The Travels of WhiteGhost Farstrider

[WhiteGhost]

22 hours ago, sylph said:

*clutches pearls*

[gasp] Oh Lawdy! 

 

22 hours ago, raptron said:

Sounds like America.  

I guess I'm Americaning right then 

 

19 hours ago, deftona said:

On 8/13/2019 at 7:28 AM, WhiteGhost said:

Another slow day yesterday.  Did some shopping, did some reading, did some napping, and that's about it. Ate only fast food and candy... 

You're living my best life.

Yeah,  but I think there was something about this in my challenge somewhere... 

 

Yesterday was a little more eventful.  It was our last day in San Diego,  so we decided to do something touristy.  We go there every year but had never been to Old Town, so we wandered around the shops and stuff there, which was kind of fun.

 

After that we went for a drive over to Coronado and had all the ice cream. 

 

The only things I ate all day was Taco Bell and Baskin Robbins (and a little bit of candy) 

[WhiteGhost]

Yesterday felt like another long day, but Ghostlet said that at least yesterday was only 24 hours long.   The kid has a point. 

 

We got up early and drove up from San Diego to LA to get to Disneyland California Adventure as close to opening time as possible.  We then proceeded to spend the entire day there walking between attractions and waiting in line, interspersed with occasional moments of excitement or mediocre food. Somehow, I was able to convince myself that I enjoyed it, though

We got out of there around 10pm and then hit the road towards the Grand Canyon. We got as far as Barstow, CA before needing to stop for the night. Today we head out along Route 66

 

 

[WhiteGhost]

We were up and on the road early yesterday, reaching the Grand Canyon by 1pm, a good 2-3 hours before I expected. 

 

I learned that the road we took was not actually Route 66,  even though the map I checked before hand said it was.  I-40 is a feeeway that runs parallel to Route 66, often no more than a few hundred meters away.   The sights are basically the same, but for full disclosure were only on the actual historic road for only very short periods of time. If I had to do it again,  I would still do it this way.  The only difference between the two is that I-40 has a much higher speed limit and no traffic lights, whereas Route 66 goes right into every little town (which you can also see from the freeway) 

 

The Grand Canyon itself is literally breathtaking, and I can't think of many other places I have been that can take my breath away. 

We are currently at the South Rim of the canyon and really enjoying it. 10/10woukd recommend!!! 

 

Food was as bad as I expected with nothing but fast food and candy washed down with soda and chocolate milk.  That's just how road trips go

 

 

[sylph]

The Grand Canyon is RIDICULOUS! The word 'Grand' is such an understatement.

[raptron]

It really is. I'm also glad you got a day dappled with clouds because the shadows they throw are so cool.  

 

[Mad Hatter]

Looks fantastic in the photos, though I’m sure it looks 10x more incredible IRL. 

[WhiteGhost]

1 hour ago, sylph said:

The Grand Canyon is RIDICULOUS! The word 'Grand' is such an understatement.

I may or may not have spent almost an hour this morning unsuccessfully trying to think up a clever way to express just how much of an understatement it really is

 

48 minutes ago, raptron said:

It really is. I'm also glad you got a day dappled with clouds because the shadows they throw are so cool.  

 

I hadn't realized it until you mentioned it,  but yeah,  the clouds really did add to the overall esthetics

 

24 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

Looks fantastic in the photos, though I’m sure it looks 10x more incredible IRL. 

I'd say minimum 100x.  The pictures do not serve it justice AT ALL. 

[WhiteGhost]

OH MY GOSH, GUYS!  TODAY WAS INCREDIBLE!!! 

 

In the morning we drove out to the Eastern edge of the park to a place called Lipan Point and the views there were even better than the stuff we saw yesterday. Then top it all off, we took a helicopter tour across to the North Rim and back. 

 

 

After the helicopter tour, we hopped in the car and drove to Page, Arizona to visit Horseshoe Bend. Another spectacular sight! 

 

We finished up the day arriving in St. George, Utah where we will spend the weekend

[@mu]

Wow that last pic in particular is absolutely amazing!

[sylph]

I love the west.

