April 8, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 8) By Simon J. Lau Experiencing a total eclipse today was incredible. Initially discouraged by intense cloud cover, I decided to stay in San Antonio through totality just to experience the total darkness. Instead of watching the eclipse from the my hotel’s parking lot, as I had planned yesterday, I opted to drive to a restaurant with a dog-friendly patio. Surprisingly, they offered me eclipse glasses without me even asking. I had […]

April 7, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 7) By Simon J. Lau This morning, I visited the Alamo. It’s an iconic symbol of Texas independence. This historic mission-turned-fortress was the site of the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836, during the Texas Revolution. Despite being vastly outnumbered, a small group of Texan defenders held off Mexican forces for 13 days before ultimately being defeated. The bravery displayed at the Alamo became a rallying cry for Texas independence […]

April 6, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 6) By Simon J. Lau This morning, we visited Big Bend National Park, situated in southwest Texas along the Mexico border. It’s known for its rugged beauty and vast wilderness. The park features diverse landscapes, from desert terrain to towering mountains, offering breathtaking vistas, winding river canyons, and abundant wildlife. Although we could only spend an hour inside the park due to another long drive ahead, it was enough to leave […]

April 5, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 5) By Simon J. Lau Today, we departed from Bisbee for Terlingua, a town located outside of Big Bend National Park. After speaking with Sterling yesterday, he convinced me to include this destination in our itinerary. The drive was intense, spanning the eastern half of Arizona, crossing through parts of New Mexico, and delving deep into southwest Texas. In total, it took us over 12 hours to reach our campsite, including […]

April 4, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 4) By Simon J. Lau This morning we visited Tombstone, celebrated for its storied past as a notorious frontier town of the Old West. It’s notable for the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881, involving iconic figures like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Today, it’s a tourist destination offering reenactments of historic events, opportunities to explore authentic Wild West architecture, and a chance to immerse oneself in the vibrant […]

April 3, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 3) By Simon J. Lau Today, we set off for Bisbee. Founded in the late 19th century as a copper mining camp, it flourished during the mining boom, becoming one of the largest cities between St. Louis and San Francisco. Today, Bisbee is known for its vibrant arts scene and although most, if not all, of the mines have been shuttered, many open-pit mines still remain. Before departing from Yuma, we […]

April 2, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 2) By Simon J. Lau Today, we set out for Yuma, known as the “Sunniest City in the World” with over 90% sunshine annually. It also served as a crucial crossing point on many Old West trails. Upon arriving, I couldn’t help but notice the pride Arizonans have for their state, evident in the numerous “Welcome to Arizona” and Yuma signs along the way.  Before leaving Oxnard, I took Bruno out […]

April 1, 2024 Coast-to-coast: San Francisco to Savannah (Part 1) By Simon J. Lau This morning, we set off on our coast-to-coast journey! My plan is for us to be on the road for most, if not all, of April. During the first half, I’ll primarily follow the Southern Pacific route via US 80, formerly known as the Dixie Overland Highway. This East-West highway system was the first of its kind in the U.S., stretching from San Diego to Savannah. […]