from snow on the green mountains to cherry blossoms on the Hill.

I stayed the night a sir Roderick Swains, he isn't a sir but I still feel the need to call him that for whatever reason. Rod was a team leader the year before and one again this passed year and a big Ohio fan, one of two I know of ( Julian being the other). I again did not get to spend much time exploring the city for all of it's treasures but I did get to hang out for a bit and catchup with Rod, whom I hadn't seen or talked to much since November. Seeing him reminded me again of how good it is to see people in a more natural environment, not with a green tucked in shirt running around in hysteria, most of the time. In the morning Rod had to work and I had an 11 hour drive to tackle. So as I headed out my spaz button was temporarily stuck. It was the first long drive (over a couple hours) I was making by myself in over a month and a half. I passed some of the time with a book on cd, some on the phone and some straight up spaced out. I made it to Bethel, where I'd be picking up a road partner, Chappy! Yet another green team favorite. We headed north for Vermont and made pretty decent time. The reason I had been so rushed through the hospitable midwest wasn't because I was aching to be home, but I had an open house date for SIT, my university of choice for Grad school. I thought Chappy, having a similar background and interest in international development would get a kick out of coming to the open house, plus really who wants to be by themselves at those tings if you really don't have to. It was a great day altogether, I got all my questions answered and straightened some other things out, productivity! Something I in fact did miss. We had fellow green team members hanging out about an hour away in New Hampshire at Camp Wilmont. Lucky for us they had work for us to do. Our first order of business was to make a fire, easy enough for the two of us. The next day the group staying at the camp was planning on playing broom ball, hockey with.. yes brooms. A street kids hockey. So we got to help out again by clearing a section of ice on the lake for a court, we took it one more step and made a snowman. It was great to actually help, feel useful. While our very our camp co-directors were assisting in refereeing the games we scrambled back inside to made cake! Upon the request of Katrina who was in the mood for something delicious, who can blame her. As it turned out, we made cupcakes, chocolate and banana. The banana sounds genius but it was actually a Yahoo answer to the question, I don't have eggs, what else can I use to make a cake? It was a delicious suggestion (although the eggs are still important for its binding qualities) that I'm definitely going to use again. Chappy had to be home that night so first to Bethel, then to my aunt Jody and uncle Mike's in New Milford. I've always loved visiting CT, especially their house. Driving through county roads from town center to town gazebo, I just can't think of a more charming and rustic place to lay my head for a while. While in CT, I saw Chappy off as he headed to Denver to make a go at a new start, I got to visit my successor, Tony in Springfield as he lead his very own team of ruffians, who were actually pretty calm and collected, unlike my B3.I had the chance to eat some good food, and drink some Irish beer to celebrate St. Patty's Day but unfortunately not actually on the 17^{th. .} No matter, its an omnipresent holiday for at least a week before and after the actual day. After I had some things taken care of, including filing my taxes, acquiring a new wardrobe from Aunt Jody (shoes included ;)) and helping Uncle Mike replant some rose bushes, I headed south, for the last leg of my journey.

