More driving. Endless driving. Coastal scenery. Forests. Traffic. There's a lot of "Santa's" in southern Cali (Santa Paula, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica...etc...we even saw a Santa Claus Lane.). A lot of fields of fruit and vegetables. Part of the highway smelled like broccoli. Part of the highway smelled like garlic. There's a lot of field workers. A lot of towns with Spanish names. A lot of static and Spanish stations on the radio.
We pass a couple interesting towns: Castroville- Artichoke Center of the World
Buellton - Home of Split Pea Soup
When we get to Santa Paula, we stay at the Glen Tavern Inn. (http://www.glentavern.com/) We picked it out ahead of time because it was the cheapest place we could find, and only an hour and half away from Santa Monica. When we walk in there's classical music playing and it's HUGE and GORGEOUS! It's the fanciest place we've stayed at. The guy checking us in is even really friendly (and cute). There's an Italian restaurant Enzo's attached which he said the food is FANTASTIC (we ate there for dinner, and it was expensive but GOOOOOOD).
The lobby of the Inn is full of cushions and couches and lavish and luxurious chairs. The halls are covered with framed old movie posters... The hall with our room only has one room across from us...and when we enter our room, it's HUGE. It has a chandelier and each of us have our own queen-sized bed! THIS WAS THE CHEAPEST PLACE???? There's even a huge fancy sink in the bathroom...marble top and beautiful wood base with attention to details on the side. We even have a huge rustic wooden desk, and our own side tables with our own lamps. And a HUGE FLAT SCREEN TV. Yea...this place would definitely cost more anywhere else! By looking at the website I found out that they actually have murder mystery theater which I can SO SEE since when I saw the lobby I thought of the game Clue...
The next day we get a bit of a late start. Get up a bit late, get ready, get distracted by Comedy Central...and finally head out about 3ish... We drive down Hwy 1 or PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). We drove along the coast and went through Malibu! We drove to Santa Monica...and SAW the Santa Monica Pier...but didn't want to pay $8+ for an hour of parking. There were also a LOT of people. We preferred driving about 55mph along the coast with barely any people and traffic...so we turned around... We got stuck in some rush hour traffic but once we got outside of Malibu it was good again. We found a coastal entrance or beach area just outside Malibu and parked on the road...and went to the beach and got mauled by HUGE WAVES. We laughed every time one of us got knocked down. It was nice because aside from a hippie guy playing a guitar on the stairs, a couple kids jumping over waves while their mom read a book, and a few surfers we had a lot of the beach to ourselves.
Once it got a bit windier and the waves got higher we decided to leave and we drove along the coast as the sunset. :) When we got back to the Inn, I made a nice sandbox on the bathroom floor when I tried taking off my bathing suit and it took a few washes to get all the sand out of my hair...
After our showers, we also noticed our cooler nozzle was open and kinda leaked and flooded the carpet a bit...after using all the towels, it's still kind of wet. I hope it's dry by tomorrow...I don't want to be fined for flooding a room! Hopefully, it'll just remain a funny little secret. ;)
Tomorrow: Las Vegas here we come. :)
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Songs of the day: Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 & California Gurls by Katy Perry
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Day 14: Pigeon Point Lighthouse & Hostel
The main highways we're on are 101 and 1. We stay on 1 for quite awhile because it goes along the coast. It's VERY curvy and I can barely get up to 35mph before the next drastic turn comes up. Northern Cali has A LOT of forests. For awhile I feel like we're in the rainforest: narrow winding road, hardly any other vehicles, and lots of trees, fog and rain.
Every once in awhile we'd get a glimpse of the coast line and seaside cliffs and the tall, bronze, sun-bleached beach grass but then we'd quickly be engulfed in another cove of trees. We pass A LOT of vineyards...gorgeous rolling land, hills of fruit and flowers and other exotic Californian shrubbery.
As we get closer to San Francisco the traffic picks up DRASTICALLY. We go across the Golden Gate Bridge! (Which is more orangey-red rather than golden...but in all fairness, it was also EXTREMELY foggy). Going through San Francisco, we see the classic houses on the hills: all cookie-cutter with garages and standard entry ways, but all different colors. I keep thinking of the opening to Full House.
It was a really long day of driving (and through a lot of fog) but finally we get to Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero where there’s a hostel to stay at. I’m in love. Gorgeous cliffs full of flowers, shrubbery and moss. Seagulls perched. Waves crashing and receding and crashing some more…. The lighthouse is stunning. It’s old and the Parks Dept recently fully acquired it from the coast guard and are trying to collect money to repair it. It used to be well enough for tours but now they have it fenced in because they have wires holding up crucial parts of the tower. One bad storm or earthquake could take it away. I really hope they fix it. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533 This is the only site I found besides the hostel site, but I recommend calling the parks department to see what kind of donations they’re taking. It would be great for them to keep this majestic landmark. I wandered the grounds a lot and got frizzy hair from all the fog and mist. Marveled at the lighthouse (which still emits light at night and through fog) and the ocean. It’s so strange looking that far…to a line where blue meets blue. The sights, the scents…I can’t get enough.
