinity Site
Traveling from there to Roswell, we also passed near the site of the Trinity Site, the location of the world's first atomic explosion near the White Sands desert and mountain range. This site is off-limits to the public except for a few weekends in October every year.

"Little Green Men"
Traveling really expands your horizons (literally) and adds to your education about the world. So here's what I learned about the world in and around southern New Mexico today:

The Trinity atomic bomb explosion occurred on July 16, 1945 in the White Sands desert.
The alleged crash of an aliens space craft occurred on or about July 7, 1947 about 70 miles NE of Roswell near Corona, NW.
These two events, although separated by two years, occurred within approximately 50 miles of each other.

Although I'm not an alien (as far as I know, I'm just a bear), if I WERE one, I would be mighty curious about planet earth's first nuclear explosion and might even be tempted to go check it out in person to see how well these earth creatures had unleashed some of the secrets of the universe.

Really, I'm just saying that it seems like more than a coincidence that the world's first atomic explosion and the world's most famous alien flying saucer spaceship crash occurred so close together in time and space.

Keeping Up With The Joneses
I don't know much about UFOlogy and I don't know if there is already a treatisie or two in the UFO canon written about the close approximation of these events. But just driving through this beautiful, desolate landscape in the course of a few hours certainly brought the point home to me: wouldn't it be likely that the first nuclear activity on a planet would bring interest and observation from another intelligent life form? I mean, it's certainly a milestone I'd look out for if I were keeping track of my cosmic neighbors.

Day 29 Aside - Saturday, June 28, 2008

2008-06-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

Bear Random Notes & General Observations:

Tony Hillerman
BTW, we are listening to a Tony Hillerman novel on CD in the car -- the story is great, but the synchronicity is very spooky, because every time he mentions a town we're either in it or just come from it or see a sign pointing to it!

Perfume in the Desert
Also, the archaeologist had brought a bottle of perfume with her. It evaporated early in the trip during the 90+ degree F days. Moral of the story: don't pack perfume when traveling to the desert in the summer.

Gas Prices
I haven't mentioned much about this, but it's s6mething we talk about a lot and discuss in the car: we've been paying around $3.97 per gallon for gas. The lowest we've paid is $3.82 (toward the beginning of the trip) and the highest we've paid is $4.01 (m6re recently). The highest we've seen is $4.17 and that's been in Roswell, NM. (I guess it costs a lot to fuel your flying saucer.)

"Staycations"
I saw an article in a recent McNewspaper (i.e., the USA Today paper that many hotels give away free), noting that, because of the difficult economy and especially because of the high gas prices, many Americans have opted to stay close to home for summer vacations this year. We can certainly confirm this anecdotally because every place we have been to has been noticeable for its LACK of crowds.

This was even true at the Grand Canyon -- the only spot that had any noticable traffic was Mather Point, the first overview when driving into the South Rim. Other than there, we basically had the canyon to ourselves. This was especially true when we took the eastern drive out to Desert's View -- we had entire overlooks to ourselves and very few fellow travelers in the few spots where we did see others.

That has pretty much been the situation for every place we've gone -- very few people are on the roads or at the attractions (at least where we have been).

Day 29 - Saturday, June 28, 2008

2008-06-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

Day 29

Grants, New Mexico to Socorro, New Mexico (via Acomo Peublo and Los Lunas)

left Grants taking I-40 toward Albequerque
went south from I-40 to Acoma Peublo (also known as "Sky City")
amazing 15 mile drive to it
afterwards saw very cool Dust Devil when returning to I-40 (near the Sky City Casino)
took Rt. 66 where possible toward Correo
then took Rt. 6 to Los Lunas; again, every view a postcard
took I-25 South to Socorro
stopped early for the day
that evening went to the old one-screen theater in town and saw "Wall-E"

Day 28 - Friday, June 27, 2008

2008-06-27T23:27:00.000-07:00

Day 28

Gallup, New Mexico to Grants, New Mexico

We had a rough morning getting started. The little human fell and twisted her ankle while were shopping for a pair of new shoes for her. It took a while to recover from that and get ready to travel again.

Later, the little human feeling better again, we took a drive down Route 66 in Gallup and the archeologist continued her love affair (i.e., obsession!) with photographing old signs. That led us to the El Rancho Hotel and Motel (and restaurant for lunch). El Rancho is an old-time famous place where movie stars of the 40's and 50's used to lounge at. My next trip back, I'm also going to stay there.

Afterwards, we took 602 South to Zuni Peublo. After stopping at the visitor's center (we try to do that in every city we're exploring), we then headed over to the Zuni Museum. After the museum, we looked for the famous (and old) Spanish mission, but we couldn't find it so we just headed out of town.

We took Route 53 West to El Morro, a famous landmark of sandstone cliffs and a reliable water source that has been visited for thousands of years. There are inscriptions from the travelers that have stopped there -- petroglyphs from ancient native people, military notations from Spanish explorers, and then white travelers from the 1880's. It's now protected and preserved, or else I'm sure the carving would continue into the present day with spray paint instead of chisels.

Afterwards we continued on Rt. 53 west to the Ice Caves! This was really interesting to see the lava flow on top the ground and the sink holes and caves where the lava tubes had collapsed. We arrived too late to hike to the volcano top, but we did have time to hike to the ice cave and see and feel the 31 degree temperature there. The whole wierd juxtaposition between the temperatures and the landscape made it all very other worldly. It was one of my favorite stops so far!

At 5:00 PM we crossed the Continental Divide (heading east).

Afterwards, we continued on Rt. 53 West into the El Malpais National Monument. There the little human and the archeologist went exploring, taking a good 3 mile hike into the "bad lands" and seeing more lava landscape and very cool things like Junction Cave and The Double Sink Holes. We were hiking specifically in search of the Bat Cave (its real name!) but couldn't find it and so finally turned back because the sun was setting. The walk was very desolate, but very beautiful, and from the top of the mesa we could see the setting sun reflecting off the sandstone cliffs encircling the valley far away and below us. We also had a gorgeous view of the San Mateo Mountains from the badlands mesa as well.

