Day 40-
We left Colorado and jusr drove east. I listened to Pink Floyd's "Darkside of the Moon" the whole time we drove through Kansas. I really wanted to check out the Wizard of Oz museum but it was a little out of our way and I felt that it would mostly be a collection of memorabilia.
We got dinner at R.J.'s Bob-Be-Que Shack in Mission, Kansas just before we entered Missouri. It was really good barbeque. It helped get us through the night. I was awake when we drove by St. Louis at night. The Stan Musial Veteran's Bridge was beautiful! I would like to come back and explore St. Louis.
Day 41-
We drove through the night. I thought we were going to go Asheville in the morning but plans changed. We have to drive through thick fog in the Smoky Mountains at dawn. We went to Hooker Falls by Brevard, NC. We were travel weary and ready to go home. This was a quick stop. We swam under the waterfall and even learned how to crawl behind it and slide under the waterfall into the base. There was a daring family that taught us. They were diving from the top of the waterfall into the bottom. It was cold and after our previous jump in California I had enough of silly risks.
We got to the Chapel Hill area that evening and reunited with Christina's old room mate. We had dinner at The Pig Restaurant. We enjoyed more barbeque and I tried their gumbo and mac-n-cheese. We went out that night but I was pretty finished with being social.
Day 42-
Last day. We finished watching Season 2 of Orange is the New Black. I wandered down Franklin Street while we finish some last business in Chapel Hill. We completed the tradition of ordering food from the Mediterranean Deli to take home.
It was the hardest part of the trip to come home. I sat in silence in the passenger seat as I reflected. I had no where to run to. I would come back home and face everything that I had left behind. I was sad. We also hit the worst traffic in our entire trip during the last ride. There was traffic on I-495 between Northern Virginia and our destination. Eventually we made it through and arrived home.
It was an intense six week period. We did a lot. All I wanted to do was get home and do nothing. The traveler's depression was creeping in with the exhaustion. I wish I had a happier homecoming. I had a happy trip.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
7.24-27.14 Boulder, CO (Denver, CO)
Day 37 (PM)-
We drove through the day and the one thing we most looked forward to was eating at the first Chipotle in Denver, Colorado. We held off eating Chipotle the whole summer because we really wanted to make this experience special. I ordered a quesarito. They took a tortilla and made a quesadilla and wrapped my burrito within. There was melted cheese in every single bite of my burrito... so delicious.
I got in touch with my old friend from high school, Fidel. We met up at their brother's house. He took us to the Flatirons overlooking Boulder, Colorado. We saw the sunset and then explored downtown Pearl Street. We saw a street performer that juggled fire. Fidel took us to a few fun places in downtown. We went into a candy store that has nearly every soda flavor imaginable. It is called Rocket Fizz. They had fun toys and gadgets too. We checked out Pearl Street Pub and tried their fried mac-n-cheese. It was good. It had a dive bar feeling with low basement ceilings and games like darts and pool. We met with some of the taco tribe at Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub & Restaurant. There was a reggae band performing. There were a lot of young drunk people. I was happy to spend sometime with the lovely taco family. They had been exploring Colorado and fell in love with Boulder. We still didn't have a place to stay in Boulder but hoped for the best. I figured I could try the taco route and befriend their hosts. All we needed was some floor space. Eventually we pieced together some couchsurfing hosts. We ended up sleeping in my minivan that night. We quickly checked out one more place before we left downtown Boulder. Press Play is an arcade theme bar. They had walls lined with video game machines and arcade games. There was a live karaoke band playing that night. I don't sing karaoke and we had a long day. Their decor was really cool.
Day 38-
We went to Red Rock Amphitheater early in the morning outside of Denver. I know that I will return and experience a concert at this venue one day. There were so many people there exercising on the steps. Christina took the opportunity to run. It was insane! Afterwards, we went to the Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium where the Broncos play. Christina explored their sports museum. We went to Masterpiece Deli for lunch. We split a Beef Brisket Sandwich and a salad. They even had horchata in their fountain soda machine.
We connected with our couchsurfing host. He hosted many travels and was also a traveler. He was into bicycles and had several in his garage. It was a great opportunity for Christina to learn how to ride a bike. It was the first time I rode a bike in possibly over 10 years. We decided to try the local option of riding bicycles to Avery Brewing Tap Room. It was my first time riding a bike on a main road. Christina rode a tandem with our host. At the brewery we enjoyed several rounds of samplers. I really enjoyed their "The Reverend Belgian-Style Quad." We befriended a couple that recently moved to Boulder from Northern Virginia. We invited them to join us for a hike the next day.