Finally it’s too dark and the grounds are starting to close and they’ll be locking the main entrance to the hostel so we go in. We sit in the common area for a while and listen to a couple speak…German (I think) to each other. There’s a large fish tank with a huge ship on top. Lots of ocean and boat and lighthouse pictures (and a lighthouse nightlight in our bathroom). Sam and I got bunks (I claimed top) in the girl’s dormitory of the Pelican House. We’re the only ones in the room even though there are 3 sets of bunks. I feel like we’re at camp. Light’s out at 11pm. I read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned. I curiously stare at my Little Mermaid pin from Denmark, and listen to the waves outside grow. I’m suddenly taken by thoughts of seaside mermaids, and lost sea-men looking for the lighthouse on the coast. I think about how we are all light houses and our souls light the way and guide us…
The waves lull me to sleep…
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Song of the Day: Save Me San Francisco by Train
Every once in awhile we'd get a glimpse of the coast line and seaside cliffs and the tall, bronze, sun-bleached beach grass but then we'd quickly be engulfed in another cove of trees. We pass A LOT of vineyards...gorgeous rolling land, hills of fruit and flowers and other exotic Californian shrubbery.
As we get closer to San Francisco the traffic picks up DRASTICALLY. We go across the Golden Gate Bridge! (Which is more orangey-red rather than golden...but in all fairness, it was also EXTREMELY foggy). Going through San Francisco, we see the classic houses on the hills: all cookie-cutter with garages and standard entry ways, but all different colors. I keep thinking of the opening to Full House.
It was a really long day of driving (and through a lot of fog) but finally we get to Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero where there’s a hostel to stay at. I’m in love. Gorgeous cliffs full of flowers, shrubbery and moss. Seagulls perched. Waves crashing and receding and crashing some more…. The lighthouse is stunning. It’s old and the Parks Dept recently fully acquired it from the coast guard and are trying to collect money to repair it. It used to be well enough for tours but now they have it fenced in because they have wires holding up crucial parts of the tower. One bad storm or earthquake could take it away. I really hope they fix it. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533 This is the only site I found besides the hostel site, but I recommend calling the parks department to see what kind of donations they’re taking. It would be great for them to keep this majestic landmark. I wandered the grounds a lot and got frizzy hair from all the fog and mist. Marveled at the lighthouse (which still emits light at night and through fog) and the ocean. It’s so strange looking that far…to a line where blue meets blue. The sights, the scents…I can’t get enough.
Finally it’s too dark and the grounds are starting to close and they’ll be locking the main entrance to the hostel so we go in. We sit in the common area for a while and listen to a couple speak…German (I think) to each other. There’s a large fish tank with a huge ship on top. Lots of ocean and boat and lighthouse pictures (and a lighthouse nightlight in our bathroom). Sam and I got bunks (I claimed top) in the girl’s dormitory of the Pelican House. We’re the only ones in the room even though there are 3 sets of bunks. I feel like we’re at camp. Light’s out at 11pm. I read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned. I curiously stare at my Little Mermaid pin from Denmark, and listen to the waves outside grow. I’m suddenly taken by thoughts of seaside mermaids, and lost sea-men looking for the lighthouse on the coast. I think about how we are all light houses and our souls light the way and guide us…
The waves lull me to sleep…
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Song of the Day: Save Me San Francisco by Train
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Day 13: Eureka, CA
We left Julia's between 10 and 11am. We took I-5 South most of the way. Then Hwy 199....and into Cali!! We drove through Redwood National Parks (had to get out and take some pics and touch one...) and then saw the Pacific Coast!! I loved the smell of the air, in the forest and along the ocean. Along some beach there were a lot of weathered birch barks with twisted branches.
One thing I wasn't expecting: A LOT of hitchhikers. (Of course, we didn't pick any up, but it was weird to see).
Finally, we made it to Eureka, California. We're staying at a Travelodge. So far, it's a really cute (and creative) town. They have a historic downtown which we're just outside of. They're known of course for their coastal views but also their Victorian architecture. A couple reasons we picked this place: (1) The name caught our attention on the map. (2) Our camping neighbor, Wally, from Yellowstone National Park recommended it and said it was a really neat place. (3) One of Julia's friends back in Portland is originally from Eureka and also gave high recommendations.
I'm still in a "I can't believe we're in Cali" mind-set. The first song that went through my head when we were cruisin' here was California Love by 2Pac. (Aaaaand it's still stuck in my head....).
Love always and Forever,
Stephanie
One thing I wasn't expecting: A LOT of hitchhikers. (Of course, we didn't pick any up, but it was weird to see).
Finally, we made it to Eureka, California. We're staying at a Travelodge. So far, it's a really cute (and creative) town. They have a historic downtown which we're just outside of. They're known of course for their coastal views but also their Victorian architecture. A couple reasons we picked this place: (1) The name caught our attention on the map. (2) Our camping neighbor, Wally, from Yellowstone National Park recommended it and said it was a really neat place. (3) One of Julia's friends back in Portland is originally from Eureka and also gave high recommendations.
I'm still in a "I can't believe we're in Cali" mind-set. The first song that went through my head when we were cruisin' here was California Love by 2Pac. (Aaaaand it's still stuck in my head....).
Love always and Forever,
Stephanie
Day 12: Julia's Apt
It was a day in. A day of laundry. A day of reading. A day of deep thought, and some conversation. Mostly just lounging around the apartment.
