Roadtrip Update

Saturday
I made what I'm hoping is my most boring leg of the trip from San Diego to Phoenix, AZ. The destination was not boring, but the desolate drive was! Shortly after leaving SD I came across what looked like giant gravel, see below:

Then I encountered border control where they made me open my trunk and prove that I wasn't hiding any Mexican immigrants. They also confiscated my fresh fruit but wouldn't let me throw my trash away :( Somewhere between the California/Arizona border and Phoenix I literally drove through the desert, see below:

Then finally when nearing Phoenix I saw some of these fun guys!

I was really excited for Phoenix because my sister had visited there earlier in the summer and loved it (sadly I didn't have time to go to the fun places she got to visit) but also because I would be staying with my friend Laurel. We went to nursing school together and haven't seen each other since! She's originally from AZ, moved home after college, started working at a children's hospital, met her husband, and now has an adorable little boy! She was so gracious to take me downtown to Postino's for their amazing bruschetta board and cucumber-melon lemonade. I know, you're wondering what a bruschetta board is at the same time thinking that cucumber-melon makes you think of all those Bath & Body Works lotions you got back in the 90's! Seriously, check out their link and click on menu to be inspired...it was so yummy! As always, it's fun to catch up with an old girlfriend and reminisce about college life, update each other on friends, and just enjoy where we are in life now. While I will miss her, I will not miss the heat! Living in Norcal has made me such a weather wimp!

Sunday
After a yummy homemade breakfast by Laurel, I got out the door right on time for my long drive to Albuquerque, NM. I was really amazed at the scenery in AZ. It was a lot more diverse than I'd thought it would be. Once I reached Flagstaff, about 1/3 into my journey that day I was surprised to see how green and forested it was:

Shortly after passing Flagstaff the land became drier and blander and once I reached NM it was just HOT!!! I passed a lot of desert and when I did see signs of life, it was either advertising for Native American tourist traps or Casinos, and some pretty red mountains:

I was strongly starting to doubt my GPS when it said I was 20 mins from my destination because I still had yet to see anything resembling a town...but sure enough, a few minutes later I rounded a corner and there was Albe (I got lazy on the typing). I was excited to catch up with "Aunt" Terri whom I'd met over a year ago at a friend's wedding. She was equally excited to have some girl time. We stayed up way too late just chatting about life, and I can't get enough of her stories. She's lived such a FULL life! She also has a love for her Savior and deceased husband that are such an encouragement. Just like the last time we ate at Sadies (local Mexican) for dinner and then the Flying Star for breakfast. Thankfully this time I did not have any tire issues and was able to hit the road on time for my almost 12 hour drive to Dallas!