"Lewis & Clark Expedition" - Pacific Northwest
	Day 7:  Friday, May 17, 2002

Once again, I was amazed and amused to find the whole travel party was able to get up on time (5:45am) and get out the door shortly thereafter.  We started out with the usual gas-up, and then, armed with a street address and an unusual sense of direction (generally misled), we went by Columbine High School in Littleton, just to see it today.  I don't know what I was expecting, but it was exactly as you'd expect of any high school, anywhere.  Under-whelmed, as left by way of the near-by neighborhood.  While I fully understand and support speed bumps to control people going too fast, I don't get the purpose of two speed bumps side-by-side.  Alternatively, the McDonalds (the breakfast source), had real golden arches and accents... none of this yellow-painted metal stuff.

Soon after getting clear of Denver, we found signs that pointed us to Buffalo Bills Grave and Museum, but as usual, it was still closed.  Alas.  In heading out of the state, we got to cross over the Rockies in a couple of snowy moments, at elevations of 11,000+ feet, and the second pass -- Vail Pass -- at 10,600 feet (give or take).  After wandering a bit more, we found that there are some roses that don't need to be known by another name.  Around 11:15am we hit Grand Junction, and passed by the police station (talk about the scenic route, eh?).  The place has parks that school children go for field trips (or picnics; not sure), and even Greyhound stations that people actually use.

At 11:45am (MDT) we crossed into Utah, the home of the 2000 Winter Olympics.  Not that we'd see anything but plains and other dull scenes (lovely, but dull) and cars passing us... which is really no one's fault.  After all, the travel vessel has nearly 250,000 miles on it, so I can't help but be a little forgiving when it doesn't want to take a 7% grade at 85 MPH.  What I can't as easily forget, though, is the Chevy Cavalier from Minnesota (two blonde girls, license plate *UT667).  The boy swears the passenger girl was actually smirking when they passed us for the last time.  Curious, but very petty, I'd say... everyone knows a bald guy and an apparently fat duck (according to that Idaho woman) could easily take on two Minnesota girls in a game of checkers, any time.

Salina marked a gas stop, topping off on Pepsi, and turning west.  At the noteworthy intersection of State and Main, not to be confused with State and Main with the ever-delightful Julia Stiles.  After 30 miles of a whole lot more of nothing, we reached I-15 northbound toward Provo and Salt Lake City.  So, we popped into Provo, the home of Novell (if you're a fan of the second place network operating system software).  We passed a very nice library, a huge building that has to be important, somehow, and a car with a phrase we couldn't quite associate to their intent; may be a Provo thing.  

On the way out, we found that the McDonalds is seeking awesome managers... if you know of someone, you can have 'em apply in person at the restaurant on University, in Provo. Clearly a college town; at one point, we heard a cat call whistle, and the boy commented, "thanks, thank you very much."  Well, the whistle was directed to the girl on the sidewalk, from the Jeep next to us.  With their windows rolled down... as were ours.  The boy and those lads exchanged an awkward exchange of looks, and that was that.  The boy also changed his yelled out phrase, "It's okay, I'm a tourist" while in Provo, as well.  (This is usually what he yells out when doing something brilliant like driving the wrong way on a one way street.)  Once in Provo, the phrase became, "Sorry; Catholic tourist."  Only he seemed to be amused, though, judging from the reaction of those nearby.

We wandered around downtown a bit.  We began with the Salt Palace Convention Center, and toyed with crossing over toward the temple complex, until I came across this somewhat disturbing sign at the crosswalk.  Really, now... you have to carry a bright orange flag to not get hit in a crosswalk?  And, if you've ever wondered what's down there under a fire hydrant, well, here ya go.  We entered the temple grounds and began by passing by Salt Lake Temple, then the Tabernacle's auditorium, and eventually the Assembly Hall.  Again, the boy heard someone talking (a UPS guy, saying "helloooo," apparently to his trainee driver), and the boy responded with a "hi, how'ya doin'?" which again earned him an awkward look from another.

I'm all about police cars, of course... but who isn't?  In waiting at the signal, we heard a family attempt to have a conversation with a guy in a wheelchair.  The conversation revolved around the daughter (right) asking if he needed to be pushed across the street.  The dad (left) kept asking about propulsion; did he need a gas engine, and then something about electricity.  I don't know what the details were, but it sounded odd enough.  The Delta Center is apparently some sports center or something; I don't know, I'm not a sports type of fowl.  There was also the Union Pacific-looking station at the end of the new shopping center. 

Even after dinner, it's still quite warm both outside and in... I guess it's a humidity.  Snow cones was the answer.  The good people at Motel 6 provide all the ice we could wish for, and the remainder of the supplies were brought with us.  Even with the snow cones made, it didn't really help too much to cool things down.  But it was quite a blast of sugar to get me all wired up, and post this before still getting to bed at a recent hour; tootles.