Sappy Lincoln Narratives

2007-06-12T19:02:00.001-07:00

Sleeping in my own bed wasn't that great

Being back in the city wasn't that great

Alone time isn't that great

Learning I was born for travel was pretty great

2 weeks!

2007-05-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

The road trip is getting me through this week and finals.

I plan to buy On The Road for road trip reading.

And I plan to try and do as much as possible on the trip, yet relax and go with the flow.

It's going to be great you guys!

new route

2007-04-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

May:
23 – Fly out, get car ready
24 – Leave, drive, stop wherever
25 – Drive, arrive DNM. camp DNM
26 – DNM. camp DNM. (Maybe drive to Park City for Olympic Park?)
27 – Rafting
28 – Rafting ends, camp
29 – Leave DNM morning, to Arches (180 mi). Camp at Arches.
30 – Camp Arches
31 – Leave Arches, to Mesa Verde (130 mi). Camp at MV.

June:
1 – Leave MV. To Four Corners (50 mi). pass through to Jacob Lake, AZ.
2 – Jacob Lake to North Rim campsite (50 mi). Camp GC.
3 – GC.
4 – GC
5- Leave for Havasupai. Stay at Peach Springs.
6 – Day hike at Hava? Or whatever.
7 - Leave wherever, to Roswell (700 mi). Night at Roswell? or thereabouts.
8 - Carlsbad Caverns? (is nearby). Camp at CC. OR dump this and have more time somewhere else.
9 - Drive, arr Dallas. 500 miles from Roswell to Dallas
10 – (Free day-- can be used along the way or extra time in Dallas)
11 - fly home.

2007-04-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

This may come in handy! Google Earth adds hiking trails.

rafting!

2007-04-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

Our trip is booked! For posterity's sake, here is the trip description! We are going from Echo Park to Split Mountain!

--
Dinosaur Expeditions' Yampa River rafting trips provide a quick but unforgettable way to experience the rare beauty and power of the Yampa River, one of Utah's finest natural treasures.

The Yampa (pronounced: yawmpah) River, the last undammed major tributary of the Colorado river system, begins its journey high in the Rockies above Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Most of its water comes from spring snowmelt and is best run during May and June when the water is highest. The Yampa joins the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument at Echo Park where Indians of the Fremont culture once lived over 1,000 years ago.

While the Yampa River is not a long river, (our trip is 71 miles) it offers some great whitewater from rapids named Teepee, Little Joe, Big Joe and Warmsprings. Most of the rapids are class III and Warmsprings is considered to be a IV providing us with big waves and big holes.

First explored in 1869 by fur trappers, the Yampa River has been inhabited for thousands of years. Along the river there are pictographs, eagles nests, large sandy beaches, towering sand stone walls, and the Warm Springs (which are, in fact, not warm), the biggest pond of watercress we've ever seen. We invite you to come explore it with us.

To float the Yampa River is to discover a Diamond In The Desert. At the Deerlodge launch site you are surrounded with old homesteads and bucolic pastel vistas. Meandering through breath taking tawny sandstone and racing through thundering rapids your journey passes by a multitude of secretive places drenched in history, and beauty. Along the way your guides will share their knowledge of the “River’s Secrets.”

An abandoned homestead and corrals peer from shore, hidden and aloof from the world. Caves that sheltered the mysterious Fremont People invite your exploration. Peregrine falcons call from their nests high above on walls draped with desert varnish. At Harding Hole, a hike up a slot canyon ends with vast panoramas of the canyons below. Paradise after paradise slips by as the Yampa River lulls you into its magical grasp. Downstream the booming of rapids with names like Teepee and Warm Springs change your pace and fills the day with anticipation and excitement.

As the Yampa River joins the Green River at Echo Park, one can literally feel the monumental and complex issues that raged to save the canyon during the mid-1900’s. In the most significant conservation battle of all times, a dam was stopped and two river canyons saved. Here, in the heart of the planet, petroglyphs from a long passed civilization grace the walls. Caves and hidden shelters purvey cool escape from the desert heat. A several mile hike passes intricate pictographs, an abandoned ranch once operated by the Chew Family and ends at a cave habited by desert hermit Pat Lynch. On return to the Yampa River the omnipresent slender Steamboat Rock nearly circled by a stunning river meander, oversees the landscape.

From Echo Park your journey enters Whirlpool Canyon, Island Park and finally Split Mountain Canyon (see Lodore Canyon). A trip down the Yampa River, the West’s last undammed river, merges relaxation and excitement in your discovery of this Diamond In The Desert.
--

I'm pumped! Last time I went rafting was in Colorado and my mom fell out and had to be saved by kayakers! So hopefully that won't happen to us! Also hopefully one of those peregrine falcons is Jake! What.