the windy suburbs

We unfortunately stayed a bit to late in Milwaukee, saying our goodbyes over crème brulee and coffee. We got into Chicago/ Orland Park close to midnight. Rachel was our hostess for the evening and as soon as the catching up and planning for the next day was done we all headed to bed for much needed rest. Tommy and his girlfriend were supposed to come into town but that fell through so, as per usual when we had free access to a t.v. we spent most of the day vegging out. With funds running low, adventures into these big cities (Milwaukee and Chicago) just didn't make as much sense as making a PB&J and waiting for Rachel to get off work to come play. I was only, unfortunately staying for that one night, but we squeezed in some quality Buffalove on a driving tour of the OP. I soon dropped Caleb off at his next adventure and sadly took of alone to the Quad Cities to visit with the Vyncke's! It has been long promised and awaited so it would have been tragic if I had been so close and didn't stop by. When I showed up, I spent some time catching up with my midwest family, and even with Kirby, catching her on Skype for a little bit. The next day, I was due for an oil change so I showered, for the first time in a couple days, and we headed out and then met up with Papa Vyncke for lunch. Now I've never had a Reuben, and if I did it sure as hell was not as good as the one I had at a little Belgium restaurant in Moline. They made their own bread and it took up a plate the size of your head. The QC is home to some of the best foods I've ever had. Mexican, ice cream, pizza, whatever really. It must be the water. On the way to pick up my car from the shop we indeed stopped for Whitey's ice cream. Beats DQ, or Ben and Jerry's by a long shot. Cherri dropped me and my things off at my car and although I was confused by not having to pay the mechanic, I am so deeply grateful for not only the Vyncke's help but their support. Thank you thank you thank you! There was one more person I had to see before leaving the QC, so it was pure luck when I called and Ding was getting out of work! We stopped quickly at a Panera, me for a coffee and him for actual food ( I just had the worlds best ice cream so I was set) Ding is also a Splinter 1 member, one of the happiest people I've ever met, even when he is upset, he can make you laugh and smile. My next stop was Columbus, OH. One more midwest state and then I'd be east coasting it all the way down.

Dontcha know's and home made beer

I think the places I have gone into with no expectations have left me with the biggest impressions, and I don't know whether to blame myself for this finding or that these places are really that awesome. Either way, Milwaukee was one of these places. I had no idea what to expect upon arriving but there was snow!! For a trip I thought would be dominated with salty tires and the usage of my very small ice scrapper, this was only the second or third time I was involved in any of that. Anyway, we were staying with Tommy ( Pele Rojo for those better acquainted). He lived in a little burb of Milwaukee but worked about three doors down and across the street from his house, needless to say we didn't venture very far in the two nights we were there. The first night was relatively calm, Tommy took us to the local bar, where everyone knew everyone, including our very own Tommy, it was like being with someone famous almost. It was a good time, for a day during the week it was pretty hopping and we proceeded to have a great time. Jimmy Johns is an amazing sub place, and just so happened to be in the same couple square blocks as the house and the bar and also happened to be open late, which was smart because that's probably when they make most of the revenue. In the two days we were there, we ate there probably four times, never gets old I swear. So the first night ended with a sub, we woke up the next day to the afternoon and hit the ground running, well sort of. Tommy had to work at 8 so when Caleb and I rolled out of our respective floor and recliner we headed across the street for brunch! I know how fancy of us. We out did ourselves when we had beermosas and I had a chocolate chip waffle with bacon and a beer fried banana...yes it was awesome. I forget what Caleb had but I'm sure it wasn't as good. We ended up spending enough time there to eat again and for Tommy to clock out. That night, while Tommy was catnapping, Chelsea came from Madison to say hello! Its amazing how much I talk when people let me ramble. I hope if she is reading this she knows how much I loved seeing her, and next time I promise to not talk as much about me. We headed out to, well across the street to another bar, this one had couches! Back in AmeriCorps, us Buffalo priding ourselves with the most challenging of challenges, the Buffalo sweat shot. It was an initiation of sorts that we made a mandate for celebratory purposes. Some poor unfortunate corps members can attest to that. Bourbon and Tabasco is a generic buffalo sweat, but for whatever reason not many people know how to make one properly. I've been handed a bottle of Tabasco and a shot of bourbon and been told to do it myself, but in our case for this evening the bartender asked which spicy sauce we'd prefer. Someone yelled out Siracha over my Frank's red hot and our shot quickly turned into a chunky bourbony snack. It was gross and gave me awful heartburn but I cant help but feel like I conquered something. Well, once again, a long story will have to be abridged and most of us, besides Caleb who feel asleep in the middle of an Old Crow Medicine show jamboree and a heated poker match, didn't find sleep until well into the morning, for one reason or another :) Needless to say we woke the next day to the afternoon again. We had the chance to meet up with Tracy for Mexican. Tracy was Caleb's corps members and one of mine from Splinter 1 for a hot minute. She is amazing and in combination with Chelsea and Tommy, his roommates and gf, I couldn't have asked for or planned a better Wisconsin experience.

