The Great American Road Trip

Another long day of driving! We have put on the miles, and finally, tomorrow, we will visit someplace new. Today, we made it to Moab, Utah. Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are just down the road. Three years ago, this was our destination for a summer trip. Today, just passing through! Couldn’t resist driving through Arches (my personal favorite of the two), and we even got out and walked around (it was 99 degrees)! Both boys mentioned how much they enjoyed the last time we were here. I have to say that the views are absolutely stunning:

So here are some day 2 thoughts:

• The speed limit in Oregon was mostly 65 (thank GOD because it used to be 55). When we got to Idaho, it jumped to 80 mph! Utah has been anywhere in between (65 – 80). One observation that I’ve made is that no matter what the speed limit, people are going to go faster. I think if we made it 100 mph, people would go 110.
• It’s cool seeing all of the different license plates from different states. Hands down, the most boring ones are from California and Texas. Go figure…
• After stopping for gas, I attempted to wash the dead bugs off of my windshield. You would not believe how many bugs committed suicide by flying into my truck. Actually, here is one picture I could share (the others were just too hideous):

• Speaking of bugs, here is something you might not know (or want to know). The FDA has “allowable” limits of “defects” in your food. From the FDA Handbook (yes, there is such a thing): ” Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 110.110 allows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish maximum levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods for human use that present no health hazard. These “Food Defect Action Levels” listed in this booklet are set on this premise–that they pose no inherent hazard to health.“
• One example of this: The FDA’s limit for “defects” or bugs in a bag of frozen broccoli is an average of 60 or more creatures per 100 grams—that translates to 204 pests in your 12-ounce bag of frozen broccoli. Now you know…

Tomorrow we head through Monument Valley. You’ve seen this place in a number of movies. I will leave you with a video clue below. Thank you for visiting and following along on our trip!