Monthly Archives: August 2007

Days 26-28:Angels Camp and beyond!

Posted on by

1

We arrived in Angels Camp around midday. It is hot!!! Angels Camp is in Calaveras County and home of the jumping frog. It is one of the many mining towns left behind by the Gold Rush. The country side here is golden with summer and green trees dotted across the hills. My Uncle Jack lives in an old retort building left behind by one of the mining companies. When he first “moved” into it some eighteen years ago it was full of junk and had no electricity or water. Over the years he stayed with friends and camped out. Finally in the last ten years he has put in electricity, water, a kitchen and a bathroom to the 500sq ft one room building. He also landscaped the entire hillside surrounding the house. Not an easy feat considering he will be 75 next January. Jack is a story that would take far to long to tell. He has LIVED and he is HAPPY. He is hoping to sell his bit of land and house and begin traveling again this fall. He is not without a place to stay just about anywhere in the states. We put up a tent in his yard and spent the next two nights. We mostly listened to his stories and went to the local hang outs. I cannot wait for him to come to Austin and met all of you!

After a fun day and half and an eleven hour drive we are off to sleep and the Grand Canyon tomorrow!

Days 24-25: Redwood

Posted on by

1

Left the lake with much sadness and headed southwest to the northern coast of California.  The drive was easy and not without some scenery. We did have to drive down a long, windy, dirt road through the trees to reach Gold Bluffs Beach.  The drive was not unlike something you would see on a National Geographic program.  A secret passage that lead us to a VERY secluded beach.  The campground was right on the beach with enormous gold and green bluffs behind us and the roaring and rocky beach in front.  We walked down to the water and took it all before setting up camp for the night.  Had a quick meal and a raging fire, before turning in to the tent for some reading.

Woke up the next morning to the birds having a gossip session around the tent and I felt so rested.  The waves were crashing and the sun was just barely up.  The fog was so thick over the beach and the bluffs that I couldn’t believe we where in California.  It was magical.  We gathered ourselves for the day and packed up the stuff for another day.

We drove a little further down the road to Fern Canyon.  Oddly enough we ran into three motorcyclists that had also been at Crater Lake.  They were all on BMW’s and had been up to Alaska and back.  Very Long Way Round.  We all hiked into the Canyon.  Again pictures will not do this place justice.  It is a quarter mile long or more and about 30 to 40 up.  The whole canyon is covered in moss and fallen trees and ferns.  I felt like we were in Lord of the Rings.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.  I would recommend this trip to anyone and I certainly will go back and spend more time.

We headed south towards the Sierra Nevada and found a place to stop for the night.  Tomorrow we head to Angels Camp and stay with my Uncle Jack.

Days 22-23: Crater Lake?

Posted on by

1

The drive down to Crater Lake is mostly highway until the end you break away into a heavily forested area with long tunnels of road stretched out before you.  This should have been the first sign that where we were going was magical.  The trees grew taller and thicker the closer we came, and the temperature began to drop to that in between cool and cold stage. We drove into the state park and the anticipation to see IT was palpable.  The road was never ending and winding into the sky.  Finally, we broke over a hill and there IT was.  You really cannot describe this place in words.  Maybe other worldly is the best way to say how the Lake seems.  We pulled over and stood there in awe..speechless.  I think I may have giggled a little in a hysterical way.  It is soooo enormous and BLUE.  Pictures will never do it justice, being there standing on the edge didn’t.  We tore ourselves away long enough to find our way to the campground and set up for the night.  It was already later in the day so we settled in and dreamed of the trip around the lake the next day.

In the morning, after a very chilly night(48 degrees when we woke), we made some hot tea and breakfast.  Then we set out on the journey.  It took all day to drive around the lake…stopping along the way at all the overlooks and points of interest.  We took lots of photos but again..they won’t really be right.  It was a magical day and we did not want to leave the rim, but we wanted to get back to camp in time for a fire.  We had a nice evening,  a fire and better sleep.  Tomorrow is the drive to the Redwood National Park on the California coast.

Days 18-20: Hootnanny!

Posted on by

0

Woke up early on Fri and started getting ready for the trip up to Mt. Hood.  Luna met us down on the SE side of town and we walked around, played the pump organ, and had Lebanese food before heading east.  We all agreed that we know nothing about Lebanon.  Did you know it snows there?  The drive over to Mt. Hood was beautiful and we stopped a huge yard sale on the way.  I scored a worn out leather jacket for a buck!  Headed up to Cooper Spur and found where we were bunking for the weekend.  Really great little spot on the mountain.  Soon enough it was time to get dressed for the Square Dance.  Too much fun watching everyone and then B and I gave it a go.  Complete chaos!  Soon enough we hit the hay and prepared for the day ahead!

