Day Two: Bakersfield, CA to Flagstaff, AZ via Grand Canyon National Park (596 miles)

Before I commence with the update, I just need to say that we're looking for comments to let us know that you're reading this. Michelle can check the site from her phone while we're driving, and it's always nice to get some feedback while we're on the road. Just click on the "comments" link at the end of this post. OK, enough begging...

Our journey started at about 9:30 this morning with a trip through the barren wasteland that is the Mojave Desert. Once again, temperatures outside reached 103 degrees. The scenery was pretty interesting for about 30 seconds (you've seen one strange bush and cactus, you've seen them all). Michelle and the dog then fell asleep after taking some pictures of the desert and the numerous wind farms.

Our first stop of the day for food, gas, and Charley's bathroom break was a friggin' Dairy Queen. It wasn't like a lot of the DQs on the East coast since it also had a full food menu (other than ice cream). I opted for the grilled chicken, Michelle the hamburger/salad combo. Charley and I shared french fries. Michelle surprised me by buying me a doo-rag in the attached convenience store. I surprised both of us by forgetting to take it from our table. There is now someone in Ludlow, California who is the proud owner of a white doo-rag. May God have mercy on his soul.

Michelle Interjects: If a good friend of yours...your BFF...a friend you could drive 3,000 miles with and feel confident that you most likely won't fight too much...bought you a gift, wouldn't you cherish it? When you're standing in the checkout of the DQ, irritated by the level of incompetency around you, and you see something that speaks to you - "Gee, Gary would look friggin' hot in that". You don't even think twice about dropping 1.79 to make your BFF smile. And he leaves it behind. I hope we see that 300 lb trucker, wearing my gift to Gary on his sweaty head, so at least I've made someone happy today.

Oh, I almost forgot. I came close to rear-ending a tractor trailer today. I was about to pass it on my left, so I looked in my side-view mirror as I was about to turn into the lane, and I saw a California Highway Patrol car fast approaching. Not wanting to cut the officer off, I stayed in my lane, and had to break heavily to avoid hitting the truck. Luckily, nothing happened (except for all of our earthly possessions in the backseat flying forward - including Charley). Michelle was good about it though...she didn't yell at me, and she climbed into the back to make everything good as new. What a gal!

After some should we/should we not debate, we decided on checking out the Grand Canyon, as Michelle and Charley had never seen it before. It really wasn't that much of a "detour", so we reserved a hotel in Flagstaff, AZ, and headed over to Grand Canyon National Park. It's funny...the Grand Canyon is simply amazing and stunning and immense. But if you're not hiking down it, or going whitewater rafting on the Colorado, you can get a little tired of staring at it after a while. So we stared, stared some more, took some photos, and then headed to the hotel.

Charley has really been phenomenal so far. He's great in the car as long as he gets a pit-stop every three hours or so. He's also a minor celebrity, as everyone who sees him tells him how adorable he is, and (if he's feeling up to it) gets to rub his belly. He has been the cultural bridge to the social gap this roadtrip represents, giving Michelle and I the opportunity to talk with a bunch of people that we most likely wouldn't have. Of course, after a long day of schmoozing and glad-handing, Charley deserves a little R&R in the back seat of the TrailBlazer.

2 states down, 6 to go...