 

If you ever have the opportunity, I HIGHLY recommend Dead Horse State Park in Utah. Very similar feeling to the Grand Canyon, but on smaller, friendlier level. It is spectacular, particularly at sunset.

 

Internet pic for example:

[WhiteGhost]

On 8/17/2019 at 1:14 AM, @mu said:

Wow that last pic in particular is absolutely amazing!

It really was an amazing place

 

On 8/17/2019 at 8:50 AM, sylph said:

I love the west.

 

If you ever have the opportunity, I HIGHLY recommend Dead Horse State Park in Utah. Very similar feeling to the Grand Canyon, but on smaller, friendlier level. It is spectacular, particularly at sunset.

 

Internet pic for example:

I was thinking about Dead Horse Point when we stopped at Horseshoe Bend but I didn't know where it was.  After seeing your post I looked it up and we will make sure to stop by there next time (along with Arches). 

 

Yesterday we slept in and then headed over and picked up my dad and took him for lunch.  We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around various stores but we didn't end up buying anything.  In the evening we went to the theater to watch The Other Side of Heaven.  It was interesting to watch a movie that is so heavy into my own cultural heritage. 

 

Today we went to church in the morning, after which I cooked up some steak for lunch.

This was probably the best steak I have ever made, but that is 100% due to the quality of the meat. Even though I just picked out some random steaks from Walmart, they were way better quality than the expensive premium cuts I can get in Beijing. 

 

After lunch we drove up to the remains of Harrisburg, which was a town that my Great, Great, Great Grandfather was one of the first residents, and then up to Parawan which was another town he helped to establish.  It was really great way to spend a Sunday with my dad, who had done tons of research on the area and made for a wonderful tour guide. 

 

[deftona]

I'm really loving living vicariously through you on your trips! Really interesting about the family history too - please keep the photos coming

[WhiteGhost]

On 8/19/2019 at 1:19 AM, deftona said:

I'm really loving living vicariously through you on your trips! Really interesting about the family history too - please keep the photos coming

So glad you are enjoying it. 

 

We spent yesterday morning at the St. George Temple which was quite lovely.

 

We went to a local burger chain called Iceberg and it was insane.  The onion rings were more than an inch thick and the "mini" size shakes were almost a foot tall. Unfortunately I didn't think to take pictures until were were almost finished. There is another one where we are staying now so we will probably go there again. 

 

After lunch we went back to my dad's house where he was teaching Gostlet and Ghostess golf. They were in the grass in the front yard pitching balls across the street and into the dry riverbed on the far side.  My job was to stand out in the street and watch for any oncoming traffic

 

In the evening we drove up to Salt Lake City, which is the final leg of our trip. 

[Mad Hatter]

Those grand canyon pics! Wow. 

[WhiteGhost]

21 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Those grand canyon pics! Wow. 

I just wish there was some way to capture how truly amazing it was through pictures. 

 

Yesterday was a nice, relaxing day. We hung around the hotel relaxing all morning and then did some shopping in the afternoon. Then we went out for a huge dinner with a couple of my sisters, which was great but I am still full now 15 hours later. 

[Mad Hatter]

30 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

I just wish there was some way to capture how truly amazing it was through pictures. 

I know how it works, so I'll do the extrapolation for you.  

 

Sounds like you come from a big family?

[WhiteGhost]

On 8/21/2019 at 9:48 AM, Mad Hatter said:

Sounds like you come from a big family?

I come from a "big" family in the same way the Grand Canyon is "grand". 

 

  I am #6 of 11 kids

 

Yesterday was a very fun day.  We started off with a trip to a local shooting range. 

 

I bought a rifle 4 years ago and this is the first chance I have had to actually go shoot it. We went with my brother in law who has a very impressive collection of weapons. He picked out 4 that have the smallest kick because it was the first time for Ghostlet to go shooting, and only the second time for Ghostess (the first being the 5 rounds she had to shoot as part of her required military training that all Chinese high school kids have to do)   All together we had two .22 rifles, an AR-15, an AK74, and my Ruger Precision. 

