Trip #4. Day 9. 1 down, 82 to go!

Day - Sunday, 24, 2011

Miles: I've lost track by now.
Weather: Warm and overcast
Lowest Gas Price:
Johnny stops: Pasadena, CA

Today we start route 66, score!  We don't set the alarm, waking up around 10am for our goodbyes to the Dolphin Motel.  Grab a pop tart and soda from the back of the car and hit the road.  I am so nervous to fight L.A. traffic, although my nerves were calmed by the fact it was Easter Sunday.  Traffic wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.  Once we make it to the 101, home of the famous O.J. Simpson car chase, I'm in awe of the big city.  Our first goal was to make it to the Hollywood sign, an icon in American pop culture.  I did my homework before leaving and found one of the best places to see the sign is a dog park in the Hollywood Hills.  So we wind up the Yaris and head up the steep hills towards our destination.  The incline isn't the problem, but the teeny tiny skinny roads around sharp turns with no warning of cars coming from the other direction, that sucks.  We pass up a few Porsche, Rolls Royce and nice ass Cadillacs on the street side, yum.  After about 45 minutes of maneuvering around we make it to the top and park the car for a photo op.  After a few snapshots we hop back on the 101 and hit up the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood and Vine.  I seek out a few of my favs: Patsy Cline, Mae West, Frank Sinatra and Audrey Hepburn.  It's so cool to think about how this intersection shaped modern show business, by harboring so many careers pre-1960s.  I stop at a shop to browse souvenirs and head towards another Johnny city, Pasadena.

Skipping through a couple less than attractive parts of town, we hit Pasadena around 5pm.  Of course the city sign was located on the highway so we scope out the police station for a quick pic.  And hit the road headed towards Barstow, Ca.  A short drive away we pull into a very sketchy Route 66 Motel, and unwillingly check in for the night.  Our room smelled like death and had marijuana laying on the nightstands, we ask for a refund and get the hell out of town.  It's still somewhat early so we decide to roll until we get tired.  We follow Rte 66 through the Mojave desert for the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen in my life.  The reds, yellows, blues and oranges illuminate the desert sky in an almost indescribable way.  The pictures do not begin to describe the beauty, you'll just have to go see it for yourself.  We stop for the night at a Motel 6 in Needles, Ca for the night.  The place is either brand new or completely remodeled and a great place to lay our sleepy heads.  We walk across the parking lot for a quick late night dinner at Dennys and head back for dreamland.  Goodnight Cali.

Trip #4. Day 8.

Day 8- Friday 22, 2011

Weather: sunny and warm

About 8am the sound of the alarm wakes me again, time to get ready for some Sportfishing! I drown my skin in sunscreen, since I'm still complaining about a red nose and peeling forehead. Head down to the courtyard at our motel for a muffin and some orange juice and read the local paper. It is a gorgeous morning, sunny and a slight breeze to keep it just a little cool. The owner of the motel strikes up a conversation about the days activities, suggesting more hot spots for us to see and visit. Once we finally get rid of him(he's slightly creepy) we walk across the street to the docks and sign in for our ship. We are equipped with fishing licences and poles. Behind the building is the ship, the Daily Double. It's a mid-size boat run by Point Loma Sportfishing. Once everyone is aboard we head down the way a bit to pickup bait from another dock.

At the stop for bait we are greeted by a baby sea lion, this little guy is just too cute for words. He was hanging out with the pelicans and seagulls waiting for some spare fish. On the way out to mid-ocean I get a little woozy, seasickville here I come. The feeling of intense nausea lasted about an hour, until my body finally got used to the lack of sturdiness. The first stop I caught two fish, a rockfish and a mackrel. The rockfish is an orange, pointy fish that has a face only a mother could love. The mackrel isn't a quality eating fish, it's mostly used for bait so it got thrown back. After that first stop the boat moved around quite a bit, unable to find a quality fishing spot. I didn't catch anymore fish, but it was still a great experience. At one of the spots I see a whale go under the boat, it was just a quick glance but really neat. Then on the way into the dock we run across a mama and baby whale in the near distance. We stopped and watched for about 20 minutes
as they kept coming up to spout. It was really cool, probably one of the highlights of the trip so far.

