Stevestever

Geo: 34.0533, -118.245The end of vacation. Never an overly thrilling time, but also not a loathed time knowing I will be back home with those friends and ones we have missed. Never the less, the weeks without the daily life responsibilities has been a break and I have surely enjoyed my one on one time with Alex. Today we sit in the airport at I write this entry and reflect on the events of yesterday.Usually the day before departure is limited in the activities and more focusedon relaxing one more day and getting things in order. Yesterday was different.Following the drama of the green guy on the floor, we packed up the car andheaded towards LA to play tourist and see more of the landmarks. Off we went,first to Beverly Hills and Rodeo drive. We drove ... read more

Geo: 34.0522, -118.244Heading out once again, for a long travel day, we packed up the camp, and took to the road. Today, we head for Los Angeles as we start to sadly wind down the trip. Driving was, for the most part, uneventful, until the fateful moment, while looking for a place to shower, I pulled off on the side of the road for a look at the directions. Knocking the top off the water jug I instructed Alex to jump out and go to the back seat to locate it. The second he exited the car I heard a moan and yell and looked back to see him standing on the side of the road not moving. It soon became apparent he had stepped bare foot right into a patch of sand spurs. Once back ... read more

Geo: 36.5604, -117.025Today proved to be another day packed full of sightseeing andexploring. We started off early to try and avoid activities in the extremeheat. First stop, Mesquite Sand Dunes. Off I went, tromping through the sand headedtowards the tallest dune I could find. Windswept and appearing smooth from the distance, these large piles of sand arenatures artwork as the shadows of early morning create a painted scene.Admiring the dune field from atop, it was time to return to the car and moveon. The Death Valley heatup was already starting. Approaching a bit of an Oasisin the desert, called Furnace Creek, a small area consisting of a hotel, desertgolf course, general store, and gas station we prepared to stop for breakfast.Just as we approached, a very sporty car turned in front of us from a sideroad. ... read more

Geo: 35.4887, -120.669Big Sur derived from the spanish el sur grande or big south was just that. BIG! Big cliffs, big beaches, big rocks... Heading down the Pacific Coast highway we soon entered this large natural area devoid for miles and miles of the normal hustle and bustle of urban life. Winding around mountains that dropped hundreds of feet to the surf below, I stopped numerous times along the estimated 85 miles of scenic highway. Off Alex and I would trample, in search of water falls, vistas, or hidden beaches. One extended stop took us from the Pfieffer State Park in search of the famous Pfieffer falls. Alex leading the way, up the mountain trail we went. Being a 60 foot waterfall, according to the documentation we read, we were excited to see more than the ... read more

Geo: 36.974, -122.031Today I am going to give myself a bit of a break from the blogging and keep this one short. It is probably a good day to do that anyway, since it is really hard to describe in words, at least for me, the beauty of nature and each perception of what is being seen. Leaving San Francisco, we headed South on the famous Highway 1 down the coast of California. We really did not have much of a plan at this point. Leaving the city, we soon started seeing the beauty of the coast. Large cliffs dropping from the roadside for hundreds of feet to the sea below. Hidden beaches cloaked with rocks, only visible once you stopped and hiked down. Surfers, boogie boarders, kite surfers, and windsurfers all enjoying the big waves. ... read more