Voice in my head

I have writers block after xxx miles of driving so this is gonna be mostly pictures!
After missing out on 'the rock' yesterday we were up at the crack of a sparrows fart to catch the first boat to Alcatraz, and you could tell it was gonna be another scorching day in the city by the bay. M2t2 was dissapointed he couldn't take his lucky charms on the island, but we promised to get him another box, as well as some more mountain dew (his new addiction).
Gentlemen welcome to The Rock! - was an awesome place. We enjoyed the official audio tour as well as the Sean Connery audio tour provided by me and Marcus! - Don't tempt me! Retired of course! Losers always whine about their best, winners go home and f**k the prom queen.
We then picked up our motor and headed out of San Francisco (which is a truely awesome place to drive, it seems like barely organised chaos, but it all sort of works) over the Golden Gate, which was f**king awesome.

Our first Walmart.

Then after several wrong turns due to getting directions for the type of map you'd pick up from burger king we made it to South Lake Tahoe, which is freezing but is awesome to see some snow, and mountains Gandalf!

day two san francisco

its m & m (marcus to the max) turn to account the day. we started today like any other day with a film filled with mindless violence early in the morning. AHH america. after the car explosions and hardcore one liners we planed the day. so on the top of the agenda saigon sandwich for james:) he sure loves that rat meat. But on the way back we stuck to streets that where well lighted and lacked pimps. ah the getto it was all good.

next we set off to the apple shop which mat couldnt find the day earlier, a look around virgin and a break sitting in union square all nice and civilised. After all that we took a long walk to the AT&T Giants stadium wher on the way we where approached by two attractive ladies who handed matt an intresting leaflet excited about this new prize i snatched it only to be SCIENTOLOGIED!! damn that zenu or zemu depending on your view! stopping off at safeway to make some food purchases, namely a pound of fried chicken (much more than the British measurement of a pound). james got lost and blamed us damn him we did get distraced by lucky charms. After eating it all and finding the stadium we sat out in the sun for an hour and I was set the challenge of taking as many pictures wih animal statues i could starting with the giants seal statue maskot, after hanging around for a couple hours we decided to go get some tickets for the game we where filled with excitement and glee only to be denined at the ticket both as it was only a training day and the game wasnt till the weekend. so me and james went to he store and brought base balls to drown ours sorrows!
next on the agenda we needed to get our selfs some Alcatraz tickets. after a lovely walk in the sun waking by another stunning view of the bay bridge. when we got to the ticket both we where once again denied our tickets. yesterday was more producive wen we didnt plan anything.

After deciding what to do next we remembered Ripleys Believe It Or Not musuem was just down the road so walked and had the best time looking at all the strage things, notably the two headed weasle and the two way mirrors, we now know how to shink heads so backoff!
Coming out of Ripleys we spotted an In n Out burger, after all the recommendations to eat there we all grabbed a double double burger. All the reccomendations were correct.
A short taxi ride back to the hotel where Rob crashed out for the night (at about 6) and James, Matt and myself went to find the comic book store. Got lost, well not lost just missed the turn by a fair few streets. Got there but it was bloody closed on Mondays.
Watched TV, and got a tuna melt sandwich and now back at the hotel eating lucky charms in bed going to get some sleep for an early start ending up in Lake Tahoe. Not a lot that we planned happened today but still had a great day and San Franciso rocks.

San Francisco - First day

First day in San Francisco was awesome, we started out with our 'complimentary' hotel breakfast which was basically stuff from the yellow food group. We then headed downtown stopping on the way at Saigon Sandwich to pick up a vietnamese sandwich, which considering I haven't had one in 4 years was quite an event, and I was not dissapointed (see attached) as it was amazing and alone was worth the hours of travelling. I then took the guys down a semi-dodgy looking street, and they are now all convinced they've been to the 'ghetto', and seen a pimp - so cute (them, not the apparant pimp).
Hit Sears for second breakfast, where we tucked in to waffles and pancakes, and discovered you can never have enough maple syrup, was a great place like a diner with loads of crazy crap on the walls. Full of pancakes we head further up Powell street (with hill's like these makes me wonder why the local population is so fat) and were treated to an awesome view of the city, before heading down to the bay passng through Chinatown and Little Italy (looking for the infamous Apple store) where if I hadn't been so full from breakfast I would of had Dim Sum.We ended up at fishermans wharf, which I know is tourist hell but it had to be done. After we'd explored the WW2 submarine the USS Pampanito we procceded to watch Marcus have the time of his life blowing 40 quarters in the old style amusment arcade.