Though there's a reason: mixers the night before. ;)
Always & Forever,
Stephanie
song of the day: Find Out Who Your Friends Are by Tracy Lawrence
Though there's a reason: mixers the night before. ;)
Always & Forever,
Stephanie
song of the day: Find Out Who Your Friends Are by Tracy Lawrence
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Day 11: Downtown Portland
Julia got off of work at about 1:30 and just after 2pm we headed into downtown Portland. It was kinda crazy. They have A TON of one way streets and BUS and TROLLEY ONLY lanes. There were also people walking EVERYWHERE. Finally we found a parking garage. First stop: Powell's Book Store. Julia told us this thing is about as long as a city block. She wasn't exaggerating. When you walk in there's an entire HUGE ROOM devoted to specific genre's. For instance, the Gold Room was for science fiction, fantasy and thrillers. The Blue Room was for poetry and classic literature. And it goes on and on with the Rose Room, the Orange Room, etc. You could literally get lost in this place! I, of course, spent a little time in the gold room and A LOT of my time in the blue room next to Thoreau and Whitman. I got a couple books and some post cards and Sam found one of the books from her must-have reading list and a Portland key chain.
Afterward, we trekked a couple blocks downtown (and past the little Chinatown) to get to Voodoo Doughnuts. http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.php I Think they were featured on the travel or food channel. But they have the weirdest (and most amazing!) donuts! Check out the website to view some of their menu...it's weird! And it's strictly a Portland thing. We were at their MAIN location which just had a soft reopening. It's grand opening won't be until 4th of July Weekend. I'm just glad we were able to get some of their donuts. Even if we did have to stand in line for about an hour...
After that we headed back to Julia's to relax for a bit and then we were planning on hittin' some clubs. However, after we got all dressed up we couldn't decide who was going to be DD (Designated Driver) and it would've taken us over an hour to get back downtown by bus and wayyy too expensive by cab. So we settled for the next best thing: we went to the nearest liquor store and bought whip creme flavored vodka, mango malibu rum, some juice, and some rootbeer. We came back to Julia's, played some music, and made some mixers. (Btw, whip creme vodka with rootbeer tastes just like a Rootbeer Float!)
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
We didn't really have a song of the day BUT I've been listening to Darren Hayes' new single Talk, Talk Talk....constantly....so I'll say that'll be the song for today. :)
Afterward, we trekked a couple blocks downtown (and past the little Chinatown) to get to Voodoo Doughnuts. http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.php I Think they were featured on the travel or food channel. But they have the weirdest (and most amazing!) donuts! Check out the website to view some of their menu...it's weird! And it's strictly a Portland thing. We were at their MAIN location which just had a soft reopening. It's grand opening won't be until 4th of July Weekend. I'm just glad we were able to get some of their donuts. Even if we did have to stand in line for about an hour...
After that we headed back to Julia's to relax for a bit and then we were planning on hittin' some clubs. However, after we got all dressed up we couldn't decide who was going to be DD (Designated Driver) and it would've taken us over an hour to get back downtown by bus and wayyy too expensive by cab. So we settled for the next best thing: we went to the nearest liquor store and bought whip creme flavored vodka, mango malibu rum, some juice, and some rootbeer. We came back to Julia's, played some music, and made some mixers. (Btw, whip creme vodka with rootbeer tastes just like a Rootbeer Float!)
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
We didn't really have a song of the day BUT I've been listening to Darren Hayes' new single Talk, Talk Talk....constantly....so I'll say that'll be the song for today. :)
Friday, June 24, 2011
Day 10: Seattle & Portland
So we Googled. We looked up a good place to eat in Seattle that wasn't too "touristy." And I say we succeeded. It was a place called Pearl's. It was the most adorable cafe EVER and I'm absolutely IN LOVE with it. It wasn't really near any other restaurant or really any other main drag. It was kind of nestled in a residential area. It didn't look like much from the outside but the inside was FULL OF CHARM. Nice antique-y wired chairs with plush cushions at little cafe tables and red and purple sofas. A fire place, some fountains and charm-like lighting fixtures dangling from the ceiling. The menu was written in colorful paints and chalks on a chalk board. Sam & I both ordered a crepe (hers was Hammy Wammy, mine was a DELICIOUS Mango Chicken crepe with spinach and mushrooms--which I normally don't like--but the cheese and the chicken and the mango just blended with it all so well!). We also ordered something called bubble tea. Which I'm still not entirely sure what it is. But it comes in different flavors and you can choose to have tapioca or flavored gummies at the bottom. It's slightly reminiscent of a smoothie...but milkier...and with candy. But not like a shake. It's strange but absolutely wonderful! I almost want to drive back up there for lunch tomorrow.
But I-5 traffic is AWFUL! Today was the day of interstate driving...and IT SUCKED. Going into Seattle wasn't so bad on I-90...but then coming south on I-5 to Portland....we were in BUMPER TO BUMPER rush hour traffic for at LEAST an hour and a half...though it felt longer. After we got through it though, it was actually one of my favorite roads to drive on so far. Still scenic to me and slightly reminiscent of home...
