SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

We made it to LA! I originally planned on posting my summer road trip posts back to back but then decided to break it up a bit since I had other things I was excited to share. Up to this point we had driven through New Mexico, Arizona, and wandered around the Northern California area where we spent most of the time in Monterey and San Francisco.

Since there isn't ocean front property in Austin I was unbearably excited to watch the sunset over the pacific ocean and dig my toes in the warm sand. The sky is widely creative in that no sunset is ever the same, each day, each sky is painted differently. Its incredible to see the sun splash orange, yellow, pinks, and purples across the blue sky and it was beautiful to see it reflecting off the sparkling ocean water. Who or what you want to attribute that to is entirely up to you but we can all agree that it's a pretty magical cycle. 

Ever since I was a little kid the ocean has always been something that has terrified me. The enormity of it and the countless sea life in it has always kinda freaked me out. But this trip along the California coast really made me appreciate it in a way that I hadn't before. Being by the ocean puts things in perspective and I never quit understood that when I had heard others say it before. When you think about it, the water that graces over your feet as you stand at the shore has cycled its way all over the world. Its waters have traveled endless miles and sustains the life of the sea creatures in it as well as our own. The ocean has this overwhelming power to make you feel so small yet so alive. I wish I could spend more evenings at the beach, but because I can't I made sure to really enjoy the view while I was there. 

"The sea is as near as we come to another world" -Anne Stevenson 

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

Upon entering Monterey we were welcomed in by gray, gloomy skies. I was hopeful that the clouds would break up to let the sunlight through, but they never did. Monterey is one of those places where time seems to pass a lot slower, people walk leisurely through the street of cannery row, and the wind calmly rushes over your skin as you come closer to the water. Aside from visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and eating fish and chips on the pier, we didn't do much on this day. It was nice. We took it easy walking on the trail alongside the water. We took our time taking photos, awkwardly posing in front of boats and sitting to watch the large population of sea otters wobble their way onto the rocks.

In hindsight Monterey was the place where we stopped to breath and just enjoy each others company in an unfamiliar place. Often times when visiting other places with numerous attractions, it is easy to get caught up in the hurrying nature of big cities and move along through things without letting it really sink in.

"Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream." — John Steinbeck

Next up on the agenda, San Francisco!

ARIZONA

After a full first day of driving through Texas and New Mexico we were onto Arizona. Any time we are approaching a sign marking that we are entering a new state, we begin a countdown. It goes a little something like this "tennn, niiinee, eighhtt, sevennnn, six, fivee, four, threeee, two, one, we're in Arizonaaaaaaa!!" this happens every time, without fail. It is a bit lame but hey, we got to find some way to keep entertained.

Early into the day we came across an exit sign that would lead us to the The Petrified Forest National Park. We took the exit to the right and parked in front of the visitors center.  We found out it was about a 45 minute detour drive off of the main road, so we paid the entrance fee and started on a self guided car tour through the "forest". I quote that because we soon found out that there isn't actually a forest anywhere around. Below is a photo of what we first came across. Yeah, those stumps on the ground are what is left of the forest.

A forest that existed years and years ago during the triassic era (as the brochure would tell us). Eventually the trees were buried by volcanic sediment and saturated in silica. "Most of the logs retained their original form during petrification but lost their internal structure". Basically the logs look like wood on the outside but the inside is made up of quartz crystal. Pretty cool but at this point I wasn't at all convinced that this place was worth the extra time.      

But then, we came across this scenery. The photo below is one of my favorite photos that I took all trip. I almost captioned my instagram of this view with "Greetings I'm on Mars!" The dirt was so red it looked like it could have been! (except the blue sky, clouds, and grass would have given it away.) Ok. Ok. maybe that entrance fee was worth it. Maybe...but I still wasn't completely sold. 