We ended the day drinking in the Hardrock cafe, enjoying some Long Island Ice teas and Purple Haze's, and btw we were drinking 'fruity' drinks so Marcus wouldn't feel left out while he popped his cherry and enjoyed a raspberry crush. - thank you Matt for the t-shirt, I love it.

but we never did find the Apple Store.

tomorrow we have an evening tour of Alcatraz heheheheh, after i've picked myself up another vietnamese sandwich anyway.

Hell yeah!

It's the final countdown!

Hoorah less than two weeks to go. yay. I seriously can't wait to get away from this hell hole!!!

San Francisco to Vegas

Booked up hotels for everything up to and including Vegas. I think after that once were properly on the open road we can just wing it, as long as I get to see the Grand Canyon and Monument vally I don't mind where we end up.

Since we've got a full day at South Lake Tahoe I though it would be cool to have a days skiing, our hotel provides a free bus to the nearby ski resorts, and its about $40-60 for a days pass, equipment hire and a 2 hour lesson.

I've also booked the car, its a Pontiac G6 (or similar).

San Francisco

Yo guys, booked a hotel for the first three nights in San Francisco, were staying at 1707 Market Street right downtown.

££ has strengthened a bit against the $, were almost getting $1.4 (tourist rate) for our precious pound...sigh...hopefully well get some bad financial news in American that will boost it a bit more. I think you can probably hold of getting any $ till we get there, plus you'll get a better inter bank rate anyway. about $1.46 atm. Gonna need it to get better for Vegas boys!

Currently looking around for a good car rental deal. I reckon with all the drop of charges it'll be about £100 each.

Average Temperatures

For no apparent reason these are the sort of weather conditions we shall be facing (averages in April since thats when the vast ammount of the trip will be)!

San Francisco: 13°C - 73% chance of sun
South Lake Tahoe: 3°C - 42 cm of snow
Area 51: 13°C - 1°C average low temperature
Las Vegas: 18°C - 87% chance of sun
Grand Canyon: 7°C - 20°C average for the Inner Canyon
Flagstaff: 6°C - 83% chance of sun
Winslow: 12°C - 2°C average low temperature
Phoenix: 21°C - 89% chance of sun
El Paso: 17°C - 88% chance of sun
Mescalero: 9°C - 1.6 cm precipitation
Roswell: 16°C - 77% chance of sun
Amarillo: 13°C - 74% chance of sun
Dallas: 18°C - 62% chance of sun

Route

Driving directions to Dallas, TX
2,917 mi – about 2 days 12 hours

San Francisco, CA

1. Head northeast on Market St toward 11th St 203 ft
2. Turn right at 11th St 0.6 mi
3. Turn left at Bryant St 0.3 mi
4. Turn left to merge onto I-80 E toward Oakland
Partial toll road 80.8 mi
5. Continue on Capital City Fwy E/US-50 E (signs for I 80 Bus/US-50/CAPITAL CITY Fwy/Sacramento/S Lake Tahoe)
Continue to follow US-50 E 49.9 mi
6. Continue on CA-50 2.7 mi
7. Continue on US-50 E 8.2 mi
8. Continue on CA-50 31.5 mi
9. Continue on US-50 11.1 mi
10. Turn right at Lake Tahoe Blvd/US-50 2.4 mi

