A Journey Into the Heart of America

"Fallingwater," Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece built in 1936 is a must see when you're near Pittsburg, PA. Checkout their web-site. Requires reservation, so call ahead. I saw it when I was your age and it blew me away. Contemporary house with extreme cantilevered porches hanging out over a natural stream with an entry stairway from the water's edge through the center of the house. This house is so "American" and so unbelieveable; especially considering it was built some 70 years ago.

Hey, Guys: Mike and I have been swapping notes over on my blog. I'm the loony cyclist who's also taking off in August.

You should spend a little time in back country Nevada. That place is big, bad and wild. Eureka is a tough mining town worth checking out. Also, take your day packs and do some hiking--bring some overnight gear if you're up to it and hike to the top of Mt. Moriah in eastern Nevada near the Utah border. You can check out this neat town at the base of Great Basin National Park--Baker--and hike to the top of Wheeler Peak, but just to the north is a rarely visited and very wild canyon that leads up to a wondrous peak. John Hart's book on the Great Basin is a good resource.

A reading list for your road trip--if you haven't hit these already: Travels with Charley by Steinbeck, Blue Highways by Least Heat Moon, On the Road and Dharma Bums by Kerouac, and definitely read Desert Solitaire by Abbey before you get into the Four Corners region.

Have a blast and look out for the tall, skinny dude on the weird bike.

Cheers,

Scott

Eleanor Crawford's dad and I were roommates at LSU; he mentioned your trip and asked if I might have a side trip to recommend. The Badlands of South Dakota - I remember the total silence of the place. Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Statue are not too far. But even more so, old and new practically next to each other: near Sturgis, S.D., where the huge Bikers' Rally is held every summer, there's a monolith called Bear Butte, where in ages past one of the Cheyenne Medicine Men was given what the tribe calls The Four Sacred Arrows, representing the four directions, the hegemony of the Great Spirit. A tribesman named James Medicine Elk was named Keeper of the Sacred Arrows in the 60s; maybe he still is. Elsewise, if you'll allow a bit of advice from one who travelled a lot in an Air Force family: do not stint on food, (water), and rest. You'll enjoy the trip much more. It wouldn't hurt to check with the local tourist people or State Police to see how things are. Probably best of all, keep an open spirit. Often the most fun things happen right in front of you. Best, CR

Hey...
Hope you enjoyed Duvall, great haveing you chop logs! Come back soon... miss you already.

Hey Courtney,

Uncle Moose here.. Megan, Shane and Auntie Lisa send their best.

Great adventure... depending on where you are. if in the midwest, make it to Columbus Ohio for and Ohio St. Football game tailgate.. or any big ten team, like Iowa,, Penn St. etc. you will be blown away how college football is celebrated. Notre Dame is terrible this year, so skip South Bend Indiana.

Also Chicago is a wonderful city...call Uncle Tim if you make it there...
Hope you have good tunes. Be safe, keep notes, Hope you make it to Boston, very cool, like San Francisco, your Irish Roots will show through.. Try to make it to the head of the Charles crew races at Harvard... been there done that, great time.. then hit the Purple Shamrock Pub for a pint.

God Bless,
Uncle Moose