Around 9:00 PM we pulled into the outskirts of Grants and I got to see the last purples and oranges of a beautiful sunset through the windows of a fast-food restaurant we were eating at. That was something I hadn't expected to live to see!

We passed a lot of seedy-looking motels on Route 66 trying to find a place to stay for the evening. We finally found the newer hotels at the other end of town and settled in at a name brand place that had a pool open 24 hours. The little human loved that and took a late swim until 10:30 when and exhausted archeologist dragged her back to the room so she and her throbbing ribs could collapse, literally bone-tired, after the day's two strenuous hikes.

Day 27 - Thursday, June 26, 2008

2008-06-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

Day 27

Chinle, Arizona to Gallup, New Mexico

It was a rough night for the archeologist. Her "ghost bead" necklace seemed to have actived nightmares instead of warding them off. Also, her ribs were hurting (possible due to a little over-zealous hiking in the Canyon the evening before).

Once everyone got settled, we took off for the south rim again to see the overlooks we didn't get to last night. We drove straight out to Spider Rock overlook (the most famous one and the most distant one). Something amazing happened there.

It rained.

This was the first time it had rained on us during our entire time in the Southwest.

And it happened like this: We were at Spider Rock overlook at the same time that a group of Native American school children were there. They arrived just as we did on two yellow school buses. After they made the hike to Spider Rock lookout and back, one of their teachers asked them to do a rain dance so that he wouldn't have to water his corn that evening. Several of the kids did a dance (they looked like they ranged in age from 3rd grade to 5th grade) and a few minutes later it started to rain. The teacher smiled and they all got on the bus.

We all just kind of looked at each other, impressed and surprised, and then we went on to Face Rock overlook and Sliding House overlook.

As the little human remarked, "Every place you turn your head, it's like you're looking at another postcard."

And it's true. Every view out the window, every national and state park, every mile down the highway and byway -- each tableau is a picture-perfect postcard with land, sky, sun, and clouds all complementing each other and framing each other beautifully.

When I graduate from RSC, I am totally going to move here. Even though brown bears aren't native to the southwest, I'll find some way to fit in.

After our second tour of the south rim, we decided to save the north rim for our next trip out here and head on as we slowly make our way back home.

We took 191 South to 264 East to Window Rock, and then we took 491 to Gallup, where we hunkered down for the night (and did laundry!).

Day 26 - Wednesday, June 25, 2008

2008-06-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

Day 26

Holbrock, Arizona to Chinle, Arizona

We couldn't leave Holbrock without one more stop at Joe and Aggie's Cafe on Route 66. The little human is especially enamoured with the $1.00 gift bags there (full of those plastic cups from vending & gumball machines).

We took I-40 East to 191 North through the Navajo Nation to Ganado and the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. We watched a video about the history of the trading post and also the Canyon de Chelly. We had planned to go to the Canyon, but because we were trying to head back home, we had decided we didn't have time and were only going to stop at the Hubbell Trading Post. But after seeing the video of the Canyon, we all agreed that we had to go see it and so we continued north on 191 to Chinle.

In Chinle, we stayed at the historic Thunderlodge Motel and ate at the (also historic) cafeteria there for dinner and then took a sunset drive along the south rim.

We stopped at the following overlooks: Tunnei, Tseyi, Junction, and White House. We stayed a White House overlook for a stunning sunset on the canyon.

We all agreed that in many ways the Canyon de Chelly is even MORE spectacular than the Grand Canyon. I'm sure you're wondering -- how can that be? Here's my meager bear way of trying to explain it: the Grand Canyon is so big, so darn grand, that it's almost impossible to comprehend the immensity of it. It's so wide, you can't really see across it; and it's so deep, you can't really see to the bottom. It's like trying to take in the concept of infinity. It's so grand, you almost can't wrap your mind around it. However, the Canyon de Chelly is every bit as majestic and stunning in its features and geology, except it's on a much smaller scale....but a scale that you can take in and comprend. And that somehow makes it even more impressive/stunning/amazing than the Grand Canyon.

Also, the Canyon de Chelly has several Peubloan ruins that you can see with your naked eye -- and this adds to the intensity. Moreover, there is agriculture still being conducted on the canyon floor that you can also see with your naked eyes.

It's quite a place. It should go on all of your "bucket" lists.

Day 25 - Tuesday, June 24, 2008

2008-06-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Day 25

Holbrock, Arizona

Today was more or less a resting day. Believe it or not, traveling makes you tired.

We slept late and then after lunch went to a couple of tourist traps and trading posts to look at petrified wood and other rocks for sale. We stopped at McGee's Native Art on Route 66 where the little human got a necklace: a polished rock set in a spiral like holder. And the archeologist got a set of "ghost beads," a string of glass beads and varnished juniper berries, said to ward off evil spirits that cause nightmares. (Note: it didn't work; the next night she had the worst dreams of her life in the Thunder Lodge at the Canyon de Chelly! She hasn't worn the beads since.)

We also went to "Jim Gray's Petrified Wood Company" which is pretty well-known in these parts. Part museum, part showcase of high-end petrified wood samples, part tourist trap, we amassed quite a collection of botanical and geological specimens!

Later in the day we took a drive through the Navajo Nation (I-40 East to 77 North to 6 North to 15 West to 87 South back to I-40), and took in more of the Painted Desert and also saw some spectacular mesa and plateau formations. On the way back, we stopped at the Homolovi Ruins (it's part of a state park) and the archeologist took a short hike to an actual archeological dig in progress where she saw kiva foundations and dozens of pottery shards in the process of being collected and catalogued. There was no one around but the two of us and it was quite a surprise to see this in-process digging site being left open for any old tourist to come by and check it out.

On the way back to our hotel in Holbrock, we drove on a piece of extant Route 66 between Winslow and Joseph City -- it was in the process of being reclaimed by Mother Nature and many sections of it had cracked and had grass growing in it.