Now we are in Beaverton, which is a part of Portland. We're staying at our friend Julia's for a couple days. We met one of her roommates and a couple of her friends and sat in the living room chatting and catching up. Since we'll be here for a couple days we've planned out a couple spots to hit which I'm quite anxious for (you'll find out later..:P). Today was already made simply by the bubble tea. I can't wait until tomorrow.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Song of the day: Hello Seattle by Owl City
But I-5 traffic is AWFUL! Today was the day of interstate driving...and IT SUCKED. Going into Seattle wasn't so bad on I-90...but then coming south on I-5 to Portland....we were in BUMPER TO BUMPER rush hour traffic for at LEAST an hour and a half...though it felt longer. After we got through it though, it was actually one of my favorite roads to drive on so far. Still scenic to me and slightly reminiscent of home...
Now we are in Beaverton, which is a part of Portland. We're staying at our friend Julia's for a couple days. We met one of her roommates and a couple of her friends and sat in the living room chatting and catching up. Since we'll be here for a couple days we've planned out a couple spots to hit which I'm quite anxious for (you'll find out later..:P). Today was already made simply by the bubble tea. I can't wait until tomorrow.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Song of the day: Hello Seattle by Owl City
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 9: Yakima, WA
We leave Missoula early. Drive through more mountains on I-90...and drive through northern Idaho. We passed through it pretty quickly. We get to Spokane, WA and stop for lunch at a McDonald's that's also a gas station. The people were friendly but the McDonald's should have been bigger for the amount of business they got. The architecture in Spokane is BEAUTIFUL. McDonald's had a couple pictures hanging up of how a couple of the old streets looked and even from I-90 there are a ton of towering buildings and gorgeous churches and steeples just popping into the sky. So far a lot of Washington landscape seems a lot like Wisconsin's. Spokane reminds us a little of Milwaukee.
We decide to get off I-90 after we've well passed the mountains. We take some back roads and the scenery is hilly and then flat...and then...desert?? It seems like we should be in Nevada or Arizona by the looks of it...and just as we remarked about it, Tumbleweed blew across the road in front of us. We laughed pretty hard and took a picture of the scenery and had people try to guess what state we were in. No one guessed we were in Washington.
We made it to Yakima, WA by 5pm PDT. It's weird being 2 hours behind our "normal" time! We watched Conan while it was sunny. Now we're just chillin' at a Motel 6. Being in a car for so long (even though it's really not doin' much) is still tiring.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Song of the day: Take a Back Road--Rodney Atkins
We decide to get off I-90 after we've well passed the mountains. We take some back roads and the scenery is hilly and then flat...and then...desert?? It seems like we should be in Nevada or Arizona by the looks of it...and just as we remarked about it, Tumbleweed blew across the road in front of us. We laughed pretty hard and took a picture of the scenery and had people try to guess what state we were in. No one guessed we were in Washington.
We made it to Yakima, WA by 5pm PDT. It's weird being 2 hours behind our "normal" time! We watched Conan while it was sunny. Now we're just chillin' at a Motel 6. Being in a car for so long (even though it's really not doin' much) is still tiring.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Song of the day: Take a Back Road--Rodney Atkins
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Days 6-8: Yellowstone National Park & Missoula, MT
We stopped at a gas station in Lovell and get some ice to fill the cooler and buy some hot dogs and head off to Yellowstone National Park via the east entrance. Just a little ways down the highway we see a guy in a cowboy hat riding a horse with mountains in the distance (we are surely in the west!). Drive through more mountains...and through Cody, WY (the Rodeo Capitol of the world, in case ya didn't know. :P ).
When we get to Yellowstone, we plan on going to the Madison campground. Before that though is Old Faithful...so of course we HAVE to stop and see it. We just barely miss it and decide to wait about another hour for it to go off. It was worth it though. Geysers, steaming hot pools... Afterward, we have trouble finding a campsite. Most of em are full, which is strange because the weekend is over! But finally, we find an open spot at Indian Creek Campground. It's a nice distance away from main park traffic and no generators are allowed to be run so it's nice and quiet. (But...we end up driving a short bit up to Montana to get cash at an ATM...they don't accept cards or checks...).
Once we set up camp, we FAIL at starting a fire. We only have big chunks of wood, no kindling, and nothing to cut with...But our neighbors are friendly. Wally, Missy & their 4 year old son Luka from Colorado help us out. They share some of their wood and help us get it going. Luka keeps running up with twigs to burn and offers us "marshmallow sticks." Once the fire gets going, we cook some hot dogs. We sit and chat as it gets darker and Wally comes over and chats with us and shares his Cinnamon Schnapps.
OH, by the way, did I mention we had packed a tent and NO POLES??? Yea...so we end up sleeping in the car. After a nice fire and an AMAZING view of the stars, we go to sleep with the seats reclined and it gets COLDER & COLDER and COOOOLDER throughout the night. I can't believe how cold it gets there at night.
The next day we go to see the Upper and Lower Falls, the Petrified Tree and the Mud Volcano & Sulfur Cauldron. We do a lot of driving around the park and take walks on the trails and viewpoints. We see a lot of wildlife both days: deer, elk, buffalo walking in the middle of the streets! We also see a grizzly bear in the distance just walking through a field! We take lots of pictures. Btw, the second night we SUCCESSFULLY make and keep our own fire! Wally would be proud. ;)
We see a lot of interesting signs and hear some weird ads:
"Caution: Bears are dangerous! Do not approach. Up to $5000 fine."
"Avalanche Area: No stopping for 2 miles."
"Bugs like to eat with you. And eat you. Alive."
