From Nacogdoches, TX to Michigan Center, MI and all the cities in between, 44 days have passed and we are very thankful...what a trip! And the best thing is...we ain't done yet. After we spend a month in Michigan hanging out with family and friends, we'll embark on a short journey out east to visit relatives and friends.
Our travels of late. When we left San Luis Obispo, CA, we headed to the coast to check out Morro Bay. Way cool! We had a chance to see sea otters in their natural environment and then hit a restaurant in the marina for some fresh fish. I have no idea what I ate but it was good! After that we headed up the coast to check out Hearst Castle. Beautiful castle up on a mountain overlooking the ocean. The home 
was owned by the Hearst family (newspaper folk) for many years and then given to the state for tourism. Then we headed up the coast to check out the elephant seals. They smell a lot like the smell that comes out of Kristi's butt. What a day! Then we set up camp in Big Sur and I (Jim) layed awake until after midnight as the drunk annoying girls near us carried on until they passed out.
We then made our way up the coast from Big Sur to Monterey. I would have to say this was the most awesome and spectacular views on our drive yet. Driving high up on the cliff and looking out into the ocean at the rock formations as the waves crashed into the coast...incredible!!! Then of course came our nightly scouting for a location to sleep. The state park was full and the attendant handed us a list of other possibilities in the area. On the list was a hostel. Not knowing what in the world a hostel was, we called and found out. For those of you who don't know what a hostel is, it's basically a few buildings where you share a room, bathroom, kitchen and living room with other travelers. It's a cheaper way of traveling...$25 per person at the one where we stayed. The coolest thing about this hostel is that it sits right next to a lighthouse on top of a cliff looking down at the ocean. So beautiful! We were very fortunate this night as Kristi and I ended up with our own room. The sleeping quarters had bunk beds...I was on top.
We then headed into San Francisco...very cool city! The coolest thing for me was Alcatraz. We met one of the ex-inmates who was there signing his book. I asked him what it was like coming back to Alcatraz and his response with his non-expressive face was, "bad memories." I left the place very obsessed! After our ferry ride back, we walked into the city to North Beach. It's the part of San Fran that consists mostly of Italian restaurants and shops. Probably one of the best pizza's I've ever sunk my teeth into. After lunch and a gelato, we made our way back to the car so we could drive around the rest of the city. After our long day, we made our way over the Golden Gate bridge and found another hostel. The thing about big city's is that campgrounds aren't as available as they are in the rural areas, understandably. So, we checked in one more time for only $20 a person this time. I was on top again. 
The next morning we made our way up the coast and we took in more incredible beauty. The Pacific coast has just blown us away! We drove through one of those little towns that you wonder how their making it, and stopped in a little burrito place. Very oddly placed in this town and we have to say we had one of the best burritos ever. We made our way to the redwoods and found this awesome, awesome state park. We had this huge site in the midst of trees and more trees, and right behind us was a river. It's the best sleeping when you're listening to the river at night. It's like one of those sleep machines. Wait, or are sleep machines like rivers? Anyway, it was wonderful and we were very thankful for this site...especially because of what we encountered the following night.
We got up, did a really cool hike and hit the road. More beautiful driving and then we found a state park to set up camp. Unfortunately it was full so we had to move to Plan B. We found this campground that was nice but we would be sleeping practically on top of the other campers. Plus, the lady that owned it or ran it was very stiff and crotchety. So, in our infinite wisdom, we decided to check out another campground a mile down the road. It was full of redwoods and the owner was really cool. Plus, it was only 16 bucks compared to the 30 bucks down the road...so I said, where do I sign big guy? Well, not exactly like that, but you get the picture. We set up camp and there was no one around our tent...it should be another great night! After we had set up, we drove a few miles down the road to this awesome little beach in Trinidad. A beach with the beautiful rocks in the water, 4 other people on the beach, water crashing into the shoreline and a few seals resting on a rock. After hanging out on the beach for a few hours and watching an incredible sunset, we made our way to our campsite. Man, when we showed up, our faces just dropped. Tents were set up all around our tent, kids running everywhere with flashlights and screaming, crying babies, drunk people cussing up a storm and dogs a barking. We were in hell! Sleep was non-existent that night. The only thing that got us through the night was just laughing about the situation. We awoke the next morning early, packed up our tent and got outta that place.