We get back to the room and wash up, trying to get rid of that ocean smell and all the salt on my face. Once all cleaned up we head for San Diego Brewing Company for lunch/dinner. We try some bacon/vinaigrette/blue cheese tater tots and I order an Avocado/BBQ sandwich along with the house light draft beer. They were all yummy in my tummy. After dinner we figured a trip downtown was in order. Once we get within shooting distance we realize that a Padres game is going to keep up from finding any possible parking spot for under $20. Since we're coming back the next day for a game we figured it's not worth the dough.

We head back to hotel for some R&R until we find that ice cream is a necessity. A cotton candy waffle cone from a shop in Pacific Beach and my sweet tooth is ecstatic. We get back to the Dolphin Motel around 10pm and call it a night with some TV and cuddle time. Keep it classy, San Diego.

Trip #4. Day 7.

Day 7- Thursday 21, 2011

Miles: 352

Weather: sunny and warm

Lowest Gas Price: 4.07 (Just inside California state line)

Today nothing could wake me up, not the alarm, not my nagging boyfriend, not the thought of San Diego. All I wanted to do was stay in the big comfy bed at Bills. Kicking my feel and whining the entire time I get dressed and pack my suitcase.  The room is turned upside down with three days worth of clothes, shoes, garbage, ten cent cash out tickets and empty pop cans. I manage to get everything picked up and find somewhat of a good mood as I imagine the view of the Pacific Ocean. By 9am we check out of the casino and head to the far end of the strip for some pics with the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. We hit little traffic as we head out of town and jump on the highway Southbound. A stop at the state line for a check-in with the agricultural department, just in case we were trying to smuggle in illegal plants. You know, because I'm gangsta like that. We stop just over the border for Jerry's first experience at Jack in the Box. The burger was so big and filling, I couldn't even finish it. We jump back on the highway after seeing a few more greasers and hot rods heading for Vegas.

We roll into the Dolphin Motel parking lot around 5pm West Coast time. Our room is small, but clean and exactly what we paid for. The guy at the desk gives us a few dining options in the area. We head right down the street for dinner after getting all of our junk cluttered in the room. We both order seafood platters from Point Loma Seafood, direct from the ocean bordering the restaurant. As the weather is perfect to eat outside I grab a picnic table and play face-off with a ginormous seagull that wants some fries. I'm not kidding you folks, these seagulls are not like their cousins in Indiana. This little guy or gal is bigger than my chihuahua, he probably tips the scales at ten or more pounds. After scarfing down some delicious crab cakes, shrimp and fish we hit the neighborhood laundry mat. While our clothes are finishing up the rinse cycle, a slicked back greaser comes in. I swear they are everywhere out here, and it's TORTURE! Why wasn't I born in southern Cali with the rest of the cool kids? Anyways, Jerry asks him where some cool hangouts are around town. He points us to the Tower Bar, a dive/rockabilly bar on the other side of town. We chit chat a bit and he tells us he's heading to Vegas in the morning with his '64 truck, bastard.

Now it's time to get all dolled up and hit up the Tower Bar. In the parking lot is a beauty of an old truck, complete in rusted glory. Inside I order two Pabst Blue Ribbons and am completely flabbergasted when the bartender hands me two 24 ounce cans of PBR. Seriously, I have never been so happy in my life to meet a bar. We sit in the corner of this dingy, dark bar while the regulars are lined up at the bar. It must be movies on since they have bowls of popcorn on the bar and are playing a B-Rated movie on the TVs. I can't make out what movie it is, but it's about a tacky 90's girl and a farm. All I know is that her boobs are shown at least every two minutes...the guys sure seem to enjoy the flick. After finishing our brews we try to find The Shakedown, another bar greaser boy told me about. But we end up getting lost, frustrated and irritated at San Diego. So we head to the hotel, watch some TV for a while and fall asleep around 11pm. Another day down the drain.

Trip #4. Day 6.

