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October 17, 2010

No. 1: One thing I've learned while being in Texas, Texans LOVE their state. I say, bring it on, Texas...your Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans too! Wichita Falls, Texas 10.17.10

No. 2: Here at the Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar with over a dozen Steeler jerseys in Wichita Falls to watch the Steelers take down the Browns! Go Ben! Wichita Falls, Texas 10.17.10

October 16, 2010

No. 1: Everything's bigger in Texas, even "Big Tex", mascot of The State Fair of Texas. This State Fair is home of fried butter (eew!), fried margaritas (huh?), fried smores (yum!). State Fair of Texas, Dallas 10.16.10

No. 2: Steelers 3 and 1; Cowboys 1 and 3...enough said. (Nana-nana-na-na!) Chevy Truck Expo area, State Fair of Texas, Dallas 10.16.10

No. 3: Okay, I know this isn't the best photo, but walking back to my car in the parking lot, I found the smartest Texan at the State Fair! Notice Steeler antenna flag, Steeler sticker on back window, and Texas plate. Booyah! The State Fair of Texas, Dallas 10.16.10

October 15, 2010

No. 1: Welcome to New Mexico, Terrible Towel! No threat here in the Land of Enchantment. 10.15.10

No. 2: Getting our kicks on Route 66! Los Lunas, NM 10.15.10

No. 3: How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways: blistering heat, stinky stock yards, pompous politicians, miles and miles of flat nothingness...and, oh yeah, the Cowboys and the Texans. Go Steelers! Farwell, Texas 10.15.10

No. 4: Okay, get this, only in Texas would they name a town "Earth". Driving into town we saw: "Welcome to Earth", the "Earth News", and, yes, the "Earth Police". Actually, this seems more like a California thing to do. Earth, Texas 10.15.10

No. 5: Everything's bigger in Texas, even bug splatters! Good thing we missed grasshopper season. Paducah, Texas 10.15.10

No. 6: Omg, look what's in my rearview mirror! It's a Texas Ranger (and I ain't talking baseball) with his lights on. Whew, only a warning. Doin' 75 in a 70mph...these Rangers are damn strict. Do as the big guy says! Cottle County, Texas 10.15.10

October 13, 2010

No. 1: Delicious shakes at "Mr. D's Route 66 Diner" along Historic Route 66. Kingman, Arizona

No. 2: Traveling Historic Route 66 between Kingman and Ash Fork, Arizona. Iconic Burma Shave safety messages (each on a separate sign) dot the highway: "Passing cars" "When you can't see" "Will give you a glimpse" "Of eternity" "Burma-Shave" Seligman, Arizona

October 12, 2010

No. 1: Sitting in this little oasis on "Hill 582", a railfan's paradise for watching Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains that climb and descend this steep canyon. 100 or so trains per day. Woowoo! Cajon Pass, California 10.12.10

October 7, 2010

No. 1: The third morning camping at Van Damme State Park, we found a "California Sister" butterfly by our picnic table. On the coast south of Mendocino, California 10.7.10

No. 2: Early morning paddling on the Little River Bay, as it empties into the Pacific, at Van Damme State Park. Calm surf allowed us to make our first ocean kayak trip! Van Damme State Park, California. 10.07.10

No. 3: Second kayak trip of the day - low tide at Bodega Bay. Paddled with harbor seals in the channel, saw white pelicans and lots of other sea birds. Booyah! Bodega Bay, California 10.07.10

October 6, 2010

No. 1: Gearing up to kayak the Navarro River. Woohoo! Navarro State Park, California 10.6.10

No. 2: Enjoying some Sierra Nevada on our paddling trip on the Navarro River. Sorry Iron City! South of Mendocino, California10.6.10

No. 3: Natural arch in the rock formation at the beach of Navarro State Park. Low tide and beautiful! South of Mendocino, California 10.6.10

No. 4: Camping out at Van Damme State Park, named for Charles, not Jean Claude. On the coast near Mendocino, California. 10.6.10

October 2, 2010

No. 1: Say hey to San Francisco and goodbye to the 49ers! 10.2.10

No. 2: Alcatraz island seen from a San Francisco pier. Lock those Ravens up tomorrow and throw away the key! San Francisco, California 10.2.10

No. 3: Watching the fog rolling over the Golden Gate Bridge. Fog, the signature weather status of San Francisco. 10.2.10

October 1, 2010

No. 1: All I see around me is a sea of tie dye, dread locks, Bob Marley posters, and Grateful Dead t-shirts...and it smells sort of funny here :) San Francisco, California 10.2.10

September 30, 2010

No. 1: Omg! Coolest thing ever, hanging out at Pixar Studios, maker of the best animated feature films in the world. Think Up, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, etc. Oooo, it brings out the kid in me! Emeryville, California 9.30.10

