San Francisco

Rounding the corner towards the Golden Gate bridge I realized that my camera battery was dead, so I did my best with to capture it with my cell phone. I love driving into San Francisco, but driving in the city is a pain in the butt if you have to go downtown at all which I did. We were talking about how idiodic it seems to have built a city in such a ridiculously hilly area, but I guess there really wasn't much control over that. It just happened.

These pictures don't do it any justice becuase when I was on the really steep part of the hill, I was too afraid to let go of the wheel in order to take a picture. Alicia lives at the top of that hill in the distance and when you get there the grade becomes like 9%! I felt close to vertical.

But I made it, grabbed her and we headed towards the Mission district for yummy pie at Mission Pie! Parking in the mission district didn't do anything to alleviate my anxiety after driving through the city. Leaving all of my possessions in my car with an assurance that the risk of break in was medium to likely, was hard to do. But I wasn't about to lug it all out. It was daylight and busy and my computer was covered. I would have probably cried a lot if I had come back to find it gone though, after just having lost my other one. It made me feel lame though to worry about it.

Headed to drop her off after during going-home time, plus there was a....Giants (?) game to boot. Traffic was really fun and sadly our visit was cut short by my readiness to get the heck out of the city. Next time I may have to BART in.

Alicia and I have been friends since High School. Ever since the frocto incident of '94. She just moved back to this coast from NYC and it's going to be nice to know she's easy to see again. Hopefully once jobs are secured and house is settled then we'll get to see each other more. Plus it helps to be in the same time zone again. We didn't even get a chance to be really weird.

I debated staying the night in San Francisco, but opted to move on towards Yosemite since I was already behind my original schedule and I didn't want to wind up having to drive 24 hours to get home because I ran out of days. I braved rush hour traffic, which wasn't too bad really, and headed east of the Bay.

The Road to San Francisco

The coast in general, but the California coast by Ft. Bragg especially, is incredibly windy (wind-y). When it says to go around a corner at 10 mph - do it. Highway 1 heading into FB is so windy I almost got sick the first time I drove on it. It's full of blind corners and there are bikers, hikers, RV's and semi-trucks on the narrow road that you can't see until you come around the bend. I have to admit that it was a lot more fun to drive it this time, knowing what to expect and being totally alone, than it's been before. I suggest, if you ever drive it, to put on something like flamenco music becuase it would totally fit that stretch of road!

Heading out was not quite as bad, still windy mixed with hills. It's absolutely beautiful though. There are redwoods and a gorgeous river then you get into the Mendocino Wine Country. My sister-in-law would love it here. I wanted to stop and take a picture in front of the landscapes but there was never a good spot to stop until I had passed it. Boo. So I did my best to take pictures from the car.

Northern California smells like warm honey. Something that is blooming here has this incredibly intoxicating scent that I couldn't identify but permated the air from south of Crescent City until I hit the big city. I didn't want to leave it. It reminded me of a greek legend, something about an island that no one ever left becuase it was like heaven there. That's sort of how I feel about Northern Cali, at least outside of the city...

Ft. Bragg

Kerry and I were roommates in college. Art school really. Neither of us finished, but our friendship has lasted the 13 years since. We lived together, got tattoos together (not matching), took a road trip across the US together.

I attribute Kerry's influence to teaching me a lot about living with other people and life in general and you gotta love a friend who the minute you get to town provides you with a toilet, a beer, and a cigarette after a long drive.

<-----Kerry and Dave.

Ft. Bragg is a typical coastal town with a cute downtown area and then lots of small, funky houses within walking distance of the main drag. It completely fits them and it smells of patchouli and old stuff. Brings back lots of memories. Buddy is the sweetest dog and she guards the house, ferociously wagging her tail when you come into the yard. She left her hair and slobber all over me and I took it as a sign I was accepted into the family.

We walked down to the Mexican grocery store and had some lunch in the taqueria in the back.

Kerry has always had eclectic taste and a love of antiques. Her house totally reflects that retro/bizarre-chic style.

Dave directs at the local theater and works for the Brittany knitting needle company making knitting needles. They are supposedly the best and they sure seemed nice. Sadly, I don't knit....yet.