Back at the hotel for the evening, the little human entertained us all with a "fashion show" of our petrified wood rock collection and the rest of us served as judges for the this reality show to decide on the lovliest samples.

We all went to bed refreshed and happy.

It was a very cool day.

Day 24 - Monday, June 23, 2008

2008-06-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Day 24

Show Low, Arizona to Holbrock, Arizona

After leaving Show Low, we went through more of the Sitgreaves National Forest, which bills itself as the "land of many uses." Most of its uses for us was with eyeballs, although we did stop to take one small hike.

We took Rt. 260 East to Rt. 61 N and then 180A North to the Petrified Forest. It was another scenice byway and we enjoyed a drive with big puffy white clouds pinned in a deep blue sky, while tiny bulbous trees rolled past us over desert hills and grassland plains.

We spent the entire day driving through the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert National Park and stopping at overviews and taking short hikes.

Coming in from the south, we watched the introductory movie at the first ranger station and then got the CD for the self-guided tour. We loved all 23 glorious, miraculous miles of it, especially the Blue Mesa, the Peutro Peublo ruins and petroglyphs, and Newspaper rock with more petroglyphs. Each stop was more impressive, more stunning than the last.

I could have easily spent another day or two there -- watching the different parts of the park unfold under different light and times of day. But the humans had to move on. There is so much to see here in this part of the world, and even a month doesn't do it justice.

We drove to Holbrock afterwards to spend the night.

Day 23 - Sunday, June 22, 2008

2008-06-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Day 23

Sedona, Arizona t0 Show Low, Arizona

Another glorious day started with breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe in Sedona which had full views of Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. Those are nice side orders with the pizza-pie-size Paul Bunyon pancake.

Afterwards we took 179 North for a last glimpse at our favorite rock formations, Bell and Cathedral, and then stopped in at the Chapel in the Rock -- a chapel built into the red rock formations just off 179. Not only was it a Sunday, but it was just after the Summer Equinox, so it was a great opportunity to contemplate space, time, spirituality, beauty, Nature, and the Everlasting, Everchanging All That Is.

And, of course, buy a souvenir at the chapel's gift shop.

Afterwards it was 179 South to I-17 South to Montezuma's Well, a "collapsed limestone sinkhole, containing organisms found nowhere else in the world." [from The People of Montezuma Castle and the Verde Valley booklet from the Western National Parks Association Press, http://www.wnpa.org/ ]

Montezuma's Well also provided an excellent opportunity to feel how HOT it is -- by the time we climbed to the top and then hiked the trail to the irrigation fields we were all incredibly red-faced (and not because we were embarrassed to be tourists). The temperature was a chilly 107F.

So afterwards we headed for cooler climes, specifically the White Mountains of Arizona. We took I-17S to Route 260 East to Payson, passing through the Verde Valley and Camp Verde, which both lived up to the name. Along the way, we saw many beautiful examples of the yucca plants in bloom.

As we climbed the Mongollon Plateau, the temperature dropped 20 degrees in 20 minutes. Again, at a mere 89F, we got our ear muffs out.

We followed Rt. 260 through the Conconino National Forest, and between Pine and Payson we took a detour into Tonto State Park to take a quick peek at Tonto Natural Bridge. There's a nice photo of Jackie there.

Afterwards we continued through the Mogollon Rim and Plateau through the Tonto National Forest. The roads were really narrow with no shoulders -- only gravel and gulleys. Once, the oldest human (who insists on doing most of the driving for some reason) almost ran off the road and for absolutely no reason. A few minutes later the little human (who has to ride in the back seat because she's not able to ride in the airbag-protected front seat) snuck a note to the archeologist. Scrawled in her terrified handwriting was: "Help me!!"

Despite a few near death experiences such as this ("don't head toward the light!"), we made it through three national forests: Coconino, Tonto, and Sitgreaves), each more picturesque than the other. All the while the little human kept us all entertained with her hilarious imitation of a parrot (named Sparky) doing a comedy routine.

Finally, we called it a day in Show Low, Arizona. I don't know the story behind the town's odd name. If anyone out there knows, we'd love to hear about it!

Day 22 - Saturday, June 21, 2008

2008-06-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

Day 22

Prescott to Wickenburg to Campe Verde to Sedona, Arizona

On the hottest day of the year (our car temperature guage read 117 degrees F for the outside!), we visited the Sonoro Desert and saw the beautiful forest of saguero cacti. Yes, we're crazy. But crazy in love with the southwest.

We drove down scenic, historic 89A south through the dust balls of Wilhoit, Peeples Valley, and Yarnell.

Just on the other side of Yarnell, coming out of the Weaver Mountains we saw our first saguero cactus. We stopped for a photo and it was 105 degrees F outside.

We went south to Wickenburg and then turned east on Rt. 74 to catch I-17 back up north, looking at the glorious cacti all the way and watching the temperature rise to 118F! Seriously, though, we hardly noticed the heat -- it's a dry heat, you know -- and you get used to it! When the temperature dropped 20 degrees to 98F, it felt like a cold front had blown in and we all got our jackets.

Once on I-17, we went north and stopped at Montezuma's Castle, an amazing cliff dwelling. More on that later.

Then we went north to see Montezuma's Well, but it was closed, so we will return tomorrow. We headed into Sedona for a hotel for the night and got to see another blazing sunset on Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock.

Fabu.

Day 21 - Friday, June 20, 2008

2008-06-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

Day 21

Prescott, Arizona

Today was basically a day of taking it easy in beautiful Prescott. Except for the exceptional heat, all the humans agreed they wanted to move here. It may even be edging out Sedona as the place to retire to.

We all slept late, then had half a car of laundry to wash. We visited the local public library (there are two downtown), and then because everyone was so tired we looked for a hotel to stay in Prescott again. It was tough to find one because of all the activities going on this weekend: baseball tournaments, Frontier Days, Native American Pow Wow at Watson Lake, and general summer tourists.

We got the last non-smoking room in town at the Prescottonian and then had a busy schedule of napping, swimming, and a drive to scenic Watson Lake.

