Response Questions

1. How did you experience the book? It's not always helpful to talk about whether or not you liked the book, but rather how you felt as you were reading it? Were you pulled effortlessly into the book...or did you have difficulty getting into it? Why? Overall, I enjoyed the book. Part of the time, though, Steinbeck would start thinking back in the past and I thought it slowed the process of his adventure as I was reading it. I also enjoyed Charley as his traveling buddy. It added a humorous side to the story. 

2. Were you happy about your book choice? Why or why not? Yes, because I liked Steinbeck's way of writing in the past and i thought this book would be a good choice.

3. Which place discussed in the book did you find the most intriguing? Why do you think that was the case? I think that the most intriguing place that my character went to was in Oregon and camping out in the redwood trees. I think this because I have never seen trees so big.

4. What central ideas might the author be exploring-the novel's themes? Consider ideas about the nature of love, the requirements of goodness, the meaning of justice, the burden of the past...basic human issues that are at stake in the book.The author wanted to experience the real America. He wanted to experience the various cultures of the different parts of America. He also wanted to know how different people thought and how they really lived.

5. What do you feel you learned from this project? Please consider the book, the technology involved with producing the project, or any other aspect regarding the project. I have learned how to set up a blog and embed videos, audio, and pictures into the blog using Quicktime pro software.

6. What was the most enjoyable part of the project? Please explain why you felt this way.I really enjoyed looking up videos and songs. It's amazing what is on the internet.

7. What was the most difficult part of the project? Please explain why you felt this way.The most difficult part of this project was time management. It took a lot longer than i expected.

Works Cited

Badlands National Park. Photograph. Www.members.virtualtourist.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/575c2/d405d/>.

 Brook Trout. Photograph. Www.fish.dnr.cornell.edu. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://fish.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Salmonidae/brook_trout.html>.

Carmel Beach. Photograph. Www.wildnatureimages.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Carmel%20Beach%204.htm>.

Columbia River Gorge. Photograph. Www.gonehiking.org. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.gonehiking.org/Photographs/tn/Columbia_River_Gorge,_Oregon.jpg.html>.

Contdivides. Photograph. Www.nationalatlas.gov. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/geology/a_continentaldiv.html>.

Deer Isle Bridge, Maine. Www.youtube.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PQ-FQ5U2OU>.

Deer Isle Bridge. Photograph. Www.google.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0000558>.

Fir Tree with Snow. Photograph. Www.treknature.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.treknature.com/gallery/North_America/United_States/photo8803.htm>.

Fishing Rod. Photograph. Www.pulanxin.en.made-in-china.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://pulanxin.en.made-in-china.com/product/KMSErtxbOAUX/China-Fishing-Rod-06AF001-.html>.

Freemont's Peak. Photograph. Www.thehalfmoonlodge.com/. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.thehalfmoonlodge.com/>.

Golden Sky at Sunset. Photograph. Www.musicaltales.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://musicaltales.com/fantasycommunity/photographerphotogallery/2010/01/11/golden-sky-sunset/>.

Heat Puddles. Photograph. Www.flickr.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/27124496@N08/2917182389>.

Illinios. Photograph. Www.averittexpress.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.averittexpress.com/aboutus/facilities/illinois.htm>.

Jagendorf, Bob. Old Diner and Staff. Photograph. Www.google.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://bad---blood.xanga.com/713447924/item/>.

Johnny Cash. "I've Been Everywhere." Ring of Fire: The Legend of Johnny Cash. Mercury. Www.youtube.com. 6 Jan. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw>.

"Lafayette Lake Charles Monroe." Map. Www.google.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://louisiana.modularhomes.info/>.

"Maine Travel Guide." Map. Wwp.greenwichmeantime.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/maine/>.

Maine-counties-map. Photograph. Www.teachingwithcontests.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://teachingwithcontests.com/?p=1293>.

Michigan. Photograph. Www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/state/?state=Michigan>.

Missouri River. Photograph. Bismark. Www.google.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <www.google.com>.

"Montana." Map. Wwp.greenwichmeantime.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/montana/>.

Niagara Falls 2. Www.youtube.com. 8 June 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK56kAws5zU&feature=related>.

"Niagara Falls." Map. Www.world-guides.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.world-guides.com/images/niagara_falls/niagara_falls.jpg>.

Night Sky. Photograph. Www.startswithabang.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://startswithabang.com/?p=1057>.

Ohio. Photograph. Www.50states.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.50states.com/maps/ohio.htm>.

Old Fashion Hardware Store. Photograph. Www.handymanhowto.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.handymanhowto.com/2009/06/14/how-to-fix-a-leaky-shower-drain-part-3/>.

Original+Main+Street. Photograph. Www.soundofblackbirds.blogspot.com/. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://soundofblackbirds.blogspot.com/>.

Potato Farm. Photograph. Www.wrensnestonline.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <www.wrensnestonline.com>.

