James West tamin the west so remember the name

After spending the night in Kadoka, South Dakota (and being sent on our way with a blessing by a bunch of nice old ladies who ran the continental breakfast at the restaurant next to our motel) we set off into the Badlands, our first national park. An absolutely stunning/eerie environment, one of the main things we noticed about this area was the absolute DEADDDD silence--no wind, no animals, no parties.

Walking out into the Badlands, we couldn't get over how extra terrestrial they were.

Coming out of the Badlands, we saw some of our first up-close wildlife of the trip--a group of prarie dogs had made a town by the side of the road. These things are super curious, jump around, and chirp constantly. We're become big fans of prarie dogs.

At the apparently famous Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota. These natives looked exactly like us... GET IT!!!!!????

The landscape changed DRAMATICALLY as we entered the Black Hills of SD. This mountain goat was just hanging around.

G-Wash and Lincoln peeking.

We can't believe how close we got to these buffalo. Here you can see Max petting one.

A deer keeping an eye on us as we searched for a campsite in the Black Hills.

Our tent lit up by campfirelight (now a word). Not to be cliche, but I had forgotten how epic a full sky of stars was. The milky way is milky! Fancy that!

A pronghorn in Custer State Park, just outside the Black Hills.

Buffs.

The second cave of our trip, in Wind Cave National Park, also in South Dakota! Monstrous. Apparently over 2000 miles of tunnels in the network. Shortly after this was taken we were chased out by the Cave Monster.

Although we had prepared ourselves to be bored by Wyoming, the desolate rolling brown hills are actually quite beautiful in their own way. We finally felt like we were in the wessssst. We took this small local road to bypass some road work on the interstate. We wondered why no one else was taking the road, and why our GPS was telling us 40 miles would take 4 hours.....

This eerie sense of mystery was only heightened by Satan himself posessing our car as we drove down this deserted road.

Narrowly escaping the clutches of the evil one, we ended up safely in Denver, where we stayed with Barbara (my second cousin) and Jim in their suburban home. This stop was a well needed oasis of hospitality--nice to see a familiar face and be with family after being adrift in the country and nice to be fed/given a comfortable bed/fed/fed.

Heading into Rocky Mountain National Park we came across this fella. Spectacular. Huge. Glad he didn't kill us.

Tapping the rockies at Bear Lake

The chipmunks in the park must be fed by any and everyone because they have no hint of fear around humans. Later in the day, a baby chipmunk ran across my lap as I was sitting at the side of the road.

Looking down from 12,000 feet.

The landscape gets completely barren as we got above 12,000 feet. Breathing is tricky, but the views are unreal.

We checked the river behind this hill, and it does indeed run in two directions, split by the divide. We're in the homestretch now! Still nothing looks like Sesame Street though...

The Midwest

Getting an early start Monday in Chicago at the top of the Sears Tower (which sneakily seems to have changed its name to the Willis Tower which they try to sweep under the rug left and right). As you can see here I'm standing in a horrifying glas box that juts out from the top floor of the building... the tallest in the nation.

Looking down at the street from Sears. Eerie, yet a damn good idea.

Yes indeed.

Spotted this on our way down the street. Max and I have been pondering why...

Both Max and I agree that Chicago is the best city we've been to. Gorgeous, oddly clean, and extremely friendly. It's sort of a laid back New York. Spent most of the day wandering the streets and checking out the Millenium Park area which is filled with interesting sculptures, a garden, an artsy-ass fountain, and the Art Institute, which has a monstrous museum that I tried my best to take in.

After crossing Illinois in the evening, we spent the night in Clinton Iowa and set out driving up the Mississippi River the next morning.

Just south of Dubuke, Iowa, along the river we stopped by the Crystal Lake Caverns. No epic underground lakes filled with dinosaurs as we hoped, but still fantastic since I'd never been in a cave before. Strange experience seeing the real thing after being so used to seeing similar stuff at Disneyland. We were told that this was 100 feet underground.

The Mississippi Rivaaaaaa after eating in Dubuke at Los Aztecos Mexican Restaurant. The all mexican staff were super excited that we were from Los Angeles.

An unexpected crossing into Wisconson after a docent at the Crystal Lake Caverns told us we'd have a great day continuing to follow the Mississippi River north. Interesting how fast the landscape changes from state to state.