Equipment list:

2007-04-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Equipment list:

Backpacks. Since we will only be in Havasupai one night (Assuming I get a reservation.) I don't think we'll need large packs for hiking, but just normal backpacks. We'll only need some food and clothes, and sleeping bags and tents. I'll talk to my dad about the size of the tent (he might buy a new one for us.) and the sleeping bags. They should be pretty small.
Knives. Super important for cutting things, opening things, cooking, and feeling badass.
Cooking stove. Even if we don't use it and cook over a camp fire, this is still a good idea and small.
Water purifier. I don't do those purifying pills, if those are even still around.
Sleeping bags. I'll bring our backpacking ones, but also we should all bring our normal ones.
Sleeping pads/rolls. Not that important to me really, but what is everyone else's opinion on these?
Survival stuff. Space blanket, snake bite kit, first aid, etc. (I'll add more specifics as I think of them.)
Water canteens and stuff. Of course.
Utensils and awesome army transforming plates.
Awesome Transforming Army Shovel in case we have to bury some...thing.
Others. Like Rope, tarp, garbage bags and matches and stuff but we can probably buy things on the way so no big deal with these things.

Alright, not too bad! I'll have to go to my parents house and get this stuff together and see what other ideas I have, or what my dad says, but it doesn't seem too bad. The stuff we use for packing into Havasupai will be useful on the rafting trip as well, so we don't have to rent their crap. I might see about getting some waterproof army sacks so put our stuff in for the rafting trip also. I love army things, if you can't tell. I've watched a lot of MASH.

notes from debbie downer

2007-03-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

This is kind of in reply to Keith's post! I just thought it would be a good idea to get out some ground rules, or whatever. We've all already posted our awesome trip goals, but maybe we should post some... anti-goals? Pet peeves? Or something? Just... the last roadtrip I took with someone I think we were kind of at cross-purposes at some times and it was frustrating.

So, like Keith, I'm hoping that this trip will be relaxing! But also I want to see/do stuff. So I think at the outset of the trip we should work out things like... what time we want to getup. Like, on the last trip I took I always got up first and started getting breakfast ready and everything and my travel partner wanted to sleep in because we were on vacation. Which is valid, but also... if you waste the morning on a camping trip that's a lot of daylight time that can be used for hiking or swimming or something awesome. Of course there's balance, like on some days maybe we can get up early and watch the sunrise and some days we can be more relaxed, depending on our travel plans and where we are and ETC.

Also I think we should try to clearly work out things like how we're splitting payment for gas and food and stuff, and also tasks like cooking and cleaning. We're all friends and I don't want to sound paranoid, but even the best of us can get secretly passive-aggressively resentful about crap like feeling like you're doing more than your fair share of work.

I think talking about this in advance (perhaps in person on our first day in Dallas or perhaps in an SLN chat) will make our trip more relaxing!

Also I would like to take this opportunity to be upfront about one of my biggest pet peeves, which is BACKSEAT DRIVERS. Priscilla, I know it can be nervewracking to have other people drive your car, and I have no reason in particular to suspect you of being a backseat driver (and Keith you don't even know how to drive so you should be golden), but just in case: please don't do things like gasp when I change lanes or point out stop signs that are still like 20 feet away unless it appears that our lives are in immediate danger from my driving. Thank you.

2007-03-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

You know what will be the best part of this trip other than friendship-building, nature exploration, appreciation of tacky roadside attractions, and spiritual awakening (optional)?

Not having any stress for that time being. Sure there will be that stuff we have to deal with when we get back from the trip. Careers or work or continuing education in my case.

But damn I want to not know what time it is, not think about when I will write a paper (obviously not right now!) and pleasing people because I have a psychotic educational complex.

Being in the world is the most important thing there is, and I am going to school so I can learn to be in it in a more valuable and full way. It's easy to forget, and just get caught up in the small stuff, and then try to escape it all in the short term.

Can't wait to see the clouds in new places.

delightful comestibles

2007-03-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

I'm looking at camprecipes.com in preparation for the trip! Because food is clearly a critical aspect of our journey. Anyway so far I haven't found too much that I don't already know how to make some variation of. Like why are there 30 different recipes for trail mix. Who needs a recipe for trail mix?

The only idea I could get excited about:

Roasted garlic. Never occurred to me to make it camping. I <3 garlic.

