We have officially been welcomed to America.

Well, we did not find a free shower in Springdale, incase you were itching to know.

The bulk of the day on Sunday we spent in Zion. (This park is completely worthy of a few weeks in case you ever want to go, or come with me or Lisa next time we go. ) :) So, unfortunately, I woke up with the world's worst sore throat, like the kind where you can hardly swallow it hurts so bad, and a baby fever. But how many times are you in Zion...so, obviously I made the decision that would've pleased my mom and decided to do a "strenuous" hike (as defined in the brochure) and hike Angel's Landing. It was seriously sweet! It was only a 5 mile hike round trip, but half of the was straight up (climbing a total of 1500 feet). The picture below is a photo of Walters Wiggles...a series of about 40-50 switchbacks...and these were the second set of switchbacks!!

This is the point in the hike where we were both like, "High five! We've arrived!" And then we looked out ahead of us and all I said was a long drawn out, "WOoooooow." We hiked to the top of that peak! There were parts of the hike where we were holding on to this bulky chain that had been permanently set into the rock and you could see down on both sides of the canyon...it was pretty intense! (I'm pretty sure they said at one point it is 3 feet across with an 800 foot drop on one side and a 1200 foot drop on the other. So good.)

I took this photo from the top of Angel's Landing. Uhmm....isn't that absolutely stunning! Lisa and I spent about and hour and a bit up there starring into the abundance of awe. We met an amazing couple, Jane and Charles up top...they were good souls. Full of kindness and wisdom.

On our way to Flagstaff, AZ on Sunday night for a spontaneous stay with my friend Rachel. Thanks to Dena and Dave for opening up their "youth hostel" to us again for an unplanned visit!

Sweet rainbow, huh? Seemed to be a theme on our trip, if you know what I mean. We woke up leisurely on Monday morning. Lisa didn't sleep super well and I felt even worse...so, we were pretty much on our A-game. We left Flagstaff before noon and proceeded to Lisa's most anticipated destination, The Painted Desert National Park. I was working off my fever in the back seat of the Matrix and Lisa was soaking up the vast amount of lush history!

Lisa literally had to drag me out of the car for this photo...not my best photo op.

I think we got into Colorado around 11:30 last night...it all seems so blurry. We were on the road for a grand total of around 14 hours. SICK. (both figuratively and literally.) We officially parked the car at around 2:30 in a rest area off of I-70 and slept for the next 5 hours in my car.

Woke up this morning feeling good. Well, as good as you can feel for spending the night sleeping in the fetus position in the driver seat of car at a rest stop. I drove for about 40 minutes and then obviously we pulled off at the next rest area to go to the bathroom and brush our teeth. So, here we are, Lisa with her hand towel, toiletries, and her overall "I'm glad to be up this early," expression and me with my wild hair and 3 nalgenes coming into the Kansas visitor center. Here are these two women working at the front desk or help center or whatever you call it loving-on the people-watching aspect of their jobs. I'm pretty sure we were the best part of their morning, coming in "all put together." So, to add to the tally of people who probably thought we were a couple...we could add these two. I walked into the front desk area...the one lady gave me a map and then offered me some coffee (which I was completely grateful for)...Lisa walks up behind me and instead of asking Lisa she wanted a map and wanted to sign the guestbook, she asks, "Are you two together?" And I emphatically answer, yes, not realizing how that could've sounded to her. Let's be real, it's Kansas, they totally thought we were a couple.

Good times. We are in Salina, KS writing to you and about to get back on the road.

This photo is officially disgusting, but we just couldn't help ourselves... can't miss a state sign. :)

Fun Facts:

- 1 Rattlesnake sighting.

- Number of times improvised bathroom situations on the side of highways or hiking trails: approx. 8.

- Number of times honked at while taking state-sign photos: innumerable.

- Farthest ahead we planned for where to sleep that night: day 1 Madison to Kansas - 12 hours. Shortest: decided on the spot - Dixie National Forest at Bryce Canyon, in addition to the rest stop off I70.

- Massive bruises acquired while on the trip: 1, Susie's left thigh.

- Number of Diet Dr. Peppers consumed in 9 days (I'm proud of this!): 19.

- Number of times we rode in the back of a jeep sitting in lawn chairs with two friends we made 12 hours prior: 1 (driving to Deadhorse State Park).

- Number of parks visited: 1 county park in Kansas, 1 state park in Utah, 5 National Parks, 1 National Forest, and 1 BLM-owned campsite.