DAILY UPDATES.... This page will have updates from my trip, I'll try and post something everyday. If you have any comments or ideas please send me an email.

APRIL 6 - 12      APRIL 13 - 19       APRIL 20 - 26       APRIL 27 - MAY 3     MAY 4 - 20     MAY 21 - 27       MAY 28 - JUNE 5

JUNE 6 -15     JUNE 16 - 30      JULY 1 - 8        JULY 9 - 16

June 6, 2005
I made my way across the Sierra Nevada Mountains on Rt. 108 - there's lots of snow still in the mountains.

....and cold,

...and still loaded with snow! 

Sonora Pass - 9,624 feet

June 7, 2005
The Sierra Mountains are really beautiful, here's a quick picture ------>
 
All the other pictures I took were mental images - just imagine snow covered mountains, blue skies, tumbleweeds and a few lakes and streams.

After driving on Rt. 395 for most of the day I wheeled into Independence Airport around 9pm and ran into a group of U.S. Forestry (or something like that) firefighters enjoying a few beers. While talking about my road trip I broke out my computer to show them a few pictures from the road trip and from some of my other photo projects.

After pictures, beer and a some good laughs it was almost midnight and the guys were kind enough to offer me a bunk in their barracks, but the Escape hotel was already set-up and I was pretty sure these were morning guys who would definitely wake me up way to early.

Sierra Nevada Mountains

U.S. Forestry Fire Fighters

.... always training, even on days off !!

June 8, 2005
It's damn hot in Death Valley - about 100 degrees today. I thought driving through Death Valley would be a good way to get to Las Vegas, it was a good idea until I decide to go off-road. After seeing all the hot attractions (Stovepipe Wells, Furnace Creek and Badwater Basin) I thought an off-road short cut/adventure would be fun - the sign said "4 wheel drive recommended," I have 4 wheels so it must be all good!

According to my calculations the road (which isn't marked on the map) should have been about 20 miles - my calculations were wrong! I ended up driving over 50 miles on rocks, dried-up river beds, tumbleweeds and dirt. It was about 95 degrees when I hit the dirt road and I chose to open the window instead of using the AC - I didn't want to get stuck in the middle of Death Valley, I'm pretty sure they gave it that name for a good reason.

When I finally got onto a paved road (which was quite a relief) my low fuel light was on and my car was car was full of dust and out of alignment - but at least I was still in one piece!

On the way to Death Valley

Death Valley National Park

Badwater Basin at
Death Valley National Park

Sunset in Death Valley

June 9, 2005
I spent the day in Laughlin, NV cleaning all the dust and dirt out of my car - imagine putting a vacuum cleaner in reverse and then aiming into your car - that's how the inside of my car looked.

June 10 to 15, 2005
It's damn hot in Las Vegas - dry heat or not, it's just hot!

I dropped a few dollars at the sports book betting on the dogs - nothing like watching a bunch of skinny dogs run around a track trying to catch a mechanical rabbit. I thought this might be a good way to support Dagny and her dog friends.

For those of you who enjoy flying - Las Vegas Airport has a great place to park your car and watch planes take-off and land. Since I'm a plane geek, I spent a couple hours watching and listening to the planes at the airport. The Las Vegas control tower radio transmissions are simulcast on 88.5 fm.

I was watching this guy play black jack ($500 to $1,000 hands) for about 1/2 hour at the Wynn Hotel. He was doing a lot of winning, he hit black jack for $2,500 I said, "Niiccee," then he won another big hand and I said, "Yesss" -  it was nice to watch a guy beat up on the casino. The guy (Bruce) goes to cash in his chips, about 10K, and as he's leaving the table he palms me $100 chip saying, "Thanks for helping me win." So I did what any real gambler would do, I put it all on black - nah, I took the chip to the cage, collected the C note, and headed over to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for dinner with my buddy Egan.

After dinner (Ruth took my hundred dollars, and a little more) and fresh out of cash we had no other option but to head over to the Klondike Casino for 10 cent roulette - just try to visualize people who can only afford to play 10 cent roulette - nice mental picture isn't it? Too bad I couldn't get any pictures of these characters (I had flashbacks to the North Woods Tavern in Naples, ID).

And finally, after practicing at home for a few hours, Egan and I headed over to the Palace Station to play some Texas Hold'em - it was only $2 / $4 poker, but playing at the casino was a nice change from Hutch's basement in NJ. 

My biggest winnings...

JB & Dagny