the Western Frontier

The St. Louis experience, this time not driving through at 4 am but rather staying a couple nights on the frontier land of Lewis and Clark. Our time here has not been my first time in the midwest but it has been a while since I've been around so I was taken back once again at the caliber of good time that the midwest subscribes to. John and Jamie have an awesome pad, filled with color and cultural relics making their relatively small-ish apt feel quite cozy. We went out to dinner at a bar with a countdown til St. Patty Day on the wall...15 days and counting. Apparently St. Louis makes a big to do for one of the most celebrated cultural holidays ever. We kept it simple for the most part that evening, an introduction to Peggle on their Xbox and some at home (much cheaper) beer drinking albeit not as fancy. The next day, Caleb slept pretty much all day but I was no better, except I got some house keeping things in order and a shower done before he rolled out of his nest of blankets on the floor. Caleb was not feeling well so I took my restlessness down to the museum district of St. Louis and walked around. If I said it was a bit windy I'd be struck down where I sit for such a perverse lie. It was the windiest day I had experienced next to when I stood on the Washington coast getting pelted with sideways rain. As it turns out, tornadoes had half a mind to rip through Ohio and Indiana not too long after we left for Milwaukee. Anyways, I walked around the St. Louis Art museum for a bit before Jamie got home from work, then headed back and had a pizza and cinnamon sticks waiting!! Yet another awesome day :) The night went on to look much like the night before except we got to meet Jamie's parents, hilarious and very unpredictable, before settling in for the night on the couch passing the controller and drinks, enjoying our explicitly recreational evening. The next day John was no longer employed and Jamie was free! So we spent some quality time at the Arch, a monument dedicated to the starting point for Lewis and Clark's westward expedition, just another piece of American history. We also scoped out the graffiti wall of originally constructed to bring peace and keep expressive youngsters out of correctional facilities. Actually I have no idea really but there is something to be said for a city the provides an outlet for instead of hinders creative expression and turns it into art. As the day wound down we took off towards another city known for mass producing cheap beer, Milwaukee! And oh the adventure continues.....

The return of thunderstorms and mountains..

If I haven't mentioned the reason for Gatlinburg before now, I'll explain. Some time, back in Arizona, I jumped on the bandwagon with Caleb to take a wilderness first aid course, necessary for his summer job, but something that may also boost my chances of getting a federal job through NPS or on a fire crew. So after touring the pacific northwest coast, we quickly and almost in a blur covered ground over at least half of the US in less then 24 hours, actually it was more like 22 but who's counting. The course had housing for us in a sweet little cabin type bunk house, complete with a full kitchen and a room full of AT ridge runners with stories that'll entertain you for days. We took the course with a few others like ourselves, not because we worked for the Appalachian trail conservancy, but those guys were great. My roommate, Kay was approaching 60 years old but had the heart and attitude of someone far closer to me in age, We got along well, as southern women are known as talkers, myself included sort of, we would talk about all sorts of things, needless to say, we hit it off. It wouldn't feel right if either one of us didn't know someone close by to visit and sure enough Caleb's friend from Asheville came out to have dinner with us. We walked a round Gatlinburg after, checking out the scene. It had its quirks touristy traps and even its own moonshine distillery. Down the street a bit into Pigeon Forge however, is probably a place I don't ever have to see again. Its a little like Disney but there is no real theme except southern stereotypes. I will say there is an awesome multilevel go kart track that looked cool but other then that I will no longer trust $6 pizza salad and pasta buffets, I don't even know why I did in the first place. Anywho the training part of our stay was awesome. Our instructor was hilarious and people quickly found out about my laughs and giggle fits. We learned all sorts of things, generally covered in the other first aid course I've taken before but this time the emphasis was on concepts and information to use to the best way we could in the event of a wilderness first aid situation. It was relaxed and comprehensive, all the things you wish every training could be like. Plus we all lived together and had training in the same house, so snacking was made convenient. Anything from broken bones to hypothermia, allergic reactions, you name it, I can hold you together until real help comes, no promises I wont throw up though, some of that shit is just gross. Successfully completed and added to my resume, we headed to Nashville, another place I never really ever thought Id actually make it to. Caleb's friend from Michigan was our host the first night, and an awesome one at that. Despite mid-terms and a truck load of stress he stayed up and talked with us about our travels, living vicariously through them waiting for his big break to go out and explore, after of course he got his degree in medical physics. Unfortunately our time ended a bit early because of a sill he took off his bike and had to get stitches for. Our very own Allen Hunt had moved to Nashville and was just finishing up recording when we got there. He was our host for night 2. After he wrapped up we meet up with him and went out to celebrate! He took us down to east Nashville, not Broadway where the lights and neon cowboy hat and boot shaped lights blinked and decent bands squished into every bar to play for tips. This place was far removed. 5 spot was the name and fiddle playing on Wednesday night was there game, in two jam session circles actually. My favorite part of Nashville, besides the smell of bbq everywhere, was the music in everything. Whether it was music row lined with record companies, bars filled will honky tonk, or studios, it was just in conversation, in the air, it was everywhere and I love that! I partly blame the combination of Allen and Caleb in a room together but the immersion was good for the soul. The musicians that came to 5 spot were not playing for a crowd, they played for each other, testing out the new guys or wailing on a washtub bass, it was awesome. Plus I got to hear some of Allens new music, which is always a pleasure. I just keep waiting for him to be famous so I can say I knew him before all the fame and things that go with. A fellow green bison and his other half lived in St. Louis about 6 hours north. So after chocolate pancakes and packing the car with our “red bags” we headed on our very last leg of the trip, the road home ( with a couple stops).

