CA to WV... and back again

We're Home.

2008-08-01T15:03:00.001-07:00

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The Home Stretch

2008-08-01T11:10:00.001-07:00

Just crossed the California State Line.

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Welcome To Arizona

2008-08-01T06:49:00.001-07:00

The kids love it when we go into a new state. So this stretch just past St George makes them happy. We start in Utah. Then five monutes later we are in Arizona... But only for a few miles. Then Nevada. Three states in under 30 minutes. :)

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Black Dragon Canyon, Utah

2008-07-31T18:03:00.001-07:00

We decided to pull over for a few of the vista points and this was one if them. Utah is magical. It's almost like another planet.

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Grizzly Creek Rest Stop

2008-07-31T13:14:00.001-07:00

On the Colorado River, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

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Recycling

2008-07-30T10:17:00.001-07:00

My three year old has found an innovative use for old sandwich bags.

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Turn In 408 Miles

2008-07-30T07:02:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the heads up. :)

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Any Port In A Storm

2008-07-29T19:56:00.001-07:00

From Salina, Kansas.

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Current Craziness Level

2008-07-29T17:54:00.001-07:00

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Kansas

2008-07-29T17:03:00.001-07:00

Autopilot would be good right about now. This section of Kansas will put you to sleep in a hurry. So, we'll be stopping in Salina, KS for the night.

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Smokin' Chicks Is Smokin' Good

2008-07-29T12:41:00.001-07:00

We wanted some good BBQ and turned to Twitter for help. In the end, it was actually Google that came to the rescue! If you're in Columbia, MO... you won't be disappointed.

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Today Is An Adventure Day

2008-07-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

We're about ready to leave The Jennings' home here in Waterloo, IL. We've decided we're not interested in doing one of our ultra-long travel days in order to make it to Denver, CO tonight. We've done Waterloo to Denver in one day with six kids already. We really don't need to do that again. :)

We're going to take it a little easier from here to Los Angeles, CA. Of course, easy is relative. We have no idea where we're going to stop for the night. When we take off and don't have a set destination, we call that an adventure. That makes today is an adventure day.

Bobby's Frozen Custard

2008-07-28T18:39:00.001-07:00

Maryville, Illinois

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Happy Campers

2008-07-28T14:52:00.001-07:00

Once was enough for me, but not these guys.

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These Guys Are Big

2008-07-28T11:54:00.001-07:00

"That's not how big they are in real life, is it?" ;)

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Chicago Bears Training Camp

2008-07-28T10:26:00.001-07:00

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@ Gino's East

2008-07-27T19:29:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist. ;)

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On Top Of The World

2008-07-27T15:03:00.001-07:00

The interview failed. Maybe the photo will go through. ;)

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That's A Big Building

2008-07-27T12:29:00.001-07:00

The Sears Tower.

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Rocky And Tracy

2008-07-27T09:55:00.001-07:00

Thanks for a great visit!!

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Northern Indiana Farm Country

2008-07-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Testing CellSpin

2008-07-26T14:31:00.001-07:00

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Making Time Through Indiana

2008-07-26T13:57:00.001-07:00

Even I'm amazed at how fast this portion of the trip is going!

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Knots From @MLBroadcast

2008-07-26T09:03:00.001-07:00

We are on the road again today. We should be to Oswego, IL. So it's time to bring out the tricks. Luckily, Mike and Laurie Price were kind enough to contribute to our bag of car entertainment. While in San Francisco, they bought this really cool knot tying book/box for our boys. They just saw it this morning and are looking forward to giving the knots a try. Mike and Laurie, thank you!

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Brentwood, TN

2008-07-25T13:01:00.001-07:00

It's going to rain like crazy in Nashville today, and I don't care. :)

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Daniel Rothamel Reviews "Dark Night"

2008-07-20T21:56:00.001-07:00

@realestaezebra talks about "The Dark Knight."

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Leaving West Virginia

2008-07-20T10:11:00.001-07:00

I'm leaving for my trip to Inman Connect in San Francisco in a few moments. I won't be returning to West Virginia. The family will begin our journey West on Wednesday without me and I'll join them in Nashville, TN. It's been great to be in Grafton, WV.

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At The Purple Fiddle

2008-07-19T14:35:00.001-07:00

@kimwood and family relaxing before dinner at The Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV.

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@dalechumbley At Blackwater Falls

2008-07-19T12:41:00.001-07:00

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A Railroad Town

2008-07-18T11:57:00.001-07:00

Grafton was once a key transportation hub in West Virginia. Those days are gone.

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Interview With Ryan Gates

2008-07-16T18:35:00.001-07:00

Ryan Gates, General Manager of The West Virginia Power.