Morning party got started early with Feats of Strength(3-legged race,egg toss,etc..) on the lawn around ten.  Chaos again!!

We had some down time for walking and relaxing before the wedding and it was the perfect day out. Wedding was beautiful and the reception was a total Jill and Garett show!! Right down to the streaking! Everyone had a grand ol’time.

Next morning we headed up to breakfast to say our goodbyes and head back to P-town.   Jill and Garett are on there way to CANADA and then to Martha’s Vineyard and back.  They truly are beautiful together.  It is so important to be able to just have fun with the one you love.

We eased our way back into Portland and headed to Powell’s downtown.  It is so fun to get lost in this bookstore, and so easy.  We walked around downtown and headed over to the Ace Hotel lobby to get coffee and meet up with Nicole.  This place is just to cool–could have stayed there all day.  The bathroom alone….very hip.   We watched a foreign film..El Metodo.. at the Living Room Theatre.  It was an interesting film, not great, at an upscale Alamo that is overpriced and not as comfy.  We then headed into the heart of downtown and found an India Festival in the square…..mmm good food…mmm mango lassi!   After that it was time to head back to the house and relax….tomorrow will be spent getting ready for the last leg of our journey.

Days 14-17: Portland!!!

Posted on by

1

This will be short and sweet…Portland is wonderful…we are moving here….the Japanese Gardens are amazing, Zilker would be ashamed…..our nephew is hilarious…B should not drink and ride a bike until he gets more practice…king size beds are the best….it DOES NOT rain all the time, not ONCE since we got here…pork tenderloin is yummy(thanks Jules!)….we leave for the mountain tomorrow!

Days 11-13: THE Coast!

Posted on by

1

Spent the morning being lazy and getting stuff together for the beach and left out in the afternoon.  It is only a short drive to the coast, maybe two hours. This drive across 26 to the Pacific is what people take drives for,  the pine trees that create a tunnel of greens and the afternoon sun peaking through.  I actually drove the speed limit to make the drive last.  The excitement from B as we were closer and closer was too much.  He needs the ocean.  It must be his English/NewFoundlandish ancestry.  Maggie spotted the ocean before us and it was fun to watch the big blue edge get closer and closer.  Then we saw it–the Pacific–in all it’s glory and beauty.  The Oregon coast is unmatched in my mind with any other I have seen. There are no words–but we do have pictures.  We arrived at the house and the rest of the family arrived soon after.  So the place was full–the parents(John & Sandy), the kids (B, Jason, and Angie), their spouses(me, Jenn, and Chris), and the grand-kids(Sol, Blake, and Amara).  We ate and talked and tried to sleep.  Saturday we hung ate the beach!!  Too much fun with the kids!  That night we went down and had a fire on the beach…perfect.  The night sky was a little cloudy though and blocked our view of the stars.  We got a little sleep and then up again.  Sunday was a little cooler and rainy.  The parents and Jason/Jenn/Sol had to go so we went down to the beach before they left.  Wish we had more time with the parents:( They all left and we took a fat nap.  Awoke to find Chris and Angie’s friends had arrived.  We hung with them, played some cranium and watched the meteor shower.  Holy crap!!!  It was amazing –I hope at least some of you saw some of it!  That finished off our night pretty well—that and having our own room:)

Days 9 & 10: Portland!

Posted on by

0

Okay the guest bed at Jason and Jenn’s wins!! It is the %^*&$@% bomb! King size time sucker. We could easily never leave this room. We do because a) we have an awesome nephew named Solomon and b) we love this town. I think six year olds are way smarter than they used to be, but also Sol is smarter than other six year olds. Blake has a new prodigy–he already rocked the melodica after just one day. He also has a guitar and a old school Casio keyboard.(B is loving it) So first day I got up and went blueberry picking with Jill and Jake(I love this dog). We went out to Kruger farms(http://www.krugersfarmmarket.com) were you can pick your own, plus they have a market with all kinds o’goodies. Jill is gonna make some jam. mmm jam. Other than that I hung out with the peeps then later the boys went down to the Moon and Sixpence pub for some beer. Blake got to watch a local band called Trash Can Joe. Check them out at http://www.trashcanjoe.com. They rode bikes down to the pub(that is what you do in Portland) and Blake had a long tired ride home at one in the morning:)

Thursday we went exploring. Blake is on the hunt for a small accordion and the guy from the band suggested a place down on Hawthorne. It was a really cool place with a ton of rare finds and no accordions. They did have a back room full of organs and B3’s and Leslie speakers though. Trouble! B is in love with an old Ann Arbor pump organ, and I have to admit it sounded so warm and beautiful I was ready to find a way to make it his. Alas we had to leave the shop sans organ and head back to the house. I made yummy fish tacos and we bummed around the rest of the night.