Day 5- Wednesday 20, 2011

Miles: N/A
Weather: sunny and warm

3am and I'm wide awake listening to the sounds of Vegas outside our room.  I wake up my other half, whom has stolen all the blankets(as usual.)  The sounds of sirens awoke me a couple times during the night, come to find out someone had robbed the Stratosphere during the night.  I was kinda bummed we had slept the night away, but my body definitely needed the rest.  We turned on the t.v. and decided to head to Ellis Island, a couple blocks off the strip, for breakfast.  Before leaving I had printed out a list of all the "deals" in Vegas, and Ellis Island had a few graveyard/breakfast specials.  We walked through the somewhat sketchy neighborhoods to the casino and arrive around 4:30am for some biscuits and gravy.  The 3.99 meal tasted like a 3.99 meal, worse than cafeteria food but still able to ease a hungry tummy.  We make our way back to Bills just in time for sunrise, close the curtains and fall asleep for a couple more hours. 

Once we wake up for the day(again) around 9am we throw on the swimsuits and head for the Flamingo pool.  Since Bills does not have a pool, admission is included into the pool next door for free.  We walk in and see all the stuffy, rich folk sitting poolside afraid of a little water.  Me and my thunder thighs make our way to the water, which is a little more than chilly.  But coming from Indiana a little cold water cannot frighten me off.  About an hour and a half in the pool earns me a nice sunburn, I start to resemble Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  We head back to the hotel and change for the afternoon adventures.

First stop- Imperial Palace for the Auto Collection Showroom.  A beautiful collection of around 200 cars includes former owners Elvis, Johnny Carson and presidents of foreign countries.  A hot pink 1951 Mercury strikes my eyes, causing a slight love affair with a chopped, slammed, gorgeous piece of hot rod.    What a wonderful piece of work, only such thing can make a woman weak in the knees.  Once Jerry peels me away from the auto museum we head to the Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood for lunch and some shopping.  We stop in a small restaurant for a bite to eat, check out a few art galleries, chug a Corona and do some browsing through shops I could never afford.  We head down the street to catch a show at Treasure Island featuring the sirens.  It was a pretty good show, cheesy but cute.  Next stop-Fremont Street.

Fremont is hopping tonight, with more tourists and performers littering the street than the daytime.  We head straight for dollar margaritas, chugging them down like water.  We catch a magician playing tricks with cigarettes and sugar packets, he's definitely good for a few laughs.  I am in complete awe of the surplus of rockabilly boys and gals surrounding me.  Greaser boys + pompadours + rolled up jeans = heaven.  See, Viva Las Vegas(a rockabilly car show) starts the day we leave Vegas.  I am utterly disappointed  by this fact(Debbie, if you're reading this, I may need a few days off April next year.)  By this point, I was feeling the pressure of too many alcoholic beverages and decide it's about time for dinner.  We head to 4 Queens for some $8 prime rib, vegetables and potatoes.  It was the most delicious meal a drunk person could ask for.  After dinner we hop back on the Deuce, headed for Bills.  About 2am we hit the sack, last night in Vegas was a blast.  One thing is for sure, next time to Vegas Fremont Street is the way to go.

Trip #4. Day 5.

Day 5- Tuesday 19, 2011
Miles:  N/A
Weather: sunny and warm

Woke up about 10am, ready to go!  We grab a bus pass to ride the Deuce down the strip towards the old school Fremont Street.  We stop off at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, which is slated for demise on May 16th.  It opened the doors in 1952, and has been home to many performers such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sonny and Cher, Jerry Lewis and Johnny Carson.  A couple dollar hog dogs and High Life's slide down the tube in delight.  We hop back on the bus headed for Pawn Stars, home of another History Channel favorite.  There was a short line to get into the shop, but it does not deter us.  Once inside, I realize how much the shop has changed since January last year.  The tacky souvenirs have taken over what was once space filled with one-of-a-kind antiques and collectibles.   It was busy, and rather disappointing that my man Chumlee was not on site.  We head across the street to another kitschy antiques store.  It was slam packed with pretty much junk from floor to ceiling.  We walk a few blocks, losing our way back to the bus station.  Once we find someone with the bus they tell us it'll be another 45 minutes until the next bus arrives, and that we'd be better off walking. 

So in mid-80s weather we sweat our way to Fremont Street, thirsting for one or two or five margaritas.  Good thing they're only $1 at Freemont.  Some famous Shrimp cocktails follow at the Golden Gate casino, along with some deep fried Twinkies at Mermaid's Casino.  Talk about a massive sugar rush!  We wander from one end to the other, bouncing in and out of all the casinos and decide to head back to the hotel for a early evening nap.  We make it back to our room about 8pm and set the alarm for an hour later.  Bad part, we don't wake up.  I guess this is our bodies playing catch-up with our minds.

