My eyes are still slightly moist from that last blog. Kudos to Sisay for being so diligent in keeping up with it. I don't think any other in the party involved would have managed half of that. Small technical note - in case you hadn't noticed, our map/pictures have moved on to a second page. Just scroll down the list of sites on the left and click on "next page."
Our final count on my camera of pictures taken on this trip is 4,153 which includes 274 movie clips. Mad props to Canon and our index fingers. Additionally Sisay's camera had 768 pictures including 74 movies. As you can see our blog only touched on a section of our repertoire so there is lots more to see...
I'd like to mirror Sisay's words on thanks to all especially for those of you gracious enough to let us crash on your floor. Much appreciated.
Kwaherini!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE
Andy, Avi and Sisay started travelling in US May 12, 2008 to experience The Greatest America. It is going to end tonight June 10, 2008. We have been travelling for a month.
While sitting in my cubical office, I felt many times a month is like a week longer. Very short. Because we were busy. This last month, which we have been spending visiting, feels like two or three months. It was not because we have been bored rather, enjoying it a lot. We wish we could extend this travel plan but it is time to wrap it up here today in our home town, Sterling, Virginia.
America is a huge country with a breath taking scenery everywhere. No words in dictionary express its beauty. For the last one month,we have been enjoying the views, the smells and the landscapes of Water Falls, Mountains, Canyons, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Farms, Oceans, Creeks, Plains, Cliffs, Wildlife's, Forests, Parks, etc......
The memory of all these wonders will remain fresh in our mind until the rest of our lives. When time goes, it is going to be even more enjoyable whenever we see pictures, movies, read stories, and see documentaries of these places.
Now, I proved myself I love nature. I am also planning to travel in Ethiopia when I go back and also in the future to Europe. I am going to have The American Citizen soon so no Embassy in the world is going to deny me entry visa.
Thank you all of you guys wherever you are living in the globe and have been following up this trip. Hope you all enjoyed it a lot.
Finally, My heart felt thanks go to Andy and Avi for their friendship, Authenticity, determination, and teaching me passion for nature. I am going to miss you guys a lot !!! But I am only an e-mail away. Wishing the best of luck in all your future career, I quit right here.
This is Sisay Asrat, I approve this message :-)
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
While sitting in my cubical office, I felt many times a month is like a week longer. Very short. Because we were busy. This last month, which we have been spending visiting, feels like two or three months. It was not because we have been bored rather, enjoying it a lot. We wish we could extend this travel plan but it is time to wrap it up here today in our home town, Sterling, Virginia.
America is a huge country with a breath taking scenery everywhere. No words in dictionary express its beauty. For the last one month,we have been enjoying the views, the smells and the landscapes of Water Falls, Mountains, Canyons, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Farms, Oceans, Creeks, Plains, Cliffs, Wildlife's, Forests, Parks, etc......
The memory of all these wonders will remain fresh in our mind until the rest of our lives. When time goes, it is going to be even more enjoyable whenever we see pictures, movies, read stories, and see documentaries of these places.
Now, I proved myself I love nature. I am also planning to travel in Ethiopia when I go back and also in the future to Europe. I am going to have The American Citizen soon so no Embassy in the world is going to deny me entry visa.
Thank you all of you guys wherever you are living in the globe and have been following up this trip. Hope you all enjoyed it a lot.
Finally, My heart felt thanks go to Andy and Avi for their friendship, Authenticity, determination, and teaching me passion for nature. I am going to miss you guys a lot !!! But I am only an e-mail away. Wishing the best of luck in all your future career, I quit right here.
This is Sisay Asrat, I approve this message :-)
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
MISSOURI, TENNESSEE & VIRGINIA
June 10, 2008. The last day for Team Travel America. On June 8, we stopped by Mississippi River. This river divides Missouri and Tennessee. It was for the second time we were crossing this river. When we were driving towards West, we crossed it in Minnesota. We sat down by this river and ate lunch. We did put our foot also on this river.
We camped yesterday and the day before yesterday in Tennessee. On June 8 at Natchez Trace State Park by Pin Oak Lake.We got there around 10 PM. It was a beautiful place.
Shavuot is one of Israeli Holiday. The eve was Sunday night. Avi has been celebrating all Israeli holidays since I knew him in 2005. Andy, myself and more friends have been part of the celebration in sterling for more than three years. This time we celebrated it by Pin Oak Lake. SHAVUOT SAMEAH !!! Avi.
As most of you know Avi travelled in US for six months four years ago with Elad. During that time, his car was broken in small town in Tennessee called Sweat Water.