That evening we went to the Whisky Row tourist shops to get some presents for the little human because we are celelbrating her birthday early. We had a watermelon cake in the room and then retired from a fine day by falling asleep to the Discovery Channel.

Prescott is perfect for this bear.

Day 20 - Thursday, June 19, 2007

2008-06-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

Day 20

Sedona, Arizona to Prescott, Arizona

The archeologist went out on a private vortex tour to get her ribs some healing energy and to get her chakras bolted with white light, rainbow light, golden light, and Light Brights. She came back all enlightened and blubbering about how much she loved everyone. Personally, for my bear tastes, I liked her better when she was in pain....

Afterwards she wanted to share some of the vortex spots with the other humans, so we went to the Airport Vortex and the Airport Mesa, with a grand sweeping view of the Sedona area. It was literally 101 degrees F, so we didn't stay in either place long.

Finally, we bid happy trails to Sedona and took off down 89A south. We took a quick trip through Red Rock State Park just out of town and then hit all the little towns along the way: Cottonwood, Clarkdale, the Turizgoot Peublo Ruins, Jerome, and then ended the day in Prescott.

Between Jerome and Prescott we drove the curvy curves of Mingus Mountain and the little human got a touch of her altitude sickness again.

When we got to Prescott we relaxed in the beautiful square with the county building in the downtown historic area. Then we checked into the historic St. Michael's hotel, the corner stone of "Whiskey Row" where all the "wild west" saloons were during the territorial days of Arizona.

We at ate the equally historic The Palace saloon, where the little human had great fun busting through the swining saloon doors. (Don't worry -- it was a family restaurant just playing up its rough past for tourists.)

The archeologist took photos of the honky tonks on Whiskey Row and we all got to bed late.

Day 19 - Wednesday, June 18, 2008

2008-06-18T23:35:00.000-07:00

Day 19

Sedona, Arizona

Despite the 100 degree temperatures, this is still one of the greatest places on earth. We had a leisurely morning getting out of the hotel room -- mostly because no one wanted to leave the comfy Temperpedia beds.

Red Planet Diner
But we found our way outside eventually, eating at the very cool Red Planet Diner, which is full of fun alien and UFO stuff.

Slide Rock State Park
Afterwards, we toured some of the red rock formations, then spent the rest of the afternoon at Slide Rock State Park. There the little human was like an otter sliding over the rocks in the slide rock canyon. Despite some scrapes and scratches to her elbows and knees, she had a great time. And on the way out, everyone got a treat at the local soft serve station.

"The Sedona Experience"
That evening, the youngest and oldest humans watched some animated DVDs at the hotel, while the archeologist took her broken ribs to a new age theater experience. It was billed as a live, multimedia extravaganza and called "The Sedona Experience." I'm not sure it was worth the hefty ticket price, but the archeologist did get to go up on stage as a volunteer and have an aura camera show her aura to the audience. Her aura was a solid bright pink with extra pink-ness around the broken rib area. This didn't surprise me as the archeologist has several songs by Pink on her iPod.

We'll see how the new age agenda continues tomorrow on a special Sedona vortex tour!

Day 18 - Tuesday, June 17, 2008

2008-06-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

Day 18

Williams, Arizona to Sedona, Arizona

Sedona has to be one of the most magical places on the planet (at least that this bear has visited).

This afternoon we left Williams (after purchasing some awesome turquoise jewlery) and headed for the Dear Park Farm where the little human had a great time hand-feeding deer and petting goats and a pot-bellied pig.

Afterwards, we went into Flagstaff and had a snack at the Grand Canyon Cafe on Route 66, which serves American and Chinese food. Sometimes a vegetarian eggroll just hits the spot in the middle of a 100 degree day.

Then we took the spectacular Route 89A again through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. This time we got to the canyon lookout before 5PM (when the park service closes it)and took in the vista of the canyon.

We stopped at several look outs and pull overs on our trek down 89A, and pulled into our fancy pants hotel in Sedona in the early evening. We watched another great sunset on the red rocks, this time from the lounge chairs of our hotel pool.

We're going to finish the day with pizza and a DVD in our room -- a perfect end for the little human who is still swimming in the pool.

Day 17- Monday, June 16, 2008

2008-06-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

Day 17

Williams, Arizona

Everyone is taking it easy today. The little human has a touch of altitude sickness and the archaeologist is milking her broken bones for some sympathy. Sleeping in and a late breakfast/brunch was in order.

Then in the afternoon a trip to Flagstaff to the Museum of Northern Arizona. There was an exhibit about a new type of dinosaur found recently in Utah. We spent several hours there as they also have a wonderful permanent collection of Native American pottery, rugs, and ceremonial items.

Then we had dinner in Flagstaff's old town at the Beaver Street Brewery. Then down Rt. 89A South to Sedona to watch the sunset on the amazing red rocks. We had quite a treat as the sun set behind mountains on one side of the horizon while the full moon rose over the formations on the other side.

The little human took me on a sunset hike where we discovered a hidden waterfall that was now dried up. That was very exciting for both of us.

We drove back in the "dark" but with the full moon lighting the way, we could see the land formations all the way back to Williams.

Day 16 - Sunday, June 15, 2008

2008-06-15T22:24:00.000-07:00

Day 16

Grand Canyon, Arizona to Williams, Arizona

After screaming in her sleep every time she turned, the other humans insisted that the archaeologist go to the clinic at the Grand Canyon. She was there for three hours getting x-rays on her ribs, lungs, foot, and elbow on her left side.

Final verdict: sprained toe and elbow, and two fractured ribs.

Yeah, broken bones. Now the archaeologist has to look after her own bones and not just the bones of motel signs on Route 66.

We spent the afternoon touring Grand Canyon village and all the historical landmark buildings from El Tovar hotel to the Lookout Studio. We also watched a dance from a Navajo troupe in front of the Hopi house.

Afterwards, we left the Grand Canyon and drove south on Rt. 64 to Williams where we're going to hole up for a few days to let the archaeologist rest a little and see if her bones mend.

