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Tuesday
Driving through LA would have been simple except for the odd detour that took us off I-12 and just left us to 'fend for ourselves. We finally made it back to civilization (I-10 West) and trekked into Texas, BIG TEXAS.Our destination in BIG TEXAS was Austin, to visit my friend Zoe. Before arriving in Austin we stopped at a Czech bakery/ convinence store (per Zoe's suggestion) to pick up some treats. We got ourselves some eats and something nummy for Zoe. We arrived at her place, waited around for a bit, played with the dog, made some phone calls at the convience store around the block, came back waited and decided to to continue our journey. 
We figured we would try to get a few hours away from Austin so that the next day's journey through BIG TEXAS would not be so tedious. We went and decided to camp a KOA site in Junction, TX. It was a decent campsite,hot, but decent. It was near a river, there were showers (which I took advantage of), a pool, and such. A good first night to camp, because it cooled off finally.
Wednesday
We left Junction, Big TEXAS to go to Arizona. Big Texas took a while to get through, but we made it and arrived in New Mexico. We stopped at a rest stop (just outside of El Paso, TX) and we discovered what desert heat is ALL about. We continued through New Mexico after our lunch. This is when I realized how different the regions of the country can be.
We finally hit Arizona, got a little lost in Tuscan, but righted ourselves and continued on. When we arrive at our first Arizona destination, Catalina State Park, we discovered that the temperature that day had been 115 F, but the view was incredible. Mt. Lemmon was loomimg over are campsite which I feel made everything tolerable. As we were setting up the tent a big lizard fell out of the tree with a big "plop". Let me just tell you, that totally discouraged me from sleeping in the tent that night. The Arizona heat discouraged both Sean and I from sleeping in the tent, but that lizard just grossed me out TOO much. I slept in the car that night and Sean slept on the picinic table. During the night the coyotes started a little chrous for about 2 minutes. That was incredible, cool, and a little scary (not too much or I would have driven the car away). Sean slept through it, so I don't have much back up on the coyotes' singing during the night, but it DID HAPPEN!
Thursday
Moring came and it was a BIG temperature change from when we arrived, it was rather chilly. Before it could get a chance to really heat up we took a short hike in the mountains. It was nice. There were other hikers and of course the ferret attracted some attention. After the hike I shaved, took a shower, etc, but I'm not really sure what Sean did during that time. However, one of the big dilemas of the morning was "what to do with Charlie?". You see we were going to 
Biosphere 2 that day (Oh yes, I said Biosphere 2) and they do not allow pets. So we found a kennel not too far from where we were camping and that was that. OFF to BIOSPHERE 2!!! This place is absolutely AWESOME. I've read a lot about this place and to actually see it with my own eyes and touch it and be inside was just wonderful. I strongly suggested going to the website and learning a little about it. After being spending about 4 or 5 hours at the 
Biosphere Center, we ate at subway, picked up the ferret and we were off to our 2nd campsite in Arizona (hot ass Arizona), the Ponderosa.
Before we reached Ponderosa we took an incredible scenic route. OH MY! The mountains, the valleys, the cliffs, EVERYTHING was beyond beleif. If you haven't seen than you just don't know. WOW! UNBEILEVABLE!Even more unbelievable was the road we were on. It was curvy and too close to the cliff for my taste. It was insane. After surviving one of the most trechous car rides of my life (and I thank Sean for getting me through it alive) we were followed by a state trooper for several miles, but we needed gas and got ride of him. So we drove and arrived at the Ponderosa campsite. Nice site much much cooler than the night before. It was a good night's sleep, but we only stayed there for one night. This was our fisrt day of activities and actually seeing things, it was nice. What a way to spend you rfirst full day in Arizona.
Friday
We packed up and headed (orginally) for Dead Horse Natural Forest, but decided on a campsite in the Mingus Mountains. Also, we were able to find this campsite, who knows where that Dead Horse place is.Anyway, We set up our tent and etc and just chilled out for the rest of the day. We hang around the campground, finding a little of what was there and not there, ate, napped, found a cool cliff to look over and see the towns below, it was relaxing. Later, we went into the town of Prescott, came back and relaxed a little more.
