Greetings friends and family. I write to you from the bustling metropolis of Cedar "The Festival City" City, Utah. I just ate a delicious grilled cheese sandwich accompanied by a wondrous bowl of tomato basil soup and two splendid cups of coffee.
We had a short ride today. 45 miles: half uphill (agh), half downhill (agh.) Turns out I'm terribly afraid of traveling down mountains via bicycle. But the landscape was beautiful. And Matthew, dear friend that he is, stopped frequently for me, providing my uncontrollable sobs ample time to be released. Kidding. I didn't cry in the middle of a descent. At least not today. ANYWAY, we passed through Zion National Park (that is, we stopped at a scenic vista point overlooking it).
In the past week-and-a-half-ish, we have passed through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Lots of mountains, lots of beauty.
In Abiqui Lake, New Mexico, we visited Georgia O'Keefe's ranch. It was beautiful. And relaxing. And I wanted to stay forever.
We also admired each other's tan lines after swimming in the man-made Abiqui Lake for which Abiqui Lake is named.
...and of course, marveled at my disgusting scabs. (Sorry.)
In Farmington, NM, we we had a "build" day that actually consisted mainly of gladitorial-esque hammering contests (great fun). We also drank root beer and saw Aztec ruins that were not in fact created by the Aztecs but that exist in what is now known as the town of Aztec, New Mexico. (I am also confused. Ask your friendly neighborhood park ranger for more information.)
Look at that assembly line. My heartbeat quickens at such a marriage of industry and charity. An efficient non-profit, egads! Were Henry Ford not such a self-serving anti-Semite, he would most certainly be proud.
Somewhere in Arizona, Matthew and I enjoyed a cold one outside an unexpected 4-star Caribbean resort:
The meadows on the ride to the Grand Canyon:
El Canyone Grande itself:
This one is us setting out on our 40 mile hike. We had a day off at the Grand Canyon, so we decided to use it to the best of our ability. You know, really see the sights, really experience nature's majesty. Just kidding. This is us walking the 1.4 miles to the Grand Lodge. Where we ate breakfast, napped, read our books, ate lunch, napped, and read our books. Glorious.
Um, also, we went camping, and our stuff got soaked because we put it in the broken tent. On purpose. Because we thought it would be fun. So, um, we, well, wenttotheTraveler'sMotelandgotaroom? Awkward. (And so worth it.)
And now we are heading into Nevada. One week until Lake Tahoe, two until San Francisco. Yikes.
We are blocking it with our bicycles... but that is the Golden Gate Bridge in the background! We made it! We are alive! We did not throw our bikes in the ocean! Marco and Erin almost died crossing the bridge, but I did not and that is all that matters! Just kidding! I love Bike and Build! No, seriously, we're all fine. The twelve year old girl they crashed into... well, that's another story.