"Before meth, I had a brother. Now I have a thief."
After lots of exploring, we head off to Missoula, Montana on I-90 (the same interstate that goes through WI!). We picked it off the map because it sounds like a Western Diva's name. ;) We decide to squat at Ruby's Inn for the night. Back to civilization: TV, Internet, and phone reception again! (And showers!!!!)
Songs of the day:
Uhn Tis Uhn Tis Uhn Tis by Bloodhound Gang
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers
You're the One that I Want by Olivia Newton John & John Travolta <3
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
When we get to Yellowstone, we plan on going to the Madison campground. Before that though is Old Faithful...so of course we HAVE to stop and see it. We just barely miss it and decide to wait about another hour for it to go off. It was worth it though. Geysers, steaming hot pools... Afterward, we have trouble finding a campsite. Most of em are full, which is strange because the weekend is over! But finally, we find an open spot at Indian Creek Campground. It's a nice distance away from main park traffic and no generators are allowed to be run so it's nice and quiet. (But...we end up driving a short bit up to Montana to get cash at an ATM...they don't accept cards or checks...).
Once we set up camp, we FAIL at starting a fire. We only have big chunks of wood, no kindling, and nothing to cut with...But our neighbors are friendly. Wally, Missy & their 4 year old son Luka from Colorado help us out. They share some of their wood and help us get it going. Luka keeps running up with twigs to burn and offers us "marshmallow sticks." Once the fire gets going, we cook some hot dogs. We sit and chat as it gets darker and Wally comes over and chats with us and shares his Cinnamon Schnapps.
OH, by the way, did I mention we had packed a tent and NO POLES??? Yea...so we end up sleeping in the car. After a nice fire and an AMAZING view of the stars, we go to sleep with the seats reclined and it gets COLDER & COLDER and COOOOLDER throughout the night. I can't believe how cold it gets there at night.
The next day we go to see the Upper and Lower Falls, the Petrified Tree and the Mud Volcano & Sulfur Cauldron. We do a lot of driving around the park and take walks on the trails and viewpoints. We see a lot of wildlife both days: deer, elk, buffalo walking in the middle of the streets! We also see a grizzly bear in the distance just walking through a field! We take lots of pictures. Btw, the second night we SUCCESSFULLY make and keep our own fire! Wally would be proud. ;)
We see a lot of interesting signs and hear some weird ads:
"Caution: Bears are dangerous! Do not approach. Up to $5000 fine."
"Avalanche Area: No stopping for 2 miles."
"Bugs like to eat with you. And eat you. Alive."
"Before meth, I had a brother. Now I have a thief."
After lots of exploring, we head off to Missoula, Montana on I-90 (the same interstate that goes through WI!). We picked it off the map because it sounds like a Western Diva's name. ;) We decide to squat at Ruby's Inn for the night. Back to civilization: TV, Internet, and phone reception again! (And showers!!!!)
Songs of the day:
Uhn Tis Uhn Tis Uhn Tis by Bloodhound Gang
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers
You're the One that I Want by Olivia Newton John & John Travolta <3
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Days 4 & 5: Lovell, WY
We decide to head to Lovell, WY. It's not too far from Sheridan but it's closer to Yellowstone National Park. The only reason we're not heading to Yellowstone yet is because storms are supposedly raging through right now.
We drive through Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest. IT'S GORGEOUS. The views are spectacular. The roads are EXTREMELY curvy though. Parts of the road are so high up and there's no railing on the side. It starts off with seeing patches of snow....to just FEET of snow EVERYWHERE around us. Signs warning of Falling Rock and of Avalanche areas. Then when we get to the "descending"....it's a 10% grade. Low gear and CONSTANTLY on the brakes at 20mph in a lot of parts.
It was kind of scary but still really pretty and really cool. We saw it go from summer to spring to winter in less than 30 minutes. Some of the roads are "damaged" but I think the roads are pretty impeccable considering all the snow around and not even dustings on the roads! They must have amazing plow services. The road we're on is also only open seasonally. It's closed in winter. The main annoying thing was our ears popping every few minutes.
We finally make it to Lovell, WY. We stay at the Western Motel. Two nights (to wait out the storms). This is not only the cheapest place we've stayed at so far ($53/night) but also the one with the most character. Each room has it's own entrance from outside. Under each window is a flower box...with fake flowers. The room we have has the patio/picnic area right outside which is covered by a large awning and a white fence all around with fake flower boxes. The owners are an area man and his Filipino wife. They have a restaurant attached called "Cauc-Asian," where they serve American and Filipino/Asian style foods. Our room is quaint but cozy. We have a shower, a closet, and a mini fridge and microwave (even some of the hotels we were at didn't have a microwave). There's pictures of flowers and two pictures of cowboys: both of them are the same picture.
We've pretty much stayed in the hotel both days. Just waiting out the rain and watching movies. It's nice to just stay inside and relax and not worry about driving right away. We planned out some more set destinations (which you'll find out about later). Right now it's more movies....and then heading to Yellowstone tomorrow. I hope the storms will be done.