The receptionist at the clinic, Kelly, said she should create a tall tale about trying to steal condor eggs from a nest when the mother condor and a pack of mule deer accosted her to explain the broken ribs. Also, she's so old, everyone was asking if she took enough calcium and that maybe that's why her bones were breaking. But, seriously, she eats ice cream everyday, so I'm sure her calcium intake is fine.

As for me, they barely took me out of the car to get a photo or two. You'd think I was chopped liver here steaming in the back window.

Day 15 - Saturday, June 14, 2008

2008-06-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Day 15

Grand Canyon, Arizona

We weren't at the south rim more than 10 minutes when the archaeologist got her foot caught between two rocks and hit the stones at Yavapai Point like a ton of bricks. It took a whole tour of Japanese tourists to get her up. She was stiff and sore, but insisted on continuing on their sightseeing.

So we spent the day on the eastern route, traveling out to Desert Watch and then hitting all the points on the way back, finally watching the sunset at Yaki Point, after taking a short hike at Grandview Point.

Day 14 - Friday, June 13, 2008

2008-06-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

Day 14

Holbrock, Arizona to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

The archaeologist was so excited she couldn't sleep, so she got up at 4AM and went out to take photographs of the Route 66 establishments in Holbrock. She got back around 6:30AM and went back to bed.

When the rest of the crew woke up, they went to Sam and Agee's Route 66 cafe for breakfast. The owner showed them through some of her historic memoribillia including original cell animation art from Pixar's Cars (roughly based on Route 66 establishments and landscapes).

Then they were off to the Meteor Crater, but not before stopping at lots of curio shops, trading posts, and historic markers.

We hit Flagstaff around 4PM and took scenic Rt. 180 to Rt. 64 into the Grand Canyon.

We got to our lodge inside the Grand Canyon just in time to take the sunset tour.

We stopped at several points before landing at Mohave Point for the sunset. Words can't describe it; photos can't capture it.

Day 13 - Thursday, June 12, 2008

2008-06-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Day 13
Albuquerque, New Mexico to Holbrock, Arizona

We started off on the grand Route 66 taking Central Avenue through Albuquerque. We made note of all the places we want to see on the way back. We're on a mission now to get to the Grand Canyon as soon as possible on Friday.

All the same in about six hours we had gone about 100 miles! We kept pulling off and taking photos (especially of old signs) and searching for Route 66 (you'll be on it and it will disappear suddenly). We saw mesa vistas west of Albuquerque and watched the landscape change as the miles went by.

We also stopped at several wonderful tourist traps and trading posts picking up some good southwestern stuff.

We made several more Route 66 stops (including the famous Jack Rabbit trading post with the "Here It Is" sign), before stopping for the night in Holbrock.

We were excited to stay at the Wigwam Motel with concrete tee pees from the 50's, but the place was full and the owner was rude. We settled for a more contemporary hotel on Navajo Boulevard.

We went to bed early because we were excited to finally be getting to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

Day 12 - Wednesday, June 11, 2008

2008-06-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

Day 12

Amarillo, Texas to Albequerque, New Mexico

This was really the start of the vacation for the archeologist because at last we caught up with historic Route 66 in Amarillo. We followed it alternating from I-40 West to Route 66 west wherever we could find it.

Cadillac Ranch
This brought us to some famous Route 66 stops such as the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, an outdoor art piece by Stan Marsh where a line of old Cadillacs are submerged into the ground, an open, dusty field. People describe it as an Americana Stonehedge, and the angle the cars are leaning is said to be the same angle as the sides of the Great Pyramid.

Midpoint Cafe & the Motorcycle Club
We also stopped at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, which claims to be the midpoint of Route 66 between Chicago and LA. That was my most exciting stop of the entire trip, because there I met Bearnard B. Behr, motorcycle tour guide and fellow mascot! There I got a photo with his human, Gary, on their way cool Harley. Gary takes tourists all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica on motorcycles, showing them all the famous, infamous, and unknown highlights of The Mother Road (a.k.a. Route 66).

You can visit Bearnard's blog at: http://www.bears-to-travel.blogspot.com/ or www.myspace.com/bearnardbear. Be sure to tell Bearnard and Gary you heard about them from me!

Ghost Towns and Motel Signs
After that we meandered into New Mexico stopping at other Route 66 towns along I-40 and Rt. 66. Some places were little more than ghost towns, and one place Glenrio, TX, was totally a scary ghost lane of crumbling buildings.

It was a long day with the archeologist jumping in and out of the car to get her beloved cadaver signs. But I must admit a couple of them were quite impressive. However, she seems enamoured with all of them.

We stopped in Albequerque around 7PM. We have to be at the Grand Canyon by Friday, so tomorrow and the next day we should have a fairly easy drive.

Day 11 - Tuesday, June 10, 2008

2008-06-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Day 11

Dallas, Texas to Amarillo, Texas

We were trying hard to make up for our "lost time" in Shreveport (not that it's not a lovely place to visit....)

So our main goal was to get 300 miles under our tires, so that we could make it to the Grand Canyon by Friday, which is when we have reservations in one of the lodges that overlook the South Rim.

We took I-20 West to I-35W North near Dallas, and then cut at an angle across the Texas plains to Amarillo on Route 287/81. This made for some great window-movie-scapes.

The landscape began to change from forests to grassland plains and as we got closer to Amarillo, the land became more desert-like with sagebrush and Joshua Trees. We even saw our first cactus plants today.

We stopped in some really small desolate towns, such as Estelline and Memphis, Texas. And some of these places were half-way ghost towns, with just a gas station and a Dairy Queen to beat the heat.

I'll post some photos as soon as we get to a motel that has a computer.

Day 10 - Monday, June 9, 2008

2008-06-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

Day 10

Shreveport, Louisianna to Dallas, Texas

We drove from Marshall to Shreveport to see what the status was on our car. Matt and the good folks at Moore's Goodyear had been good to us, so we stopped at Southern Maid donuts again and got them some donuts. (Of course, we also got some for ourselves, too!)

