going going back back to cali cali October 12th, 2012
I slacked a bit on posting our left coast trip photos, but here they are. These are all the lazy Instagrams anyways… I shot 3 rolls of film while I was gone, but that takes me even longer to get to, soooo until then… Just enjoy these camera phone pics. I should probably turn one of our rooms into a darkroom and learn how to develop film myself. Yeah, that’s a good idea for future home project. Who needs extra bedrooms anyways?
Well, what to say. To put it in Jill’s terms, the trip was epic. This country is humongous. I feel a little ashamed that it has taken me so long to get out west, and I saw only a fraction of it. Must. go. back. soon.
There were many highlights — Big Sur is an incredible drive, everyone should do it at some point in their lives. Around every turn we just went, “WOW. wow. WOW!” Pfieffer Beach was incredible — the water crashing through the big hole in the rocks, and the gigantic seaweeds washed up on the sand looking like something from an alien horror movie…
The second night, we’re gathering up our gear before heading out to camp, I’m putting on chapstick, Jill is just staring at me blankly, I say, what’s wrong? and look at her confusedly. You know you’re just making yourself bear bait, right? I didn’t know bears can smell chapstick, and that is crazy.
Then, strapping our gear on with some bungee cords like a bunch of amateurs (note to self, buy a backpack), and walking out to our campsite in Sequoia National Forest and finding our private overlook at Panther Gap, hoping my limbs wouldn’t suddenly spaz out on the top of the rock ledge, and camping under the stars, which are truly infinite.
Are you awake? … Yeah. WIDE.
Eating Ramen for breakfast like it was the best food I’d ever had, and then spotting a bear from the safety of our car and yelling AWWW BEAR!!!, when just 5 hours before I couldn’t sleep a wink for fear of a bear mauling me in our tent in the open.
Watching the sun set over the Pacific for the first time in Morro Bay, staying in crappy motels without AC, eating beef jerky and dried mangoes from a roadside stand, all the kind and corteous roadside workers (“you chickees look like trouble!”), hiking up to Moro Rock– the long way, SEQUOIAS!!! they are incredible, each and every one, every time, over and over.
WOW!!! Look at that!! .. ok, go, keep driving.
Then we made it to Death Valley, which was yet another indescribable place. Getting out of the car to walk around on Artist’s Drive was the best decision we made. You can see some crazy things from your car, but to BE IN IT was another story. Talk about feeling like a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things, those mountains are good at making you feel so tiny. We camped at a remote site just south of Stovepipe Wells. Jill insisted on putting the tent back off and away from the campsite proper (you know, where the coyotes roam around), but I found that enough red wine will help anyone forget the things that lurk at night. In the morning, on the way to TOUGH MUDDER, we poked around in a Ghost Town called Rhyolite at dawn. There are many spooky things in the desert, and if you ever wanted to torture Jill you could drop her off in a place like that – full of abandoned buildings and remnants of the past.
VIVA!!!! Las Vegas was the final stop, and Matt met us out there. It was a shocking contrast to go from a night of starry skies and canteens of water to the bright neon lights and martinis with Pop-Rocks on the rim. Hiking boots and high heels. I’ll take it both ways. Thanks for letting me join you on your adventures, Jill. May you be lucky enough that I never get around to compiling all the videos I took of your car singing skills.
tags: travel
5 Responses
Leave a Comment
October 12th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
HAHAHAHAH this is the best post EVER. i laughed out loud several times. i miss you on the trip very much! and, yes, i pray every night that those singing videos don’t go viral…. you have blackmail on me till the end of time. awesome.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
oh, and that sunset picture is unreal. what an amazing night…. i will never forget that sunset!!!
October 14th, 2012 at 3:19 am
Those are some of the best cell phone pics I’ve ever seen. And it is one of the best post’s ever. Probably only second to the post you made right before this one.
EPIC indeed!!! You owe Nora a quarter Lori!
October 16th, 2012 at 9:12 am
It sounds like an incredible trip! Loving even your “lazy” Instagrams – amazing captures!
November 19th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
[...] FINALLY got my film back from my trip to Cali with Jill!! I love the colors and tones in these shots. Still need to keep working on the focus [...]