Although most have to fly, given they live on the West Coat, Mark and Mike often take the scenic route, driving from their home in Northern California, West through Nevada, then on to Utah. Sometime, if there's a model along their route, they invite them along for the road trip. This year it was James. In addition to providing some company, Mark and Mike also put their passenger to work, including posing for a few 'preview' shots prior to arriving in Lake Powell.
'Mark and Mike book the boat we will be on for five days and I make the travel arrangements to get the models to the lake. If they are coming from great distances, we fly them into Salt Lake City and I drive them down to the lake (about a six hour drive). If a model is closer by, Mark and Mike may pick them in Vegas on their drive to the lake from California.'
'We picked up James en route to Utah, in Vegas. He'd agreed to drive in with us so that we'd have a third person for the grocery store run prior to boarding the houseboat the next day. Stocking up on food for 5 days, for 7 people, takes some serious planing, and three shopping carts.'
'It's about a 5 hour drive from Vegas to Page, Arizona, where the houseboat marina is (Lake Powell straddles the Utah/Arizona state line). We were making good time so decided to take a break and stretch our legs outside Paria, Utah. The old ghost town is long gone at this point, but the beautiful Paria Badlands did not disappoint! James took it wonderfully in stride when I suggested a short walk, and got my camera out.'
