From Desert to Canyonlands - a 360 mile drive

We're heading for the Grand Canyon today. The GPS leads us via back roads and shortcut highways.

As we make our way through the vast desert, all we see are shrubs, rocks and the road ahead of us. It is beautiful and daunting at the same time - this truly is an endless road.
It's even sort of scary once you can't see anyone else driving on the same road as you and there's no one around for miles and miles.. what a difference compared to LA !
I can't help but wonder.. what if one of our tires goes flat ? Or the engine overheats and we're stranded in the middle of nowhere. No cell phone reception (T-mobile sucks btw), no car in sight, no towing service nearby. I'm actually glad I decided not to drive the '94 Plymouth from West to East.

Once we drive out of the Coachella Valley and leave the desert plains are behind us, we see more greenery popping out of the ground. What are those things again ? Oh right, trees !

These lands are abundant in farms and little towns that have nothing more than a saloon, a church, a grocery store and some houses. We even see some people walking around. Real hill-billies, wearing Stetson hats, cowboy boots and lumberjack shirts. Pick up trucks seem to be getting bigger and bolder with every town. Dirtier too.

In the distance, dark gray clouds float over the plains. It's an amazing thing when you're able to see rain falling from afar. A rainy mist, curling like a curtain, covering the distant horizon. Here and there, streaks of sunlight break through the clouds.

The last 50 miles are always the hardest. At this point, my foot lays heavy on the pedal: we're doing 85 where the speed limit posts 75. Also, being stuck in a car with three people is stressful, especially since I got used to being alone so much.
Ton seems to sing along with every song the radio plays. Not that he knows every tune, he just kind of hums along with it.. loudly.
Mom is never comfortable in the car. It's either too warm, too windy, too rocky, we're going too fast to take pictures or driving too slow up the slopes. They're putting my patience to the test.

Then finally, the blue Motel 6 signs welcomes us in the town of Williams. This is where we will be staying the night. There's no wireless internet in this hotel. The idea alone horrifies my Mom, who is anonymously addicted to e-mails.
I have to admit I am too. That's why I'm now sitting in a local coffee place - not a Starbucks - in downtown Williams, having a strawberry Smoothie that's way too icy for the chilly temperature here. At least I can blog and e-mail you guys.

Tomorrow, we will drive another 60 miles heading North for the South Rim Entrance of the Grand Canyon National Park. Check back for pictures !