They weren't sure if they could get the part today -- so we just had to play it by hear. We had lunch in a Mexican restaurant and then went to the Sci-Port, a fabulous interactive science museum for children that the little human and I just loved.

Late in the date we got the good news that our car had been fixed and we could head out on our way.

We left Shreveport around 6PM and went west on I-20 toward Dallas. We got to the outskirts of Dallas around 9PM and stopped in Balch Springs.

Finally, we're back on track for the Grand Canyon!

Day 9 - Sunday, June 8, 2008

2008-06-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Day 9

Shreveport, Louisianna (holding pattern)

The good news is that the little human woke up feeling better. The bad news is that the heat wave continues.

The archeologist took a long time getting ready and had a new crick in her neck from sleeping in the jacuzzi.

A Play Date and a Scenic Route

After a restaurant breakfast (they overslept for the free hotel breakfast), the humans took a drive through Marshall and found a playground that the little human could check out. They didn't stay long because of the heat, but it was good to get a little fresh air activity in.

Then we took Route 80 East from Marshall, Texas back to Shreveport, Louisianna, and along the way the archeologist took some more photos of old signs and state lines.

Groundhog's Day

There's a movie where Bill Murray lives the same day over and over until he learns how to become a better person. That was kind of like what we did today.

We went back to the Louisianna Boardwalk
We saw Kung Fu Panda again.
We went to Build-A-Bear Workshop again and got a stuffed bunny

The only thing that was missing to make it complete was Puxatawny Phil himself!

Old Signs and Hot Donuts

After leaving the boardwalk I mustered up a new-found respect for the archeologist and her obsessive photo-taking of old signs.

That's because she took a detour into Shreveport on Greenwood Ave to photograph a "hot donuts" sign she could see from the highway. But when we got there it wasn't just another old abandoned building, it was actually a real working donut shop that was pumping out fresh, "Southern Maid" hot donuts!

We basically had dinner there (or at least an extended appetizer) and I became a complete and total fool for those donuts! I bought a t-shirt and asked for an empty box to keep my trip souvenirs in, too!

Back to Texas

After our 30 mile drive back to our hotel in Marshall, the sugar buzz wore off and we decided to have a real dinner before calling it an evening. We ate at an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet that only cost $14 for the four of us!

A dinner of donuts and pizza -- I love vacation!

Day 8 - Saturday, June 7, 2008

2008-06-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

Day 8

Shreveport, Louisianna (holding pattern)
Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

Where There's Smoke, There's......

So much for the gourmet waffles.

We awoke this morning to the sound of the hotel's fire alarm.

Immediately, the humans started grabbing clothes and purses to get out. But by the time they were ready to head out the door, the sound had stopped. My little stuffed bear heart was pounding! To my horror, I began to realize that there had not even been a thought of saving me! Now I saw where I really stood with these humans.

The archeologist went downstairs to see what was going on -- and I tagged along -- and we found a breakfast room full of bemused travellers and a few people wandering through the lobby with their bed sheets wrapped around them.

The fire alarm was set off because someone burned their Belgium waffle!

In the corner of the breakfast room, the griddle was still smoking and the criss-cross carbohydrate carcass was still smoldering. Looks like the archeologist wasn't going to get her longed-for treat after all.

When I turned to smirk at her, I saw she had her head turned to one side and was trying to crack it. It was a frightening behavior that she continued all day long.

It seems she bolted out of bed too fast from the fire alarm that she had a crick in her neck the rest of the day. It almost serves her right for not trying to save me from the (waffle) fire!

A Surprise While Packing

After that excitement, everyone decided to chill out and take a dip in the pool before we left. I hit the fitness room to work on my teddy bear abs.

Afterwards, while packing the car, the humans found that their front passenger tire was low. Really low. Almost flat. They went to 3 different gas stations before finding a working air pump. But after filling it with air, it still didn't look good. The oldest human started talking with a local human who recommended Moore's Goodyear on Greenwood Ave. Slowly, the humans drove there.

A Change in Plans

Well, to make a long, hot story short:

It wasn't just a flat tire; the tire rim itself was cracked and had to be replaced.
But it was Saturday and there was nothing open to get the part until Monday, so we were going to spend the weekend in Shreveport.
Matt, the friendly manager of Moore's shop, drove the humans to the airport so they could rent a car. (We love Matt!)
Worried about the cost of the tire rim, the humans got out the motel coupon book to find a cheap hotel for two days. They found one near the casinos that line both sides of the Red River that separates Shreveport and its sister town, Bossier City.

The Lousisianna Boardwalk

All that took most of the day, but then the humans decided to make the best of an unexpected situation and take the little human to the Louisianna Boardwalk for a movie and dinner.

The big humans felt bad for abandoning me during the false fire alarm escapade, so they tried to make amends by taking me and the little human to a movie they thought we'd like: Kung Fu Panda. And I have to admit, after seeing this bear-inspirational film, I was so proud of my bear heritage that I felt at peace with the universe and forgave the humans for neglecting to grab me during a fire alarm scare.

But all that metaphysical peace was shattered after the movie at our next stop on the Boardwalk.

Where Bears Come From

It was at the Louisianna Boardwalk that I had the shock of a lifetime, something that has shaken me to my very bear core.

All this time, I had thought I was a real bear -- a powerful, wild animal who had been born in nature and then come to Russell Sage for an education to prepare me to make my mark on the world. Today I found out differently.

Today I found out where bears like me come from.

Bears like me come from the Build-A-Bear Workshop store.

I'm still grappling with this new-found reality -- the fake, fluffy nature of my very being. Perhaps I'll write more about it as I absorb the truth more and recover from the shock of it all.

A Ruff End to the Day

For the humans, things got almost as bad. We ate dinner at a "crab shack" on the Boardwalk where the food tasted good going down, but didn't settle well. The little human didn't feel well after the seafood and eventually threw up. We all felt bad for her and took her back to the hotel.