Day 39-
We met the next morning at Moe's Broadway Bagel. Fidel would be our guide to the top of Bear Peak. The summit as at 8460 ft. we began our hike near 5000 ft. It was intense. There were large rocks to climb. I am afraid of heights so that was something else I had to deal with as we got higher and higher. It was totally worth it. The view was amazing. We saw the entire city and the Rocky Mountain range. We stopped inside NCAR, the National Center for Atmospheric Research after our hike. The had really cool exhibits. You could feel what a cloud felt like in one of the exhibits.
We went to Odd 13 Brewing for dinner in Lafayette, CO. Our bodies needed carbs. They had an amazing pizza food truck in their patio that day. Odd 13 has a food truck rotation. We were lucky that there was pizza that night. I learned that I really like the pineapple, pepperoni, jalapeno styling. As for beers, Odd 13 creates brew personalities like superheroes and villains. I really liked the "Big Jim." Fidel's family came and joined us at the brewery.
We had to leave to connect with a different host for this night. They were at work and their friend who is also hosting and made the connection would meet to give us his apartment key. He was really welcoming and made us feel at home. We binged on "Orange is the New Black before going to sleep. Out host had previous plans that night. We didn't connect for long since we had to leave really early in the morning.
Day 40 (AM)-
The last place we checked out in Colorado was Glazed & Confused Donuts in Denver, CO. We bought a box full of donuts for the long ride back east. They have so many different flavors and styles. They even have their version of the cronut called puffy nut. It was sweet.
We drove through the day and the one thing we most looked forward to was eating at the first Chipotle in Denver, Colorado. We held off eating Chipotle the whole summer because we really wanted to make this experience special. I ordered a quesarito. They took a tortilla and made a quesadilla and wrapped my burrito within. There was melted cheese in every single bite of my burrito... so delicious.
I got in touch with my old friend from high school, Fidel. We met up at their brother's house. He took us to the Flatirons overlooking Boulder, Colorado. We saw the sunset and then explored downtown Pearl Street. We saw a street performer that juggled fire. Fidel took us to a few fun places in downtown. We went into a candy store that has nearly every soda flavor imaginable. It is called Rocket Fizz. They had fun toys and gadgets too. We checked out Pearl Street Pub and tried their fried mac-n-cheese. It was good. It had a dive bar feeling with low basement ceilings and games like darts and pool. We met with some of the taco tribe at Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub & Restaurant. There was a reggae band performing. There were a lot of young drunk people. I was happy to spend sometime with the lovely taco family. They had been exploring Colorado and fell in love with Boulder. We still didn't have a place to stay in Boulder but hoped for the best. I figured I could try the taco route and befriend their hosts. All we needed was some floor space. Eventually we pieced together some couchsurfing hosts. We ended up sleeping in my minivan that night. We quickly checked out one more place before we left downtown Boulder. Press Play is an arcade theme bar. They had walls lined with video game machines and arcade games. There was a live karaoke band playing that night. I don't sing karaoke and we had a long day. Their decor was really cool.
Day 38-
We went to Red Rock Amphitheater early in the morning outside of Denver. I know that I will return and experience a concert at this venue one day. There were so many people there exercising on the steps. Christina took the opportunity to run. It was insane! Afterwards, we went to the Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium where the Broncos play. Christina explored their sports museum. We went to Masterpiece Deli for lunch. We split a Beef Brisket Sandwich and a salad. They even had horchata in their fountain soda machine.
We connected with our couchsurfing host. He hosted many travels and was also a traveler. He was into bicycles and had several in his garage. It was a great opportunity for Christina to learn how to ride a bike. It was the first time I rode a bike in possibly over 10 years. We decided to try the local option of riding bicycles to Avery Brewing Tap Room. It was my first time riding a bike on a main road. Christina rode a tandem with our host. At the brewery we enjoyed several rounds of samplers. I really enjoyed their "The Reverend Belgian-Style Quad." We befriended a couple that recently moved to Boulder from Northern Virginia. We invited them to join us for a hike the next day.
Day 39-
We met the next morning at Moe's Broadway Bagel. Fidel would be our guide to the top of Bear Peak. The summit as at 8460 ft. we began our hike near 5000 ft. It was intense. There were large rocks to climb. I am afraid of heights so that was something else I had to deal with as we got higher and higher. It was totally worth it. The view was amazing. We saw the entire city and the Rocky Mountain range. We stopped inside NCAR, the National Center for Atmospheric Research after our hike. The had really cool exhibits. You could feel what a cloud felt like in one of the exhibits.
We went to Odd 13 Brewing for dinner in Lafayette, CO. Our bodies needed carbs. They had an amazing pizza food truck in their patio that day. Odd 13 has a food truck rotation. We were lucky that there was pizza that night. I learned that I really like the pineapple, pepperoni, jalapeno styling. As for beers, Odd 13 creates brew personalities like superheroes and villains. I really liked the "Big Jim." Fidel's family came and joined us at the brewery.