Trip #4. Day 4.

Day 4- Monday 18, 2011
Miles: 619
Weather: sunny and warm
Lowest Gas Price: 3.77 (Glenwood Springs, Co)

We check out of the motel after a great nights sleep around 9am and hit the road. The landscape from the Colorado area, through the mountains and plateaus of Utah are gorgeous. My eyes can barely believe the beauty around me, can this really be in America? The colors of the mountains glow with specs of red, yellow, orange and brown. We stop at many lookout points and learn quick facts about what we see. The oldest sediment of the mountains are actually the smaller ones, while the larger mountains are the youngest. For hours all we see is pure beauty. The roads are quite, no traffic at all.  This is such a change from everyday life, it's nice to take a step back and see the things that surround us in our own backyard.

We (finally) roll into Vegas about 8pm Mountain time. The lights from the city are absolutely breathtaking, I love the view from the distance. After fighting a little bit of traffic we hit our hotel, Bills Gambling Hall. It is right next to the Flamingo, in the heart of the strip. We check in and dart straight to our room. It was clean, bigger than expected and had a view of the Bellagio fountains right from our window! Once we got changed and settled in we hit the strip. First stop, the casino bar to catch the final minutes of the Bulls game. I enjoy the sights of my new boyfriend, Joakim Noah. *sigh* After a few margaritas, the Bulls put up some last minute shots and beat the Pacers. Bellagio, here we come.

We waited about ten minutes for the first show, Time to Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman. I freaking love this song and am so glad to hear it. There is nothing more romantic than the sight of the illuminated water dancing so in sync to an absolutely stunning song. We decide to wait another 15 to see the next show. While waiting we spot some local police taking pictures in front of their cop car. They had a camera crew with them, so I figure they were either with Vegas Jail or Cops. They seemed to enjoy the attention. The second show begins, blasting some Luck be a Lady from Mr. Las Vegas, Frank Sinatra.

After the show we wander around the strip, taking in the glory that is Vegas. The lights, the sounds, the smell of Cigars, the hookers, the cards for hookers at every corner. Ahhhh....Vegas, you rule. We dart in and out of casinos, grabbing drinks and throwing a dollar or two in the machines. Thankfully, neither of us are gamblers. We hit Hooters for some midnight $.25 wings, they hit the spot! After a short hike back to our hotel room, we hit the pillows about 2am. Goodnight, Vegas!

Trip #4. Day 2.

Day 2- Saturday 16, 2011
Miles: 392
Weather: Sunny, Windy
Lowest Gas Price: 3.58 (Montezuma, IA)
Johnny stops: N/A

Today I woke up without the aid of an alarm, a rarity in my world. It was about 7am and there was not way I was going to fall back asleep, I was too excited to see Colorado. We shower, grab some bagels from the motel breakfast station and hop back on I-80. Today has been a lot of car time, so not too much excitement. We see fields, lots and lots of fields. Oh, cows too. And snow. Stupid snow, but it's somewhere in the 60's so the snow doesn't bother me too much. Turns out there was a really bad snow storm, and if we would've been one day sooner we would be screwed. The local radio station reported that the middle of Nebraska received abut 16 inches of snow, trapping cars and closing down the interstate. Today, you would never be able to tell. There are just a few random drifts and snow on the hill tops.

We stop in North Platte, Nebraska for some lunch and tourist time. There is a Wild Bill Cody museum and gift shop right off of the highway. It's decorated in tacky fashion, but still old time goodness is among us. Inside there are antique clothing from the Buffalo Bill heyday, a two headed calf and all the touristy souvenirs you could ask for.  I pick up a handful of postcards and a shotglass to add to my already too big collection. Jerry scouts out a cowboy hat that fits him perfectly, and looks damn good(don't tell his ego I said that.) Right across the corner is a diner that I spotted from the highway. It's an vintage 50's diner, complete with outrageously silver aluminum and neons. Penny's Diner, here we come. The inside was just as retro as the exterior, with black & white checkered floors, booths and vinyls decorating the walls. After getting an interrogation from all three working staff about my tattoos, we both order our first Buffalo Burger. Let me tell you, yummy goodness!

