NO/LA roadtrip adventure (part 5)

The full-frame b&w shots in this segment were done with the M3 and 35

or 50 Summicron on FP4+ or HP5+; the cropped shots were made with a

Pentax 645 and 35/f3.5 lens on Delta 100 (unless otherwise noted).<P>

<b>Chapter Seven: No Sleep 'til Sonoma</b><P>

I started out driving on our trek westward from Junction, TX, but

after a few hours of mind-numbing monotony, I started getting drowsy.

Sarah took over while I slept off the big greasy breakfast I had

enjoyed in Junction. I awoke around El Paso, just in time to

celebrate our escape from Texas. We stopped in some town in New

Mexico for dinner at an excellent little Mexican restuarant

(along with several Border Patrol agents).<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/mirador01.jpg"><br>

<i>across the street from the restaurant (75 Summilux, EPJ

320T)</i></center><P>

At some point in Arizona (I think it was Arizona), I made Sarah pull

over after she became so engrossed in her phone conversation that she

nearly drove off the road. While she finished talking, I enjoyed the

stars in the desert. She promised to be more careful, and I made the

mistake of letting her continue to drive. At Phoenix, we headed north

toward the Grand Canyon. It was also around this time that we had our

first fight. It wasn't really much of a fight, though; she got really

mad at me about something (I think I was being difficult about

accepting fuzzy terminology in a discussion concerning the nature of

the universe) and I responed with something along the lines of, "What

the f**k is your problem?" After she settled down, she blamed it on

the lack of nicotine (she had chosen this trip to quit smoking) in her

system and a hormonal imbalance. Ah, women . . .<P>

This day, Sarah was determined that we make it to the vicinity of our

next stop, the Grand Canyon, before stopping. She remained undaunted

in spite of the horrifying degree to which her driving had

deteriorated due to fatigue (she had trouble grasping the distinction

between <i>awake</i> and <i>alert</i>). Fortunately, there were very

few other cars on the road for her to run into, and we managed to make

it to Flagstaff without being killed or maimed.<P>

 

<b>Chapter Eight: From the Grand Canyon to the Coast</b><P>

We awoke late the next morning, reasonably well refreshed. Sarah,

accepting that her driving privileges had been revoked, turned over

the keys. After lunch, we headed toward the Grand Canyon. The

countryside on the drive north and along the canyon was breathtaking.

I won't waste time with text descriptions that will fail to convey

the grandeur of the place--I'll just note that photos don't do a very

good job conveying a sense of the place, either.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/canyonmesarah.jpg"><br>

<i>we were there! (35 Summicron, E100S)</i></center><P>

I'm not a very serious landscape shooter, so I didn't spend a lot of

film photographing the scenery. Sarah probably took more photos that

I did because she ran around all afternoon asking everyone with a

camera if they wanted her to take their picture. I think it was a

Dutch couple who took our photo above.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/gcme01.jpg"><br>

<i>I was there!</i></center><P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/gcobserv01.jpg"><br>

<i>interior of the observatory</i></center><P>

While in the observatory, I encountered some Buddhist monks who were

there visiting. Without the robes, they would have been hard to

distinguish from the rest of the tourists.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/gcsarah01.jpg"><br>

<i>Sarah was happy to be there!</i></center><P>

After watching the sun set over the canyon, we hit the road again.

Next stop, Los Angeles! The drive was largely uneventful, though I

didn't realize that there is absolutely <b>nothing</b> between Needles

and Santa Barbara. I had realized just how empty the desert would be,

and I was about to starve by the time we reached civilization again.<P>

We finally got into LA and reached our destination, Greg's apartment

in Torrance, about 3:30 a.m. I was thoroughly exhausted by this

point, but driving that far was actually less stressful and exhausting

than being a passenger while Sarah drove. Once at Greg's, I

officially relinquished my responsibility for looking after his

grilfriend, and he thanked me for getting her there alive and well.<P>

<b>Chapter Nine: Drive in the Desert</b><P>

The next day, after lunch, we headed toward Joshua Tree National Park.

Sarah and I had originally planned to go there on the way to LA, but

rearranged our agenda so she could see Greg sooner. You know those

couples who are unberably cute and sweet togther--they're like that.

Anyway, we were appalled by just how long it took to get through LA on

a weekend afternoon, but we had fun cruising along in Greg's

convertible, dancing around a bit to the radio, waving to the other

drivers, doing the LA thing.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lasarah01.jpg"><br>

<i>on the road again</i></center>

We got into the park only a half hour before dusk, so my photo

opportunities were again limited. No big deal, though, I enjoyed the

scenery even if I wasn't taking pictures of it. I did get a shot of

Sarah and Greg engaging in their usual unbearable cuteness before we

ran out of light.<p>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/sarahgreg01.jpg"><br>

<i>aaawwwwwwww . . . (645, 35/3.5)</i></center><P>

After running around in the dark desert for a while, we then headed

back to civilization. I drove while the lovebirds enjoyed the close

confines of the back seat. We all enjoyed the warm desert evening

with the top down as we headed back. We stoppped for a few games of

pool (and they had a few beers) in the town of Joshua Tree, then

grabbed a bite to eat before returning to L.A. And so ends this

chapter. One more to go . . .<P>

<center><img

src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/joshuatree01.jpg"></center><P>

Mike: Keep on driving. Love the kissing picture. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

<p>Great stuff, Mike. Just for kicks, inasmuch as you ran out of light in JTNP, here are a couple of teen Joshuas dancing to a rock band.</p>

<center>

<img border=2 src="http://www.rbarkerphoto.com/Leica/JTNP0502-0115-550.jpg">

<p>50 DR 'Cron, FP4+ </p>

</center>