the week in review from chris

Day 7- The week in review
Since I have been doing the majority of the driving and Amanda, most of the blogging, we decided to let me do a weekly blog. Well contrary to popular belief, we are still getting along and have been right on schedule the whole trip.
Nancy: With great respect to our friends Joey and Rachel who were an inspiration for the trip, we decided to stick with tradition and name the bus, just for the trip. Nancy came about because she was the true first owner of the bus and without her story, the trip for us would not be possible. Plus Amanda thought it sounded more Hippie. Nancy is a well maintained tortuous, who proves that the hare does not always win. You will get passed by 98% of the vehicles on the road, but its nice seeing a vehicle pass you at 90 MPH and yet you still bet them when you pass them and the cop. Nancy has her quarks, like the speedometer is anywhere from 5 to 9 MPH over what you are actually doing, the left hand turn signal will work on Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays only, the gas tank is now only filling up ¾ tank when you top it off and will run on below empty for 100+ miles, the temperature gage will have moments of sporadic bouncing and despite all efforts to modernize her with the latest and greatest Ipod’s and Iphone’s , all the music sounds like it is playing on a record player. We love the experience and wouldn’t want it any other way.
The sites have been incredibly awesome. In the first 7 days we have knocked off 3 national parks (Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Carlsbad Caverns) and 1 of mans greatest achievements, the Hoover Dam. I had seen 3 of the 4 before as a child, but was still blown away by each. I remember thinking those places were cool as a kid, but the appreciation and respect you have for it as an adult is almost too much to comprehend. Carlsbad was astounding. To witness the beauty forming in front of you and to think about time from a different aspect, gives you an appreciation for natures elegance on our planet. The 3 national parks are a must see for all in your life, up close and personal. We both wanted more time at each place, but had enough time to have a wonderful experience. One things for sure, we will be camping at Yosemite for a week in the future, with it being right in our backyard in Cali. People travel the world to see Yosemite, so if you live in Cali and have not been there……..well?
The Driving has been easy going. The long drives actually have been flying by. Probably because we don’t take the same way we came, back. We are now on uncharted territory for both of us, driving through Texas. Amanda drove the entire 10 hour leg today while I blog and catch up on sleep. I had to pull an all nighter from Arizona to Carlsbad, because we were having too much fun with Mark. Actually, I was wide awake for the entire drive and we got into Carlsbad 30 mins after park opening. It might have been the coffee I had at 4am or it might have been the high wind that blew us around the highway like a limp ragdoll for the first 7 hours of the drive. Ohh…and the part about Amanda driving the 10 hours….make that seven, cause the winds picked up and I had to take over driving the last 3 right after I typed that. We did get our first peace sign from a fellow VW bug who pulled up next to us on the drive to Vegas. Haven’t see many other Vdubs on the road. Guess there becoming more classic. But, Amanda’s still punching me in the arm every time she sees a “red one”. 7 flawless days in the book. This week has been so much fun. We have finalized the reservations for the rest of the trip and have some pretty cool stuff comin. Next week….2 amusement parks, hangin with friends and family, and a shuttle launch. Keep checkin in. Miss Yall’. (we’re in “the great state of Texas”)
-Chris