We stopped in some cool little town for some breakfast. Little dives always have the best food! As everyone in the restaurant was a local and talking about the big rodeo happening that night and mud wrestling, we were definitely out of place. I think our waitress wasn't too thrilled we were taking up one of her tables. It didn't matter, the food was good. As we made our way through the red forest, we stopped at Trees of Mystery. This place is just a tourist trap but it is so Griswold I had to stop. There was a Paul Bunyan statue about 40' tall. Blue was there as well with every detail if you know what I 
mean. We then ended up at Crater Lake in Oregon. We were overdue for a rest so we took a day off the next day. On Monday, we made our way to the lake and it was the most beautiful blue lake we've ever seen! The deal with Crater Lake is that it was once a volcano. During one of it's massive eruptions, the top of the mountain caved in on itself and over time filled up with water from melting snow. We hung out there for a bit and then we started on our trek home.
On our way home, we stayed in Idaho, Wyoming and then Nebraska. Omaha baby! Omaha, where our buddy Kenny Revoy lives. We stayed at his place for the night. He showed us around, had a little dinner and we were also privileged to meet his parents and one of his brothers. Great folk and we had a great time catching up with Kenny. I guess I should also mention of our visit with the Oregon police. 75 in a 55 on a rural road in the desert probably wasn't the smartest thing to do. After our conversation and my promise to never, ever, speed again, he let me off the hook.
Then our last leg of the trip home to Michigan. I use the word home because we're both from MI and it will always be home. We're set up in an apartment that Kristi's parents have on their property right next to their home on a lake. It is so awesome! They have made this place feel so much like a home that I don't think we're ever leaving! (Just don't tell her parents) If we do decided to leave, we'll take off around the middle of August to visit some of my family out east and then head back to Atlanta around Sept. 1. So, I guess this is the last blog until then.
Our travels of late. When we left San Luis Obispo, CA, we headed to the coast to check out Morro Bay. Way cool! We had a chance to see sea otters in their natural environment and then hit a restaurant in the marina for some fresh fish. I have no idea what I ate but it was good! After that we headed up the coast to check out Hearst Castle. Beautiful castle up on a mountain overlooking the ocean. The home 
was owned by the Hearst family (newspaper folk) for many years and then given to the state for tourism. Then we headed up the coast to check out the elephant seals. They smell a lot like the smell that comes out of Kristi's butt. What a day! Then we set up camp in Big Sur and I (Jim) layed awake until after midnight as the drunk annoying girls near us carried on until they passed out. 
We then made our way up the coast from Big Sur to Monterey. I would have to say this was the most awesome and spectacular views on our drive yet. Driving high up on the cliff and looking out into the ocean at the rock formations as the waves crashed into the coast...incredible!!! Then of course came our nightly scouting for a location to sleep. The state park was full and the attendant handed us a list of other possibilities in the area. On the list was a hostel. Not knowing what in the world a hostel was, we called and found out. For those of you who don't know what a hostel is, it's basically a few buildings where you share a room, bathroom, kitchen and living room with other travelers. It's a cheaper way of traveling...$25 per person at the one where we stayed. The coolest thing about this hostel is that it sits right next to a lighthouse on top of a cliff looking down at the ocean. So beautiful! We were very fortunate this night as Kristi and I ended up with our own room. The sleeping quarters had bunk beds...I was on top. 
We then headed into San Francisco...very cool city! The coolest thing for me was Alcatraz. We met one of the ex-inmates who was there signing his book. I asked him what it was like coming back to Alcatraz and his response with his non-expressive face was, "bad memories." I left the place very obsessed! After our ferry ride back, we walked into the city to North Beach. It's the part of San Fran that consists mostly of Italian restaurants and shops. Probably one of the best pizza's I've ever sunk my teeth into. After lunch and a gelato, we made our way back to the car so we could drive around the rest of the city. After our long day, we made our way over the Golden Gate bridge and found another hostel. The thing about big city's is that campgrounds aren't as available as they are in the rural areas, understandably. So, we checked in one more time for only $20 a person this time. I was on top again.
The next morning we made our way up the coast and we took in more incredible beauty. The Pacific coast has just blown us away! We drove through one of those little towns that you wonder how their making it, and stopped in a little burrito place. Very oddly placed in this town and we have to say we had one of the best burritos ever. We made our way to the redwoods and found this awesome, awesome state park. We had this huge site in the midst of trees and more trees, and right behind us was a river. It's the best sleeping when you're listening to the river at night. It's like one of those sleep machines. Wait, or are sleep machines like rivers? Anyway, it was wonderful and we were very thankful for this site...especially because of what we encountered the following night. 