miles and hours lost under tire tracks and across windmill populated plains

We arrived in Port Angeles on a see-saw of a ferry ride, enough to make me feel drunk with out a drink. We got in late and pulled into an old house close to the coast. Seqim was the name of the actual city we stayed in just east of Port Angeles and safely away from vampires that sparkle. We stayed with Joe, one of Caleb's corps members this passed year and I happen to be at least 2 years if not 4 years older then everyone there. Needless to say I felt old, I just wanted to sleep, catch up on my television, hadn't had it since Seattle you know. It's a funny thing but since AmeriCorps and even up til now, being around television when you don't have it regularly, it steals my attention right from under my nose. I'm not a huge fan and I always feel better after being active vs watching television but lately I just sit in front of one and soak it up. Even the horrible shows that come on late night. I didn't get very good sleep that night, for whatever reason but we had a long drive to Boise ahead so we got up early to head out. Before we did we ventured down to the actual water, maybe a half a block down, and no wonder Joe's home had to be built to withstand persistent hurricane force winds, it was windy enough to lean into and push us back up the hill to the car. On our way to Boise we stopped in Seattle to check out their three story REI store, maybe to find something good. Nothing was that good we couldn't leave without it so we left empty handed. It was a solid day's drive into Boise but we had Richard Dawkins and evolution to keep our brains firing away into the night. Megan was a sight for sore eyes. Her face just can light up a whole room. We talked about our travels and her upcoming ones to China with Bradley and this and that for a couple hours or so. It was lovely. Caleb and I spent the better part of the next day in our pajamas, laying on Megan's floor, watching..yup, more television! CSI Miami is just as bad as I remember. When Megan and her parents got home we sat around the table for dinner. Since we were in Boise, a capitol city, we should have probably gone hiking during the day or toured the city, but instead it came down to Megan driving us through the downtown, all of us in jamas, and stopping at a redbox to pick up a movie to snuggle to. 50/50 is a wonderful movie, made all of us cry. Megan and I stayed head to foot, mostly because I was too lazy to leave, but the snuggle factor was part of it too. Megan had to work again, it being a normal persons workday and we had yet another day long trip ahead. Our driving has turned from easy evening driving to all day and soon to be all night driving. From Boise we headed east. Wyoming, another state I never thought I'd end up in we wound up driving pretty much straight across. Too far south to hit Yellowstone but just close enough to drive through Mormon county. I married my cows a lot. Into Denver, right around 10 on a Friday night. George and Jesse were kind enough to let us take up some of their floor space again. We spent some time catching up on what was new over the passed month since Alysha and I left. The next day, my car threw me for another loop. The check engine light came on and I could have cried. Caleb had a friend who was uber sick and in the Denver campus of NCCC. We got some groceries but really aimed to get soup for our sick comrade. I went to see if my car would explode but no one could tell me anything for free so from miles away between the my mom, dad, and me we diagnosed it and came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn't blow up on us in the middle of Kansas. From Denver our trip just got longer. We left around 3 in the afternoon and drove straight. Straight in every sense of the word, without reference to sexuality if you use it for that. Salina and Topeka, Kansas while I was sleeping or trying to; southern Illinois and St. Louis Missouri during my graveyard shift, right on through to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Blowing right through central time noting that now all my time telling devices say the same thing. It feels closer to home, but also I'm kind of sad. I know I'm near the end, if not for the amount of time I've been gone but the amount of money I have left, which isn't a lot. But we made it that far..

