8-2 SF to LA

Today is the first in our journey across the country. We finish clearing everything out of our apartment and do the last bit of cleaning--grab a coffee at Mission Pie--and then the road has our name written all over it. We head South on I-5, our destination: Laguna Niguel, and the family home of Tyson's former dorm-roomie, Micheil.

We arrive, and are welcomed with open arms to join in a big family meal. After dinner, Micheil takes us down to the harbor where his sailboat is docked (Micheil's home), and he motors us out for a quick foray into the waters beyond the jetty. We see seals sitting on the floating buoys, and the moon is almost full. A stark nightscape indeed. We drive back to the family home and get a good night's rest.

8-3 LA to AZ

Today we leave Micheil and family in Laguna Niguel for AZ, stopping at Joshua Tree along the way. Other than JT and the amazing skyline throughout AZ, most notable was the temperature--usually around 110-115 degrees--and driving without A/C the whole way....something not to avoid checking before the next trip!


Skull rock

8-4 Tombstone, AZ to TX

Today we awoke to a very sunny morning in Benson, AZ, and got to see bunnies--cute little bunnies with white cotton tails--nibbling on grass and playing with each other (including hopping over one another and chasing each other in circles!!!). Sorry, no photos. After packing up, we stop by Tombstone and visit a cool cemetery featuring the gravesites of cowboys who mostly seemed to meet untimely deaths by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Next, we drive through NM and Las Cruces, and then down into El Paso and along the Rio Grande.

We watch a beautiful sunset as we drive into the night to make it to Marfa before morning.

8-5 Marfa, TX

Today we awake in Marfa at the Thunderbird Hotel. We go to the Chinati Foundation for a tour of the collection. It's a beautiful day to see everything the site has to offer. Here's a taste of our experience...

Installation by Donald Judd










Sculpture by John Chamberlain


My favorite poem by Carl Andre


Dan Flavin installation

Sculpture by Roni Horn

After Chinati, we go for a dip in the hotel pool, and around sunset, head over to El Paisano for some freshly squeezed margaritas, and to watch the spiders on the patio come out to spin their webs. After dinner, a little night adventure (see below)

8-6 Texas, Texas, Texas!

Today we leave Marfa for the wild expanse of the rest of Texas. Are we out of Texas yet? 10 hours later... No, not yet!


Yes, that is Prada in Marfa.

Yes, that is a drug surveillance blimp.

Yes, that is the longest train I've ever seen.

8-7 Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee

This painting, featured at the Meteor museum in Texas about sums it up for a 3-state day.

8-8 Memphis, TN

We awoke today at the La Quinta off Poplar St. in Memphis. After a continental breakfast at the hotel (featuring waffles!), we headed to Graceland to tour the glories of Elvis. An amazing memorial and tribute to the king of R&R. I recommend visiting, if possible--words & pictures cannot describe it. After the 3 hour experience at Graceland, we head back to the hotel for a little air conditioning (weather outside is 96 degrees, and 80% humidity), and then make our way to Corky's for dry rub BBQ Memphis-style & some banana puddin'. Yuuuummm-eeeee!

8-10 Chattanooga, TN

Today we went to the Chattanooga aquarium with our hosts Marion & Tom Griscom (infamous parents of Tom Griscom the younger of SF, CA). It was above and beyond one of the best I've been to. After all the wild-life, we went to the restaurant Blue Plate for lunch (I had poultry, not seafood). Marion then took us on a driving tour of Chattanooga, and we picked up some local Sweetwater beer to have with dinner--they brew out of Atlanta, and make a tasty IPA! Dinner company included Marion & Tom, Becky & Will, and Wallace the cat.






Ever wonder where Beluga caviar comes from? Here's the pretty culprit: the Beluga sturgeon.