We got quite a late start leaving Scottsdale and so we found ourselves arriving in Kanab late at night, and every intersection we passed, we saw cops. This was beyond a normal small town welcoming party, but we thought nothing of it as we were more focused on task of finding a hotel room. Apparently we had caught the culminating night of the Western Legends festival and sign after sign displayed 'no vacancy'.
We first met Haley and Alex outside a Roadside Inn. They were being told no occupancy as I was coming to learn just that. Haley had a face that smiled easily, which was having difficulty breaking through the frustration experienced. Alex's smile, through disposition or delirium was glued on. This was the fifth place they had tried, and it was our fourth.
We saw them again at Best Western and once more at Comfort Inn. As we walked outside I decided it was time to pool our resources "There's a room at Best Western a bit more than we wanted to pay" Apparently the Western Legends showcase was hot stuff out here in rural Arizona. Also, Haley informed us, a sniper had shot and killed a police officer that very night filling the remaining rooms with news crews.
As our room was being processed we got to talking. They were on a cross country road trip from Miami and camping along the way just like us. At this point in our trips we were on the same route. Just like us they were coming up from Scottsdale after hitting Vegas and heading towards Moab and then Denver.
We began comparing notes in the room. Coolers were necessary for manageable food costs (us), and craft supplies were necessary for sanity (them). We both agreed that Scottsdale sort of sucks and Bourbon and boxed wine are the beverage of choice. There were only two of the in a larger car so their packing was a bit more eclectic. We nodded approvingly of their fake moustaches and Nick gasped with delight at the integrity, if impracticality, of hefting a 40lb typewriter across the country. Alex showed us the drummel he had purchased on Route 66 to begin glass engraving, largely using Mountain Goats' lyrics. And somewhere between 'I have weed' and 'god bless you' we knew that there was much more to do with Alex and Haley.
After seeing Boggle and their excitement over the Board Game Book, Nick decided it was a perfect duo to introduce Bananagrams to and we spent the night shouting 'Peel,' drinking bourbon, and laughing at each others puns. It was awesome to meet people completely new after weeks of the company of each other.
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