finally ... internet that works!

got to post these pictures earlier before the internet cut out on me.

hot springs in ouray, colorado. we thought it would be some kind of stone configuration but it was definitely just a pool with hot springs water in it. it was still pretty cool.

we went on a hike for a few hours while we were in ouray. we did not do the whole trail but we made it to a really awesome viewpoint and set up the trekking pole to take a picture.

the view was astounding. we stopped and ate some lunch.

we drove overnight to the grand canyon after we left colorado. i put a movie on the ipod and listened to it while i drove most of the night... which was actually pretty stimulating. the sun started to rise just as we reached the grand canyon state park. pretty cool.

these two pictures are from when we hiked into the canyon on the second day. we almost made it to the second checkpoint and decided it was a good idea to turn back. the hike back up to the top was quite grueling. no shade and the sun was intense. we both had some pretty sweet sunburn.

hey guys!

sorry it has been so long since we posted anything. no wi-fi in the woods.

we are currently in eugene, oregon trying to plan out the rest of our trip. we will post some pictures and blurbs asappppp.

love you all!

whit and corey

met the coolest people in the coolest town

we are leaving boulder today and heading to a place called the nederlands that is about 15 miles into the flatiron mountains. we went there yesterday and heard that they had free camping. it is a total hippie town nestled in the mountains by a beautiful lake. full of crystal shops, local community co-ops, legal marijuana distributors, and tons of travelers with musical instruments.

anyways, we wanted to make a quick post about the first really great people we met on this journey. we met them at the boulder mountain lodge on our first day. that same night we went and hung out at their awesome trailer camper and had the best conversation with them. they gave us great advice on pretty much everything (especially traveling). they are the kind of people you want to be like when you grow up.

deb and paul (did not get their cute dog rocky in the picture)

so happy we met you guys.

- whit and core

p.s. check out one of paul's awesome mountain biking websites! he kills it on the trails.

mountainbikemayhem.com

best place so far (and will be hard to top)

pictures from colorado! the coolest place either of us has ever had the opportunity to see. beyond beautiful. hope the rest of the trip is this killer. will write more about it in the next few days.

denver

our first taste of the mountains. we were both grinning ear to ear during this part.

on the way to boulder

boulder mountain lodge. three miles from town but still on a mountain. we are not lodging; we are still camping (but they let us use the hot tub).

the first night/early morning we heard noises like someone was packing up to leave and we went back to sleep. later in the day the people next to us said that a bear came through and rummaged the dumpster for food. our campsite is the closest one to the dumpster (about twenty feet away). we are listening out tonight because he is rumored to be a repeat offender.

farmers market in boulder

the hill was cool. it is like the colorado state university hang out place. good burritos at illegal petes. thanks keith.

the pearl street mall in boulder. lots and lots of shops.

we will post more about colorado soon. and im sure corey will be adding a post about funny/cool things i forgot.

- whit

on to kans-ass

after st. louis we made a six hour drive to the middle of kansas (an hour out of topeka). here are some crazy hair pictures from the road.

oh my ah! undercut!

the drive through kansas was actually VERY beautiful. tons of grassy valleys and hills that did not end. we were quite surprised (although the second half of our kansas drive was not as exciting to see).

we were looking for a place called mushroom rock state park and we found it... but the only thing we found were two rocks stacked on top of each other thirty miles off the highway in the middle of nowhere. no camping. so we tried to use the gps (with much difficulty) to get us to the nearest gas station and ended up driving back at least twenty miles to find it. the attendant was pretty much an asshole to corey, but we were saved by a local who told us to follow him and he would flash his lights when we needed to turn off.

we ended up camping on kanopolis lake in venango state park... also in the middle of nowhere kansas. we got to the campsite past dark and set up the tent with only the light from our headlamps. when we woke up in the morning, this is what we saw:

we had no idea that the lake was close to our campsite because of how dark it had been the night before. nice surprise.

we went on a two mile nature walk and then spent some time by the lake. it rained a lot while we were there and it was super windy (but that was awesome).

we also had the first injury of the trip. i fell off my bike (while doing absolutely nothing) when we rode down to the beach and scratched up my ankle. corey tended to my wounds after we rode back.

we stayed two nights at venango and then left for coloradoooooo!

- whit

p.s. corey will be posting soon as well! i feel like a blog hog. but i had all the pictures and corey made dinner. hah.

forgot these

forgot to post these pictures of our amazing meal on the second night at land between the lakes. corey's client stephanie gave him a squash she grew before we left, and we cut it up and cooked it on the fire. sooooo good. thanks stephanie!

- whit

on the road

now pictures from the trip!

here are the pictures from tennessee and kentucky... and land between the lakes (the place we wrote about a few entries earlier).

nashville

map for land between the lakes

we saw a snake the first night riding bikes!

bison range!

yes! meshuggah cafe in the hill in st. louis.

more from kansas and colorado next!

- whit

a few more...

a few more photos from a few days before we left. hot tub!!!

- whit

GOING AWAY PARTY!

here are some pictures from our going away party. i actually did not get to take that many pictures because i was running around all over the place, but corey has some more that we will post later.

my dad and kristen

hah. shake face.

my favorite picture of the night

probably drunk.

family. we love all you guys!

- whit