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@headmutha Raking Rocks In A Dress

2008-07-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

Does this really need a description? ;)

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Fireside Chat: I Want Your Advice

2008-07-14T11:03:00.001-07:00

A conversation ensued around the fire today. It was about college... whether it's better to stay near home or go away and live away from your parents. What would your advice be?

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At Coopers Rock State Forest

2008-07-12T13:00:00.001-07:00

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I Like Her. You're Not So Hot.

2008-07-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of our trip last year was the night Rocky jumped in to help the folks at the local Dairy Queen. We eat there every night when we're here in Grafton, so we're practically family at this point.

Two nights ago, the owner showed up and I caught this little tidbit of video for your enjoyment. :)

Anna Jarvis Elementary Park

2008-07-11T18:14:00.001-07:00

The post where you get to hear my daughter speak. :)

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My Favorite Place On Earth

2008-07-10T07:10:00.001-07:00

Allow me to introduce you to my favorite place on the planet, Flat Rocks. Everyone in our family, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters and kids, have been taking hikes to for more than a half century.

Higher quality video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/respres/2655122403/

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The Blacksmith At Prickett's Fort State Park

2008-07-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

The blacksmith is our favorite part of Prickett's Fort. He's also a part of the management team at Prickett's Fort, so he's a wealth of knowledge and an extremely talented man.

The boys were balking at going at first. I know this is not as exciting for them as Six Flags Magic Mountain. :) But once we arrived and got into it, they enjoyed it quite a bit. There were a number of additions to the Fort since our visit last year, including the new blacksmith's shop, sheep, chicken, a garden, a native hut... and a cat.

The Creek - Bacon Strips

2008-07-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

We call this stretch of the creek "Bacon Strips." We believe my sister gave it this name.

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Winding Down

2008-07-06T13:21:00.001-07:00

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The Family Reunion

2008-07-06T10:27:00.001-07:00

My Uncle Wendel's house in Grafton is on top of a mountain... Very remote. Lots of parking. :)

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The Winners

2008-07-05T11:21:00.001-07:00

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Down 2 After 8

2008-07-05T09:40:00.002-07:00

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Jerry Turner Speaks ;)

2008-07-05T07:00:00.002-07:00

It's time for the annual Turner Golf Tournament. Here are my Father's pre-match taunts.

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Interview: Kevin Stead, Grafton City Manager

2008-07-03T12:55:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Stead about the effort that was put forth by the City of Grafton to bring the city pool back to life.

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Fun At The Pool

2008-07-03T09:54:00.001-07:00

It's amazing that we've never actually been to this pool before. It's right across the parking lot from our favorite fort park. We'll be back. :)

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Just One Of Many Things We Can't Do In Our Backyard

2008-07-02T14:10:00.001-07:00

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Johnson Space Center Slide - Kid's Perspective

2008-07-02T12:12:00.001-07:00

I am going through photos and videos that the kids have taken with the Kodak v705. They share the camera (as well as can be expected) and snap some of the craziest stuff. This appeared to be just a black video in iPhoto, so I'm glad I watched it before deleting. :) I didn't even know he had the camera with him at the time.

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Fun In The Creek

2008-07-01T14:30:00.001-07:00

When we're in West Virginia, I try to cram my day into the morning and take the afternoon to go on an "adventure" of one kind or another. The boys decided that the first day's adventure would be to just go play in the creek. So, I took my camera and they took their imaginations. I think we all had fun. :)

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First Morning In Grafton

2008-07-01T06:04:00.001-07:00

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The Science Of Growing Alligators Part 1

2008-06-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

Tracy LeBlanc and his son, Brody, took us out in the bayou to capture alligator eggs from their nests. The mother alligators build the nests and lay the egss, then hang around for months to defend the nests, even if the eggs are taken. In this video, Tracy explains why it's important to incubate the eggs, then release the alligators back into the wild. He does this all while making sure the mother gator doesn't cause any trouble.

Higher quality video here: http://blip.tv/file/1039310

We're In West Virginia!

2008-06-30T15:08:00.001-07:00

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Just Passed Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile

2008-06-30T08:04:00.001-07:00

Talk about excitement in the Turner truck! Though I think Rocky was the most excited, it did get a rise from the rest of us as well. ;)

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We're on the last leg.

2008-06-30T06:35:00.001-07:00

We will be in Grafton, West Virginia tonight!

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Microwaved Organic Mac & Cheese - Thank You, Cracker Barrel

2008-06-29T19:04:00.001-07:00

Our 7-year-old has food allergies that manifest in behavior that looks like a behavior disorder. We've been more lenient than we should have been and we're paying the price. So is he.

The manager here at the Cracker Barrel in Meridian, MS agreed to make this organic mac & cheese from Whole Foods for us. It's time to get back on the straight and narrow. We're grateful.