Pretty rainy, eh?

After our tour of Seattle, we settled down for a rainy afternoon to watch a little bit of good old zombies and reality television. That day was President's day and really what better way to spend it then in the state of Washington? I figured it was just too much so into Canada we went. Vancouver was our next stop and we would be as far north as we were going to get on this trip, any further and I may have to invest in chains for my tires or at very least acquired a working knowledge of the Yukon. It was a pretty decent drive, however, as far as the time it took to get there and the grilling about why two jobless people were spending a night in Vancouver with someone we only sort of know. It was awesome, Vancouver is a compact little city, stacked high with apartments and office highrises all with balconies and encased in glass as green as the water of Coal Bay. When we got onto the campus, the rain wasn't really doing me a favor, but we found it settled in then settled on dinner. We've been on this kick now with all of the day driving, late nights, quick stops at fast food places we haven't exactly been watching our girlish figures, if you know what I'm saying. Our dinner was a huge plate of nachos and in all honesty was probably the healthiest thing we've had in a while. Another thing about the northwest is they sure do appreciate their beer, and we love them more for it. Not just any beer, and I would hate for people read my stories and to think I've spent all this money and time talking about beer and breweries and dared to order just any old beer.. No no. It would be against my nomadic religion to not traditionally expose myself to the local fruits and foods. The restaurant in Vancouver, home of epic nachos was also home to a blueberry porter and red ale that won my heart over. Fat, happy and sleep deprived we all headed to bed/floor back at Caleb's friend Laurel's dorm. The promise of a good breakfast and flashbacks of college lead me into sleep. When we woke up Laurel had probably decided in her sleep that we were to head off to Bon's off Broadway, arguably one of the best breakfast joints I've been at in a good long time. Bottomless cup of coffee, eggs toast and perfectly crispy potatoes for 5 dollars and with the opportunity to go wrong, Bon's came out ahead leaving Denny's or Waffle house in the dust. Laurel took us around the down town, to the 2010 Olympic torch, unlit but still awesome, and to the digital whale, giving the convention center a mascot. We walked down into the historical district of Gastown, probably named much like San Diego's Gaslamp District for its original use of gas lamps to light the well traveled streets. With ears full of the tune of Chinese, Korean and French and right around sundown, before the rains came in too fast we headed back, Port Angeles was a ferry way and we didn't want to miss it, even though we almost did:)

How do you pirate a pirate party?...

