Get the heck outta Dodge

All of the photos will be hosted by sportsshooter.com now, so just click this link for a few of this week's pics: http://www.sportsshooter.com/dryder/usaweek2 The thumbnails might be all black but just click em and you'll see some sweet pics, guaranteed.

I like Dodge City, Kansas, but there's a hell of a lot of flies. That's why I want to get the heck out, but it is a great place to relax and poke around. We had to eat lunch in the tent today, which was like sitting in a sauna, because there were so many flies swarming our picnic table. Tonight will be our second night staying here at the Watersports Campground, which is located right on a big, calm pond in Dodge City.

Kanna and I enjoyed Antelope Island, Utah, before heading to some unnamed spot a couple hours east of Salt Lake City, near Provo. We saw a sign for camping, continued past the campground, and made our own little space near a creek where cattle roam. It was pretty calm, and free, yet still smelled a bit like cattle. The next night was spent in a very nice campground in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado. It was luxurious but a little boring for our tastes. Naturally, we graduated to the parking lot of Wal Mart for the next night's accomodation.

I know it sounds weird, but it was free, and surprisingly more adventurous. The plan was to set up camp just like normal, and we got the 'ok' from asst. manager Joe inside Canyon City's Wal Mart (still in Colorado). However, as we watched a large brawl take place outside the store's main entrance, we decided to find another location. The wild goose chase that ensued only led us back to Wal Mart, two hours later, with our own fear restraining us to the inside of my Saturn. We drove all over trying to find the state park, and just ended up sleeping in the car back where we had began.

Things took a turn for the better, as we encountered enchanting Fowler, Colorado. By enchanting, of course, I mean small and weird, and kind of uncomfortable. But it was a nice two nights of 'catching our breath' from too much driving and not enough relaxing. Fowler is just a pit stop, if you will, for travelers of highway 50. Our neighbor in the permanent trailer next to us at the RV park enchanted us with tails of the town's mysterious cat murderers. And vicios dogs chased me as I took a jog by the cemetery.

As we follow highway 50, which brought us to Dodge City, Kansas, I am truly glad we chose to avoid major interstate highways. Blue highways are the way to go (the ones that look blue on the map--not the big freeways). The scenery is great, the pace is more manageable, and the towns are very unique.

Tomorrow we'll continue on our way, not before sampling the town's Mexican food, of course. There seems to be a large Latino population here, something I'm seeing a lot of on this trip, and I'm dying to get some food that rivals the taquerias that I came to love while living in Baja.

Like I said last week, that wallet ain't getting any fatter, but we're doing alright. And that beard is kind of big; you should see it. Maybe I'll add a pic next week. And the car is, well, workin' real hard. The brakes started smoking in the Black Canyon, which forced us to pull over and let them cool (and let our nerves cool, which was probably more important--it's a damn steep road!). The battery was completely shot yesterday, and the trunk popped open while we were driving. Sadly, we lost my beloved American flag folding chair. It fell straight out onto the highway, never to be seen again. Se la vi.