We had to leave to connect with a different host for this night. They were at work and their friend who is also hosting and made the connection would meet to give us his apartment key. He was really welcoming and made us feel at home. We binged on "Orange is the New Black before going to sleep. Out host had previous plans that night. We didn't connect for long since we had to leave really early in the morning.
Day 40 (AM)-
The last place we checked out in Colorado was Glazed & Confused Donuts in Denver, CO. We bought a box full of donuts for the long ride back east. They have so many different flavors and styles. They even have their version of the cronut called puffy nut. It was sweet.
7.23-24.14 Albuquerque, NM & Santa Fe, NM (Four Corners Monument)
Day 36-
Next stop: Four Corners Monument
We took a little detour by the Little Colorado River Gorge. We bought some crafts from the vendors at the Artisan Market. Hours later we arrived to the Four Corners. We each paid the $5 entrance fee and took our pictures while standing on Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico simultaneously. We shared some fry bread and I hooped in the desert before we continued on the journey.
More hours of driving and snacking in the minivan. We arrived in Albuquerque in the evening. We met our host, a friend of a friend. They were kind enough to host us on short notice. Christina and I still needed food so we went to a Mexican restaurant, Tacos Mex Y Mariscos. I ordered a plate of chicken flautas with rice, beans, and salad. I ate everything on that plate. During dinner we planned a self-guided Breaking Bad tour of ABQ.
We drove the Walter White's house, ate chicken nuggets at the Twister's that they used as Los Pollos Hermanos, Jesse Pinkman's house and Marble Brewery where Brian Cranston and the crew would frequent for drinks.
We met back at our host's home where I tagged along with him around the corner to briefly meet more of my friend's friends. I got more of an insight into his hard core punk glory days. It was good night.
Day 37 (AM)-
We woke up early to begin the travel north. In the haze and lack of routine, I left my keys on top of the van. They flew off somewhere on Interstate 25 as we were leaving Albuquerque. I realized my loss when we arrived in Santa Fe, NM. I was really upset but thankful we had brought two sets of car keys. To New Mexico - I leave my set of keys and big key chains.
In Santa Fe, we visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. I appreciate learning about her as an individual and not just her paintings. She was amazing. I thought it was interesting to study her struggle with identity in her time. As Alfred Stieglitz's wife and model, she was completely sexualized and that was how the public was introduced to her. She was a strong figure but critics could not see beyond that aspect of her femininity. Her paintings and genres did not captivate me before. They still feel like flowers and landscapes. I appreciate her use of color. I appreciate her life. I appreciate her strength and power.
After losing my keys, I was still in a funk. There is so much to see in Santa Fe. We wandered through the plaza and found Palacio Cafe for lunch. I got a vegetarian santawich with toasted whole wheat bread, avocado, tomato, arugula, cucumber, red pepper, onions, sprouts, and a honey mustard vinaigrette. I picked up a few brochures from the art museums. I know I will come back to Santa Fe one day.
Next stop: Four Corners Monument
We took a little detour by the Little Colorado River Gorge. We bought some crafts from the vendors at the Artisan Market. Hours later we arrived to the Four Corners. We each paid the $5 entrance fee and took our pictures while standing on Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico simultaneously. We shared some fry bread and I hooped in the desert before we continued on the journey.
More hours of driving and snacking in the minivan. We arrived in Albuquerque in the evening. We met our host, a friend of a friend. They were kind enough to host us on short notice. Christina and I still needed food so we went to a Mexican restaurant, Tacos Mex Y Mariscos. I ordered a plate of chicken flautas with rice, beans, and salad. I ate everything on that plate. During dinner we planned a self-guided Breaking Bad tour of ABQ.
We drove the Walter White's house, ate chicken nuggets at the Twister's that they used as Los Pollos Hermanos, Jesse Pinkman's house and Marble Brewery where Brian Cranston and the crew would frequent for drinks.
We met back at our host's home where I tagged along with him around the corner to briefly meet more of my friend's friends. I got more of an insight into his hard core punk glory days. It was good night.
Day 37 (AM)-
We woke up early to begin the travel north. In the haze and lack of routine, I left my keys on top of the van. They flew off somewhere on Interstate 25 as we were leaving Albuquerque. I realized my loss when we arrived in Santa Fe, NM. I was really upset but thankful we had brought two sets of car keys. To New Mexico - I leave my set of keys and big key chains.
