L.A. - Arizona - New Mexico - El Paso

Leaving LA
Our LA Story concluded with a delicious and vegan Thai lunch, after which Greg directed us to the freeway and we were off.


We left LA on a high note, with a long-awaited glimpse of the Hollywood sign.


Melanie was finally happy,

and Heather decided her life's goal would be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tinseltown sure left its mark on us!

Our first point of interest en route was the massive windmill city that has been constructed near Palm Springs. The turbines were eerily lifelike and strangely appealing. They were also everywhere.




Being in Arizona


Before too long we had made it out of California and into Arizona. The most cactuslike of any cactuses we had seen greeted us like butlers holding two glasses of wine.


There was no end of delight at the sight of these cactuses. We loved Arizona for its cactuses. Especially the little flowers on top.


Our Arizona night was spent at the Picacho Peak State Park, a relatively secluded and pristinely kept campground overlooking the interstate but nestled in Arizona mountains.


We got there late, with a full sky of stars to meet us. After the tent unsuccessfully attempted to be blown away, we settled into sleeping bags to watch a yellow half moon rise over the desert amidst Jupiter and millions of un-named constellations.

The night was periodically interrupted by brief but potent gusts of wind which grappled with the tent as if it were a sail. Heather was more than once startled out of sleep by the side of the tent folding in on her.

Tan and small birds with long beaks flitted around in the morning, and Keith and Melanie went running with tiny, fast and camoflauged lizards who didn't so much run as hover and zoom.

Tucson held the promise of hundreds of ostriches, more cactuses and a Whole Foods. It did not disappoint.

Car Talk
The days have consisted of long drives as expected, but we've been able to make the most of them. Snacking and knitting have been going beautifully.



Manifest Desiny 2: Sacagawea's Revenge, Erin's expertly crafted mix cd, pumped us up and mellowed us out through California and Arizona.

Keith turned into a book on tape by reading out loud Creating a Life Together, a book written specifically for people forming communities. It feels good to keep our eyes on the prize.


Calisthenics were carried out as usual.



"Thank you. It worked. Love, Gas Can"
Half-way between Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, the car began sputtering and jerking, and we discovered it was out of gas. Luckily we were able to roll on the shoulder to about 3/4 of mile near a gas station exit. Heather and Keith took a stroll to the station and Melanie protected the car and rode the waves of shaking caused by the passage of moving vehicles. In the end, we decided it was the best possible way to run out of gas in the desert.



El Paso's Grande Burrito Adventure
Melanie was so happy to reach Texas, a place she's never been and has always wanted to be. As it was already evening, the search began for dinner, which became an epic quest for an El Paso burrito, which became a desperate need to find any open restaurant. We were satisfied by El Paso's own India Palace. El Paso itself was almost completely deserted, but we postulated that the string of dotted lights to the south of it was actually and in fact the Mexican border.

Now on to the next campsite somewhere in the heart of Texas, and then on to Austin. But first, two pictures for one Ben O'Brien:



Love,
Melanie, Heather & Keith