But at the hotel, the humans found bugs in the bathroom and went to get their money back. They had paid for two days in advance with cash, and now the motel lady wouldn't give them their money back for today because it was already past 10PM. So they took their money for one day back and went in search of another hotel.

But here's the thing about Shreveport that we didn't know -- every hotel is full every weekend (even the cheap ones with bugs in the bathroom!) because of all the people coming in for the gambling. We couldn't find any hotels anywhere in Shreveport (by 11Pm they all had signs taped up on the front doors saying NO VACANCY!).

We ended up driving 30 miles west into Marshall, Texas before we found something. We were lucky to find something there, too, because there was a kids baseball tournament going on in town!

Also, the archeologist got pulled over by the Marshall police for pulling out of a gas station without her lights on. She used what little charm and sincerity she had left and told the officer about being on vacation and having to get a rental car and not finding any hotels in Shreveport and the little human getting sick and on and on -- and he just gave her a warning, not a citation. I think he did it just because it was quicker and he wouldn't have to listen to her sob story any longer.

Anyway, the humans did finally find a hotel room in Marshall -- they got the last room at the last hotel in town. It only had one king sized bed and a jacuzzi, but they took it because it was 1AM.

The hotel was out of roll away cots, so they got some extra pillows and the archeologist slept in the jacuzzi.

And that was the end of one long, hot day!

Day 7 - Friday, June 6, 2008

2008-06-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

Day 7

Meridian, Mississippi to Shreveport, Louisianna

Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

Melt. Molt. Malt.

We left Meridian, Mississippi at 9:30 AM and it was already hot. By 11:00 AM it was 90 degrees. I think my stuffing is starting to melt. Or molt. But we cool down every few hours by stopping for a chocolate malt or ice cream sandwich, so I guess the heat does have its upside.

We headed west on I-20 to Jackson, with the archeologist reading Ivy & Bean books to the little human while the oldest human religiously followed the speed limit.

Traces of Natchez

In the early afternoon, we took a scenic detour to get on the Nachez Trace Parkway, an old merchant trail used by early pioneers that runs from Nachez, Louisianna to Nashville, Tennesee. At one point, the archeologist got very excited and yelled, "Look! Look! Flamingoes!" We all turned to look, wondering what flamingoes were doing in the middle of the forest, but all we saw were some curved red pipes sticking out of a swampy field. Apparantly, the archeologist's eyesight has been adversely affected by her glandular problem.

Vicksburg, Mississippi

In Vicksburg, the little human wanted to go to the Vicksburg Battlefield Museum, probably because it was shaped like a big battleship. Sort of. The overall architectural effect was somewhere between creepy and comical.

Amazing Coincidence!

In need of a bio break, we took an unexpected exit (124) off of I-20 West and had the wildest coincidence. There at the end of the ramp was a sign that said "Russell Sage Wildlife Area." Well, since I'm basically wild life (remember, I'm a bear!) and I'm from Russell Sage, I insisted that we go check out this place. It turned out to be a 17,000 square mile wildlife refuge run by the Louisianna State Parks. When I get back to campus, I'm going to find out if this is the same Russell Sage or if there could be two of them.

Shreveport, Louisianna

We continued to drive westward on I-20, stopping at Shreveport, Louisianna for the night. The archeologist took a tour down on the Louisianna Boardwalk and watched the sun set on the Red River overlooking the Neon bridge between Boussier City and Shreveport.

We decided to splurge and stay in a fancy hotel tonight. Sometimes you just have to go over your budget. One of the humans, the archeologist, is very excited about this because you can make your own gourmet Belgium waffles for breakfast.

Day 6 - Thursday, June 5, 2008

2008-06-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

Day 6:
Marianna, Florida to Meridian, Mississippi
Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

Finally an early start. The archeologist packed the car before the sun was out in full force. But when she came in for the continental breakfast at the hotel, she was sweating like a pack mule -- she was red in the face and sweat was dripping off her upper lip. The other humans laughed at her, but I felt sorry for her. I'm not doctor, but I'm pretty sure she has a glandular problem.

Across the Panhandle
We continued west on I-10 across the Florida panhandle. We drove straight on into a big, beautiful deep blue sky with those classic white fluffy clouds with just a touch of grey for contrast on their underbellies. The humans took a lot of photos of the sky (probably because there was not much else to see).

At Exit 70 on I-10 is a little town called "Niceville." We found that it was a nice place to take a bio break.

An Unwanted Addition
We stopped for an ice cream snack in Milton, Florida after a great sing-a-long in the car. (The little human is quite talented at making up poem-like songs.) We stopped at a little ticky-tacky tourist clap-trap, and along with their chocolate shakes and sundaes, the humans bought me a "friend" -- a big, scary, plastic 'gator (as in aligator)!

Now we're both in the undignified predictament of riding in the rear window of the car -- exposed to every Winnebago, motorcycle and 4-wheel drive vehicle that passes us. I certainly hope these humans don't expect me to POSE with this grinning gator! This is MY 15 minutes after all, and I certainly don't intend to share it with an inferior plastic toy!

Later in the day, my fate turned to the worse as the little human named the aligator "Allie." So now the pest is an official member of our little traveling band. I still have hope, though, that they will abandon it (like me) at some state line!

We ended the night in Meridian, Mississippi after going through the Florida panhandle and whizzing through Alabama.

Day 5 - Wednesday, June 4, 2008

2008-06-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

Day 5:

Jacksonville, Florida to Marianna, Florida

Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

Today we left Jacksonville, Florida to hit the open road to the great American West. However, we couldn't leave until the little human got out of school. After that, the humans lingered over lunch and good-byes, so again we got a late start. It was literally 93 degrees (Bearenheit!) in the shade, and I was locked up in the car like a piece of luggage, with not even the sunroof cracked! I think this may constitute cruel and unusual punishment, but they've confiscated my cell phone and I couldn't contact the ASPCSA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Stuffed Animals).

Anyway, we finally left in the late afternoon and drove west on I-10 a mere 250 miles to Marianna, Florida. There we stayed in a Microtel motel which the little human was very excited about. There was a padded bench seat by the bay window that she slept on. She let me join her. That was kind of cute.