Possibly the worst idea I've found:
Cheese coins. GROSS.

Food suggestions from my personal inventory:
Backpacker's brownies. Mix cocoa powder, crushed graham crackers, and hot water. Chocolate chips if yer fancy. Sounds and looks gross; tastes SO DELICIOUS.
Banana boats! Cut open a banana, throw on some chocolate chips and/or brown sugar and/or butterscotch chips and/or mini-marshmallows, wrap it in foil, and put it in the fire.
Spoon tacos. Corn chips + beans + salsa + cheese + whatever. Must be eaten with spoon.
HOBO DINNERS. Sliced vegetables, ground meat (or ground Boca), wrap it in foil, put it in the fire, and feed it to a hobo.
Pie iron pizzas. Put bread on each side of the pie iron, put tomato sauce and cheese and appropriate fillings inside bread. Put it in the fire and feed it to a hobo.
And pie iron pies. Similar concept, different insides.
Baked potatoes. Wrap them in foil and put them in the fire. Do not feed them to hobos; hobos hate baked potatoes.
Baked apples. AS ABOVE. Plus cinnamon & sugar if yer fancy.

And some lazy camp-food ideas:
Mac & cheese from box!
Oatmeal!
Pasta!
Trail mix! (no recipe needed)
Tasty Bite food packets!
Fantastic Foods dry mixes!
SANDWICHES!

Hooray, food!

PS now I'm looking at Chuckwagon Diner and it seems to have better recipes. Mmm!
Ziplock bag ice cream!
Grog cakes!
Campfire fondue!
Campfire muffins!

we're going there

2007-03-11T12:01:00.001-07:00

Havasu Falls 2
Originally uploaded by Forget Me Knott Photography.

(Or thereabouts) in 72 days! Aaaaah!

roadside attractions

2007-02-16T18:42:00.000-08:00

I am spending my Friday night watching House and perusing RoadsideAmerica.com.

I have found relatively few atractions that are near our route. However, there are some that are close-ish and intriguing.

Scrap Metal Fossils in Hanksville, UT. No picture available, sadly, but it promises: In Hanksville (named after Hank's, the restaurant, but that's another story) are a couple of curious, ahem, sculptures. Seems somebody thought the guy who makes the dino-skeletons out of car parts was cool, and tried it himself. The best one was a life-size critter whose skull was composed of the hood and trunk lid of a Beetle. Not truly cool, more like truly crap, but I'm getting the idea that your site's about the schmaltz.
Giant American Flag Painting in Vernal, UT. We visited our friends in the small northeastern Utah town of Vernal when I was in junior high. They took us out for a barbeque to a park -- I believe it is called Merkely Park -- outside of town. On the way you pass through a very high, sheer rock walled canyon. 70-100 feet up is a giant American flag painted with the motto "Remember the Maine" on it. (REMEMBER THE MAINE is what makes this awesome. Also we are going to Vernal anyway.)
Flintstones Bedrock City in Valle, AZ. (It is out of our way and I don't even really like the Flintstones that much, but the pictures are weirdly charming.)
Mike the Headless Chicken, Fruita, CO. On the corner of Mulberry and Aspen in Fruita is a statue of Mike, maybe five feet tall. But it is an "artistic" rendition, made of old metal implements like horse shoes and hand tools. It's on a street featuring other sculptures having nothing to do with headless chickens. If you didn’t know the Mike story, you might walk right past the piece. Fruita has a better statue, a twenty-foot tall dinosaur. It's at the entrance to downtown in a grassy park, menacing the road. THAT is where a new headless chicken statue should go, at least that big. Too many towns have dinosaurs, but only one has a headless chicken.
Smokey the Bear's Grave, Capitan, NM. :(

Honorable mention: The 9-11 Memorial Made From Twin Towers Beams in Winslow, Arizona, which I misread as being made from beans. If only :(

2007-02-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

My Goals for this Trip:

1. Enjoy novel vegetarian cooking!
2. Not waste into an anemic, protein deficient bag of bones from lack of meat.
3. Take an obnoxious number of photos.
4. Geek out at the slightest provocation.
5. Break into song.
6. Gawp at scenery.
7. Make overly academic puns.
8. Pet something that probably shouldn't be petted.

2007-02-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

My recent plans to become more healthy, so that I wont die before the road trip, are really a struggle.

I don't eat meat, but calling me a vegetarian is really quite exaggerated. Mostly I'm a pastatarian. My parents have claimed for the past year that I am a Chipatarian.