With our tummies full we jump back on the road, excited to meet Jerry's cousin Danielle. Shortly after departing North Platte the views start to change. It became less highway and more scenic views of rolling hills and the mountains far in the distance. Don't worry though, we still see cows. And lots of cows.  We roll into Fort Morgan about 5pm, finding Danielle's house off of a dirt road(who knew they still existed?)  Let me tell you about her awesome house:  in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields, clean air, the sound of nothing but birds and the kids playing in the yard.  It was almost magical.  After introductions and catching up, Danielle throws some ribs on the grill and we chug down a few beers.  Let me tell you, girl can cook some killer ribs.  Dinner was DY-NO-MITE!  Once the wind died down we threw together a bonfire and roasted some marshmallows.  In between doing shots of tequila and chugging down some mixed drinks, I somewhere find a good buzz.  We chill by the fire until our eyes could no longer fight the evil of night.  I manage to throw on some pj's and pass the hell out.

Trip #4. Day 1. 4 down, 83 to go!

Day 1- Friday 15, 2011

Miles: 682
Weather: Cold, Windy, Rainy, all around blah!
Lowest Gas Price: 3.58 (Montezuma, IA)
Johnny stops:  Davenport, IA; Oskaloosa, IA; the state of Nebraska; Panama, NE

The alarm screams, its 4:30am. If you know me, you know I am NOT a morning person, at all. Not even a little bit. Not even if you tried to coax me with chocolate or Derek Jeter. Besides the fact, I do kinda alright. I wipe the drool off the corners of my mouth and nag Jerry to get up. We walk around like zombies for about a half hour while getting dressed and throwing the last minute essentials in the car. My goal was to be in the car and on the road by 5am. Guess what folks?! We made it by 4:59am. With one minute to spare(score!) It is cold, I have a headache and by this point managed to halfway come to life. We swing by the gas station and I pickup a Starbucks Vanilla Latte. This makes my morning so much better, thank you caffeine.

Surprisingly we fly through Chicago traffic on I-80, not even blinking an eye and head out West. About 9am we cross the state line and land in LeClaire, IA. History lesson for the day, this town is the home of Buffalo Bill Cody. We drive through this quaint little town looking for Antique Archeology, home of the History Networks show "American Pickers." This town is as big as a supermodels appetite. It was odd that we had trouble finding what I thought would be the highlight of the locals. Jerry finally spotted it, hiding behind a house. We were taken back to find it was a tiny garage, and that was about it.  Nothing fancy, not even close. I give props to the cameramen for making it look like a big deal. I feel deceived. We were going to grab breakfast in town and hang around until the shop opened, but I figured there was nothing worth waiting for. So we jumped back on the highway and headed to our first Johnny town- Davenport, IA.

After Jerry tries to kill us by suggesting I turn left on a one-way street, going the wrong direction, we scope out a small restaurant inside the city limits. The Village Inn is a cute little diner filled with the elderly. Not gonna lie, I felt like I was visiting a nursing home. But the menus definitely grabbed my attention, they had a great selection of real food.  Now I know this isn't much coming from a chubby person, but the food was rockin. I ordered "Farmers Market Potato Cakes." They were topped with scrambled eggs, spinach,artichokes, mushroom, hollandaise sauce and cheese. It was absolutely delectable. It would even
make Gordon Ramsey smile. We also ordered a Strawberry Crepe, with the freshest strawberries ever, to share. Is your mouth watering yet?  It should be. After this lovely excursion we swing by the local police station for a quick honorary Johnny pic to prove our presence.  If it weren't for the shitty weather we would be tourists. But its way to cold and windy, we move on.

