We started the day in Oklahoma City, and got right on the road at 7:30 AM. We went through some of the coolest terrain today I have ever seen. First we got plains so flat in Texas, you could see at least 15 miles in either direction. When the terrain around the road dropped slightly, you could see farther still, an incredible sight. We stopped in basically a ranch town in Texas (pop. 380), got out of our Honda with the New York plates, and got a few looks. On the road, things have been pretty uneventful, knock on wood. Gas prices were steadily below $2 for a while, but once we hit the desert, things got a bit more expensive. It’s funny how gas jaded we’ve become, trying to avoid places with prices over $2, even though we’ve been used to $2.50+ prices in Rochester for months.

Anyway, we crossed through Texas and into New Mexico, stopping in a few spots for refreshments and gas. I passed a truck with a level 7 radioactivity label on it, scary shit. Also awesome have been the speed limits: 70mph and up mostly today. There’s been a little road work, nothing too severe.

When we hit the desert, I was in awe the whole time. The long stretches flat land interrupted by immense mesas and dotted with buttes was just spectacular. And it only got better when we hit the red rocks in the latter half of New Mexico. At sunset, we were still in range of the red sandstone monoliths, which only made them more impressive, more red, and more beautiful. I wish I could have climbed them today, but alas, we hit Gallup (our planned climbing spot) post-sunset and could not. HOWEVER (big however indeed), we will be going to the Grand Canyon tomorrow, and probably doing some climbing there. I am so excited right now, all I want to do is go to sleep, so I can do it that much sooner.

Currently, we are in Flagstaff, AZ, the weather is chilly, the desert is grand, and the gas is a little more expensive than we’d like. I’m hungry, so I’m going to go brave the chill for something filling and meatless*.

Tomorrow is the Grand Canyon to the north, then South to Phoenix, West to Yuma and finally San Diego.

*There seems to be a parabolic curve in relation to distance from Rochester, and ease of getting something vegetarian to eat. We hit a Sonic today in Albuquerque, and the only things on the menu sans meat were fries and tots. Not a great meal, large cheese fries. I’m starving.