Internet Finally

So we are in Monterrey, CA. We finally got an internet connection at the Embassy Suites where Brian's Uncle John and his family are staying for a few days. I'll catch you up on everything we've been doing that past week or so.

After the Grand Canyon we traveled to San Diego. We spent the first few days parked in random parking lots and on the street down by a few beaches. After a couple of days we made our way out to Poway where Trevor's parents live and spent three or four days parked in front of their house. They were amazing. We were able to take real showers, do laundry and watch some TV for a change. Since we rarely have internet and don't have TV we aren't really up to date on current events. On Sunday we went to the San Diego Zoo and got to enjoy the gay pride event taking place there for the day. As two guys going to the zoo together at a gay pride event I'm sure we didn't make much of an impression on the four girls there that day.

We left from San Diego and headed to Los Angeles but spent less time there than we did driving to get there. We went to Robertson Ave or buelevard or street or road or whatever it's called that Shelby told us the cool, rich, famous kids go to but saw no one. We decided LA just wasn't our scene and headed north for San Francisco.

We stayed yesternight in San Francisco by Candlestick Park. We got run out of a state parking lot but the ranger showed us an empty business lot to park in for the night. We went to Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown but left today for Monterey. Tomorrow we will head to the aquarium and possibly to Pebble Beach. We are having an amazing time. Everything is going well and we have only been hit on by a few men.

Next stop: The Grand Canyon

Well all started well on our hike up Humphrey's Peak until we get to about 11,400 feet and couldn't find anywhere to camp. The mountain side was a 75 degree slope and there wasn't a flat spot for miles. So after a futile effort to set up camp on the mountain we decided that we would just climb all the way to the summit and back in one day. This was not our most brilliant moment as it was already probally 6:00 or 7:00 in the evening. So off we hiked leaving most of our heavy camping gear at our makeshift high camp. After about an hour of hiking the trail to the summit the trail seemed to get sketchier and sketchier until finally we were hiking through thick brush and had obviously lost the trail. Eventually we made it onto the ridge where we could see Humphrey's Peak about a mile away and a long way up. The view from the top was amazing and we got there just in time to see the sunsetting which was really cool but also meant we were out of daylight and didn't know where the trail back to camp was. Like the geniuses we are we decided to hike straight down the rock face sliding the whole way. Once we got about half way down the 12,686 ft peak we realized how utterly lost we were. Over the next 4 hours we wandered aimlessly through the dark forest making zig zags up and down the hillsides. Luckily we did have one flashlight which made climbing through the thorns and loose rocks slightly less excrutiating. Just when it seemed we were doomed to stumble around the woods forever Connor shines the light onto what looks like a smooth well worn trail. We can't believe it we actually managed to happen upon a trail; what trail we have no idea, but a TRAIL non the less. No the tough part which way do we go on the trail? Up seemed like the way to camp but after about 20 minutes on the trail going up we realized that it was taking us in the wrong direction. So we turned around once again and headed down this time. We didnt seem to recognize the trail but we kept on walking and after about another hour we stumbled right back into our camp!

The Wandering Has Resumed

For those who haven't heard we are back in business and on the road again. After our debacle in Roswell we were forced to go home and regroup. Mom and Dad helped get us back on our feet with an almost new travel trailer. It is a major upgrade from the motorhome. We never named the old RV with hopes that it would name itself. Use your imagination to figure out what we call it. The travel trailer is infinitely nicer, and the fact that everything works is a huge plus. And with my truck now too we don't have to worry about breaking down every half hour.

We left Abilene two days ago and drove all night. We didn't realize it once we started but the GPS took us back through the hell hole known as Roswell. We kept on to a tiny little town called Corona and pulled over for the night. The next day we got up with the intentions to go to the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, but we got there after the park closed. Since there is absolutely nothing to do around there we just kept going. We stopped in Winslow, AZ for the night and packed up this morning for Flagstaff.

Just north of Flagstaff is Humphrey's Peak on San Francisco Mountain. It is the highest peak in Arizona at about 12,600 ft. The plan is to prepare today to hike the mountain tomorrow. We are driving to the trailhead here shortly and will most likely camp there for the night before heading out tomorrow. We still have a few supplies we need to get, but we have almost everything we need. It will probably take us a few days to climb to the peak and back, but it looks like a good trail and a fairly simple climb for our first hike.

We tried to post a few videos but the blog is fighting us a bit right now. We will work on getting them up along with pictures of our adventures thus far.

I guess it's time to reveal our troubles.  On Wednesday we left Abilene and headed to Roswell, NM.  We traveled a few hundred miles of uninhabited desert only to find ourselves walking away from our wounded shelter four miles outside of town.  After about a 30 minute hike we were able to catch a ride to a restaurant in the middle of the city.  We completely neglected to bring anything substantial from the RV with us on our trek, so comfort was out of the question.

Unwilling to spend $40 on a cheap motel room we decided the best plan of action was to simply stick it out in a field until morning when a service shop would be open to resuscitate the motorhome.  After about half an hour in the weeds when Brian couldn't breathe and my eyes wouldn't stop watering we broke down and checked into the National 9 Inn.  It didn't have much more to offer than the empty field aside from ESPN.

The next morning we caught a cab out to the RV and somehow managed to get it into town only to find out our travels would be drastically altered.  The engine was blown, it would cost more to fix it than the whole thing was worth and we were trapped in the middle of Blahville, NM with no transportation.

For the motorhome and $400 Brian was able to get us a sexy little 1984 4-cylinder Toyota pickup with 231,000 miles and a snazzy little camper shell.  We put everything from the RV in the back of the truck (except the Ramen, we forgot the Ramen!) and headed back to Texas.  We did manage to visit a couple of alien gift shops, but that was about the extent of our experience in Roswell.

So now we are back in Kaufman formulating a new plan with new adventures and a new ride.  The same basic principles will apply.  Rolling and wandering.

Master Mechanics

We finally got the gas tank cleaned out and put back on the motorhome. We haven't taken it anywhere yet, but it runs like a champ in the driveway. Tomorrow will be the real test when we make our five hour drive to Kaufman. If we make it that far with no trouble we should be good to go. So until we break down you can call us master mechanics. Even if that's only for a day.

The First Leg

So when we finally take off from the Dallas area we've made up our mind on the route to take. Its going to be a slow trip but that's ok; six hours a day is plenty for us. Leaving Dallas, head to Roswell, New Mexico to hang out with some alien folk. Then from Roswell drive north to Albuquerque, New Mexico. After spending the night in Albuquerque we drive to the Grand Canyon. Hiking through the grand canyon should take a couple of days. Joshua Tree is the next stop as we must pay tribute to the traditions of the queens boulevard crew. And that's about as far as we've gotten. Any ideas let us know.

In San Antonio

We've been in San Antonio for almost a week now and have yet to do any real work on the RV. It's really nice to have no more deadlines but we should get to start working on stuff tomorrow. Departure date is prob going to be in about two weeks at which point we are going to head to the grand canyon.