In Santa Fe, we visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. I appreciate learning about her as an individual and not just her paintings. She was amazing. I thought it was interesting to study her struggle with identity in her time. As Alfred Stieglitz's wife and model, she was completely sexualized and that was how the public was introduced to her. She was a strong figure but critics could not see beyond that aspect of her femininity. Her paintings and genres did not captivate me before. They still feel like flowers and landscapes. I appreciate her use of color. I appreciate her life. I appreciate her strength and power.
After losing my keys, I was still in a funk. There is so much to see in Santa Fe. We wandered through the plaza and found Palacio Cafe for lunch. I got a vegetarian santawich with toasted whole wheat bread, avocado, tomato, arugula, cucumber, red pepper, onions, sprouts, and a honey mustard vinaigrette. I picked up a few brochures from the art museums. I know I will come back to Santa Fe one day.
7.21-22.14 Grand Canyon, AZ
Day 34-
We left Los Angeles this morning. We survived our adventures in the city of angels. Took showers. Ate a delicious kale & avocado salad at a restaurant called Green Peas. They had really refreshing water with fresh orange slices. We enjoyed listening to the radio music on the freeway on our way east. It was the perfect drive.
The desert began to unfold before us. We began a journey similar to the one in "Wristcutters" and made Gogol Bordello our soundtrack to the desert. We arrived to the Grand Canyon after sunset. We found a campsite outside of the National Park. I really appreciate that they were available and free considering all the campgrounds in the Grand Canyon were full. The stars were brilliant. We rested on the warm hood of the minivan. Applying heat to our sore bodies. This would be our third night sleeping in the van. It was dark, we were tired, we would rise early in the morning to watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon.
Day 35-
We woke up at 4:30am and drove to Grandview Point to watch the sunrise. We climbed down to find a spot for ourselves. It was inspiring to watch that disk rise over the horizon.
After the sunrise we figured that we would explore the visitor's center to educate ourselves about this site. Along the way we found a pull out that gave us a beautiful view. We stretched our sore bodies. We did a few yoga poses along the edge, facing the sun. I played with my hoop overlooking the canyon. It felt glorious. I love hooping! I had completely forgotten all the pain and trauma my body had experienced the other day.
At the visitors center we learned about the site. We made plans for the next 24 hours considering that we still did not know exactly where we would be staying in New Mexico. Originally we were going to leave the Grand Canyon after sunrise and continue exploring the southwest. we both felt that it would be an injustice so we decided to spend the day there and leave the next morning.
We bought souvenirs at the market before we even started to explore the park. We boarded a shuttle that would take us down Hermit Road - FROM HERMIT FALLS TO HERMIT ROAD.
We got off the shuttle at Powell's Point and began our hike along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We barely made it to the next stop before we found our own point along the Grand Canyon. I cleverly called it Powellopi Point because it was between Poweel and Hopi.
We hiked all the way to Monument Creek Vista and hopped on the shuttle to get us back to the visitor center. I passed out completely on the ride. I was exhausted.
We visited the Tusayan Museum & Ruins and the Yavapai Geology Museum before getting ready to enjoy the sunset. We found another point and I laid down to enjoy the view. The light passing through the canyon was beautiful. Red stone illuminated. The Colorado River glowed. There were blue shadows. The sun sank back into the horizon.
We were hoping to stay out late to see the stars but the clouds started rolling in. I am also afraid of the dark. A shuttle picked us up on our hike back. We joined the party bus and got a ride back to our car. Another night sleeping in our van. We would drive out early the next morning.
We left Los Angeles this morning. We survived our adventures in the city of angels. Took showers. Ate a delicious kale & avocado salad at a restaurant called Green Peas. They had really refreshing water with fresh orange slices. We enjoyed listening to the radio music on the freeway on our way east. It was the perfect drive.
The desert began to unfold before us. We began a journey similar to the one in "Wristcutters" and made Gogol Bordello our soundtrack to the desert. We arrived to the Grand Canyon after sunset. We found a campsite outside of the National Park. I really appreciate that they were available and free considering all the campgrounds in the Grand Canyon were full. The stars were brilliant. We rested on the warm hood of the minivan. Applying heat to our sore bodies. This would be our third night sleeping in the van. It was dark, we were tired, we would rise early in the morning to watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon.
Day 35-
We woke up at 4:30am and drove to Grandview Point to watch the sunrise. We climbed down to find a spot for ourselves. It was inspiring to watch that disk rise over the horizon.
After the sunrise we figured that we would explore the visitor's center to educate ourselves about this site. Along the way we found a pull out that gave us a beautiful view. We stretched our sore bodies. We did a few yoga poses along the edge, facing the sun. I played with my hoop overlooking the canyon. It felt glorious. I love hooping! I had completely forgotten all the pain and trauma my body had experienced the other day.
