What? You'd like to hear all about my trip to California?

I must say, this trip of 1sts did not disappoint. Luckily, within the first 2 hours of our drive, we could already tell this would be a grand adventure, so we made sure to keep a log. (The physical log didn't last long after we made it to California, but a mental one was maintained through the whole trip.) See figure 1.

Figure 1.

Oh, you'd like to know what we made sure to include in our physical and figurative logs, respectively? Well sure, I can definitely tell you all about it! Let's see, how to start? I suppose the best way to begin would be from the beginning, and then slowly work through the middle, until we reach the end...

DAY 1:

We plan our departure for 3pm and find ourselves driving out of Salt Lake City at 4pm (pretty good, I thought). We stop for dinner at a Subway about an hour later, only to find a giant Moose statue, on the corner of the adjacent gas station, howling at the moon - I assumed it was recently bit by a werewolf and starting to show wolfish tendencies; it was a full moon that night after all. Turns out, not only humans can be bit by those pesky devils. We promptly took a picture of our new friend, the Weremoose.

We pull off the highway again another hour later, after reaching the world's largest rocking chair (not actually as large as I expected, interestingly). We seek the aid of a young station attendant who was happy to oblige and get out of pumping gas. He's apparently a professional giant rocking chair picture taker, which makes me feel so much like a tourist in my own state that I want to turn on my british accent so I can act like I really am a tourist. But I don't. We get back in the car, armed with photo proof of our sightseeing.

We drive for a long time. And then we drive some more.

We see cars and trucks with license plates from 27 different states and 4 Canadian provinces. I seem to get checked out by numerous drivers (Liz can second this) and a dirty look by an old man with one tooth.

Berkley opens bag to eat beef jerky. I smell something foul as I pick a new song to listen to. I put down IPod to find out what reaks, and hear Berkley giggle embarrassedly as Kristen and Liz wonder the same question aloud. The smell of beans quickly overtakes the car and windows are opened. Berkley apologizes and quickly puts the bag away. Odor settles in the car for another 5 minutes until we ban it with fresh air and vicious rhetoric (oh wait, that's Tad Hamilton, sorry. Getting my memories confused. Just open windows. And maybe some choice words).

Time change confuses me. I'm unprepared to live 8pm over again, and check my log numerous times to make sure I didn't mess my hours up. Someone reassures me that I'm not losing my mind - just my ability to cope with change. I feel better and worse at the same time.
We make it to Las Vegas - another 1st for me. I'd never seen the glittering lights before. We drive through, my head flipping left and right to catch all the hotels and casinos. I don't. There are too many of them. I silently wonder if Las Vegas's electric bills could single-handedly cover the national debt if we applied it.

3 hours later, we arrive at Kristen's house in California (another 1st!), tired and momentarily pained as we stretch our legs. We are received into the house by her giant horse-dog, who's already tipped over a plant in his excitement. I take my place on the horse and let him give me a tour. When I dismount, I fall into bed and fall into sleep.

Coming Up Next: Day 2...(in case you want to pick and choose just what day you want to read about, if a certain subject is more enticing. I'm trying to be thoughtful).