Currently crashing in Flagstaff and am getting up at 6 tomorrow to go to the Grand Canyon and make me way down to Indio after that. It sucks to know that I can continue to drive for an extra few hours after I get to a hotel, but it’s such a waste to drive when it’s dark. I’ve been trying to hit the road as soon as the sun rises so I can have as much daylight as possible and see everything.

I’ve added on a few extra days to the trip, but so far I have done Home (Waterloo, ON) - Nashville - Memphis - New Orleans - Baton Rouge - Dallas - El Paso - Albuquerque - Flagstaff. Hotels are adding up, but I figure with the warm weather in California I’ll crash in my car on beaches.

Also, as a side not from El Paso you can see into Mexico, and man is there poverty. From the highway you just see hundreds and hundreds of old, rusty shacks on these dirt mountains with dirt roads. I don’t know even know how they’re held upright. They looked like they were sticking out at all sorts of funky angles. 

I don’t know why I got up at 6:30 this morning to drive to El Paso. With the time zone difference, it’s now 5:30 and I probably could have made it to Tucson or something. But I booked a hotel last night, so I’m kind of stuck here. Currently looking for the best restaurant in the city, preferably Mexican. Suggestions anyone? From now on, no more booking hotels the day before. I’m now just going to drive and crash wherever.

Ah well, Grand Canyon in a couple of days.

I saw two of those cheesy lawyer billboard things for this one guy who specializes in ‘Oil field injuries’ and ‘18 wheeler wrecks’. 

That’s all I got for today… I should have to spent an extra hour in New Orleans though. I didn’t realize I’d make it to Dallas so quick, even with an hour stop in Baton Rouge.

Off to El Paso tomorrow.

Highlight of day 1 on the road: A farm just off the highway with a sign that said ‘Duck / Pig Races’. I don’t know why I didn’t stop and place a bet.