At the visitors center we learned about the site. We made plans for the next 24 hours considering that we still did not know exactly where we would be staying in New Mexico. Originally we were going to leave the Grand Canyon after sunrise and continue exploring the southwest. we both felt that it would be an injustice so we decided to spend the day there and leave the next morning.
We bought souvenirs at the market before we even started to explore the park. We boarded a shuttle that would take us down Hermit Road - FROM HERMIT FALLS TO HERMIT ROAD.
We got off the shuttle at Powell's Point and began our hike along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We barely made it to the next stop before we found our own point along the Grand Canyon. I cleverly called it Powellopi Point because it was between Poweel and Hopi.
We hiked all the way to Monument Creek Vista and hopped on the shuttle to get us back to the visitor center. I passed out completely on the ride. I was exhausted.
We visited the Tusayan Museum & Ruins and the Yavapai Geology Museum before getting ready to enjoy the sunset. We found another point and I laid down to enjoy the view. The light passing through the canyon was beautiful. Red stone illuminated. The Colorado River glowed. There were blue shadows. The sun sank back into the horizon.
We were hoping to stay out late to see the stars but the clouds started rolling in. I am also afraid of the dark. A shuttle picked us up on our hike back. We joined the party bus and got a ride back to our car. Another night sleeping in our van. We would drive out early the next morning.
7.20.14 Hermit Falls & Sunset Beach (Los Angeles, CA)
Day 33-
I am alive. I meditated on the duality of being. I was in a place where I could choose to either do something or not do it. There was no such thing as trying. Either I jump or I don't jump. It was my choice to make. Complete freewill.
We began our day with clean laundry and relaxation. Waiting for the moment our friends would meet us to journey together. Once they arrived, we followed them to pick up a friend. We took advantage of their need to refuel to fuel our bodies with food. We went to Shanghai Dumpling House in San Gabriel to share a meal.
We followed James to the trail in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was a steep and narrow winding trail that led downhill to Hermit Falls. At the end of the hike, we arrived to a local summer hangout. Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing on someone's speakers. It was a Sunday afternoon. Christina was preparing her for the jump. I was just taking in the moment perfectly at peace between action and inaction. I would either jump or not jump. We sat on a boulder cliff overlooking a 55 foot drop into a 12 foot deep pool of fresh water.
The people there were jumping in, challenging each other to jump or just spectators. After a while Christina was almost ready. She hung around the edge of the cliff. I stayed far away. I knew that looking over the cliff would have scared me. Eventually she was in position and people were cheering, counting down her jump. She did it.
I talked to Chavo about his experience. I wanted to have that in my life. Christina came back alive. I knew i had made it this far. I knew that I probably wouldn't be there again with friends that i trusted. I would not have this opportunity again. I decided to stand up and do it,
My last thought was "I am afraid of heights." I looked at a rock ledge jutting out directly beneath trying to will myself to keep my legs straight like a pencil as I dropped. My fall wasn't as long as others had led me to believe. I didn't have enough time to straighten my body vertically. The wind picked up my legs. I broke the surface of the water with my butt and brutalized the exposed flesh on the back of my thighs. I was scared when I jumped. I liked the moment underwater waiting for the water to lift me back up to the surface. I emerged from the water to the affirmation that I had completely failed the pencil method. I learned that I did not know how to cliff jump. I was a leap of faith. I sat along the edge and let the cold water cool my bruised thighs.
When I was ready, I made my way towards a rock that had been tagged by Banksy. I stood on it knowing that "BANKSY WAS HERE." Eventually after awkwardly standing there, I decided I needed to climb back up and meet with my friends. A child climbing down passed me the rope and helped me up. I survived. I was still alive. Christina and I would be the only ones from our group to make the jump that day. Some had experienced it and knew themselves and the current state of their bodies to handle the impact. We still had to hike back up the mountain.
We recollected at our cars and made plans for the evening. It would be the last night on the West Coast for 3 of us. We decided to go to Sunset Beach to enjoy ice cream while watching the sunset. The entire drive, I reflected upon my experience. I saw myself in the rearview mirror as the road unfolded before us. I was sitting behind the driver in the back seat. He had selected the perfect music for that moment. I saw the vision that I had seen in my dreams earlier in the trip. The woman without a face. I had become her. She was me. I was cold. The wind blew my hair across my face. The reflection of my shawl was superimposed over my face. I thought about the entire trip and all the stupid things I had done in my life. I was ready to grow up. I love my life. I took the jump and I was ready. The fall left me bruised and sore. I was thankful to be alive. I kept discovering additional injuries from the impact. I found a bruise on my chest from where my chin must have slammed because I found a bruise under my chin and within my lip. I imagine this is what a car accident must feel like. The difference is that I willfully jumped off that cliff. I learned a lot from that experience. I have stories to tell.