Taking a little detour off of 80, we jump on 63S and head towards Oskalussa, Ia. Our second stop on the Johnny journey. The highway is mostly fields, cows and dilapidated homes. We swing through North Sharon and stop in the two block section of town deemed as downtown.  We stop in D&K Collectibles and browse the overpriced merchandise consisting of beer memorabilia, cookie jars and ragged furniture. I find a Sammy Davis Jr. vinyl from 1962 for $2. Stoked about my find, we wander across the street to Crows Feet Antiques. This was more of an upscale craft boutique. But we find a killer brick stamped with Oskaloosa and an antique Pabst Blue Ribbon can, total of $12. Another great find!  After that keep on to Oskaloosa and take our pics, by this point the wind had to be gusting up to 70mph and the temp had plummeted. We couldn't get back in the car fast enough. I wish it were nicer out, this was one of the cutest towns I've ever seen. The downtown area had a big antique gazebo and little shops everywhere. Very kitsch.

Also, a strange fact I must share with my friends, super unleaded gasoline is cheaper than regular unle

aded gasoline in Iowa. This is something very strange. According to Google it has something with the fuel including ethanol and the government subsidizing the addition. Weird, right?

Another short out-of-route nears in as we head towards Panama, NE. This small community with a population of barely 200 was nothing more than a tiny dot on the map. We found the sign, took a pic and headed back towards 80. The land was full of hills, farms and gorgeous homes.  After another couple hours in the car we veer off into the state capital of Lincoln into an Economy Inn. We check in just about 8pm, drop off the bags and head for some grub. We hit up a restaurant that is like a mall food

court, but in restaurant format. Choosing between Chinese, Thai, burgers, subs and ice cream I go for some Beef Lo Mien. It was three out of five stars, not too terrible.

Well I'm sitting in bed now, ready to doze off for another busy day tomorrow. Thanks for visiting my blog and stay tuned for more useless ramblings!

Trip #4. Day 3.

Day 3- Sunday 16, 2011

Miles: 264
Weather: Mother Nature was bipolar
Lowest Gas Price: 3.59 (outskirts of Denver)

Well good morning, hangover. My eyes peel open about 7am with my stomach absolutely rolling. Too much tequila, blasted! Danielle and the kids soon wake up and we start the morning with talks of stuffed animals, puppies and breakfast. I chug down an ice cold glass of milk, which seemed to calm the belly a little bit. We chow down some homemade biscuits and gravy, while trying not to laugh at the faceoff between Donovan and his plate of food. After breakfast we throw together ourselves, say our goodbyes and hit the road for Denver.

We land at Coors Field about 11:30am, jump in line to receive our free bobbleheads and scope out all the Cubs fans. Shockingly there was a lot of Cubby blue at the stadium. Once the gates open we walk around the park and take in all the sights. Coors Field definitely has a killer setup. From one side(where

our seats were) you could see the mountains in full form. Our tickets were for the club level, and let me tell you I felt like V.I.P. It had a private entrance, chefs carving gourmet ham, and glass enclosed hallways. It was totally baller status. As for the weather, it was sunny and warm. Perfect ball game weather! I did get a bit of a suntan too(score!)

The game starts VERY rough for the Cubbies, putting out 4 in the first inning to the Rockies. Now for those of you whom know me well, I am a die hard Yankees fan. Being that I purchased the tickets as a Christmas present for the lovely boyfriend, I had to play Cubs fan for a day. Don't worry, I'll convert him sooner or later. For this 4 hour game, I was so stressed out being a Cubs fan. I vow to never do it again. They were losing, winning, losing again, badly. Very badly, 4 more runs in the 8th inning. Very disappointed,

but all in all it was a lot of fun. I live for baseball games in the summer, so this is a great way to start the season.

Once the game is over we hop back on the highway and head West. A quick stop at Lookout Mountain, the final resting place of Buffalo Bill. Reading the back story before the trip, i learned that there was actually some conspiracy over his final burial site. If you get a chance read up on the man, he's quite interesting. Coming down from the mountain we run across a herd of deer. I think they were deer, they were bigger than Indiana deer but smaller than what an elk would be. it amazed me they were just hanging out next to the road, like it was no big deal.

