Skipping Right Along

    Last night I sat down to blog about Yosemite and Bishop, but realized I was SO TIRED, and the things that are happening now are SO FUN, and really, I do not feel like trying to describe that time in one blog right now. So much happened. So much has happened. For now I am going to skip ahead to where we are, which is driving across this great (big) nation. 

First was the desert, and a lot of it. We cruised right passed Vegas (with a stop outside the city for Alien Jerkey), and made it to St. George, Utah faster than I had expected. 

I am a new, official fan of St. George. Surrounded by beautiful red stripped sandstone, filled with history, big enough for local shops to thrive and filled with kind people. Brigham himself was there to welcome us. We had a nice conversation. Totally friends now.

We stayed in a fancy hotel because the price was good, and ate at a place called George's downtown.  Everyone should know, I LOVE GEORGE'S.  The waiter actually laughed at me a little because I was so enthusiastic. It was just one of those perfect, delicious but not overkill, local joints. We had SPICY stuffed jalapeno's that were the best I've ever had, and I got a lamb burger with curry mayo and a super delicious salad. I mean, yeah, I was totally road weary and hungry so anything would have tasted good, but this was seriously great. Plus, feeding travelers is in it's history, so I felt like I was living out it's tradition. We also were there for the end of the Heat v. Spurs game, and I'm not really into basketball (or sports), but DANG that ending was crazy!

                                      

The next morning we drove through Utah, and into Colorado. My excitement level at the stone was pretty high, and makes me think that I'm going to be PRETTY pumped about the Grand Canyon next month. 

THEN WE SAW SOME ROCK THAT HAD DINOSAUR BONES!! Anyone who doesn't think dinos are awesome is a fool (if that's you, I'm really sorry and I take it back, but come on). We stopped at Dinosaur Hill in Fuita, CO, where a Brachiosaurus was excavated in 1906. It was 96 degrees, windy and wonderful. It was also free, which the dino museum was not. Below is me looking totally adventurous and cool. 

Finally at 9PM we made it into Boulder, found out that the room we thought we had we did not have, and learned that all rooms in Boulder were booked except for a few at this hotel, Boulder Outlook. It was so weird. There was a pool right in the middle, so it was humid and smelled like chlorine. Scott described it as an overpriced hostel, and when he said that I thought, YES. It was just like that. Really cool in some ways (zero waste, health conscious- except the fumes), and totally not in some ways (aforementioned fumes, no elevator, no privacy). An interesting experience, and good enough place to crash after 12 hours in the car, anyway. 

    And here I am now, on a bed at our next hotel in Fort Collins, blog updated! Shabam. Perfect timing to go hit up some Breweries.

                          Ciao.

The First Update: Big Sur

 A friend laughed at me last night when I said I had a blog, and asked when the last time was that I updated it. Okay, so I AM terrible at this thing, but at least I know someone is looking. Thanks, Alexia. :)

We left two weeks ago today, and it has been a FULL trip. To make it manageable, here is a short recap of Big Sur to start:

Tuesday, June 4: We barely fit everything into the van, adding two people to the trip (one on his way to move to Taiwan), and took off to Big Sur. I got a little crazy with the need to organize, the stress of driving Betty up and down hills (she STRUGGLED) and not enough alone time, and may have cried at the end of this portion. Sometimes you need to do it.

 The next day we hiked a trail that I took last summer when I lead backpacking trips. Last year it was high schoolers, this year it was friends. Not that I didn't love the high schoolers, but hiking with people who WANT to be there is a whole other thing. The wildflowers there are AMAZING! Columbine is my favorite. They are so intricate and vibrant. I was also very happy to see Indian Paintbrush and Sticky Monkey. I also might have given Scott a berry that I THOUGHT was coffee berry, but we don't have to talk about that, do we? Everything was fine. The ranger thought it WAS coffee berry. Let's move on.

       Betty did great, even though I stressed, and was like home the whole time.

    Since Big Sur we have been to Yosemite, Bishop, Atascadero and Orange County. I am very behind in all this, but I least I started. All of the Yosemite adventure (climbing in 101 degrees and thunder, things like that), will be next. For now I need to pack, because we were supposed to leave twenty minutes ago for Utah, and I haven't packed yet. Blogging isn't the only thing that I fall behind in.


Love Meg

I am. . .

turning 27 in twelve days.

moving into a van in 1 day.

sleeping at my house 0 more nights.

anxious.

thrilled.

sad.

nostalgic.

much more "Santa Cruz" then I was one year ago.

going to teach Scott how to drive stick this week.

headed to two of my favorite places in the world.

so terribly sad to say goodbye.

so very excited to drive into the sunset. or sunrise. or afternoon. whenever.