Saturday
Today was a pretty cool day of activity! After eating breakfast (and not traveling to a new campsite) we went on a hike. A two and a half hour hike. I liked it. At one point we could see both sides of the ridge. The area has so much vastness and beauty, it's breathtaking. (Of course, being 7,500 feet can also take your breath away if you're from a place like Florida.) It can be a little frieghtening, but tolerable. At one point Sean and I were having a conversation about bears and other creatures that could potentially harm or kill you and a deer jump up and started running through the brush. Let's just say that timing can sometimes be scary. We survive that scare and the hike tired us out. We were also a bit HUNGRY! After eating lunch it was nap time, OH YEAH! The park ranger came by and told us about the trails and other neat things in the area.One of them being the fireworks we would be able to see tomorrow night,(the fourth of July) and what were some good view points. Another interesting thing he told us about were the hangliders that would be jumping from a cliff just up the road, trail, or whatever he said. We both thought that was cool.
After we rested a bit more we went into Sedona. Not only to see Sedona, but also to get some much needed water (our campsite did not have a water source) and some more food. We found a grocery store (a Safeway), got some fruit, bread, water and other stuff. After the grocery trip we wanted some Chinese food. It was a little place in Cottondale, the Ming House. It was alright and it was good not to cook and there was also an unlimited amount. Yes, that's right we got the buffet! We came back, got ready for the night. It seems I talked a lot about working Outdoot Education at Storer Camps to Sean this night I don't know why, but I did. Anyway, we played cards, made a fire, had some hotdogs (made from Tofu, not too bad) and Sean went to sleep shortly after. I stayed up looking at the stars, listening to the people around us, watching their fires,and listening to their laughter. After absorbing all this distant human interaction, I went to sleep.
Sunday
Same place, No traveling. This could qualify as an interesting day. we ate breakfast and kinda lounged around and it was then that we saw "them". You know "them", the hangliders. They were driving in with there equipment on top of their trucks. Sean seemed to be super eager to run up the path to watch them jump. 
I was extremely interested, but I wanted to wait until the jumpers were ready, so that I didn't have to wait. I waited about 45 minutes, Sean waited about 10 (maybe 15) before I went up. When I got up there I still had to wait. 
During that time we met Emily and Todd.Emily was really nice and really talkactive (which was cool, because so am I). Todd was nice also, but he was focused on weather or not he was going to glide that day. So as Emily and I talk and talk and talk and talk we found out that we were all going to the Grand Canyon on the same days and staying in the same campsite. (Strange and yet so cool)Anyway as time went on the gliders started to go. The first glider was a woman (the only woman). She jumped and it was truly remarkable. It was great seeing a human jump off a cliff and NOT die. She just floated for a second, switched direction and flew away. WOW! 
Soon another person jumped, an older gentleman named Brad, I think and he just glided downward. This sort of discourage the other gliders. He didn't fall and die, he just caught a bad down wind. Another guy did go and he went up and up and up and soon he was gliding high above our heads and above the trees. It was a site to see. I was getting hungry so I went back to our campsite. Sean stayed a little longer to watch more gliders, including Todd. I ate read, and soon Sean came back down. This was truly a highlight of the day.
The rest of the day was pretty much resting and doing whatever and waiting for the firework should we would be able to see form the mountain side. we went up and and other people soon were all around us. The fireworks show was ok, but it was interesting watching a firework show from 2 different towns at the same time from above. They weren't very big either. There was, however, entertainment from the people around us. Specifically from the Mexican family that was sitting near us. We couldn't see them, but we could Definitely hear them. They were absolutely hilarious. due to the small fireworks display I think the phrase of the night from this family was "I think they gave special glasses to the white people and they're seeing a war down there." If you didn't find that funny. guess you had to be there. We were and it was. entertaining day and night. Afterwards we just hang out a little and then bedded down for the night. Sometime during the night some strange people were in our campsite. I don't know why. Their dog woke Sean up and at that point I kinda asked them what they were doing and to keep the noise down. Freaky, but problem solved.
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