John owns bar and restaurant in this town. Avi and Elad spent a couple of days by this bar fixing their car. So they were dining in this restaurant and became friends with John and with most people who were coming to this bar frequently. Avi never forgets his old friends . So he called John and started heading towards Sweat Water.
When we got there, John welcomed us warmly and invited us beer. Apparently, he himself grabbed beer and started talking with us. Later he asked us whether we needed a burger. The best burger in town is in this restaurant. He served a cheese burger for three of us. I tell you, that was one of the best burger I have ever had. Every food tastes better in small town :-)
We spent our last camping night in SMOKEY MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE. We are now heading to Virginia.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
We camped yesterday and the day before yesterday in Tennessee. On June 8 at Natchez Trace State Park by Pin Oak Lake.We got there around 10 PM. It was a beautiful place.
Shavuot is one of Israeli Holiday. The eve was Sunday night. Avi has been celebrating all Israeli holidays since I knew him in 2005. Andy, myself and more friends have been part of the celebration in sterling for more than three years. This time we celebrated it by Pin Oak Lake. SHAVUOT SAMEAH !!! Avi.
As most of you know Avi travelled in US for six months four years ago with Elad. During that time, his car was broken in small town in Tennessee called Sweat Water.
John owns bar and restaurant in this town. Avi and Elad spent a couple of days by this bar fixing their car. So they were dining in this restaurant and became friends with John and with most people who were coming to this bar frequently. Avi never forgets his old friends . So he called John and started heading towards Sweat Water.
When we got there, John welcomed us warmly and invited us beer. Apparently, he himself grabbed beer and started talking with us. Later he asked us whether we needed a burger. The best burger in town is in this restaurant. He served a cheese burger for three of us. I tell you, that was one of the best burger I have ever had. Every food tastes better in small town :-)
We spent our last camping night in SMOKEY MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE. We are now heading to Virginia.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
Monday, June 9, 2008
BREAKING NEWS
A TEAM OF TRAVEL AMERICA : ANDY, AVI AND SISAY IS GOING TO FINISH TRAVELLING AND HIT VIRGINIA BY TOMORROW, JUNE 10,2008.
NEW MEXICO, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA & ARKANSAS
June 6 & 7,2008. We were in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma & Arkansas. On the night of June 5, we spent camping in Clayton, New Mexico. Morning of June 6, we started heading towards East, North of Texas. I was interested to visit Houston, but it was out of the way. My buddy kebede is living in Houston, Texas with his family. I first landed in US soil in Houston when I came in from Ethiopia. Thanks for Kebede and Martha for their hospitality.
Most of the thing we saw in Northern Texas was, a huge farm land and oil fields. My thought about oil exploration before was ,a sophisticated drilling machines. However, What I saw in Northern Texas was not much better than a hand dug well with a pulley. May be they were producing in a very small scale. By the way, I saw the same kind of oil fields in Ruthven, Canada too.
We stopped by a dam reservoir north of Amarillo . We swimmed, played freezby and had lunch there. It was such a nice place. We really enjoyed it.
Then we headed towards Oklahoma. We saw huge farms. It was a beautiful place I have ever seen. Well, I saw many beautiful places since we started travelling. One was completely different from the other.That is why I am keeping saying this and that is the most beautiful.
We camped by Grounder Lake. It was used to be a state park but now it is South Western Oklahoma State University Park. It was such an amazing place. We had the best diner since we started camping. Avi fixed dinner. It was a feast. It was Friday night he also brought beer from a small nearby town called Weather Ford.
What I was impressed more about Oklahoma was, the farm and Wind Power generating stuffs on the field. There were a lot here in Oklahoma than we saw everywhere throughout our travel.Wind for power generation sounds interesting. It was windy in Oklahoma so may be this was the best site for Wind Power Generation.
Then we headed towards Arkansans.By the way the first Wal-Mart store was opened in this state. We spent the night of June 7, in one of the most beautiful forest, OZARK National Forest. It took us more than an hour to get there and another 4 hours to get out of that forest. A place we camped that night called LOST VALLEY.
Every Sunday Andy has been going to church. Our first Sunday was in Madison, Wisconsin. He woke up in the morning and attended in a near by Catholic Church. We spent our second Sunday in Yellow Stone, Wyoming. He also attended there.We were in Boulder City, Nevada on the third Sunday. Andy attended church at St. Andrew Catholic Community. Today, on the fourth Sunday Andy couldn't find churches in near by. It was a huge forest so he couldn't even had Internet access to locate a church.