188 mi – about 3 hours 16 mins
South Lake Tahoe, CA


11. Head north on Harrison Ave/Lake Tahoe Blvd/US-50 toward Modesto Ave
Continue to follow Lake Tahoe Blvd
Entering Nevada 3.2 mi
12. Slight right at Kingsbury Grade/NV-207 3.1 mi
13. Turn right at Tramway Dr 0.4 mi
14. Sharp left at Jack Dr 0.4 mi
15. Turn left toward Kingsbury Grade/NV-207 1.4 mi
16. Turn right at Kingsbury Grade/NV-207
Continue to follow NV-207 6.8 mi
17. Turn left at NV-88 1.9 mi
18. Slight right toward Main St/US-395 0.1 mi
19. Slight right at Main St/US-395
Continue to follow US-395 20.5 mi
20. Turn left at Highland Way 49 ft
21. Continue on NV-208 24.1 mi
22. Continue on NV-339 11.4 mi
23. Turn right at W Goldfield Ave/US-95/US-95A 1.0 mi
24. Turn left at McGowan Ln/US-95/US-95A
Continue to follow US-95 23.3 mi
25. Turn right to stay on US-95 33.4 mi
26. Turn left at 5th St/US-95
Continue to follow US-95 104 mi
27. Turn left at US-6 49.2 mi
28. Turn right at NV-375 52.1 mi
29. Turn right toward Valley Rd 6.1 mi
30. Turn left at Valley Rd 0.5 mi
31. Turn right at Desert Dog Rd 9.2 mi
32. Turn left 5.6 mi
33. Turn right 0.4 mi
34. Turn right 2.4 mi
35. Turn right 10.6 mi
36. Turn right 1.7 mi
37. Slight left toward Groom Lake Rd 2.4 mi
38. Sharp left at Groom Lake Rd 0.6 mi
39. Slight left to stay on Groom Lake Rd 2.6 mi

378 mi – about 8 hours 57 mins
Area 51
Nevada Test Site


40. Head northwest 1.5 mi
41. Continue straight onto Groom Lake Rd 5.5 mi
42. Turn right to stay on Groom Lake Rd 10.3 mi
43. Continue on Mercury Hwy 4.4 mi
44. Slight left to stay on Mercury Hwy 18.4 mi
45. Turn left 3.7 mi
46. Slight left toward Short Pole Line Rd 2.1 mi
47. Slight right at Short Pole Line Rd 2.4 mi
48. Continue straight onto Mercury Hwy 2.2 mi
49. Slight left to stay on Mercury Hwy 5.1 mi
50. Take the ramp onto US-95 52.6 mi
51. Take exit 85 for Craig Rd 0.4 mi
52. Turn left at W Craig Rd 0.3 mi
53. Turn right at N Rainbow Blvd 0.5 mi

110 mi – about 3 hours 18 mins
Las Vegas, NV


54. Head south on N Rainbow Blvd toward Riverdale Way 1.0 mi
55. Turn right at W Cheyenne Ave 0.3 mi
56. Turn left to merge onto US-95 S 7.6 mi
57. Continue on I-515 S 20.7 mi
58. Continue on US-93 S 5.6 mi
59. Turn left at NV-93 1.4 mi
60. Continue on US-93
Destination will be on the left 6.6 mi

43.4 mi – about 55 mins
Hoover Dam


61. Head northwest on US-93 6.6 mi
62. Continue on NV-93 1.4 mi
63. Turn right at US-93 25.8 mi
64. Take exit 76B to merge onto I-15 N/US-93 N
Continue to follow I-15 N
Entering Arizona 108 mi
65. Take exit 27-278 for Black Rock Rd 0.2 mi
66. Turn right at Black Rock Rd 0.1 mi
67. Turn left 0.6 mi
68. Turn right 0.4 mi
69. Turn right 4.0 mi
70. Turn left 7.9 mi
71. Turn left 0.9 mi
72. Slight left 5.3 mi
73. Turn right 0.3 mi
74. Turn left 4.0 mi
75. Turn right toward Highway 101 2.2 mi
76. Turn left at Highway 101 2.0 mi
77. Slight right 0.3 mi
78. Turn right 1.9 mi
79. Turn left 5.8 mi
80. Turn left 0.4 mi
81. Turn right 1.1 mi
82. Turn left 2.3 mi
83. Turn left 1.9 mi
84. Turn right 0.1 mi
85. Turn left 2.3 mi
86. Turn right 121 ft
87. Turn left 1.0 mi
88. Turn left 2.0 mi
89. Turn right toward Highway 103 0.1 mi
90. Turn left toward Highway 103 0.3 mi
91. Slight left at Highway 103 0.8 mi
92. Turn right 1.4 mi
93. Turn right 0.2 mi
94. Turn left 4.6 mi
95. Turn left 1.2 mi
96. Turn left 1.8 mi
97. Turn left 1.3 mi
98. Turn right 1.9 mi
99. Turn left 1.6 mi
100. Turn left toward Highway 257 0.5 mi
101. Slight right at Highway 257 1.0 mi
102. Slight left at Grand Canyon National Park 3.8 mi
103. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 3.8 mi
104. Slight right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.5 mi
105. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 2.9 mi
106. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.9 mi
107. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.7 mi
108. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 1.1 mi
109. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.9 mi
110. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 4.3 mi

