Welcome to the first world tour of a vehicle powered only by solar energy!
Solartaxi makes it to Monument Valley04.08.2008
Comments: 4
A long
drive through the desert climate from Las Vegas and we decide to stop in
Monument Valley. Here, the combination of manganese and iron, and eons of
erosion has created this majestic landscape found nowhere else on this planet.
Red rock formations pierce the horizon creating an effect that makes one feel
small in comparison. The sun is plentiful in this region and we trek on through
the heat, across the siltstone, pass the cacti, and through the valley. The
Solartaxi seems to be competing with the surroundings as tourists flock around
with their cameras.
Louis
is more at peace out here in the wilderness. Las Vegas has a funny effect on
people – all that concentrated electricity running every which way. Out here,
there's peace to be found, and the whole team feels a bit different. It's as if
all the energies wasted on producing faux cities has an adverse affect, whereas
open landscape, void of the masses, lets one focus on his or her own energies.
We had a chance to finish
up some filming that we didn't have time to complete during our stay in Vegas.
Erik has been hard at work editing the film from Los Angeles and it should be
posted within a day or so. Thomas seems
to be enjoying driving on this sand-rock terrain, especially when we decided to
take a "short-cut" and ended up on some Indian reservation. We all just held on
tight and sung "on the road again" the whole way through. Frank is quiet, and
I'm sure he's contemplating the effects these roads have on the Solartaxi. As
for myself, as I'm sure for the rest of the team, I'm just lost in the beauty;
overwhelmed with thoughts about nothing and everything. A unique project, a
unique landscape, with a unique group of people … what more can I say?
Tonight we sleep under the stars among the red sand and rock, and hopefully we hear the sounds of coyotes in the distance to lull us to sleep, or at least to mum the sounds of Frank's snoring. When the sun peaks over the rocks, we will hit the road again, continuing our way towards Colorado.
by Terae De Cou
by: Brad
06.08.2008 07:08
What a great project. We were stoked to see you here in Bluff, Utah. Plenty of sun here, we use it every chance we get.
Terae, it was delightful talking to you and your crew today. Have a safe trip and an incredible adventure. Make sure to let us know when you are back in this neck of the woods!
Go solar!