We showed up in Portland around 8 and had a bottle of Sailor Jerry and Old Crow awaiting. Rachel's house in the north ish section of the city and in her words was in the midst of being renovated but still maintained its punk feel. Well said, it reminded me of a very lived in and used house, but one that still had meaning in use. The house was a hodgepodge of clothes, musical instruments, an unused toilet bowls to be installed and free boxes, mostly rummaged through for pirate attire. In keeping with the piratey spirit, Sailor Jerry's kept us afloat until we left for the party. The venue was homey and dressed in jeans and flannel, I was certainly outnumbered and out fashioned by pirates. It was beginning to seem like everyone on the west coast just goes balls to the wall and doesn't look back. And Portland was no exception, in fact it may have even been the flagship city...(haha pirate joke). Portland seemed to be chock full of witty bizarrely talented people. Not only was everyone hilarious, but the house sheltered a pair epic banjo players (actually in a band Wolves at Glennruin), a clown in carhart over-alls and a twisty mustache and Rachel who is currently working on an awesome watercolor portrait of a scene from Alabama on disaster over this passed summer. Once again, I'll keep a long story short, as it was short for me anyway. I called it a night early (:/) but the next morning pulling the trigger paid off since I was the least hungover! We all woke up to some eggs courtesy of Rachel's hangover and then took on driving around town, seeing all there is to see, which turns out to a lot, too much for a brief afternoon. Portland is home to what seems to be hundreds of bridges. It is a beautiful city with things like Voodoo doughnuts and neon reindeer welcoming the people into downtown Portland. I later learned that the Oreo and kool-aid doughnuts are pretty epic and Powell's bookstore is way too big to explore in one afternoon, it has rooms by color and then category so basically it looks like I'll have to go back! I bought some postcards but couldn't bring myself to buy the other one hundred books that looked like a good read. I was proud that I was successful in practicing thriftyness. We dropped off Rachel, sat around with the other roommates because they are hilarious. One of the banjo players was moving out and to the burbs as she dubbed it, and in what seems a habit of people in Portland she was getting rid of anything she couldn't carry in a backpack. Indoctrinated into a true Portland experience, I took my free shirt, groggy Caleb and we drove on through to Seattle! I've heard many good things and I was excited to see how it would settle into my roadweary heart.

Bradley's twin

Showing up in Coos Bay, again in the cover of darkness, we came upon a small town, a main street and a few left turns. Bradley's house is a none stop revolving door of picking up and dropping off at respective schools, basketball practices and dance classes. On top of that, running amuck is a pair of dopey loving dogs and a floppy mischievous cat. We had the opportunity to steal Bradley for a couple nights. The first night we kept it simple, and woke up to explore the wonders Coos Bay has to offer the next day. We drove to the beaches that opened up to rock walls and slippery boulders that were decorated with sea stars (starfish) and urchins. Collectively we decided that whether the tide was coming on or out, we were going to attempt making it across the slippery rocks with pools etched out by tidal waves to the caves (?). The funniest part, besides Caleb eating it three times, was the commentary. At one point on our spelunking adventure we could not see two feet in front of our faces and Bradley dunked his foot in toxic green gross cave water, probably the reservoir for cheap beer spills and the answer to no close by water closets. After our tour, Bradley took us to Coos Bay's very own, best sub shop and in true small town fashion, it was awesome. We headed out that evening to visit with some of Brads friends and to make a long story short, got shitwasted. Brads brother showed up and it was all down hill. They are pretty much the same person, equally snarky and almost identical. The hilarity continued until we showed up and some girls house in the boons, and all I knew we needed to get back to our mattresses on Brads floor. The next day, we had more City Subs, this time for breakfast (although it was noon). We had to get on the road soon so a farewell to the puppies, Brads parents and brother (way cooler then Brad) and eventually Brad himself. Next stop, Portland, OR.

feathers, chocolate, redwoods and beer :)

