So now for my perspective on the past few days...

One of the coolest parts about driving out west is how far you can see. The map we have has topographic landmarks on it - we could see many of the landmarks from over a hundred miles away such as various mesas, Navajo Mountain, etc. When we were driving through Arizona many of the landmarks we saw were even in a different state! This was certainly a treat considering that we didn't take some of the back roads through Mexican Hat and Monument Valley due to time constraints - but still got to see most of the monuments (which were amazingly awesome). Another cool thing about being able to see so far is that we see ALL the weather that is going on - even if it is in no danger of getting close to us. This provided us with such treats as "natural fireworks" on July 4th as well as driving everywhere the past few days. It is really really cool to be driving with the top down and see a giant thunderstorm that seems like it is right next to you but in reality is in no danger of getting you wet. Nature puts on quite a show out here! However, we have had our share of bad weather when driving - two hail storms so far and some rough rain. When the rain is not too hard we just leave the top down because we can drive through it and not get wet.

Will informed me a few days ago when we were driving that on this trip I MUST take a picture of every power plant we pass...so far we have passed 3 power plants of three varieties: a nuke plant in Arkansas, a coal plant in Arizona, and a hydro plant at glen canyon dam at the end of Lake Powell in Arizona. An interesting note about the coal plant.... A while before we passed the plant, we passed a topographic feature named "black mesa". While dark in color, it was not exactly dark enough to warrant it to be called "black." Then we passed a "coal slide" that went from black mesa, over the road, and down to an electrified rail line that we had been noticing had been running alongside us for many miles. Close to Page, AZ we passed the coal plant, which we figured outwas operated by the Navajo, on the coal that they mined on their land and then transported with the electric rail. Our uncle had told us about how many of the Native American tribes had been trying to start having their power production "in-house" instead of just selling the mineral rights on their land - thus giving them cheap energy as well as jobs so it was interesting that we got to see an example of this (although coal...pflebpbp!). So anyways - today we are headed to yet another power plant...although this time it is on purpose. The Hoover Dam! The woman sitting beside us at breakfast this morning at the B & B was from Southern California and said her cousin was the plant manager there...and if it hadn't been a sunday she would have called him to give us a behind-the-seens tour. Oh well, we will have to deal with normal scenes.

The difference between Bryce Canyon and Zion to mee seemed like the difference between Hillsborough, NC and Cary, NC. Bryce was full of adventurers and farms...people who enjoyed living on what the land gave them. The town in Zion is full of bleached blonde hair, manicured lawns, glass galleries, McMansions, and elaborate sprinkler systems. I conjured a theory that it was full of Southern Californians that was affirmed by many of the people that we met. Southern Californians moved from LA to Las Vegas to St George to....Zion?? Well, it seems that way, anyway. St. George (which is where we are about to drive through and is on I-15) is supposedly (according to our breakfast buddy sources who are looking for real estate in the area) the fastest growing municipality in the state. Well I have to say that even though Zion was freaking amazing, I liked the cute town, and the shuttle syustem was great....that I had a lot more respect for what was happening at Bryce. I think that Bryce has not suffered from the Southern Californiacation because to get there you have to drive THROUGH Zion (and pay a aprk entrance fee and wait to go through a tunnel for a zillion years)...its just not convenient enough to an interstate for those crazies...they wouldn't know what to do! :-) What is amusing about this is that I got this impression even though the woman who owned the B&B in Zion was FROM Santa Barbara. She was a curator at the LA County Art Museum - but some how she had adapter her lifestyle to fit in with what Bryce had to offer. They owned Goats, which they milked and made cheese from - they allowed their lawn to grow "naturally" (which in this part of the country means little 'growth' at all and mostly dirt and some bushes), their home was furnished in humble, locally-made furniture. In contrast, our B&B at Zion had a square, sprinklered, flowered, green green grass lawn. The house was a greek style mcmansion with fountains and topiaries and a three-car garage. It was furnished in the sort of upscale furniture that you are afraid to sit on. This morning we drank french press coffee with our stuffed brioche french toast. Don't get me wrong, everybody we met there was super nice - it just didn't feel real. MOre so, it seemed wrong to be living such an irresponsible lifestyle (the manicured lawns were what really set me off) right next to soo much natural beauty.....who needs a pretty green lawn when the views from both your front and back yard are the cliffs of Zion Canyon??? Who is going to be looking at your lawn anyways? Another note - Zion has Cell service....Bryce does not :-)

It really is odd to feel so connected out in the middle of nowhere...to the internet, Live Earth and news on XM radio, cell phones, etc.

Anyways...we are headed down I-15 now on our way to some good power plant viewing at the Hoover Dam. Then, we will go to the craziness that is Las Vegas in order to eat the best suhi in the world at The SOcial House and see some crazy gymnastics and dance/swimming at Cirque du Soleil. Tomorrow we are going to Sequoia National Park as long as it doesn't burn down before we get there....California here we come!