We've Been Everywhere Man
Road trip!
Leo and I started talking about a U.S.A. road trip about a year and a half ago. As his holiday approached, we were still vacillating between the Deep South and the Mid West, Yellowstone specifically. We picked the west and soon after Katrina hit, so our choice was lucky.
Bozeman, Montana won the cheapest airfare award, so that was the beginning. I left Seattle in a truck and Leo left London in a plane, at the same time, and we meet at the airport. I felt this was a delightful math equation, but it didn't gain the enthusiasm I hoped for, I digress.
Without a plan, we hit the road and changed direction on a whim, which was often influenced by local advice, missing exits, misreading our crappy map, hunches, missing a highway that had changed names and seeking a Starbucks.
From September 21st to October 1st we traveled 3,355 miles (me 4,711) across Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. We slept in the truck, drank some highly toxic coffee, kept up with the truckers, didn't hit any deer (my only worry), discovered good roads, one awful road and meet nice folks at every stop.
Our daily diet: one American breakfast, coffee, gum, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream once and maybe one salad the entire trip (sorry Claire). Vegetables on pizza counts, doesn’t it?
Leo showed steadfast patience with our third companion, my camera. Between blowing dust off the lens, setting up the tripod, changing the lens, taking the shots and then everything in reverse, it’s surprising we made it out of Montana. Around every corner it seemed there was a photo moment.
At some point my camera swallowed a large piece of dirt, which ruined many pictures. Worse, I couldn’t get it out with a tiny air pump. I was a dust alcoholic, sneaking in attempts to dislodge it, while Leo was on the phone with Claire, in the loo or asleep.
Here are some of my favorite shots.
