Are We On A Mountain?

One can only eat rehydrated dehydrated meals so many times in a row before needing to get out! True Foods Kitchen is a chain but I know they have great plant-based options and BR doesn't have one, so when I saw one 2 miles from the hotel...it was game on.

Pictured Berries and Bourbon (above) is not plant-based for anyone confused.

I was able to meet up with one of my favorite humans! Teroy recommended The Untethered Soul so we had some great discussions about the book over dinner.

I taught this grown man when he was in 7th grade! So crazy. I love how much I've learned from my students and they continue to challenge my thinking and help me grow. I love you kiddo!

After seeing multiple CBS Sunday Morning segments on the Red Rocks Amphitheater, I knew I wanted to see it in person. I was going to wait and see how early I woke up to decide if I would make it for sunrise....4:45 AM seemed like it would give me PLENTY of time to get there. haha I forgot I gained an hour driving west but it's working out to my advantage.

Beast Mode and I loaded up, totally unprepared for cold weather (packing with only Vegas in mind was not a good strategy). Driving through the dark on a mountain is insane. I almost hit a bunny that hopped across the winding road to the amphitheater....thank goodness it was a miss b/c I almost killed a rabbit the day before Easter. I hear you Jesus, I shouldn't have left you in Kansas...Never again.

Anxiously awaiting the sunrise. It was SO cold and SO worth it!

Imagine my sadness to find out in a few hours from this moment, Kevin Gates and Gucci Mane would be playing in this very venue followed by a Sunday Morning Easter Service...what a wide range of activities. This is my kind of place.

When I tell you I wasn't prepared for the temps, I mean, WE SAW SNOW and Beast Mode didn't even have a single pant to put on! I felt like I had Botox injected into my face by the end of the day from the extreme temperatures that left my skin dried out and taut. It went up and down, back up again and now it's a warm windy. It ranged from 27 to 80 degrees and you could feel the shift in the car. I believe that I am in Utah at this point and it's wildly windy.

I know we are in dirty snow but when you just pull of the interstate you have to take what you can get. Beast Mode didn't even put on pants that's why she's Beast Mode I guess.

Not sure what's going on here but riding a dinosaur through the snow was not an opportunity either of us were willing to miss.

It's a sad story the one of Mike the Headless Chicken; therefore, I will not share it but if you want to know there just so happens to be a podcast that I listened to and couldn't pass up the statue afterwards. Too bad I'm not here at the right time for the festival. There's always next road trip!

https://omny.fm/shows/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/mike-the-headless-chicken

Meet Mike the Headless Chicken - I met a local that confirmed the story, said it was legit b/c his parents used to talk about it all the time. haha

This guy wasn't far from Mike the Headless Chicken and I don't have a backstory but I wanted to capture him for all of eternity. I need to do some more research on this town.

Made it to Utah!

Just going to hang my feet over this ledge and eat some lunch!

There are so many easy view sites to pull off the the interstate and enjoy. Beast Mode and I ate lunch overlooking some pretty scenery!

Another roadtrippers app find. Why not paint gigantic fuel tanks as if they are soda cans? I'm feeling like they are basically the same thing so maybe it makes more sense than I initially thought. You can see Beast Mode didn't care about the sign saying keep off. She's a rebel!

There's no real significance or story here...I just needed to document that I had to pee so badly I used this! Also, if I die in the next couple of weeks from a strange disease it's b/c I did not get a tetanus shot after this.

Got in another workout once I made it to the hotel, proof of sweat and the 40-something road trip involves enjoying a nice view while icing down your knees after a treadmill run. I also did laundry in my puppy pajamas because that's clearly important.

For my contrasting of 20s vs. 40s road trips: I must publicly apologize to this lady below, Myka! Gazzo and I made SO much fun of her when she was stressed about us driving on a mountain back in '08 when we went from Jersey to BR. She kept saying "are we on a mountain?" in a slightly panicked voice so naturally we laugh at her and then mimic her concerns. I was SO wrong and cruel. Please forgive me.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS TERRIFYING on a 40-something road trip? Driving through the mountains! Colorado and the Rocky Mountains were so gorgeous but I am not equipped. I was driving so slow and felt like Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber when he's riding that motorcycle and holding up traffic looking ridiculous. I didn't trust the "suggested" speed limits. I was certain they would launch me off of the side of the mountain and plummet me to my death. The signs didn't help:

• If your breaks fall out - keep left (excuse me?)

• Runaway Truck Ramp (uhm, no that can't be a thing)

• Falling Rocks (where?)

• Animals I've never even seen before each get their own signs clearly showing they will jump on you at any moment in time and they are always right (my heart can't take it)

But back in the 20-somethings...all I'd. laugh at my BFF and fold myself up in the backseat without a care in the world!

2008 road trip to move Gazzo from Jersey to BR...all I was worried about was a photo op. Glad I outgrew the constant duck face in pictures!

To leave on a positive note, one thing that hasn't changed is that Ridin' Solo by Jason Derulo is still fun to blast and sing at the top of your lungs so matter what age.

The 4:45 wake up is starting to kick in and I'm nodding off as I finish this up. I hope everyone is having a great spring break and holiday weekend so far!

Almost done with Brene Brown's Braving the Wilderness and hope to knock it out tomorrow before getting to Vegas. There may be a special cameo from an unexpected guest in the next couple of days. One of my favorite people...