Song for Saturday 06/18--Mountain Music by Alabama
song for Sunday 06/19-- The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars
Love always & Forever,
Stephanie
We drive through Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest. IT'S GORGEOUS. The views are spectacular. The roads are EXTREMELY curvy though. Parts of the road are so high up and there's no railing on the side. It starts off with seeing patches of snow....to just FEET of snow EVERYWHERE around us. Signs warning of Falling Rock and of Avalanche areas. Then when we get to the "descending"....it's a 10% grade. Low gear and CONSTANTLY on the brakes at 20mph in a lot of parts.
It was kind of scary but still really pretty and really cool. We saw it go from summer to spring to winter in less than 30 minutes. Some of the roads are "damaged" but I think the roads are pretty impeccable considering all the snow around and not even dustings on the roads! They must have amazing plow services. The road we're on is also only open seasonally. It's closed in winter. The main annoying thing was our ears popping every few minutes.
We finally make it to Lovell, WY. We stay at the Western Motel. Two nights (to wait out the storms). This is not only the cheapest place we've stayed at so far ($53/night) but also the one with the most character. Each room has it's own entrance from outside. Under each window is a flower box...with fake flowers. The room we have has the patio/picnic area right outside which is covered by a large awning and a white fence all around with fake flower boxes. The owners are an area man and his Filipino wife. They have a restaurant attached called "Cauc-Asian," where they serve American and Filipino/Asian style foods. Our room is quaint but cozy. We have a shower, a closet, and a mini fridge and microwave (even some of the hotels we were at didn't have a microwave). There's pictures of flowers and two pictures of cowboys: both of them are the same picture.
We've pretty much stayed in the hotel both days. Just waiting out the rain and watching movies. It's nice to just stay inside and relax and not worry about driving right away. We planned out some more set destinations (which you'll find out about later). Right now it's more movies....and then heading to Yellowstone tomorrow. I hope the storms will be done.
Song for Saturday 06/18--Mountain Music by Alabama
song for Sunday 06/19-- The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars
Love always & Forever,
Stephanie
Day 3: From SD to WY
Near Murdo, SD is a place called "1880 Town." It looks like a western amusement park. You can see it from the interstate. There's also a ghost town; a billboard read: "Gas & Rocks. Next Exit." Around all these towns is apparently where Dances with Wolves was filmed.
The interstate is strange. Lots of billboards sticking out like sore thumbs in endless fields and prairie filled with (more) cattle. The towns we pass are small. No cities, no lights, and exits are rare. Just mile marker after mile marker...at 75 mph.
There's a lot of sky out here. And I wonder if prairie dogs are their state animal. I wonder what Buffalo hot dogs taste like.
We get to the Badlands today!!! We get out and climb a lot of rocks and just explore and take in all the scenery, and fresh air. It's nice to be out of the car for so long and just wander around. I finally get to use my professional DSLR and take some pictures of horses and wildlife. So this is where the buffalo roam! ;)
When we leave the Badlands we stop in Rapid City for lunch. We just type in "park" into the GPS and we found a park called "Dinosaur Park." And...we see why. They have giant dinosaurs. So we take some pictures, eat some lunch and move on.
We drive through Black Hills National Forest. We avoid as much interstate as possible and take a lot of scenic routes. We finally get to Wyoming. We stop at a Best Western in Sheridan for the night. It's difficult to get through because the whole main street is under construction and the hotel is at the other side! Finally, we get there and get comfy.
The best songs we found that fit the whole day were: Friday, I'm in Love by The Cure & Everyday is a Winding Road by Sheryl Crow.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
The interstate is strange. Lots of billboards sticking out like sore thumbs in endless fields and prairie filled with (more) cattle. The towns we pass are small. No cities, no lights, and exits are rare. Just mile marker after mile marker...at 75 mph.
There's a lot of sky out here. And I wonder if prairie dogs are their state animal. I wonder what Buffalo hot dogs taste like.
We get to the Badlands today!!! We get out and climb a lot of rocks and just explore and take in all the scenery, and fresh air. It's nice to be out of the car for so long and just wander around. I finally get to use my professional DSLR and take some pictures of horses and wildlife. So this is where the buffalo roam! ;)
When we leave the Badlands we stop in Rapid City for lunch. We just type in "park" into the GPS and we found a park called "Dinosaur Park." And...we see why. They have giant dinosaurs. So we take some pictures, eat some lunch and move on.
We drive through Black Hills National Forest. We avoid as much interstate as possible and take a lot of scenic routes. We finally get to Wyoming. We stop at a Best Western in Sheridan for the night. It's difficult to get through because the whole main street is under construction and the hotel is at the other side! Finally, we get there and get comfy.
The best songs we found that fit the whole day were: Friday, I'm in Love by The Cure & Everyday is a Winding Road by Sheryl Crow.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Friday, June 17, 2011
Day 2: South Dakota
So we explored Watertown, SD. It, in fact, has A LOT of the same stuff as Watertown, WI as far as restaurants and stores (and a Watertown High School…). We stopped at Culvers and Wal Mart and we got excited over every sign that said Watertown. Yea…
So we had lunch at a local park. It was in a nice suburban area. We watched kids play baseball and heard a man play trash cans as drums in his garage. We had lunchables and soda, ‘cause we’re just that cool.