I spent the morning of good old Valentines day walking to the Puerto Rican bakery down the street and then up to a park on the other end of the street. I sat for a bit, looking over the city that laid out ahead and the bay not too far off, all still in a bit of a haze, but cool and breezy just the way it should be. After a croissant, coffee and a walk around the Mission hood, we took off to find the Golden Gate bridge. We found Golden Gate Park, and let me just warn anyone interested, you won't find Golden Gate Bridge in Golden Gate Park but if you follow it though it'll dump you off right at the ocean and the view will blow you away.. hah ha get it..cause its reeeaally windy.. nevermind. By the time we found the beach the sun was setting so we quick drove in the general direction of the bridge and caught a glimpse of the sun fading behind the horizon. Our plans for the evening were stacked with a six o'clock pillow fight, 7 o'clock beer and chocolate tasting, and Starwars showing at 10. Unfortunately by the time we made it to the bridge it was just about six, leaving negative time to get to the pillow fight. San Francisco has an annual Valentine's Day hundreds of people pillow fight in a downtown plaza complete with a count down and lasting until people just give up. Thankfully the good people of SF found it within themselves to continue beating each other long after I would have anticipated. As it turns out this is not the only day where this activity is celebrated, there is actually a national Pillow Fight day which probably looks much the same. Just about the time we drove past the plaza and I was settling for Caleb beating me with my own pillow instead, we found it! Feathers and lights, a crowd surfing teddy bear and a medic. Caleb let me jump out of the car and I made a friend in a n-95 respirator mask who was waiting still 30 minutes later for his friend to make it out of the core of fighters still sending exploding pillow feathers in the air and raging on each other. We had a date on Haight (;)) at Noc Noc for beer and chocolate. Noc Noc is actually a sweet little speakeasy vibe, inconspicuously situated and themed in a dark cartoon network Flintstones colorfest. And the chocolate was awesome. It was out last night there and although it was rushed and we were late for pretty much everything, and Caleb was too tired to even go see Starwars, it was one of my favorite Valentines days ever. I found the best ones are spent with friends in fact. The next day we woke and had some pastries before heading on the road, checked out the Golden Gate Park again, this time we could take our time. We saw bison, big ole adorable bison and the Golden Gate bridge in the light. We took our time, going up the beautiful 101 up to the Redwoods and stopping off at Lagunitas Brewery and North Coast Brewery to enjoy true nw hops and fresh air. Wilco Tango Foxtrot from Lagunitas was my favorite for sure. We were still a bit away from the actual Redwood forest and we were super tired so onto the side of the road and into our sleeping bags was how we spent that night. We did try to find hotels, but it just wasn't worth the 60$ for what my car is perfectly good at, keeping us dry and relatively warm. The sleep was good, warm and very convenient the next morning for getting back on the road. Jumping on the road again, putting a hat on my greasy hair we tromped on through the best forest I've ever been through. Sounds like a silly thing to say but it's awe inspiring, with trees reaching heights of 300+ feet, diameters at breast height (dbh for forestry people) of 40+ feet and enough rings in the middle to tell a tale of hundreds of years of history. It was like hiking and driving through a fairy tale. The northwest has an overcast, misty, rainforest feel and the smell of fresh moss and peat, natural light and spectacular showing of nature at her best, it's better then any spa you could pay for, at least I'm willing to bet. Driving up the Oregon coast, to the right, cascades, mountains, mossy trees and to your left..dunes, coast line, caves and crashing waves. Beautiful scenery even in overcast. Coos Bay, OR was next on our boomerang around the NW points of interest.

