Road Trip!!!

I spent this past weekend visiting the land where a thousand bare-chested women stare up at you from tiny fliers, strewn - like fallen soldiers for the forces of evil - on the sidewalks. In this land, you see bare butts at every glance, smell cigarette smoke with every breath, and feel the fury of the desert sun with every step. It is a land where the only true redeeming value lies in a beautiful fountain show set to music, and in the off-chance that you can make easy money in mere seconds. The place I speak of is, of course, Las Vegas.

We were down there supporting some friends of ours who were running in a sprint triathlon. Our suite was out of the city (thank goodness) in a small town adjacent to Las Vegas called Henderson. It was nice to be away from all the lights and corruption of Vegas. However, we did go into town on Saturday night to see the Bellagio's fascinating water/music display. We also ate a delicious buffet at "The Paris." If you're looking for the best buffet you've ever been to, and don't mind dropping 25 bones to have it, I thoroughly recommend The Paris as your next culinary adventure. I ate mountains of crab legs and prime rib among other things, and for dessert had flan, creme brulee, bread pudding, and frozen custard. It was delightful.

All in all, we had a really great time. I've decided that I need to plan more roadtrips. With good friends, they're the best kind of vacation.

Our beautiful little resort in Henderson. In those trees lie two beautiful pools.


The girls, from left to right: Brandi, Courtney, Katt, and Meagan


Beginning the triathlon. Lake Las Vegas is gorgeous, isn't it?


I don't know who this is, but the picture turned out so well I had to put it in here.


Way to go, girls! Nice medals!


Me and one of my best friends, Corianne.


Ready to party in Vegas! Kindof...


The Bellagio fountain show. I recommend this as the ONLY thing you really need to see in Vegas.


Saying goodbye to our suite with the obligatory goofy picture.

Nothing caps off a road trip like a choco taco. Mmm...

-Barry

Yo's Might!

When I was just a little guy, I remember seeing a sign as we drove through Fresno, CA in our little white station wagon, on our way to camp in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains.

The sign read, "Yosemite."

I read it aloud, "Yo's Might."

"Mom, are we going to Yo's Might?"

"You mean Yo-sem-it-ee?"

"Uh. Yeah."

I love Yosemite. It's easily in the top 5 best National Parks. I recently went when I was in California, so I thought I'd give you a little taste of what it was like to be there.

Enjoy!

This was the first waterfall we saw - Bridal Veil Fall. This picture doesn't do justice to the ferocity of the water. In fact, you'll find that none of these pictures do. They are beautiful, nonetheless, so all is not lost. :)

This is as close as I could get to the base of the falls - about 200 feet from them. That mist coming through the trees was as thick as a mid-day downpour in Florida, and had turned the path into a small stream. If you look carefully, you can see Mike at the base of one of the distant trees.

This is one of THREE rivers coming away from Bridal Veil falls.

I love the trees out there. There is a specie of pine out there that is deliciously fragrant - a smell that I have yet to find in the forests of Utah.

This little guy paused just long enough for me to capture him eating his acorn on a rock by the river.

I love the moss (or lichen?) that grows on the trees out there. It's reminiscent of coral in it's structure, albeit much softer.

These are the lower Yosemite falls. You can see them in action here.

This picture is turning out blurry for some reason. Bah!

El Capitan! "The Captain" is an absolutely splendiferous piece of granite.

Don't you love moss? You almost expect tiny houses to be perched on their fuzzy little hills with smoke pouring out of their chimneys.

It's true. Good cheese does come from happy cows. And happy cows come from California. This picture is living proof of that.

An olive vineyard we passed on the way back from Yosemite provided a fittingly scenic end to a beautiful drive.

-Barry