For the evening's entertainment, I serenaded everyone with Sagette songs (while accompanying myself on guitar). That's me in the photo jammin' and improvising.

After the little human went to bed one of the big humans studied the map -- apparently for the first time -- and began to realize how long the trip was going to be. The oldest human lauged at her. Apparantly the archeologist doesn't take to the heat very well, so everyone agreed that a 30-day roadtrip to the Southwest in the summer was a brilliant idea! (This is what the humans call "sarcasm.")

Really, some of these humans should not be allowed to run the planet -- or even a 4-door sedan!

Days 3 & 4 in Jacksonville, Florida (June 2 & 3, 2008)

2008-06-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

Days 3 & 4:
St. George, South Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida
Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

We've holed up in Jacksonville, Florida for a few days to wait for another human (this time, it's a small one) to join us for the trip.

I've had a little time to recover from my abandonment trauma, so I thought I would share the photo with you here. It could have been the last time anyone ever saw me again. I can't believe humans are so thoughtless in their attitudes toward nature (specifically, me!).

Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook. You'll get a glimpse of some of the Jacksonville scenery.

And, yes, tomorrow we leave for the trip West.

Day 2 On the Road - Sunday, June 1, 2008

2008-06-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

Day Two:
Waldorf, Maryland to St. George, South Carolina
Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

This was a more eventful day for sure. We went through several states (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and half of South Carolina) and I got my first photo op, and survived a harrowing tragedy!

On Route 301 one of the humans kept jumping out of the car to take photographs of old motel signs. (I think she is an archaeologist or something.) For a nice specimen of an old sign found in Bel Alton, Maryland, go to my MySpace or Facebook photo albums.

We took a huge toll bridge on 301 to cross over into Virginia and then took the scenic "Virginia Bypass" on Rt. 218 into Fredricksburg. Again, the humans took the scenic Route 1 (which runs parelell to I-95) so they could see more old signs and historic things.

The Stonewall Jackson Shrine (Virginia)
They finally took me out and got a photo of me at the Stonewall Jackson shrine near Guinea, Virginia. And also on the road that led there which was part of the Virginia Civil War Trail. Stonewall Jackson died at the Chandler Plantation after being shot by his own soldiers, in what may be the earliest recorded instance of the so-called "friendly fire" tragedy.

Tragedy at "South of the Border" (South Carolina)
Speaking of tragedy, I also got my photo taken at the North Carolina state line, which was kind of exciting. But that was NOTHING compared to what happened (or almost happened) at the South Carolina state line. There, we went to the must-stop South of the Border amusement park where I heard one of the humans saying she had stopped there 20 years ago on during a spring break from her college days.

Anyway, they took me out and got several photos of me in and around South of the Border, but the last photo was on the state line sign near the park. The human had to stand on her tippy-toes and squish in some of my delicate body parts to make me stay on the sign. I was still hanging there after she took the photo, and then IN HORROR! I watched her turn away and walk back to the car without me! I thought that "South of the Border" must be tourist-language for "abandon the bear." When she got to the car, the other human must have said something because the archaeologist came running back to get me. I got back to the car safely, but my-lands, I was MIFFED! They laughed and laughed (cruel humans!) as if it were hilarious, but I refused to pose for another photo the rest of the day.

We ended the night in St. George, South Carolina. I slept with one glassy eye open.

Day 1 On the Road - Saturday, May 31, 2008

2008-05-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

Day One:
Albany, New York t0 Waldorf, Maryland
Be sure to check out my photo albums on Facebook.

Well, I, Jackie Bear, was up and ready to go by 9:00 AM. But the humans were very slow to get around and get started, so we didn't leave until the late, late afternoon! (They would never make it as bears -- it's the early bear who gets the honey.)

We drove from Albany, NY down I-87 to New Jersey where we picked up I-95 South to Florida. Around Baltimore, the humans decided to take a "scenic" bypass around Washington, DC, but they ended up getting lost. Eventually, after driving around in circles in Baltimore, they took I-97 south to Rt. 3 to Rt. 301. We stopped in Waldorf, MD (be sure to have the salad there!) for the night so that we could see scenic 301 in the daylight.

Frankly, it wasn't much of an exciting day for a bear, but I have hope that things will perk up along the way.

Last Day on Campus Before the Big Trip

2008-05-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

Homebase: Troy, NY

Well, like every cool/kewl college kid, I've created a Facebook page and a MySpace page to upload photos of my trip.

MySpace URL:
http://www.myspace.com/RussellSageRoadtrip

Here's my first photo album on my Facebook page.

It's of some of my favorite spots on campus. I wanted to visit them and take some photos before I started my 6-week road trip!

Now I've got to get to bed because we're leaving tomorrow at 10AM and I still have to pack...

The Trip is About to Begin -- Operators Are Standing By!

2008-05-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true -- operators are standing by to report every mile and memory of The Great 2008 Russell Sage Roadtrip.

A special Russell Sage icon will travel the country this summer, visiting all the exciting tourist traps from New York to Florida to Arizona and back! (Think of it as our version of a certain traveling gnome -- the mascot for a popular travel Web site....)

Want to see Russell Sage icons in iconographic places? Then send us your suggestions of where to shoot our photos:

on top of Pedro's Reality Ride at South of the Border?
the Ava Gardner museum just off I-95?
the Florida state capital in Tallahassee? (yawn)
Bourbon Street in New Orleans?
alongside dusty claptrap motels on Route 66?
looking over the painted deserts of Arizona and New Mexico?
hanging over Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon?
meeting a Vortex guru in Sedona?
touring Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale?
buying postcards in the Heard Museum in Phoenix?

You name it and we'll try to get there!

We're going to have a great road trip and post lots of photos, so stay tuned, operators are standing by -- and this offer does NOT expire at midnight tonight!

Departure Date: Saturday, March 31st

Next Posting: Sunday, June 1st

For more info: http://www.sage.edu or http://www.sage.edu/rsc
Contact us at: comments@TheQuillRSC.com