Tonight We are going to camp in Tennessee. Keep in touch.
N.B: WHEN YOU GO TO PICTURE PAGES SOME OF THE PICTURES AFTER WE PASSED OKLAHOMA WERE POSTED ON NEXT PAGE OF THAT WINDOW. SO CLICK NEXT PAGE.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
Most of the thing we saw in Northern Texas was, a huge farm land and oil fields. My thought about oil exploration before was ,a sophisticated drilling machines. However, What I saw in Northern Texas was not much better than a hand dug well with a pulley. May be they were producing in a very small scale. By the way, I saw the same kind of oil fields in Ruthven, Canada too.
We stopped by a dam reservoir north of Amarillo . We swimmed, played freezby and had lunch there. It was such a nice place. We really enjoyed it.
Then we headed towards Oklahoma. We saw huge farms. It was a beautiful place I have ever seen. Well, I saw many beautiful places since we started travelling. One was completely different from the other.That is why I am keeping saying this and that is the most beautiful.
We camped by Grounder Lake. It was used to be a state park but now it is South Western Oklahoma State University Park. It was such an amazing place. We had the best diner since we started camping. Avi fixed dinner. It was a feast. It was Friday night he also brought beer from a small nearby town called Weather Ford.
What I was impressed more about Oklahoma was, the farm and Wind Power generating stuffs on the field. There were a lot here in Oklahoma than we saw everywhere throughout our travel.Wind for power generation sounds interesting. It was windy in Oklahoma so may be this was the best site for Wind Power Generation.
Then we headed towards Arkansans.By the way the first Wal-Mart store was opened in this state. We spent the night of June 7, in one of the most beautiful forest, OZARK National Forest. It took us more than an hour to get there and another 4 hours to get out of that forest. A place we camped that night called LOST VALLEY.
Every Sunday Andy has been going to church. Our first Sunday was in Madison, Wisconsin. He woke up in the morning and attended in a near by Catholic Church. We spent our second Sunday in Yellow Stone, Wyoming. He also attended there.We were in Boulder City, Nevada on the third Sunday. Andy attended church at St. Andrew Catholic Community. Today, on the fourth Sunday Andy couldn't find churches in near by. It was a huge forest so he couldn't even had Internet access to locate a church.
Tonight We are going to camp in Tennessee. Keep in touch.
N.B: WHEN YOU GO TO PICTURE PAGES SOME OF THE PICTURES AFTER WE PASSED OKLAHOMA WERE POSTED ON NEXT PAGE OF THAT WINDOW. SO CLICK NEXT PAGE.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
Sunday, June 8, 2008
COLORADO - ROCKY MOUNTAINS
June 5,2008. Twenty five days have passed since a team of Travel America started travelling.It has been enjoying. It is once in a life time opportunity. Hope you guys also have been enjoying it.
A moment ago I talked to Asni Tekle my x-coworker in Ethiopia. We worked together at Construction Design Share Company ( AKA - BDE). This Company has been the largest design firm in Ethiopia. I have a lot of friends in the States who used to work in this company. Asni is among them. She is living with her husband and daughter in Maryland.
She has been reading blogs and enjoying pictures since started on May 12, 2008. Asni, we are glad you enjoyed it. She said, " I have been checking the web site two times a day". And if you guys haven't posted something new, I go back and see the pictures the second time. Enjoy !!
Last night we spent the night in Colorado, at a small town called Grand Junction. We spent the night in a motel. You might say why these guys are not taking us to big cities.Most of our travel has been in rural areas. We love rural towns, farms, mountains, valleys, canyons, etc...If you go back and see the routes we have been taking in Google map, most of it was rural roads.Imagine how beautiful driving through a farm and a forest. It is refreshing.
Myself and Andy grew up as a country boy. So we love the view, the smell, and the landscape of rural areas. Avi does too. We just crossed Oklahoma City right now. We didn't give much attention to it. In some rural areas I noticed our car was may be the only one you see on the road driving for so long.
After we got in to our motel and saw it, we headed towards Mexican Restaurant for a dinner.Andy & Avi grabbed beer. Me not this time. We enjoyed the food and it was also a lot. Apparently, I took half of it, put in the fridge and enjoyed it for breakfast.
We woke up in the morning and headed to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We drove through scenic route in a valley by Colorado River. We arrived at mountain top. Snow was falling right there. The elevation of that point was 11, 312 ft. That place was called Monarch Crest. It was cold enough for me and stayed inside our car.
