Thanks, peace out, and the B Side

This is my last post (I think. Unless I think of something to add, in which case I will go ahead and add it).

Despite the artistic prowess with which this blog has been developed, there were lots of pictures that didn't make it into the posts. And also, as it turns out, some highly mediocre video. But if you're interested, here's the stuff that for whatever reason, maybe because posting from my phone doesn't always work, didn't make the original cut.

Roxy and Snap get after it


Gibbedy singalong


The magical world of Cabela's


The crazy storm in Iowa
Roxy attempting to help with the driving
The polar bear up close I would like to say thanks to all the wonderful people who helped make this roadtrip and this blog so much fun. Thanks to everyone who read, and everyone who commented (especially Anonymous and the Fossil who were incredibly reliable fans). Thanks to Thelma (our broker, who probably isn't reading this but rocks nonetheless). And of course, thanks to La Quinta for fronting our trip. Every lq we stayed in was, as we expected, clean, friendly, and reliable. It was a great trip. Maybe we'll do it again some day...

Day 6 - Jibboom!

7am - There is a lovely river in Sacramento with a bike path that you can walk along. It was on the bike path this morning that Roxy remembered she is afraid of bikes. So we didn't get too far.

8:15am - This La Quinta has outdoor seating in the breakfast area. Winning! We are biding our time because we won't be able to get into our new place until noon.

Also this lq is on Jibboom St. So "Jibboom goes the dynamite!" is our new favorite phrase. So I figure this old video is relevant:


10:16am - so close!



11:51am over the bay bridge and into the city! Officially here.

Last night on the road

At dinner we determined that driving 10hrs a day for multiple days makes us both pretty tweaky. But burgers helped with that.

Downtown Sacramento is kind of a bizarro ghosttown without people on the streets, but the one block with people has a place called burgers and brews that makes a mean jalapeno bacon burger. The very friendly bartender carded us and when I didn't have my id he wasn't even a little phased, as if to say, yeah, I know, you're for sure over 21. But other than that he was charming.

We followed that up with chatting with strangers in the hottub. Like you do.

Tomorrow we get to sf!

Day 5- getting close

7:57am Change of plans today. Mainly because you can't always get the hotel room you want if you wait till the day of to reserve it. Oops. So we're headed to Sacramento instead of Reno today.

8:45am - the great salt lake




10:05am - totally forgot to blog about dinner last night! We ate at a place billed as the best Indian food in Utah. It was definitely good. They had cauliflower naan which I had never seen before but was totally into. The mango lassi was delish and the vindaloo which we ordered spicy was REALLY spicy. Also worth noting that it was in a totally sketchy part of town, as was our lq. Anyway, I was reminded about this because we just decided that we're going to eat lunch at the "best Mexican restaurant in Elko, NV." get psyched.

10:11am - Salt flats. So cool looking.




9:18am damn. Just completely missed the Nevada sign. I really need to try harder. Welcome to NV. Also, welcome to pacific time. Also, post Utah, God is still behind, but catching up. score is 11-7.

12:43pm El Aguilar Real in Battle Mountain NV (Pete insists on calling Battle Mountain Battle Axe Mountain and is lobbying really hard for me to post a picture of a battle axe). If you're ever in the middle of nowhere Nevada, this place is worth the stop. I'm sure it beats the place we didn't end up going to in Elko.



5:05pm - Hello California!!


5:22pm - they check cars for produce coming into cali. Bizarre.

7:00pm - It is 95 degrees outside La Quinta Sacramento. I guess this is our last day of summer...

Wyoming is a long state

with not a lot going on after Cheyenne. At least in the southern bit. But most of the way there are beautiful mountains and that's nice.

After the 8235th billboard, we did stop at Little America for 50cent soft serve ice cream. And that was pretty wonderful.

Then we got to Utah! Here's the sign. My worst yet, I'm afraid.
The mountains are really gorgeous here and much closer (I kind of love mountains. They never get old). And this La Quinta, although it doesn't have a rodeo pageant going on, it is full of participants in a youth soccer tournament. So that's something.

Day 4 - mountain time

7:30am - entering mountain time! We're attempting to go to Ole's for breakfast.

7:34am - Ole's doesn't do breakfast. Fail.

7:53am Ogalalla! Best town name ever. Jury still out on breakfast.

9:49am - leaving Cabellas in Sidney NE. This place is amazing. Took so many more pictures than I can post. Dad, found your bday present:


Also:



10:40am - Wyoming!


10:56 - mountains! Still not close enough for pics though.

11:35am - lunch time in Cheyenne. Some people just waved and said hi as they drove by me. Wow. So not the northeast. Eating at The Bread Basket. The sandwiches look gooood.

12:33pm


2:19 - halfway across Wyoming and totally rocking out to Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Huey Lewis and INXS. Hat tip and huge props to Jess.

Nebraska, in general

We've arrived at the No. Platte NE La Quinta and it's definitely the nicest one yet. Our room is lovely, the woman at front desk offered us dinner recommendations, they have a fitness center, a dog run, and all the other stuff. They also have omg so many mosquitoes. Not inside though. And that's not an LQ thing so much as a Nebraska thing it seems.

We started our afternoon here meeting JK for lunch in Omaha. After Roxy briefly escaped and ran loose in his neighborhood he took us to the best Thai restaurant in Nebraska. The name of which I didn't catch, but it was good! And spicy. Also JK greeted us with an apple pie and other marvelous gifts. If you're reading this, you're the best, dude.

Anyway, that started us off right in this state. Since then we've mostly driven straight. And here we are. Just in time for Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska! At our very own la Quinta!