Then we found this huge clock tower in the middle of town so we went to check it out. The clock was originally purchased from Dakota Loan and Trust Co in 1887 for $1,000 and was housed at the top of city hall in 1889. But the clock had been sold in 1965 when that city hall was demolished. However, for a South Dakota Centennial Project in 1987, Mayor Herb Jenson searched for the clock and discovered it at Gem College in Quincy Illinois and purchased it (again) for $1,000. The tower we saw it in now was constructed from contributions and pledges of at least $35/person and the total cost was $80,000. Names cover all sides of the clock tower of all the major contributions. I thought it was so funny that they purchased this clock for essentially $2,000 just to keep it as a historical landmark!
Anyway, after exploring Watertown we moved on through SD; here are the road notes:
-Did you know that random country roads in SD have names like 213th Street or 406th Avenue? And…they don’t go in order. In fact, there’s a lot of gaps in the numbers. We can’t figure out why they are numbered this way. Especially out in the middle of nowhere.
-Cows….
-Lots of flat land and straight roads. And quite a bit of flooding (we don’t think it’s marsh land…but maybe we’re wrong?)
-More cows…
-They really want us to adopt a highway.
-Pierre, SD is scenic. Finally lots of hills! Surprise from all the flat farmland for miles.
-Fields of cows…
-Cross Missouri River and enter Mountain Time Zone around 4:50 pm…er..3:50pm
-There’s a liquor store with a drive-thru.
-Re-enter central time zone about 5:00pm CDT. Time zone border isn’t apparently a straight line…
-Holy cows, South Dakota has a lot of angus!
Now, we are in Murdo, SD. At another Best Western. We got here and enjoyed the last bit of sunshine by hitting the outdoor pool here. This town has a population of about 835. It’s SMALL. They’re “business” area (Main Street) looks like an old western saloon with how the shops are all lined up and designed! They are known for this small automobile museum that we passed when we entered. This town must mostly be rural because there seems to literally be 4 roads to this town and the town mostly consists of the intersection where they meet. We went down the only road that has like 3 hotels all by each other. A few feet up the road from the Best Western is some local pizza place and also Buffalo Bar and Restaurant. We went there for dinner. Wanna know why they call it Buffalo? ….Yup…they serve it. After we ate, we had a drink at the bar to wait out the hail and rain (It’s storming again…). I noticed at the bar they have a collection tin to collect money for a dock and fishing pier in the town. We threw some change in. I think the closeness of community out here is heartwarming. In fact, (it being a small town) everyone at Buffalo knew each other, and some kids (younger than 8 maybe) that knew the bartender came in after a baseball game and played at the pool table.
Now we’re just lying in the hotel, watching TV, and listening to the thunder outside. I hope tomorrow is sunny.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Songs of the day:
Clocks by Coldplay
La Vie Bohem from Rent soundtrack
So we had lunch at a local park. It was in a nice suburban area. We watched kids play baseball and heard a man play trash cans as drums in his garage. We had lunchables and soda, ‘cause we’re just that cool.
Then we found this huge clock tower in the middle of town so we went to check it out. The clock was originally purchased from Dakota Loan and Trust Co in 1887 for $1,000 and was housed at the top of city hall in 1889. But the clock had been sold in 1965 when that city hall was demolished. However, for a South Dakota Centennial Project in 1987, Mayor Herb Jenson searched for the clock and discovered it at Gem College in Quincy Illinois and purchased it (again) for $1,000. The tower we saw it in now was constructed from contributions and pledges of at least $35/person and the total cost was $80,000. Names cover all sides of the clock tower of all the major contributions. I thought it was so funny that they purchased this clock for essentially $2,000 just to keep it as a historical landmark!
Anyway, after exploring Watertown we moved on through SD; here are the road notes:
-Did you know that random country roads in SD have names like 213th Street or 406th Avenue? And…they don’t go in order. In fact, there’s a lot of gaps in the numbers. We can’t figure out why they are numbered this way. Especially out in the middle of nowhere.
-Cows….
-Lots of flat land and straight roads. And quite a bit of flooding (we don’t think it’s marsh land…but maybe we’re wrong?)
-More cows…
-They really want us to adopt a highway.
-Pierre, SD is scenic. Finally lots of hills! Surprise from all the flat farmland for miles.
-Fields of cows…
-Cross Missouri River and enter Mountain Time Zone around 4:50 pm…er..3:50pm
-There’s a liquor store with a drive-thru.
-Re-enter central time zone about 5:00pm CDT. Time zone border isn’t apparently a straight line…
-Holy cows, South Dakota has a lot of angus!
Now, we are in Murdo, SD. At another Best Western. We got here and enjoyed the last bit of sunshine by hitting the outdoor pool here. This town has a population of about 835. It’s SMALL. They’re “business” area (Main Street) looks like an old western saloon with how the shops are all lined up and designed! They are known for this small automobile museum that we passed when we entered. This town must mostly be rural because there seems to literally be 4 roads to this town and the town mostly consists of the intersection where they meet. We went down the only road that has like 3 hotels all by each other. A few feet up the road from the Best Western is some local pizza place and also Buffalo Bar and Restaurant. We went there for dinner. Wanna know why they call it Buffalo? ….Yup…they serve it. After we ate, we had a drink at the bar to wait out the hail and rain (It’s storming again…). I noticed at the bar they have a collection tin to collect money for a dock and fishing pier in the town. We threw some change in. I think the closeness of community out here is heartwarming. In fact, (it being a small town) everyone at Buffalo knew each other, and some kids (younger than 8 maybe) that knew the bartender came in after a baseball game and played at the pool table.
