JASON ATEN | INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING WEDDING & LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER

Salt Lake City

Today we made it to Salt Lake City.  Total Driving today: 642 Miles.  Total time: 10h 07m

This stretch encompasses probably my favorite part of my drive - as well as my least favorite.  I really enjoy the route through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I remember when we arrived here on the way out a year ago - it was like an oasis compared to the desert that is Nevada.

Which leads me to my least favorite part - Nevada.  Beth asked today "I wonder what God was thinking when He made Nevada?"  I had no answer.  From Reno to Salt Lake City - there is literally nothing.  The most interesting part of the whole drive is the "moon."  The Moon is the part when you leave Nevada before you get to the Salt Lake.  It's a real desert, only it looks like you're driving on the moon because it's all white.

Nevada was also very strange today.  It started out a little cloudy.  A couple hours in, it turned to a thick dust filled fog - blowing all over the place, that felt like you were driving through the tank of a Dyson.  Then it started raining.  Then it poured.  The worst part about the rain is that it basically was raining mud.  If you've never experienced that - well, it's gross.

We got into Salt Lake City around 7:30pm local time.  After checking in to the hotel - where we left the cat - we decided to go downtown to check out the Temple Square.  I have to say - it was pretty interesting. Salt Lake City, or at least the area around the Mormon Temple - is kept very well.  Here's a couple shots of our nighttime visit.

This is a shot from the Church of Latter Day Saints Conference Center.  It was cool because there is a waterfall coming down the building, and the way it was lit up at night was awesome.

I really like this because you see the gate and sign with the temple in the background.  To me, the gate is pretty symbolic.  The Mormon church gives no tours of the building and you have to be a member to even enter the building.

We arrived as the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir was finishing rehearsal in the Orchestra Center.  Very cool.

Sacramento

After a very hot, very long day, we shipped out the last of the boxes and packed up the Olds. We decided it was too hot to stay another night at the apartment, so we hit the road. Last night it was 80 degrees at midnight... that's hot.... too hot to sleep when you don't have air!!!!

At last count, I think we FedEx'd 22 packages (or maybe more, I don't even know). All my stuff is on it's way to Michigan. We kept the important stuff close - guitar, cat, computers, cameras. Everything else that fit in a box - went in a box and got a FedEx label.

We plan to make it to Salt Lake City tomorrow which will make for a nice evening there. We should get in around 6pm or so, and I'm looking forward to maybe even doing a little exploring.

I promise pictures tomorrow!

Countdown

t-60hours

I'm 90% packed.  The truth is, there's a lot I'm not even bringing with me.  We don't need two of everything, so a lot of it is being given away.  That definitely makes the move easier! 

The trick is trying to pack everything so that it can be shipped FedEx.  It's cheaper for me than renting a trailer or van. 

I have the route all mapped out, and have some hotel reservations along the way.  We're pretty flexible, and if we make it further, or decide to stop early, we're okay with that!  It's I-80 almost the whole way.  We go through Reno, then Salt Lake city, then to Lincoln and Omaha, through Iowa, then Chicago.

Thursday 8:00am we'll be on the road!

Moving

I'm moving again. This time back where I came from. I've lived in a half dozen places since I went to college, but I keep ending up back in the same place. I suppose that's why it's called home. I'm keeping the same job, just relocating back to Michigan - which is exciting. The position actually became available the same day Beth had put the condo on the market! So instead of selling the condo and moving her out here, I'm coming home!

I've been mostly packing for the past 4 days. I hate packing. I hate living where half of my stuff is packed! I'm getting a lot done, but there's still plenty to do. Beth is flying out on Tuesday and then Thursday we start the drive home.

Once again I'll be pulling a trailer behind my faithful Oldsmobile! I'll post updates and pictures for those of you who happen to be interested!

756*

Barry Bonds just set the All-Time Home run record. Whether it will stand the test of time is certainly to still be determined in the years to come. In this part of the country, Bonds is loved and worshiped. While there have been few sports stars that have been as controversial and despised by most of the sports' fans - he is loved at home.

I will just say this. It was still a historic moment. Whether or not he cheated makes a difference as to how this record is viewed in the future - but the truth is, watching it was still watching a pretty incredible moment.

The game basically has been stopped for 10 minutes now. I suppose nothing else really matters.

Hank Aaron recorded a video congrats for Bonds. I have to say - very classy. "I'll move over now, and wish my best to Barry and his family." Aaron was a class act. Will history say the same about Bonds? Not very likely. Either way though - he now holds the record for career home runs. 756*