On the Way Down

If my memory serves me right, I do believe that our trip down to Vegas took 29 hours- that was about 6 hours longer than it was supposed to. I'm thinking that we didn't figure in stops for eating, going to the bathroom, taking pictures, etc. Who thinks of that anyways?! The drive was great though, we took the jeep - much more comfortable than I thought it would be and on the way back it was nice to have the top off.

The first place we decided to stop in California was just past the boarder and sported a giant fly on top of the outhouse roof!


We drove through San Fransisco and were hoping to get there during daylight... but once again our stops got in the way and we arrived at night. However, we did get to experience traffic in downtown San Fransisco on a Saturday night (an hour to drive 1 mile) and we got mooned by a bum (he thought we were laughing at him). Pretty good ride through San Fran!


Had to get some sleep somehow.


Our buddies on the beach - one who was experiencing a California beach for the first time!

Redwood Forest

One of our buddies that we took the trip to Vegas and the Canyon with had never been south of Oregon. We had to take her through California - she had never seen a CA beach either!

A and I hugging a Redwood Tree


My honey in front of a Redwood Tree


The Trees of Mystery - have to get this pic every time!

Bellagio Fountains

Every time I go to Vegas I have to see the Bellagio Fountains. Fountain show give me goosebumps every time I watch one. Especially the Bellagio Fountains, they are the king of fountain shows. Just at the beginning of this month we were in California and the waterfront in Downtown Los Angeles has a fountain show that was created by the maker of the Bellagio Fountains. So if you are downtown Los Angeles, take a look.

Vegan Doughnuts at Ronald's in Vegas

Don't get me wrong. We LOVE Mighty O Doughnuts in Seattle. That place pleases the vegan and non vegan but there is something special about having a apple fritter or maple bar after you have not had them for 2 years. Mighty O Doughnuts in Seattle is awesome, but they also specialize in specialty doughnuts (my favorite is the Don King). Ronald's had a huge selection of doughnuts that were vegan that we could eat. As you can see I am pretty excited in the picture. A man commented when he saw us opening the box that it looked like we were kids who had discovered a treasure chest. Well... that is kind of what it felt like.

Day at the Canyon

We had one of the most beautiful days at the canyon. Clear skies, you could see everything.

Driving Away from the Grand Canyon

As many things as there were to see driving to the Grand Canyon, there were also a ton to see leaving. Here are a few pictures...

Casino's in Vegas

Our trip did not consist only of the Grand Canyon. We had originally intended on driving through Yellowstone as well but we ended up going to an awesome conference in Vegas with some friends and our incredible church. Here we are during some "free time."

Spongebob is everywhere -even at the Excalibur!

My honey drinking out of the fountain at Bally's - not really :)


Me at The Flamingo

Me and my baby bump at The Bellagio

My honey and the Pegasus at Caesar's Palace

Me watching the show at Caesar's Palace

Hoover Dam

The New Hoover Dam Bypass being built

Our buddies

Richie licking the lucky feet of the thing. You are only supposed to rub the toes but he felt inclined to lick them.


Us at the Dam

Looking down from the top to the bottom of the dam

Canyon Sunrise

We arrived at the lookout around 5:45 for the 6:00 sunrise. Pretty spectacular! No one could have told us how cold it would be though! Watching the sunrise at the Grand Canyon is definitely on the top of my list of things I have done!

Me looking out at the canyon

Me wrapped in a blanket, so cold!

Our buddies :)

My honey and I

The Next Vacation...

Hopefully, in the next 3 months or so my honey and I are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. We plan on driving there, in our Jeep with some friends in tow. We have to take the Jeep because there might be trails we want to blaze! Lately, I have felt an increasing desire to visit there soon, much like the immediate desire I had for us to go visit New Orleans, LA in June of 2005, just 2 months before Katrina. This freaks me out a little bit... I think "why is my desire to go here soon so strong?" *hoping that everything will be find there once we leave* I know that we do not carry a curse over us and the places we visit and if we do then I break that in the name of Jesus! Let the places we step foot on be blessed!

I am now in the planning stages of our trip, figuring out how many miles away, how much it is going to cost, where will we stay and what to do. I have ordered travel guides for both places to try and get some bearings. I do know that the trip will be 1694 miles from our house 1 way! What an adventure!