1. The Way West

The Joint Expedition West began on Friday, May 18th as we packed up our
Jeep with two weeks worth of clothing, technology and camera gear...
but not a collie (at least, not a real one.)

 
The hardest part about leaving was trying to convince Claymore that he wasn't going along with us.

     
Its a good sign when your GPS unit tells you which way you're going...in this case, into the setting sun.


     
After a less-than-refreshing stay at an overpriced Super 8 near South Bend, we hit the road towards Chicago and points west.

   

   

We tried to imagine crossing the Great Plains in a Conestoga wagon...we preferred the Jeep.


Des Moines or bust!




On to Omaha! This was the only hill we saw in Nebraska.
Nebraska went on forfreakin'ever, with a 30mph headwind.

               
Scenes from an Applebees in North Platte, Nebraska.

On to Denver! We stayed in Fort Morgan our second night. On to Moab tomorrow.

       
Tunnels, trains and rafters on the Colorado River, all seen along I-70 near Glenwood Springs.


I-70 across western Colorado, on the way to Grand Junction.

         
We stopped at a rest stop near Fruita, Colorado, which was near a Vietnam veterans memorial, complete with a UH-1D.



Bicyclists along Utah 128 with Fisher Towers in the background.



Sunset along the canyon walls lining Utah 128 on the way to Moab.


Success! We made it to Moab and celebrated by
hoisting a Dead Horse Ale at the Moab Brewery.



Next...On to Arches National Park


© Joe Brilla Jr. / Cameraflage