After spending the night crossing Minnesota and staying in Jackson, we crossed the South Dakota Border and went through Sioux Falls. Pretty bleak city, but the center of town has this epic park which barely contains this natural waterfall.

Crossing South Dakota, the land becomes increasingly wide and desolate. Beautiful to see the sun setting over these hills. We're for the first time feeling like we're truly in the middle of nowhere.

Crossing the Missouri River before stopping for tonight in Kadoka, South Dakota--just outside the Badlands.

Pennsohiondianichigan

Suuuuuuper tired from nearly 500 miles of driving today, so I'll give you the detailed report later on the past two days. We've come from Harrisburg, Penn to LaPorte, Indiana. Here's some pictures for the time being.

The football stadium at Penn State was hands down the most monstrous sports arena Max and I had ever seen. This part of the country LOVES their football. A game had just ended and the tailgate party was like a small city. Everything felt all-American to a hilarious degree. This however was nothing compared what we would the next day experience in Cleveland...

Our stop that evening at the Emlenton Motor Inn in the small/random town of Emlenton in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania. A lot more murderous looking at night, but actually pretty decent inside. Ate breakfast across the parking lot at the place belowwwww...

...which had this puzzling sign out front, but had delicious waffles.

On our way out of Pennsylvania we saw a lot of country like this. Even saw an amish guy! Not too far from here we passed a road sign like the one on the right (though we were going too fast and running over too many blind people to snap a picture of our own).

Cleveland Ohio--surprisingly fantastic.

Our favorite sign from Cleveland

I have two videos from Cleveland that explain my football comment earlier. I'll upload them tomorrow.

Max on the shore of Lake Eerie. Something about being by the water is really appealing to me, probably due to growing up by the ocean.

Tell me this doesn't look like the ocean.

Some of Indiana. After crossing Ohio entirely, we've now almost crossed Indiana.

Hopped across the border to Michigan to take this photo at sunset.

Off to Chicago tomorrow!!

Spiderman City

Rain, gusting wind, and having a slight cold don't normally make for an excellent experience of any sort. However, when that experience takes place in New York City, the majesty and energy of the city do a damn good job of making up for less than desirable conditions.

Max and I spent the night in Commack, Long Island with his incredibly hospitable aunt and uncle who fed us a goofy amount of food and set this trip off on the right foot. Taking the train into New York I started to get a little dissappointed about how hard the rain was pouring but on exiting the train i was instantly so overwhelmed by everything around me I quickly forgot about the weather.

Manhattan isn't like Sesame Street, I suppose I'd have to go to the Bronx or something for that. Manhattan is however exactly like Spiderman. I think what most excited me about the city, even from the first moments of walking around, is how much being in New York felt like I've always hoped it would feel. Seeing so many movies and television shows that take place in the streets of the city, I had developed a certain sensation that I've always associated with the downtown area. The feeling of complete enclosure in an endless metropolis that I felt walking through the city today delivered EXACTLY this. I was also constantly struck by the sense of raw industrial history throughout the city, particularly in the subways where ancient looking machinery, typography, tiles, and iron framework seemed from an era long since erased in Los Angeles. The people who built this city seem to have done a hell of a good job considering the modern world seems to thrive here while still relying heavily on this hundred year old infastructure.

Anyhow, wandering the city was more of a pure sightseeing expedition than anything else since street performers and tourists in general seemed to be absent due to the rain. The fact that today was 9/11 did bring some out to ground zero, including some weirdly coordinated giant protest who's participants claimed that crafty ol George Bush himself had orchestrated the attacks 8 years ago. Spending the night tonight with another of Max's aunts and uncles who are equally hospitable and letting us crash in their midtown apartment with a view of a good portion of the city. Pennsylvania tomorrow. I hope it's like Sesame Street!


Painting the town GET IT!!!??


Everything seems to have a rich history


30 Rock


Obligatory Time Square shot


Very pleased he didn't shoot us


Max finds one of his own


Possibly the most morbid statue I've ever seen. Actually, definitely.


The view out our apartment window.


We didn't get to go to the top of the Empire State Building, but our room is on the 16th floor. So like... ya know... good enough right?..