Andy and Avi played freezby on the snow. The interesting thing about that mountain was, it was right in these mountains where the CONTINENTAL DRAINAGE DIVIDE located. This divide goes along on top of a chain of mountains until South America and divide Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Watershed in to two. Isn't it amazing ?
Then we started driving down from the mountain top. With in 3 miles distant the snow was gone. We entered into dry area.It was such an interesting contrast.
Next We are going to be in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Keep in touch.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
A moment ago I talked to Asni Tekle my x-coworker in Ethiopia. We worked together at Construction Design Share Company ( AKA - BDE). This Company has been the largest design firm in Ethiopia. I have a lot of friends in the States who used to work in this company. Asni is among them. She is living with her husband and daughter in Maryland.
She has been reading blogs and enjoying pictures since started on May 12, 2008. Asni, we are glad you enjoyed it. She said, " I have been checking the web site two times a day". And if you guys haven't posted something new, I go back and see the pictures the second time. Enjoy !!
Last night we spent the night in Colorado, at a small town called Grand Junction. We spent the night in a motel. You might say why these guys are not taking us to big cities.Most of our travel has been in rural areas. We love rural towns, farms, mountains, valleys, canyons, etc...If you go back and see the routes we have been taking in Google map, most of it was rural roads.Imagine how beautiful driving through a farm and a forest. It is refreshing.
Myself and Andy grew up as a country boy. So we love the view, the smell, and the landscape of rural areas. Avi does too. We just crossed Oklahoma City right now. We didn't give much attention to it. In some rural areas I noticed our car was may be the only one you see on the road driving for so long.
After we got in to our motel and saw it, we headed towards Mexican Restaurant for a dinner.Andy & Avi grabbed beer. Me not this time. We enjoyed the food and it was also a lot. Apparently, I took half of it, put in the fridge and enjoyed it for breakfast.
We woke up in the morning and headed to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We drove through scenic route in a valley by Colorado River. We arrived at mountain top. Snow was falling right there. The elevation of that point was 11, 312 ft. That place was called Monarch Crest. It was cold enough for me and stayed inside our car.
Andy and Avi played freezby on the snow. The interesting thing about that mountain was, it was right in these mountains where the CONTINENTAL DRAINAGE DIVIDE located. This divide goes along on top of a chain of mountains until South America and divide Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Watershed in to two. Isn't it amazing ?
Then we started driving down from the mountain top. With in 3 miles distant the snow was gone. We entered into dry area.It was such an interesting contrast.
Next We are going to be in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Keep in touch.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
Saturday, June 7, 2008
NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS & THE ARCHES
June 4,2008. We started heading to Utah to visit Arches National Park. Before we start travelling nothing impressed me more than The Arches and Niagara Falls. We have been travelling for 25 days and visited the most tourist attraction places in US. If you ask me which one is the best so far, I don't think that I have an answer for that. Each individual places had something special which is different from the rest. What I can say is as much as human beings built Hoover Dam, Nature has been building itself such a breathtaking scenery of Arches. Nature didn't need an Architect and Engineers for these sculptures.
For a moment I am going to take you back to Arizona from Utah. When we were driving from Arizona to Utah we drove through one of the largest Indian Reservation in US. It was located inside the state of Arizona. The area was dry and mountainous. The name of the reservation and Native Indian tribes living in there called Navajo.
We stopped by where The Native Indians sell crafts. It was too hot. When Andy and Avi were heading to see the Canyon, I first started touring the crafts and then talked to a Native Indian Guy inside the store. You shouldn't expect a fancy store :-) It was in the middle of nowhere. The crafts were amazing. Myself bought necklace and bracelet for my sister.
First I asked him about the flag I saw. It was an American flag but it had a picture of Native Indian woman in the middle. He said " This is a flag for Sioux tribe. There are 217 Native American Indian different Tribes living throughout the US and I guess in Canada too.Each tribe speaks its own language. 217 languages !!!! He also said each tribe has its own flag.
I heard also a music which was playing there. He said Indians like music and dance. Apparently, All Native American Indians ( 217 tribes ) are going to meet in Texas in October for yearly festival. He also asked me where I am from. I told him about myself and tribes in Ethiopia including my tribe. For those of you who want to know my tribe, it is called Guraghe. I speak my tribal language in addition to our National language called Amharic.
There are about 80 tribes in Ethiopia. They have their own language and culture. I asked him to have a picture with me. He was glad. Andy took a picture of him and I. That was my best picture ever. I smiled a lot !!!
I asked him more about himself. He said he was born and raised in this area. His parents and grand parents were all lived here. Their sons and daughter were sent to the nearby town to school so that they can get a job.