Save me San Fransisco

Reno was a nice break from camping. We got ourselves a shower, internets, and a lovely lunch the next day with the lovely Carrie Porter. Reno is the guy next door, stayed away from steroids version of Vegas, which makes it nice and walking around I don't feel like I'm on some sort of drug that oversensitizes me to my surroundings. After some R&R in Reno we headed to Lake Tahoe to see some views. This time of year it is supposed to be just covered in snow and booming with ski junkies. Instead because of the weather, the only real extreme sports we saw driving up the mountain we families out with kids and dogs sledding down bunny hills at parks right off the road. It was so damn cute, that alone made me want to move there stat. The view from the top before you get into the little village area was breathtaking, the lake it self is massive then bookended, because you couldn;t see the other side, by mountain peaks blanketed in giant pine trees also powdered in a light snow. One of the worlds few alpine lakes as Caleb described, just sitting a modest 7000+ feet above sea level and clear as a Mediterranean sea. Sure it was surrounded by hippies who sold out to become rich but still smoke way too much weed but who can blame them with views like that. On ward and westward. Driving into SF right at dinner time. Yum! The air was think with food smells and we were staying in the Mission district, known for its abundant food options. It was beautiful and I could feel that warm fuzzy feeling creeping in, the one that makes big cities feel like home. I was going to like this place. When we got in Sara, our lovely host, took us on a tour of the city. We hoofed all around the Mission, in the Castro and into some down town areas. I for one had walked up and down enough of these hills to be hungry even after a huge lunch not too many hours before. So before I got to cranky, we stopped for a cookie in the Castro. Next to the penis shaped cookies with macaroons, I went for the more modest double chocolate chip... I'm not a macaroon fan. Then as if that life choice wasn't good enough we went to a place that served not just good beer, but good sausages too. I had a vegan apple and potatoesohmylorditwasgood sausage. We tried to venture into north beach, but zero parking and time ticked to fast so we called it a night, saving our energy for day light. The next day was brunch with Rose and Cait!! Two of the lovliest women I have the pleasure of knowing. I haven't seen Rose since we studied abroad in Greece but the three of us plus a couple more were always into some trouble together. It was like the four years its been weren't so long and we were giggly and chatty and all smiles. I miss them very much and I didn't realize how much until I saw them again. After bottomless mimosas and some damn good brunchy  foods Caleb and I then headed to the Haight and Ashbury and met up with Griff, probably the coolest cat ever. We had a few more drinks and snacked on some foods, then just walked Haight. Another very good face to see, Griff had to take off back home since he for one actually has a job. It's hard to describe how it felt walking around those streets. It was quiet and drizzly, a hazy yellow from street lights, it could have been 2012 or it could've been 1969 but it seeped into your skin so that it didn't matter. It may have been the patchouli and mary-jane in the air but whatever, it felt good. The next morning I headed across the bay to get my back window replaced, it felt nice waking up at normal people time for a day, a day more specifically that I didn't actually have to go to work. The little good luck I ran into was getting my window fixed right before the rains and right after our taped plastic bag art piece blew apart on the highway. When I came back we went off to 21^st Amendment brewery downtown before going to dinner at Nicks crispy tacos for dinner with the girls again! Nick's is a swanky little taco place, with relatively cheap foods and its so damn good. Nick's way with half off margarita pitchers, yes please. We came back for the evening and enjoyed some night caps before calling it quits. Caleb really tried to like gin, tried a little too hard, more then gin ever deserves. I thought it was funny, Caleb felt like hell. At this point, I feel a little bit like SF could be a place I spend some time in. But who am I kidding, we haven't even been to Seattle yet!

Well at least my car isn't on fire

Despite the weather dipping well below freezing and the slight nagging terror of a possible mountain lion sniffing the garlic on our breaths from the left overs from Calebs's bday dinner, our night in Great Basin went by pretty smoothly. I did wake up a number of times and thought about using the bathrooms 40 feet away but then the thought of finding a mountain lion, however irrational, scared me enough to forget I even had a bladder. Now when I say bathrooms I'm being kind. This facility, however lucky we were to have it, had no lights and our site had no running water. This would make night number three without a shower, which we were dealing with fine with some wipes and minor wardrobe changes, more specifically socks. The Great Basin NP was noted for it's skies and man oh man did we see some stars, its a shame it was a bit to cold, I would've stayed out there for hours. You probably haven't seen that many stars in your life. I have to make it a point to go there again because as best laid plans will do, they went wrong first thing in the morning. We were supposed to get up to go on our cave tour, we woke in plenty of time, however the night before just as we were about to go to sleep we heard a terrifying inorganic pop, imagine what a gallon water jug sounds like when the pressure returns to normal after high elevations or being filled with water after its been compressed, except so loud it could have been in the tent with us. We passed it off as something falling off a tree or whatever, we'll check it in the morning. Well sure enough, we found it, it was my back windshield, shattered from corner to corner. So on the prettiest day of the trip, warm and no clouds, a perfect 50 degrees, we ditched our plans for hiking and cave touring and heading straight for Reno in hopes of finding a place that could get it fixed before the weekend. We picked out as much glass as we could and made a damn good make shift shield in it's place, could hardly tell there used to be a window there. Unfortunately we wouldn't make it into Reno before the close of most businesses, so Monday it was... luck was not a lady for me that night in Nevada.