We’ve been tent camping for almost three months now. Some days are better than others … for Alexis’s hair.

Those glasses make her look so smart, almost like hermione granger.

After Texas, we headed to New Orleans, or NOLA, as the cool people say.

We were immediately swept up in the charm of this city and its amazing people. Everyone is doing cool projects in New Orleans, like Dear New Orleans – a project started by Robert Fogarty where people write love notes to New Orleans on their hands.

Robert was kind enough to give us an awesome interview and a couch to sleep on as well. The people aren’t the only great thing about New Orleans…there is also the food.

Don’t let my crappy camera phone deceive you, what you are seeing here is one of NOLA’s famous juicy burgers covered in cheese, bacon, LTM, and onion rings. This burger was dangerous. Even caused Alexis to fall off the vegetarian wagon for a night. (Don’t worry she’s back on now). If the food was good, the beer was better…

We took this at NOLA Brewing Co. after interviewing the founder, Kirk Coco, who insisted that we drink  his blonde and brown ale…at 9am! What’s more, we had a late night the night before this interview that involved some toxic tater tots. Kirk assured us that 90% of business in New Orleans is done over drinks so we shouldn’t feel too bad.

I think my favorite part of New Orleans was going out. We were lucky to have our friend Gary Hersey as a guide and he took us to some great places on Bourbon street. We also made it to Frenchmen street, home of the Spotted Cat, where people swing dance the night away.

The best part of our adventures in New Orleans? Alexis and I met a former Saints Cheerleader who let us rock her superbowl ring!

She took the honor very seriously…

I know when you’re in Texas you’re supposed to do things like see rodeos, wear cowboy hats and eat bar-b-que.  Chip and I managed to do none of these things. 

Instead, we spent our Texan time driving as fast as we could across the entire state (no speedin’ Ma!)

creating fun organizational tools to ensure maximum panic mode whenever in the car

and eating the best falafel OF MY LIFE from Kismet Cafe.

Holy hummus, this SANDWICH WAS EPIC.  Inside that innocent looking pita was hummus, lettuce, tomato, cukes, onions, black olives, falafel and a little bit of sunshine.

Chip got a gyro, and it was also INSANELY good.  Not only were our pitas awesome, they were super cheap too. Like, $5 cheap.  When you are trying to travel on $40 a day $5 lunches are cause to dance, stand up and shout, take your clothes off, etc.  These sandwiches were so good we kept talking about them later that night as we ate pasta we had cooked two days ago and forgot to eat…(insert womp womp noise here)

Speaking of hummus…

AHHH!  We split a side of hummus and pita and it was amazing.  Creamy, smooth, lemony and covered in a splash of olive oil, this hummus made my life complete.  We licked the last of it off the plate when we ran out of pita. 

So, the moral of the story?  If you are in Austin, Texas go to Kismet Cafe.  You will thank me.

So, even though we didn’t eat any bar-b-que (which I am slightly of ashamed of) I did get all Southern about it and tried some saweet tea.  As I drank it I pretended I was on a front porch, in a wicker rocking chair, perhaps in a gingham dress and cowboy boots.

Some things we passed on our Texas drives…

Statesmanship!

Houston!

Murals!

Oh, and did I mention Chip spent most of his time in the passenger seat pretending to eat these and/or throwing them at the windshield and then catching them when they bounced back?

We have a video of this somewhere…

We got caught up doing interviews in California and I slacked on blogging.  Sorry!  Anyways, these pictures are too good not to post.  When we were in Oakland Chip’s friend Will took us to The Landfill, a piece of land where people camp, ride bikes around and do other punk rock activities like spraypaint trees.  There used to be huge raves there in the 90s, but now it seems to be a prime spot to walk your dog.

The dogs were everywhere I tell you!

There was a library at The Landfill, constructed out of wood scraps, and filled with books for the taking.

And now, for the inner anarchist in all of us,

Yeah.  Ponder the meaning of life for a while.

Yesterday we left freezing Flagstaff and headed to the Grand Canyon at 5:30 a.m.!

The Grand Canyon was totally worth the two hour drive from Flagstaff and the frozen fingers we got from packing up the tent in 30 degree weather.

Over 250 people a year are rescued from the depths of the Grand Canyon every year.  Scary!

We walked along the Rim Trail, the “leisure” path.  It was paved and flat.  I think we needed it after roughing it in Artic conditions the night before.

It’s pretty amazing a river created this massive canyon.

On a side note, don’t you think Chip needs a haircut?

Yosemite has a grove of giant sequoia trees, one of the only places in the world to have such a grove. 

Giant sequoias are the oldest living things on the planet and the world’s largest trees.

We had fun trying to hug them and climb inside them.  We did not have so much fun walking back up the trail to the car after we saw the trees (all uphill!  at 8 am!  after hiking 8 miles the day before!)

Carving your signature and year into a national treasure? Naughty, naughty.  This was on the dead sequoia.

Fallen sequoia tree.  Isn’t it crazy how big the roots are?

Despite scuttling noises, Chip headed into a giant sequoia.  Luckily, he came out alive.