225 mi – about 5 hours 46 mins
Grand Canyon


111. Head north on Grand Canyon National Park 4.3 mi
112. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.9 mi
113. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 1.1 mi
114. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.7 mi
115. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.9 mi
116. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 5.3 mi
117. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 2.2 mi
118. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.8 mi
119. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.7 mi
120. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.8 mi
121. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 2.3 mi
122. Turn right to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 1.9 mi
123. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 0.1 mi
124. Turn left to stay on Grand Canyon National Park 2.3 mi
125. Slight left at Highway 5 1.5 mi
126. Turn right at Craig Ranch Rd 3.8 mi
127. Turn right to stay on Craig Ranch Rd 1.4 mi
128. Turn left 4.0 mi
129. Turn left 2.5 mi
130. Turn left 5.4 mi
131. Turn right 3.6 mi
132. Turn left 5.2 mi
133. Turn right toward Highway 5 3.3 mi
134. Turn left at Highway 5 0.3 mi
135. Turn right 8.7 mi
136. Turn right 4.3 mi
137. Turn right 4.5 mi
138. Turn left 0.4 mi
139. Turn right toward AZ-389 4.4 mi
140. Turn right at AZ-389 14.7 mi
141. Turn left at S Main St/US-89
Continue to follow US-89
Entering Utah 6.8 mi
142. Turn right at E 300 S/US-89
Continue to follow E 300 S 5.0 mi
143. Continue on UT-89
Entering Arizona 58.9 mi
144. Continue on US-89 8.5 mi
145. Turn left at 89/N Lake Powell Blvd
Continue to follow N Lake Powell Blvd 1.9 mi
146. Turn left at Copper Mine Rd 1.4 mi
147. Turn left at AZ-98 64.3 mi
148. Turn left at US-160 31.9 mi
149. Turn left at Main St/US-163
Continue to follow US-163
Entering Utah 23.7 mi
150. Turn left at Monument Valley Rd 1.8 mi
151. Turn right at Oljeto Rd 6.4 mi
152. Turn right at Highway 427 6.3 mi
153. Turn right 1.3 mi

310 mi – about 8 hours 37 mins
Monument Valley


154. Head west 1.3 mi
155. Turn left at Highway 427 6.3 mi
156. Turn left at Oljeto Rd 6.4 mi
157. Turn left at Monument Valley Rd 1.8 mi
158. Turn right at US-163
Entering Arizona 23.7 mi
159. Turn right at US-160 82.0 mi
160. Turn left at Navajo Trail/US-89
Continue to follow US-89 66.6 mi

188 mi – about 3 hours 56 mins ]
Flagstaff, AZ


161. Head southeast on 40/W Route 66/W Santa Fe Ave/US-180/US-89 toward S Beaver St 1.4 mi
162. Turn right at Enterprise Rd 0.2 mi
163. Slight left at E Butler Ave 0.4 mi
164. Turn left to merge onto I-40 E 53.3 mi
165. Take exit 252 for State Hwy 87 S toward Payson/Winslow 0.3 mi
166. Turn right at AZ-99/Hipkoe Dr (signs for Payson/Winslow/I-40/AZ-87 S) 331 ft
167. Turn left at 40/AZ-99/Historic US Route 66/W Third St
Continue to follow 40/AZ-99/Historic US Route 66 1.1 mi

56.8 mi – about 53 mins
Winslow, AZ


168. Head northeast on N Berton Ave toward 40/AZ-99/Historic US Route 66/W Third St 344 ft
169. Turn left at 40/AZ-99/Historic US Route 66/W Third St 1.1 mi
170. Turn right at AZ-99/Hipkoe Dr 0.1 mi
171. Turn left to merge onto I-40 W toward Flagstaff 56.0 mi
172. Take exit 195 for State Hwy 89 S/I-17 S toward Phoenix 1.2 mi
173. Merge onto I-17 S 138 mi
174. Take exit 200A to merge onto I-10 E toward Tucson 2.6 mi
175. Take exit 145 for 7th St 0.3 mi
176. Turn right at N 7th St 0.9 mi
177. Turn right at E Washington St 0.5 mi

