Preliminary Planning

So I’ve been slacking. While I really should be researching and planning stuff or our extended trip, I sit here getting giddy for Burning Man. I think mainly because our road trip starts in 82 days and we’re still not exactly sure when we’re leaving for Central/South America.

I got so excited over our planning last night that somehow I even forgot to do my 365 days project (and after 298 days of doing a portrait a day you think I would remember to do it) and I had yet to miss a day. What a bummer.

So this is what we’ve come up with. While we’re trying to allow for some unplanned things to occur, we, for the most part, have our general itinerary.

Quick tangent: It’s kinda funny that we just got our U.S. road map when had already had our Central and South America maps for a few weeks.

We were planning on leaving August 20th but due to my most awesome Texas Rollerderby referee obligations, the playoffs are that weekend so we’re going to have to jet early on the 22nd.

First Stop: El Paso, TX

El Paso is where I was raised from the time could walk until I was about 13 years old. While I am officially an Austinite now (I have been living here most of my life), I still have some obligations in El Paso. Due to the fact that no one in my family lives there anymore, my grandparent’s graves are in some very serious need of TLC. I am racking up some major karma points by heading out there and placing new flowers and cleaning the headstones.

After spending some time with my grandparents, I plan on experiencing what every El Pasoan needs when they visit: Chico’s Tacos. These awesome, cheaply made taquitos are always the subject of conversation when you run into someone from El Paso. They will tell you, you either love ’em or hate ’em. Most people have wet dreams about them… and they are by no means “authentic” Mexican food.

After eating we’re just going to continue on to Las Cruces and spend the night somewhere (TBD).

Second Stop: Gila National Forest, NM

I spent a good majority of my childhood camping in the Gila National Forest. This offers prime camping with both desert and pine tree experiences and has snow during the winter as well.

Our hopes are to see the Gila Cliff Dwellings. I somehow never made it to see them when living in El Paso and seeing as though we are both archaeology nerds, this is really exciting to us. After making the hike out we are also hoping to make it to some of the hot springs in the area. There are a few that are off a small trail, but apparently, if you search hard enough you can find a small private one. Depending on the time we’ll probably try for the latter.

Third Stop: Scottsdale/Phoenix, AZ
One of the positive things that occurred to us while playing World of Warcraft was meeting some of our best friends online. We normally see them every year during general vacations or BlizzCon, however, this year they aren’t going to be able to make it to the convention so we decided to come to them.

So good times with close friends for a few days in Phoenix/Scottsdale before heading out.

Note: I plan on driving the entirety of New Mexico so I won’t have to drive through Arizona. I’m slightly brown and have a speeding ticket from there and to avoid any trouble I’m just having hubby take the wheel.

Fourth Stop: The Grand Canyon, AZ
Shaun is from Arizona and he has never seen this gaping hole in his home state. This is going to be an awesome time to try out the wide angle lens I still need to buy and we’re also planning on camping out that night at Mathers Campground.

No, we’re not going to pay the outrageous $40 tickets to walk on the glass walkway out into the middle of the Grand Canyon. I can get prime views and pictures elsewhere, thanks (I’m a little mad can you tell?).

Fifth Stop: Las Vegas, NV
I only was able to experience Las Vegas as a 15 year old. Needless to say it can be kinda lame when your parents leave you in the hotel room to spend some time on the casino floor. Sure, the Coca Cola museum was awesome and the New York, NY rollercoaster was amazing, but damn it, I’m an adult now and I want to experience Sin City. Shaun has never been so we decided he could pick the hotel. All I have to say is that my man has awesome tastes and we’re going with the wonderfully campy Treasure Island AND we picked a suite. I like pirates. I’m not going to complain. We’re going to only spend one night there and then have some lunch with my “live” grandmother before heading out towards Black Rock City, NV for Burning Man.

Sixth Stop: ?
This is where our planning gets a little fuzzy and we’re not exactly sure where we’re going to stay. Apparently most cities in Nevada are small and so far every hotel we’ve looked at to spend Sunday night is already booked up. I would suggest couchsurfing but I can’t imagine that there are too many people in that area that are offering their couches or don’t already have someone planned.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what sites we should see on the way up? Are there some awesome diners we would try? Crazy side shows? Giant balls of yarn, etc.?