One bright summer morning they decided to wake up and go to a ghost town, and, unfortunately, they got what they wished for.

Timmy and Preston and Dino got in the car and drove many miles along the desert highway. Soon, they reached a small town where they turned onto a dirt road.

They drove and drove until they reached a great canal. Stepping out of the car and taking in the air was refreshing. They continued driving until, off to the side, they spotted tunnels. There were several, and they were very large -- reaching under the canal. They explored the tunnels, they were very creepy and full of weird little bugs. They ancient hand whistled into them...and it almost sounded like something whistled back....

Continuing down the road they noticed a car in the distance, headed their way. It was none other than Galen Works! He stepped out of his car and approached them, he was very angry because he had been waiting in secret for hours. He had resolved to stand there completely still and wait for them to drive up. But, fried (not sunburned since Galen doesn't get sunburn) from standing in the sun, and with nobody pulling up, he decided to just go home. So, very upset he drove away.

The others continued, distraught at the loss of their comrade. And, when all hope was lost, they looked back and saw a dirt trail coming their way. Mr. Works had returned.

The new party of four continued on the road which became increasingly bumpy. There were many very large rocks and much of the road was on the side of steep cliffs. But, having played these games before, they made it through and emerged into the ghost town.

The ghost town was very old, and most of the structures had collapsed. There were also many mines, which, while very unsafe to enter, greatly tempted Galen who has cave goblin tendencies. Who, speaking of, also began walking around the ghost town (covered in broken glass and old rusty metal) barefoot, after the soles of his shoes fell off. Preston meanwhile had been checking his trusty EMF reader. He hadn't gotten any hits yet, and, generally, it was really hot outside and a little miserable. So, they decided they'd go back into town for gas so they could explore the rest of the ghost town, and come back after dark and, perhaps, pick up on some ghostly activity. 

Unfortunately, they never made it back to the ghost town, but their wish for ghostly activity would be fulfilled.

After heading back into town to get gas, and taking a sizeable detour which included going to California and finding a frog and going to a casino to eat dinner, they made their way back to the dirt road leading to the ghost town. But it was now late at night and it was pitch black. Driving on the dirt road like this was suffocating, it was eerie in that you felt completely alone but you also felt you were being watched.

They decided to stop at the tunnels. But, they only made it a few feet before they heard a hiss. They stopped and listened close, and, upon further inspection, it sounded more like a rattle. They ran back to the car, and, sufficiently spooked, decided to make camp short of the ghost town. After all, they had all of tomorrow to explore right? Wrong, the night was far from over.

They set up camp. There was a tent, fire, chairs, food, it was great. Until Preston pulled out the EMF reader. What happened next I won't describe here. Nobody was recording, the event was solitary, and everyone was left in awe. While none of them were particularly keen on the supernatural before this, what happened made them question their respective realities. Perhaps though, it's best left unspoken.

It was now well past midnight and Galen, who had plans the next day decided to head out, to make light of the situation Galen said something along the lines of "You know what, do something ghost! I dare you!"

About an hour and a half later he was rolled over in a ditch on the side of the highway. He would later recount that it was as if something pushed his car off the road.

Unaware of the situation, the others continued their night. But, the mood was oppressive. They found scorpions in the tent. They had to try to sleep in the truck, but it was too hot to sleep. There was thunder and there was lightning barely visible in the distance above the black horizon. And, they begun to be circled by coyotes.

Soon they got word of Galen's predicament and, like good friends, decided they'd end the trip early, pick him up, and go home. They packed up quickly and sped down the highway until they reached Galen. By this time it was sunrise, and none of them had slept.

They waited hours for the tow truck, but eventually it came and it was time to leave. But they only made it about a hundred feet down the highway before one of the tires blew up. 

A few hours later they would all be home, left with the memory of that night. Perhaps some ideas are better left alone, and perhaps sometimes you better be careful what you wish for.

Having already backpacked the mountain in the summer, they decided to go back in the winter and do it in the snow.

But, when they got there Flagstaff was covered in several feet of snow. Their campsite was inaccesible, so they decided to sleep in the car at the base of the mountain. It snowed the whole night. 

When they awoke and began their hike, they realized it was going to be far too difficult. The snow was too deep. So, they headed home in failure. The wheather, while beautiful, was also bitter.

Galen claims he went back a few weeks later and hiked through the snow, all the way to the top, on his own. But, he took no photos or videos, and I don't think anyone really believes him.

Like most trips, this one started at the butt crack of dawn when the goon squad hit the road: Timmy, Galen, Dino, and Preston.

They made their way through the early morning phoenix traffic. It wasn't long before Dino fell asleep, with his eyes open as he tends to do. They cruised through the first 100 miles of the trip, all the way to the Arizona-Las Vegas border. When they saw the sign for the Hoover Dam, they decided to make a little pit stop. They stretched their legs, took in the dam, and realized they weren't far from Vegas. 

Renewed, they continued on their merry way.  And, As they got closer and closer, as was indicated by the signs on the highway, there was only one thing on each of their minds: the world famous 8 burger big burger. The goal was simple, stop in Vegas, get some lunch at the Heart Attack Grill on Freemont Street, and order themselves an 8 burger big burger (split four ways that's a 2 burger big burger each). But, like most things with these fools, it wasn't so simple, and lets just say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

The shenanigans were immediate, there were no lines on the road near Freemont Street and seemingly nowhere to park either. Guided by the wind and the fent walkers, who were playing Crossy Road in real life, they were eventually able to find paid parking. Hopping out, they began their fateful journey to the Heart Attack Grill. 

However, it was immedeatley apparent something was not right. In order to enter they each had to put on a 50's hospital gown (in line with the 50's hospital theme), and upon entering they were told the rules: either you finish your burger or you get spanked. Now none of them wanted to get spanked, but how hard could it be to eat a 2 burger big burger? Well, upon asking the waitress to split the 8 burger, they got their answer: impossible. The waitress told them that she would be fired if she allowed them to split the burger. Their only option was to get it to go. So, probably avoiding a spanking, they were now out on the streets.

So now the question arises, where does one go to eat an 8 burgers tall burger in the middle of Freemont Street? Nowhere. There was nowhere to eat. So, after walking around for a while, and with their senses now clogged with the unfortunate extremes of the human condition, they decided to eat the 8 burger inside a White Castle.

It was finally lunch time. Unfortunatley, the 8 burger big burger (split four ways into 2 burger big burgers), was absolutely disgusting. So now, leaving the White Castle, spirits were at an all time low. However, during their walk of utter defeat back to their back alley parking spot, something mystical happened that would lift their spirits to their peaks. They ran into none other than DEEZ NUTS (guy).

They climbed to the tippy-top of the tallest mountain in Arizona. They slept at 10,000 feet of elavation. For a few minutes in the June of 2024, they were, literally, peak (of Arizona).

They backpacked Mt. Wrightson -- just south of Tuscon. 

Infamously, during this trip Galen's brakes failed at the intersection of Speedway and Campbell. They were stranded in Tuscon for twelve hours before they were able to make it home. During this time they had to overcome the challenge of Tuscon's NPCs. In the end they left the intersection and made it home. But, I'm not sure the intersection ever left them...

The Superstitions were where they went on their first few adventures. They were woefully under-prepared on more than one occasion. These were the baby steps for the now seasoned adventurers.