my mother-in-law in Phoenix while construction on our new place was being completed. Going back and forth from WA to AZ you see a whole lot of nothing. This is particularly true on Highway 93 between Phoenix and Kingman, then again from Kingman to Las Vegas. Or I-10 between Phoenix and Blythe, California. Or even north from Sedona to Flagstaff, which has some heavy forest rather than desert. The point is that it is a vast emptiness. I'm not knocking it. The term "splendid desolation" comes to mind. It's beautiful. But man, towns out there are sparse!

But nothing matches northern Nevada for that! After we went to the UVA-Boise St game a couple of years ago we drove back to Phoenix from Idaho down highway 93 and 318 to Las Vegas. It is spectacular! Even more empty with a couple of little towns along the way like Ely that have some interesting history. (Pat Nixon is from there!). Well worth the drive.

We did the Utah and two different California routes, too. Gives you an appreciation for how big this country is.