The wind on the beach was cold. We trembled with our ice cream cones in hand. Cornettos fix everything. We stepped into the tide and discovered that the water was warm. Chavo confronted his nemesis and joyously jumped into the ocean. A few years ago he lost feeling in his leg the last time he was in the ocean. He has worked very hard to rehabilitate his body and is truly an inspiration. Soon we would all join him in the Pacific Ocean swimming and riding the waves as the sun set over the beach. It was perfect. An amazing day.
Chavo invited us over to his home for one last BBQ. He has taken care of us for great portion of the summer. His father taught me how to make chile in their kitchen. Chavo grilled the meat outside. That night we enjoyed carne asada in great company. I was thankful Much peace and much love. <3
I am alive. I meditated on the duality of being. I was in a place where I could choose to either do something or not do it. There was no such thing as trying. Either I jump or I don't jump. It was my choice to make. Complete freewill.
We began our day with clean laundry and relaxation. Waiting for the moment our friends would meet us to journey together. Once they arrived, we followed them to pick up a friend. We took advantage of their need to refuel to fuel our bodies with food. We went to Shanghai Dumpling House in San Gabriel to share a meal.
We followed James to the trail in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was a steep and narrow winding trail that led downhill to Hermit Falls. At the end of the hike, we arrived to a local summer hangout. Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing on someone's speakers. It was a Sunday afternoon. Christina was preparing her for the jump. I was just taking in the moment perfectly at peace between action and inaction. I would either jump or not jump. We sat on a boulder cliff overlooking a 55 foot drop into a 12 foot deep pool of fresh water.
The people there were jumping in, challenging each other to jump or just spectators. After a while Christina was almost ready. She hung around the edge of the cliff. I stayed far away. I knew that looking over the cliff would have scared me. Eventually she was in position and people were cheering, counting down her jump. She did it.
I talked to Chavo about his experience. I wanted to have that in my life. Christina came back alive. I knew i had made it this far. I knew that I probably wouldn't be there again with friends that i trusted. I would not have this opportunity again. I decided to stand up and do it,
My last thought was "I am afraid of heights." I looked at a rock ledge jutting out directly beneath trying to will myself to keep my legs straight like a pencil as I dropped. My fall wasn't as long as others had led me to believe. I didn't have enough time to straighten my body vertically. The wind picked up my legs. I broke the surface of the water with my butt and brutalized the exposed flesh on the back of my thighs. I was scared when I jumped. I liked the moment underwater waiting for the water to lift me back up to the surface. I emerged from the water to the affirmation that I had completely failed the pencil method. I learned that I did not know how to cliff jump. I was a leap of faith. I sat along the edge and let the cold water cool my bruised thighs.
When I was ready, I made my way towards a rock that had been tagged by Banksy. I stood on it knowing that "BANKSY WAS HERE." Eventually after awkwardly standing there, I decided I needed to climb back up and meet with my friends. A child climbing down passed me the rope and helped me up. I survived. I was still alive. Christina and I would be the only ones from our group to make the jump that day. Some had experienced it and knew themselves and the current state of their bodies to handle the impact. We still had to hike back up the mountain.
We recollected at our cars and made plans for the evening. It would be the last night on the West Coast for 3 of us. We decided to go to Sunset Beach to enjoy ice cream while watching the sunset. The entire drive, I reflected upon my experience. I saw myself in the rearview mirror as the road unfolded before us. I was sitting behind the driver in the back seat. He had selected the perfect music for that moment. I saw the vision that I had seen in my dreams earlier in the trip. The woman without a face. I had become her. She was me. I was cold. The wind blew my hair across my face. The reflection of my shawl was superimposed over my face. I thought about the entire trip and all the stupid things I had done in my life. I was ready to grow up. I love my life. I took the jump and I was ready. The fall left me bruised and sore. I was thankful to be alive. I kept discovering additional injuries from the impact. I found a bruise on my chest from where my chin must have slammed because I found a bruise under my chin and within my lip. I imagine this is what a car accident must feel like. The difference is that I willfully jumped off that cliff. I learned a lot from that experience. I have stories to tell.
The wind on the beach was cold. We trembled with our ice cream cones in hand. Cornettos fix everything. We stepped into the tide and discovered that the water was warm. Chavo confronted his nemesis and joyously jumped into the ocean. A few years ago he lost feeling in his leg the last time he was in the ocean. He has worked very hard to rehabilitate his body and is truly an inspiration. Soon we would all join him in the Pacific Ocean swimming and riding the waves as the sun set over the beach. It was perfect. An amazing day.