 

After shooting, Ghostlet went to play with his cousins and Ghostess and I did some more shopping. In the evening We had dinner with my sister and her family and one of my older brothers. After dinner we all hung out in the yard chatting while my BIL and I cleaned all of the rifles. 

[sylph]

rifle cleaning = tedious and yet somehow meditative.

[Mad Hatter]

1 hour ago, WhiteGhost said:

  I am #6 of 11 kids

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

4 hours ago, sylph said:

rifle cleaning = tedious and yet somehow meditative.

There is something satisfying about putting a firearm back together.

[ohlemontine]

I am absolutely loving this whole thread, all the travels, the pictures, the history, the learning, the FOOD. 

New follower. 

[KB Girl]

The americanness is definitely layered out thickly in this thread now

Grand canyons, burgers and guns. Oh yeah. 

[Renate]

Haha, oooh my. I wish I was not paranoid about being put on some suspicious governmental list (in Europe) with my Eastern-European heritage if I went to a shooting range and such

 

I guess I will have to make do with paintball/lasergaming Still have not done that either!

 

Enjoooy!

 

[WhiteGhost]

22 hours ago, sylph said:

rifle cleaning = tedious and yet somehow meditative.

Oh,  absolutely. I always hated it when I was in the Army, but now that I can do it on my own terms and at my own pace it is almost like a kind of meditation. 

 

20 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

 

hehe, I get that reaction a lot

 

18 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

There is something satisfying about putting a firearm back together.

True, but I would add that a bore light sparking along the inside of a spotless barrel can be sublime

 

17 hours ago, ohlemontine said:

I am absolutely loving this whole thread, all the travels, the pictures, the history, the learning, the FOOD. 

New follower. 

I'm glad you are enjoying it.  Welcome! 

 

4 hours ago, KB Girl said:

The americanness is definitely layered out thickly in this thread now

Grand canyons, burgers and guns. Oh yeah. 

America!!! 

[insert gif of bald eagle dressed in spangles and shooting machine guns while flying over the Statue of Liberty]

 

43 minutes ago, analoggirl said:

Haha, oooh my. I wish I was not paranoid about being put on some suspicious governmental list (in Europe) with my Eastern-European heritage if I went to a shooting range and such

 

I guess I will have to make do with paintball/lasergaming Still have not done that either!

 

Enjoooy!

 

I hear you, Ghostess was worried about me getting onto something government list in China, so she wouldn't let me put my shooting pics up on my Chinese social media

 

Laser tag and paintball are also very fun, I highly recommended trying them out. 

 

Yesterday started out with a trip to the DLD (driver's license division) to get my driver's license renewed. My license expired in 2014 but when I tried to renew it that year, I got turned away because I didn't have proof of address. the next year (remember, I am only in the US once each year) I came back with my proof of address but got turned away because I needed a birth certificate. The next year I brought my birth certificate only to be told that birth certificates are not needed and never have been.   However, I would need a Social Security card. This year, I had everything I needed, but it has now been too long since it expired and I can no longer renew. I had to apply for a brand lew license, so yesterday I got to take the written test again. Luckily it was open book and they gave me a manual to look at while I took the test. The road test normally has a 2 month backlog but after explaining my situation the folks at the DLD amazing jumped through some hoops to get me a slot before I left. 

 

in the afternoon we went and watched my sister's kid play in a soccer match (U6 rec league!) and then we had dinner at their house. My brother in law made us Silpancho, which is an amazing dish from his native Bolivia. Another sister also came with her family and she made an amazing dessert which was a brownie topped with cheesecake, covered with chocolate gnosh, and then topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. It was incredible but soooooo rich. I don't think I have ever had a more decadent dessert. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[raptron]

1 hour ago, WhiteGhost said:

I had to apply for a brand lew license, so yesterday I got to take the written test again. Luckily it was open book and they gave me a manual to look at while I took the test. The road test normally has a 2 month backlog but after explaining my situation the folks at the DLD amazing jumped through some hoops to get me a slot before I left. 

Dang, that's great. Glad you found some folks willing to help out -- I feel like that's pretty rare.