California

It's been a few days since my last post. It's much easier to find the time to write when I'm camping and without distractions. Since I left Yellowstone 5 days ago I've gotten all the way to Phoenix, by way of San Francisco. Let's catch up on the last few days.

After leaving Yellowstone Wednesday and driving by the Grand Tetons I drove west from Jackson, WY and across southern Idaho where my Grandfather was born. I then turned south towards Salt Lake City. As I neared SLC I realized that I would not make it to my goal of Elko, Nevada that night. Unfortunately there isn't really any camping between SLC and Elko so I had to get a hotel just over the border of Nevada in Wendover. I got a room in a casino where I watched the Wings get eliminated from the playoffs.

Thursday I woke up and kept heading west on I-80 through Nevada. It was a long drive and the rugged arid mountains were not as entertaining as the lush green mountains from the day before. Eventually I made it to the California border where the landscape again turned into more appealing forms.

Mackay Stadium - Reno

The American West has so many climates and environments that each day of this trip brings a new type of beauty to me. I'm lucky to have this opportunity to experience it all now because the last 1/2 of my trip will be much flatter and less visually appealing.

That evening I arrived in Berkeley and checked in at the hotel where Carly's brother was getting married. It was a few blocks from the campus of Cal, so after hauling my stuff up to the room I set out on a walk around campus. I then spent the evening with Carly's family while waiting on her to fly in from Seattle.

California Memorial Stadium - Berkeley

On Friday I helped Carly's family set up for the rehearsal dinner which we had in a large park. It took most of the morning to get set up, and then most of the afternoon to go to the rehearsal and most of the evening to enjoy the pizza and beer in the park. As simple as pizza and beer in the park sounds, it was about 2 van-fulls of gear that we had to haul there and get set up and it was a really nice rehearsal dinner complete with drinking game Olympics (boccie ball, croquet, beer pong, cornhole).

The day of the wedding Carly had to leave early to be with the bride. I walked around Berkeley and then got ready. The wedding was a full catholic mass but as a reward for all the sitting and standing, the reception had a Manhattan as their signature cocktail which I enjoyed thoroughly. It was ie to meet some of Carly's friends and family including her host parents from when she studied abroad in Denmark. I spent a good deal of time with them and sat with them at the wedding. I think if  I make it to Copenhagen this fall I will visit them.

Rose Bowl - Pasadena

On Sunday I had to say goodbye to Carly for the next 4 months which was really hard. Luckily as a man I have mastered my emotions, but it wasn't easy knowing we wouldn't see each other all summer.

I drove south through the California Valley towards LA and then east. I was going to stay in Seqouia national park but I made such good time that I got all the way to Joshua Tree. Which was good because it made it an easy drive today and Joshua Tree was amazing. Desert camping is way different than woodland camping and it was pretty warm all night. I got to sleep without my rain-fly on my tent and stare at the stars. Sunset and nighttime in the desert was awesome. I can totally see why people go there do their drugs.

Today I made a quick 5 hour drive to Phoenix where I spent the afternoon at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Scottsdale. They have a pool, shower, laundry facilities, wi-fi and beer. Talk about hospitality. We are going to go out to dinner and then afterwards I'm going over to my old co-workers Jon's house for the night. Jon was a big inspiration for the trip and I've only seen him once since he moved down here from Seattle last year.

Joshua Tree Campsite