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A Trip To The Ninth Ward

2008-06-29T14:31:00.001-07:00

The photo is of one of the homes in good shape. We were shocked and saddened by the depth of destruction still evident. It's hard to believe and I saw it for myself.

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At Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans

2008-06-29T13:03:00.001-07:00

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Deep Fried Pickles with Buttermilk Dressing

2008-06-29T11:25:00.001-07:00

'nuff said.

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Moon Pies Are Part Of The Experience

2008-06-29T09:51:00.001-07:00

Food is a large part of the cultural experience of driving cross country... Even the snack food.

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Freeway Or Frontage Road?

2008-06-28T10:46:00.001-07:00

We chose the frontage road and we are now standing still watching the previously stopped freeway traffic blow past us. Just outside Beaumont, Texas.

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The Story Of The Jesus Band-Aid

2008-06-28T07:40:00.001-07:00

Astold by our good friend, David Bruce.

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Hickory Hollow - Rose & Ben

2008-06-27T18:20:00.001-07:00

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Burmese Bungee Tower

2008-06-27T13:05:00.001-07:00

One of the extremely kid friendly features at the Johnson Space Center.

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Calm After The Storm

2008-06-27T10:28:00.001-07:00

We took our children past their limits yesterday. There is a point where they go past empty and move into a completely different dimension. It's a psychotic dimension. It's a dimension I don't care to experience ever again. It began with a complete meltdown because of dog fear and spread like wildfire to the rest of the children.

Today is a new day. :)

Here are a few of the photos the kids took during the drive yesterday.

http://www.flickr.com/…844632384/

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We Almost Made It To Houston Without Filling Up

2008-06-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

50 miles from our destination, in Sealy, TX.

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Playing The Letter Game

2008-06-26T16:59:00.001-07:00

This will not be the most interesting piece of audio you'll hear today, but it may bring back some memories of your own road trips. Find word that begin with letters in sequence. First to "Z" wins. @headmutha is kicking our butts.

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87 In An 80 MPH Zone

2008-06-26T15:55:00.001-07:00

@headmutha allowed us all to meet a very friendly Texas State Trooper. ;)

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Thankful For Digital Technology

2008-06-26T14:53:00.001-07:00

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10 Miles From Van Horn, Texas

2008-06-26T10:25:00.001-07:00

It is ridiculously beautiful in West Texas, but digital coverage is worse than spotty!

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No Jumping On Beds?

2008-06-26T08:37:00.001-07:00

We'll call these road rules. ;)

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CA2WV Day 1 In Retrospect

2008-06-26T00:23:00.001-07:00

We got a great show today. I love driving across this country.

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Lightning Storm In Las Cruces, NM

2008-06-25T22:07:00.003-07:00

Nature treated us to an amazing light display as we passed through Las Cruces, New Mexico tonight. I was able to pull some frames off of video and this is one of them.

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15 Hours Later: Deming, New Mexico

2008-06-25T20:01:00.003-07:00

Deming, New Mexico is a small town. It's a really small town. But it's got a Wal-Mart, lots of fast food restaurants and a main street with a water tower that announces you've arrived.

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Beautiful Rest Area

2008-06-25T17:00:00.001-07:00

Just outside of Tucson, Arizona

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Smoldering Hill

2008-06-25T15:48:00.003-07:00

12 miles north of Benson, Arizona it appeared the hills were smoldering. It wasn't a raging fire, so it may have been controlled burning.

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Nick Bastian: RailLife.com

2008-06-25T13:54:00.001-07:00

We're glad Nick Bastian, founder of RailLife.com showed up to have lunch with the Turner clan. Very sorry that Jay Thompson couldn't make it. However, it gave me a chance to ask Nick to talk a bit about http://www.raillife.com/ and his vision for where it's going.

It was also a great test of Utterz, since the phone connection at Oregano's in Tempe was so horrid. I had one bar and no digital connection.

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Are We There Yet?

2008-06-25T10:40:00.001-07:00

We're going to count, "When are we going to be at lunch?" as the official first, "are we there yet" uttterance of the trip. And it took over six hours. Not bad. :)

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Somewhere Between Indio & Blythe

2008-06-25T08:32:00.001-07:00

Pushing the limits of AT&T desert bandwidth. :) This is about the time I envy those with an N95 and an active QIK account.

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2 Hours To Palm Springs

2008-06-25T06:41:00.001-07:00

We're making great time ;)

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We're Off

2008-06-25T04:26:00.001-07:00

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Filled And Ready

2008-06-24T19:11:00.001-07:00

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Let's Kick This Off With Our Toes In The Pacific

2008-06-21T23:21:00.001-07:00

We'll call this the first official post of this year's CA2WV blog.

We spend the majority of the best beach weather in West Virginia. So, I thought I'd take the kids to the beach so they could play in the ocean. We leave for West Virginia in three days!

