The Light of Day

A little over an hour east of our home in Gilbert, Arizona, is the copper mining town of Globe. As we entered Globe, I got off the highway and drove through downtown Globe in search of breakfast.

I noticed a cafe, La Luz Del Dia, with lots of cars parked in front of it. We too parked.

La Luz Del Dia is a tiny cafe staffed by friendly people who serve up awesome breakfast burritos for cheap. 

Our waitress and the guy at the next table recommended we check out a local store called The Pickle Barrel Trading Post. First, we wandered around downtown Globe.

After a bit of wandering around Globe, we got back into the car and headed out in search of the Pickle Barrel Trading Post. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was happy to see that the facilities were easily accessible.

The outside of the Pickle Barrel Trading Post is filled with metal art.  If it weren't for the need to haul any giant metal creature purchase around the country over the next couple months, I might have bought something. We'll have to revisit this place after we're back home.

Having failed to find any pickles at the trading post, we resumed our often-slow drive through the mountains.

World's Tallest 3 Story Building

The tallest 3 story building in the world? Did they visit and measure all the others?  

I wonder if there are any 2 story buildings taller than this 3 story building.

We're running away from home

Has Sophia fully bought into Ben's crazy plan?

Rather than take a contiguous week or two off work for a vacation this summer, I am launching an experiment in extreme telecommuting.

I am taking my work as remote telecommuting employee on the road -- transforming work from home into work from wherever.

Sophia and I are running away from home. We're going on a road trip that will likely last the rest of the summer.

We're starting out with the long Independence Day weekend made a little longer with a couple vacation days. After that, we'll explore the country and I'll work from wherever.

In making the journey more important than the destination, we've set some guidelines:

Our Roadtripping Rules

1. No whining
2. Avoid Interstate highways
3. Avoid chain restaurants
4. Stop, see, and do stuff along the way
5. Work as if I weren't traveling, at least 4 days a week (I'm taking vacation one day a week.)
6. Practice just-in-time planning. 
7. Adapt the journey based on what we learn as we go
8. Enjoy life 
9. Don't run out of money before we get back home :)

We'll be sharing our journey at Roadtripping.OutOfOffice.us.

Also posted at http://www.outofoffice.us/2015/07/running-away-from-home.html .

Park on Fremont

Park on Fremont is a delightful little restaurant in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, that we visited at the recommendation of a local. (When in a new place -- even a touristy place -- ask the locals you meet where they eat.) We found unique tasty food in a relaxed and fun environment.

Please don't cry

Try the garbage fries

Look inside

Hofbräuhaus

Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas replicates the building, food, and atmosphere of the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany. They offer a fun taste of Bavaria. We enjoyed a hearty meal of Schnitzel and wurst, and huge beers.  A couple table-mates kept offering to buy me more beer, but I had to call it quits after two. (As is more common in Germany than North America, you may find yourself sharing a table with strangers. They don't need to stay strangers.)

Ben enjoys a giant glass of beer

Red Rocks

Welcome

I'm being watched

Can you see me now, sitting on a toilet?

23 Years

23 years since we said "I do."

Yavapai Point

Broken Arrow Trail

CLOSED

We arrived at the hotel for which we had prepaid reservations to find it closed. No one is in the office. No one is answering phones. Leaves are on the ground. Newspapers are piled up by the door. Disconnect notices from utility companies are on the windows. There is a problem here.

We spent the evening finding new accommodations rather than enjoying Sedona. Plus, the replacement hotel cost about twice as much. :'(

Schnebly Hill