Road Trip: Wrap Up

Who knew I'd return from this trip feeling so refreshed!  The trek has seemed to reignite my passion for life, adventure, my craft, and most of all, for people.  Road Trip 2010--a complete success.

If I could sum up the trip in one photograph...it'd be impossible. So, I've included a bunch to give you a better sense of life on the road!  I hope you like it, as it's a bit out of my box.

Also, I've received requests for fine art prints.  Stay tuned for ordering information!

Change of Plans

Instead of finishing up the rest of the road trip images this morning, I had to spend some time at my mechanic's shop.  But thanks to Alex, best mechanic in LA, I was up and running in no time at all.  More to come tomorrow!

Road Trip: Day Nine

This was a great day; a perfect ending to an incredible trip!  Congratulations to my dear friends, Marinna and Joseph, on their marriage.  :)  

I have a few more images I'd like to share from the trip, but that will have to wait until Monday.  Until then, many thanks to all those who have contributed to this amazing journey--family and friends that offered a warm meal and place to sleep, the countless people who've allowed me to photograph them, followers of the blog, and of course my wonderful sidekick/assistant/navigator/producer/friend extraordinaire, Nicole B!  This trip wouldn't have happened without the countless hours she selflessly poured into the planning of this journey.  Much love to you all!

Road Trip: Days Seven & Eight

Sturgis, South Dakota, is home to one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world.  It just so happens that the rally took place the week I was in town.  Bingo.  I wore black that day, but still stuck out like a sore thumb.  Not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.  I suppose you can be the judge.  Next year I'll be sure to sport my leathers...oh, and bring my body guards.  

Road Trip: Day Six

Hey all!  I'm currently blogging from a motel in North Platte, Nebraska--second floor, two doors down from the Ice & Pop machine...yep, I'm definitely in the Midwest.  

More on that at a later date and time.

Now, let's go back to last week to catch everyone up.  It was a wonderful week, beginning with a few days of visiting family in Colorado and ending with a stroll in Sturgis, South Dakota, to witness their annual, world-famous motorcycle rally.    

Today's images were photographed several miles south of Loveland, Colorado, at a popular trucker pit-stop called Johnson's Corner.  Complete with restaurant, trucker's store, scales, fuel, free WiFi, and even a chapel, Johnson's Corner has been serving Colorado since 1952.  

"Chapel?" you may ask.  That's precisely what I said.  So, I ventured on over and found Clark, biker and member of Tribe of Judah ministries.  Clark was camped out at the chapel for the entire week to minister to bikers traveling to and from the rally in Sturgis....

Road Trip: Day Five

This is Larry, 89, one of the kindest men I've ever met, and probably the best Pinocle player this side the Mississippi.

"Age is an issue of mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."  ~Mark Twain

Road Trip: Day Four

New Mexico, you've been wonderful.  :)  

Road Trip: Day Three

Wednesday we camped at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Due to the fierce storms looming above, very few tourists stuck around for sunrise and sunset at the canyon.  As a result, I was forced to shift focus from crazy characters to the incredible clouds!    

Nicole, Dawn at the Grand Canyon

Miles & Miles of Scorched Land

Kalibab National Forest

A Self-Portrait

Road Trip: Day Two

Vegas baby.  Tourist season is in full swing here, the sidewalks of the strip hardly large enough to hold the swarms of people.  The sweltering heat, combined with streets being packed to the max, kept us indoors for a good part of the day.  However, as soon as the sun sank low in the sky, we hit the strip in full force. 

The following images are from both Freemont Street, a.k.a. Old Town, and the main drag of Vegas.  I think the highlight of the day was directing and positioning a very bad Elvis impersonator to obtain the image seen below.  He just didn't understand why I didn't want to be in the photograph with him; afterall, who doesn't want a photo op with the king?  Ha!

   

Road Trip: Day One

Ever since my dad scolded me for stealing Jeff Dunaway's stamps in second grade, I've been a rule follower--dotting ever "I" and crossing every "T", never speeding, never ditching, always polite, always playing nice.   

In some ways, I feel that has carried over into my creative personality; I play it safe much too often.  So, I'm changing it up--reinventing myself.  This road trip is about breaking past the boring.  It's about pushing myself to the limits--approaching total strangers, reaching beyond my social circle, and confronting my creativity head on.  

Day one: complete.   It was a four hour drive from LA to Las Vegas.  We stopped about two hours into the trip and the adventure really began.  The first three images are from the gas stop at Razor Road.  The remainder of the images are from the afternoon we spent with Chris and Antonio, the cream of the crop in the sport of acrobatics.  

Thanks to everyone for making today a phenomenal start to this seventeen day adventure!