200 mi – about 3 hours 0 mins
Phoenix, AZ


178. Head north on N Central Ave toward E Adams St 0.2 mi
179. Turn right at E Van Buren St 0.5 mi
180. Turn left at N 7th St 0.6 mi
181. Merge onto I-10 E via the ramp to Tucson
Passing through New Mexico
Entering Texas 430 mi
182. Take exit 19 toward State Hwy 20 0.2 mi
183. Merge onto W Wyoming Ave (signs for Mesa St) 0.2 mi
184. Turn left at N Mesa St/TX-20 338 ft

431 mi – about 6 hours 9 mins
El Paso, TX


185. Head southeast on N Mesa St/TX-20 toward E Wyoming Ave 338 ft
186. Turn left at E Wyoming Ave 0.1 mi
187. Take the ramp onto I-10 E 2.3 mi
188. Take exit 22B for US-54/Patriot Frwy toward Alamogordo 0.5 mi
189. Keep left at the fork to continue toward US-54 E 0.6 mi
190. Keep left at the fork to continue toward US-54 E 0.9 mi
191. Keep left at the fork to continue toward US-54 E 0.1 mi
192. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-54 E/Alamogordo and merge onto US-54 E
Entering New Mexico 69.8 mi
193. Continue on NM-54 12.0 mi
194. Turn right at Alamogordo Relief Rd/US-54/US-70 5.4 mi
195. Turn left at US-54/US-70/N White Sands Blvd
Continue to follow US-70 23.2 mi
196. Continue on NM-70 1.6 mi
197. Turn right at Aspen Dr 0.3 mi
198. Slight left at Mescalero Central Ave 0.2 mi
199. Continue on Flats Rd 0.3 mi
200. Turn right at Gallerito Flats Rd 0.3 mi

118 mi – about 2 hours 20 mins
Mescalero, NM


201. Head northeast on Gallerito Flats Rd toward Cedar Rd 0.3 mi
202. Turn right at Flats Rd 0.4 mi
203. Turn left at Broken Arrow Dr 0.2 mi
204. Turn right at NM-70 31.2 mi
205. Continue on US-70 56.1 mi
206. Turn right at N Washington Ave 1.6 mi

89.8 mi – about 1 hour 50 mins
Roswell, NM


207. Head north on S Washington Ave toward W Hobbs St 0.6 mi
208. Turn right at W McGaffey St 0.5 mi
209. Turn left at S Main St/US-285 6.3 mi
210. Take the ramp to US-70 0.3 mi
211. Turn right at US-70 104 mi
212. Turn right at E 1st St/US-60/US-70/US-84
Continue to follow US-60/US-70/US-84 8.7 mi
213. Turn left at US-60
Entering Texas 76.1 mi
214. Continue on TX-60 2.2 mi
215. Take the ramp on the left onto US-60 E/US-87 N 2.0 mi
216. Take the exit onto I-27 N 13.6 mi
217. Continue on US-60 E/US-87 N 0.8 mi
218. Take the US-87 N/Fillmore St exit toward Dalhart 0.2 mi

215 mi – about 4 hours 21 mins
Amarillo, TX


219. Head east on SE 11th Ave toward S Pierce St/US-60/US-87 371 ft
220. Turn right to merge onto US-287 S/US-60 W/US-87 S 0.4 mi
221. Take the exit onto I-40 E/US-287 S toward Fort Worth 8.4 mi
222. Take exit 78 for US-287 S toward Fort Worth 0.4 mi
223. Merge onto US-287 211 mi
224. Take the exit onto I-44 W toward FT. Worth/Wichita Falls 3.0 mi
225. Continue on US-281 S/US-287 S 1.8 mi
226. Take the exit onto US-287 S 67.6 mi
227. Continue on TX-287/US-81
Continue to follow US-81 34.9 mi
228. Take the exit onto I-35W S 3.5 mi
229. Take exit 57A on the left toward I-820 E 0.3 mi
230. Merge onto I-820 E 5.3 mi
231. Take exit 22B for State Hwy 121 N/State Hwy 183 E toward Dallas 1.4 mi
232. Merge onto TX-183 E 20.0 mi
233. Merge onto I-35E S 4.6 mi
234. Take exit 428E to merge onto Commerce St toward Reunion Blvd 0.3 mi
235. Slight right at Main St 0.8 mi

364 mi – about 6 hours 38 mins
Dallas, TX

Extra protection

Following the recent map theft, I have decided to step up the security for future planning meetings...