We got up, did a really cool hike and hit the road. More beautiful driving and then we found a state park to set up camp. Unfortunately it was full so we had to move to Plan B. We found this campground that was nice but we would be sleeping practically on top of the other campers. Plus, the lady that owned it or ran it was very stiff and crotchety. So, in our infinite wisdom, we decided to check out another campground a mile down the road. It was full of redwoods and the owner was really cool. Plus, it was only 16 bucks compared to the 30 bucks down the road...so I said, where do I sign big guy? Well, not exactly like that, but you get the picture. We set up camp and there was no one around our tent...it should be another great night! After we had set up, we drove a few miles down the road to this awesome little beach in Trinidad. A beach with the beautiful rocks in the water, 4 other people on the beach, water crashing into the shoreline and a few seals resting on a rock. After hanging out on the beach for a few hours and watching an incredible sunset, we made our way to our campsite. Man, when we showed up, our faces just dropped. Tents were set up all around our tent, kids running everywhere with flashlights and screaming, crying babies, drunk people cussing up a storm and dogs a barking. We were in hell! Sleep was non-existent that night. The only thing that got us through the night was just laughing about the situation. We awoke the next morning early, packed up our tent and got outta that place. 
We stopped in some cool little town for some breakfast. Little dives always have the best food! As everyone in the restaurant was a local and talking about the big rodeo happening that night and mud wrestling, we were definitely out of place. I think our waitress wasn't too thrilled we were taking up one of her tables. It didn't matter, the food was good. As we made our way through the red forest, we stopped at Trees of Mystery. This place is just a tourist trap but it is so Griswold I had to stop. There was a Paul Bunyan statue about 40' tall. Blue was there as well with every detail if you know what I 
mean. We then ended up at Crater Lake in Oregon. We were overdue for a rest so we took a day off the next day. On Monday, we made our way to the lake and it was the most beautiful blue lake we've ever seen! The deal with Crater Lake is that it was once a volcano. During one of it's massive eruptions, the top of the mountain caved in on itself and over time filled up with water from melting snow. We hung out there for a bit and then we started on our trek home. 
On our way home, we stayed in Idaho, Wyoming and then Nebraska. Omaha baby! Omaha, where our buddy Kenny Revoy lives. We stayed at his place for the night. He showed us around, had a little dinner and we were also privileged to meet his parents and one of his brothers. Great folk and we had a great time catching up with Kenny. I guess I should also mention of our visit with the Oregon police. 75 in a 55 on a rural road in the desert probably wasn't the smartest thing to do. After our conversation and my promise to never, ever, speed again, he let me off the hook. 
Then our last leg of the trip home to Michigan. I use the word home because we're both from MI and it will always be home. We're set up in an apartment that Kristi's parents have on their property right next to their home on a lake. It is so awesome! They have made this place feel so much like a home that I don't think we're ever leaving! (Just don't tell her parents) If we do decided to leave, we'll take off around the middle of August to visit some of my family out east and then head back to Atlanta around Sept. 1. So, I guess this is the last blog until then. It was, or is, an incredible journey seeing a big chunk of America. So much beauty!!! We are very thankful and blessed to have been able to do this and we've also learned so much. So much about America, people, ourselves and most importantly, God's faithfulness.
Until next time, Peace and a lotta Love baby! Jim and Kristi
We drove from Vail, AZ to San Diego...well, 21 miles east of San Diego, to a beautiful campsite on Lake Jennings. We set up camp and went to the beach in SD. The weather was amazing...big change from the desert. We spent most of the next day at the Zoo and Balboa Park. The zoo was huge, but we think they ran out of animals so they stocked a lot of the pens with different kinds of pigs (we didn't know there were that many). Not to go on a rant about caging up wild animals, but I (Jim) have decided I'm not a big fan of the zoo in general. I mean, a 40 x 40 foot square for a rhino? Let the thing breath for crying out loud. Anyway, it was a good day. The day after that we hung out on the beautiful island of Coronado on the beach and walked around town. It's just a bridge drive from San Diego and we loved this place more than SD.