The only time I drink water is when I am taking supplements to keep my hair.

Basically when people are on vacation, and decide to just eat good stuff and worry about being healthy when they get back home, they eat like I do every day.

So I'm working on that. Really want to be healthy before the road trip so that I have the energy to ~~constantly make pop culture references~~ hike around.

To reward myself for the salad I just ate, I am having a Lemon square. And drinking water. How come vodka is clear but has a taste, water, huh? Tell me that. You're such a lazy drink it sickens me.

important fashion message

2007-02-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

I just got a Valentine's Day care package from my mom. In it, she enclosed three kazoos. They are labeled "Renata," "Keith," and "Priscilla."

GOOD.

She also sent three pairs of knee socks, but they are all for me.

Additionally:

keith: http://www.glarkware.com/securestore/c181845p16832531.2.html
renata: priscilla has that shirt
keith: best website ever. thank you for showing me it.
renata: anytime
keith: ooh damn it now I can't wear it on the road trip, otherwise if we both wore it, super awkward.
renata: no do it
renata: and i'll wear my old subway uniform
renata: and
renata: it will be like an act of anti-corporate performance art

grand canyon

2007-02-11T09:49:00.001-08:00

A Collection of Deities
Originally uploaded by Leviathor.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pretty. and we're going there!! in.. 100+a few days!

2007-02-08T20:32:00.000-08:00

My trip goals, at this moment, in no particular order:

1- Express my dirty hippie nature in a new habitat (do I relate to the Earth better in forests or dessert? I mean desert.)
2- Use the 2 weeks to subject Renata and Priscilla to my music. This could go one of two ways. They become giant Interpol fans, or I get stranded somewhere in Arizona.
3- See a Harris Hawk. These are super chill birds of prey that have a matriarchal society structure and they sit on cacti. They are often seen in TV and Movies because most people don't know the difference between a Harris hawk and like, every other bird of prey in existence.
4- Not fail in my knowledge of nature and prevent horrible circumstances. When I was younger I may have told my cousins that Stinging Nettle was Lambs Ear. Whatever they look really similar alright.
5- Be such a good navigator and commentator that it makes up for my lack of driving skills
6 - Fight a Mountain Lion with my bare hands
7 - Discuss and hopefully find the definitive answer as to who would win between The Animorphs and Saddle Club Girls in a fight.
8- Jackalope.

my goals for the trip

2007-02-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

1.) see a pygmy owl.
2.) visit as many ridic roadside attractions as possible (see image below).
3.) visit as many historical markers as possible.
4.) take at least one awesome dinosaur-themed picture of me wearing my t-rex shirt so i can be on the dinosaur comics merchandise photo gallery.
5.) make & consume backpackers brownies.
6.) maintain speaking terms with both priscilla & keith for entirety of trip (and afterwards).
7.) engage.

get out the map

2007-02-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

Here is our tentative route, as of last tentative route-planning!

From: Dallas, Texas
To: Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado Entrance, CO
To: Yampa River rafting trip
To: Arches Natl Park, UT
To: Mesa Verde Natl Park, CO
To: Four Corners Monument
To: Canyon De Chelly National Monument, AZ
To: Navajo Tribal Zoo - Window Rock, AZ
To: Dinosaur Tracks - Tuba City, AZ
To: Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
To: Supai, AZ
To: Winslow, AZ
To: Dallas, Texas

Total Estimated Time: 52 hrs., 57mins.
Total Distance : 3251.0 miles (5231.8km)

WOOOOO!

Direction...

2007-02-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

The best part of this is that I can blog without guilt because group blogs totally aren't part of the bloggers 12 step program.

I changed the layout, but if you both like a different, that's cool. It's not like I made this or anything, because nowadays HTML is totally weird. XML. What the hell is that. Sheesh.

What is the opinion on this shirt? Not final of course, just getting ideas. How would we like text placed, what colors, etc.

on the road again...

2007-02-03T20:11:00.000-08:00

SQUEE! This post is useless, except to demonstrate my EXCITEMENT over the fact SLN now has a TRAVEL BLOG! Also to use a lot of CAPS LOCK, apparently!

SLN: Not to be confused with SNL! We're funnier on a more consistent basis, and we have 100% more dinosaurs.

i'm on my way, i don't know where i'm going

2007-02-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Hooray, SLN travel blog! Basically I figure we can post cool things we find, like tourist stops or restaurants or whatever, and I'll probably post our AAA routes here so we can look at them. It will maybe replace some of our mass emails? And make the trip planning process more transparent!

SLN trip, go!