Days 7&8: SLC & to Portland

Posted on by

2

Woke up to the neighbors chickens before dawn and feel back to sleep glad to be in a house and a bed. Really woke and headed to breakfast at Big Ed’s by the U. Interesting pub where the special apparently is a burger with a fried egg on it and if you really want to go for it add some chili. We then headed over to a couple of bookstores downtown…..had fun browsing and checking out the town. I meet up with Anna and Kim in the afternoon and enjoyed some JAMBA JUICE. Man I love that stuff! We then headed over to the radio station where Anna works.(KRCL) Pretty cool place. And then to this store called Black Chandelier (www.blackchandelier.biz/). Really unique stuff. Later we ate at The Pie (www.thepie.com). Seriously you guys have no idea —-seriously. All pizza for the rest of my life will be judged against the Pie. Went back to their place and hung out –had some laughs and crashed, meanwhile Blake spent the night with Tuck.

Next morning EARLY start. Blake took the first shift this morning—I slept through most of Idaho(not much to miss in southern Idaho anyway). We hit a bad accident outside Boise and had to use Maggie to find a back way–still lost an hour in time. Long drive and nothing much to speak of until we hit the Columbia river and followed it all the way to Portland. The river and the road wound it’s way through the mountains and then we saw Mt. Hood and knew we where almost there. This place is just too wonderful. We saw lots of wind surfers and kite boarders…looks like a blast, but hard core. Arrived at Jason’s around six and let ourselves in(Jason and Jenn are taking dance lessons). The family got home–holy crap is Sol grown. Jenn cooked us some tasty dinner and we chatted it up. We are welcoming the huge guest bed…..mmmm sleep.

Day 6: Arches to Salt Lake City

Posted on by

0

Dear God did we both need a shower!  We woke up after a hot night—-hard to sleep when you are sweating.  Got an early start and did the hike up to Landscape arch.  We took a couple of side trips over to Tunnel arch and Pine Tree arch.  We were both really too tired to do anything so it was harder than it should have been.  Left the Devil’s Garden and headed out of the park–stopped to view Delicate arch on the way out.  Got on the road to Salt Lake  and the day was already heating up.  There is not much to speak of along the drive to SLC, stopped at a truck stop town called Green River and thought of CCR.  Nothing impressive, not the food or the place,  the people all looked stuck and numb from a life probably spent dreaming of something else.  Drove a winding road to SLC and arrived in the late afternoon heat at our friend Tuckers house.  He welcomed us into a cool house with a shower and some great company.   Tuck and Blake spent the rest of our time in SLC doing the music thing,  Telesa cooked us a long awaited home cooked meal and then she and I hung while the guys had pub night. SLC seems like a pretty cool town, wish it were a little cooler.

Day 5: Mesa Verde to Arches

Posted on by

0

So we were both blown away by the beauty of this drive…leaving Colorado and all its majestic green and traveling into Utah with the a landscape I cannot describe. Utah is like another planet unto itself….complicated and mysterious. I had a hard time paying attention to the road the closer we were to Arches with all the crazy rock formations and rich reds everywhere you look. Right before we drove into Moab we stopped at the Hole in the Rock. Check it out at: http://www.theholeintherock.com it is a pretty cool place and story. We had some ice cream and did the tour of the house and then drove on through Moab to Arches National Park. Really I cannot stress enough how much Americans pay no attention to our land….please think about visiting a national park soon….Arches would be a great place to start. We arrived in the heat of the day and set up camp at the Devil’s Garden Campground. Breathtaking views…no shade. We decided to hike up to Broken Arch. Not the best idea in the Utah heat of the day. It was fun and beautiful, but we were wasted by the end. We decided to drive to the visitor’s center for some ac since it was no cooler at our camp and no showers. We then decided to treat ourselves to a dinner in town, so we drove into Moab and relaxed over Italian food. We probably did not smell to great, but what are you gonna do. We drove back in time to catch the sunset and a ranger presentation. The ranger was very nice and we talked to her a little before the show. Found out that they(the man) are cutting funding once again for the park services, she is already doing the job of the three rangers and not getting compensation to match…sad. We are planing on a early hike up to Landscape Arch tomorrow morning and a short trip to see Delicate Arch before we drive on to Salt Lake City.