Conclusion

Arrived Safe and Sound in California this evening.

However....

I also got an unconditional offer from Newcastle...

Reno

I came, I saw, I failed to Conquer

The 7th State... UTAH

Utah is the 7th state of my road trip (14th since I left England). I left Terry's house earlyish this morning and headed out to Utah. It was a slow start, the scenery was beautiful and I kept stopping everywhere to get out of the car and look at the scenery. There was a lot of road works on I-70, so I got off and took a more scenic route


Once I got into Utah, there were really long stetches of nothing and I didn't get any service. Of course my car chose that precise moment to break down... So there I was in the middle of nowhere with a broken car and no cel service. It was 50 miles to the next gas station so I figured I should hitch a ride. The next veHicle I saw was a lorry, I raised my hand to flag it down, but luckily I remembered first what Jeremy Clarkson said about truck drivers and thought better of it...


Just kidding about that one. I did see my homie, mon mec, mi tio, mein kumpel(yes southbank taught me how to say "my homie in four languages") Jose. I picked him up and told him about the skiing trip we have planned for the xmas break. He is uber stoked - Thanks Mom! It was interesting to learn he is really an assasin - half navaho half lebanese half haitian - disguised as a mexican hitchhiker. I discovered this because I was fiddling around with the languages on my sat nav and he was able to understand the arabic very well. It made me suspicious....

I got to Salt Lake City around 7ish and checked into a hotel in Midvale, in the south part of SLC. I was pretty lucky as it was right by their version of the tube. After checking in, I got on and found my way down town pretty easily. I walked around for a few hours and definitely managed to find all of the hills. I also went to Temple Square. They are definitely not lacking any fountains. SLC isn't exactly what I expected - I guess I thought it was much smaller. The temple is beautiful, it makes me want to convert. I wouldn't do that though until women were allowed to have more than one husband.. then they can have me.

Once the crazies started coming out, I figured it was time to go back to the hotel. It's right next to a yummy mexican place. I just got back at 2315. I think I am going to head to Reno tomorrow, but might get a slightly later start.

It's Just Like Riding A Bike...

Today Terry took me skiing. It was alot of fun, and was suprised how easily it came back to me. Plus I didn't fall and escaped accident free!It was beautiful and I was able to get my bearings. Yesterday I was all turned around when Terry was showing me the area.

After skiing we got a bite to eat - I had a yummy prawn salad. Last night we had amazing sushi. Afterwards we came back to the condo briefly and I read a bit. We went to the rec centre this afternoon and sat in the hot tub. My muscles are super relaxed now, and I think I could probably just curl up and sleep easily.

Still super stoked today about getting into Glasgow! :) Getting ready to leave to Salt Lake City tomorrow. It's a pretty long drive, so I figure I will spend a couple nights there if I find a good place to stay.

WHOPEE!!!!!

Just woke up and checked my email - got an unconditional offer from Glasgow! So so so excited!

Zweite Tag im CO

Woke up later than normal this morning and had a lovely breakfast of scrambled egg and turkey bacon. I think I am missing english food, or just England. Had a craving for fish and chips a couple of days ago, and this morning had one for a bacon sarnie. Now when have I EVER eaten one of those? (Boarding school, actually). It's like the fried chicken craving from ealier this year.

Terry took me around the area this afternoon. The scenery is beautiful and I keep thinking "Gee I could really live here" until I remember what a city person I am and how outdoorsy activities only interest me for so long. The weather is really nice.

Just got outfitted for skiing tomorrow - am looking forward to it.

Frisco, CO

Dancing Flower arrived in Frisco with her trusty steed black orchid weary from her travels. The white people had come to her village and with them came the swine flu. After contaminating her people she had no choice but to leave and seek refuge with a new people in Colorado. After trekking in the knee deep storm, they found the shelter they had so desperately sought. But she realised that in a new village she would need a new name to shed her past of swine flu despair. From then on she was known only as wandering turtle and her trusty steed as rock fall.

Okay, I have a little bit too much time on my hands, and I am pretty sure the only person who can fully understand the above is mom. I left Colby at a fairly decent time. Maybe around nine or so. It seemed like a slow, but with DST it gave me an extra hour. The rest of the drive through Kansas was uber boring, but at least it was much briefer then yesterday's, because I soon entered the beautiful Colorado.

The view was absolutely stunning. You could see the mountains. They kept getting closer and closer until I was in them... or on them, or whatever it was. Black Orchid did well, although it struggled a bit, making the journey slower than I had anticipated. I thought back to Eduardo (the scion), and thought how glad he must be to not have to do that trip. These mountains are like Everest compared to the hills in Alabama. I am sure he misses me terribly, yet would have been unable to cope. He would have been the little engine that couldn't.

I got to Terry's place around 2. Paul, somebody who works with dad as well was here. We watched some football (American) - minnesota and green bay. Terry cooked a lovely meal of grilled chicked and sweet potatoes. Exactly what I needed to feel refreshed!

So with that, I bit you all adieu! And will leave you with the view of coming into colorado which I saw but did not take.

Colby, Kansas Population 4,803

I explored Colby last night in about three seconds flat, not a whole lot to see, a few fast food place, gas stations, hotels and such. Came back to my room for the night and rested. For some reason, I got up a 5 this morning. Way to early for me. Been laying in bed reading a book for the first time in months. Will probably get started soon and make my way CO. About another 300 miles to get there.