They work a shift together at one of the local pubs. It's a hole-in-the wall trendy sort of place that serves beer and pizza. It was packed when I stopped in. It reminded me too much of my hometown and that freaked me out a little bit. I was having some sort of anxiety/homesickness attack while I was there. Although it was standing room only, maybe it was claustrophobia...?

After a good nights sleep and a homemade breakfast, I bid farewell and headed towards San Francisco...

First Night

I am feeling like a government conspiracy theorist sitting in my van with all of the windows covered by curtains, typing on my computer which is propped up on top of my cooler. The glow of my flashlight is adding to the ambience. I just need to

I’m somewhere in Northern California. I'm not exactly sure where becuase it's dark and late. I meant to camp near Brookings, OR but blinked and suddenly I was going through the agricultural customs at the California Border. I didn't want to pass Crescent City without getting to see my cousin so I stopped at the first place I saw. It's some regional park, $10 a night, and I was able to find a free spot right next to a well lit area with the bathrooms and the camp host less than 300' away. Behind the site it's complete dark and treed, but I feel comfortably safe here.

We'll see how the first night goes. I'm hoping to sleep well and wake up early and get on the road towards Fort Bragg. Not sure where I will stay tomorrow, if I will continue on to San Francisco or what...

Pics from the next morning:

100

Since I've hit the coast I've seen at least 100 of the following:

• Bikers. As in bicyclists, not motorcyclists. It's big summer fun to ride your bike up or down the windy hilly coastline on a tiny ass road with lanes barely big enough for the cars. I have nothing against sharing the road but my god I didn't realize so many people found this to be summertime fun. it must be what they are doing for their vacation too because it's gotta take them hella-long to get whever the hell they are going. The question I kept asking myself was: when they get whever they are going - do they turn around and go the other way or does someone pick them up?
• Old Fashioned Cars. Really old ones. I don't know my cars well enough but Model A and Model T came to mind. There must have been one serious car show somewhere on the coast this last weekend or I keep flashing back in time.
• Vultures. Until I first came to CA way back when with Kerry and she pointed out the turkey-vultures (I think that's what she called them?) I didn't realize that we had vultures in the US. We do and they like the coast. At one point I saw a giant vortex of death with about 10 of them and I wondered what was almost dead on the ground. I would have taken a picture but it was really hard to get a focused picture of any birds while I was driving...
• Broken Dreams. This sounds sad but I find it more intruiging. Along the drive there are always empty businesses, abandoned houses, or old barns that have collapsed roofs and I wonder to myself: who built that and why? why did they build it and why did it fail to thrive? It's fascinating to me and I plan to blog more about it in another post.
• Log Art. I do not know why this is so popular. Who wants to haul home a log that has been roughly chainsawed to look like a bear? I guess if that was your decor, sure, but somehow I think there are far fewer people with the rustic log-cabin look than there are pieces of art begging for a yard to be planted in. I may be interested in someone was selling a realistic pirate or mermaid figurehead, but you just don't see many of those, and frankly they would clash with my decor anyway.

The Coast

My trip was delayed a day from when I originally thought I would leave and so right out of the gate my plan had to be altered, especially because I had finally heard from Kerry (my Ft. Bragg visit) and she was going to have Tuesday off.

Forgoing the coastal route would shave 3 hours off the drive time, but it would be cutting out one of the stops I really wanted to make. Lincoln City and Newport are the larger coastal towns of Oregon and I have been there a few times and while I didn't have anything specific I really wanted to do there, it was still the way I had originally decided to go and I was bummed that so quickly plans may have to be changed.

Making the executive decision that this was my trip and I should go where I want to go (the passengers were just going to have to shut up and deal) I opted for the coastal route and took the 99W/18W to Lincoln City.

The minute I crested the mountains separating coast from inland, I could feel the change in the air. The clouds were hugging the peaks and the temperature took a decided drop of at least 20*. I rolled my windows down and breathed in the cool, fresh air as I descended and all at once I felt totally at peace.

Having grown up in a coastal town, the familiar crispness and saltiness in the air is familiar and almost addictive. Having left 90* in Portland, the change was refreshing and the sea-breeze was like greeting a long-lost friend. I drove through both towns with my windows rolled down, even though by then it was down to 60* and I had to put on a sweatshirt. It was well worth the extra time to take the scenic route...

