So close but yet so far

So, my trip was suppost to end in Greensboro yesterday around 8pm. Well, during a stop in Charlotte, NC to get gas and quick coffee with Sarah, Gwen decided to over heat again. Long story short, there was windshield wiper fluid somehow (ether Wal Mart in California who changed my oil or the New Mexico Honda dealership) where my coolant was suppost to be! After another tow to the dealership and very comforting friends letting me stay at their house, Im waiting for a call back from Scott at Honda here in Charlotte. Id like to hope it will be like New Mexico, its a quick fix and on my way I go. But my hopes don't seem to be able to rise very quickly today, because I have heard this all before. So once again, prayers would be great. Be nice to settle in my new home for a little bit before work at 7am rolls around tomorrow morning.

I've also uploaded the rest of the photos from the trip on my flickr. I guess it was just road weary but I didn't think to take photos on Alabama with all my great friends! Katie took some in Tuscaloosa and Im waiting for those, but none from Bham which is very sad. But take a look at flickr for the moments of the trip with Carla and me.

I also want to thank everyone whos been calling, leaving comments and praying for us. It means so much to know there is a community of people all over the states praying for our journey. As much as all the car problems suck, things could be much worse. Knowing there's people praying and caring comforts me a lot. So this is my thank you, which seems so small in all that yall have done for the trip.

I can still be found taking the long way around

When it comes to road trips, adventure is far more important than efficiency.

We clearly illustrated that today, as we left Williams, Ariz., at 9 a.m. and arrived in Santa Fe, N.M., around 8:30 p.m. Clearly we weren't on the direct route.

Instead, we turned onto U.S. 89 in Flagstaff, headed north to the Four Corners. We both thought that standing in four states at once was a novelty that we HAD to experience in our lifetimes -- so why not now?

It was a long drive there, though, through a lot of desert. We traveled through the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations in northeastern Arizona, as well as the painted desert. It was gorgeous but HOT -- taxed poor Gwen a bit, and it also meant her air was blowing a bit warm for quite a while.

We were SO excited to finally arrive at the Four Corners, partly so we could each add a new state to our lists (Utah for Carla, Colorado for Alisa), but also because our AAA TripTik promised greener vistas in Colorado.


Carla sits in four states at one time

And after half an hour or so of gray desert, we finally saw grass and -- gasp! -- trees (for the first time in days!). The temperatures were milder, the scenery a bit easier on the eyes, and we were content for several hours of driving.


A little footage from the Colorado road

As we passed through Durango and headed on to Pas... Pas-something Springs (I'm sorry, it's late, if you want to know, get out a map!), we realized we were a bit sleepy and ready for some coffee (and gas!). So the coffee queens honed their coffee-dar in on a small shop in that Spring town and managed to slip in just before closing. We felt refreshed as we continued out of what surely must've been a ski resort town (population 1,591) and continued toward New Mexico.

Now, the part of New Mexico we drove through in 2003 was very different from what we saw today. Along I-40, there are way more plateaus (yay plateaus!) and desert. Headed south into New Mexico, we saw more lakes, mountains and pretty green things. But we also saw a LOT of road construction. We're talking, we spent at least 45 minutes driving 40 mph or slower.


Where did our road go?!?!

But eventually, after an amazing sunset and a LOT of driving, we arrived at our hotel in Santa Fe. We threw our bags down and drove straight to IHOP -- our last meal was 11 a.m. Pacific time, and by this point it was almost 9 p.m. Mountain time. WE WERE HUNGRY.

Back in the hotel, Alisa checked her e-mail and then crawled into bed -- it's my turn to upload the pictures and blog. Although I've been the first to bed every night of this trip so far, Alisa has been asleep for at least 45 minutes as I've uploaded these pictures and written this for y'all. :) Now I'm about exhausted myself. Tomorrow we're off to Texas (not our favorite state -- sorry, Texans!) for our last stop before ALABAMA! Naturally, we love road tripping, but I'm also excited to get back to a little humidity and maybe even some high heels. (I should tell y'all sometime about how reasonable I've been, fashion-wise, on this excursion. :) I know I'm high maintenance, but I'm not stupid!) I love adventure and hiking, but I will also enjoy dressing up this weekend.

Love y'all!
Carla Jean

Arizona has caught me by suprise

In a very very short recap of the day becasue we are very tired (Carla is already a slee) and I just spent a long time uploading photos for yall. Our friend, Katey, is working there this summer so we got in for free becasue we spent the day visiting her. She was a lot of fun to hang out with, as where her friends and worship service on the rim. Little sunburnt and really tired but a good day. Check out the photos:

Venti Adventures

The lack of audio posts where due to lack of cell service in the area. Tommorow we have a long drive to 4 Corners then to New Mexico so hopefully some more fun audio blogs will be coming you way. Im glad yall get to come along for the adventure with us!

Howdy from Arizona

We are tired, but have uploaded some pictures on flickr for your viewing pleasure. Also below you shall find some videos from our travels this afternoon. Otherwise, I think all that really happened today is on our audio blogs so check those out if you haven't already. Also, please play along with question of the day, is much more fun that way. We are off to bed in our very fun bed and breakfast in downtown Williams for some good rest for our full day at the Grand Canyon and seeing Katey. Yay!

Carla and the slots:


More of Carla and the slots:


Us dancing to John Mayer (though you can hardly hear):

I guess this is growing up

It's nearly 11 p.m. Pacific (which means 1 a.m. real time) the night before Alisa and I set off on our second cross-country road trip. I know I should be asleep but I just haven't done enough writing lately. Lying in bed with a notebook and pen is worth defying sleep, even for this jet lagged girl. (Heck, I get jet lag flying from Jacksonville, Fla., to New York City!)

I think your early- and mid-twenties must be full of crossroads, becasue I think both Alisa and I are at such points again. As we set off on our 2003 trip, she was out of school and seeking adventure. That came in the form of an Alabama apartment, a roommate she barely knew in advance and a host of new foods and phrases. (I'm fixin' to fix me some grits. J'eat yet?)

I was also at a new point: weeks away from starting graduate study in a field I feared I wasn't cutthroat or talented enough for. We had few strings attached as we drove west to east, pausing only for friends and photographs.


Now Alisa's got a job and (more importantly) a loving boyfriend at the end of her drive. (HI JASON!) And though the trip was initially planned around my work schedule, I've found myself between jobs and succeeding (even if not financially!) in the very industry that scared me so.

Maybe I'm a little spoiled, but I feel like this is what my twenties should be all about. We're allowing ourselves freedom to take chances, but there's also an awful lot of space for fun.