GOBBLE GOBBLE!


Thanksgiving 2001, Arroyo Hondo, NM

For the past two years, Brian and I have spent Thanksgiving with my brother's family up in the high desert around Taos New Mexico. As year three comes rolling round, we're just about ready to call it a bona fide tradition. But this year is a little different, because instead of the 16 hour drive from Fayetteville, this year it is a 20+ hour drive from San Francisco. First we decided that we may as well take two days... then we decided, well, if we're taking two days anyway, why not take a more scenic route?


Summer 2002, from within Capulin Volcano, NM

After all, Brian and I have logged more miles along I-40 than I usually care to think about. We were so sick of the ragged stretch of 40 through Arkansas, that this summer we went hundreds of miles out of our way, from Kentucky to Fayetteville through Saint Louis, just to avoid driving it again!

Now the route from San Francisco to Taos is funny: if you pull out a map and try to draw a straight line, you'll notice right away that you can't get there from here. Or vice versa. Anything even closely aproximating a direct route is blocked by Grand Canyon, vast regions of unbroken desert, not to mention a couple of "test sites" (St. George, Utah, the town with the dubious distinction of being the most radioactive location in the US, would be directly on this path).


The High Desert, looking not very desert-like

So I-40, as out of the way as it seems, is actually the fastest way there. But it is also a dull brown drive, and through this fall's SoCal wildfires to boot. I searched and searched for another route: that's when I discovered the faintly marked and seldom travelled "Highway 50," which hovers only 100 miles or so above that imaginary line through America's desert wastes from San Francisco to Taos. Through the miracle of the internet, I was able to learn more:

Highway 50 is nicknamed "The Loneliest Road in America"

...and, in fact, several travel-blogs I found online record lonesome trips through the Nevada high desert on this highway that crosses five ghost towns for every one still living. Several of them include photos:

...also check out these
The "Shoe Tree" is particularly moving.

Highway 50 is also dotted, apparently, with innumerable hot springs and even geysers, blooming with eerie rainbow colored algae

there are also several lava flows, a giant sand dune, and several "military restricted areas" -- hopefully not ALL radioactive!

There are NO indications of this road having any service stations, rest stops, toilets, or campsites on it. Well, if we knew that, where would the adventure be?


the first three photos by Brian Spears, Genius Photographer
...and the weird smileys crawled out of that geyser pic!!!   ¶ 3:26 AM

  The online animated readings project is moving along: our virtual coffeeshop is temporarily named "the lemon bean cafe." It is an international destination for writers and poets, where the latte is strong, the staff is friendly, and the audience likes its art served up fresh and hot. As with all businesses, though, location location location is what gives the lemon bean its special flair: waterfront Amsterdam, of course. This latest image shows how the particular watercolor verve of the lemon bean is emerging from crayon concept.

Dig it:


The lemon bean cafe will eventually exist entirely in online watercolors  ¶ 2:03 AM

  Amy's Cold Update: I've given in and taken the damn pharmaceuticals. Stupid chemicals. Hate the damn things. But I feel better. I felt better enough, today, actually, to quit feeling sorry for myself and get back to marketing my work. Woo hoo! Where there is no risk, there is no hope: I intend to have hope!!!

tutu-warlike-dems.jpg  ¶ 12:37 AM