Audience

Part of the whole purpose of this trip was to really internalize the experience of travelling totally alone. I've never done this for such a long period of time and I definitely have NEVER camped alone before. I wondered how it would affect me and my thinking. Being able to blog about the trip was going to be a great way to offer whatever zany insight I may gain to my friends and family. The caveat to that: now that I know you are out there waiting to read - I process the journey through the eyes of an author with an audience.

Yesterday I drove for about 10 - 11 hours off and on and throughout the day I kept thinking - hey that would be cool to blog about, not because it affected me in any particular way, but becuase I thought it would make something good to read. Is it sad that those aren't necessarily the same things? LOL!

Ah well. The audience is definitely keeping me company on the drive and doesn't even complain when I sing at the top of my lungs off-key, pick my nose, or swerve while I'm trying to take a picture and drive at the same time. Can't beat that.

Don't fear The Reaper

After filling my gas tank and hitting the freeway out of Puyallup, I turned on the radio for some road tunes. First song out: Don't Fear The Reaper. Hmm...As the Blue Oyster Cult classic filled my van and I bellowed for more cowbell, internally I was wondering "WTF?"
After the initial concern, I decided it was really a good omen. Thinking about the words I opted to take it as advice to embrace the unknown and possibly the inevitable. If I live my life in fear of the what-ifs, I could miss a lot of amazing experiences. Even if it's not life-changing, it's still adventure. Something new and different.Yeah, bad shit could happen but it most likely won't and I refuse to hold myself back instead of taking a flying leap into the unknown. If something bad does happen, I'll get through it. If something really bad happens, then I hope you all know I love you and that I would rather find an end in truly living, than to last forever without.
Summer of spontaneity - I'm taking you serious.

Strangely enough, as I crossed into Oregon and changed stations, guess what was playing? Yup. My niece, who was co-piloting from Puyallup to Newberg, and I looked at each other open-mouthed and then instantly began to shout for ...you got it - MORE COWBELL!!

Departure Morning

The summer of spontanaeity is going well so far and this trip may just be the apex of my adventures. It's odd to feel so footloose and fancy free. I have a direction and some suggested stops and that's it. I'm free to go anywhere and do anything along the way, the trick will be to figure out what that is. It's harder when you are travelling alone to be prone to those last minute stops, but I'm determined to not allow that to get in my way. We'll see how it goes.

Car is packed. Husband has been kissed farewell. Just need to load the cooler and I'm ready to take off. My cousin is coming into town today and I'd like to see her before I leave or I have to wait until next year. Once that's done I'm outtie.

I am taking the computer (of course) and will blog along the way...

My bags are packed...

...but I'm not quite sure if I am ready to go.
My brain is running through a cycle of mental checklists, wondering what I should take that I am not and what I am bringing that should be left home.
Travelle Ight and Justin Case are dueling it out as usual, but my money is on the former. My philosophy is typically: if I need it bad enough I can buy it somewhere.
The only caveat to this current trip is the computer? To bring it or not to bring it...that is the question. If I bring it will it be a crutch on which I lean, connecting socially through the screen instead of fully immersing myself in the experience? If I don't bring it, then how will I blog the trip becuase I sure as heeellllccckkk am not going to text it all out via my cell phone! I have about 18 hours to decide but I have a feeling I already know it's going to get stowed away in the van somewhere.

As of right now my packing list is:

• Sleeping pads and bag plus an extra blanket and a pillow
• Car bag with first aid kit, poncho, neat sheet, plastic bags, and disposable plates/forks (this lives in my car all the time)
• Rubbermaid bin with my clothes in it
• Shorty cooler for food I will bring or buy on the way. I haven't decided or prepped any food yet but I do have frozen water to chill the chest and use if needed.
• Small cooler for drinks and easy to grab snacks
• Electronics: ipod, cell phone, camera, computer (?), and connector to charge them on the go.
• Make-shift curtains for a little privacy while sleeping.
• Camping gear: 1 burner propane stove, hot water pot, flashlights
• A pot (bucket) to piss in - just in case or for any other buckety needs.