Day 2

IDAHO

On the way out of Twin Falls, ID we drove over a gorge and stopped to take pictures. My mom is incredibly afraid of heights so getting her down to the lookout point was a task and a half, but she did it. She just didn't look. That's what pictures are for.

And this was the first opportunity where I got to use my new gorillapod

Southern Idaho is kind of flat...

Temperature: 73 degrees F

Abnormal Roadside Items:

Duck

Skunk

Raccoon

One rubber boot

Blue bucket

Rabbit

Yellow bucket

Car fender

Abundant: Tire re-treads

UTAH

This was actually my favorite state of the day. It was super fun to drive through because there are a lot of things to look at and it's so beautiful (who would have thought?). It also had the coolest roadside items to date.

U is for Utah

We passed by a lot of cool old buildings. It kind of reminded us of Big Thunder Mountain.

How does this happen?

Temperature: 74 degrees F

Abnormal Roadside Items:

White bucket

Blue bucket

Antelope! (Living) We thought these were migrating deer at first but they looked kind of funny...

Badger

Pillow + case

Skunk

Porcupine

Prairie dog

Fox

Abundant: Shredded plastic and utility poles

WYOMING

You would think that when driving the entire length of a state cool things would be found. No. Nothing on the side of the road. Overall, Wyoming was pretty boring. We did go through an epic lightning storm and there were those wind-mill things everywhere but there weren't any mountains or ravines or canyons or trees. It was all very flat.

I liked these

Some suggested activities (the unmanned bike is my favorite)

Approaching storm

The red dirt Wyoming is famous for

Temperature: 81 degrees F

Abnormal Roadside Items:

Nothing!

Abundant: goats and fence for no reason

COLORADO

This is just the beginning of Colorado because we are spending all of Day 3 in Denver. It turned into an interesting night when my mom walked into 7-11 to ask for directions to our hotel and the cashier was interrupting a robbery in progress.

Temperature: 67 degrees F

Favorite thing about Day 2:

Mom: The Utah landscape looks like Big Thunder Mountain

Annie: Lightning storm in Wyoming

Favorite quote:

Annie: "What does a badger look like?"

Mom: "I've got bug shit on the window and night blindness"

A note from mom: 5 states in 2 days. The secret to our success? Clearly defined roles-see below:

Scenerio #1 Mom driving.

Annie: Mom, do you need anything?

Mom: No thanks, honey, just enjoy the ride.

Scenerio #2 Annie driving.

Annie: Mom, I need a kleenex, they are behind your seat.

Annie: Mom, I need another kleenex.

Annie: Mom, we need a new CD.

Annie: Mom, do you have any ibuprofen?

Annie: Mom, will you hold my used kleenex?

Annie: Mom, I need a water, they are behind my seat, under the pink bag, behind my purse.

After 2 hours:

Mom (concerned): Annie, why are you leaning forward to drive?

Annie (monotone, staring): Trying to stay awake.

Mom (really concerned, now): Pull over and let me drive.

Annie (no change): No.