Roadtrip! Before fall semester started and we had to find new jobs, my friend, Chelsea, and I wanted to go on an adventure and "find ourselves". So we decided we would go on a road trip. Our version of backpacking through Europe i guess. But instead of backpacking - driving & instead of Europe - California. Kind of a low budget film. So we emptied our bank accounts and 4 days later we were on our way up to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.
Saturday morning we drove up the 101, the wind blowing through our hair [no a/c] and not a care in the world ["it sounds like my car's gonna blow up"]. After a long day's drive, we stopped in Petaluma and stayed the night with Shannon's friend, who was generous enough to share her food, couch, and pipe with us weary travelers.
The next morning we left for Lake Tahoe. It was exquisitely beautiful. I took some amazing pictures that i will post at a later date. Our hotel was a short walk from the beach, where of course i did get sunburned. We found a deli that made the most delicious breakfast sandwiches. And the boys there were mighty delicious in their own respect. :] so yes.. good times.
After a few days in Lake Tahoe we made our back to the bay area. We stayed at my cousin Alice's house. It was really nice to see her and her family and to catch up. Chelsea and myself followed Lance, Alice, her family, and two Chinese exchange students to the Oakland Temple.[Raider Nation lol] What a view from the top of that temple. And in the visitor's center was an absolutely moving display of and artist's sculptures of Jesus and his life.
On the way back from the temple, however, was less of a joy. I was pulled over by CHP. Nice, i know.. but wait.. it gets better. It was because i cut him off. Yes, you read that correctly. You see, i was following Lance and when he changed lanes, i followed suit. What i didn't know was that a CHP patrol car was going at least 100mph in that particular lane. So he pulled me over, taking several freeway changes to get to where he thought it best to have me pull to the side of the road. By then, i had long lost the white Suburban i was following at midnight in an area i had never seen before. So i pull over and the officer comes to my passenger window and asked, like the douche bag he was, "Where'd you learn to drive?" I responded without thinking, "L.A.?" [bad move steph] Luckily, with the assistance of innocence and sympathy i did not receive a ticket. But i did get a guilt trip.. "i had to apply my brakes.. what if i would have been a motorcycle?" [for obvious reasons i did not answer that question]
Onward to San Francisco! You know what sucks? Driving a stick shift in San Francisco.
Besides that, it was awesome! We walked to the pier and went on a bay tour. Gorgeous. And i got some great shots of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was truly amazing.
Chelsea's dad and stepmom were generous enough to make reservations for and treat us two nights in a row at very nice restaurants. One of the restaurants we went to was on our last night in town. It was a vegan place called Greens and it was beautiful, right on the water. We were seated at a large window facing the GGB. We had a gorgeous view of the sunset and a little friendly seal playing in the dock area to my right. It really was my favorite part. And our waiter was a cute, flamboyant sweetheart. We exchanged contact information with him and walked back to our hotel. Thighmaster, eat your heart out.. San Fran's crazy hills kicked my ass.
This trip, without a doubt, was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. To be able to pick up and go on an adventure was exhilarating and liberating. I am so glad i was able to experience that, so when i am older i can look back and say one of my best friends and I left on a whim, had a blast, and didn't come home until we were out of money. That's living your life.
