Road Warriors (Part 1)

Departure

Yep, that's me and my friend Bryon about to hit the road. Our trip started a bit later than anticipated when Bryon had to stop off at the in-laws' house to get his mate ("mah-tay") gear. For the uninitiated, mate is an infusion of the ground-up yerba mate plant (it's a kind of holly) in hot water. It has the look and consistency of soggy marijuana, and has a taste reminiscent of smoky grass. It's an acquired taste that Bryon acquired in Argentina. Not having spent any time in Argentine, it's not a taste I've acquired yet (not for Bryon's lack of trying).

We pulled out around 3:00, pointed the snub nose of the Beetle to the West, and set out for the Rocky Mountains.