Chavo invited us over to his home for one last BBQ. He has taken care of us for great portion of the summer. His father taught me how to make chile in their kitchen. Chavo grilled the meat outside. That night we enjoyed carne asada in great company. I was thankful Much peace and much love. <3
7.17-18.14 Los Angeles, CA
Day 30-
We made it to a friend's house late last night. Spent the morning sleeping. California has really been a place to sink into the vacation feeling of this trip. Its been "go" for the majority of this trip but we got to California and there has been no rush. No where to go. Nothing to do. Just relax. Our host lives in Culver City. You could see Sony Studios down the street. Parking has been interesting. We have to make sure that we move the car for street cleaning. Got the car checked early this morning at Liberty Tires so that we are prepared to go back east. They suggested we check out Venice Beach. It was down the street.
We spent our afternoon at Venice Beach. It reminded me a bit of that feeling of walking through Electric Forest. There were a lot of visuals. Our goal was the beach but we got distracted by street performers on the boardwalk. We spent an hour watching a group of acrobats and break dancers make jokes and liven the crowd. It was great!
At the beach, we ate the worst food ever on the trip - terrible! Slice of cheese pizza, not fresh-squeezed lemonade (they lied to me), and I finally got deep-fried oreos. I like to call deep-fried oreos "Unicorn Poop" - one is delicious, two is pushing it, too much and you're done. Its quite terrible for your body. I considered getting some at the festivals we attended earlier this summer but missed those opportunities.
We walked past muscle beach and all the shops and finally got to the water. We just relaxed. It was nice to swim in the water. It was a perfect day. We slept on the sand.
Later that night we would reconnect with our friends in California at the Hammer Museum. There was a free special event connected to their Made in L.A. exhibit. We thought that Alex Ebert from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes would perform. We were disappointed when we realized he was only hosting and did not have his own set. It was cool to see him. He had a brief interview on stage with KCRW. It was still fun to feel young and cultured. Sophisticated drinking Georgia Peach cocktails with golden dinosaur stirrers in the middle of the museum courtyard. There were strange videos projected on the walls and local music performances. The gallery spaces were filled with contemporary art made by local artists.
After we realized Alex was not going to perform, we left and our friends took us to In-n-Out. They made sure we had animal-style burgers and animal-style fries. They tasted fresh. we had one more stop on our Thursday night adventure. We regrouped at Millions of Milkshakes in West Hollywood. They make milkshakes with Ferrero Rocher chocolates. The "Million Dollar Shake" is made with strawberries and Ferrero Rocher. I ordered a "Mr. Pink" with banana, cookie dough and Ferrero Rocher. One of my favorite memories is when we formed a tasting ring. The milkshakes rotated as we passed them to left to sample the different flavors. The people on the streets late that night were very stylish. I knew I was no where near their level in terms of fashion.
Day 31-
We woke up late again - no plans. Today we would city hike. We hiked to the metro station. Got to Hollywood and did touristy things. I got coffee at Starbucks. We hiked away to a really great Italian deli called I Panini di Ambra. The owner was really nice. Her food was amazing! I ordered a Chicken Salad. She suggested we check out the Griffith Observatory. We didn't make it because it was in the opposite direction from the sites in Hollywood. From the deli we wandered, we saw the Hollywood sign from a distance. We found an old book store and cd store. We kept walking until we got back to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We checked out the Chinese Theater. We were pretty let down by the filth in the shops in Hollywood. It was a pattern of liquor stores, head shops, and costumes shops.
I missed walking... so we walked and took a bus to LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. On the way we found a smoothie truck! It was organic and the owner grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland too. He was cool people and also advised us to check out a few things in the city. LACMA had an Alexander Calder exhibit that I wanted to see but they wouldn't let me in for free. I was tired and decided I'd rather check the rest of their collection for free than spend money on viewing that exhibit. I like Calder but not that much. It was getting late anyways. When we left, there was live jazz music in the plaza.
My feet hurt and we were supposed to meet our host for dinner. Eventually we got back to their home by bus. It took some waiting and patience since we were unfamiliar with their public transit system. We we finally met up, we went out for sushi at Shibuki: Brown Rice Sushi Restaurant. Christina talked us into meeting some of her old friends at the Culver Hotel Bar. We sat inside the space. They had a live band playing Michael Jackson and other pop songs. Above, an old film was silently projected on the wall. There was Wizard of Oz memorabilia around because a lot of the cast stayed in that hotel during the filming.
We made it to a friend's house late last night. Spent the morning sleeping. California has really been a place to sink into the vacation feeling of this trip. Its been "go" for the majority of this trip but we got to California and there has been no rush. No where to go. Nothing to do. Just relax. Our host lives in Culver City. You could see Sony Studios down the street. Parking has been interesting. We have to make sure that we move the car for street cleaning. Got the car checked early this morning at Liberty Tires so that we are prepared to go back east. They suggested we check out Venice Beach. It was down the street.