Now we’re just lying in the hotel, watching TV, and listening to the thunder outside. I hope tomorrow is sunny.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Songs of the day:
Clocks by Coldplay
La Vie Bohem from Rent soundtrack
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day 1: WI, MN, SD
This is what we scribbled in the notebook today (along with highlighting our route in at the atlas):
-Half hour head-start (left at 7:30 am instead of 8am)
-Make it to Osseo, WI by 10:30am
-Go to Norske Nook for breakfast and THE BEST PIE ON EARTH
-LOTTTTTTS OF RAIN
-1:30pm Minnesota: MALL OF AMERICA
*shopping, Cinnabons, gawk at amusement park, and FINALLY SUNSHINE!
-Hit the road, pull over @ Speedway to wait out eye of huge storm. Spouts of heavy rain and sunshine.
-Bumfuck Nowhere detour somewhere in the middle of MN
-Sacred Heart's hotel looks like a rundown apartment building, and their museum looks like a church
-WATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA: Ramkota Hotel Best Western."
We'll be exploring more of Watertown, SD tomorrow. So far we like it: it's like being in the twilight zone because it's so similar to Watertown, WI! For now, though, we're gonna relax in our individual queen sized beds and call it a night.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
SONG OF THE DAY: (there's 2 today) Anywhere for You-by Backstreet Boys
Rain is a Good Thing-Luke Bryan
-Half hour head-start (left at 7:30 am instead of 8am)
-Make it to Osseo, WI by 10:30am
-Go to Norske Nook for breakfast and THE BEST PIE ON EARTH
-LOTTTTTTS OF RAIN
-1:30pm Minnesota: MALL OF AMERICA
*shopping, Cinnabons, gawk at amusement park, and FINALLY SUNSHINE!
-Hit the road, pull over @ Speedway to wait out eye of huge storm. Spouts of heavy rain and sunshine.
-Bumfuck Nowhere detour somewhere in the middle of MN
-Sacred Heart's hotel looks like a rundown apartment building, and their museum looks like a church
-WATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA: Ramkota Hotel Best Western."
We'll be exploring more of Watertown, SD tomorrow. So far we like it: it's like being in the twilight zone because it's so similar to Watertown, WI! For now, though, we're gonna relax in our individual queen sized beds and call it a night.
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
SONG OF THE DAY: (there's 2 today) Anywhere for You-by Backstreet Boys
Rain is a Good Thing-Luke Bryan
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
by Robert Frost
Busy day of packing and running errands. Exhausted. We leave at 8am. Talk to you tomorrow!
Always & Forever,
Stephanie
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Counting Down...
Hello followers and random page readers, Sam here. Steph will be writing most (if not all) the rest of the blogs since she is the writer/English major between the two of us. Even though I am more so a math major and usually despised having to write essays in com skills and literature classes, I figured I would post at least one of my own on this site.
It’s less than one week until we start the trip. We are both extremely excited to be so close to the leaving date. Most things needed are in check; grocery list made for food to carry in cooler when we don’t want to eat out, list of necessary items to pack that we can’t easily buy elsewhere, estimated budget calculated and (roughly) met, my license renewed, Steph’s car checked and oil changed. This weekend we’re going to have one last hoorah with our friends (and the bartenders at a few of our favorite local bars). Then Tuesday is packing day, and Wednesday we head out bright and early around 7:00 or 8:00am CDT.
Steph and I agree the 15th can’t come soon enough. The past month we have been so eager about the whole event. The two of us cannot stop thinking about the experiences we will have, the people we will meet, and the stories that will be shared by the local towns’ people. There are obviously a few fears as well: running out of money part way through, getting lost/stranded in a creepy back alley neighborhood in one of the few large cities we visit, or even getting mugged (a couple of friends suggested we carry mace and my mom said to use hairspray). That’s when we think positive and say, “It’s just another story to tell.”
So here we all are with about 5 days to go. I am patiently waiting for the day to come, but damn it cannot come quick enough. We are ready for you western America, so bring us what you’ve got.
Yours Truly,
Samantha
It’s less than one week until we start the trip. We are both extremely excited to be so close to the leaving date. Most things needed are in check; grocery list made for food to carry in cooler when we don’t want to eat out, list of necessary items to pack that we can’t easily buy elsewhere, estimated budget calculated and (roughly) met, my license renewed, Steph’s car checked and oil changed. This weekend we’re going to have one last hoorah with our friends (and the bartenders at a few of our favorite local bars). Then Tuesday is packing day, and Wednesday we head out bright and early around 7:00 or 8:00am CDT.
Steph and I agree the 15th can’t come soon enough. The past month we have been so eager about the whole event. The two of us cannot stop thinking about the experiences we will have, the people we will meet, and the stories that will be shared by the local towns’ people. There are obviously a few fears as well: running out of money part way through, getting lost/stranded in a creepy back alley neighborhood in one of the few large cities we visit, or even getting mugged (a couple of friends suggested we carry mace and my mom said to use hairspray). That’s when we think positive and say, “It’s just another story to tell.”
So here we all are with about 5 days to go. I am patiently waiting for the day to come, but damn it cannot come quick enough. We are ready for you western America, so bring us what you’ve got.
Yours Truly,
Samantha
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