No.2: I've never seen a real live Oscar before! Pixar's 5 Oscar's (one is out of view in this photo)...sort of like the Steelers before the 2009 Super Bowl. Star quality, baby! Pixar Studios, Emeryville, California 9.30.10

No. 3: Took a tour of the USS Hornet, an Essex class aircraft carrier that served in signifant battles in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Apollo space missions. Extending immense gratitute to all men and women who have and are serving in our armed forces. Thank you! Alameda, California 9.30.10

September 29, 2010

No.1: So this is quite bizarre. Dr. Kenneth Fox, an Auburn, CA dentist, is also a cement sculptor of some note. These gargantuan statues, positioned outside his office, seem to be an homage to the Maidu Indians who inhabited this region. Woohoo, talk about big mamas! Auburn, California 9.29.10

September 28, 2010

No. 1: A California original, In-N-Out burgers are stellar! Only 5 items on the menu, and everything is fresh and prepared daily. Quality ingredients and excellent service - tops in their field, just like our Steelers! Auburn, California. 9.28.10

No. 2: Met two super Steeler fans at the Auburn, California In-N-Out. Say hey to Sean-N-Nicole from Nevada City, CA! A Californian, Sean has a Steelers license frame and 3 Steelers ballcaps on his dash. Nana-nana-na-na Raiders and 49ers! 9.29.10

September 24, 2010

 No. 1: Awestruck by Lassen Peak, the southern terminus of the active volcanic Cascade range. Lassen National Park, California. 9.24.10

No. 2: This is what the Stillers will do to the Buccaneers on Sunday...bumpass! Heading out on the Bumpass Hell trail. Google "Kendall Bumpass" for some sobering history about Lassen. Lassen National Park, California. 9.24.10

No.3: Three miles into the hike and reached "Bumpass Hell", part of one of the largest hydrothermal regions in the world. Lassen National Park, California. 9.24.10

No. 4: The view from Donner Pass looking over Donner Lake; named after the ill-fated Donner Party, nearly half of whom survived the winter of 1846 on their journey west from Illinois. Donner Lake, California. 9.24.10

September 23, 2010

No. 1: Looking out over the Pacific Ocean at Trinidad State Beach, Trinidad, California. Seals are barking all along the rocky shore...I think I hear them calling out "Go Stillers!" 9.23.10

September 22, 2010

No. 1: Among the giants here at Redwood National Park. Like our Steelers who hold fast and true. Redwood National Park near Crescent City, California. 9.22.10

No. 2: Smith, Kiesel, Hampton, Hoke...defensive giants just like the redwoods here on Walker Road, Redwood National Park, California. 9.22.10

No. 3: Pouncy, Essex, Adams, Kemoeatu, Starks... our collossal offensive giants. Stout Grove, Redwood National Park, California. 9.22.10

September 21, 2010

No. 1: Looking at the center of what remains of volcano Mount Mazama, Crater Lake. At almost 2,000 deep, it's the deepest lake in the U.S. and one of the deepest in the world. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. 9.21.10

No. 2: California watch out, here comes the Terrible Towel! 49ers, Raiders, and Chargers don't stand a chance against the Steel Curtain. 9.21.10

September 20, 2010

No. 1: Homage to Hall of Famer, Dick LeBeau. He supplies the Steelers Blitz on tap! Camp Sherman General Store, Camp Sherman, Oregon just outside Sisters, Oregon. 9.20.10

September 19, 2010

No. 1: Here we are in Bend, Oregon getting ready to watch the Steelers vs Titans. What's with watching football at 10AM? The iconic sports bar in Bend, Sidelines Bar, opens at 8am! Woohoo! Mimosas anyone? 9.19.10

No. 2: My first Eggs Benedict, at the Sideline Sports Bar in Bend, Oregon. Yummm! Nothing like watching football over breakfast! 9.19.10

No. 3: The last time I checked, Marion Barry was the disgraced former mayor of Washington, DC. Marionberry jelly, who knew? Only in Oregon. 9.19.10

No. 4: Half time and we're ahead of the Titans! Hangin out with the Steelers Nation here at the Sidelines Sports Bar in Bend, Oregon. Local brew on tap: Duschutes pale ale. Go Stillers!! 9.19.10

No. 5: Say hey to sisters Kristy & Kelly, proprietors of Racsacks.com (maker of recycled bags from Vietnam). They're at Bend's October Street Festival. Kelly & Kristy are traveling to Pennsylvania this week to visit their Mom. Who recently moved from Shiremanstown, PA to Boiling Springs, PA. Holy Cow, it's a small world! Bend, Oregon. 9.19.10