Then we started heading towards Utah. We took scenic drive through Monument Valley. It was enjoyable to see different shaped cliffs on left and right side of the road.
Around 8 PM we arrived at Moab, a small town in Utah. This town is located very close to The Arches National Parks.Right there one of a friend gave me a call from Virginia and told me, my hero Obama secured his Presidential Nomination for Democrats. I was excited. I have been following up the Presidential Campaign and debates since February, 2007.
Before we headed to camping site we went to a movie theater to see Indian Jones. We enjoyed it.
The following morning, June 5, 2008 around 10 AM we started heading towards the Arches. There are 2000 arches in this park. We did tour the whole day until 5 PM. Every Cliff or Arch you see were astonishing. Please, go and see the pictures. I can't describe this. IT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST DENSITIES OF NATURAL ARCHES. The most interesting thing is: Until today new arches are being formed and the old ones destroyed. Water, ice,extreme temperatures, underground salt movement and erosion are responsible for the sculptured rock scenery of Arches National Park.
We went also for hiking. As usual Andy climbed over some Arches and Cliffs. Also we played freezby. We have been playing freezby everywhere in the parks.
Our plan after visiting the Grand Canyon was heading towards New Mexico. Because heading towards the Arches were a litte bit out of the way.I wanted to visit this park. The documentary I saw about this park before we start travelling impressed me a lot. Thanks to Andy and Avi for sticking with my plan.
Next, we are going to drive together over the rocky mountains of Colorado. Keep in touch.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
For a moment I am going to take you back to Arizona from Utah. When we were driving from Arizona to Utah we drove through one of the largest Indian Reservation in US. It was located inside the state of Arizona. The area was dry and mountainous. The name of the reservation and Native Indian tribes living in there called Navajo.
We stopped by where The Native Indians sell crafts. It was too hot. When Andy and Avi were heading to see the Canyon, I first started touring the crafts and then talked to a Native Indian Guy inside the store. You shouldn't expect a fancy store :-) It was in the middle of nowhere. The crafts were amazing. Myself bought necklace and bracelet for my sister.
First I asked him about the flag I saw. It was an American flag but it had a picture of Native Indian woman in the middle. He said " This is a flag for Sioux tribe. There are 217 Native American Indian different Tribes living throughout the US and I guess in Canada too.Each tribe speaks its own language. 217 languages !!!! He also said each tribe has its own flag.
I heard also a music which was playing there. He said Indians like music and dance. Apparently, All Native American Indians ( 217 tribes ) are going to meet in Texas in October for yearly festival. He also asked me where I am from. I told him about myself and tribes in Ethiopia including my tribe. For those of you who want to know my tribe, it is called Guraghe. I speak my tribal language in addition to our National language called Amharic.
There are about 80 tribes in Ethiopia. They have their own language and culture. I asked him to have a picture with me. He was glad. Andy took a picture of him and I. That was my best picture ever. I smiled a lot !!!
I asked him more about himself. He said he was born and raised in this area. His parents and grand parents were all lived here. Their sons and daughter were sent to the nearby town to school so that they can get a job.
Then we started heading towards Utah. We took scenic drive through Monument Valley. It was enjoyable to see different shaped cliffs on left and right side of the road.
Around 8 PM we arrived at Moab, a small town in Utah. This town is located very close to The Arches National Parks.Right there one of a friend gave me a call from Virginia and told me, my hero Obama secured his Presidential Nomination for Democrats. I was excited. I have been following up the Presidential Campaign and debates since February, 2007.
Before we headed to camping site we went to a movie theater to see Indian Jones. We enjoyed it.
The following morning, June 5, 2008 around 10 AM we started heading towards the Arches. There are 2000 arches in this park. We did tour the whole day until 5 PM. Every Cliff or Arch you see were astonishing. Please, go and see the pictures. I can't describe this. IT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST DENSITIES OF NATURAL ARCHES. The most interesting thing is: Until today new arches are being formed and the old ones destroyed. Water, ice,extreme temperatures, underground salt movement and erosion are responsible for the sculptured rock scenery of Arches National Park.
We went also for hiking. As usual Andy climbed over some Arches and Cliffs. Also we played freezby. We have been playing freezby everywhere in the parks.
Our plan after visiting the Grand Canyon was heading towards New Mexico. Because heading towards the Arches were a litte bit out of the way.I wanted to visit this park. The documentary I saw about this park before we start travelling impressed me a lot. Thanks to Andy and Avi for sticking with my plan.
Next, we are going to drive together over the rocky mountains of Colorado. Keep in touch.
You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com
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