Redwood Trees. Photograph. Www.flickr.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/28425194@N00/980135858>.

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Rope. Photograph. Www.google.com. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/survival-accessories/survival-accessories/15m-of-quality-green-muti-purpose-364194.html>.

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Sunset Over Lake Ontario. Photograph. Www.thundafunda.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://thundafunda.com/2/traveling-pictures-tourism/tourism-nature-pictures214.php>.

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So Close Yet So Far Away

I went through Virginia, which is where I really quit paying much attention to the scenery. I jumped over into West Virginia, then Pennsylvania, finally getting onto the New Jersey Turnpike. This was feeding me into New York, but there was a problem. A policeman stopped me and told me I could not go through the Holland Tunnel with the butane on my truck.

The policeman suggested I take either the George Washington Bridge or the Hoboken ferry. I fought the traffic of cars and people during the rush hour. I made wrong turns and finally pulled over laughing. I was so close to home, but I was lost! A policeman had to help me find my way home. It was a crazy journey with a crazy ending.

On the Way Home

I finally crossed into Louisiana. We drove through Lake Charles, La Fayette, and Morgan City. I drove all night, went through Houma, and continued on to New Orleans. I rested here for a while, thinking about the racial tensions going on. I stopped to see The Cheerleaders, a rally protesting the blacks going to schools with whites. That really upset me. 

I had to move on. I was anxious to get home. I stopped at a motel one night and then headed for Jackson, Mississippi and Montgomery, Alabama. Christmas is will be here soon.

The rest of my trip is a blur and I was getting tired of this. I drove as much as I could to get home, not noticing much of anything else along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving from Texas

I feel so much better now…I was able to take a bath. I was given a tour of the place. There was a barn kennels with pointer dogs for hunting, and a corral with quarter horses. There were dams that helped hold water for small ponds and the trout were splashing around. At one of the ponds were a herd of cattle. After dark I was lucky enough to see wild turkeys come in to roost around the trees.

I woke up early this morning. I saw a couple of trout rods with flies already on them so I walked down to one of the ponds and casted it onto the water. On the first cast I caught a fish.  Three more casts later I had caught had caught three more trout.  I took them back to the house where the cook battered and fried them for me. 

That afternoon we went quail hunting. Our host knew where to go and with the pointers with us we thought we would be successful. But no luck at all because the birds were gone. We ate Thanksgiving dinner that afternoon.  I made plans to pick up Charley from the vet and to continue on the rest of my journey.

As luck would have it an ice storm hit us. Roads were slippery and dangerous, especially in this truck. Texas is a big state. I thought we would never get out, going through Sweetwater and then Austin. We skipped Houston and went on through Beaumont. The weather was cold here, too! I drove as much as I could, sleeping very little. 

Everything is Bigger in Texas

I continued my journey through the Southwest, getting a little anxious to get back home. The nights were amazing. Stars lit up the skies and looked like they were close enough to touch them.

Charley and I continued on our journey and crossed the deserts of Arizona and into New Mexico.  Tonight I stopped and camped out on the Continental Divide and I decided this is better than the “north” version of it.  It was very dark outside. The stars were very bright and the air was very cold and dry.

I am tired and am getting anxious to get home.  I guess Texas will be the next big stop. It is like its own nation. It is the only state that joined the Union by a treaty. Each part of Texas has its own unique character; various climates, color, countryside and cityscapes. For example, the Rio Grande Valley has citrus orchards. The Gulf Coast is hot and humid, The Panhandle can be very cold and is flat land, and the Davis Mountains in west Texas have small hills and streams. Many cattle are raised in South Texas.

Here’s another slow-down to my trip. I had to spend a few days in Amarillo after a passing car threw up some rocks and broke out my windshield.  Charley wasn't doing to well again, so I took the time to find a vet. He wanted to keep Charley a few days treat him. It is almost Thanksgiving now and friends invited me to dinner on their ranch.

California Livin'

We drove into northern California today. I have lived here before, and this brings back memories. The roads have changed: from narrow mountain roads to four lane highways.

Mobil home villages are everywhere now. The hillsides were cut to make room for developments. We drove into San Francisco. I saw it across the bay. The sun shined on it and it reflected white and gold.

I drove on to Monterrey. I still have family there. Monterrey is a peninsula about 100 miles south of San Francisco. It has clean beaches, restaurants, and shopping. I also walked through Carmel and noticed that is mostly a place for wealthy retired people.

 Before leaving the area I drove to Fremont’s Peak, the highest peak around there. This is where General Fremont won a battle against a Mexican army. This peak overlooks Salinas Valley, which has several oak trees, streams, and fragrant flowers in the spring.

I left Salinas and drove through Fresno and Bakersfield.  Then I went over the pass and into the Mojave Desert. Even at this time of year it is very hot. Charley and I could see the false visions of water puddles on the pavement created by the heat. Charley was always thirsty.