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Let's Fire Up The Travel Blog

2008-06-16T15:44:00.001-07:00

Here's a look at the route we'll be taking on our way East this year. Follow along at:

http://ca2wv.blogspot.com/

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Go Mountaineers

2007-09-01T14:34:00.001-07:00

Go Mountaineers
Originally uploaded by respres

Rocky surprised me with an ESPN College Game Plan package so I could
watch WVU football. I may not move from this spot all day. :)

Sent from iPhone.

Stupid Hot

2007-08-30T15:03:00.001-07:00

Stupid Hot
Originally uploaded by respres

At The Park

2007-08-25T18:27:00.001-07:00

At The Park
Originally uploaded by respres

Kids At Play Panorama

2007-08-14T23:38:00.001-07:00

I was just fooling around, sitting next to the Whitmans and Rocky and snapping some random photos, and this pano came from it. If you look close, you can see the movement of the kids across the different photos. I thought it did a good job of illustrating "play."

Another CA Sunset

2007-08-14T19:45:00.001-07:00

Window Rock From iPhone

2007-08-09T15:07:00.001-07:00

Window Rock From iPhone
Originally uploaded by respres

Left Over Photos 2: Coopers Rock

2007-08-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

The majority of the trails we hike at Coopers Rock are rugged and rock filled. This portion is not and it screams "West Virginia" to me. Click on the photo to enlarge.

A Southern Califoria Sunset

2007-07-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

One of the nice things about the smog in Southern California is that it makes for some nice sunsets. And one of the nice things about the window at our stairway landing is that it frames them well.

Click on the photo to view larger.

Left Over Photos 1: Fairmont, WV

2007-07-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

July 4, 2007: Fairmont, West Virginia.

We didn't have a great weather night on July 4th, so my post for that day was truncated. Many of the photos I took earlier in the day stayed "in the can." The photo above was taken at a street fair in Fairmont. This is a view of downtown Fairmont from across the Monongahela River. We had a great time at the street fair. We saw some great old cars and realized, like others do, that everyone seems friendly in West Virginia.

Small town celebrations just feel good. Click on photos to view larger.

View From The Passenger Seat

2007-07-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

I took a few photos of the inside of the truck in hopes to use Adobe Photoshop's PhotoMerge capabilities to show perspective. This was the best result I got. I wish I had shot a couple more across the lower portion of the dashboard, but you get the idea. :)
Click on image to view larger.

We Live In A Beautiful Country

2007-07-26T23:10:00.000-07:00

We left Flagstaff, AZ under the most amazing blue sky.

Every inch of this journey was like a living post card. Rocky did 90% of the driving, which gave me a great deal of time to simply stare out the window and soak up the view. And take photos. I snapped 3682 photos on this trip. A great, great many of the photos taken were shot from the passenger window. I loved it and I'm going to miss it.

This is the last photo taken out of the window of our truck. It's was a strom in the Mojave Desert.

Our journey is over, but I've only begun to post some of my favorite photos. Stay tuned.

We're Home

2007-07-26T20:25:00.001-07:00

We are safely back in our California home and happy to be here.

More to come...

Going To California...

2007-07-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

With an aching in my heart. The last day of driving is always bittersweet. We love our home and friends in California. And I mean LOVE them. But we love our journey and the places we visit. And we love our land in West Virginia.

Tonight we'll sleep in our own beds. No more hotels. As a send off to Arizona, here's a look inside the Grand Canyon.

Wildlife Spotted At The Grand Canyon

2007-07-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

We saw some donkeys, a few horses and cows and even a Coyote. But I'm quite certain the Turner Family was the wildest group of animals in the Grand Canyon National Park today. :)

The Grand Canyon Is Just That

2007-07-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

I could spend all night trying to come up with the right words to describe the Grand Canyon, and I'd still fail. That's not self deprication, that's a fact. If you've seen the Grand Canyon for yourself, you understand. The right words don't exist. Not in the English language. These panos speak a language all their own. They'll will do a much better job than I ever could. So here are 7000 "words" to describe the awesome beauty of the Grand Canyon.

Click on the photos to view larger.

The Road To The Grand Canyon

2007-07-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

The drive to the Grand Canyon is the perfect appetizer for the main course... and the perfect dessert for your return. Click on the photos to view larger.

Oregano's - A Great Way To End The Day

2007-07-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

We literally stumbled on Oregano's last year. And we've been thinking about coming back ever since. We planned our trip to make sure we got into Flagstaff, Arizona early enough to miss the crowd. The wait last year was over 2 hours. The food is that good. After our trip to the Grand Canyon tomorrow, we'll be eating there again. It's not just our favorite restaurant in Flagstaff, it's one of our favorites, period. Oregeno's... not to be missed.