Real Quick

My time in SF was amazing, but I've made it to LA and am continuing the good times here in the sunshine. Will write more soon but wanted to get out this quick update 

Back in the Bay

I moved to SF when I was 22. I didn't know anyone and I didn't have a job. I ended up staying here 10 years, and I made some of the best friends of my life. I'm more than elated to be back in the Bay Area, and I'm going to be running around seeing as many people as possible. Never easy. I'll try to write as much as possible, but for now just know that I'm in a very great place and feeling content and excited to see everyone. 

Have a fantastic weekend!!!!

Among the Ancients

I drove through amazing countryside to get to Jedediah Smith Campgrounds, which are in the middle of beautiful and huge redwood trees. After locating the campgrounds I drove into Crescent City, which is about 15 minutes away on the California coast. At this point it was pouring rain. I found a hotel bar that was playing the SF Giants vs St Louis Cardinals baseball game, and I camped out to watch the Giants win. I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I have a soft spot for SF - especially the Giants (who are originally from NYC, where my mom is from). After the game I drove back to the campgrounds and found a perfect spot for the evening - nestled in between a few huge redwood trees. It was still raining hard at this point, so after a quick walk down to the Smith River I setup my bed in the car and read some pamphlets I picked up on the way into the campgrounds. I mapped out my drive and hikes for the next morning, and then I watched O Brother Where Art Thou? on my VHS player in the car. Too funny - watching VHS tapes once again...is it 1985? Sure, why not. After the movie I fell asleep to the pouring rain falling on the car. Not a bad way to end my day. 

I woke up around 7am Wednesday and ate some snack bars before driving to the first of three stops for my day - Stout Grove. Although this grove of redwoods was located across the river from the campgrounds, I had to drive about 20 minutes to get there. Luckily no one was there, and so I walked amongst the ancient trees (some as old as 2000 years) by myself. Sun coming through the tops of the trees. Birds chirping. Rain drops falling from the tops of the trees to the wet grounds below. I felt like I was in a very solemn place from the minute I stepped into the grove. Some of the fallen trees were just as beautiful as the healthy living ones, and I paid my respect to each as I passed through. Guess you could call me a tree-hugger, but I like to think I'm just a lover of nature. As I was making my loop around the grove I noticed one tree that was much bigger than all the rest. Unreal. I sat and looked at its majesty for a while, overwhelmed with emotion and peace. As I was heading back to the parking lot I saw four cars had arrived, which made me feel all the more lucky that I was there earlier and on my own. 

After Stout grove I drove down to The Big Tree Loop in Prairie Creek State Park. The drive down was breathtaking, and I stopped a few times to look at the monster ancient trees on the road. As I pulled up to the Big Tree area, I noticed a few other cars. As I walked out into the path I saw beautiful trees covered in moss. Very mystical. I walked a few feet to the base of The Big Tree, which is about 1500 years old and over 300 ft tall. Unreal. Another man walked up and we talked about the tree for a while. He had been here many years ago and was so happy to be back. He told me about some other places to see big trees, and then I had him take a pic of me. As we were talking another older man with a cane stopped and admired the tree while telling us to check out Lady Bird Johnson Grove as well. Funny - that was already my next stop, so I was happy to hear it was so great. I left the two men and walked around the Big Tree Loop for a bit. I didn't get more than 50 feet into my walk when I was stopped by another older man who told me he hadn't been here in 40 years. He said that everything was exactly how he remembered, and he was very happy to be back. Interacting with older people about their joy for these trees made me feel that much more lucky about my decision to come here. Such a special place.

I left the Big Tree and headed down to Lady Bird Johnson Grove, which provided yet again a huge and beautiful space to look at ancient redwoods. Hallowed out trees. Trees you can walk through. Such an amazing experience. I was at complete peace. After my walk through Lady Bird Johnson Grove, I decided to head to the California Coast, so I picked up Route 1 in Mendocino county and drove along the coast for about an hour. Breathtaking. I lived in SF for 10 years so I knew the coast, but I never saw it this far north. Raw. Powerful. Misty. Inspirational. I stop a few times to take in the views and the smells. Love the way the Pacific smells - saltwater air is the most refreshing. I drove for a bit more and then made my way back to the 101, which took me directly into Kentfield - a suburb of SF. My friend Derek lives with his wife and three daughters here, where I spent the night last night. I'm hanging here for the day and then going on a hike with my cousins, who live in Marin County as well. Last night was the first time I showered since Sunday, so that was amazing! It's nice to be in a loving household. Also, it's just nice to be back in the Bay Area - my home for 10 years. 

View from the Crescent City hotel bar where I was watching the SF Giants game 

My campsite at Jedediah Smith Campgrounds

Inside a redwood tree

Crater Lake and the Lost Creek

After eating a big fat burrito in Eugene I got on my bike and rode through the University of Oregon campus to check it out. Kids playing football. Protesters. Activists. Classic. The colors on the trees around campus are so beautiful right now, so it was nice to just ride around and enjoy the natural beauty. After my bike ride I jumped in the car and set my GPS for Crater Lake, which a few people have told me to go see. I got there just as the sun was going down and it was unreal. So beautiful. So peaceful. Luckily there weren't that many people around so late in the day, so I basically had the place to myself. I stopped on the many bluffs around the rim of the lake and took in the views. The sun setting. The lake, which is the deepest in the US at 1,943 feet, was being pushed around by the winds. So much beauty. On the opposite side of the road, as I drove around the lake, were some of the most dramatic tree covered mountain views. Hard to put it all into words, but it was extremely peaceful and perfect. As I was about to come back around the rim of the crater, I noticed a sign for Lost Creek Campground - only three miles away. Hm. Ok. Worth a shot. Anything's better than the Walmart parking lot from the night before, right? :) I drive into the campground, which is surrounded by beautiful trees, and notice a few people setup. The sign says that this is the last night that the campground is open for the year, so I take it as a sign that it's perfect for me right now. I pick a campsite right next to the creek, and I setup my tent so I can hear the water. I grab some firewood from another campsite and, to my surprise, I get a huge fire going. I was loving every second of this. Fire going. Perfect campsite. Peace. The stars were coming out and around 8:30pm I poured water on the fire and got into my sleeping bag. Completely content. Warm. Comfortable. Listening to the water run by me was one of the best ways to fall asleep (not to mention looking up at the stars through my tent). I woke up about an hour later to the sound of my fire...going strong. Huh? Ha. I guess I needed to really put it out more than I did, so I get more water and I really put this sucker to bed. After that I passed out and didn't wake up again until about 3am. I went to the bathroom and then noticed that I couldn't see the moon as brightly as before. The trees were making a lot of noise from the winds, and I couldn't see any stars anymore. Hm. I had read that rains might come in, so I picked up my tent and moved my sleeping quarters into the car and passed out. Woke up again around 8am, and to my surprise there wasn't any rain on the ground. Nice. I clean up and then decide to drive towards Ashland, Oregon, which is supposed to be a cute little hippie town. I'm in a cool spot called Ruby's Restaurant, and about to eat a breakfast burrito before continuing on to Jedediah Smith National Park. I'm excited to see the vastness of the redwoods, and so that's my plan for the next two days before getting down to SF. 

Seen riding my bike in Eugene, Oregon

Crater Lake! 

Caught it on the last day of operation :)

Seen on my drive to Ashland. Southern Oregon is beautiful. 

Had to pull over for this pic today...