Hi everyone! We have been without internet access for a long time, so we have a lot to report including one of the highlights of the trip. We left San Francisco and headed up the coast to Redwoods National Park. We stayed at a hostel and did very little for the weekend. It was some much needed and enjoyed down time on a busy trip. The hostel was directly across from the Pacific Ocean inside the park. We had our own room on Friday, but stayed in the dorms (8 people in our co-ed room) on Saturday and Sunday. We spent [View Full Entry]

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After leaving Anaheim and Disney behind (*sniff, sniff*), Jim and I headed up the Pacific Coast Highway. On the way up the highway, I got very car sick. The view from the road was beautiful, but it was so windy, my stomach just couldn't take it. At the height of the car-sickness, Jim decided to take a break from driving by stopping at the Point Lobos Game Reserve. We took a quick mile or so hike to see seals and sea lions. They were all sun bathing on the rocks that jut out of the ocean water. We brought our binoculars [View Full Entry]

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We're in California now! We went from the Grand Canyon to Anaheim, CA. We stayed in the Crowne Plaza Resort (ha, resort.. not quite. It had no free breakfast, we were charged for internet, pool, and fitness room access. $12 a day!! outrageous!) The room was very nice, however, and it was great to be sleeping in a bed, not a cot. The next day we got up at 7 AM to get on the 8AM shuttle to DISNEYLAND! I was thrilled. I felt like a little kid again. When we got to Disney, Jim and I had a game plan. [View Full Entry]

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Hello Again! We survived the 900 mile drive from Austin to Tucson (with a night's stop in El Paso), but just barely. I kid .... but West Texas was a boring, hot, scenery-less ride. Beth slept through most of it. We arrived in Tucson on Saturday night and stayed two nights with Beth's relatives: Aunt Debbie, Uncle John and cousin Chris. It was great to eat some home-cooked meals and relax a little. We did tour a cave outside Tucson, but the highlight of the trip was playing cards with Beth's family on Sunday night. We both had a great time [View Full Entry]

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Welcome to Texas! The first day in Texas was great! We started by going to the Lyndon B Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. It is very infomative about his life, family, and presidency. We toured it for a couple hours. After lunch, we visited the capitol building. They are right.. everything is bigger in Texas! This building was IMMENSE and beautiful. The stone building sits in the middle of a large, grassy park. The dome gleams in the sun and a goddess is perched on the very top of the building, holding a Texas star. Next, we went to the Lady [View Full Entry]

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Hello again! We drove the 200 miles from the Smokey Mountains on Thursday after our last (soaking wet) hike and were thrilled to check into a small suite at the Radisson in Nashville. It was a nice room, but just being dry, warm and indoors was enough for us. We collapsed the first night before spending two full days in Nashville. Friday: We spent most of the day drying out and resting. We had booked the NashTrash tour that was supposed to be more fun than an ordinary tour. The reviews were totally right and we had the best time on [View Full Entry]

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Hello again! After about 500 miles of driving (mostly Jim driving and me sleeping) and four states (Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee) we arrived in the beautiful Smoky Mountains for 3 nights and three whole days of hiking and camping bliss. Day One: We arrived at Pigeon Forge, a nightmare! It's a gaudy city surrounded by the beauty of the mountains. It's a redneck wannabee Las Vegas on acid, with more Christianity and no gambling. There, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, you are in an ADHD nightmare. You cannot even enjoy the natural scenery because everywhere yo [View Full Entry]

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After traveling about 500 miles (and a one night stop over in New York) we arrived in Gettysburg, PA. What a drive! It's just mountains, fields, barns and cows for most of the way. I never knew how rural New York state is! WHOA! We spent the day at the Gettysburg National Park Visitors Center. This is a brand new, state-of-the-art building. The building is very impressive and enormous! Jim and I kept seeing people dressed in period outfits because the reinactment is going on this weekend. We saw a quick movie about the Battle of Gettysburg (for those not history-minded, [View Full Entry]

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It's getting late but I can't sleep because of I'm coughing every other minute. I need to get rid of this sinus infection pronto. Less than 2 weeks left before we leave! I'm just getting excited and anxious to go now. Jim's spending the next two weeks in a class so all my energy is going toward preparing for the trip and visiting people I'll miss. Today I spent the day cleaning the entire apartment. BEWARE DUST! Yesterday Julie and I were on a mission to get a saw, a rake, and some anti-freeze. Tomorrow I will be dealing with the [View Full Entry]

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