A couple hours down the road, we hit some serious mountain action. I sit in the passengers seat freaking out at all the caution signs posted; falling rock,live animals, steep grade, icy road conditions, etc. Jerry confirms that he is a good driver and to calm my happy ass down. By the time we hit the Eisenhower Tunnel, it is white out conditions. The speed limit drops from 60 to 35 in sections with state cops every few miles. Either this is completely normal or they were expecting a bad storm today. Either way, it was definitely an experience. Once we get out of the storm we decide to find some food and a bed. We pull over in Glenwood Springs, Co. A bite to eat at another Village Inn and find a motel a few minutes from the downtown area. This town is full of the upper class attractions, skiing and shopping.  You can tell it's a big summertime hot spot. We check into the Frontier Motel for only $55 and head for our room.  This place was the Taj Mahal of cheap motels, the bathroom was completely renovated and clean, the bed was clean
with fresh bedding and it didn't even smell sketchy :) Definitely a winner among same priced budget motels. I would love to come back and stay again! About 11pm we fall into dreamland, Vegas here we come!

Fun with kitchen magnets!

Self explanatory.  Almost there!

countdown.

t-minus 26 hours && 45 minutes until vacation officially starts! 

my bags are packed, i've checked my to-do list about 32 times and the yaris is all tuned up...i can't wait to hit the open road :) :) :)

4600 miles in 17 days...lets hope we make it back in one piece!

I'm starting to hate you, Chicago.

So the ol' man and I have been to Chicago at least a handful of times in the last month. (If you go, House of Sushi and Noodles on Belmont Street has the best EVER all-you-can-eat sushi, a must try!) If you remember, it is on the Johnny list.  But to much avail we have yet to find a dang City of Chicago sign.  Blasted!  Hopefully when the weather warms up we can get outside of the car and wander.  Until then, I'm not your friend Chicago.  Does anyone know where we can find one? 

Now that I've done my venting, I must take a brief moment to gush about our upcoming trip.  All hotel/motel reservations have been made.  We got the very last wigwam in Holbrook, AZ...this makes me very happy because I would have definitly thrown a massive hissy fit if they were sold out!  I've started picking up little odds & ends at Walmart and the dollar store, I've stocked up on aspirin for when me and J get sick of each other in the blue bubble :)  It's only 36 more days and I'm super stoked!

The countdown.

Well hello there 2011, I'm glad to see you!  As the new year starts, I've gone to town on my calendar tallying days down.  The official count as of today is 64 days til vacation!  Woo-freakin-hoo!  I've been scouring the web for hot spots, motels, roadside attractions and just about anything cool.  Being the stupendous girlfriend I am, the boy received Cubs vs. Rockies tickets to start our trip in Denver.  I'm pretty stoked about that for two reasons 1: to see the cubs lose and 2: I'm a sucker for a good beer, hot dog and ball game.  So now I must start the search for an awesome Rockies shirt to root for the hometown boys.  Anyways, I've been over planning(like I always do) the trip and this is the estimated plan:

Friday, April 15:           Hobart, IN- Omaha, NE
Saturday, April 16:       Omaha, NE- Denver, CO: Stay with cousin Danielle(thank you!)
Sunday, April 17:          Denver, CO- Green River, UT: Robbers Roost Motel
Monday, April 18:        Green River, UT- Las Vegas, NV: Bills Gamblin Hall
Tuesday, April 19:        Partyyyy in Vegas :)
Wednesday, April 20:   Still partyyyy in Vegas
Thursday, April 21:       Las Vegas, NV- San Diego, CA: The Dolphin Motel
Friday, April 22:           R&R in San Diego, CA
Saturday, April 23:       More R&R in San Diego, CA
Sunday, April 24:         San Diego, Ca- Barstow, CA (start of Route 66 journey): Route 66 Motel
Monday, April 25:       Barstow, Ca-Holbrook, AZ : Wigwam Motel
Tuesday, April 26:       Holbrook, AZ- Williams, AZ: The Canyon Motel(see Grand Canyon!)
Wednesday, April 27: Williams, AZ- Albuquerque, NM: Sandia Peak Inn Motel
Thursday, April 28:      Albuquerque, NM- Amarillo, TX: The Big Texan Motel
Friday, April 29:          Amarillo, TX- Tulsa, OK: Desert Hills Motel
Saturday, April 30:      Tulsa, OK- St. Louis, MO: Stay with Aunt Judy (thank you!)
Sunday, April 31:         St. Louis, MO- Hobart, IN (HOME SWEET HOME!)

Wheeewwww!  I can't wait!  Can you tell?

So does anyone have recommendations for places to see/visit/do enroute?  I'd love to hear your suggestions!