We spent our afternoon at Venice Beach. It reminded me a bit of that feeling of walking through Electric Forest. There were a lot of visuals. Our goal was the beach but we got distracted by street performers on the boardwalk. We spent an hour watching a group of acrobats and break dancers make jokes and liven the crowd. It was great!
At the beach, we ate the worst food ever on the trip - terrible! Slice of cheese pizza, not fresh-squeezed lemonade (they lied to me), and I finally got deep-fried oreos. I like to call deep-fried oreos "Unicorn Poop" - one is delicious, two is pushing it, too much and you're done. Its quite terrible for your body. I considered getting some at the festivals we attended earlier this summer but missed those opportunities.
We walked past muscle beach and all the shops and finally got to the water. We just relaxed. It was nice to swim in the water. It was a perfect day. We slept on the sand.
Later that night we would reconnect with our friends in California at the Hammer Museum. There was a free special event connected to their Made in L.A. exhibit. We thought that Alex Ebert from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes would perform. We were disappointed when we realized he was only hosting and did not have his own set. It was cool to see him. He had a brief interview on stage with KCRW. It was still fun to feel young and cultured. Sophisticated drinking Georgia Peach cocktails with golden dinosaur stirrers in the middle of the museum courtyard. There were strange videos projected on the walls and local music performances. The gallery spaces were filled with contemporary art made by local artists.
After we realized Alex was not going to perform, we left and our friends took us to In-n-Out. They made sure we had animal-style burgers and animal-style fries. They tasted fresh. we had one more stop on our Thursday night adventure. We regrouped at Millions of Milkshakes in West Hollywood. They make milkshakes with Ferrero Rocher chocolates. The "Million Dollar Shake" is made with strawberries and Ferrero Rocher. I ordered a "Mr. Pink" with banana, cookie dough and Ferrero Rocher. One of my favorite memories is when we formed a tasting ring. The milkshakes rotated as we passed them to left to sample the different flavors. The people on the streets late that night were very stylish. I knew I was no where near their level in terms of fashion.
Day 31-
We woke up late again - no plans. Today we would city hike. We hiked to the metro station. Got to Hollywood and did touristy things. I got coffee at Starbucks. We hiked away to a really great Italian deli called I Panini di Ambra. The owner was really nice. Her food was amazing! I ordered a Chicken Salad. She suggested we check out the Griffith Observatory. We didn't make it because it was in the opposite direction from the sites in Hollywood. From the deli we wandered, we saw the Hollywood sign from a distance. We found an old book store and cd store. We kept walking until we got back to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We checked out the Chinese Theater. We were pretty let down by the filth in the shops in Hollywood. It was a pattern of liquor stores, head shops, and costumes shops.
I missed walking... so we walked and took a bus to LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. On the way we found a smoothie truck! It was organic and the owner grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland too. He was cool people and also advised us to check out a few things in the city. LACMA had an Alexander Calder exhibit that I wanted to see but they wouldn't let me in for free. I was tired and decided I'd rather check the rest of their collection for free than spend money on viewing that exhibit. I like Calder but not that much. It was getting late anyways. When we left, there was live jazz music in the plaza.
My feet hurt and we were supposed to meet our host for dinner. Eventually we got back to their home by bus. It took some waiting and patience since we were unfamiliar with their public transit system. We we finally met up, we went out for sushi at Shibuki: Brown Rice Sushi Restaurant. Christina talked us into meeting some of her old friends at the Culver Hotel Bar. We sat inside the space. They had a live band playing Michael Jackson and other pop songs. Above, an old film was silently projected on the wall. There was Wizard of Oz memorabilia around because a lot of the cast stayed in that hotel during the filming.
7.16.14 Big Sur
Day 29-
We drove south... We got to Monterrey but we didn't know what to check out or where exactly to go. We briefly stopped by Lovers Point Beach. We got back onto the road and drove along the Coastal Highway - California State Route 1.
We went to Pfeiffer Beach where there are beautiful boulders and purple sand. we spent time reflecting with the waves crashing around us as sat on top of the rocks we climbed. We didn't stay for to long. I wanted to see the McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park but we drove past it and had to get to Los Angeles by a certain time.
We drove south... We got to Monterrey but we didn't know what to check out or where exactly to go. We briefly stopped by Lovers Point Beach. We got back onto the road and drove along the Coastal Highway - California State Route 1.
We went to Pfeiffer Beach where there are beautiful boulders and purple sand. we spent time reflecting with the waves crashing around us as sat on top of the rocks we climbed. We didn't stay for to long. I wanted to see the McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park but we drove past it and had to get to Los Angeles by a certain time.
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