Then further up the road we came up to this section of the tour. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I had one of those "is this real life?!" moments. As I stood in the middle of the road I felt overwhelmed in thinking what this exact spot was like millions of years ago. The transformation that this place has endured was seen in the layered colors on the plateaus, each layer telling a different history, a different story of life that occurred. By this point, I knew the drive through here was worth it.

Now back on the main highway, we continued to make our way across Arizona.

Although I was surprisingly impressed by the views earlier in the day. Once we got to Flagstaff I was pretty happy to finally see some greenery. 

As you can see in the photos the scenery from the start of the day to the end changed so drastically and it only took a few hours. Flagstaff was nice. The green forest trees we are often spoiled with being surrounded by, was beautiful but familiar. The Arizona we saw earlier in the day was a type of landscape that I am not used to seeing and because of this I often forget it even exists. It was such a different experience and so uniquely beautiful. I can see why places like that can get overlooked but if you pay close attention and give it a chance, the beauty is there, it just might take an epic road trip to get you to notice. 

Anyway, that same day we made it into California. You know the drill, "...three, twooo, oneee, we're in Californiaaaaa!" 

but I'll save all that excitement for the next post. 

ROAD TRIP ACROSS THE WEST

For eleven days my family and I set out on a road trip across the west. Our end destination was to drive to the California coastline, make it up as far north as San Francisco and then decide where to go from there. We eventually decided to slowly make our way down to Los Angeles, spend a couple of days in Las Vegas, head to New Mexico, and then begin the trek back home to Austin. This is a series of several posts in which I take you along for the ride and show you the places we visited this summer.
 

Our family vacations never involve dealing with airlines and airplanes. Rather then floating in the sky and flying over the states, rivers, farm land, and towns in-between, we much rather keep four wheels rolling on the surface. We love making unexpected stops along the way, take turns DJ-ing in the car, stopping at filthy little gas stations for restroom breaks (the part we don't love), driving from sunup to sundown and witnessing the scenery change as you add up the miles. Seeing these places that connect to the big cities is the only way to truly gain some perspective on the vast diversity of land and people that make up this country. Most of these towns along the way won't make it onto a 'Top Places to Visit' list, but if you pay close attention you will at times come across some hidden gems.

With the suburban filled with luggage meticulously placed to fit like a stack of jenga blocks, we were all ready to go.  My brothers were the most alert and energetic that I've ever seen them that early in the morning. We are not morning people but everyone was buzzing and looking forward to the adventures ahead. Two things to remember to do when going on a road trip, bring noise canceling headphones and nap.  These things are crucial to keeping everyone sane and pleasant on days that involve 13 hour car rides.

First stop on the trip was to gas up the burbs and stop for lunch at Coopers BBQ. My mom and I got down and ordered six brisket sandwiches and lays original potato chips, a classic pairing when on the go.  We ate them in the car and it was so good it made me sad to be leaving Texas (ok not really). We spent the majority of the first day driving through Texas because it is so damn big.
 

That day we almost made it out of New Mexico but stopped to sleep in Gallup, a small historic town along Route 66. Since we arrived at night we were aching to find our hotel. Exploring a bit of Gallup would have to wait till the morning.





Gallup is right in the middle of many Native American reservations so much of that influence can be seen throughout town. Gallup was also the setting to many old westerns movies filmed in the 30's, 40's and 50's. Back in the day many legendary movie stars such as John Wayne, Mae West, Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Gregory Peck, as well as many others used to roam the rugged terrain and stay at El Rancho Hotel. We didn't stay there but paid a quick visit in the morning. 
   

The lobby is beautiful in all its western and native american influenced glory. It is decorated with rich warm hues, a wooden and stone staircase invites you in, and the creaking floors on the second level add to the old time charm. The entire time I was in there I kept thinking of my grandpa who is the biggest John Wayne fan you will ever meet. His favorite movies of all time are westerns and to this day when I call or visit him he often tells me he just finished watching one. He would have really liked seeing this place.



After a quick morning drive through Gallup we were back on the road to head further west. Next stop, Arizona.